US2232069A - Coating machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 18, 1941. E WES 2,232,069

COATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 17 Feb. 18, 1941. c 5 IVES 2,232,069

COATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1957 9 sneets sheet 2 I 3 r NR Feb. 18, 1941. c. E. was v 2,232,069

COATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1937 9 Sheets-Sheet s 162 xi g "3 JJQ Q 1300 a -r jay Feb. 18, 1941. c. a. was

I COATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 18, 1941. c. E. was

COATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, i937 9 Sheets-Sheet s IFI 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 frzuerzZof (7.27%7'dffves Feb. 18, 1941. c. EQIVES I COATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1937 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 AQN MPN \mN W CYgjorazjfl/es My? M Feb. 18, 1941. c. E. was

COATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1937 9 Sheets-Sheet s Feb. 18, 1941. Q 5, N55 2,232,069

COATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1937 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Patented F eb. 18, 194i 2 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE Roebuck and 00., Chic New York ago, 111., a corporation of Application November 5, 1937, Serial No. 172,937

17 Claims.

My invention relates to the coating of sheet material, and more particularly to the coating of textile fabric. A special application of my invention is in connection with the manufacture of garments of the type described and claimed in the copending application of Richard H.

Wann, Serial No. 87,868, filed June 29, 1936.

According to the above noted application, a

garment such as a pair of overalls is provided with restricted reinforced and waterproofed areas, such as for example, the knee and/or seat portions thereof. The reinforcing and waterproofing material is usually applied in the form of an aqueous latex emulsion, although of course various other materials may be used for the purpose, and garments made in accordance with that invention have the advantage of being reinforced and waterproofed where required, without seriously adding to the weight of the garment or interfering with the comfort of the wearer, since the remaining portions are pervious to the passage of air.

In the fabrication of garments according to said invention, it is necessary that the reinforcing material be applied to a limited area, and it has been found most feasible to perform'this op-' eration in connection with a pre-cut .section prior to sewing. It has also been found highly desirable in said coating operation to avoid the application of material to areas which are subsequently to be stitched through, since the stitching of reinforced areas results in the heating and breaking of needles, slowing up the work and involving considerable loss of labor and materials.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide a machine which will apply reinforcing material in liquid form to a restricted area of a pre-cut fabric section in such manner as to leave uncoated the marginal portions through which stitches are to pass.

A further object is to provide an entirely automatic machine for accomplishing the above mentioned operation. v

Still another object is to provide such a ma-- chine which will be simple in construction, in expensive to operate, and generally satisfactory for thedesired purposes.

Another object is to provide an improved It is accordingly another object of my inven-' tion to provide an apparatus and process for maintaining free of bubbles the coating liquid fed to the coating member.

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

' Referring now to the accompanying nine sheets of drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a machine embodying my invention; r

Fig. 2 isa near side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is an end elevation thereof taken from the left end of Fig. 2, showing the receiving end of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken as indicated'by the line 6-6 of Figs. 4 and 5;

Figs. '7 and 8 are vertical cross-sectional .views taken as indicated by the lines 'I--I and 8-4, respectively, in Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a diagram of an electric hook-up for control mechanism embodying my invention;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the Y Fig. 14 is-a somewhat schematic fragmentary plan view showing the arrangement of a pair of panels to be coated, in relation to the coating means, corresponding to the'arrangement of parts in Fig. 11; v

Figs. 15 to 15L show schematically the relative positions of the coating means and the control mechanism therefor, together with the articles being coated, at selected points in a cycle of operation of the machine;

Fig. 16 is a view showing the relative positions of the coating control cams, talren as indicated by the line lB-IO in F18. '7;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary plan view of a device.

for stripping the coated material from the coating means, taken as indicated by the line l'|l'l in Fi 4;

Fig. 18 is an enlargedfragmentaryjtransverse sectional view showing a panel being coated and pressed between the coating and presser rolls.

I provide a supporting frame comprising hori-' zontal base members l0, horizontal members ii spaced from said base members l0 by means of vertical supports l2 connecting the horizontal members at their ends and at intermediate points thereof, where required, and crossed struts i4 connecting opposite sides of the frame at the a shaft 39.

ends and intermediate points thereof, as seen best in Fig. 3. The frame may be constructed Iof any suitable structural material having the required strength and it will be understood that, although I show certain members as formed of angles, channels, strap metal, etc., various other shapes may be substituted if desired. This will apply of course to other structural elements described below. A plurality of cross bars T are secured to the frame at the receiving end to form a table.

I provide a main source of power which may be in the form of an electrical motor l5, carried by a frame element said motor having a drive shaft l6 connected by any suitable means as, for examp1e,-a sprocket chain II, with a sprocket l8 arranged on a shaft 28. Carried also on the shaft 20 is a sprocket 2| which engages a sprocket chain 23. The chain 23 is trained around a sprocket 21 mounted on a stub shaft 28 (Fig. 6). Arranged on the run of the sprocket chain is an idler gear or gears 38.

Also keyed on the shaft 28 is a spur gear 3| which meshes with a gear 32 mounted on a'shaft 33. The shaft 33 has keyed thereto at one end a spur gear 35 and at its other end a gear 36. The gear 35 drives a gear 31 fixed on a shaft 38, while the gear 36 drives a gear 34 arranged on Keyed to the shaft 39 is another gear 48 which drives a gear 4| -mounted on a shaft 42.

Keyed on the shaft 28 is a gear. 45 which drives a gear 46 on a shaft 41, as seen in Figs. 1 and 5. Also fixed on the-shaft 28 is a gear 48 which meshes with a gear 49 on a shaft 58. The idler 38 turns loosely on this shaft. The shaft 58 also carries a'gear which engages a gear 52 on a shaft 53;

The sprocket chain 23 also drives a sprocket 55 on a shaft-56 at the discharging end of the machine.

Fixed on the shaft 56 are pulleys 51 engaging belts 58 which, as seen best in Fig. l, extend substantially throughout the entire length of the machine.

At the receiving end of the machine the belts 58 are trained around pulleys -6| which are keyed to a shaft 62. Fixed approximately centrally on the same shaft is a grooved pulley 63 carrying a plurality of belts 64, these belts being preferably round as shown.

Mounted on the shaft 62 is a sprocket 68 which engages a chain 69, said chain actuating a sprocket 18 to which is eccentrically connected a piston rod 1| so as to reciprocate the latter to actuate a pump 12. This pump is designed to handle latex in the preferred embodiment and is preferably of the diaphragm type. The belts 64 are trained at their forward ends around pulleys 14, which are loosely mounted for rotation on a stationary shaft 15.

The shaft 58 has keyed thereto a pulley or pair of pulleys I1 carrying conveyor belts 18, said belts being trained at their receiving ends over pulleys 19 arranged for rotation on a shaft 80.

Also keyed to the shaft 56 are pulleys 82 carrying belts 83, the receiving ends of which are trained around pulleys 84 mounted for rotation on a shaft 85.

The coating liquid which is to be applied to the goods fed to the machine is moved by the pump I2 from the bottom of a tank 86 so that the liquid will be free of bubbles, through a pipe 81 and thence through a conduit 88 down into a supply tank 89, the conduit, terminating near the bottom of the latter tank to preclude formation of bubbles as the liquid issues from the conduit. Depending from the tank 89 is a nozzle 98 from which the liquid falls onto the top side of a blade 9| (Figs. 2 and 4) pivoted to a bracket 92 mounted as on a side frame member H, a spring 93 urging the blade into engagement with a feed roll 94. The roll 94 preferably is formed of chromium plated steel, although other mate rial may be found suitable. The blade 9| forms, with the periphery of the feed roll 94, a fountain by which the said periphery is continually supplied with the coating liquid.

The liquid is fed by transfer from the feed roll 94 to a coating roll 95 which is preferably fixedly mounted to rotate with the shaft 33 and is preferably soft and resilient and formed of vulcanized linseed. oil, although other materials may be found suitable. The quantity of coating material fed by the feed roll 94 to the applicator roll 95 may be regulated by varying the speed of the roll 94, as by changing the gear ratio at 48, 4| (Fig. 1). Screws 96 carrying suitable bear roll separates from the goods, forms into bub-' bles, a negligible percentage of which remains with the coat, the remainder adhering to the coating roll 95. As this part of the roll rises, it reaches the line of tangency with the feed roll 94, where the latter is descending. The feed roll 94 accordingly scrapes off all of the liquid and bubbles carried up by the roll 95, a drain trough 98 being disposed under the roll 94 to receive any of this removed material not adhering to the roll 94 as the roll94 passes over the trough. Such liquid and bubbles as are carried up by the under side of the feed roll 94 are then scraped off by the doctor blade 9| and either adhere to the blade or fall therefrom into the trough 98.

The trough 98 is mounted to receive the excess liquid which flows over the ends of the blade 9|. point slightly below the top of the supply tank 89 into the trough. The trough is preferably slightly inclined, and a pipe I08 (Fig. 2) extends from the lower end of the trough into the upper part of the tank 86, terminating over a strainer |8| in the tank. The bubbles remain for the most part in the trough 98, on the strainer and on the surfaces of the liquid in'the tanks, the liquid being. drawn from the tank 86 by the pump 12 from a point well below the surface of the liquid, so that the liquid pumped is substantially free of bubbles.

Thus it is seen that notwithstanding aeration of the coating liquid adhering to the coating roll after each coating operationthe bubbles are prevented from being fed to the coating roll. Such bubbles as are formed on the coat at the trailing end of the coat are of negligible quantity as has been stated, and disappear of their own accord or are eliminated by squeeze rolls at the delivery end of the machine, as will appear. Thus all coats are substantially even and perfect. when delivered by the machine.

It will be seen from Fig. 4 that the shaft 89 An overflow conduit 99 leads from a is arranged directly below the applicator roll 95 and carries a presser roll I03. As seen in Fig. 6, r

the shaft 39 which carries the presser roll I03 is fixedly journaled at one end, as at I04, and interposed between the presser roll and the actuating gear 34 of its shaft 39 are universal joints I05. Lever arms I061: and I061 pivotally connect the shaft 39 on opposite sides of the presser roll I03 to the non-rotating shaft 15, and when these arms are raised the corresponding ends I032: and I031! of the presser roll may be moved into juxtaposition with the applicator roll 95 for pressing a sheet of material passing between the two rolls into engagement with the applicator roll.

Fixed to the shaft 38 is a conveyor roll III! to numeral II4, including if desired, a spring permitting the rolls to separate and a wedge to prevent them from approaching each other beyond the desired degree. A stripper blade II5 carried by a bracket I I6 is mounted for engagement with the squeeze roll II2. A conveyor roll II8 carried by the shaft I I9 assists in transferring the coated fabric onto the belts 83.

The mechanism for controlling the presser roll supporting links I061: and I061}, and; thus the application of the coating to the fabric, will now be described.

Pivotally mounted on the frame at I2I below the links I063: and I061! are brackets I22 carrying actuating members I232: and I231! which engage the presser roll links I062: and I06y, respectively. Control levers I262: and I26y'are pivoted at I21 and adjustably connected by screws I28 and I29.

to the brackets I22, a spring I30 being associated with each screw I29.

The control lever I262: carries a cam follower I33a: engageable with a cam X, and the control lever I26y has a cam follower I331 engageable selectively with any one of a plurality of cams, such as the cams Y, Y and Y" (Figs. 4, '7, 12 and 13), the follower I33y, in the arrangement illustrated, being engaged with cam Y. The weight of the presser roll I03, acting through the springs I30, causes the followers to yieldably engage the cams. The position of the presser roll is determined by the screws I28, and the pressure of the presser roll upward for the coating operation is determined by the springs I30, by which force from the levers I26a: and I26y due to the cams is or other slip clutch I38 (Fig. 7). The clutch may comprise face plates I40 and I, which rotate with the shaft 53, and a cooperating plate I42 rotatable with the tube I31, the plates being pressed as by springs I43 into clutching engagement.

As has been pointed out, an object of my inventionis to apply latex coats to restricted areas having biased and unbiased edges on fabric.

It will be observed that the cams X and Y, acting through the levers I260: and I261! and the bars I23a: and, I231 upon the links I06 :1: and I061 control individually the elevation of the ends I031: and I031! 01' the presser roll I03. When this roll is fully raised and parallel to the applicator or coating roll 95, the full width of the coat is being applied to the fabric at once. When first one end and then the other end of the roll I03 is raised (or lowered), the coat gradually widens from a point to the full width (or narrows from the full width to a point), the angle of the bias edge of the coat depending on, among other things, the 7 speed with which the second end is raised (or lowered) for a given speed of feed of the fabric. In practice, leading and trailing edges of the coatmay be formed parallel with the leading and trailing edges of the panels.

An overall leg panel or section of any suitable outline, as for example with one longitudinal edge on a bias and the other unbiased, may be placed on the conveyor belts at the feed end of the apparatus as shown at the left in Figs. 1- and 14, the panel P nearest the coating roll being arranged with its bias edge I45 leading and the following panel P with its bias edge I46 trailing.

Arranged under the belts 64 (Fig. 8) are two pairs of electric lamps in a line normal to the direction of conveyance of the panels, the end lampsl48a: and I 4811' being utilized when mens leg panels are to be coated and the inner lamps I501: and I501! when boys leg panels are to be coated.

The operation is the same in each case, so that the following explanation of the operation pertaining to the coating of panels for mens overalls will suflice for both. i

The length of the presser roll I03 will determine .the length of the coat, and may approximate the distance between the lamps used. This roll may be replaced by a shorter one of suitable length for coating boys overall panels or by a roll of other suitable length.

Positioned over the lamps is a shield I65 (Figs. 4 and 8) having holes I56 over the lamps to permit substantially only a pencil of light to escape upward from each lamp. -Mounted in a housing I 61 to receive the light through openings I58 is a pair of mirrors I 59a: and I591], adjustable so that light from one or the other set of lamps incident on said mirrors will be reflected through an opening I6I onto a photoelectric cell I62. Attached to each mirror is an indicator I63. Suitable indicia marked respectively Men and Boys are arranged so that when .the words Men are indicated by both indicators I62, light from either or both of the end lamps I481: and H811 will be reflected onto the cell, and when the words Boys are indicated by both indicators, light from either or both of the inner lamps I50x and [5011 will be reflected onto the cell.

A relay solenoid, indicated generally by the numeral I64, for controlling the rotation of .the cam shaft I31, is controlled by the cell I62 through any suitable hook-up, such as that illustrated in Figs. 7- and 9.

The relay comprises a switch arm I61, biased by a spring I6Ia, and two contacts I60 and I69 alternately engaged thereby, the solenoid I64, when energized, holding the am engaged with the contact I69, and a spring 161a being operative, when the solenoid isde-energized, to hold the arm engaged with the contact I68. The arm I61 is connected to a current source as shown at I18. The contact I68 is connected to the coil of an electromagnet "I, having a movable core or armature I12 from which a pawl or stop I13 projects, the return wire I14 leading to the source of current as shown at I15. The contact I69 is connected to the coil of an electromagnet I11 having a movable core or armature I18 from which a pawl or stop I19 (Fig. 10) projects, the return wire I88 leading to the source of current as shown at I15.

Mounted to rotate with the tubular shaft I31 is a hub I8I (Figs. '7 and 11) carrying an escapement member I82 provided with a pair; of teeth I83 and I84. When either of these teeth is engaged with the stop I13, rotation of the cam shaft I31 and hence of the cams X and Y is arrested, and the clutch I38 slips. The hub I8I also carries an escapement member I85 having a pair of teeth I86 and I81 angularly displaced from the teeth I82 .and I83. When either of the teeth I86 and I 81 is engaged with the stop I19, rotation of the cam shaft I31 and hence of the cams X and Y is arrested and the clutch I38 slips.

The stops I13 and I19 are connected to the ends of a lever I88 pivoted at I88a (Figs. 9 and 10). When the relay switch arm I61 engages the contact I68, the stop I13 is withdrawn from engagement with the tooth I83, allowing the clutch I38 to turn the shaft I31. At the time the stop I13 is so withdrawn, it operates the lever I88 to project the stop I19 into the path of the tooth I88. Thus in this operation the cams X and Y are permitted to turn through the angle between the teeth I83 and I86.

It will be noted that two brushes I89 are connected to a suitable electricity source and to .the

- lamp I 48y, and are mounted in such positions (Figs. 7,9 and 11) as to be engaged for a limited period in every revolution of the cam shaft I31 by a switch lug I98 carried by the hub I8I so that the lamp I481! is intermittently lighted. The lamp I 48:10 is continuously lighted.

The relative positions of the cams X and Y, their followers I331: and I 331/, the coating and presser rolls 95 and I83, a set of panels P and P and the place at which the coat is applied, i. e., the coating line, the relay switch arm I81 and contacts I68 and I69, parts of the relay-controlled escapement mechanism, including the teeth I83, I86, I84 and I81 and the stops I13 and I19, at several selected points in an entire cycle, and the relative positions of the switch elements I89 and I98 controlling the'lamp I481] at certain of those points, will be understood upon reference to the following description andall or certain ones of schematic Figs. 15 to 15L. The lamp I48y appears in these figures only when. it is lighted.

For convenience we may regard the cycle as commencing with a pair of mated uncoated panels arranged as shown in Figs. 1 and 14, the panel P nearest the coating roll having its bias edge I leading and the succeeding panel P having its bias edge I 46 trailing, just as the lamp I481: is

eclipsed by the leading bias edge, the lamp I481} being dark since the lug I98 is spaced from the brushes I89, as is evident from Fig. 11. This eclipse accordingly has occulted the cell I62 and thereby deenergized solenoid I64, the relay switch arm I61 has been swung by its spring I61a into engagement with the contact I68, energizing the magnet I1I, pulling the stop I13 clear of the tooth I83, and projecting the stop I 19 into the path 01 the next escapement tooth I86 (Fig. 15).

At this occurrence .the clutch I38 is about to commence turning the cam shaft I 31 with the escapement members I82 and I85 and cams X and Y in the direction indicated by the arrow. At the commencement of this'movement (Fig. 15) the 5 followers I33a: and I331: are engaged. in the valleys I9Ia: and I8Iy of the cams X and Y at the points designated 8, and the leading point I92 of the bias coat edge 288 to be formed is apredetermined distance short of the coating line U of the coating roll 95. The supporting bars I232: and I231 for the ends of the presser roll I83 at such time are accordingly in their lowermost positions,

and hence the presser roll is spaced from the coating roll and no coating occurs. 15

The movement of the cams proceeds for a limited time, during the early part of which the followers are dwelling in the valleys I9Ia: and I9Iy of the cams, and accordingly the presser roll I83 remains in idle position. In the meantime the panel P is approaching the coating line U and is covering the lamp I48x, the relay arm I61 remains engaged with the contact I68, and the escapement tooth I86 is approaching the stop I19. The valley I9Ia: of the cam X terminates in an abrupt outwardly projecting shoulder I83x, and the valley I9Iy of the cam Y terminates in a shoulder I931; of more gradually increased radius. When the follower I33a: is depressed by the abrupt shoulder I93a: to the crest I98x, the bar I23x and hence the adjacent end I831: of the presser roll are quickly raised. At the commencement of this rise the leading point I92 of the bias coat edge 288 to be formed has not quite reached the coating line U. When the rise is completed (Fig. 15-A) the end I832: of the presser roll I83 presses the panel P at the point I92 against the coating roll 95, leaving an uncoated stitching margin I96 of predetermined width. The coating pressure is actually initially applied just before the crest 198m 40 is reached by the follower I331: so that when it reaches the crest I98x a substantial coating pressure is applied, the coating roll being somewhat compressed or squeezed, the intensity of this pressure being determined by the spring I38. It 45 will be observed that at this.beginning of the coating, operation the presser roll I83 is relatively sharply inclined (Fig. 15-A) so that substantially a point contact occurs between the panel and the coating roll 95, the other end I831 of the presser roll being substantially at its bottom position because the follower I33y is just at the beginning of its ride on the gradual shoulder I93y.

As the cams rotation continues, the presser roll end I832: remains elevated since the follower I831: dwells on the crest I98z, while the presser roll end I83y rises due to the engagement of the follower I331; with points of progressively increased radius along the slope I93 thereby causing a gradual lengthening of the line of contact of the coating roll with the panel P. Since this rise occurs while the panel is moving, it follows that the leading edge 288 of the area coated will be biased. The mechanism is so designed and timed as to cau'sethis bias edge of the coat to be substantially parallel with the bias edge I45 of the goods as shown.

Once the follower I331: becomes engaged with the crest I981! of the cam Y (Fig. 15-B), the full length of the presser roll is elevated and causes the full width coating of the panel P. This full length engagement commences just before the follower I33 reaches the crest I981 with merely a kissing pressure which is only momentary. 7

1'10 longer and no stop occurred.

I d When the crest I881! is engaged by the follower I88rthe coating roll is squeezed.

,Shortly after the'presser roll is fully elevated, the cams are arrested (Fig. l5-C) by engagement of the tooth I88 with the stop I18, again causing the clutch I88 to slip, the panel P however continuing to move and be coated the full width. The effect of stopping the cams at this point while the coating continues is the same as would be obtained if the cam crests I981: and I981! were When the panel P has progressed so far as to uncover the lamp I881; (Fig. 15-D) the light from the latter acts uponthe cell I82 to energize the relay and move the relay switch arm I81 from the contact I88 to the contact I89, so as to retract the stop I18 clear of the tooth I86 and allow the clutch I88 again to turn the'cams X and Y, the stop I18 now being disposed in the path of the tooth I88. During the early part of the ensuing movement of the cams, their crests I980: and I881! are engaged by the respective followers I883: and 1881. so as to hold the presser roll fully raised until the trailing unbiased edge 288 of the panel P is short of the coating line U by a distance equal to the width of the trailing stitching margin to be left uncoated. When this point is reached, both ends of the presser roll I 88 drop together; due to the movement of the cam followers from the lands I881: and I881! down the abrupt shoulders 288:: and 2881 to the second set of valleys 2881: and 2881/ (Fig. 15-E), respectively, which valleys are adequately deep to insure complete retraction of the presser roll. When this occurs, the next panel P' has not yet reached the lamp 8:, so thatthe relay arm I81 is not disturbed.

. At this drop of th presser roll I88, or promptly thereafter, and while the relay arm remains undisturbed, the tooth I88 is arrested by the stop I18 (Fig. 15-E) stoppin the cams X and Y and causing the clutch I88 to slip again. Here again the eflect of stopping the cams is the same as though the cam valleys 288a: and 2881! had been longer and the rotation had continued, since no coating takes place and the panel P continues to approach the coating line U. I

The panel P has now'progressed forward beyond the coating roll, and the'succeeding panel P'-, which may be the mate of the panel P and arranged with its unbiased edge '2 leadlng,'is approaching the lamp 8x, the cams X and Y being at rest. When the leading edge 2 of the panel P' eclipses the lamp I 88:: (Fig. 15-F) the light to the cell I82 is occulte'd and the relay switch arm I81 is moved by its spring I81a from the contact I88 to the contact I88, energizing the magnet I12,

which retracts the stop I18 clear of the tooth I88 and projects the stop I18 into the path of the next tooth I 81, and allowing the clutch I88 to restart rotation of the cams.

, As the rotation of the cams ensues, the switch lug I88 becomes engaged with the brushes, I88, lighting the lamp I881 (Fig. l5-G) while it, as

well as the lamp 82:, is covered by the panel 2I8z' and 2I8y, respectively, of the cams X and Y, the leading coat edge to be formed is at the coating line U and the panel P' is pressed by the full length of the presser roll into engagement with the coating 'roll, commencing rearwardly of the edge 2 such a distance as to leave uncoated the desired width of stitching margin 2". Just after this coating "commences, the tooth I81 is arrested by the stop I19 (Fig. l5H), stopping the cams and causing the clutch I88 a ain to slip.

For the following short period during the arrest of the tooth I81, and while the panel P is being hosted, the lamp I88 remains lighted but covered by said panel. -'As soon as the panel P' uncovers the lamp I88y, the relay switch arm I81 moves from the contact I88 to the contact I 88 (Fig. 15-1) and, when this occurs, the stop I1! is withdrawn from the path of the tooth I81 and the stop I18 is moved into the path of the next tooth I88, allowing the clutch I88 again to become engaged and turn the cams.

During the early part of this turning of the cams, the presser roll I88 is held elevated by virtue of the dwelling of the followers engaged with the crests 2I8x and 81 and the coating of fire panel P continues for the full length of the presser roll. Before this full length coating ceases, and before the lug I88 leaves the brushes I88 to darken the lamp I88 the lamp I881: is uncovered by the trailing bias edge I88 of the panel P' (Fig. '15-J), so as to preclude interruption of the flow of light to the cell I82.

The cam X adjustably carries on a check thereof a plate 228 (Figs. 12 and 16) having a'rcuately arranged slots 22I through which screws 222 extend into the cam. This plate has one end 228 disposed so as not to interfere with the shoulder M82 and has its outer edge arranged as a part of the crest 2I8z. The other end of this plate terminates in an abrupt dropofl' shoulder 228x. The purpose of the plate 220 will appear presently.

It willbe observed that the shoulder 228: is disposed to reach the follower I881: after the gently sloping shoulder 2281 of the cam Y reaches the follower I88 Thus the end I08 of the presser roll commences to drop gradually as the gently sloping shoulder 22811 passes by the follower 1881!, while the presser roll end I881; remains upraised; This results in a gradually shortened line of engagement of the coating roll with the panel P and a consequent forming of a trailing bias coat edge "I parallel to the trailing bias edge I88 and short thereof by the desired width of stitching margin 282. The coat edge 28I terminates at 288 (Fig, l-K) when the abrupt drop-off shoulder 228:: at the end of the crest 2I8a: passes the follower I881, dropping the presser roll end 188:. l I

The cams then move a short distance to locate the followers I88: and I881 in engagementwith the valleys In: and I8Iy,.respectively, at the point 8, the starting point of the cycle here described, where they are stopped by engagement of the tooth I88 with the stop I18, the relation of the at such time being shown in Fig. 15-L. The cams remain motionless until the lamp l88:|:-is next eclipsed bya panel P, 70

taken that the panels be fed in the proper order and arrangement. arranged as shown in Figs. 12 and 13 in relation to their followers, the panels P and P are in the order and-arrangement (Fig. 14) which insures proper coating thereof.

To this end there is provided at the feed end of the apparatus (Fig. 1) a shaft 23!, carrying a flag or signal device 233 which may have the general outline of a panel to-be coated. This shaft may be suitably driven, as by a chain 231, from a sprocket 233 (Fig. 'l) on the tubular cam shaft I31 and revolves once for every revolution,

of the shaft I31.

Since the tubular shaft I31 has intermittent motion, the flag shaft 235 will have like motion. The arrangement is suchthat during one stop, as, for example, when the tooth I33 is engaged with the abutment I13, the flag is disposed horizontally with its bias edge 'leading, signalling to the attendant that the next panel P to be fed should "be placed on the conveyor with its bias edge leading. During the second stop of the cam shaft I31 thereafter, as when the tooth I84 becomes engaged with the abutment I13,

the flag will be horizontal with its bias edge trailing,

signalling to the attendant that the next panel P to be fed should be placed on the conveyor with the bias edge trailing. The timing is such that the panels will then be coated in proper order, the flag serving at all times to show how the next panel to be fed should be arranged on the conveyor.

Since the control of the cam mechanismis dependent, on the interruptions of .the light beams to the cell I62, it is not necessary for the operator or attendant to adhere to any fixed time interval of feed of the panels. For example, if a panel is fed shortly before the flag reaches the horizontal, the interval between that a panel and the next preceding panel will be shorter, so that, referring to Fig. 15-E, for example, the lamp I432 will be covered, and the relay switch arm I31 shifted, sooner, and con-- sequently the period of idleness of the cams will be shorter. Thus the raising of the ends of the presser roll I33 will take place earlier and in fact will commence in time to coat the panel at the proper place behind the leading edge. If the panel is fed after an unusually great interval of time following the preceding panel, it will be seen from Fig. 15 that the relay switch arm and cams will be idle for a longer period, thereby delaying the raising of the presser'roll to form the edge of the coat.

The number of auxiliary cams Y, Y", etc., may be as great as the number of the various biases which may bedesired, and the plate 223 may be capable of the corresponding adjustments, as will appear.

It may be that the panel demands a coat edge with a smaller or greater bias. The leading bias coat edge results from a gradual ascent of the cam X, and so that the follower I33a: commences,

as at Ix, its movement along the abrupt dropoff shoulder 223:: when the follower I331, moving Thus when, the cams are along the gradual trailing bias shoulder 223 reaches the valley I9Iy of the cam Y, as at 242 It will be observed that the degree of bias varies directly with the magnitude of the time interval required for the ascent and descent of the roll end I031], and hence with the angle subtended by the gradual bias shoulders of the cam engaged by the follower I 3311. Thus, when the bias is to be small, the fall and rise of the follower I331! must be of correspondingly short duration, and when theblas is to be great the fall and rise of the follower I331! must be of correspondingly great duration. I have provided for purposes of illustration two cams Y and Y" auxiliary to the cam Y (Figs. 4, 7 and 16). The cam Y may be considered as one affording a medium bias, the cam Y a smaller bias, and accordingly its biasi'orming shoulders I931! and 2231 subtend smaller angles than do the shoulders I331! and 228 is adapted to commence engagement with the follower I331 at substantially the same time that the follower I332: reaches the crest I983, it follows that the points of commencement of all of said shoulders lie in the same line, indicated by the point 240, the shoulder I933: of the cam X being used in each case.

Since, however, each trailing bias action terminates with the abrupt fall of the presser roll end I332, and the trailing bias shoulders 22311" 2281 2231 are adapted to terminate their engagement with the follower I331! at different times, represented by the points 24211, 2421/, 24211", respectively, the drop-oil shoulder 2282: is made adjustable to locate the drop-oil point thereof at the positionsfllx', 24m: (in full lines) and "he". This accounts for the provision of the adjustable cheek plate 220 on the cam X.

The cams Y, Y and Y" may form .an assembled unit adjustably splined on the shaft I31 so that any one of these cams may be selected and secured in place for cooperation with the follower l33y, the corresponding adjustment of the cheek plate 220 being made also.

It will be appreciated that if non-identical coats are to be formed in each cam revolution, or if the width of the stitching margins is to be varied, the various cam shoulders may be located in advanced or retarded positions, as conditions mayrequire, to secure correct timing, as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

When no coating is taking place, the presser roll is free of the coating roll. It is desirable to locate thelamps so that they will be eclipsed and revealed by the goods before the goods reaches the coating line. The distance of the lamps from the coating line determines to some extent the design of the cams. For example, referring to Fig. 15, the cams are Just commencing to turn, and hence the first coating point, I 92, must reach the coating line U when the follower I33x reaches the crest I331 (Fig. 15-A). Accordingly the angular extent of the valley I9lx from the point II to the crest I331: must be in fixed relation. to the distance from the point I92 to the line U.

so that there will be an uncoated margin 332 back line U, and it will be observed that this angular extent is less than the first angular extent by the angular extent for forming the stitching margin 202. This difference will be discerned readily upon reference to Figs. 15 and15-D.

Fig. 15F is analogous to Fig. 15 but relates to the next panel P, the cams being engaged with the followers at 0" and being about to commence turning. The angular extent of the valleys 206m, 2061 from the point 0" to the crests 2l6zc, 2l6y, accordingly should be the same as the corresponding angular extent of the valleys Biz, l9ly.

Fig. 15-J is analogous to Fig. 15-D but relates to the panel P, the cams being engaged with the followers at 0", about to commence turning. The angular extent of the crest 2|6x. fr'om'v the point 0" to the abrupt drop-off shoulder 228a: accordingly should be the same as the corresponding angular extent of the crests [9812, I98

How long the cams should pause with the followers at the points 0' and 0", when the panels are being coated, depends on the dimensions of the panels themselves, in the direction of conveyance, since each such pause terminates when the trailing edge of a panel uncovers a lighted lamp. In Fig, l5-C the cams have just stopped by virtue of the engagement of the tooth I86 with the stop I19, and it is evident that the length of time the cams will remain still depends on the distance of the trailing edge 20! from the lamp 8.1:, in the direction of conveyance of thepanel. Were the dimension of the panel in said direction greater or less, obviously the pause of the cams would be correspondinglygreater or less.

The pause of the cams While each panel is being coated the full width, 1. e., when the points 0' or 0" of the cams, as the case may be, are engaged with the followers, will terminate when the trailing edgeof the panel being coated reveals one or the other of the lamps 0x, 81 As explained above, the angular length of the crests from said points to the drop-off shoulders is the same. The length of each set of crests is slightly greater than the extent just referred to, so as to insure the full rise of both ends of the presser roll I03 before the pauses commence. This ex? cess may be of any desired magnitude. In fact, if the cams were sufliclently large or their speed suitably controlled relative to the speed of conveyance of the panels, the-pauses might be dis:

pensed with. But it is preferred to make use of the pauses because by this means the same cams may be employed irrespective of variations in panel sizes. It will be apparent from the foregoing that since the coating is continuous during the entire time of engagement of the followers with a set of crests, it follows that for a given size of panels the sum of the time of movement of the cams during engagement of a set oi. crests with the followers preceding a pause and the time of such pause is fixed. Hence if the first of these times is shorter or longer the pause is correspondingly longer or shorter. The crests of the cams accordingly may be alike or difierent within the limits noted.

When a different coat bias is to be formed, the proper cam Y, Y, Y" is selected for engagement with the follower I331 and the plate 220 correspondingly adjusted on the cam- X (Figs. 12 and 16). Here, again, the termination of each pause of the cams will be governed by the size of the panels and, for a given size, the pauses at a given set of crests will be alike irrespective of the bias, the bias-forming shoulders alone taking care of the formation of both the leading and the trailing bias.

The pause of the cams with the followers at the points 0 or 0", when no coating occurs, depends on the space intervals at which the panels are fed. In Fig. 15-E it will be noted'that thecams have just stopped due to engagement of the tooth I84 with the stop I13, and that this pause will continue until the leading edge 2| l of the panel P eclipses this minimum, the followers will reach the crest 2l6:c, 2i6y. too late'so that the stitching margin will be too wide, and a defective panel coat will result. By properly feeding the succeeding panels, however, matters will be corrected sincethe coating is governed by the lights, which in turn are controlled by the panels. The interval may be as much greater than the minimum as desired.

The foregoing applies alike to the interval betweenthe panels P and P, and between the panels P and P.

In order to prevent adhesion of the panel to thecoating roll when the presser roll is released, I

provide a stripping device such as is shown in Figs.

4, 6 and 1'7. Referring more particularly to Figs.

an'dabove the feed ends of the conveying belts I8 to leave clearance for the coated panels. The ends 252' and 253 of the frame 250 may have scalloped edges as shown at 255 and 256, respectively, to which a cord or fine, preferably hairlike wire such as music wire, shown at 251, may be secured as by wrapping so as'to provide closely spaced strands 258 generally parallel to the direction of conveyance of the panels and dis-posed between the rolls and I03. The strands are disposed for the most part under the frame ends 252 and 253, and normally are held down taut and out of contact with the rolls 95 and I03 under the action of the spring means 25l, as shown in Fig. 4, so that, when not in use, the strands are prevented from cutting or grooving the soft surface of the coating roll 95.

Fastened to the stationary shaft 15 carrying the pulleys H over which the belts 64 move are guide brackets 260 arranged to engage the under side of each panel as the panel progresses beyond the belts-03 (Figs. 1 and 4), and to guide the panel between the rolls 05 and I03 and under the strands 258.

When the leading edge of a panel has progressed to a point beyond the coating line of the coating .roll 95 a distance equal to the width of the stitching margin, as has been explained, elevation of one or both ends of the presser roll takes place, according'as the leading edge is biased or unbiased. The presser roll, in rising, forces the part of the panel thereover, together with the superimposed stripper strands 258, upward against the relatively yielding coating roll 95, forcing the strands to be embedded in, and the upper face of the panel to engage,'the coating roll. The coating liquid 'fiows around and under each wire strand and makes the coat substantially complete and perfect.

As the presser roll descends, the spring 25l depresses the strands 258, which strip the progressing coated portion away from the coating roll, the coated panel moving over the conveyor roll H0 and thence onto the conveyor belt 18. From this belt the coated panel passes between the squeeze rolls H2 and H3, which thoroughly "1mpregnate the covered material with the liquid coat, and then the panel is carried to the delivery end of the machine by the belts 58 and 83. The squeeze rolls H2 and I I3 will eliminate any bubbles which may have adhered to the coat upon its separation from the coating roll and which have not disappeared before reaching the squeeze rolls.

When either or both ends of the presser roll drop, the strands 258, from which the upward pressure of said roll is removed, move immediately down away from the coating roll under the influence of the spring means 25!, thereby stripping the panel free of the coating roll, so that only that panel portion held by the presser roll against the coating roll is coated, thereby insuring leaving uncoated the trailing stitching margin.

From the belts 58 and 83 the panels travel into a curing oven of any suitable type, as, for example, one of the type illustrated in my copending application, Serial No. 118,879, filed January 2, 1937.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of my invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim:

l. A coating apparatus comprising a coating roll, a presser roll, means for conveying material to be coated between said rolls, and means controlled by the conveyed material for pressing together portions of the rolls of progressively vary ing length while the material is progressing between said rolls, to press portions of the material of progressively varying width against the coating roll.

2. A coating apparatus comprising a coating member, a presser member, means for conveying material to be coated between said members, means for effecting relative approach of said members to engage material therebetween, means for effecting relative separation of said members, and means holding the material out of contact with said coating member when said members are separated.

3. A coating apparatus comprising a resilient coating member, a presser member, means for conveying material to be coated between said members, yieldable means comprising relatively fine widely spaced strands normally disposed to guide and retain the material away from the coating member, means for moving said presser member and with it the material and guide means to-' ward said coating member, to embed said strands in said coating member and effect engagement of the coating member with the material, and means for retracting said presser member and thereby allowing said guide means to strip the material from the coating member.

4. Adevice for coating material, comprising a pair of smooth-surfaced rollers, one of which is a coatingv roller, means for feeding the material beaaaaooa tween said rollers, and means for efl'ecting relative approach'and separation of the rollers at one end thereof while the material is pressed between the opposite end of the rollers.

5. A coating apparatus comprising a coating roll, a presser roll spaced therefrom, means for conveying ,a piece of material between said rolls,

mechanism for effecting relative approach of said rolls to coat the material, releasable means for preventing operation of said mechanism, a light source, a photoelectric cell adapted to be energized by the light from said source, means controlled by said cell for effecting operation of said releasable means, the beam of light between said source and said cell being disposed in the path of conveyance of the material, means operative when said beam is intercepted for releasing said releasable means, and means timing said mechanism to effect said relative approach after a part of the material has passed the coating portion of the coating roll.

6. A coating apparatus comprising a coating roll, a presser roll spaced therefrom, means for conveying a piece of material therebetween, a photoelectric cell, light means arranged so that light therefrom reaching the cell intersects the path of the conveyed material. and mechanism controlled by said cell and rendered operative when the conveyed material intercepts and reveals said light, said mechanism being timed to efiect relative approach and subsequent separation of said rolls during the'passage of a predetermined intermediate portion of the material between said rolls.

7. An apparatus for applying a leading bias coat to a panel having biased and unbiased edges and fed with the biased edge leading, said apparatus comprising a coating roll, a presser ro1l,.

means for conveying the panel between said rolls, a pair of cams to efiect relative approach and separation of the respective ends of said rolls, one at the wide and the other at the narrow side of the panel, said other cam being shaped to eifect a gradual approach of said rolls at the 4 narrow side of the panel after the opposite ends of the rolls are brought together by said one cam, driving means for said conveying means and cams, said driving means being timed to operate said other cam to press the corresponding ends of the rolls together when the leading point of the leading bias adjacent the wide side of the panel is at the bottom of said coating roll, said other cam being formed to complete the relative approach of the-rolls at the narrow side of the panel when a point of the bias adjacent the narrow side of the panel is at the bottom of said coating roll, said cams being formed and timed to effect complete separation of said rolls when the unbiased edge of the panel is adjacent the bottom of said coating roll.

8. An apparatus for forming a bias edge coat on a panel having a bias border, comprising a coating roll, a presser roll, means for conveying a panel between said rolls, and controlling mechanismfor said presser roll, said mechanism comprising a photoelectric cell, light-generating means arranged so that the influence of light therefrom on the cell will be altered by interception of said light by a predetermined part of the bias edge of the panel before said part reaches the coating line of said coating roll, said mechanism being formed and timed to gradually shift one end of the presser roll relative to the coating roll while the other end of the presser roll is pressing the adjacent part of panel against the coating roll.

9. A coating apparatus comprising coating means, means for operating said coating means to form coats having leading bias edges and coats having trailing bias edges upon panels having portions shaped to correspond with such coats,

means for conveying the panels to the coating means, and means controlled by said operating means for'slgnalling whether the next panel to be fed should be placed on the conveying means with' its bias edge leading or trailing.

10. A coating apparatus comprising coating means, means for operating said coating means to form coats having leading bias edges and coats having trailing bias edges upon panels having portions shaped to correspond with such coats, means for conveying the panels to the coating means, means controlled by, said operating means for indicating whether the next panel to be fed should be placed on the conveyihg means with its bias edge leading or trailing, and means for preventing operation of said operating means when no panel is fed.

11. A coating apparatus comprising a coating roll, a single means for supplying coating liquid to said roll, and removing from said roll all liquid remaining on that portion thereof which has completed a coating operation, before said por tion receives an additional supply of the liquid from said means, a reservoir, means for conducting the removed liquid to the reservoir, so that the liquid at the bottom of the reservoir is substantially de-aerated, and means for delivering the de-aerated liquid from said reservoir to said supplying means.

12. A device for coating material, comprising a pair of rollers, one of which is a coating roller, means for feeding the material between said rollers, and means for effecting relative approach and separation of the rollers at one end thereof while the material is pressed between the opposite end of the rollers.

13. A coating apparatus comprising a coating roll, a-presser roll, means for conveying material of different bias edge lengths, comprising a coating roll, means for interchangeably supporting pressure rolls of different lengths corresponding to different bias edge lengths for cooperating with said coating roll, a presser roll supported by said means, means for conveying a panel between said rolls, and mechanism for effecting relative approach and separation of said rolls, said mechanism comprising a photoelectric cell, a lamp, and a mirror arranged to reflect a beam from said lamp onto said cell, said lamp being arranged so that its beam will be intercepted by a,predetermined part cf the leading bias margin of a panel before the panel reachesthe coating line of said coating roll, said mechanism being the I formed and timed to press said margin between an end of the presser roll and said coating roll and to progressively press the bias margin between said coating roll and the remainder of said presser roll, when said beam is intercepted, and to separate said rolls when said beam is not intercepted, another lamp operative selectively instead of the first lamp and spaced therefrom lengthwise of the bias edge when adifferent length presser roll is supported by said supporting means and a panel of correspondingly different bias marginal length is to be coated, said other lamp being arranged to throw a beam onto said mirror, and means for adjusting said mirror to reflect the second beam onto said cell, said second beam being disposed to be intercepted by thecorresponding predetermined part of the bias margin of the second panel to enable said mechanism, by means of said rolls, to apply a bias edge coat of different bias length to the second panel.

15. A coating apparatus comprising a coating roll, means forsupplying coating liquid to said roll, means for removing from said roll all liquid remaining on that portion thereofwhich has completed a coating operation before said portion receives anadditional supply of the liquid from the supplying means, a reservoir into which the removed liquid is conducted, a lower reservoir, means straining the liquid from the bottom of the first reservoir to the upper part of the lower reservoir, an upper reservoir disposed above the first reservoir, means'for delivering liquid from the bottom of the lower reservoir to a point below the surface of the liquid in the upper reservoir, and means affording gravitational delivery of the liquid from the bottom of the upper reservoir to said supplying means.

16. A method of supplying used coating liquid in a de-areated condition to a coating member supplying device, comprisingthe steps of removing all coating liquid from that part of the coating member which has completed a coating operation, gravitationally straining the removed liquid over the contents of a reservoir of such liquid, withdrawing the liquid from a lower part of the reservoir remote from the surface level of such liquid anddelivering it to a second reservoir at a point substantially below the level of the liquid in the second reservoir, and gravitationally delivering liquid from the bottom of the second reservoir to the supply device for coating operations.

17. A coating-apparatus comprising a coating roll, a presser roll spaced therefrom, means for conveying a piece of material between said rolls, mechanism for effecting relative approach of said rolls to coat the material, releasable means for preventing operation of said mechanism, a light source, a photoelectric cell adapted to be energized by the light from said source, means controlled by said cell for effecting operation of said releasable means,'the beam of light between said source and said cell being disposed in the path of conveyance of the material, and means operative when said beam is intercepted for releasing said releasable means.

, CLIFFORD E. IVES.

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