US2051813A - Machine for coating materials - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 25, 1936. L. BELLAMY MACHINE FOR COATING MATERIALS Filed March 28, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 NN N mx Aug. 25, 1936. L, BELLAMY 2,051,813

MACHINE FR COATING MATERIALS l Filed March 28, 1934 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 25, 1936. L BELLAMY 2,051,813

MACHINE FOR comme MATERIALS Filed March 28, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to machines for coating sheets of materials with a liquid coating mixture.

The objects of my invention are as follows:

To provide a coating machine for coating the surfaces of matrix paper evenly with a liquid mixture, by the use of spray devices adapted to project an elongated fan shaped jet of the liquid mixture upon the surfaces to be coated; to provide devices to feed successive sheets of matrix paper from a stack of such sheets to conveyers which feed the sheets of materials under the spray devices at varying speeds; to provide means to adjust the spray devices to project liquid coating mixtures of varying viscosity and at different velocities; to provide devices for turning the sheets of materials over to coat both sides if de-` sired and a device to evenly cover the surface of the sheet of matrix paper with a pulverized material in a powdered form.

A further object of my invention is to so construct the feeding mechanism and spray coating device as to vary the thickness of coating projected upon the surface of the sheets of materials.

These objects are attained by the mechanism illustrated in the drawings forming a part of these specifications.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a diagram of the plan view of my improved coating machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing more in detail the arrangement of the conveyor belts and the means for driving the same. Fig. 4is a diagrammatic side elevation of the feeding device for feeding the sheets from a stack of sheets to the conveyer belts and the device for covering the sheets with powdered material. Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevation of the spray device and support. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of the support for the spray device, the bottom of the tank for holding the coating mixture, a section of air pipe for compressed air, the connections to the tank and air pipe and a side View of the spray device. Fig. '7 is a side elevation of the device for turning over the sheets of matrix paper and Fig. 8 is an edge View of same. Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the feeding mechanism, as shown in my copending application, Serial No. 717,817 led March '28, 1934, for Machine for coating materials, in which its construction is fully described. This feeding device is not attached to the frame of the machine shown in Figs. l and 2 of this application, but is preferably operated from an independent source of power, with its feeding belts timed to the same surface speed as the carrier belts shown in Figs. l and 2. Fig. 9 shows the position of the feeding device with relation to the carrier belts of the machine when it is positioned to feed sheets to the machine.

In the drawings, 9 represents a feeding device in which sheets of paper or the like may be stacked, preferably at an angle and fed from the bottom upwardly through the rolls and Il. The sheets are fed by the feeding belts |2|2 which are V shaped and are driven and guided by the two series of pulleys |3|3 and I4|4 which are mounted upon and rotated by the shafts I5 and I6, which rotate in bearings in the frame 9. The shaft I5 may be rotated by a suitable source of power.

The sheets are passed from the feed belts |2|2 to a series of V shaped conveyer belts which are mounted upon and driven by the pulley I8, the pulleys |8'-|8' are idler pulleys. The pulley I8 is driven vby belts from the pulley 9, which is mounted on the shaft 20. The pulley 2| is mounted upon the shaft 20, and driven by the belt 22, which is mounted upon and driven by the pulley 23, which pulley is mounted upon the shaft 24. The shaft 24 is rotated by a motor or other suitable source of power.

As the sheets are conveyed in the direction of the arrow by the belts they pass under the spray device 25, and their exposed surface moistened by a fan shaped spray of water is desired. When the forward edge of the sheets pass to the pulley I8, they enter the wedge shape space 26, of the turning over device shown in Fig. 7. Contact with the trigger 28 causes it to rotate on its pivot 29, and disengage its hooked portion from the pin 3l). The disengagement of the trigger 28, from the pin 30, permits the ratchet pawl 3| to swing upon the pivot 32, and cause its hooked portion to engage the ratchet 33 which is secured to and rotates with shaft 34, thereby causing the turning over device to rotate with the shaft 34 half a revolution. The ratchet pawl 3| swings upon the pivot 32, into engagement with the ratchet 33, through the action of the spring 35, secured to it; the free end of the spring engages the pin 36. The spring 35 is normally curved outward so that it is under sufficient tension to swing the ratchet pawl 3|, into engagement with the ratchet 33. When the turning over device 21 has completed a half revolution, its outer end contacts with the pin 36', thereby disengaging its hooked end from the ratchet 33, at the same time the spring 35 is compressed and the trigger 28 engages the pin 30, through the action of the spring 31. After the ratchet pawl 3| is disengaged from the ratchet 33, the portion the turning device is in position to receive the,

advancing edge of the next sheet. The turning over device 21 is composed of oppositely disposed duplicate members and is loosely mounted on the shaft 34.

The sheets of material as turned over are deposited on a second series of conveyor belts 42-42 which convey them under the spray de vice 43, which projects on their upper surfaces a fan shaped jet of coating mixture extending laterally across the sheets asthey are fed along, th'us evenly coating the whole surface of each sheet. The thickness of the coating is regulated by varying the composition and viscosity of the coating mixture; the speed at which the sheets travel; by varying theopening of the jet orifice and by varying the velocity at which the coating mixture is projected from the jet orice.

It is essential that the conveyor belts 42-42 be dry and free of coating mixture when the sheets drop upon them as turned over. To this end I provide means for scraping the top surface of the belts not shown and pass them through the drying chamber 43a, the conveyor belts 42 are long enough to pass through the chamber 43a,

several times, they are driven by the pulleys 2|-2| mounted on the shaft 20, the conveyer belts 42 pass over the pulleys 2|-2I around pulleys 48-48, over pulleys 41-41 to pulleys 46-46, thence to pulleys 45--45 and back to pulleys 2|-2|.

A pan 49 is provided to catch and hold any coating mixture not deposited on the sheets as they pass under the spray device 43, and an enclosure 50 is provided with an exhaust fan, not shown, to draw out free moisture and help dry the sheets.

The sheets of material pass from the conveyer belts 42-42 to the conveyer belt 5|, which is substantially the width of the sheets and are conveyed by the belt 5|, under a dusting device consisting of a hopper 52, for holding a pulverized material. The bottom of the hopper 52 has a narrow opening covered with wire mesh.- There is a. brush 53 mounted in the hopper 52, with its bristles resting on the wire mesh and means are provided, not shown, to reciprocate the brush 53, endwise to feed the pulverized material through the wire mesh so it will fall upon the sheets as they pass through under the hopper 52-. Two reciprocating brushes 54 and 55 are provided to spread the pulverized material over the surface of the sheets as they are fed under them and rub it into pores of the sheets.

Rolls 56 and 51 are provided to prevent displacements of the sheets while the brushes 54 and 55 are rubbing against their surfaces, they hold the sheets down against the conveyor belts 5|. The rolls 56 and 51 are mounted to rotate in the ends of the reciprocating levers 58 and 59, which in turn are pivoted to the frame of the machine.

At times it is desirable to dispense with dusting the surfaces of the sheets, in such event means are provided to stopl the operation of the dusting device and elevate it out-of contact with the surto the links 62 -62. The levers 63-63 are piv.-

oted to the links 624-62, at their lower ends, their upper end's are pivoted to plates 64, located on either side of the frame 9. The hopper and brushes of the dusting device are mounted on the plates-64. A connecting bar 65 is attached to the links 62-62, and a lever 66 is pivoted at its lower end to the frame 9', and at its mid portion to the connecting bar 65, by moving the top of the lever 66 to the right, see Fig. 4. The levers 6|-6| and 63-63 will assume a perpendicular position thus elevating the plates 64 and the dusting device out of contact with sheets of material passing through under the brushes. The brushes 54 and 55, are provided with means, not shown, to reciprocate them crosswise of the sheets to spread and rub in pulverized material dusted upon the surface of the sheets. Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate the spray devices 25 and 43. The spray devices consist of the body part 66', which is provided with the portion 61, serving as a connection for the pipes 68, through which the coating mixture flows from the tank 69, to the spray device. Passages not shown are provided extending through the body part 66', from the connection 61, to the orifice 1D, a vneedle valve 1| is provided to regulate the flow of coating mixture through the orifice 10, and to close said orifice.

Means are provided to open and close the needle valve 1|, and to regulate the extent of its opening, consisting of the longitudinally slidable bar 12, to which is pivoted the bell crank lever 13, by the pivot 14, secured to the support 15. The end 16 is forked to embrace the valve stem ,1|, threaded nuts 11-11 are mounted upon the needle valve 1|, and adjustable thereon. They are held in position by the check nut 18, as will be noted. Longitudinal movement of the bar 12 will move the needle valve stem 1| to open or close the orifice 10.

Y The support 15 is secured to the cross bar 19, which is a part of the frame 9 of the machine. The spray device is secured to the support 15, by means of the clip 80 and bolts.

The- spray devices 25 and 43 are provided with an air connection 8|, and passages, not shown. leading from the air connection to outlets 132-82. A valve 83 is provided to control the volume and pressure of air flowing from the outlets 82-82. The connection' 8| is attached to the pipe 84, which is secured in the air supply pipe 85.

The operation of coating materials is as follows: A stack of sheets is placed upon the feeding belts l2, and fed from the bottom through the feed rolls l0, and to the conveyer belts |1-I1, and thence under the spray device 25, which projects a jet of water to cover its exposed surface, the sheets then pass to the turning over device 21, and turned over to fall upon the conveyor belts 42-42 and conveyed by them under the spray device 43, which projects upon its exposed surface a coating mixture, the thickness of the coating being regulated by the speed at which the conveyor belts 42-42, travel and the volume and velocity at which the coating mixture sheets of materials. By elevating the dusting de-I vice the coated sheets will pass' under it without dusting.

Referring to Fig. 6, it will be noted that the air outlets 82-82 are positioned at an angle so that jets of air projected therefrom will impinge on either side of the jet of coating mixture and against each other, the combined action of the three jets results in a fan shaped jet o! coating mixture that will extend laterally across the sheet and evenly cover its surface as it is fed under the spray device. f

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the feeding mechanism, in which there is provided supports 85, on which the sheets are placed. They are arranged so that the bottom sheet will contact with the feed belts I2-I2. A hold back device 86 is provided consisting of the spring member 81, and the parts 88 and 89. The part 89 is adjusted to permit the lower sheet to pass under it. The part 88 permits the second sheet to pass under and the spring 81 is inclined at an angle so that the front edge of the sheets will settle downward without undue friction.

My invention is not confined to the exact form and arrangement of the parts as they may be changed and modified without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

l. In a paper coating machine having a rotatable shaft mounted therein, a ratchet wheel secured to said shaft, a plurality of radial arms loosely mounted on said shaft, each provided with an outwardly tapering slot positioned to receive vancing edge of a sheet to disengage them from the pawls and means to disengage the pawls and position the radial arms when they have completed a half revolution.

2. In a machine for moistening, coating and dusting powdered materials on the coated face of matrix sheeets, means for feeding sheets of matrix paper to horizontal carrier\ belts, said carrier belts, means for moistening one surface of the sheets, means operable by the advancing edge of the sheets to turn them over, means to coat the other side of the sheets, means to convey the coated sheets to a dusting device and means to evenly distribute the powdered material on the coated surface of the sheets.

3. The method of preparing matrix sheets for casting type for use in printing, which consists in moistening one surface of the sheets, turning them over and coating the other surface with a coating material and thereafter dusting onto and spreading evenly a coating of powdered material on the coated surface of the sheets all by continuous operations. v

LEON BELLAMY.

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