Abstract:
A cleaning and epoxy application table for laminate strips includes a pair of movable rails for guiding strip material over the table, first beneath a solvent sprayer that cleans the strip, a drier for removing the solvent, and then to an epoxy adhesive application station which places a continuous film of adhesive on the cleaned surface of the strip.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a cleaning and epoxy application table for laminate strips. 
     A strip of material may be adhered to a substrate, or built up on other strips of material, by spreading a film of adhesive on one side of the strip, and then pressing the strip against the substrate. It is important that the adhesive application be uniform: that is, no spots should be left uncoated, and the film should have a uniform thickness. An additional requirement for optimum adhesive performance is that the strip surface be free of oil and other contaminants before the adhesive is applied. It is customary to spray the strip surface with an solvent like MEK, prior to applying the adhesive. 
     Large manual lamination jobs involve repetitive motion which is fatiguing, particularly if the worker is required to manipulate and control the strip material unduly. A good lamination table, specifically designed for this type of job, would help reduce worker fatigue and could improve productivity. 
     Some prior tables for applying glue to various materials have been developed. Examples are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,895,546, 5,059,276, 5,039,375, 4,702,664, 4,371,309, 4,039,369, 4,010,203, 3,986,917 and 3,367,823. None of these devices, however, is particularly suitable for handling laminate strip material which must be cleaned and then coated with adhesive. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the invention is to simplify the task of cleaning laminate strip material and applying epoxy adhesive to the cleaned surface. Related objects are to reduce worker fatigue and improve productivity. 
     These and other objects are attained by a cleaning and epoxy application table for laminate strips as described in detail further below. The table is fitted with means such as guide rails for guiding laminate strip material along a path from an upstream end of the table to a downstream end thereof, and with a solvent sprayer for directing a solvent mist at the upper surface of the laminate strip. The solvent-wetted surface of the strip is sourced by an abrasive pad. Air jets downstream of the sprayer remove solvent from said surface, and then the strip passes through a box of adhesive which adheres to the surface. The strip material leaves the adhesive box coated with a film of adhesive. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the accompanying drawings, 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a cleaning and epoxy application table for laminate strips, embodying the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof; 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevation thereof, 
     FIG. 4 is a left end elevation thereof; 
     FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view thereof, on the vertical plane  5 — 5  shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view thereof, taken on the vertical plane  6 — 6  shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view thereof, taken on the vertical plane  7 — 7  shown in FIG. 3; and 
     FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view thereof, taken on the vertical plane  8 — 8  shown in FIG.  3 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A cleaning and epoxy application table for laminate strips embodying the invention comprises (see FIG. 1) an aluminum table top  10 , about ½ inch thick and a foot wide, supported by a substructure including at least two pair of legs  12  with suitable bracing, such as the horizontal rails  14  shown, to keep the legs stable. Items  16  are carrying handles attached to the edges of the table. 
     The left end of the table in FIGS. 2 and 3 will be referred to as the upstream end, and the right end is the downstream end, indicating the intended normal movement of strips over the table. At the far upstream end of the table, there are two short guide rails  18 , releasably clamped to the table surface by thumb screws  20 . Threaded holes for receiving the screws are formed at different spacings across the table (see FIGS.  7  and  8 ), so that the guide rails can be moved to handle strips of different widths. These short guide rails  18  are aligned with a similar but longer pair of guide rails  22 —also secured by thumb screws—just downstream of a cleaning station. The cleaning station includes a solvent sprayer  24  (FIG.  6 )—preferably a nozzle at the end of an adjustable gooseneck—above the table, and a solvent drip pan  26  seated in an undercut opening  28  in the table. One can see in FIG. 3, that the drip pan  26  is connected by a tube  30  to a solvent reservoir  32  at ground level. The reservoir contains a filter and a pump (neither shown) which delivers clean solvent through a feed hose  34  back to the solvent sprayer  24 . The sprayer comprises a pneumatically assisted nozzle  36 , mounted at the end of an adjustable gooseneck, producing a solvent mist which falls primarily on the upper surface of the laminate strip. The sprayer is just upstream of a sponge-backed scouring pad  38 , supported on a bracket  40  affixed to the table. 
     The table is perforated with an array of holes  42  extending downstream from the cleaning station. The holes in the array overlie a common air manifold  44 , which is supplied with compressed air by a supply hose  46  leading to an air compressor  48 . The manifold also communicates with an drying tube  50  that passes transversely above the table. The drying tube is also perforated at the bottom, so that it directs a curtain of air downward at the upper surface of the laminate strip to dry it before adhesive is applied. The air escaping upward from the holes  42  in the table provides a frictionless air cushion beneath the strip. 
     An epoxy application box  52  is provided at the downstream end of the table. The box is defined between a pair of aluminum L-channel members  54  which are adjustably secured to the table by thumb screws, and a pair of divider plates  56 . The side of the divider plates are received in vertical slots (not visible) in the inner faces of the channel members. Divider plates of different widths are used when the channel members are moved inward or outward to accept laminate strips of different widths. The bottom edge of that divider plate is preferably not straight, but rather very slightly arched so that its is slightly higher in the middle than at the corners. 
     In use, the air compressor and solvent pump are run continuously. The adhesive application box (the rectangular area between the channel members and the divider plates) is filled with an epoxy adhesive, and a heavy free weight is preferably placed on top of the adhesive to generate some adhesive pressure. Now a strip of laminate is passed over the table between the guide rails and channel members. The upper surface of the strip is wetted by the solvent mist and the pad at the upstream end of the table, and the scouring pad rubs against the top surface of the strip as it passes beneath. Next, the surface of the strip is dried by air from the drying tube. When the laminate passes through the box  52 , it is submerged in and coated by the adhesive. The bottom edge of the downstream divider plate squeegees off all but a suitably thin film of adhesive. As mentioned before, the bottom edge of that divider plate is slightly arched, that is, higher in the middle, so that it leaves a greater film thickness at the center of the strip, than at the edges. 
     An extension (not shown) may be added at the downstream of the table, to hold coated laminate strips before they are removed and used. 
     The preferred material for the structural elements of the invention is aluminum, since great strength is not required, and this makes the table easily portable. It should be understood, however, that the invention may be produced from various materials, including nonmetallic materials, and that any dimensions mentioned are not limiting of this invention. 
     Since the invention is subject to modifications and variations, we intend that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as only illustrative of the invention defined by the following claims.