US3372673A

US3372673A - Coating apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3372673A
Application number: US591485A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dimattia Alfred
Original assignee: EDWARD STERN MAJESTIC PRESS Inc
Current assignee: EDWARD STERN MAJESTIC PRESS Inc
Priority date: 1966-11-02
Filing date: 1966-11-02
Publication date: 1968-03-12
Anticipated expiration: 1985-03-12

Description

March 12, 6 A. DI MATTlA I COATING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 2, 1966 INVENTOR ALFRED Old/A7771! ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent Office 3,372,673 COATING APTARATUS Alfred DiMattia, Williarnstown, Ni, assignor to Edward Stern Majestic Press, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Nov. 2, 1966, Ser. No. 591,485 10 Ciaims. (Cl. 118--22l) ABSTRACT OF THE DHSCLGSURE This disclosure is directed to a coating apparatus having a grooved roller which transfers coating material from a trough to a surface. The grooved roller receives the coating material directly from the trough, thus eliminating transfer rollers, and applies a consistent width thin strip of coating material to a surface.

This invention is directed to a coating apparatus and more particularly toa coating apparatus which can be utilized to apply coating material to a surface in a quicker, more efficient and less expensive manner.

In general, prior art coating apparatus utilized a plurality of coating material containers and a series of transfer rolls which cooperated with the coating material containers. conventionally, paste would fiow from the coating material containers onto a first transfer roll, due to the effect of gravity. The first transfer roll would contact a second transfer roll of substantially identical size. The second transfer roll would normally contact a coating roller which would be mounted in the machine frame. The main roller would contact paper and transfer coating material such as adhesive thereto. The first and second rollers were merely transfer wheels which were positioned below the coating material containers and cooperated with the main coating roller.

The transfer wheels were necessary since direct flow of coating material onto the coating roller resulted in uneven application of coating material on the surface to be coated. The coating material would iiow along the coating roller and the surface to be coated would receive an uneven strip of coating material rather than the desired consistent thin strip of coating material.

The present invention has particular utility in coating thin strip of adhesive onto paper. In the past, transfer rolls were necessary to ensure transfer of only a thin strip of adhesive to the coating roller and the paper. However, whenever a jam-up or delay in machine operation occurred the coating roller would stop rotating and the adhesive would spread along the surface thereof. This necessitated a thorough cleaning of the coating roller and thus, substantial delays were encountered.

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate transfer rollers and individual coating material containers and to deliver coating material from a Single trough directly to a grooved roller.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a coating apparatus wherein coating material is delivered from the trough through conduits directly to a cotating roller, which roller coats the material onto a surface and moves the surface past the coating roller so that further operation can be performed thereon.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a coating apparatus which is faster and less expensive than prior art coating apparatus.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a coating apparatus which is more effective than prior art coating apparatus and which results in a superior final product.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a coating apparatus which may be in line with a tions may be performed thereon.

3,372,673 Patented Mar. 12, 1968 folding and cutting apparatus and which functions at the same speed as said folding and cutting apparatus.

It is yet nother object of the present invention to provide a coating apparatus which coats a surface with a consistent width thin strip of coating material.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The above enumerated and other objects are accomplished by means of the present invention. The present invention eliminates transfer wheels and the individual coating material containers which cooperate therewith. Instead, the present invention provides a trough having a plurality of conduits attached thereto. The conduits are provided with petcocks and may also be provided with a main shut-off means which opens or closes each of the conduits simultaneously. The consistency of the coating material, such as adhesive, is thinner than that used in prior art devices so that easier flow of such coating material is obtained. The thinning of the coating material also substantially reduces problems which may arise with respect to clogging of the conduits, trough and the coating roller.

The conduits deposit coating material directly onto a coating roller. The roller has ribs on its periphery so that it facilitates movement of the surface which is to be coated through the machine. At selected points along the roller, deep circumferential grooves are cut. The grooves are spaced approximately one-quarter of an inch apart and therefore define therebetween a portion of a roller being approximately onequarter inch in width. The conduits are adapted to deposit coating material upon the quarter inch portion of the roller. The deep grooves are necessary to prevent the coating material from spreading over the entire roller and thus fouling the coating apparatus. The deep grooves are also provided so that overflow of coating material may be received therein should the machine jam or momentarily discontinue operation. This prevents overflow from contacting the remainder of the roller while the flow of coating material is being stopped by closing the petcocks in the conduits. The number of sets of grooves in each roller will be determined by the number of lines of coating material which are to be deposited on the surface which is being coated. After the coating material has been deposited onto the surface, the coating roller feeds the surface past the coating station so that further opera- The further operations may include folding and cutting the paper adjacent the lines of coated material.

A superior product is obtained by use of the present invention. This invention has particular utility in coating adhesive onto paper which is to be folded and sealed. The paper may thereafter be cut along the coated material lines. The final product is superior since the thinner adhesive dries faster and produces a superior more consistent bond.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this. invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a section view of the coating apparatus of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a section view taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of paper traveling past the grooved roller of the coating apparatus of the present invention.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2 there apparatus indicated generally The coating apparatus 10 has is shown coating by reference numeral 10. a frame 12 which supports P a trough 14.

The trough 14 may have material 16 therein which material is to be coated onto surface. The material 16 may be an adhesive or other similar material. Conduits 18 are attached at the base 26 of the trough 14. Conduits 18 may be connected to the base of the trough 14 in any desired manner such as by welding or a threaded engagement of the conduits with the base of the trough. Any desired number of conduits 18 may be provided.

Each of the conduits 18 has a petcock 22 positioned approximately equidistant the ends of each conduit. This permits easy access to the petcocks. The petcocks 22 may limit the amount of coating material 16 which flows through the conduits 16.

A support bar 24 is fixedly attached to the frame 12. The support bar 24 supports each of the conduits 155. The support bar 24 may be connected to the frame 12 in any conventional manner, such as by means of nuts 26 or any other suitable means.

A coating roller 28 is supported by the frame 12. The coating roller has its ends journaled for rotation in the frame 12. The coating roller 28 is mounted over a driven roller 30. The axis 32 of the coating roller 28 is offset with respect of the axis 34 of the driven roller 30. This offset relationship enables the rollers to flex the surface to be coated downwardly as it passes therebetween. The downward flexing of the surface facilitates movement of the surface to the next operation.

Both the coating roller 28 and the driven roller 39 have

ribbing

36 and 38 respectively on the outer surfaces thereof. The ribbing 36 and 3S facilitates gripping and movement of the surface to be coated through the machine.

The coating roller 28 has a plurality of grooves 4-0 therein. The grooves 40 are approximately one-quarter inch in Width and approximately one-quarter inch in depth. Each pair of grooves defines an isolated original diameter portion 42 of the roller 28 therebetween. Only one groove 40 is provided at each end of the roller 28 to provide an isolated original diameter portion. Each of the conduits 18 terminate adjacent an isolated original diameter portion 42 on the coating roller 28. Grooves 40' similar to grooves 40 in coating roller 28 may be provided in driven roller 30. The grooves may also define isolated original diameter portions 42' on the driven roller 30. By providing roller 30 with grooves, the

rollers

28 and 30 may be interchangeable and identical in construction, thus facilitating the interchangeability of parts.

A plurality of guide feet 44 may be mounted on a shaft 46 which is supported by the frame 12. Each of the guide feet 44 may have a screw or a wing nut 48 or other simi lar means at the uppermost end thereof to permit adjustment of the feet 44 along the shaft 4-6. As shown the shaft 46 is rectangular to retain proper alignment of the feet 44 with respect thereto and with respect to the surface to be coated.

The surface to be coated may be a continuous web of material or may be individual sheets of material. The web or sheets of material 50 may be paper or any other material on which a coating is desired. When a plurality of sheets 50 are to be coated, they are stacked at one end of the coating apparatus and individually fed to the rollers 28 and 39. Any conventional means may be provided for moving the sheets 50 towards the rollers 23 and 30.

After the leading edge of each sheet is gripped by the

rollers

28 and 30 the sheet is moved through the rollers due to the gripping action of the

ribbing

36 and 38.

Guide belts or other suitable conventional means may be provided to move the leading edge of each sheet into cooperating engagement with the

rollers

28 and 36.

A plurality of idler rollers 52 are supported by the machine frame 12. The idler rollers 52 cooperate with the guide belts or other conveyor means to provide rapid movement of sheets St) towards the coating roller 28.

Suitable gearing as is provided for rotating the coating roller 28 and the driven roller 3d at the same speed. The gearing is conventional and therefore need not be set forth herein in detail. Either gearing or a belt drive system could be utilized to provide for movement of the

rollers

28 and 30.

After the sheets 50 have had material 16 coated thereon, they may be folded and cut adjacent the coated material 16. The sheets St are moved past the rollers 28 and 39 due to the gripping action of the ribbing 36 and on said rollers. The sheets 5% may be moved into a folding place mounted adjacent the rollers 28 and 39 or may be received on a conveyor belt 54 which may be mounted adjacent the

rollers

28 and 36. Due to the offset relationship of the

rollers

28 and 38, the sheets 59 will be flexed downwardly and will be forced into engagement with the conveyor 5 or any other apparatus which is mounted adjacent the rollers. The subsequent operation, such as folding, conveying and/or cutting of the sheets 59 forms no part of the present invention and therefore need not be discussed herein in detail.

The coating apparatus of the present invention may be used in the following manner. A supply of coating material 1% is provided in the trough 14. A continuous web of material 5% or individual sheets 5% may be stacked at one end of the coating apparatus 10. Suitable feed means, such as guide belts or a conveyor means is provided to move the sheets 50 through the coating apparatus, under the guide feet 44 into engagement with the coating roller 28 and the driven roller 39. The petcocks 1-2 are opened to a suitable disposition and material 16 flows through the conduits 18 onto the portions 44 of the roller 23. The roller 28 is rotated and the material on the portions 42 is transferred to the sheets 50 (see FIG. 3).

As the sheet 5%) is moved past the

rollers

28 and 30 due to the rotation of the rollers and the gripping effect of

ribbing

36 and 38, thin lines of coating material are deposited thereon as determined by the number of portions 42 which receive coating material from the conduits 18.

After the sheets 50 have had the material 16 applied thereto, they may be folded and/or cut in accordance with the final use to which such sheets are to be put.

The present invention has particular utility in applying adhesive to paper sheets which are to thereafter be folded and cut. The material 16 may be adhesive which has a thinner consistency than adhesives which have been used in the past. The portions 42 of the roller 28 deposit a thin line of adhesive 16 on each sheet 50. Two adjacent lines of adhesive material 16 may be spaced approximately one-quarter inch apart and the sheets 50 may be severed between such lines of adhesive. The portions 42 of the roller 28 apply a consistent continuous strip of adhesive to the sheets 50. Should the coating apparatus be jammed or momentarily stopped, coating material will not spread over the entire surface of the roller, but rather will fiow into the grooves 40 of the roller 28. The provision of the grooves therefore eliminates the necessity of cleaning the entire roller 28 should the coating apparatus 10 be temporarily stopped. Of course, it is assumed that if the apparatus tended to be stopped for any length of time, the petcocks 22 in the conduits 18 will be turned to their closed position so that no substantial amount of adhesive will flow through the conduits 18.

The petcocks 22 provide a valve means for selectively controlling the flow of coating material to the portions 42. Depending upon the number of lines of adhesive which are required for a particular run, the flow of adhesive through selected conduits 18 may be shut off by closing the petcocks 22.

The coating roller 28 may be easily replaced since it is merely held in place by several bolts. Rollers having portions 42 in locations, different from those shown in the drawings, may also be utilized. Additional conduits 18 may also be incorporated into the coating apparatus.

The ribs on the rollers 28 and 3G and the portions 12 and 42' may be approximately one-thirty-second of an inch in height. In the preferred structural arrangement of the coating apparatus the coating material is applied to the portions 42 at a location substantially diametrically opposed to the location where the portions contact the sheets.

As has been stated hereinabove, other materials, such as cardboard, synthetic materials and cloth may be utilized with the coating apparatus of the present invention. Furthermore, materials other than adhesives may be coated onto the surfaces by means of the present invention.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus comprising a frame supporting a glue coating roller, means for feeding at least one sheet to said coating roller, means on said roller for contacting said sheet to move said sheet past said roller, a coating material supply means supported by said frame above said roller, said roller having at least one pair of substantially radial, closely spaced grooves therein, said pair of grooves defining therebetween a narrow portion of the roller, said portion being provided with a serrated surface, means for depositing coating material from said coating supply means directly onto said serrated portion of said coating roller from thereabove, said serrated portion of said roller adapted to virtually contact said sheet and deposit a thin line of coating material on said sheet as it is moved past said roller.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for depositing coating material includes at least one conduit connected to said coating material supply means at one end and said conduit at its other end being in direct communication with said roller portion.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means on said roller includes a plurality of ribs on said coating roller for facilitating movement of said sheet past said roller, and wherein said sheet moves beneath said roller.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a driven roller supported by said frame, said driven roller having ribs thereon and cooperating with said coating roller to move said sheet between said rollers, the axis of said coating and driven rollers being offset to thereby downwardly deflect said sheet which moves past said coating and driven rollers.

5. Apparatus comprising a frame supporting a coating roller, means for feeding at least one sheet beneath said coating roller, sheet moving means on said roller at spaced areas therealong for contacting said sheet to facilitate movement of said sheet past said roller, a

coating material supply means above said roller for supplying coating material to said coating roller, said roller having a plurality of pairs of substantially radial, closely spaced grooves therein, each of said pair of grooves defining a portion of said rollers therebetween, said portion having a serrated surface, means for depositing coating material from said coating supply means directly onto said serrated portions of said serrated coating roller from thereabove, said portions of said roller each being adapted to deposit a thin line of coating material on a sheet as it moves past said roller.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said sheet moving means is substantially wider than each groove and substantially wider than said serrated portions.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for depositing coating material includes a plurality of conduits connected to said coating material supply means at one end thereof and at their other end being in direct communication with said serrated portions of said coating roller, said conduits having valve means therein for selectively controlling flow of coating material to said coating roller portions.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein each groove is approximately one-quarter inch wide and approximately one-quarter inch deep.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said sheet moving means includes a plurality of ribs on said spaced areas on said roller, said ribs being approximately onethirty-second of an inch high, said portions having substantially the same diameter as said sheet moving means, said portions having ribs thereon, the ribs on said portions cooperating with the ribs on said sheet moving means to move a sheet past said roller.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said coating material depositing means deposits material onto each portion at a location substantially diametrically opposed to the location Where each portion contacts said sheet and said coating roller being readily replaceable.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 668,069 2/1901 Unger l01-329 1,141,311 6/1915 Brogan 118-259 X 1,568,605 1/1926 Hough 118221 X 1,634,258 7/1927 Halpin 118-259 X 2,730,989 1/1956 Pearce 118-221 2,754,798 7/1956 Tilden 1l8-219 X CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. L. G. MACHLIN, Assistant Examiner.