US3000347A

US3000347A - Adhesive applying apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3000347A
Application number: US767666A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles F Schaefer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-10-16
Filing date: 1958-10-16
Publication date: 1961-09-19
Anticipated expiration: 1978-09-19

Description

p 9, 9 c. F. SCHAEFER ADHESIVE APPLYING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 16, 1958 INVENTOR. 1%??165 E ams/1? Sept. 19, 1 c. F. SCHAEFER ADHESIVE APPLYING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 16, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 19, 1961 c. F. SCHAEFER 3,000,347

ADHESIVE APPLYING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 16, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. (MQAL ES ICT/LYZ'I-IHE'FER p 1951 c. F. SCHAEFER 3,000,347

ADHESIVE APPLYING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 16, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 BY /%?Wf ATTOR/VEK United States Patent 3,000,347 ADHESIVE APPLYING APPARATUS Charles F. Schaefer, 1470 Main St, Stratford, Conn. Filed Oct. 16, 1958, Ser. No. 767,666 8 Claims. c1. 118--245) This invention relates generally to coating apparatus, and is particularly directed to improvements in a machine for applying vegetable glue, hot animal glue, resin glue, latex or other adhesives to sheets of paper, cloth, leather, cardboard, plastic or other similar materials.

In adhesive applying machines of the kind to which this invention relates, the sheets to be coated with adhesive are fed manually into the machine Where their upper surfaces are coated with the adhesive, and the successive sheets are delivered from the machine onto a conveyor with the adhesive coated surfaces thereof facing upwardly. Such machines generally include a coating roller, a system of rollers for supplying adhesive from an overhead tank or reservoir to the surface of the coating roller, feed rollers disposed below the coating roller and effective to feed the successive sheets past the underside of the coating roller for receiving the adhesive from the latter, and stripping elements engaging the surface of the coating roller in back of the line of contact of the latter with the successive sheets in order to ensure that the latter will not stick to the surface of the coating roller and will be delivered to the conveyor for transporting the coated sheets away from the adhesive applyin g machine.

In adhesive applying machines of the described character, it is necessary, from time to time, to clean the feed rollers and also to clean the stripping elements in order to remove the lumps of glue, pieces of paper or other foreign matter with which the latter become clogged. However, the feed rollers and stripping elements, in their operative positions disposed under and in back of the coating roller are inaccessible for cleaning purposes so that, a practical machine of the described character must have some means for affording ready access to the feed rollers and stripping elements.

In the existing machines for applying adhesive to the upper surfaces of successive sheets, access to the feed rollers and the stripping elements has been afforded by providing for the movement of the coating roller from its usual operating position. However, by reason of the relatively great weight of the coating roller, it has been necessary to suspend the coating roller from a complicated arm arrangement provided with a hand wheel and worm gear drive for effecting the movement of the coating roller upwardly away from its operative position, so that the heavy coating roller can be raised by female operators without any excessive strain. Although such an arrangement provides a large mechanical advantage for lifting the heavy coating roller with the exertion of a relatively small force by the operator, it is a consequence of such large mechanical advantage that the operator must exert such relatively small force for a long period of time. Thus, where the operator turns a hand wheel in order to eifect the lifting of the coating roller, the hand wheel must be turned through a large number of revolutions in order to lift the coating roller to its inoperative position for aifording access to the feed rollers and the stripping elements, whereby a relatively long period of time is required for effecting the necessary cleaning and for returning the adhesive applying machine to its operative condition. When the coating roller is mounted for movement away from its operative position in order to afford cleaning access to the feed rollers and the stripping elements, as above, the movable suspension for the coating roller becomes a possible source of Patented Sept. 19, 1961 undesirable vibration in the machine and, further, after an extended period of use, play frequently develops in the mechanical system for effecting the movement to the coating roller or in the bearings of the latter, whereupon the necessary working clearance is undesirably reduced between the coating roller and a transfer roller by which the adhesive is applied to the latter.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a machine having a coating roller for applying adhesive to the upper surfaces of successive sheets which are fed thereunder by feed rollers and which are removed from the surface of the coating roller by stripping elements, and wherein the feed rollers and stripping elements are made accessible for cleaning in an improved manner in order to avoid the above mentioned disadvantages of the existing arrangements for permitting cleaning'of the feed rollers and stripping elements in machines of the described character.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a machine of the described character wherein the heavy coating roller is rotatable about a relatively fixed axis in order to simplify and increase the rigidity and useful life of the structural elements by which the coating roller is supported, while providing a movable suspension for the relatively light weight feed rollers and stripping elements so that the latter can be conveniently and rapidly moved from their inaccessible operative positions under the coating roller to inoperative or cleaning positions where they are exposed and easily accessible.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the above objects are achieved by providing a machine of the described character wherein the stripping elements are mounted on a laterally extending rod which, at its opposite ends, is suspended from a first pair of arms pivotally mounted on the frame of the machine so that the stripping elements are movable from their operative positions, where they contact the underside of the coating roller in back of the line of contact of the latter with the successive sheets to be coated, to cleaning positions where the stripping elements are disposed in front of the coating roller and, therefore, are easily accessible, while the feed rollers have the opposite ends of their shafts rotatably journalled in a second pair of arms which are pivotally suspended from the first pair of arms and which move with the latter in order to displace the feed rollers from their operative positions disposed under the coating roller to accessible cleaning positions in front of the coating roller. Further, in accordance with the invention, the piovting axis of the first pair of arms is preferably disposed at an elevation above the locations of the stripping elements and feed rollers in both their operative and cleaning positions so that the displacement of the stripping elements and feed rollers between such positions may be conveniently effected by forces applied to the first pair of pivoted arms generally in the forward and rearward directions. Such forces for displacing the stripping elements and feed rollers between their operative and cleaning positions are conveniently applied through links pivotally connected to the first pair of arms and extending forwardly therefrom for manual actuation by the operator, and the actuating links are preferably provided with spaced apart notches which are selectively engageable with a cross member mounted on the frame of the machine in order to retain the pivoted arms in the angular positions corresponding to the operative and cleaning positions, respectively, of the stripping elements and feed rollers.

The above, and other objects, features and advan- (rages of the invention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an adhesive applying machine embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view similar to that of FIG. 1, but showing the opposite side of the adhesive applying machine;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the adhesive applying machine of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical, sectional View taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, and showing the stripping elements and feed rollers thereof in their operative positions; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 4, but showing the stripping elements and feed rollers in their cleaning positions.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the illustrated adhesive applying machine, there generally identified by the reference numeral 10, includes

side frame members

12 and 14 lying in vertical, spaced apart, parallel planes. An adhesive pick-up roll 16 has a shaft 18 which, at its opposite ends, is rotatably journalled in suitable bearings carried by arms 20 and 2-2 pivotally suspended from

pivots

24 and 26 carried by the

side frame members

12 and 14, respectively, at the top thereof. Lengths of

chains

28 and 30 are connected, at one end, to the

pivoted arms

20 and 22, respectively, and, at the other end, to

sprockets

32 and 34 which are secured to the opposite ends of a shaft 36 extending horizontally between

side frame members

12 and 14 and rotatably journalled in the latter. A radially extending handle 38 is secured to one end of shaft 3 6 and is manually turnable between a normal operating position (:FIGS. 1, 2 and 4) where the handle abuts against a stop 40 carried by the adjacent side frame member 12, and a cleaning position (FIG. 5). When turning the handle 38 from the normal operating position to the cleaning position thereof, shaft 36 is turned in the clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5, so that the

chains

28 and 30 are wound upon the

related sprockets

32 and 34, thereby to swing the

arms

20 and 22, respectively, in the upward and rearward direction, as is apparent in FIG. 5.

When the handle 38 is in its normal operating position, the

chains

28 and 30 are slack, as is apparent in FIGS. 1, Z and 4, and the normal operating position of each of the arms 20 and 22-, and hence of the adhesive pick-up roll 16, is determined by the adjustment of set screws 42 extending threadably through the

arms

20 and 22 and abutting against a vertical surface or shoulder 44 provided on each of the adjacent

side frame members

12 and 14.

In order to hold the handle 38 in its cleaning position (FIG. 5), the adjacent side frame member 12 carries a laterally extending plunger 46 which is yieldably urged by a spring 48 (FIG. 3) to a position where the plunger 46 projects into the path of swinging movement of handle 38. However, the plunger 46 is movable laterally toward the side frame member 12 for removal from the path of movement of handle 38 so that, when moving the handle 38 from its normal operating position to its cleaning position, the handle is turned clockwise, as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5, while the plunger 46 is manually depressed until the handle reaches a position in front of the plunger 46, whereupon release of the latter permits the plunger to return into the path of movement of handle 38 and to then act as a stop for preventing counterclockwise turning of handle 38 from its cleaning position, as illustrated in FIG. 5.

A horizontal shelf 50* extends between

side frame members

12 and 14 below the normal operating position of adhesive pick-up roll 16, and an upwardly opening adhesive or glue reservoir 52 is slidably supported on shelf 50 and normally abuts against an upstanding ledge 54 extending along the front edge of the latter, as illustrated in FIG. 4. With the reservoir 52 in its normal position on shelf 50, and with the adhesive pick-up roll 16 in its normal operating position, the latter dips into the supply of glue or adhesive in reservoir 52. However, when the pick-up roll 16 is moved rearwardly and upwardly by turning of handle 38 to its cleaning position, as in FIG. 5, the bottom of roll 16 is disposed above the level of the top edge of the front wall of reservoir 5' 2 so that the latter can be slidab ly removed in the rearward direction from the shelf 50, thereby to facilitate cleaning. of the reservoir and of the pick-up roll.

The illustrated adhesive applying machine 10 further includes a first adhesive transfer roll 56 extending parallel to pick-up roll 16 and having a shaft 58 which, at its opposite ends, is rotatably journallled in suitable fixed bearings can ied by

side frame members

12 and 14. It is apparent that adjustment of the set screws 42 carried by the

pivoted arms

20 and 22 and determining the normal operating position of pick-up roll 16 will establish the normal operating clearance between

rolls

16 and 56 and thereby determine the thickness of the layer of adhesive or glue deposited from roll 16 upon the first transfer roll 56. As is apparent in FIG. 4, the axis of rotation of first transfer roll 56 is at a level above that of the axis of pick-up roll 16 when the latter is in its normal operating position, as roll 56 must clear the top edge of the front wall of reservoir 52. Since the illustrated machine 10 is intended for applying coatings of glue or adhesive to the top surfaces of successive sheets which move rearwardly under shelf 50 supporting reservoir 52, as hereinafter described in detail, it is necessary that the coating roll 60 (FIGS. 4 and 5) be disposed at a level substantially below that of the first transfer roll 56 and, accordingly, a second transfer roll 62 is provided between the

rolls

56 and 60. The coating roll 60 and the second transfer roll 62 have shafts 64 and 66, respectively, which, at their opposite ends, are rotatably journalled in suitable bearings carried by

side frame members

12 and 14, and such bearings (not shown) are preferably of a well known adjustable type in order to permit adjustment of the clearances between the

transfer rolls

56 and 62 and between transfer roll 62 and coating roll 60.

As indicated by the arrows on FIGS. 1, 2 and 4,

rolls

56, 60 and 62 are all rotated in the same direction and at the same relatively high speed, while pick-up roll 16 is rotated in the opposite direction at a relatively slow speed. The coating roll 60 is rotatably driven in the manner hereinafter described in detail, and the shaft 64 thereof carries a sprocket 68- (FIG. 2) driving an endless chain 70 which runs on sprockets 72 and 74 secured to the shafts 58 and 66:, respectively, of

rolls

56 and 62, and which also runs around an idler sprocket 76 rotatably mounted on a stub shaft extending outwardly from the adjacent side frame member 12. Thus,

rolls

56 and 62 are rotatably driven from coating roll 60. The pick-up roll 16 is rotatably driven from the first transfer roll 56 as, for this purpose, the end of shaft 58 of the first transfer roll rotatably mounted in side frame member 14 carries a spur gear 78 (FIGS. 1 and 3) meshing with a larger spur gear 80 fixed on the adjacent end of shaft 18 of pick-up roll 16.

The adhesive applying machine 10 has a movable conveyor extending rearwardly from below the coating roll 60 and operative to carry away the successive sheets following the application of glue or adhesive to the upper surfaces thereof by coating roll 60. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, such conveyor is of the endless belt type and includes a conveyor" drive roll 82 disposed below, and slightly to the rear of, the coating roll 60 and having a shaft 84 which is rotatably journalled in suitable bearings carried by

side frame members

12 and 14, and an endless belt 86 which runs around the conveyor drive roll 82 and has oppositely moving upper and lower horizontal runs extending to a conveyor roll (not shown) at a location where the coated sheets are removed from the conveyor. In order to effect rotation of the convcyor drive roll 82, the end of the shaft 84 thereof extending through side frame member 14 carries a drive pulley 88 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) which is engaged by a drive belt 90 running around a pulley on the shaft of an electric motor (not shown) or other prime mover. The end of the shaft 84 extending through side frame member 12 carries a spur gear 92 (FIGS. 2 and-3) meshing with a spur gear 94 fixed on the adjacent end of the shaft 64 of coating roll 60 so that the latter is rotatably driven from the conveyor drive roll 82.

The successive sheets which are to have coatings of glue or adhesive applied to the upper surfaces thereof by the coating roll 60 are manually moved rearwardly toward the latter on a removable table or supporting surface 96 extending horizontally between forward portions of

side frame members

12 and 14 approximately level with the bottom of the surface of roll 60. The rear edge of table 96 is spaced from the surface of coating roll 60, and two relatively small

diameter feed rollers

98 and 100 are normally disposed under roll 60, as in FIG. 4, so that, during the application of glue or adhesive to the upper surfaces of the successive sheets by roll 60, the sheets are supported, and moved rearwardly by the

feed rollers

98 and 100 which are rotatably driven, as hereinafter described in detail, whereupon the coated sheets are deposited upon the rearwardly moving upper run of the conveyor belt 86 for discharge from the adhesive applying machine. In order to ensure that the successive sheets will not adhere to the surface of coating roll 60 following their passage between the coating roll and the

feed rollers

98 and 100, the machine 10 further includes a series of stripping .elements 102 arranged in a laterally extending row and engaging the coating roll in back of the normal op erating positions of the

feed rollers

98 and 100.

It will be apparent that the

feed rollers

98 and 100 and the stripping elements 102, being respectively located under and in back of coating roll 60 during operation of the adhesive applying machine are inaccessible for cleaning purposes. However, in a machine of the described character relatively frequent cleaning of the feed rollers and the stripping elements is a necessity.

In order to make the

feed rollers

98 and 100 and the stripping elements 102 conveniently accessible for the cleaning thereof, the illustrated machine 10 embodying the invention provides a swingable mounting for the feed rollers and stripping elements so that, following the removal of the table 96, the

feed rollers

98 and 100 and the stripping elements 102 may be easily moved forwardly to the accessible cleaning positions illustrated in FIG. 5.

The swingable mounting for the feed rollers and stripping elements includes a first pair of arms 104 which are pivotally mounted, at one end, on stub shafts 106 projecting laterally inward from the

side frame members

12 and 14, and a second pair of arms 108 each of which is pivotally mounted, at one end, on a pivot pin 110 carried by an car 112 projecting forwardly from the pivoted end portion of the related arm 104. Thus, the

arms

104 and 108 are swingable together about the stub shafts 106 for movement in vertical planes adjacent the inside surfaces of the

side frame members

12 and 14. The stripping elements 102 are pivotally mounted on a rod 114 extending between the free end portions of the first pair of arms 104, and each of the stripping elements 102 has a' leaf spring 116 extending therefrom (FIGS. 4'and 5) and bearing against a rod 118 which also extends laterally between the free ends of the arms 104 so that, when the arms 104 are in their operative positions, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the springs 116 yieldably urge the stripping elements 102 against the surface of coating roll 60. l

. The

feed rollers

98 and 100 have trunnions (not shown) at their opposite ends which are rotatably mounted in suitable bearings carried by the arms 108 in the free end portions of the latter so that, when the arms 108 are in their operative positions illustrated in FIG. 4, the

parallel feed rollers

98 and 100 will be disposed under coating roll 60.

In order to determine the angular position of the arms 108 relative to the arms 104, each of the arms 108 has an adjustment screw threaded therethrough and rotatably connected to the related arm 104. Thus, when the arms 104 are moved to their operative position of FIG. 4, as hereinafter described in detail, the screws 120 can be turned to angularly adjust the arms 108 with respect to the arms 104 and thereby to adjust the clearance between the

feed rollers

98 and 100 and the coating roll 60 for accommodating the machine 10 to the handling of sheets having different thicknesses.

In order to conveniently effect the swinging movement of the pairs of

arms

104 and 108 for displacing the feed rollers and stripping elements between their operative and cleaning positions, the machine 10 embodying the invention further has a laterally extending handle 122 joined, at its opposite ends, to the forward ends of rearwardly extending links 124 which are pivotally connected, as at 126, to the arms 104 (FIGS. 4 and 5). Each of the links 124 has two downwardly opening, spaced apart

notches

128 and 130 cut in the lower edge thereof and adapted to selectively receive a cross bar 132 extending between the forward edges of

side frame members

12 and 14. The

notches

128 and 130 are suitably located along the links 124 so that, when the notches 128 receive the cross bar 132, as in FIG. 4, the feed rollers 98 and '100 and the stripping elements 102 are located in their operative positions, and, when the notches 130 of the links 124 receive the cross bar 132, as in FIG. 5, the feed rollers and stripping elements are held in their accessible cleaning positions. It will be seen that the pivoting axis of the

arms

104 and 108 defined by the stub shafts 106 is disposed above the feed rollers and the stripping elements in both the operative and cleaning positions thereof (FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively), and that the pivotal connections 126 of the links 124 to the arms 104 are spaced radi ally from the stub shafts 106 so that the movement of the feed rollers and stripping elements between their operative and cleaning positions can be conveniently effected merely by raising the handle 122 in order to remove the cross bar 132 from engagement with one or the other of the

recesses

128 and 130, and then exerting either a push or pull upon the handle 122 depending upon the direction of movement to be imparted to the feed rollers and stripping elements. After the feed rollers and stripping elements have been moved either to their operative or cleaning positions, as described above, the handle 122 is merely lowered to engage the cross bar 132 either in the notches 128 or the notches 130 of the links 124. V

In the adhesive applying machine 10, the

feed rollers

98 and 100 are positively rotated in the same direction, as indicated by the arrows on FIG. 1, so that, when a sheet is manually advanced over the table 96 to a point where the leading edge thereof is gripped between the feed rollers and the coating roll 60, the sheet is thereafter positively driven by the rotated feed rollers and coating roll While the latter applies glue or adhesive to the sheet. In order to effect the rotation of the

feed rollers

98 and 100, a gear 134 is fixed on the shaft 66 of the second transfer roll 62 (FIGS. 3,4 and 5) at a location on such shaft between roll 62 and the inner surface of side frame member 12 and meshes with a relatively small spur gear 136 which is rotatably mounted on the stub shaft 104 carried by side frame member 12 and forming the pivotal support for the arm 104 disposed adjacent that side frame member. The gear 136 meshes in turn with a spur gear 138 which is rotatable on the pin 7 110 carried by the adjacent arm 104, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the gear 138 meshes with a gear 140 which is rotatable on a stub shaft 142 carried by the arm 108. A sprocket 144 is also rotatable on the stub shaft 142 and is joined to the gear 140 for rotation with the latter, and an endless chain 146 runs around the driven sprocket 144 and engages

sprockets

148 and 150 which are fixed on the trunnions at one end of the

feed rollers

98 and 100, respectively. Thus, the

feed rollers

98 and 100 are rotated from the second transfer roll 62 through a gear and sprocket and chain transmission which remains engaged during the swinging movements of the feed rollers and stripping elements between their operative and cleaning positions. 7

It will be apparent that, in the machine 10 described above, the

feed rollers

98 and 100 and the stripping elements 102 can be easily moved from their operative positions of FIG. 4 to their cleaning positions of FIG. merely by manipulation of the handle 122 following removal of the table 96, and that the pick-up roll 16 can be moved from its operative position of FIG. 4 to its cleaning position of FIG. 5 merely by manipulation of the handle 38, whereupon the feed rollers and stripping elements are readily accessible for thorough cleaning thereof, while the tank or reservoir 52 can be rearwardly removed from under the pick-up roll 16 in order to permit cleaning of the latter and of the reservoir. Since the

feed rollers

98 and 100 and the stripping elements 102 are relatively light in weight, such parts of the machine can be moved from their operative positions to their cleanin positions and then returned to their operative positions with the exertion of relatively small forces so that the movements of the feed rollers and stripping elements between their operative and cleaning positions may be easily efi'ected, even by female operators. It will also be apparent that, since only relatively light weight elements or parts of the machine are being displaced in order to make the feed rollers and stripping elements accessible for cleaning purposes, the mechanism for effecting such displacement need not apply a substantial mechanical advantage so that the relatively simple structure consisting of the handle 122 and links 124 connected directly to the arms 104 may be adopted, thereby to decrease the cost of the assembly as well as to reduce the time required for moving the feed rollers and stripping elements to and from their cleaning positions. Thus, the adhesive applying machine need be inoperative for only a relatively short period of time when cleaning is required.

Since the coating roll 60 and the transfer rolls 56 and 62 are rotatably supported in bearings carried by fixed parts of theframe of the machine, as distinguished from the previous attempts to provide cleaning access to the feed rollers and stripping elements in machines of the described character, wherein the

rolls

56, 62 and 60 a were vertically movable away from their operative positions, it is apparent that the supports for the

rollers

56, 62 and 60 may be made suitably rigid to prevent any vibration of the machine, and that the bearings therefor may be of a type having a long useful life in order to avoid the occurrence of play in the support for the

rolls

56, 62 and 60 and a consequent variation in the clearances therebetween. This aspect of the machine embodying the invention is of particular importance in View of the fact that the transfer rolls 58 and 62 and the coating roll 60 all rotate in the same direction so that there is a wiping action between their surfaces and a predetermined clearance, for example, a clearance of approximately .001 inch, should be maintained between the surfaces of the transfer rolls 56 and 62 and between the surfaces. of transfer roll 62 and coating roll 60 in order to ensure the transfer of an adequate coating of adhesive or glue to the coating roll.

Although an illustrative embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the described character-having a coating roll rotatable about a fixed horizontal axis, means for applying a coating substance to the surface of said coating roll from above the latter so that the coating roll can apply such substance to the upper surface of sheet material fed tangential to said surface of the coating roll at the bottom of the latter, feed roller means normally disposed below said coating roll to support and feed the sheet material during the application of the coating substance to its upper surface; and stripping elements normally disposed in back of said coating roll to engage the latter adjacent the bottom thereof and to separate the sheet material therefrom following the application of the coating substance to the sheet material; the improvement comprising pivotally mounted support means carrying said stripping elements and swing'able about an axis parallel to said axis of the coating roll to displace the stripping elements along a path extending under said coating roll from the normal position of the stripping elements to an exposed cleaning position in front of the coating roll, means supporting said feed roller means from said pivotally mounted support means so that, upon swinging of the latter, said feed roller means is displaced with said stripping elements from its normal position to an exposed cleaning position in front of the coating roll, and manually actuable means connected to said support means for swinging the latter to selectively dispose said stripping elements and feed roller means in said normal andcleaning positions.

2. In a machine of the described character having a coating roll rotatable about a fixed horizontal axis, means for applying a coating substance to the surface of said coating roll from above the latter so that the coating roll can apply such substance to the upper sunface of sheet material fed tangential to said surface of the coating roll at the bottom of the latter, feed roller means normally disposed below said coating roll to support and feed the sheet material during the application of the coating substance to its upper surface, and strippingelements normally disposed in back of said coating roll to engage the latter adjacent the bottom thereof and to separate the sheet material therefrom following the application of the coating substance to the sheet material; the improvement comprising pivotally mounted support means carrying said stripping elements and swingable about an axis parallel to said axis of the coating roll to displace the stripping elements along a path extending under said coating roll from the normal position of the stripping elements to an exposed cleaning position in front of the coating roll, mounting means for said feed roller means movably connected to said pivotally mounted support means of the stripping elements so that said feed roller means moves with the latter between said normal and exposed cleaning positons, adjusting means for moving said'mounting means for the feed roller means relative to said support means for the stripping elements so that, with said feed roller means in said normalposition, the clearance between said feed roller means'and coating roll can be varied, and manually actuable means connected to said support means for swinging the latter to selectively dispose said stripping elements and feed roller means in said normal and cleaning positions.

3. In a machine of the described character having a frame, a coating roll mounted in said frame for rotation about a fixed horizontal axis, means for applying a coating substance to the surface of said coating roll from above the latter, feed rollers normally disposed in operative position below said coating roll so that sheet material fed between said coating roll and feed rollers is supported and fed by the latter while said coating roll ap plies the coating substance to the upper surface of the sheet material, and stripping elements normally disposed in an operative position where they engage the bottom portion of said coating roll in back of said feed rollers; the improvement comprising a first pair of arms supporting said stripping elements and pivot-ally mounted on said frame to swing about a lateral axis parallel to said axis of the coating roll and disposed above said operative position of said stripping elements and lying in front of a vertical plane passing through said axis of rotation of said coating roll so that said stripping elements can move under said coating roll to a cleaning position in front of the latter in response to swinging of said pair of arms, means suspending said feed rollers from said pair of arms so that said feed rollers move with said stripping elements to a cleaning position in front of said coating roll, actuating means connected to said pair of arms for manually effecting the swinging of the latter, and means on said frame cooperating with said actuating means to selectively hold said stripping elements and feed rollers in said operative and cleaning positions thereof.

4. In a machine of the described character having a frame, a coating roll mounted in said frame for rotation about a fixed horizontal axis, means for applying a coating substance to the surface of said coating roll from above the latter, feed rollers normally disposed in an operative position below said coating roll so that sheet material fed between said coating roll and feed rollers is supported and fed by the latter while said coating roll applies the coating substance to the upper surface of the sheet material, and stripping elements normally disposed in an operative position where they engage the bottom portion of said coating roll in back of said feed rollers; the improvement comprising a first pair of arms supporting said stripping elements and pivotally mounted on said frame to swing about a lateral axis parallel to said axis of rotation of the coating roll and disposed above said operatve position of said stripping elements and lying in front of a vertical plane passing through the axis of rotation of said coating roll so that said stripping elements can move under said coating roll to a cleaning position in front of the latter in response to swinging of said pair of arms, a second pair of arms carrying said feed rollers and pivotally mounted on said first pair of arms to swing relative to the latter about an axis parallel to the swinging axis of said first pair of arms, means adjustably determining the angular position of said second pair of arms with respect to said first pair of arms so that said feed rollers move with said stripping elements to a cleaning position in front of said coating roll upon swinging of said first pair of arms and the clearance between said coating roll and said feed rollers for accommodating the sheet material with said feed rollers in said operative positions may be varied by said means adjustably determining the angular position of said second pair of arms with respect to said first pair of arms, actuating means connected to said first pair of arms for manually effecting the swinging of the latter, and means on said frame cooperating with said actuating means to selectively hold the latter in positions respectively corresponding to said operative and cleaning positions of said stripping elements and feed rollers.

5. In a machine of the described character having a frame, a coating roll mounted in said frame for rotation about a fixed horizontal axis, means for applying a coating substance to the surface of said coating roll from above the latter, feed rollers normally disposed in an operative position below said coating roll so that sheet material fed between said coating roll and feed rollers is supported and fed by the latter while said coating roll applies the coating substance to the upper surface of the sheet material, and stripping elements normally disposed in an operative position where they engage the bottom portion of said coating roll in back of said feed rollers;

the improvement comprising a first pair of arms support ing said stripping elements and pivotally mounted on said frame to swing about a lateral axis parallel to said axis of rotation of the coating roll and disposed above said operative position of said stripping elements and lying in front of a vertical plane passing through the axis of rotation of said coating roll so that said stripping elements can move under said coating roll to a cleaning position in front of the latter in response to swinging of said pair of arms, a second pair of arms carrying said feed rollers and pivotally mounted on said first pair of arms to swing relative to the latter about an axis parallel to the swinging axis of said first pair of arms, means adjustably deter-1 mining the angular position of said second pair of arms with respect to said first pair of arms so that said feed rollers move with said strippng elements to a cleaning position in front of said coating roll upon swinging of said first pair of arms and the clearance between said coating roll and said feed rollers with the latter in said operative positions may be varied by said means adjustably determining the angular position of said second pair of arms with respect to said first pair of arms, actuating means including links pivotally connected to said first pair of arms and extending forwardly from the latter so that said first pair of arms can be swung by forward and rearward movement imparted manually to said links, and a laterally extending member on said frame under said links, said links having downwardly opening notches at spaced apart locations therealong and adapted to selectively receive said laterally extending member for holding said stripping elements and feed rollers in either their operative or cleaning positions.

6. In a machine of the described character having a frame, a coating roll mounted in said frame for rotation about a fixed horizontal axis, means for app-lying a coating substance to the surface of said coating roll from above the latter, feed rollers normally disposed in an operative position below said coating roll so that sheet material fed between said coating roll and feed rollers is supported and fed by the latter while said coating roll applies the coating substance to the upper surface of the sheet material, and stripping elements normally disposed in an operative position where they engage the bottom portion of said coating roll in back of said feed rollers; the improvement comprising a first pair of arms supporting said stripping elements and pivotally mounted on said frame to swing about a lateral axis parallel to said axis of rotation of the coating roll and disposed above said operative position of said stripping elements and lying in front of a vertical plane passing through the axis of rotation of said coating roll so that said stripping elements can move under said coating roll to a cleaning position in front of the latter in response to swinging of said pair of arms, means suspending said feed rollers from said pair of arms so that said feed rollers move with said stripping elements to a cleaning position in front of said coating roll, actuating means including links pivo-tally connected to said arms and extending forwardly from the latter so that said arms can be swingably displaced by forward and rearward movement imparted manually to said links, and a laterally extending member on said frame under said links, said links having downwardly opening notches at spaced apart locations therealong and adapted to receive said laterally extending member for holding said stripping elements and feed rollers in either their operative or cleaning positions.

7. In a machine of the described character having a frame, a coating roll mounted in said frame for rotation about a fixed horizontal axis, means for applying a coating substance to the surface of said coating roll, feed rollers normally disposed in an operative position below said coating roll so that sheet material fed between said coating roll and feed rollers is supported and fed by the latter while said coating roll applies the coating substance to the upper surface of the sheet material, stripping elements, and resilient means urging said Stripping elements into a normally disposed operative position where they engage the bottom of said coating roll in back of said feed rollers to effect separation of the sheet material from the coating roll as it is fed between the latter and the feed rollers; the improvement comprising a pair of arms supporting said stripping elements and said resilient means and pivotally mounted on said frame to swing about an axis parallel to said axis of the coating roller for displacing the stripping elements along a path extending under the coating roll from said operative position to a cleaning position remote from said coating roll in response to swinging of said pair of arms, actuating means including links pivotally connected to said arms and extending forwardly from the latter so that said arms can be swingably displaced by forward and rearward movement imparted manually to said links, and a laterally extending member on said frame under said links, said links having engaging means at spaced apart locations therealong and adapted to engage said laterally extending member for holding said stripping elements in either their operative or cleaning positions.

8. In a machine of the described character having a frame, a coating roll mounted in said frame for rotation about a fixed horizontal axis, means for applying a coating substance to the surface of said coating roll from above the latter, and feed rollers normally disposed in an operative position below said coating roll so that sheet 12 material cfed between said coating roll and feed rollers is supported and fed by the latter while said coating roll applies the coating substance to the upper surface of the sheet material; the improvement comprising a pair of arms supporting said feed rollers and pivotally mounted on said frame to swing about an axis parallel to said axis of the coating roller for displacing said feed rollers along a path extending under the coating roll from their said operative position to a cleaning position in front of said a coating roll, actuating means including links pivotally connected to said arms and extending forwardly from the latter so that said arms can be swingably displaced by forward and rearward movement imparted manually to said links, and a laterally extending member on said frame under said links, said links having downwardly opening notches at spaced apart locations therealong and adapted to receive said laterally extending member for holding said feed rollers in either their operative or cleaning positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,044,472 Ettl June 16 1936 2,225,457 Langsner Dec. 17, 1940 2,316,531 Nivling Apr. 13, 1943 2,368,759 Haessler Feb. 6, 1945 2,731,945 Schaefer Ian. 24, 1956 2,827,010 Schaefer Mar. 18, 1958