US2920372A

US2920372A - Apparatus for the manufacture of paint roller covers

Info

Publication number: US2920372A
Application number: US562170A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alfred L Sannipoli; Earl E Thomas
Original assignee: Seamless Covers Inc
Current assignee: Seamless Covers Inc
Priority date: 1956-01-30
Filing date: 1956-01-30
Publication date: 1960-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 1977-01-12

Description

1960 A. L. SANNIPQL! ETAL 2,920,372

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAINT ROLLER COVERS Filed Jan. so, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 1 VACUUM VACUUM HIGH VAUUM iiima INVENTORS ALFRED L. SANNIPOLI 8r EARL. E. firoMAs A TTOENEKT.

A. L. SANNIPOLI ET AL Jan. 12, 1960 APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAINT ROLLER COVERS Filed Jan. 30, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ji rm INVENTORS ALFRED L. SANNIPOL/ EARL E. THOMAS ATTORNEYS.

n- 1960 A. L. SANNIPOLI ETAL 2,920,372

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAINT ROLLER COVERS Filed Jan. 30, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 6 r QWUHHH INVENTORS ALFRED L. .ShNN/POL/ 4121. f. THOMAS ATTORNEYS.

1950 A. L. SANNIPOLI ETAL 2,920,372

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAINT ROLLER COVERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 30, 1956 f 9 w m m w wwmw a W m INVENTORS ALF/2E0 L. SA/wv/Pou 84 [4/21. 5 77-10MA5 A TTORNE Y5 A. L. SANNlPOLl ETAL 2,920,372

Jan. 12, 1960 I APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAINT ROLLER COVERS Filed Jan. 30, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. ALF/2E0 L. Jami/P041 & EARL 7Z/oMAs ATTORNEYS 2,920,372 Patented Jan. 12, 1960 APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAINT ROLLER COVERS Alfred L. Sannipoli, Royal Oak, and Earl E. Thomas, Detroit, Mich., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Seamless Covers Incorporated, Janesville, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application January 30, 1956, Serial No. 562,170 4 Claims. (Cl. 26-2) This invention relates to the manufacture of paint rollers and particularly to a method and apparatus for combing and shearing the paint roller covers.

Roller covers which are used for applying paint comprise a hollow core to the outer surface of which is adhered a sleeve of knitted pile fabric, with the pile fibers extending generally radially outwardly. The knitted pile fabric may be manufactured on a machine such as that shown in the patent to Moore 1,849,466, issued March 15, 1932, wherein the pile fibers are knitted into the fabric as the fabric is formed.

In the manufacture of such pile fabric there is incorporated with the pile fibers which are knitted in the fabric an excess of pile fibers which must be removed from the paint roller cover. In addition, in the originally knitted form, the fibers are of unequal length and therefore must be sheared to form a smooth even surface for use of the fabric in making the paint roller covers.

Up to recently, it has been customary to knit the pile fabric in the form of a sleeve of very large diameter and thereafter slit the sleeve to form a flat piece of fabric which may be subjected to electrifying and shearing. The flat piece of fabric is also subjected to a treatment to seal the back of the base fabric and prevent the pile which has been knitted into the base fabric from being pulled or coming out of the base fabric. The flat piece of fabric is then slit into lengths which permit its being helically wound around a core to form the paint roller cover.

Paint roller covers have also been made from pieces of animal pelt or natural shearling which have been suitably treated and sheared in a flat condition. A fiat piece of previously treated natural shearling is slit into lengths which permit its being helically wound around a core to form the paint roller cover. Paint roller covers have also been made by sewing flat pieces of pile fabric or natural shearling along a longitudinal seam to form a tube. When paint roller covers are made from pile fabric or natural shearling by helically winding or sewing lengths of the pile fabric or natural shearling, the resultant peripheral surface of the paint roller cover has a tendency to be uneven because of the variations inherent in the helical winding and sewing.

More recently, it has been suggested that the pile fabric be knitted as a sleeve of small diameter whereby it can be mounted directly on a core. When such a sleeve is used to make paint roller covers, the resultant cover has a pile of uneven length containing a great quantity of loose fibers which are not knitted into the base fabric. The removal of the loose fibers and the shearing of the pile of such cylindrical paint roller covers pose problems which have not heretofore been present in making paint roller covers from lengths of flat pieces of pile fabric which has previously been subjected to a treatment for removing the loose fibers and shearing the pile, or from lengths of previously treated fiat pieces of natural shearling. t

It is an object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for straightening the fibers and shearing the fibers from a paint roller cover after it has been' mounted on a core.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for combing out the excess of the fibers and shearing the pile of the paint roller cover to form a smooth even surface, where the paint roller cover is made from a knitted sleeve of smalldiameter.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a method and apparatus wherein the loose pile fibers are recovered and collected for reuse.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a method and apparatus wherein the combing and shearing is accomplished quickly and automatically.

Basically, the apparatus for performing the invention comprises a table around the periphery of which is mounted a multiplicity of rotatable, vertical spindles. The table is, in turn, mounted for rotation about a vertical axis in step-by-step fashion past a series of combing and shearing stations. The paint roller covers are mounted on the vertical spindles and moved by the table into position adjacent each of a plurality of stations. The paint roller covers are subjected to a vacuum and a combing or shearing operation at the various stations, as more fully set forth hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view, parts being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 33 in Fig. 2, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the paint roller cover I after it has been passed through the machine.

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of one of the combing stations.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 88 in Fig.7, on a slightly enlarged scale.

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of one of the shearing stations.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line Ill-10 in Fig. 9, on a slightly enlarged scale.

Fig. 11 is an elevational view of the bevel shearing station for the lower end of the roller.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 1212 in Fig. 11, on a slightly enlarged scale.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary elevational view at another station of the machine showing the bevel shearing of the upper end of the paint roller cover. v

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line 14-14 in Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 6, a paint roller cover in completed condition comprises a sleeve S of knitted pile fabric or natural shearling mounted on a core C with the pile fibers substantially uniform in length. The upper and lower ends of sleeve S are preferably bevelled. Where the sleeve is made of knitted pile fabric, the pile fabric may be made of natural or synthetic fibers such as wool, cotton, mohair, rayon, nylon, dynel and the like or mixtures thereof. The shearing of the pile of the sleeve S is performed as the last step in the manufacture of paint rollers. The method and apparatus disclosed herein is particularly applicable where the sleeve S is made from a seamless knitted tube of small diameter.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the apparatus of the present invention comprises a base 20 including vertical legs 21 onwhich a substantially circular, horizontal table 22 is mounted for stepwise rotation. A multiplicity of rotatable spindles 23 which are driven continuously are :9 a mounted in vertical position on the table 22 at circumferentially spaced points along the periphery thereof. As shown in Fig. l, twelve spindles 23 are supported on the table 22 and the table is adapted to be indexed successively to bring each spindle past twelve stations.

As the table is indexed, each spindle is brought successively to a loading station 25 at which the paint roller cover is mounted on the spindle. On loading, the movement of the paint roller cover downwardly on the spindle is limited by a stop 24 near the lower end of the spindle. As the table is indexed, the spindle is brought successively into register with comb-

ing stations

26, 27 and 28, a shearing station 29, combing

stations

39 and 31, a second shearing station 32, a bottom bevel shearing station 33, a top bevel shearing station 34-, a high vacuum station 35, and finally an unloading station 36.

At the combing

stations

26, 27, 28, 34 and 31, the surface of the paint roller cover is combed, while at the

shearing stations

29 and 32, the fibers of the paint roller cover are sheared. At the bottom and top

bevel shearing stations

33 and 34, the ends of the paint roller cover are bevelled.

At each of the above mentioned stations, a vacuum is applied in a radial direction to the pile fibers of the paint roller cover. As shown in Fig. 1, a vacuum source 37 is provided with a header 38 which, in turn, is connected to the combing

stations

26, 27 and 28 by

flexible conduits

32, 40 and 41, respectively. A second vacuum source 42 is also provided with a header 43 which is connected to the first shearing station 29, combing stations and 31, second shearing station 32 and bottom and top

bevel shearing stations

33, 34, by

flexible conduits

44, 45, 46, 47, 48 and 49, respectively. A third source of vacuum 50, of greater magnitude than the

sources

37 and 42, also includes a header 51 connected to the second shearing station 32 and high vacuum station by

flexible conduits

52 and 53, respectively.

he vacuum source 37 connectedto the combing stations prior to shearing is preferably separate from vacuum source 42, since the fibers removed from the combing

stations

26, 27 and 28 are primarily the loose fibers; and these are collected in a suitable receptacle and reclaimed for use.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the means for continuously rotating the spindles 23 comprises a motor 55 mounted beneath the base 26 and driving a speed reduction unit 56 through a pulley 57 on the motor shaft, pulley 53 on the shaft of the reduction unit 56 and a belt 5% trained over the

pulleys

57, 58. The reduction unit 56 is provided with a shaft 6%} extending upwardly through the center of the table 22 and having a gear 61 keyed thereto.

The gear 61 meshes with idler gear 62 which, in turn,

meshes with an idler gear 63. The idler gears 62, 63 I are rotatably mounted on the table 22. The idler gear 63 meshes with a gear 64 keyed to the shaft 65 of a spindle 23. Each of the spindles 23 has a gear 66 keyed to the shaft 65 thereof. and idler gears 67 are rotatably mounted on the table 22 and engage between the successive gears 66 on the spindle shafts.

As the motor 55 is operated, the gear 61 will be rotated, thus, rotating the idler gears 62, 63 and, in turn, rotating the spindles 23 through the gear train which meshes with the idler gear 63. Since idler gears 67 are provided between successive spindles, all the spindles will rotate in the same direction, namely, clockwise as shown in Fig. 3.

As shown in Fig. 5, the indexing of the table 22 may be accomplished by any suitable mechanism well known in the art, for example, a plate 79 fastened to the bottom or" the table and rotatable in stepwise fashion by a pneumatic motor 71 which may be caused, upon actuation thereof, to actuate a pawl and ratchet 72, 73.

Each of the spindles 23 is provided with a plunger 140 which projects through an opening in the side thereof and is held in a radially outermost position by a spring 141. The outward movement of the plunger is limited by a flange 142 on the plunger which contacts the inner wall of a hollowed-out portion of the spindle. The plunger 140 tends to prevent the sleeve S from rotating on the spindle (Fig. 7).

Each of the combing

stations

26, 27, 28, 3t) and 31 is substantially identical in structure. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the first combing station 26 comprises a supporting bracket 76 having an upper portion 77 which is generally channel shaped in horizontal section. Vertically spaced

arms

78, 79 extend generally horizontally from the upper portion of the bracket '76, and a comb $0 is mounted between the arms for rotation about a vertical axis. A sprocket 81 is mounted on the upper end of the shaft of the comb 80. The comb is provided with a multiplicity of radially extending wire teeth 75. The vacuum conduit 39 communicates with the area surrounding the comb 80 through an opening 82 in the upper section 77 of the bracket 76. Arcuate shields 83, 84 are provided around the periphery of the combs and extend from the bracket 76 around the comb and in close proximity thereto terminating adjacent the area in which the paint roller will contact the comb.

As shown in Fig. 8, when the table 22 is indexed to bring a loaded spindle 23 into position adjacent a combing station, the teeth 75 of the comb 80 are caused to penetrate into and engage the layer of fibers on the paint roller cover. Since the comb is continuously rotating, preferably in the opposite direction relative to the direction of rotation of the paint roller cover, the wire teeth 75 will serve to remove any loose fibers and, in addition, straighten the pile fibers which are knitted into the sleeve of the paint roller so that they extend in a radially outward direction in position for shearing. The fibers which are removed from the paint roller will be carried by the teeth 75 around through the housing formed by the

shields

83, 84 to a position adjacent the vacuum conduit 39 where the vacuum will pull the loose fibers from the teeth of the comb and carry them to the source of vacuum. These fibers are collected, and in the case of the combing

stations

26, 27 and 28, the fibers are of sufiicient length as to permit reuse thereof, for example, in knitting new knit pile fabric sleeves.

As shown in Fig. 1, the combs at the various combing stations are driven from a single motor 85 mounted on the base 20. The motor 85 drives a gear reduction unit 86 through a chain 87. Each of the combs at the combing

stations

26, 27, 28, 30 and 31 have a pair of sprockets on the end of the comb shaft whereby the driving connection may be made to the reduction gear unit successively from one unit to another by

chains

88, 89, 90, 91 and 92, thus, driving the combs counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 8.

Each of the

shearing stations

29, 32 is substantially identical in construction. As shown in Pig. 9, the first shearing station 29 comprises a bracket 93 having a channel shaped upper section 94 and vertically spaced

arms

95, 96 extending generally horizontally from the upper section 94 and rotatably supporting a rotary shear 97. A pully 98 is fixed to the upper end of the shaft of the shear 97 and is driven by a motor 99 supported on a plate 100 on the side of the bracket 93, through a belt 101. The shear 97 is of the usual type used for shearing pile fabrics and includes a multiplicity of generally spiral blades or teeth 102. The teeth 102 cooperate, at the periphery of the paint roller sleeve, with a fixed blade 103 extending inwardly toward the teeth and mounted on the plate 101]. A thin wall 164 extends between the upper section 94 of bracket 93 and an area adjacent the fixed blade 103, leaving an opening sufficiently large to permit the paint roller to be moved into shearing position. The area surrounding theshear 97 is brought into communication with vacuum conduit 44 through an opening 105 in the upper section 94 of the bracket 93.

The shear 97 is preferably rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the spindles 23 which support the paint rollers, namely, counterclockwise, as shown in Fig. 10.

The combing apparatus at the combing

stations

30, 31 is substantially identical to that at the

stations

26, 27 and 28, while the shearing station 32 is substantially identical with that at the first shearing station 29. At the second shearing station 32, the paint roller cover is subjected directly to a high vacuum through the conduit 52. This is applied directly to the surface of the cover by a nozzle 120 connected to the end of the conduit 52 (Figs. 1, 10, 14). As shown in Fig. 14, the nozzle 120 includes an elongated slot 121. The nozzle 120 is positioned so that the slot 121 extends longitudinally of the paint roller cover adjacent the fixed blade 103 so that the high vacuum tends to remove loose fibers or lint and, in addition, straighten the remaining pile fibers on the paint roller cover.

As shown in Fig. 9, the shears 97 .are mounted so that they may be readily moved out of shearing position for sharpening and adjustment The bracket 93 is pivotally mounted on a slide 125 by means of a horizontal bolt 126. The slide 125 is supported by and may be moved along a bracket 127 which is fixed to the base 20. The bracket 127 includes an upstanding portion 128 in which an adjusting screw 129 is journalled. The end of the screw 129 is threaded into a projection 130 on one end of slide 125 so that by rotating the screw 129, the position of the slide, and in turn, of the bracket 93 which supports the shear is "adjusted. The bracket 93 is provided with a slot 131 and when the bracket is in shearing position the slot 131 passes over a bolt 132 fixed to the slide 125 and having a nut 133 threaded on the end thereof. The nut 133 engages the outer surface of the bracket '93. In order to gain access to the shear, the nut 133 is loosened and the bracket 93 supporting the motor 99 and the shear is pivoted about the bolt 126 to swing the shear and motor away from the shearing position. The brackets v which support the combs may also be similarly mounted to provide for adjustment and access thereto.

The bottom and top trimming

stations

33 and 34, respectively, are substantially identical in structure and each includes an apparatus such as that shown in Figs. 11 and 12. As shown in Fig. 11, the bottom trimming station 33 comprises a support 106 in. which a slide 107 is mounted for vertical movement. The slide 107 is held in adjustable position vertically of the support 106 by a screw 108 threaded into the slide and operated by rotation of a handle 109. A plate 110 is mounted on the slide 107 by means of bolts 134 extending through elongated slots 135 in the plate 110. The plate 110 supports a motor 111 and a small shear 112, the shaft 113 of which is journalled in the bearing 114. The motor 111 is connected to rotate the shear 112 by means of a pulley 115 on the motor shaft, a pulley 116 on the shaft 113 of the shear, and a belt 117 trained over the pulleys 115, 116. The vacuum conduit 48 is brought into position adjacent the shear and has a nozzle 119 connected to the end thereof.

As the table 22 brings a spindle 23 into position adjacent the bottom trimming station 33, the shear 112 cooperates with a fixed blade 118 on the plate 110 to shear the fibers on the end of the sleeve and thereby bevel the end of the sleeve of the paint roller cover. By rotating the handle 109, the vertical position of the shear 112 may be adjusted. The angle of the bevel may also be adjusted by loosening the bolts 134 and changing the position of the plate 110 on the slide 107. As shown in Fig. 13, in the case of the top trimming station 34, the plate 110 is positioned on the slide 107 in such a manner that shear '112 will the fibers on the upper end of the sleeve.

At the vacuum station 35, a nozzle122 is provided on the end of the conduit 53 whichis connected to the header 51 of the source of high vacuum.- Nozzle 122 is substantially the same as the nozzle-120 which applies high vacuum to the paint roller cover at the second shearing stat-ion 32. At the'station 35 the nozzle 122 is positioned so that the slot thereof is substantially parallel to the axis of the paint roller cover and thereby applies a high vacuum to the surface of the cover for removing any remaining loose fibers or lint and straightening the remaining pile fibers.

According to the method, the motor 55 is continuously operated to continuously rotate the spindles 23. The in dexing mechanism 70 is also continuously operated to suc cessively index the table 22, bringing each spindle successively into register with each of the various stations. The motor 85 is continuously operated to rotate the combs at the combing stations and the other motors are also operated to continuously rotate the shears at the

shearing stations

29, 32 and the bevelling shears at the

bevelling stations

33, 34. The vacuum sources 37, 42 and 50 which are of conventional large-capacity type are also continuously operated to provide a vacuum at the various stations. I

With the table 22 being continuously indexed, an operator places a paint roller cover on a spindle 23 at the loading station 25. This spindle with the paint roller cover mounted thereon is brought, upon indexing of the table 22, into register with the first combing station 26. The spindle 23 is rotated at a'speed of about 30 revolutions per minute and the comb is rotated in the opposite direction at a speed of several more revolutions per minute, namely, about 35 revolutions per minute. As viewed in Fig. 8, the comb is rotated in a counter clockwise direction while the paint roller cover is rotated in a clockwise direction, which is the same direction in which the table 22 is being indexed.

The spindle 23 remains in register with the comb of the first combing station 26 for several seconds, which insures that the cover revolves through a complete revolution and that the comb of the: combing station will cover the entire circumferential area of the paint roller cover. The comb serves to remove'the loose fibers from the pile of the paint roller cover and, in addition, serves to straighten the fibers-preparatory to shearing. The loose fibers are carried by the teeth 75 of the comb 80 around into position adjacent the vacuum conduit39 where the vacuum removes the fibers from the teeth and carries them to the vacuum source 37.

As the table is again indexed, the paint roller cover is carried into register With the second combing station 27 where it is subjected to a second combing operation in a manner similar to the combing at the combing station 26. Further indexing brings the paint roller cover into register with the third combing station 28, which operates in the same manner as the previous combing station. It is preferable, but not absolutely necessary, that the combs be successively finer as the paint roller cover proceeds from one station to another, namely, that the teeth of a comb at a successive combing station be more closely spaced than in the previous combing station.-

The vacuum source 37 which provides the vacuum to the combing

stations

26, 27 and 28 is preferably separate from the other two vacuum sources in order that the fibers which are removed from the paint roller covers at these stations may be collected and reused in knitting new pile fabric sleeves for use as paint roller covers.

As the table 22 is again indexed, the paint roller cover is carried from the third combing station 28 to shearing station 29. As shown in Fig. 10, the paint roller cover is brought into position adjacent the fixed plate 103 with the shear 97 rotating in an opposite direction from the direction of rotation of the cover. The cover is, as previously mentioned, rotating in a clockwise direction while the .shear 97 is rotating in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 10. The shear is rotating at a speed many times the speed of rotation of the paint roller cover, for example, between 400 and 600 revolutions per minute.

At the first shearing station 29, the fibers are sheared and the sheared fibers are removed by the vacuum through the conduit 44. Since the indexing of the table is at a uniform rate and, as previously mentioned, the paint roller cover remains at each station for several seconds, the shearing of the entire circumferential area of the paint roller cover is insured, since in that interval, the paint roller cover rotates through at least one revolution.

Upon further indexing of the table 22, the paint roller cover is brought successively into register with the combing

stations

30, 31 where it is subjected to successive combing operations in the same manner as in the previous combing stations. The fibers that are removed by the combing operation are carried away through the conduits 45, 46 and the pile fibers in the cover are straightened in preparation for a second shearing operation at the second shearing station 32.

As the table is again indexed, the paint roller cover is brought into register with the second shearing station 32. where it is subjected to a shearing operation similar to that in the first shearing station 29. In addition, a source of high vacuum is applied directly to the surface of the paint roller cover through conduit 52 and nozzle 120. The high vacuum applied through the nozzle 120 not only serves to remove the fibers which are sheared by the second shearing operation and are not removed by the vacuum through conduit 47 but, in addition, serves to straighten the pile fibers radially outwardly, thus, disposing them in a more favorable position for shearing. In this manner the pile fibers are sheared evenly to provide a smooth, even pile.

The paint roller cover is thereafter presented by indexing of the table 22 to the bottom bevel shearing station 33 where the bottom of the paint roller cover is bevelled, the fibers which are sheared being carried away by nozzle 119 on conduit 51 (Fig. 11). In a similar manner, the top of the paint roller cover is bevelled at station 34 when the table is indexed to bring the paint roller cover into register with the station 34. The bevelling shears are rotated at high speed, for example, between 400 and 600 revolutions per minute.

The paint roller cover is then indexed to a position in register with the high vacuum nozzle 122 where it is subjected to a final high vacuuming which removes any remaining loose fibers and lint and further straightens the pile to provide a smooth even peripheral surface.

The paint roller cover is removed at station 36 and an untreated paint roller cover may be again applied to the spindle at station 25. The spindles 23 may be of any desired length to support various lengths of paint roller covers, but preferably of such a length as to support a paint roller cover of the length which is used directly on a paint roller. Alternatively, a length of paint roller cover may be used which must subsequently be cut to shorter lengths for use on paint rollers.

Since the combing and shearing apparatus is continuously operated, a paint roller cover may be mounted on each of the spindles to provide a continuous operation wherein, in any one position of the table, a paint roller cover is presented for treatment at each of the stations.

The comb at each of the combing stations may be positioned such a distance from the spindles that the pile of the paint roller cover is combed and straightened to any desired depth. It is preferred that the fibers be combed substantially but not entirely throughout their length. For example, in handling a paint roller cover which is mounted on the core of approximately one and a half inches in diameter with the untreated pile fibers extending outwardly from the base of the cover approximately one-half inch, the pile fibers may be combed to within one-eighth inch of the base fabric of the cover.

The length of the pile fabric after combing and shearing may be controlled by the position of the shears at each of the shearing stations, for example, in the paint roller cover of the size previously mentioned, the length of the pile fibers after shearing may be approximately threeeighth inches. It is preferred that this shearing .be accomplished in successive stages. For example, the first shear might be positioned to cut the pile fibers to a length of seven-sixteenths and the second shear might be positioned to cut the fibers to the final length of three-eighth inches.

It should be obvious that the combing and shearing of a paint roller cover takes a certain period of time. We have found that when this period of time is broken up into smaller periods or increments of time, with a portion of the combing and shearing being accomplished at various stations, the overall process is speeded up considerably. At the same time, better results are obtained by providing a combing operation between the shearing operations.

It can thus be seen that we have provided a method and apparatus for combing and shearing tubular paint roller covers wherein the loose pile fibers are removed and collected prior to shearing and wherein the pile of the paint roller cover is quickly and effectively combed, straightened and sheared to provide a smooth even peripheral surface. The apparatus is such that the combing and shearing is performed continuously and paint roller covers may be treated at each of the operating stations simultaneously.

The method and apparatus may be used for treating a paint roller cover made from natural shearling or knitted fabric which is helically wound on a core, or is longitudinally seamed to form a tube which is mounted on a core. The method and apparatus are particularly useful in treating a paint roller cover in which the untreated pile fabric is knitted in a tube of smaller diameter and is mounted on a core and thereafter subjected to the method and apparatus.

We claim:

1. In an apparatus for the manufacture of paint roller covers from a pile fabric, the combination which comprises means for moving a plurality of tubular paint roller covers one by one to a plurality of successive stations arranged in a predetermined path, means for arresting movement of the covers in said path at each of said stations and for rotating the covers about their longitudinal axes at each of said stations, means at said first station for combing the pile fibers of the tubular paint roller covers to remove the loose fibers, straighten the pile fibers and cause the pile fibers to extend in a more radial direction, means at said second station for shearing off the outer ends of the pile fibers to provide the covers with a cylindrical surface of predetermined uniform diameter, means at a third station for combing the pile fibers of the paint roller covers to remove the loose fibers, straighten the pile fibers and cause the pile. fibers to extend in a more radial direction, and means at a fourth station for shearing off the outer ends of the pile fibers to provide the covers with a cylindrical surface of predetermined uniform diameter less than the diameter of the surface formed at the second station.

2. In an apparatus for the manufacture of paint roller covers from a pile fabric, the combination comprising means for moving a plurality of tubular paint roller covers one by one to a plurality of successive stations arranged in a predetermined path, means for arresting movement of the covers in said path at each of said stations and for rotating the covers about their longitudinal axes at each of said stations, a series of combs of successively greater fineless at the stations along a first portion of the path for combining out the loose fibers of the covers, straightening the pile fibers and causing the pile fibers to extend in a more radial direction, means at a successive station for shearing oil the outer ends of the pile fibers to provide the cover with a cylindrical surface of predetermined uniform diameter, means at a successive station for combing the pile fibers of the paint roller covers to remove the loose fibers, straighten the pile fibers and cause the pile fibers to extend in a more radial direction, and means at a further successive station for shear-' ing off the outer ends of the pile fibers to provide the cover with a cylindrical surface of predetermined uniform diameter less than the diameter of the surface formed at the prior shearing station.

3. In an apparatus for the manufacture of paint roller covers from a pile fabric, the combination comprising a support mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, a multiplicity of vertical spindles rotatably mounted on said support and lying on a circle concentric with the axis of said support and being equally angularly spaced with respect to the axis of the support, a series of stations positioned about the periphery of said support, said stations lying on a circle concentric with the axis of said support and being equally angularly spaced to correspond with the spacing of said spindles on said support, means for rotating said support in step by step fashion to bring each spindle successively into register with each station, said stations including, successively, means at a first station for combing the pile fibers of the tubular paint roller covers to remove the loose fibers, straighten the pile fibers and cause the pile fibers to extend in a more radial direction, means at a second station for shearing off the outer ends of the pile fibers to provide the cover with a cylindrical surface of predetermined uniform diameter, means at a third station for combing the pile fibers of the paint roller covers to remove the loose fibers, straighten the pile fibers and cause the pile fibers to extend in a more radial direction, and means at a fourth station for shearing off the outer ends of the pile fibers to provide the cover with a cylindrical surface of predetermined uniform diameter less than the diameter of the surface formed at the second station.

4. In an apparatus for the manufacture of paint roller covers from a pile fabric, the combination which comprises means for moving a plurality of tubular paint roller covers one by one to a plurality of successive stations arranged in a predetermined path, means for arresting movement of the covers in said path at each of said stations and for rotating the covers about their longitudinal axes at each of said stations, a cylindrical comb at a first station having its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of a cover at said station for combing the pile fibers of the tubular paint roller covers to remove the loose fibers, straighten the pile fibers and cause the pile fibers to extend in a more'radial direction, a cylindrical shear at a second station having its longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of a cover at said station for shearing off the outer ends of the pile fibers to provide the covers with a cylindrical surface of predetermined uniform diameter, a cylindrical comb at a third station having its longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of a cover at said station for combing the pile fibers of the paint roller covers to remove the loose fibers, straighten the pile fibers and cause the pile fibers to extend in a more radial direction, and a cylindrical shear at a fourth station having its longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of a cover at said station for shearing off the outer ends of the pile fibers to provide the covers with a cylindrical surface of predetermined uniform diameter less than the diameter of the surface formed at the second station.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,255,980 Broman Feb. 12, 1918 1,649,172- Mason Nov. 15, 1927 1,749,829 Mason Mar. 11, 1930 2,035,641 Dickie et al Mar. 31, 1936" 2,149,886 'Hadley Mar. 7, 1939 2,233,451 Huffman et a1 Mar. 4, 1941 2,477,154 Valentine July 26, 1949 2,477,448 Friedman July 26, 1949 2,649,649 Colehower Aug. 25, 1953 2,695,438 Bejeuhr Nov. 30, 1954 2,704,877 Schmidt Mar. 29, 1955 2,705,827 Gamache Apr. 12, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 25,614 Great Britain of 1 903 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,920,372 January 12, 1960 Alfred L. Sannipoli et al.

It is hereb$ certified that error appears in the-printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 8, line 72, for "combining" read combing Signed and sealed this 28th day of June 1960.

(SEA L) Attest:

KARL H. AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents