Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Surface bonding means and/or assembly means therefor – With work cooling means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-19
2001-04-17
Knable, Geoffrey L. (Department: 1733)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Surface bonding means and/or assembly means therefor
With work cooling means
C118S101000, C156S578000, C492S017000, C492S046000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216761
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an improvement in the structure of a chill wheel. More particularly, the invention relates to an assembly which affords the circulation of chilled water against the inner part of an outer ring of the wheel assembly and an assembly which affords easy removal for cleaning, inspection, repair and replacement.
The present invention provides an improved cooling wheel to be used for applying a tape or string of tacky hot-melt adhesive to a substrate. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a free turning ring assembly which is cooled by a chilled fluid running through a stationary chamber, chilling the outer ring to chill the molten or tacky adhesive and adhere it to the substrate. The cooling or chill wheel, as it is often called, normally follows a dispenser which heats and directs the tacky hot-melt tape or string to be applied toward the substrate.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
The prior art includes examples of hot-melt adhesive applicators adapted to dispense a ribbon of hot melt adhesive tape or to dispense a string of hot melt adhesive toward a moving substrate, to apply the adhesive to the substrate. The hot melt adhesive is then pressed against the substrate by an applicating wheel intended to press the adhesive onto the substrate. Such an applicator is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,758 wherein the applicating wheel
75
provides means for cooling the bonded thermoplastic adhesive. The wheel
75
comprises a wheel or roller made of hard material such as steel.
The hub of the wheel could be cast from aluminum and be provided with a hardened steel tire, which could in turn be chrome-plated. The wheel
75
rotates about a shaft mounted to an auxiliary cooling assembly frame
77
which is pivotally mounted. The cooling is carried out by coating the wheel with a release agent liquid which is wicked onto the surface of the wheel. The wheel served to cool the adhesive completing the bond. When the thermoplastic stuck to the wheel a scraper blade maintained in contact with the cooling wheel was used to release the adhesive.
Another example of adhesive applicating wheels is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,521, wherein a band
100
extends about wheels
104
and
106
and is driven at the same speed as the conveyor
18
to press the tape strip
28
against the carton blank advanced by the conveyor
18
. In this machine the band
100
is heated to heat the tape to its application temperature as it passes beneath the band
100
on top of the carton. Here the carton acts as the heat sink to help cool and solidify the tape after it leaves the bonding assembly. Here the wheels
104
and
106
are supported on shafts by roller bearings and while
106
is driven, roller
104
is the idler driven by the band
100
.
A prior art applicating roller is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,767 and comprises a wheel
18
which rotates with supporting axle
68
and is mounted with bearings
70
at an end of the wheel support
20
. The axle
68
defines an inlet conduit
72
for conducting fluid into a rotating wheel chamber
74
and an outlet conduit
76
for conducting fluid away from the wheel chamber. An inlet tube
78
is threadably attached to an inlet fitting
80
and provides a source of cooling fluid to the wheel chamber
74
through the inlet conduit
72
. An outlet tube
82
, threadably attached to an outlet fitting
84
and inlet fitting
80
prevents fluid from leaking from the system. The wheel is cooled internally by the cooling fluid, which preferably is recirculated in a closed system. Grooves are formed on each side of the wheel proximate the peripheral surface
90
of the wheel. An axle cover
92
on each end of the axle
68
extends from the inlet fitting
80
and outlet fitting
84
of the axle toward the peripheral surface
90
. A tongue
94
projects from each axle cover
92
toward the wheel
18
and cooperatively engages the groove
88
. The axle cover
92
thus defines a smooth sloping surface
96
extending from the tongue
94
proximate the wheel to the inlet fitting
80
or outlet fitting
84
on the axle
68
. In the event the string
12
becomes dislodged from the application pathway the axle cover
92
prevents the string from winding onto the axle
68
.
In this known prior art, sealed roller bearings are used in an environment where dust, heat and water are present causing the same to eventually become wet and dirty and become less effective due to an increase in drag on the wheel and most chill wheels are not driven. Further, known water cooled chill wheels use rotating water or chilling fluid reservoirs, resulting in greater danger of leaking.
The present invention eliminates sealed bearings, rotating cooling chambers and the tendency for the adhesive to wind on the rotating shaft of the chill wheel causing build up and interruption of the rotation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an assembly for a chill wheel that will have less interruptions in its continued use by the elimination of sealed bearings, rotating chilling fluid reservoirs, and exposed rotating axles that allow adhesive build up. Elimination of sealed bearings also eliminates inherent drag due to friction caused by rotating sealed bearings.
A chill wheel assembly according to the present invention comprises a shaft having an inboard end and an extended end portion. The extended end portion has a section of reduced diameter between the inboard end and the distal end portion and has means for forming passageways through the inboard end affording communication between the space formed by the reduced section and the proximal end of the shaft for allowing chilling fluid to circulate through the reduced section. A cylindrical stator sleeve, having an outer cylindrical surface and an inner cylindrical surface, is placed over the end portion to cover the reduced section of the shaft for forming an enclosed chamber. An outer ring having an external cylindrical surface and an internal bore, with a bearing sleeve frictionally fitted within the internal bore fits closely over the stator sleeve. A sealing washer is placed against the inboard end of the shaft and the outer ring and another sealing ring is placed against the other end of the outer ring, and means are provided for retaining the second washer on the distal end to hold the parts together.
The chill wheel assembly for use on an adhesive applicator comprises a support member and a shaft is joined to the support member and extends therefrom in a cantilever fashion. The shaft has an inboard, proximal end or head, and an axially extending end portion. The end portion has a section of reduced diameter forming a cavity between the head of the shaft and the distal end portion and has passageways through the head affording communication between the reduced section and the proximal end of the shaft. A cylindrical stator sleeve is placed over the end portion to cover the section of reduced diameter, the cavity, and form a chamber. The chamber can be used for circulating water. A first sealing washer is positioned over the end portion and the stator sleeve and against the face of the head. An outer ring, having an external cylindrical surface and an internal bore, and a cylindrical bearing sleeve member fitted within the internal bore, having an internal diameter to fit closely about the outer surface of the stator sleeve, to provide rotation the of outer cooling ring or wheel. A second sealing washer is positioned over the distal end of the end portion, and there are retaining means on the distal end of the shaft to hold the assembly together.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3782330 (1974-01-01), Kanda et al.
patent: 4120349 (1978-10-01), Alheid et al.
patent: 4285758 (1981-08-01), Clausen et al.
patent: 4925521 (1990-05-01), Asbury, Jr. et al.
patent: 4955433 (1990-09-01), Zaoralek
patent: 4964202 (1990-10-01), Pav et al.
patent: 5174206 (1992-12-01), Molinatto
patent: 5662767 (1997-09-01), Getz et al.
Knable Geoffrey L.
Linear Products Inc.
Quan Nancy N.
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