Coating processes – With post-treatment of coating or coating material – Chemical agent applied to treat coating
Patent
1986-04-09
1988-10-25
Bell, Janyce A.
Coating processes
With post-treatment of coating or coating material
Chemical agent applied to treat coating
427377, 427389, B05D 310
Patent
active
047803355
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention is concerned with a process whereby a coating of moisture-curable composition applied to the surface of an article is cured and to apparatus for curing such a coating when applied to the bottoms of shoes.
There is described in our co-pending EP-A0079753 (EPC Application No. 82305978.7) a method of treating an article, e.g. a shoe part, having a coating of a moisture-curable composition, in carrying out which method the article is placed in an enclosed chamber wherein it is subjected to infra-red radiation and to which chamber a quantity of steam is supplied, the article remaining in the enclosed chamber for a period of between 5 and 25 seconds for the purpose of curing the coating of moisture-curable composition. In addition, in said specification is described an apparatus for use in carrying out the method.
Whereas the method and apparatus described in the aforementioned specification ensures that the coating of composition is speedily and efficiently cured, nevertheless the apparatus does not in itself enhance the possibility of a flow of production, since the loading and unloading of shoes in the chamber, and also the opening and closing of the chamber, is essentially spasmodic.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for curing a coating of a moisture-curable composition, which apparatus is more suited for incorporation into a continuously operating production line, and also to provide an improved process whereby a coating of a moisture-curable adhesive can be cured, which process is readily adapted for use in a continuous production flow.
There are hereinafter described in detail, to illustrate the invention by way of example, an apparatus for curing a coating of moisture-curable composition applied to the bottoms of shoes, and a process whereby a coating of moisture-curable composition applied to the surface of an article is cured. The illustrative apparatus conveniently comprises a chamber, conveyor means by which shoes can be conveyed, bottom uppermost, through the chamber, and means for supplying air to a plenum having an array of apertures extending over substantially the whole of the length of the chamber, said apertures opening into the top of the chamber whereby air supplied therethrough directly impinges on the bottoms of shoes being conveyed by the conveyor means. It will be appreciated that, from a work handling point of view, the most convenient way of conveying the shoes as aforesaid is bottom uppermost, since thereby they can rest with non-coated portions thereof in contact with the supports. However, within the scope of the invention should also be understood conveyor means of more complicated nature by which the shoes can be supported bottom down, in which case the plenum would be situated beneath the conveying means and the apertures would open into the bottom of the chamber.
The air supplying means of the illustrative apparatus supplies air as aforesaid at a velocity of the order of not less than 10 meters/second (measured at the apertures). The effectiveness of air velocity in achieving the desired results has been found not to be significantly enhanced where the air velocity exceeds 20 meters/second and indeed, from the point of view of efficiency an air velocity not exceeding 15 meters/second is preferred. Furthermore, an air velocity of not less than 13 meters/second is preferred for achieving the desired result in a time which is considered appropriate, as will be hereinafter referred to.
The distance of the apertures from the conveyor means is such that the air impinging on the bottom of a shoe supported by the conveyor means is effective to "scrub" away the layer of air which usually is found to lie static on the surface of the shoe bottom. To achieve this scrubbing action, with air having a velocity as aforementioned it has been found desirable that the shoe bottoms are spaced at a distance of the order of not more than 120 mm from the apertures; it is also desirable to arrange for said distance to be not less than 7
REFERENCES:
patent: 2226769 (1940-12-01), Heather et al.
patent: 4273552 (1981-06-01), Nischwitz
patent: 4318944 (1982-03-01), Hall
patent: 4515646 (1985-05-01), Walker et al.
patent: 4562098 (1985-12-01), Ahmed
Allen Christopher M.
Hanson Raymond
Tillyard Malcolm
Bell Janyce A.
Brine Aubrey C.
British United Shoe Machinery Limited
Meegan Owen J.
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