US2532730A - Apparatus for coating plates - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 5, 1950 E. PENKER ET AL 2,532,730

APPARATUS FOR COATING PLATES 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 10, 1947 INVENTOR.5

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Dec. 5, 1950 E. PENKER ET AL 2,532,730

APPARATUS FOR COATING PLATES Filed Oct. 10, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTORD Dec. 5, 1950 E. PENKER ET AL 2,532,730

APPARATUS FOR COATING PLATES Filed Oct. 10, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 N a R g? g 3115 A INVENTORJ WWW Dec. 5, 1950 E. PENKER ET AL APPARATUS FOR COATING PLATES 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed 001', 10

Dec. 5, 1950 E. PEN'KER ETAL 2,532,730

APPARATUS FOR COATING PLATES Filed Oct. 10. 1947 INVENT0R$ Dec. 5, 1950 E. PENKER ETAL APPARATUS FOR COATING PLATES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 10, 1947 Patented Dec. 5, 1950 APPARATUS FOR COATING PLATES Ernest Penker, Flushing, and Martin Bulin, Jackson Heights, N. Y., assignors to Etched Products Corporation, Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 10, 194?, Serial No. 778,998

This invention relates to coating apparatus, and more particularly, to apparatus for coating one surface of a metal plate which is to be dipped in an etching bath.

In preparing a metal plate for etchingfor example, to provide raised characters on its surface-the characters are imprinted on one surface of the plate by a suitable ink. The ink is then protected by a suitable material resistant to the action of the chemicals in the etching bath. The opposite surface of the plate is coated on the plate surface. The height of the characters is determined by proper correlation of the strength of the etching solution and the time interval of immersion.

It is important that the metal surface to be etched be clean. Consequently, it is necessary not to touch this surface with the fingers, as the oily deposit resists the action of the etching solution. Likewise, the coating of the back surface of the plate should not be touched until it is thoroughly dry. Apparatus for handling and coating such plates has hitherto not been satisfactory from the standpoint of these two conditions.

In accordance with the present invention, a coating apparatus, for coating the back surface of the plate, is provided in which the front surface need not be handled and the back coating is not touched until thoroughly dried. The plate, having the characters printed thereon and coated, is handled through its back surface and placed on a roller conveyor mechanism. This mechanism feeds the plate in contact with a coating roller from which the plate is discharged onto a conveyor which'engages only the lower corners of the longitudinal edges of the plate.

Roller means are provided to press the back surface of the pla e against the coating rollers. In such roller means were aligned with the coating roller, it would become smeared with the coating material and correspondingly smear the front surface of the plate. Accordingly, the present invention utilises two pressure roller means, one in advance of the coating roller and the other rearwardly thereof.

The forward roller presses the plate against the coating roller when the-'first portion of the 8 Claims. (CI. 91-50) plate passes the coating roller. The rear pressure roller is mounted for movement into and out of engagement with th'plate. An automatic scanning device, such as an "electric eye is provided which, when the leading plate edge approaches the coating roller, actuates mechanism to retract the rear pressure roller. When the trailing edge of the plate passes the scanning mechanism, the rear pressure roller is engaged with the plate.

The receiving conveyor comprises longitudinally spaced pairs of rollers having their axes angularly disposed to form a. V bisected by a perpendicular to the plate surface. Thus, these rollers engage only the lower corners of the side edges of the plate. The rollers are further formed with axially spaced, circumferential grooves receiving such corners. With this constructional arrangement, the coated under surface of the plate is not contacted until it has had a chance to thoroughly dry.

The receiving conveyor as a. whole is made vertically adjustable so that the horizontal spacing between the rollers, at the plane of movement of the plate over the coating roller, will substantially equal the width of the plate. This assures contact between the longitudinal plate edges and the conveyor rollers. To facilitate this vertical adjustment, a feeler gauge is provided on the feeding conveyor means for accurately centering the plate thereon and has a scale carrying plate width indicia... A similarly marked scale is associated with the vertical adjustment means for the receiving conveyor, so that the latters height is adjusted in accordance with the plate width.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide novel apparatus for coating a surface of a metal plate.

Another object is to provide a novel plate receiving conveyor having support means contacting only the lower corners of the longitudinal edges of the coated plate.

A further object is to provide automatically operative pressure means, spaced from the coating means, and engaged with the plate responsive to the position thereof relative to the coating means.

A still further object is to provide a novel arrangement for accurately adjusting the height of the receiving conveyor in accordance with the plate width.

These, and other objects, advantages and novel features 91. the invention will be app e f the following descriptionand the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of apparatus embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view, partly broken away, of a detail of the apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus, on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of the apparatus. partly broken away to illustrate certain details more clearly.

Fig. '1 is asectional view on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an elevation view partly in section, on the line 8-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a medial transverse elevational view taken substantially on the line |8||l of Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line of Fig. 10.

Figs. 12 and 13 are sectional views on the correspondingly numbered lines of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a rear elevation view of the apparatus, showing a coated sheet receiving conveyor in one position.

Fig. 15 is a view, similar to Fig. 14, showing the conveyor in another position.

Figs. 16 and 1'1 are somewhat diagrammatic views illustrating certain features of the operation of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the coating apparatus of the invention is mounted on a suitable frame generally indicated at l8, and includes conveyor mechanism for feeding a sheet to be coated, into contact with a coating roller 40. Coating roller 4|] applies a coating of asphalt, or of other material resistant to the chemicals of the etching bath, to the underface of sheet 30. A conveyor 50 receives the coated sheet as it passes from coating roller 40, and is so arranged that it engages the sheet only on the lower corners of the longitudinal or side edges of the sheet. A pressure roller 50 is disposed in advance of roller 40 for pressing sheet 30 firmly against the coating roller during the passage of the forward portion of the sheet over the coating roller. When substantially half the sheet has passed coating roller 48, a series of rollers 10 disposed rearwardly of roller 40 engage the sheet to hold it in contact with roller 40.

Rollers 18 are moved between a retracted and an engaged position with respect to sheet 30 by suitable means which is hereindicated as two air cylinder arrangements.80. Admission of air to air cylinders 80 is controlled by an air valve which is in turn under the control of a photoelectric scanning device generally indicated at 90. As the forward edge of sheet 30 passes beneath scanning device 90, air cylinders 80 are activated to move rollers 18 to the retracted position. When the rear or trailing edge of sheet 38 passes beneath scanning device 90, air cylinders 80 are again activated to move rollers 10 into engagement with sheet 30. This causes arms 10 to press sheet 30 against roller 40 during passage of the rear half of the sheet past the roller.

The sheet feeding conveyor mechanism 20 includes a plurality of rollers 2| which are journalled in side frame members 22, 22. Each roller 2| has a sprocket 23 affixed to one end of its central shaft 24, and a chain 26 extends over these sprockets and over a sprocket 4| on the shaft 42 of coating roller 40. A slack take-up means is provided in'the form of a sprocket 21 mounted in bearing 28 on rod 29. Rod 28 extends through bracket 3| and has a threaded end to which is secured a nut 32 for adjusting the tension of chain 21 by setting the longitudinal position of rod 28.

The driving mechanism includes a motor 25 having a speed changing pulley 33 connected by a belt 34 to drive a pulley 36 of a gear reduction unit 35. Gear reduction unit has a shaft 31 extending rearwardly therefrom and provided with a bevel gear 38 which meshes with a bevel gear 39 secured to a shaft 43 rotatably mounted in an arm 44 secured to a column 46 of frame l8. Shaft 43 has a sprocket 41 on its outer end which, through a chain 48, drives a sprocket 49 on the shaft 5| of a roller 45, having a function described hereinafter. Roller 45 is provided with a spur gear 52 meshing with a spur gear 53 on roller 48. Thus, through the described arrangement, motor 25 rotates rollers 2|. The chain 26, intermediate sprockets 23, is held in engagement with the roller sprockets by idling sprockets 54 mounted in the frame memebrs 22.

Roller 45 has substantial surface contact with coating roller to apply the coating material thereto. This material is preferably asphalt or other material resistant to the chemicals of the etching bath. The coating material is in a tank 55 which is supported on spaced pairs of interconnected links 56 pivoted on frame members 51. A handle 58 is secured with a shaft secured to the forward links, whereby tank 55 may be adjusted vertically by swinging the links 56. Tank 55 may be refilled through a filling neck 59 at its forward end.

Roller is adjustably mounted to assure proper application of the coating material to coating roller 40. The adjustable mounting arrangement is best shown in Figs. 6 through 9 as comprising a pair of forked arms 6| pivoted on pins 62 set in vertical frame members 63. Shaft 5| of roller 45 extends through arcuate slots 64 in members 63 and sets in bushings 66 in the forked ends of arms 6|. The opposite ends of arms 6| are provided with brackets 61 engaged by studs 68, threaded through brackets 1| on frame members 22 and provided with lock nuts 12. Adjustment of studs 68 swings arms 6| to adjust roller 45 relative to roller 40 and tank 55. The adjustment is locked by studs 13 extending through arcuate slots 14 in arms 6| and threaded in member 63.

A feature of the invention is the use of a plate centering gauge on feeding conveyor means 28. This gauge 15 comprises fiat plate 16 mounted for transverse movement in guides 11 and carrying fingers 18 for engaging a longitudinal edge of plate 38. One guide 11 is provided with a clamping means 1.9 for retaining plate 16 in adjusted position. A scale 8| on plate 16 is graduated in plate widths and cooperates with a pointer 82 on a guide 11. When pointer 82 indicates the plate width on scale 8|, fingers 18 position plate 30 centrally of conveyor means 20. As will be explained hereinafter, gauge 15 has a functional cooperation with a height gauge on receiving conveyor 50.

An important feature is the pressure rollers 68 and 10, for pressing plate 30 firmly against the 0 8 m terial on roller 40. If pressure rollers bers H3, and the lower ends in bracket H5.

were vertically aligned with roller 49, considering the relative thinness of plate 39, the pressure rollers would pick up coating material from roller 49. In pressing plate 39 against roller 49, the pressure roller would smear coating material on the upper surface of plate 39 carrying the coated, printed characters. Consequently, in the present invention, forward and rearward pressure rollers 69 and I9 are provided, which are not vertically aligned with roller 49.

Forward pressure roller 69 has its shaft 86 carried in bearings 81 which are mounted on the lower ends of studs 88 threaded through ears 89 on a, frame member 9|. By adjustment of studs 88, the distance between rollers 49' and 69 may be regulated in accordance with the thickness of plate 39. Roller 49 is driven, by a chain 29 I from roller 45.

The rear rollers I9 are arranged to be moved from a plate engaging position to a retracted position in accordance with the travel of plate 39. For this purpose, the axle 92 (Figs. 3 and 4) carrying rollers I9 is mounted in journals 93 set in guides 94 and biased upwardly by springs 96. Studs 91 connect journals 93 to a cross bar 98, to which are secured the piston rods 99 of a pair of air cylinders 89 mounted on brackets secured to the rearward portion of plate 9Ia.

When air is admitted to cylinders 89, rollers I9 are forced into engagement with the upper surface of plate 39.

Control of the air supply to cylinders 89 is effected by a solenoid air valve I92 supplied with air from a conduit I93 connected to a pressure regulator I94, having a pressure gauge I96, and supplied with air from a suitable source through conduit m1. Conduits I98, I99 connect valve I92 to cylinders 89.

Operation of valve I92 to admit air to or exhaust air from cylinders 89 is under the control of a scanning device such as a photoelectric cell 99. Cell 99 is connected electricallv to suitable mechanism in a housing I9I, which mechanism controls energization of solenoid air valve I92 in accordance with signal impulses from photoelectric cell 99. As will be explained hereinafter, when the forward edge of plate 39 interrupts the beam on cell 99. valve I92 is actuated to release air from cylinders 89. Springs 96 move journals 93 upwardly to move rollers I9 to the retracted position. When the plate 39 passes from beneath cell 99. the latter acts tocause valve I92 to admit air to cylinders 89, forcing rollers 19 to engage the upper surface of plate 39 and hold the plate against roller 45.

One of the most im ortant features of the invention is the conveyor 59 which receives the coated plates 39 as they are discharged from the coating roller 45. This conveyor comprises a frame I'I9, mounted for vertical adiustment on frame I8, and spaced pairs of rollers I29 each pair having their axes forming an upwardly opening V bisected by a perpendicular to the surface of plate 39.

Frame II9 includes a base III having uprights H2 at its corners connected by up er longitudinal members '3 having their surfaces nerpem dicular to the axes N4 of rollers I29. Extendin centrally of base III is an inverted, v-shaned bracket H5. Referring to Figs. 14 and 15, the upper ends of axes II4 are journalled in mem- Inside bracket II5, each axle II 4 has fixed thereto a s rocket H6.

Chains I I1 interconnect all of the sprockets I I8 6 so that all of the rollers I29 will be rotated in unison. For the purpose of driving the rollers, the forward pair of rollers having intermeshing bevel gears H8, one of which meshes with a bevel gear I'2I. Gear I2I is secured to a shaft I22 in a bearing I23 on a. plate I24 extending downwardly from bracket H5.

Shaft I22 is driven from gear reduction unit 35. For this purpose, shaft 31 extends rearwardly through gear 38 and continues as a shaft I26 through a sleeve I21 mounted in a block I28 secured between support 49 and an angular member I29. At its rear end, sleeve I21 has a U- shaped bracket I39 secured thereto by a set screw I3I, so that sleeve I21 acts as an axis of oscillation for bracket I39 by virtue of its bearing in block I28.

The rear end of shaft I26 has keyed thereto a bevel gear I33 meshing with a bevel gear I23. Gear I33 is keyed to a shaft I34 mounted in bearings I36 in the arms of bracket I39. Shaft I34 is slidable through gear I33, and a spacing sleeve I31 extends betwen one bearing I36 and gear I33. One element I38 of a universal coupling is secured to the upper end of shaft I34 and the other coupling element I39 is secured to shaft I22. Rollers I29 are thus rotated by prime mover 25 through a coupling permitting vertical adjustment of rollers I29.

As stated. receiving convevor 59 is vertical y adjustable to receive plates 39 of varying widths and support them in the plane of discharge from coating roller 49. Frame 9 has support and guide columns I4I extending through bearings I42 on sup orts I43 forming part of frame I8.

A pair of links I44 pivoted on frame H9 and a pair of links I46 pivoted on frame I8 have their adjacent ends pivotally connected to the ends of a bar I41. Similarly, another pair of links I5I pivoted on frame H9 and a corresponding pair I52 pivoted on frame I8 have their inner ends pivotally connected to the ends of a bar I53. Bars I41 and I53 are provided with threaded apertures which receive reversely directed threaded portions on a shaft I54 rotated by hand wheel I55. When shaft I54 is rotated in one direction, the links are pulled toward alignment, raising conveyor 59. Rotation in the opposite direction lowers conveyor 59. The sliding shaft I34 and the universal coupling I38, I 39 provide for driving of rollers I29 by motor 25 in any position of conveyor 59.

The operation of the apparatus will be understood best by reference to Figs. 14 through 17. Referring to Figs. 16 and 17, sheet 39, having characters printed and coated on its upper surface, is placed on conveyor 29. Rollers 2I pull sheet 39 toward roller 49. As the forward sheet edge interrupts the beam of cell 99, valve I92 is operated to discharge air from pistons 89 so thatsprings 96 move rollers I9 to the retracted position. Pressure roiler 69 forces the under surface of plate 39 against roller 49, to coat the under surface with asphalt or the like, during passage of the forward part of plate 89 past roller 49.

As plate 39 emerges from roller 49, the lower corners of its side edges are engaged in grooves I56 of rollers I29 of conveyor 59, thus avoiding roller contact with the coated under surface of plate 30. For this purpose, rollers I29 are provided with axially spaced, circumferential grooves I56 receiving the lower side edge corners. As the rear edge of plate 39 passes from beneath cell 99, valve I92 is operated to admit air to cylinders I9I, thus pressing rolls I9 against the upper surassavso 7 faceof plate ll. This holds the plate against roller ll during passage of the rear half of the plate in contact with the coating roller.

If rolls It were continuously in the lower position, they would bend plate 30 so that it would not properly engage rollers I20 of conveyor II. The conveyor 50 is vertically adjustable so that the horizontal distance between rollers I29 at the level of plate 30 is equal to the plate width. A gauge I51 on frame It, cooperable with an indicator I58 on frame may be used to adjust conveyor 50 in accordance with the reading of centering gauge II on feeding conveyor 20. Ad- Justment is made by turning shaft I54 through wheel iii.

The described apparatus thus provides a novel arrangement for coating the imprinted surface of a plate to be etched in a chemical bath. The pressure means for forcing such surface against the coating roller are not aligned with such roller. Consequently, they will not become smeared with the coating material and will, accordingly, not smear the printed surface of the plate. The novel, adjustable, V-roller receiving conveyor engages only the lower corners of the side edges of the plate, so that damage to the coating of the under surface is prevented during drying and hardening thereof. Additionally, novel gauge means are provided to center the plates transversely of the apparatus and to set the height of the receiving conveyor in accordance with plate width.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail, to illustrate the application of the principles thereof, it will be understood that the invention may be otherwise embodied without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for applying a coating to the under surface of a sheet of material, a rotatable coating roller arranged to engage such surface and apply a coating thereto; mechanism for feeding the sheet into engagement with said coating roller; and a conveyor for receiving the coated sheet from said roller, said conveyor including opposed angularly disposed sheet support rollers for engaging only the lower corners of the longitudinal edges of the sheet.

2. In apparatus for applying a coating to the under surface of a sheet of material, a rotatable coating roller arranged to engage such surface and apply a coating thereto; mechanism for feeding the sheet into engagement with said coating roller; and a conveyor for receiving the coated sheet from said roller, said conveyor including longitudinally spaced pairs of sheet supporting rollers, the rollers of each pair being arranged with their axes forming an upwardly opening V bisected by a perpendicular to the center line of the sheet, and engaging only the lower corners of the longitudinal edges of the sheet.

3. In apparatus for applying a coating to the under surface of a sheet of material, a rotatable coating roller arranged to engage such surface and apply a coating thereto; mechanism for feeding the sheet into engagement with said coating roller; and a conveyor for receiving the coated sheet from said roller, said conveyor including longitudinally spaced pairs of sheet supporting rollers, the rollers of each pair being arranged with their axes forming a V bisected by a perpendicular to the center line of the sheet, and engaging only the lower corners of the longitudinal edges of the sheet; each roller having 8 axially spaced, circumferential such lower sheet corners.

4. In apparatus for applying a coating to the under surface of a sheet of material, a rotatable coating roller arranged to engage such surface and apply a coating thereto; mechanism for feeding the sheet into engagement with said coating roller; a conveyor for receiving the coated sheet from said roller, said conveyor including longitudinally spaced pairs of sheet supporting rollers, the rollers of each pair being arranged with their axes forming a V bisected by a perpendicular to the center line of the sheet, and engaging only the lower corners of the longitudinal edges of the sheet; and means for adjusting said conveyor vertically, in accordance with the sheet width, to receive the sheet in the plane of movement past said coating roller.

5. In apparatus for applying a coating to the under surface of a sheet of material, a rotatable coating roller'arranged toengagesuch surface and apply a coating thereto; conveyor mechanism for feeding the sheet into engagement with said coating roller; a conveyor for receiving the coated sheet from said roller, said conveyor including longitudinally spaced pairs of sheet sup porting rollers, the rollers of each pair being arranged with their axes forming a V bisected by a perpendicular to the center line of the sheet, and engaging only the lower comers of the iongitudinal edges of the sheet; means for adjusting said conveyor vertically, in accordance with the sheet width; a gauge cooperable with said conveyor means to center the sheet laterally thereof and including indicia correlated with the sheet width; and a scale associated with said conveyor adjustment means and having indicia correlated with the sheet width; whereby said scale may be used in cooperation with said gauge to adjust said device to set the height of said conveyor to receive the sheet in the plane of movement past said coating roller.

. 6. In apparatus for applying a coating to the under surface of a sheet of material, a rotatable coating roller arranged to engage such surface tudinal edges of the sheet; means for adjusting said conveyor vertically, in accordance with the sheet width, to receive the sheet in the plane of movement past said coating roller; a sprocket rotatable with each conveyor roller; a chain engaged with said sprockets; a drive member engaged with said chain to rotatesaid conveyor rollers; driving means; and a universal driving device between said driving means and said drive member to accommodate vertical adjustment of said conveyor.

7. In apparatus for applying a coating to one surface of a sheet of material, a rotatable coating roller arranged to engage such surface and apply a coating thereto; mechanism for feeding the sheet into engagement with said coating roller; first means in advance of said roller arranged to engage the other surface of the sheet to press such one surface against said roller during passage of the forward portion of the sheet in contact with said roller; retractable second means 9 rearward of said roller normally maintained out of the plane of said sheet and displaceable into engagement with the other surface of the sheet to press such one surface against said roller during passage of the rearward portion of the sheet in contact with said roller; an air cylinder and piston device operable, when actuated, to move said second means between the sheet engaging position and a retracted position; and a photoelectric scanning device" having a beam in the path of the sheets and operatively connected with said mechanism and efiective, by interruption of its beam when the leading edge of the sheet approaches said first means, to activate said device to retract said second means and. in

clearance of its beam when the trailing edge of the sheet approaches said first means, to engage said second means with the sheet.

8. In apparatus for applying a coating to one surface of a sheet of material, a rotatable coating roller arranged to engage such surface and apply a coating thereto; mechanism for feeding the sheet into engagement with said coating roller; a first pressure roller in advance of said coating roller arranged to engage the other 25 gagement with the other surface of the sheet to press such one surface against said coating roller to coat the same; an air cylinder and piston device operable, when actuated, to move said second pressure roller between the sheet engaging position and a retracted position; and a photoelectric scanning device having a beam in the path of the sheets and operatively connected with said mechanism and efiective, by interruption of its beam when the leading edge of the sheet approaches said first pressure roller, to activate said device to retract said second pressure roller and, when the trailing edge of the sheet approaches said first pressure roller, to engage said second pressure roller with the sheet.

ERNEST PENKER. MARTIN BULIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'EN'I'S Number Name Date 403,633 Allen May 21, 1889 905,269 Zapf Dec. 1, 1908 2,126,663 Reinitz Aug. 9, 1938 2,167,430 Booty et a1 July 25, 1939 Ives Feb. 18, 1941.

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