US1980216A - Gluing method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 13, 1934. E. H. MERRITT GLUING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed May 21'. 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 llllllllllll:nlllllllllll IN VEN 7012. I

Nov. 13, 1934.- E. H. MERRITT 1,930,216

GLUING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed May 21, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.

9/ W A BY I W I" A TTORNEYS.

. Nov. 13, 1934. E. H. MERRI'TT 8 GLUING METHOD AND APPARATUS I Filed May 21, 1931 4 Sheets-Shet s 'Fi flfFi rli- FicpiZ.

IN VE N TOR. d wwaw/MW BY j I Mowp ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 13, 1934 GLUING METHOD AND APPARATUS Ericsson H. Merritt, Lockport, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Merritt Engineering & Sales Company, Inc., Lockport, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 21, 1931, Serial No. 538,979

17 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus and methods for forming and applying glue, and, more particularly, for use in the provision and application of glue in veneering and analogous procedures; and in certain of its aspects relates to methods and mechanism for the formation of plywood.

An object of the invention is readily and efliciently to provide on a material to be glued a coating of glue which is of substantially uniform consistency and character throughout its extent.

A further object is to provide improved glue mixing and spreading apparatus adapted to effect the substantially continuous application to a material to be glued of glue of unvarying consistency and char'acter.

Another object is to provide improved methods and means, whereby variations in time between the mixing operation and the spreading operation are eliminated, so that the coating of glue formed will be of uniform character.

Another object is to provide improved methods and means for the formation of plywood.

A further object is to provide methods and means for the formation of plywood whereby the same may be formed in a particularly expeditious and effective manner and with relatively uniform results.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the several steps and the relation and order of one or more of such steps with respect to each of the others, and the apparatus embodying features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts all as exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a type of mixing and spreading apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view in the direction of the arrows along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view, partly in section, illustrating another form of gluing apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section along the lines 4-4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a top view of apparatus forming a continuation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the reversing mecha-' nism on an enlarged scale with the central portion cut away;

Fig. 7 is a similar side 'view thereof;

Fig. 8 is an end view thereof;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view the line 9-9 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view showing one of the star-shaped elements from the side;

Fig. 11 isa similar view showing one of the star shaped elements in transverse section;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the line 12-12 in Fig. 8;

Fig. 13 is a somewhat diagrammatic plan view of another form of apparatus;

Fig. 14 is a vertical section of a modified form of mixing and spreading apparatus; and

Fig. 15 is a horizontal section on the line 15-15 in Fig. 14.

In the gluing of blanks for use in the formation of plywood, or other types of laminated structures, with various types of glue and particularly so with glues of an albuminous nature considerable difliculty has been experienced in getting satisfactory and uniform results due to the tendency of certain glues to alter their characteristics upon standing, since the character of the last portion of a batch of glue will be different from the first portion of the batch when applied to the article to be glued. It is, moreover, desirable in many instances that the glue, when applied, have a definite maximum fluidity, which gives rise to spreading problems unless all the glue applied is of substantially the same consistency. It is furthermore desirable in the formation of plywood and similar articles that variations in the character of successive articles produced be held to a minimum.

It is also desirable that there be provided simple and readily operable apparatus for use in the'formation of plywood and other laminated structures. v

With these-and other ends in view, the invention contemplates the provision of improved mixing and spreading means and improved means for the formation of laminated structures, which means in certain of their embodiments are adapt- 105 ed for conjoint use and are also adapted for independent use.

While a variety of types of procedures and mechanisms may be utilized in connection with the invention, the invention is particularly exem- 1 along plified in apparatus and procedures adapted for use in the formation of plywood.

There is exemplified in Fig. 1 apparatus for carrying out a procedure wherein dry adhesive material and a liquid, for example, water, are each fed in controlled amounts at a continuous rate of speed into a mixing chamber having provision for a continuousdelivery, which delivery is regularly and uniformly conducted to spreading means whereby it may continuously be applied to material to be glued. As exemplified the apparatus also includes distributing means interposed between the mixing means and the spreading means.

The form of mixing and spreading apparatus particularly exemplified in Fig. 1 includes a continuous mixer 9. This mixer comprises a mixing tank or receptacle 10 which, in the present instance, is open at the top to provide for an overfiow, and is supported on a rotatable shaft 11 adapted to be driven by suitable means as by a belt 12 extending over a pulley-wheel 13. Into this mixing receptacle there extends a tubular shaft 14 which is adapted to be rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the shaft 11 by suitable means including a pulley 15. The shaft 14 and the mixing tank 10 are provided; respectively with fins 16 and 17. These fins are, accordingly, mounted to move relative to one another and to continually agitate material in the mlxingtank. Suitable means are provided for the continuous introduction. of water and dry glue into the mixing tank. Such means consist, in the present instance, of a central channel 18 extending from a pipe 19 through the shaft 11 and opening into suitable connecting channels 20in the bottom of the mixing tank. In the tubular shaft 14 there is disposed a conveyor member 21 carried ona rotatable shaft 22. The channel 20a in the tubular shaft 14 opens into a hopper or supply tank 23, towhich an adhesive material in dry form is suitably supplied from time to time, as through a chute 24. The shaft 22 is rotated through the medium of a pulleywheel 25 and carries within thehopper an agitator 26 whereby continuous feed is assured.

, It'is to be notedthat the sides of the mixing tank 10 diverge upwardly so that the centrifugal action will assist in assuringa. regular upward movement of the material supplied to the mixing tank with a consequent regular overflow of uniforrnly mixed material. This overflow passes into a chamber 26a from which it is conducted by suitable means, such as a pipe 2'7, to a point adiacent its point of use.

In the present instance, the mixed glue is adapted to be applied to a succession of moving plies carried by a conveyor 28 to a point where they move between a spreading roll 29 and a lower roll 30. A conveyor 31 is provided to receive and remove the coated plies. Suitable means are provided for distributing and delivering a supply of glue to the roll 29 in a uniform manner. This means comprises a container 32 divided by means of a partition 33 into two parallel troughs 34 and 35 communicating with each other at their ends. In the bottom of one of these troughs there is provided a long slot 36 which extends to the upper periphery of the roll 29. Oppositely rotating spiral conveyors 3'7 and 38 are provided for causing a continuous circulation of the glue in the container 32. The provision of such means assists in maintaining uniform consistency.

Mixing and spreading methods and apparatus such as contemplated by the invention is adapted for use in a variety of forms of procedures and apparatus for coating materials, including the coating of materials to be included in laminated structures having any of a desired number of laminations. For example, in the formation. of three-ply structures the core may be coated on both sides and outer layers associated therewith or two plies may be coated on one side only. Again, in the provision of five-ply structures two cross-band members may each be coated with glue on both sides and an uncoated central core and two face-plies associated therewith, or four of the plies may be coated individually.

One form of apparatus adapted for use in the formation of plywood, and embodying the invention is shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. This apparatus is capable of being utilized in a wide variety of applications, but, as shown, is particularly adapted for use in connection with a continuous mixer such, for instance, as exemplified in in Fig. 1. Whenso utilized, the mixing means and this apparatus cooperate in a particularly efllcient and eifectivemanner in the formation of plywood structures of relatively uniform quality. The exemplified apparatus comprises a continuous mixer 9a similar to the mixer 9 from which the overflow of mixed material is led through pipes 39 and 40, respectively, to distributing and delivering means 41 and 42 similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. From the delivery means 41 the mixed glue is delivered to an upper spreading roll 43 and from the delivery means,42 glue is deliv ered to a lower spreading roll 44. A conveyor 45 is arranged to deliver plies to the bite of the roll and a series of rotatable elements are arranged to receive the plies as they come from the roll. The rotatable elements comprise shafts 45a carrying elements 46, which are star-shaped in cross-section so that they will have a minimum of contact with the lower glued surface of the plies and will accordingly interfere to a minimum extent with the uniformity of the glue coating on the underside thereof. Chain drives connected to a suitable source of power, :not shown, are provided for rotating the shafts 45a. A table 47 is disposed adjacent the conveyor 45 so that plies 55 carried in a stack on the table, may readily be delivered to the conveyor; and a table 48 is disposed adjacent the elements 46 so that plies 58scarried in a stack on this table may be disposed successively on successive plies moving over the rotatable elements.

Beyond the point where plies from the table 48 may be disposed upon plies carried by the elements 46, there is disposed a reversing mechanism indicated generally at A and described in detail hereinafter for turning over the partial assemblies, and beyond the reversing mechanism there is disposed a conveyor 53 for carrying plies away from the same. Adjacent the conveyor 53 there is disposed a table 54 on which a stack of plies 60 may be carried, so that plies from this stack may be readily disposed on the upper unv In the rolls 43 and 44 and between the same, whereby both the upper and lower surfaces of the cores receive a relatively uniform coating of glue. Each coated core then moves to the elements 46.

r A ply 58 taken from stack 59 on the table 48 is disposed on each ply 55 as it passes over the elements 46. Each partial assembly thus formed is turned over by the mechanism A so that a glued surface of the core 55 is uppermost, and run onto the conveyor 53. Successive plies 60 from a stack 61 on the table 54 are disposed on the upper surface of the core 55 so as to form a three-ply assembly which may be subjected to bonding operations in any well-known or suitable manner. The reversing mechanism exemplified in Fig. 5 and shown in greater detail in Figs. 6 to 12, comprises a set of parallel flipper arm 62 and a set of parallel fiipper' arms 68, each carried upon a shaft 64. This shaft is arranged to be driven intermittently as by means of a chain 65 connected with a suitable source of intermittent power not shown, so that plies or partial assemblies delivered to the reversing mechanism.

at regular intervals will be reversed by a half turn of the shaft 64 and will then be left undisturbed for a period sufficient for the removal of a reversed article from beneath the arms which are in the position of the arm 68 in Fig. 8, and for the delivery of a second ply or partial assembly to a position just above the flipper arms in a position similar to the arms 62 in Fig. 8. Suitable means may movement of the partial assemblies into position for reversing and for the removal of them as after they are reversed. In the present instance this means comprises a plurality of star-shaped elements 66 similar to the elements 46, and carried on shaft 67 rotated in the present instance by means of a chain drive 68 connected with a suitable source of power (not shown). Similarly roller members 69 carried on shaft 70 provided with a chain-drive '71, are provided for carrying plies away from their reversed position and delivering them to the conveyor 53. In instances, where it is desirable, the members 69 may com prise star-shaped elements similar to the elements 66. It will be seen that flipper arms are disposed to operate between certain of the adjacent ones of the rotating members 66 and 69, and that each of these arms is provided with a plurality of relatively short protuberances 72 having edge portions so arranged that the arms will have contact with the coated surfaces of the articles at a relatively small portion of their surface. In the exemplified apparatus there is provided a stop member 73 to prevent the partial assemblies from being carried past any of the flipper arms. If desired, a similarly-placed element may be utilized as a trip member to efso feet the reversing of a ply or partial assembly so as to permit the use of the apparatus for the reversing of elements delivered thereto at irregularly-timed intervals.

It will be appreciated that mechanism of the character heretofore exemplified may be utilized in carrying out a wide variety of procedures. For example. there is shown in Fig. 13 a type of apparatus adapted for use in a procedure wherein only one sde of a ply is coated at one time, as exem-. plified in said copending application of Theodore Williams Dike, filed herewith.

Plies 74 are taken from a stack '15 on a table 76 and disposed in succession on a conveyor '17,

which carries them into proximity to a. glue-apply- I5 ing means 78, whereby the glue is supplied to the be provided for efiecting the,

upper surface of each ply. A ply '79 taken from a stack 80 on a table 81 is then placed against the coated surface of each ply '14 and the partial assembly thus formed run onto a reversing mechanism B, which, as-exemplified, is similar to the reversing mechanism A, except that the rotary elements indicated at 82 will be in the form of cylinders since there is no reason for the use of star-shaped elements. From the reversing mechanism B the reversed assembly is run onto a conveyor 83 in proximity to an applying mechanism 84 and thereupon a ply 85 taken from a stack 86 on a table 8'! is laid against the coated upper surface of the plies '14.

It will also be appreciated that the invention contemplates the provision of a wide variety of different types of mixing and spreading means, either alone or in combination with means such as those exemplified and many others.

There is exemplified in Figures 14 and 15 a modified form of mixing means such as contemplated by the invention. In this form of apparatus elements 15b, 21b, 22b, 23b, 24b, 25b and 26b are similar to the similarly-numbered elements in the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 1.' The tubular shaft 14b carries at its lower end a plurality of downwardly-extending rods 94, which carry a member having upper and lower generally parallel and conical surfaces 96 and 9'7, respectively. The member 95 is formed, moreover, so as to bring thesurface 9'? to a downwardly-extending point 98 at its center. and a pipe 99 is provided for the delivery of a liquid to the space surrounding this point. The member 95 is in constant rotation due to the rotation of the shaft 142) and serves to throw the powdered material received from the conveyor 21b in a film 100; similarly it serves to throw liquid material received by its lower surface from the pipe 99 in a film 101. These-films mix as indicated at 102 and the mixed films fall into the elongated bottom 103 of a mixing chamber 104. In this bottom there is disposed a conveyor 38b and parallel to the bottom there is disposed a trough 105 in which there moves a conveyor 87b, the'trough being connected at its end with the bottom of the conveyor as indicated in Fig. 15, so as to permit material from the bottom of the chamber 103' to be conducted therefrom, and to permit a continuous circulation of the material. The bottom of the trough is formed to provide an opening 36b for continuously supplying mixed glue to a roller 29b.

It will thus be seen that this mixing means, like that shown in Fig. 1, serves continuously to mix substances in a m xing chamber, and continuously to supply to an applying means the mixed glue delivered from said chamber.

Since certain changes in carrying out the above methods and in the constructions set forth, which embody the invention may be made without departing from its scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described. and all statements of the scope of the invention which as a matter of language might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A gluing method which comprises continuously and independently introducing adry adhesive material and a liquid into a mixing chamber at predetermined rates of flow, continuously mixing said substances in said chamber, conducting a continuous delivery permitted by said chamber toward glue-applying means, continuously supplying the glue to said applying means, and substantially continuously applying-delivered material tosurfaces.

2. A gluing method which comprises continuously and independently introducing a dry adhesive material and a liquid into a mixing chamber at predetermined rates of flow, continuously mixing said substances in said chamber, conducting a continuous delivery permitted by said chamber toward glue-applying means, continuously supply ing the glue to said applying means, and substantially continuously. bringing material to be glued into proximity to said applying means, -whereby the glue is applied thereto.

3. A gluing method which comprises continu ously and independently introducing a dry adhesive material and a liquid into a mixing chamber at predetermined rates of flow, continuously mixing said substances in said chamber, conducting a continuous delivery permitted by said chamber towardglue-applying means, continuously supplying the glue to said applying means, and successively bringing articles to be glued into contact with said applying means, said steps being so correlated that a substantially uniform quality of glue is applied.

4. A gluing method which comprises continuously and independently introducing a dry adhesive material and a liquid into a mixing chamber at predetermined rates of flow, continuously mixing said substances in said chamber, conducting a continuous delivery permitted by said chamber away from the chamber, causing a continuous circulation of said glue, and continuously withdrawing a stream of glue from said circulating flow, for immediate application to surfaces to be glued. v

5. The method of gluing which comprises continuously intermingling a dry adhesive material and a liquid continuously drawn from independent sources at predetermined,rates. of speed, and continuously applying the resultant glue to surfaces to be glued.

6. A gluing method which comprises contin-- uously introducing a dry adhesive material and a liquid at predetermined rates of flow into a mixing chamber, conducting toward glue-applying means a continuous overflow permitted by said chamber, and continuously supplying the glue to said applying means for immediate application thereby.

'7. Gluing apparatus comprising a mixing receptacle provided with means permitting a continuous controlled delivery, means continuously to introduce into said receptacle a controlled flow of adhesive material, means continuously to introduce into said receptacle a controlled flow of a supplemental gluing material, means to cause said materials to be mixed in said receptacle and to pass out through said delivery means, glue-applying means, and means associated with said delivery means for bringing the mixed material into association with said applying means for immediate application thereby.

8. Gluing apparatus comprising a mixing receptacle provided with means permitting a continuous controlled delivery, means continuously to introduce into said receptacle a controlled flow of adhesive material, means continuously to introduce into said receptacle a controlled flow of liquid, means to cause said materials to be mixed in said receptacle and to pass out through said delivery means, glue-applying means, distributing means to permit a continuous flow of material in a horizontal direction and provided with an opening in proximity to said applying means and adjacent a portion of said flow, means to cause such a flow, and means to conduct material from said delivery means to said distributing means at a point removed from said opening.

9. Gluing apparatus comprising a mixing receptacle provided with means permitting a continuous overflow, means continuously to introduce into said receptacle a controlled flow of adhesive material, means to introduce into said receptacle a controlled flow of liquid, means to cause said materials to be mixed in said receptacle and to pass out through said overflow means, glue-applying means, and means continuously to conduct glue from said overflow to said applying means.

10. Gluing apparatus comprising a mixing receptacle provided with means permitting a continuous overflow, said mixing receptacle being formed with upwardly diverging side walls and said overflow means being provided adjacent the upper portion of said receptacle, means to intro-, duce materials adjacent the lower part of said receptacle, and means continuously to rotate said receptacle whereby the centrifugal action within the chamber will cause mixed material to flow toward said overflow means.

11. Mixing apparatus comprising a mixing r'eceptacle having upwardly diverging side walls and provided with overflow means adjacent its upper end, means to rotate said receptacle, means to introduce a dry material adjacent the bottom of said receptacle, and means to introduce a liquid material adjacent the bottom of said receptacle.

l2. Mixing apparatus comprising a mixing receptacle, a supply container for powdered material above said receptacle, agitating means in said supply container, means continuously to conduct a controlled flow of powdered material from said supply container to a point adjacent said receptacle, means to introduce a controlled flow of liquid to said receptacle, and means continuously to mix the materials in said receptacle,

said container being arranged to permit withdrawal of the material acted upon thereby at a rate equivalent to the introduction of material thereto. 13. Glue-applying apparatus comprising a mixing receptacle, means continuously to introduce a controlled flow of adhesive material to said receptacle, means continuously to introduce a controlled flow of liquid to said receptacle, means to mix said materials in said receptacle, a glue-applying element, meansfor delivering glue to said element, said delivery means comprising a container member formed with a central partition terminating short of the ends of the member and provided with an opening at one side of said partition for delivering glue to said applying element, means for conducting glue from said mixing receptacle to the other side of said container member, and means for causing a continuous flow of glue about said partition.

14. Gluing apparatus comprising a receptacle, a rotatable member within said receptacle, and provided with opposed surfaces each adapted to receive a gluing material adjacent the axis of rotation .of the member and to throw the material outwardly by centrifugal action, means to deliver a liquid gluing material to one of said surfaces adjacent the axis of rotation of the member, means to deliver powdered gluing material adjacent the axis of rotation of the member, glue-applying means, and means to supply material from said chamber to said applying means.

15. A gluing method which comprises continuously mixing a dry adhesive material and a liquid, causing a continuous circulation of the resultant glue, and continuously supplying to glueapplying means a stream of glue of uniform consistency from said circulating flow.

16; A method of forming plywood, which comprises intermingling regulated flows of a powdered adhesive material and a liquid vehicle therefor, conducting toward a point or application a continuous flow or the resultant material equal to the intermingled flows, and substantially continuously moving plies past said point of application to receive the resultant material.

1'1. Apparatus oi the character described, comprising a mixing receptacle having upwardly diverging side walls and provided with an overflow means adjacent its upper end, means to rotate said receptacle, means to conduct a regulated continuous flow of solid material to a point adiacent the bottom of the receptacle, means to conduct a continuous regulated flow of liquid material to a point adjacent the bottom or the receptacle, spreading means, means toconduct to said spreading means material escaping over said overflow means, and means continuously to move surfaces to be coated past said spreading means.

1 ERICSSON H. MERRI'I'I.

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