US2573952A - Apparatus for depositing strips of adhesive upon a base material - Google Patents

Description

T. O. BRETHERTON APPARATUS FOR 'DEPOSITING STRIPS OF ADHESIVE UPON A BASE MATERIAL Nov. 6, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 29, 1948 1951 T. o. BRETHERTON 2,573,952

APPARATUS FOR DEPOSITING STRIPS OF ADHESIVE UPON A BASE MATERIAL Filed July 29, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 "r. o. BRETHERTON 2,573,952 APPARATUS FOR DEPOSITING STRIPS OF ADHESIVE Nov. 6, 1951 UPON A BASE MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 29, 1948 &

Nov. 6, 1951 T. o. BRETHERTON 2,573,952

APPARATUS FOR DEPOSITING STRIPS OF ADHESIVE UPON A BASF! MATERIAL Filed July 29, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Nov. 6, 1951 APPARATUS FOR DEPOSITING STRIPS OF ADHESIVE UPON A BASE MATERIAL Thomas obBrethe rton, Villanova, Pa.

Application July 29, 1948, Serial No. 41,286

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in apparatus for depositingone or more strips of adhesive upon :a base material, and is particularly concernedwith apparatus that is especially adapted foruse in connection with the manufacture of pile fibre surfaced slide channel sections for-the glass panes of automobile doors and windows.

As is wellknown,'the channels and strips associated with the glass panes of automobile windows and doors usually are lined-or surfaced with felt or the like which serves principally to prevent rattling of theglass'in .theframe and at the same time provides acushion between the glass panes and the supporting structure of the doors and windows so that breaking of the glass in ordinary usage .of 'the'vehicle is substantially eliminated.

The manufacture of these channel and strip sections presents a probleminzthe automobile industry principally because of the materials and labor cost involved in producing an item which when finished constitutes only a very small part of a complete automobile; For example, one method of producing these channels which is used extensively in the automotive. industry consists in securingby means of stitching or adhesive three relatively narrow strips of felt in closely spaced parallel relation upon asuitable backing fabric such as light canvas or sized cotton and this fabric material with the felt strips secured thereon is then adhesively secured upon the surface of a-flat strip of metal. This metal strip with the felt carrying backing fabric 'secured thereto is then formed into a generally U-shaped channel withtthe fabric covered surface of the strip residing interiorly of the chan: nel so that the three felt strips thereon overlie the inner surfaces of the bottom and opposite side wall portions of the channel.

It will be noted that thedescribed method of producing these channel sections involves a-number of separateand distinct steps which, inad-. dition :to the cost "of extra materials, consumes considerable time and :zlabor which makes the cost of manufacturing-these channels andlstrips substantially out of proportion for such a'small part of-a complete automobile With the foregoing in mind, the principal obiect of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus for depositing ne r m r strips of adhesive u on-a continuoussmoving base-ma e rial in the v-mamlfacimre of :pile --fibre surfaced .articles as set. forth.

This; and: other -obiectszoi the invention and 4 Claims. (01. 91-1-12) the variousfeatures and details of the construction and operation thereof are hereinafter'full-y set forth and .described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of one form ofapparatus suitable for the manufacture of articlesaccording'to the present invention;

Fig. 'ZiS an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2, Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentarylongitudinal sectional view of-the apparatus shown in Fig. 1

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of .a portion ofthe apparatus appearing in Fig. '3 and more particularly as viewed-on the line'4 4, Fig. 6;

Fig.5 is a detached view in perspective of one of the membersof'theadhesive feed mechanism shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line .6 .6, Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a partial transverse sectionas viewed .on the line 1-1, Fig. 8;

Fig. 8 is a sectional plan as viewed on theline 8+8," Fig. 6;

'Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the section of a length of the base strip material with three strips of-the adhesive deposited thereon.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing the same stripafter the fibres have been deposited thereon in substantiallyperpendicular relation;

*Fig. 11 is an enlarged view in perspective of a length 'of one of the strips after being severed longitudinally of the length .of the material shown in Fig.10; and

Fig. 12 is a sectional view showing the strip of Fig. 11 after it"has been formed into channel section for use in guiding and supporting the glass panes of automobile windows and doors.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the-present invention contemplates passing a striprof material such as metal, fabric, or the like, continuously through a novel adhesive applying device which operates to apply upon the surface of the moving strip one or more continuous bands of adhesive predetermined Width preparatory to passing the strip of material with the bandor bands of adhesive thereon through apparatus which is constructed and operable 190 deposit; onto'the continuously moving strip relatively short textile fibres of wool or the like while imul aneously v bratin said strip to cause the fibres o adhere t the adhe ive b n ed areas of the stripx ln generally perpendicular relation to the siirfaceqof the latter, The strip withthepile fib e; s ime dhesivelv secured thereto is then a sed thr ugh .a .c amber maintained :at an elevated temperature to dry, cure or vulcanize the adhesive as the case may require.

One form of apparatus for producing strip material as described is shown in the accompanying drawings. The apparatus illustrated is constructed upon a framework comprising four upright members or standards I to which are secured a pair of transversely extending horizontally disposed channel members 2 that in turn support a pair of relatively spaced parallel longitudinally extending channel members Mounted on the extreme outboard ends of thelongitudinal channels 3 are drag and draw devices IO and II, respectively, for moving a length of base material M through the machine under proper conditions of tension.

tapped holes provided in suitable bosses 31 provided on the outer face of the bridge member 33, for example, as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

Expansion springs 38 are positioned interme- The draw device ll, shown' at the irighthandzi" side of Fig- 1 of the drawings, comprises a pair of relatively opposed rolls I2 and l3 between which the length of base material is adapted to pass. The bottom roll I3 is driven at a predetermined rate of speed from a suitable motor 14 through a belt drive l5 andthe upper roller 12 is biased by spring I6 toward the driven lower roll I 3. 1

On the other hand the drag device l0, shown at the extreme left of Fig. 1; comprises a lower idler roll I! and an upper roll I8 between which the strip of base material M passes, and the upper roll 18 is biased by a spring [9 toward the lower roll [1 and into contact with the strip of material. The pressure of the spring [9 acting on the roll 18 may be regulated by the adjustment ofascrew 20 to'cause the rolls I! and It to grip the strip of base material passing therebetweenwith the desired force with respect to the pull exerted by the draw device ll so that portion of the length of the base material M lying between these drag and draw devices H] and II will be under a predetermined degree of tension.

After passing through the drag device Hi, the

strip of base material M passes through an adhesive applying device which is generally designated by the numeral '2! and constructed as more particularly shown in Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive, of the drawings. As there shown, the adhesive applying device comprises one or more adhesive troughs or receptacles 23, depending upon the number 'of strips or band of adhesive to be applied to the surface of the strip M and, in similar manner, the width of the particular receptacles 23 will be determined by the width of the band or bands of adhesive material to be'deposited thereby onto the surface of said strip. The adhesive receptacles 23 constructed as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings include relatively spaced parallel side wall portions 24 and a declining, concave intermediate wall portion 25 which has its" lower terminal edge 26 spaced'inwardly with respect to the front face edges of the receptacle side wall portions 24. (See Fig. 5.) During passage of the strip of base strip M through the adhesive applying device 2| the strip rests upon a plate or platen '21 which is secured to'the upper surface of an underlying transverse channel member 28 that is secured, for example, by bolts 29 to the underside of a bridge member 30; The bridge member 30 is of generall inverted fiat U shape and is secured by bolts or the like 3| to the longitudinally extending channels 3 of the main frame, for example, in the relation shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

Provided at the upper rearward edge portion of the adhesive receptacle 23 is an outwardly directed flange portion 32 which i undercut to diate the enlarged head portion of each screw 36 and the adjacent face of the bracket 35 thereby continuouslysurging the latter and the adhesive receptacles 23 supported thereby in an inward direction or to the right with respect to Fig. 4 so that the front or inner edges of the receptacle side walls 24 normallyare maintained in firm abutting relation against the outer face of a doctor blade 39 which is carried by the bridge member 30 cross-wise of the moving base strip M.

The doctor blade 33 .cooperates with the receptacle side walls 24 andthe inner terminal edge 23 of its concave wall 25.to define an opening for the passage of adhesive from the receptacle 23 on to the upper surface of the continuously moving base strip M. In order to control and regulate the thickness of the band ,or bands of adhesive deposited onto the base strip M from the receptacles 23,: the doctor blade 33 is vertically adjustable. As shown in'Fig. '7 this is accomplished-in. the present/instance by providing in the bridge. member 30 an adjustin screw 46 having axially spaced reversely threaded portions 4| and 42 which operate, upon turning of said screw by the knob 43, to effect axial displacement of nut members 44 and 45 respectively, thereon, and displacement of these, nut members works through the mediumof associated bell crank levers 46 and 41 to effectvertical positioning of the doctor blade'39 in'micrometer'adjustments with comparative accuracy. 7

The adhesive material may be supplied to the receptacle 23 and maintained at a constant lever therein by conducting theadhesive material from a suitable source of supply 48 through a hose or other suitable connection '49'to a manifold 50 from which separate connections 5! lead through valves 52 and pipes 53 to the individual receptacles 23, for example, as clearly shownin Figs. 4 and 6 of'the drawings. The, valves 52 may be adjustably supported above the bridge member 30 by means of a bracket 54 secured thereto and having a slot 55 therein whereby the valves may be transversely positioned within the limits of the slot with respect to the base strip M. It will be understood of course that the number of receptacles 23 provided in any given case, as well as the respective widths thereof, will be governed entirely by the number of bands of adhesives it is desired to place upon the surface of the base strip and the width of such bands.

The particular adhesive 'material employed preferably is a synthetic rubber adhesive which is water-proof and resistant to cleaning and other solvents. A numberof good adhesives having these properties are available on the market. The thickness of the band of the adhesive deposited upon the upper surface of the basematerial will vary widely depending upon both the type and length of fibres employed as well as upon the viscosity and-solidscontent ofthe adhesivel composition :and =1in reach 1 case may best be: determined by trial: and error with ,respect toztheseifaetors.

.The strip material emerging from passage through-etheeadhesive device. illustrated in the drawings: will i have;.deposited thereon, three continuous bands of the zad-hmive arranged-in spaced parallel relation :extending longitudinally :of 'the base-strip for example, .as shown-in Fig. '9 of the'drawings Y 4 --:The' strip M with the adhesive bandsthereon next passes through an elongated"chamberkfifl the 'rcourse 40f travel 1 through which. uniform relatively .shortlength fibres such :as, forexample, r-wool or other. material are "deposited by gravitytonto'l the adhesive :bandedstrip while the flatter; which is "maintained under tension ,provided by the drag and draw devices HI and l l,'-respectively, is vibrated. In the present instance vibration .of the continuously moving :base strip is accomplished :by: causing the strip'to pass over axplurality of transversely .rarranged polygonal shafts 6] :of polygonal Across-section shape .as shown'in Fig. 4. The opposite ends 10f these shafts are rotationally supported in suitable -journal boxesiiZ and :63, respectively, mounted exteriorly of the chamber '60. :The shafts: G l are driven'irom a .motorifil through a ;belt;drive 65 tonne of :said shafts 6! and. from the latter the othersshafts are driven :by connecting belts 66,66 through pulleys 61 fixed. on each. ofthe shafts. Itisttoibenoted that the rotational axes of the vibrator shafts 6.! do not valllie in the same hori- 'zon-tal plane. and that. the rotational axes of the second rand fourth shafts are spaced respectively slightly:.above:and below the plane of the rotational axes of the firstsand third :of said shafts thereby causing eachshaft Bl to be-eifective individua'lly to vibrate'the base-strip-M. The chamber fillsis mounted in the rectangular area defined by the tour uprights or standardsof..-th'e..apparatus framework, and overlying-the chamber 6021s a hopper 68 which extends the full length of the chamber 60 and has relatively vertical .upperside wall portions 9 which terminate toward the bottom of the hopper in inwardly curving wall portions '16 which provide, in conjunction with a transversely :arcuatexscreen' H in the opening to the chamber "60 a rounded bottom to the hopper. The opening from the hopper to the underlying chamber 60 extends substantially the full length and width of the latter and the screen H, which-is of predetermined size mesh, bridges the opening between the-hopper and the chamber 60 and is "curved to the same radius as the lower side wall portions 10of the hopper 58 asshown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Rotatably mounted within the hopper about horizontal axis-extending longitudinally thereof is a generally cylindrical agitator comprising-a central shaftlQ having a plurality of spiders 73 secured thereon and provided with circular rim portions '14 to which are secured support strips 75 that extend longitudinally of the agitator and are provided with -a-slight spiral rake, for example, as shown in Fig. 1- of the "drawings. 'Secured to each of these support strips is a backing strip 16 having metal pins or relative stiff nylon bristles H projecting radially therefrom in the relation shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Similarly provided in the curved bottom portions ill of the hopper 68 along opposite sides of the opening therein to the chamber 60 are stationary backing members 18 of relatively greater width than the strips 15 and having proiecting therefromradially'withrespect'tozthe centereof the agitator, pins "or .rel'atively'stiff bristles 19. The construction and arrangement of the agitator andstationary pins is such that the tips of .Jtheagitator pins have relatively close clearance with thesta'tionary pins but do not actually top them. I

- 'One 40f the difficulties encountered in the handling .of short textil'erfibres of lengths say from about z inch to about.% inch is the tendency for. these fibres to wad and collect into rolls and balls which build up to substantial size and eventuallynclog the machine, and bypro vi'ding the agitator described with its pins or bristles arranged to just clear the stationary pins or bristles l9,;it has been found that any accumulations of :fibres tending to form rolls or balls'are subjected immediately to'what might be termed alight carding acting which effectively eliminates any tendency of the short fibres to form into objectionable rolls or balls.

The fibres are admitted to the hopper '68 through an opening in the top thereof and are dischargedonto a baffle which tapers endwise of the hopper from its mid-point and has laterally sloping sides which cooperate with the endwise taper thereof to insure a substantially uniform. distribution of the fibres longitudinally of the hopper. The'fibres discharge from the hopper 68 through its bottom opening and the screen H onto the adhesive-banded strip of base material M. The fibres which aredeposited onto the adhesive banded "areas of thebase strip M adhere to the latter and due to the vibration imparted to thetensioned base strip M by the polygonal shafts 6|, the fibres deposited onto the adhesive band or bands of the strip have one end embedded in the adhesive and extend substantially perpendicular to the plane of the base strip surfac thus forming thereon a unique pile fibre surface simulative of the effect provided by certain pile fabrics such as carpets and the like.

The fibres'deposited onto the base strip M which do not become embedded in the bands of adhesive are dischargedfrom opposite sides of the strip by the vibrations imparted thereto and drop into a downwardly tapering bin portion 8! provided in the lower part of the chamber 60. The fibres discharged into the bin 8! are withdrawn therefrom and through a duct 82 by a fan or blower 83 which inturn discharges the fibres throughanother duct 8 and returns them to the hopper fill. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the fan or blower 83 is driven by the motor 54.

After the fibres have been deposited onto the adhesive banded areas of the base strip M as described, the latter emerges from the chamber 66, passes through the draw device I l previously described, and then is passed through a drying'or curing chamber (not shown) of any suitable type which is maintained at the desired temperature to=effect drying, curingor vulcanization of the adhesive material as may be required to sheet a permanent bond of the fibres to the base strip M and with the illustrated form of apparatus to provide a pile fibre banded strip of the construction shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings. Whether or not the adhesive material should be merely dried or cured or, for example, vulcanized, will depend to a large extent upon the type of adhesive material employed and also upon the particular use which is to be made of the pile fibre surfaced strip product. Thus in the case of guide channels and strips for the glass panes of automobile windows and doors where their use is ac companied by substantial wear and exposure to substantially the entire range of weather c'onditions and cleaning solvents, an exceedingly tough and durable bonding of the fibres to the base strip is essential and therefore an adhesive of the synthetic rubber type preferably is employed and properly cured or vulcanized by subjecting. the pile fibre surfaced strip to the required heat treatment for a predetermined period of time.

The multiple-banded strip shown in Fig. 10 is split or cut longitudinally thereof along the broken lines a, to produce three ribbons M of the construction shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings. These single ribbons M may be used flat or may be run through a suitable machine to form them into lengths of channel cross-section shape with the pile fibre surface thereon disposed interiorly of the channel as shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings. If desired, the free edge portions of the channel sections being turned outwardly and providing beads along the opposite side edges thereof substantially as shown:

By way of illustration, a good product may be produced by advancing the base strip 'M through the apparatus at a linear speed of about 10 to 12 feet per minute while rotating the vibrator shafts BI at a speed of from about 500 to 1000 R. P. M. and the agitator in the hopper 68 rotating at a speed of from about to 50 R. P. M., the thickness of the adhesive bands deposited upon the strip M and the duration and temperature range for drying, curing or vulcanizing the adhesive being determined, as previously set forth, with reference to the type and composition of adhe-' sive employed, the type of fibres used and the character of the bond required according to the particular use which is to be made of the produot.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described herein, it is not intended to limit the invention to such disclosure, and changes and modifications may be made in and to the apparatus within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for producing pile fibre sur-' faced strips of material, a device for applying parallel bands of adhesive material upon 'a continuously moving strip of the material, comprising a fixed support structure, a doctor blade carried by said structure transversely overlying the strip, a bracket disposed crosswise of the strip and mounted for horizontal sliding movement relative to the fixed structure, a plurality of adhesive receptacles on said bracket arranged transversely of the strip, and adapted to abut said doctor blade, and means biasing said bracket toward said fixed structure to maintain said receptacles firmly against said doctor blade.

2. In apparatus for producing pile fibre surfaced strips of material, a device for applying spaced parallel bands of adhesive material upon a continuously moving strip of the material, comprising a fixed support structure, a doctor blade carried by said structure transversely overlying the strip and adjustable vertically with respect thereto, a plurality of adhesive receptacles arranged in predetermined spaced relation transversely of the strip and adapted to abut against the outer face of said doctor blade, and spring means normally maintaining said receptacles firmly against said doctor blade.

3. In apparatus for producing pile fibre surfaced strips of material, a device for applying spaced parallel bands of adhesive material upon a continuously moving strip of the material, comprising a fixed support structure, a doctor blade carried by said structure transversely overlying the strip and adjustable vertically with respect thereto, a plurality of adhesive receptacles arranged in predetermined spaced relation transversely of the strip, said receptacles each having a declining'conc-ave wall portion intermediate side wall portions which project beyond the lower terminal edge of the concave wall and are adapted to abut against the outer face of said doctor blade, and spring means normally maintaining said receptacles firmly against said doctor blade.

4. In apparatus for producing pile fibre surfaced strips of material, a device for applying continuous spaced parallel bands of adhesive material upon a continuously moving strip of the material, comprising 'a fixed support structure, a doctor blade carried by said structure transversely overlying the strip and adjustable vertically with respect thereto, a bracket disposed crosswise of the strip and mounted for horizontal sliding movement relative to the fixed structure, a plurality of adhesive receptacles carried by said bracket in predetermined spaced relation transversely of the strip, said receptacles each having a declining concave wall portion intermediate side wall portions which project beyond the lower terminal edge of the concave wall and are adapted to abut against the outer face of said doctor blade, and spring means normally biasing said bracket toward said fixed structure to maintain said receptacle side wall portions firmly against said doctor blade.

' THOMAS O. BREFI'HERTON.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 553,032 Kenna Jan. 14, 1896 2,142,258 Schlegel Jan. 3, 1939 2,191,549 Spraragen Feb. 27, 1940 2,244,791 MacKenzie June 30, 1941 2,330,662 Balfe Sept. 28, 1943 2,338,499 Faris et al. Jan. 4, 1944 2,345,376 Bodle et a1 Mar. 28, 1944 2,349,256 Evans May 23, 1944 2,356,489 Amstutz Aug. 22, 1944 2,389,657 Faris et al. Nov. 27, 1945 2,398,400 Balfe Apr. 16, 1946 2,414,728 Faris et al Jan. 21, 1947 2,421,073 Kratz May 27, 1947 2,464,849 Coward Mar. 22, 1949

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