Patent ID: 8689689
Filing Date: 2014-04-08
Classification: B05B,B05C,E04D

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for marking finished processed sheets with reference lines for facilitating subsequent manual handling or installation of the finished sheets comprising: a supply of an elongated length of sheet material; a processing line for conveying and processing the elongated length of sheet material; said processing line being operable for conveying said sheet material through the processing line at conveying speeds up to at least about 750 feet per minute; said processing line including a plurality of processing stations including a cutting station for cutting the elongated length of sheet material into predetermined sized finished sheets; a supply of a liquid paint marking fluid; a marking system arranged to apply said liquid paint marking fluid to the elongated length of sheet material passing through the processing line prior to said cutting station, the marking system comprising at least one stationaryly mounted liquid directing spray device having a solid stream liquid spray nozzle for discharge and direction without pressurized air atomization a narrow pressurized liquid stream of said liquid paint marking fluid with liquid paint marking fluid throughout a spray pattern for providing a straight external marking and reference line parallel to the longitudinal length of the sheet material identifiable on the finished sheets following completion of processing of the finished sheets for enabling a user to reference the marking and reference line during subsequent handling or installation of the finished sheets, said spray device being operable for directing the pressurized liquid stream of the liquid paint marking fluid directly onto the passing elongated sheet material, a variable speed positive displacement pump for supplying metered quantities of said liquid paint marking fluid to the spray device as an incident and in direct relation to the operating speed of the positive displacement pump, said pump being operable at selective variable speeds; a sensor for detecting the speed at which the sheet material is passed through the processing line, said sensor being in communication with a controller, said controller being operable for controlling the speed of the positive displacement pump based upon a speed at which the sheet material is passed through the processing machine such that the liquid paint marking fluid is sprayed onto the moving sheet material in direct relation to the operating speed of the positive displacement pump, and said liquid spray nozzle being operable for spraying the liquid paint marking fluid onto the moving sheet material to form a uniform clearly distinct visible marking and reference line of consistent width of about 0.125 inches on the moving sheet material at a speed of sheet material movement of about 750 feet per minute.