Coating apparatus – Immersion or work-confined pool type – Tumbling particulate work
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-14
2001-01-30
Crispino, Richard (Department: 1734)
Coating apparatus
Immersion or work-confined pool type
Tumbling particulate work
C366S147000, C366S297000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179916
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The field of the invention relates to an apparatus having a mixer for coating particulates using a liquid to create a wet mixture which is then dried to create coated particulates. The apparatus is controlled to cycle repetitively through a series of similar batch processes in a continuous process.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Commercial manufacturing processes often involve the use of particulates which are embedded in a mixture. One example would be brake pads for vehicles in which particulates of high friction material are embedded in a supporting material. In some cases the particulates will not naturally bond to the supporting material so that it is necessary to coat the particulates with an intermediate material which is compatible with both the particulates and the supporting material to facilitate bonding.
Apparatus exists for coating particulates in which particulates are mixed with liquid in a mixing chamber to coat the particulates and the resulting wet mixture is conveyed to a drying station to be dried. A problem with this process is that the particulates tend to agglomerate when coated with the liquid resulting in wet mixtures which are difficult to transport from the mixing chamber to the drying station. It would therefore be advantageous to be able to handle such materials in one location where the materials are first mixed to coat the particulates and then dried for subsequent handling.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus for coating particulates with a liquid, and then drying the resulting wet mixture in the same location. It is also an object of the invention to produce apparatus capable of coating and drying consecutive batches of material in a continuous or automatic process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Apparatus is provided for creating a dry coating on particulates from a liquid source. In one of its aspects the apparatus includes a mixer for receiving particulates and liquid and operable to create a wet mixture. Load cells are coupled to the mixer to measure the amount of particulates fed into the mixer and a liquid measure is also coupled to the mixer for controlling the amount of liquid to be fed to the mixer for mixing with the particulates. A hot air generator is connected to the mixer by an air duct assembly to direct hot air through the mixer for drying the wet mixture. The air duct assembly includes a floating coupling to permit limited relative movement between the mixer and the hot air generator caused by temperature changes and movement of the mixer on the load cells as the particulates are introduced into the mixer without significantly affecting the signal created by the load cells in response to the introduction of the particulates. A central station is coupled to collect data and send signals for conducting a batch process by sequentially filling the mixer, mixing the particulates and liquid to form said mixture, drying the mixture and discharging the resulting dry coated particulates.
In another of its aspects the invention provides apparatus having a mixer for receiving particulates and liquid and operable to create a wet mixture. A hot air generator is connected to the mixer by an air duct assembly to direct hot air through the mixer for drying the wet mixture. The mixer has a housing including parallel side walls, at least one mixing rotor extending parallel to the side walls, and a cavity extending along the one of the side walls adjacent the downward travel of the rotor. The cavity has a bottom opening and is coupled to the air duct assembly to receive hot air and direct it through the bottom opening into the wet mixture to travel downwardly with the mixture and rotor for enhanced drying.
These and other aspects of the invention will be better understood with reference to the following description taken in combination with the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2917395 (1959-12-01), Csanyi
patent: 3141792 (1964-07-01), Lachman et al.
patent: 3645813 (1972-02-01), Pelikan et al.
patent: 4245580 (1981-01-01), Okawara
patent: 4619381 (1986-10-01), Wurtz
patent: 4644665 (1987-02-01), Naunapper et al.
patent: 4678046 (1987-07-01), Mosher
patent: 4791735 (1988-12-01), Forberg
patent: 5582643 (1996-12-01), Takei et al.
patent: 5753868 (1998-05-01), Diem
Crispino Richard
Delbridge Robert F.
Koch, III George R.
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