Method and equipment for keeping the coating rod and the rod cradle in a bar coater clean and for prevention of leakage of the lubrication and/or cooling water

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for keeping the coating rod and the rod cradle in a bar coater clean and for prevention of leakage of the lubrication and/or cooling water used. The invention is meant for a bar coater in which the coating rod (41) is, substantially over its entire length, supported revolvingly in a rod cradle (42) attached to the frame constructions (50) of the coater. The rod cradle is provided with at least one groove (43,44) substantially parallel to the coating rod (41) and open towards said coating rod, in which groove(s) water is circulated to lubricate, to cleanse and/or to cool the coating rod (41) and the rod cradle (42). The coating rod (41) is loaded towards the base (B) to be coated by loading the rod cradle (42). The rod cradle (42) and the sealing lips (45,47) of the rod cradle are loaded so that the loading seals the glide faces (46, 48) between the coating rod (41) and the rod cradle (42) substantially over the entire length of the rod cradle and prevents leakage or at least substantially reduces leakage from the water grooves (43,44). The invention also concerns an equipment intended for carrying out the method.

Description: The invention concerns a method for keeping the coating rod and the rod cradle in a bar coater clean and for prevention of leakage of the lubrication and/or cooling water in a bar coater in which the coating rod is, substantially over its entire length, supported revolvingly in a rod cradle attached to the frame constructions of the coater, which cradle is provided with at least one groove substantially parallel to the coating rod and open towards said coating rod, in which groove(s) water is circulated to lubricate, to cleanse and/or to cool the coating rod and the rod cradle, the coating rod being loaded towards the base to be coated by loading the rod cradle. The invention also concerns an equipment intended for carrying out the method in accordance with the invention for keeping the cradle of the coating rod in a bar coater clean and for prevention of leakage of the lubrication and/or cooling water in a bar coater in which the coating rod is, substantially over its entire length, supported revolvingly in a rod cradle attached to the frame constructions of the coater, which cradle is provided with at least one water groove substantially parallel to the coating rod and open towards said coating rod, in which groove(s) water circulation is arranged to lubricate, to cleanse and/or to cool the coating rod, the rod cradle being provided with means for loading the coating rod towards the base to be coated. Bar coaters are in common use in connection with the size presses of paper machines to meter and to spread the size onto the faces of the size-press rolls. Further, bar coaters are used for the coating of paper especially in cases in which it is feared that the coating blade of a blade coater produces streaks in the paper face. By means of a coating rod, attempts are made to avoid these streaks so that the rod is, as a rule, rotated in the direction opposite to the running direction of the web, as a rule, at a speed of 10-600 revolutions per minute. This is why the coating bars are provided with a suitable drive gear to rotate the rod, and in wide machines the rods are usually provided with drives at both ends to avoid torsional oscillations. When a bar coater is used, the coating process can be performed, e.g., so that the coating agent is applied to the web face by means of an applicator roll, and any excessive coating agent is scraped off the web face by means of the coating rod. A bar coater may also be constructed as a so-called short-dwell unit, in which the coating agent is passed into a coating-agent chamber, which is defined by the front wall of the chamber and, on the other hand, by the coating bar and the base to be coated, which may be a paper web or equivalent and, in particular in size-press applications, the face of a backup roll. The coating rod is, as a rule, mounted revolvingly in a cradle made of a suitable material, such as polyurethane. The rod is normally supported in said cradle over its entire length. In the cradle, in connection with the rod, as a rule, at least one water groove and often two grooves are provided, the water circulated in said grooves being supposed to lubricate, to cleanse and to cool the coating rod. A substantial problem in the bar coaters is, however, leakage of the water present in the water grooves, for example, when the groove is blocked by size or by pigment coating paste or when the rod cradle is worn. When a leakage of water occurs, the cooling, washing and lubricating effect of the water is reduced and, at the same time, water penetrates onto the base to be coated. With respect to the prior art, reference is made, in particular, to Figure A1, which illustrates quite an ordinary coater, which is denoted generally with the reference numeral 10. The coater 10 is a bar coater, whose coating rod 13 is, in the embodiment shown in Fig. A1, fitted against the paper or board web W that runs on the face of the backup roll 14. The coater 10 shown in Fig. A1 is a coater of the so-called short-dwell type, wherein the coating agent is brought into the application zone 11 placed before the coating rod 13, in the running direction of the web W, which application zone 11 is, besides by said coating rod 13, also defined by the web W, by the front wall 12 of the application zone, and by lateral seals (not shown). The application zone 11 is, in the ordinary way, pressurized, and from the application zone 11 an overflow of the coating agent is arranged through the gap 15 between the front wall 12 of the application zone and the web W. The coating rod 13 is fitted in a cradle 18, which is made of a suitable material, such as polyurethane, and which supports the coating rod 13 over its entire length. The coating rod 13 is provided with a purposeful drive, by whose means the coating bar 13 is rotated in the direction opposite to the running direction of the web W. The cradle 18 of the coating rod 13 is fitted in a support 16, and both the cradle 18 and the support 16 are together attached to a holder 19 mounted on the frame of the coater 10. Moreover, on the support 16, behind the cradle 18, a loading hose 17 is provided, by whose means the coating bar 13 can be loaded in the desired way against the web W. Into the cradle 18, a water groove 5 has been formed that is in connection with the coating rod 13, the water circulating in said groove being supposed to lubricate, to cleanse, and to cool the coating bar 13 and the cradle 18. A problem in the prior-art coater described above has been leakage of the cooling water out of the water groove 5. The problem has been emphasized in particular when the water groove 5 has been blocked or when it has been necessary to increase the pressure in the loading hose 17 to obtain the desired coating result. Even though, as a rule, it might be assumed that, when the pressure in the loading hose 17 is increased, the lips 6 and 7 of the cradle 18 placed against the coating rod 13 are pressed more tightly against the coating rod 13, however, the result has frequently been that in particular the lower sealing lip 6 has been bent and at least partly opened so that water has been able to leak out of the water groove 5 between the sealing lip 6 and the coating bar 13. In the prior-art solutions, it has not been possible to solve said problem, because, in coaters as shown in Fig. Al, the only possibility to eliminate the problem of leakage, in particular during running of the machine, would be to regulate the pressure in the loading hose 17. This can, however, not be done, because it would have considerable significance for the coating result. FR-A-2078663 discloses a method and equipment where a rod cradle is moved in a translatory movement between two parallel surfaces in a holder for pressing the rod against the base to be coated. The parallel surfaces restrict the deflection of the sealing lips away from the rod, but do not increase the loading pressure between the sealing lips and the rod. GB-A-2078140, GB-A-2136711 and WO-A-8805698 disclose methods and equipment which are similar to the method and equipment mentioned above in relation to Fig. A1, which illustrates prior art methods and equipment. FR-A-2157415 discloses equipment where the inflation of the hose acting upon the rear face of the rod cradle causes a deflection of the rod cradle such that the pressure between the sealing lips and the rod may decrease if the deflection is too excessive. The object of the present invention is to provide a method and an equipment by whose means the drawbacks related to the prior-art solutions are avoided. In view of accomplishing this, the method in accordance with the invention is mainly characterized in that the rod cradle and the sealing lips of the rod cradle are loaded so that the loading seals the glide faces between the coating rod and the rod cradle substantially over the entire length of the rod cradle and prevents leakage or at least substantially reduces leakage from the water grooves. On the other hand, the equipment in accordance with the invention is mainly characterized in that the means for loading the coating rod and the rod cradle comprise one or several loading members that extend substantially over the entire length of the rod cradle, the loading produced by means of said loading members being arranged to seal the glide faces between the coating rod and the rod cradle and to prevent leakage or at least substantially to reduce leakage from the water grooves. The most essential and most significant advantage of the present invention as compared with the prior-art solutions is in the achieving of the objectives that were set right above, i.e. therein that, according to the invention, water cannot leak out of the water groove in the cradle of the coating rod onto the base to be coated and that the water groove is not blocked, because the water does not leak out of the water groove but flows through the water groove in the intended way. In this way, disturbance of the operation of the machine arising from leakages of water does not occur. Thus, by means of the present invention, it is possible to avoid the production interruptions that occur in the prior-art solutions. The other advantages and characteristic features of the invention come out from the following detailed description of the invention. The invention will be described in the following by way of example with reference to Figures 1-6 in the accompanying drawing. Figure 1 is a schematic sectional side view of an exemplifying embodiment of a coating-rod construction in accordance with the invention. Figure 2 is an illustration corresponding to Fig. 1 of a second embodiment of a coating-rod construction in accordance with the invention. Figure 3 is an illustration corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2 of a third embodiment of the coating-rod construction. Figure 4 is an illustration corresponding to the preceding figures of a fourth embodiment of the coating-rod construction. Figure 5 is an illustration corresponding to the preceding embodiments of a fifth embodiment of the coating-rod construction in accordance with the invention. Figure 6 shows a further exemplifying embodiment, corresponding to the preceding embodiments, of the coating-rod construction in accordance with the invention. In Fig. 1, the construction of the coating rod is denoted generally with the reference numeral 20. The coating-rod construction 20 comprises a coating rod 21 mounted revolvingly in a cradle 22 and supported against the base B to be coated. The base to be coated may be a paper or board web, the face of a backup roll, or the face of a size-press roll. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, two grooves 23 and 24 have been formed into the cradle 22 of the coating rod, which grooves are in connection with the coating rod 21 and at least one of which grooves is provided with water circulation, which is supposed to lubricate, to cleanse, and to cool the coating rod 21 and the cradle 22. In the normal way, the cradle 22 of the coating rod is fitted on a support 30, and said support 30 and the cradle of the coating rod are attached to a holder (not shown) placed on the frame of the coater. Between the coating-rod cradle 22 and the support 30, a first loading hose 31 or an equivalent loading member is fitted, which rests against the rear face 29 of the cradle, which rear face operates as a support face. The pressure of the coating rod 21 against the base B to be coated is regulated by adjusting the pressure in the loading hose 31. Onto the sealing lips 25 and 27 of the cradle 22, glide faces 26 and 28 have been formed, which are in glide contact with the coating rod 21, being sealed so that the water circulating in the groove/grooves 24 and/or 23 cannot leak through that contact area. Thus, in this respect the coating-rod construction 20 is extensively similar to the construction in the prior-art devices. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the novelty of the invention consists thereof that into the coating-rod cradle 22, into the rear face 29 of the cradle, a groove 32 has been formed in the transverse direction of the machine, into which groove 32 a second loading member 33, e.g. a loading hose as shown in Fig. 1, is fitted. When the pressure in said second loading hose 33 is increased, the glide faces 26 and 28 of the sealing lips 25 and 27 can be pressed more tightly against the coating rod 21, whereby leakage of water out of the grooves 23 and 24 is prevented efficiently through the contact areas between said glide faces 26 and 28 and the coating rod 21. As can be seen clearly from Fig. 1, the first loading hose 31 and the second loading hose 33 are separate from one another, whereby a change in the pressure in one loading hose 33 does not affect the loading of the coating rod 21, but only the tightness of the contact between the sealing lips 25 and 27 and the coating rod 21. Thus, in the solution in accordance with the present invention, an increased tightness of contact has no detrimental effect on the coating result. In the solution as shown in Fig. 1, the direction of loading of the first loading hose 31 is substantially perpendicular to the rear face 29 of the cradle. Thus, by means of said first loading hose 31, exclusively the compression of the coating rod 21 against the base B to be coated is regulated. The primary direction of loading of the second loading hose 33 is parallel to the rear face 29 of the cradle, in which case, by the effect of said second loading hose 33, the sealing lips 25 and 27 tend to be turned more tightly against the coating rod 21. Of course, it is possible that, for the regulation of the tightness of the sealing lips 25 and 27, several loading hoses are employed, which would be similar to the second loading member 33 and which would be placed in corresponding grooves in the rear face 29 of the cradle. It has, however, been noticed that the desired effect is obtained expressly by means of a construction as shown in Fig. 1, wherein one loading hose 33 only is used for regulation of the tightness. Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of the method and equipment in accordance with the invention. In Fig. 2, the coating-rod construction is denoted generally with the reference numeral 40. The coating-rod construction 40 comprises a coating rod 41, which is mounted revolvingly in the cradle 42 of the coating rod and loaded against the base B to be coated. Into the cradle 42, grooves 43 and 44 have been formed in a way corresponding to that shown in Fig. 1 for circulation of water in at least one of said water grooves so as to lubricate, to cleanse, and to cool the coating rod 41 and the rod cradle 42. The cradle 42 further comprises sealing lips 45 and 47, the glide faces 46 and 48 formed on said lips being in a sealing contact with the coating rod 41, thus preventing leakage of water out of the grooves 43 and 44. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the cradle 42 is mounted on a support 50, to which it is attached by means of a holder 54 and fastening members 55. The embodiment shown in Fig. 2 further includes a profile rib 56, which can be shifted towards the base B to be coated and away from said base by means of adjusting spindles 57, a number of spindles being arranged at a distance from one another in the transverse direction of the machine. By pushing and/or pulling the profile rib 56 by means of said adjusting spindles 57, the profile rib 56 can be deflected in the desired way, so that the profile of the coating-rod construction 40 can be adjusted in the desired way. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, two loading members have been fitted on the profile rib 56, such as the loading hoses 51 and 53 shown in Fig. 2, which hoses rest against the rear face 49 of the cradle, which rear face, thus, operates as the support face. As is shown in Fig. 2, the loading hoses 51 and 53 act upon the rear face 49 of the cradle at different points, so that the point of effect of the first loading hose 51 is substantially at the level of the coating rod 41, whereas the point of effect of the second loading hose 53 is placed clearly aside from said rod. Thus, by means of the first loading hose 51, mainly the loading of the coating rod 41 against the base B to be coated is regulated, whereas, by means of the second loading hose 53, the cradle is deflected so that the glide faces 46 and 48 of the sealing lips 45 and 47 are pressed more tightly against the coating rod 41. When, in an embodiment as shown in Fig. 2, a need arises to increase the tightness of the contact of the sealing lips 45 and 47 against the coating rod 41, of course, it is obvious that an increase in the pressure in the second loading hose 53 also increases the pressure of the coating rod 41 against the base B to be coated. This is why, when the tightness of the sealing lips 45 and 47 is increased, the pressure in the first loading hose 51 must be lowered in order that the loading pressure of the coating rod 41 should not be increased. Thus, the loading hoses 51 and 53 are completely separate from one another and separately adjustable, which is also the case in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the coating-rod construction is denoted generally with the reference numeral 60. The coating-rod construction 60 comprises a coating rod 61, which is fitted in a cradle 62, which supports the coating rod 61 over its entire length. The coating rod is loaded against the base B to be coated in a way corresponding to the embodiments described above. The cradle 62 of the coating rod is fitted in a support 70, and said support 70 and the cradle 62 are mounted on the frame 75 of the coater by means of a holder 74. Also in the embodiment of Fig. 3, two grooves 63 and 64 transverse to the machine direction have been formed into the cradle 62 of the coating rod, which grooves are open towards the coating rod 61 and in at least one of which grooves circulation of water has been provided to lubricate, to cleanse, and to cool the coating rod 61 and the rod cradle 62. In a corresponding way, glide faces 66 and 68 have been formed onto the sealing lips 65 and 67 of the cradle, which faces rest against the coating rod 61 and prevent leakage of water out of the water groove(s) 63 and/or 64. On the support 70, a loading hose 71 or an equivalent loading member is mounted, the rear face 69 of the cradle being loaded by means of the pressure prevailing in said loading hose or equivalent in order to regulate the loading pressure between the coating rod 61 and the base B to be coated. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, a groove 72 has been formed into the rear face 69 of the coating-rod cradle in the transverse direction of the machine, which groove has been arranged, e.g., in the way shown in Fig. 3 substantially on the contact line 76 between the coating rod 61 and the base B to be coated. The purpose of said groove 72 is to reduce the rigidity of the cradle 62 of the coating rod so that said cradle 62 could be deflected more readily by means of the loading hose 71. In a corresponding way, onto the loading hose, a ridge 73 has been formed in the transverse direction of the machine, so that the loading hose 71 is in contact with the rear face 69 of the cradle substantially exclusively by the intermediate of said ridge 73. According to Fig. 3, the ridge 73 is placed aside from the contact line 76 between the coating rod 61 and the base B to be coated, towards the second sealing lip 67. Thus, when the pressure in the loading hose 71 is raised, the load produced by the loading hose 71 on the rear face 69 of the cradle, at the same time, attempts to deflect the cradle 62 and to increase the tightness of the sealing lips 65 and 67 against the coating rod 61 and to prevent any leakage out of the water groove(s) 63 and/or 64 more efficiently. The only drawback of the embodiment as shown in Fig. 3, as compared with the constructions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is, however, therein that, when the tightness of the contact of the sealing lips 65 and 67 is increased, the loading pressure between the coating rod 61 and the base B to be coated is, at the same time, also increased. Thus, in the embodiment of Fig. 3, the regulation of the tightness of the sealing lips 65 and 67 depends on the loading pressure between the coating rod 61 and the base B to be coated, and the other way round. In respect of Fig. 3, it can, however, be ascertained that, also in this embodiment, the tightness of the sealing lips 65 and 67 can be regulated during operation, as is the case in the preceding embodiments. The method is, however, well suitable for use when the loading pressure of the coating rod 61 is not regulated within wide limits, but the coating quantity is regulated, e.g., by adjusting the dry solids content of the coating agent. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the coating-rod construction is denoted generally with the reference numeral 80. Thus, the coating-rod construction 80 comprises a coating rod 81, which is mounted revolvingly in a coating-rod cradle 82 and loaded against the base B to be coated. In a way corresponding to Fig. 2, also in the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, into the cradle 82 of the coating rod, grooves 83,84 have been formed, which are open towards the coating rod 81, which are placed in the transverse direction of the machine, and in at least one of which grooves circulation of water has been arranged to lubricate, to cleanse, and to cool the coating rod 81. The cradle 82 further comprises sealing lips 85 and 87, which are supported against the coating rod 81 by the intermediate of the glide faces 86 and 88. The cradle 82 is mounted on a support 90, to which it is attached by the intermediate of a holder 94 and fastening members 95. Further, in a way corresponding to Fig. 2, the rod construction 80 comprises a profile rib 96, which can be shifted by means of adjusting spindles 97 towards the base B to be coated and by means of which adjusting spindles 97 the profile rib 96 can also be deflected, as was already described in relation to Fig. 2. Differing from the embodiment of Fig. 2, in the embodiment of Fig. 4, only one loading hose 91 or an equivalent loading member is used, which is mounted on the profile rib 96. Onto the rear face 89 of the cradle 82, two ridges 98 and 99 have been formed in the transverse direction of the machine, which ridges are placed at a distance from one another. Said ridges 98,99 are fitted in such a way that at least one ridge 99 is placed clearly aside from the contact line between the coating rod 81 and the base B to be coated, towards the second sealing lip 87. Moreover, between the loading hose 91 and said ridges 98,99, a plate 92 is arranged, the load produced by the loading hose 91 being transferred to the rod cradle 82, by the intermediate of said plate 92, at two different points, i.e. exactly at the ridges 98,99. As the load is applied to the rod cradle 82 at two different points, these loads attempt to bend the rod cradle 82 in a way corresponding to that described in connection with Fig. 2, in which the rod cradle was loaded by means of two separate loading hoses. Thus, when the pressure in the loading hose 91 is increased, at the same time the tightness of the sealing lips 85,87 against the coating rod 81 is increased. Thus, as compared with the constructions as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the embodiment of Fig. 4 has the same drawback as the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 has, i.e. that an increase in the tightness of the sealing lips 85,87 increases the loading pressure of the rod 81 at the same time. Thus, also in the case of Fig. 4, the regulation of the tightness of the sealing lips 85,87 is fully dependent on the loading produced by means of the loading hose 91. The embodiment of the coating-rod construction in accordance with the invention shown in Fig. 5 quite extensively corresponds to the solution illustrated in Fig. 1, and in Fig. 5 the coating-rod construction is denoted generally with the reference numeral 20′. Thus, in Fig. 1, for the parts corresponding to Fig. 1, the same reference numerals are used, and in this respect reference is made to the description related to Fig. 1. Thus, in the following, Fig. 5 will be described in the respects only in which it differs from the embodiment of Fig. 1. While, in the embodiment of Fig. 1, the groove 32 meant for the second loading member 33 had been formed into the rear face 29 of the rod cradle, in the embodiment of Fig. 5 the corresponding groove 32′ has been formed into the rod cradle 22 at the side 29′ placed next to the second groove 24 open towards the coating rod 21 or into a corresponding outside face. The second loading member, e.g. a loading hose as shown in Fig. 5, is denoted with the reference numeral 33′ in this connection. The effect produced by means of the second loading member 33′ is similar to that produced in a construction as shown in Fig. 1. The principal loading direction of the second loading member 33′, however, differs from the construction shown in Fig. 1, as is shown in Fig. 5, so that said loading direction is substantially parallel to the face 29′. The purpose of the illustration of Fig. 5 has been to illustrate the fact that the location of the second loading member 33′ in the rod cradle 22 can be chosen quite freely, because, owing to the material of the rod cradle 22 (e.g. polyurethane or equivalent), the same effect can be achieved by means of a number of different alternative locations. As one alternative embodiment, it would even be possible to think of an embodiment in which the rod cradle 22 is provided both with a loading member in accordance with Fig. 1 and with a loading member 33′ in accordance with Fig. 5. However, as was already explained above, the desired effect is obtained by means of one loading hose 33′ or 33, respectively, that regulates the tightness of the sealing lips 25 and 27. On the other hand, the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 6 is quite extensively similar to that illustrated earlier in Fig. 2, and in Fig. 6 the coating-rod construction is denoted generally with the reference numeral 40′. For the parts that correspond to Fig. 2, the same reference denotations are used in Fig. 6, and in their respect reference is made, in this connection, to the detailed description of Fig. 2. Thus, in the following, Fig. 6 will be described in the respects only in which it differs from the embodiment shown in Fig. 2. Whereas, in the embodiment of Fig. 2, two loading members 51 and 53 had been arranged as acting upon the rear face 49 of the rod cradle, of which members the first loading member 51 was mainly used for regulation of the loading pressure of the coating rod 41, whereas the second loading member 53 was used for regulation of the tightness of pressing of the glide faces 46 and 48 of the sealing lips 45 and 47 against the coating rod 41, the embodiment shown in Fig. 6 has been changed in relation to that shown in Fig. 2 so that the profile rib 56′ has been modified so that it extends over the rod cradle 42, and the second loading member 53 is fitted on the profile rib 56′ so that it acts upon the top face 49′ of the rod cradle 42. Thus, by means of the embodiment of Fig. 6, the same effect is produced as by means of the solution shown in Fig. 2, yet, with the exception that an increase in the loading level of the second loading member 53′ does not have a substantial effect on the loading pressure of the coating rod 41. Thus, in the embodiment of Fig. 6, the loading levels of the first and the second loading member 51,53′ do not have an effect on each other similar to that present in the solution of Fig. 2. In the description given above, it has been ascertained in relation to the figures in the drawing that the loading hoses are attached to a support (cf. Figs. 1, 3 and 5) or to a profile rib (cf. Figs. 2, 4 and 6), from which they are supported against the rod cradle itself. The arrangement may, of course, also be the opposite, so that the loading hoses are attached to the rod cradle itself, from which they are supported against the support or against the profile rib, respectively. In the above description, different embodiments of bar coaters have been described, which bar coaters, earlier, referred to solutions in which a conventional coating rod of quite a small diameter, as a rule of an order of 10 mm, was employed. As regards the present invention, it should be ascertained that the solution of the invention is also suitable for use in the cases in which the diameter of the coating rod is considerably larger, e.g. of an order of 35 mm. Recently, it has been noticed that rods of large diameter have certain advantages over so-called normal solutions. Further, in the solution in accordance with the invention, it is possible to use either a fully smooth rod or a grooved rod.

Claims: Method for keeping the coating rod and the rod cradle in a bar coater clean and for prevention of leakage of the lubrication and/or cooling water in a bar coater in which the coating rod (21, 41, 61, 81) is, substantially over its entire length, supported revolvingly in a rod cradle (22, 42, 62, 82) attached to the frame constructions (30, 50, 70, 90) of the coater, which cradle is provided with at least one groove (23, 24, 43, 44, 63, 64, 83, 84) substantially parallel to the coating rod (21, 41, 61, 81) and open towards said coating rod, in which groove(s) water is circulated to lubricate, to cleanse and/or to cool the coating rod (21, 41, 61, 81) and the rod cradle (22, 42, 62, 82), the coating rod (21, 41, 61, 81) being loaded towards the base (B) to be coated by loading the rod cradle (22, 42, 62, 82), characterised by deflecting the rod cradle (22, 42, 62, 82) in relation to the coating rod (21, 41, 61, 81) for loading its sealing lips (25, 27, 45, 47, 65, 67, 85, 87) against the coating rod and sealing the glide faces (26, 28, 46, 48, 66, 68, 86, 88) between the coating rod (21, 41, 61, 81) and the rod cradle (22, 42, 62, 82) substantially over the entire length of the rod cradle to prevent leakage or at least substantially reduce leakage from the water grooves (23, 24, 43, 44, 63, 64, 83, 84). Method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that, for the loading of the coating rod (21, 41, 61, 81) towards the base (B) and for the deflection of the rod cradle (22, 42), at least two separate loading members (31, 33, 51, 53) are used, which extend over the length of the rod cradle (22, 42), so that the tightness of the glide faces (26, 28, 46, 48) between the rod cradle (22, 42) and the coating rod (21, 41) can be regulated. Method as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that two loading members (31, 33, 51, 53) are employed, of which the first loading member (31, 51) is used for regulation of the loading of the coating rod (21, 41) against the base (B) to be coated, and the second loading member (33, 53) is used for regulating the tightness of the glide faces (26, 28, 46, 48) between the rod cradle (22, 42) and the coating rod (21, 41). Method as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the first loading member (31, 51) acts directly upon the rear face (29, 49) of the rod cradle so as to load the coating rod (21, 41, 61, 81), and that the second loading member (33, 53, 33', 53') acts upon the rod cradle so as to seal the glide faces (26, 28, 46, 48) of the rod cradle (22, 42). Method as claimed in any of the claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the tightness of the glide faces (26, 28, 46, 48) between the rod cradle (22, 42) and the coating rod (21, 41) is regulated independently of the loading pressure between the coating rod (21, 41) and the base (B) to be coated. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the rod cradle (62, 82) is loaded and deflected so that the tightness of the glide faces (66, 68, 86, 88) between the coating rod (61, 81) and the rod cradle (62, 82) is increased when the loading pressure between the coating rod (61, 81) and the base (B) to be coated is increased. Method as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the rod cradle (82) is loaded at two different points (98, 99) by means of the same loading member (91). Method as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the rod cradle (62) is loaded by means of a substantially linear load so that said load pivots the rod cradle (62) in relation to an axis transverse to the machine direction. Equipment intended for carrying out the method as claimed in any of the preceding claims for keeping the cradle of the coating rod in a bar coater clean and for prevention of leakage of the lubrication and/or cooling water in a bar coater in which the coating rod (21, 41, 61, 81) is, substantially over its entire length, supported revolvingly in a rod cradle (22, 42, 62, 82) attached to the frame constructions (30, 50, 70, 90) of the coater, which cradle is provided with at least one water groove (23, 24, 43, 44, 63, 64, 83, 84) substantially parallel to the coating rod (21, 41, 61, 81) and open towards said coating rod, in which groove(s) water circulation is arranged to lubricate, to cleanse and/or to cool the coating rod (21, 41, 61, 81), the rod cradle (22, 42, 62, 82) being provided with means for loading the coating rod (21, 41, 61, 81) towards the base (B) to be coated, said means for loading the coating rod (21, 41, 61, 81) and the rod cradle (22, 42, 62, 82) comprising one or several loading members (31, 33, 51, 53, 71, 91) that extend substantially over the entire length of the rod cradle (22, 42, 62, 82), characterised in that it has means (33, 33', 53, 53', 73, 92) for deflecting the rod cradle (22, 42, 62, 82) in relation to the coating rod (21, 41, 61, 81) in order to press the sealing lips (25, 27, 45, 47, 65, 67, 85, 87) against the coating rod (21, 41, 61, 81) and to seal the glide faces (26, 28, 46, 48, 66, 68, 86, 88) between the coating rod (21, 41, 61, 81) and the rod cradle (22, 42, 62, 82) to prevent leakage or at least substantially reduce leakage from the water groove (23, 24, 43, 44, 63, 64, 83, 84). Equipment as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that it has two loading members (31, 33, 51, 53), of which the first one (31, 51) is arranged to adjustably load the coating rod (21, 41) against the base (B) to be coated, and the second one (33, 53) is arranged to deflect the rod cradle (22, 42) for regulating the tightness of the glide faces (26, 28, 46, 48) between the rod cradle (22, 42) and the coating rod (21, 41) independently of the loading pressure between the coating rod (21, 41) and the base (B) to be coated. Equipment as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that the first and the second loading member (51, 53, 53') are placed at a distance from one another so that the first loading member (51) acts directly upon the rear face (49) of the rod cradle, and the second loading member (53, 53') acts upon the side or the rear face (49) of the rod cradle (42). Equipment as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that the first loading member is arranged to act directly upon the rear face (29) of the rod cradle, and that the rod cradle (22) has a groove (32) which is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rod cradle (22) and in which said second loading member (33) is fitted. Equipment as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that the rod cradle (62) in its rear face (69) has a groove parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rod cradle, and that the loading member (71) is arranged to apply a substantially linear load against the rear face (69) of the rod cradle at a distance from said groove (72). Equipment as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that the loading member (91) is arranged to act upon the rear face (89) of the rod cradle by means of two substantially linear loads placed at a distance from one another. Equipment as claimed in claim 14, characterised in that the rod cradle (82) on its rear face (89) has longitudinal ridges (98, 99) which are parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rod cradle (82) and are placed at a distance from one another, and that a plate or equivalent (92) is placed between the loading member (91) and said ridges (98, 99) so that the load is transferred from the loading member (91) to the ridges (98, 99) by the intermediary of said plate (92). Equipment as claimed in any of claims 9 to 15, characterised in that the loading members (31, 51, 71, 91, 33, 33', 53, 53') are attached either to the frame constructions of the rod construction (20, 20', 40, 40', 60, 80) or to the rod cradle (22, 42, 62, 82). Equipment as claimed in any of claims 9 to 16, characterised in that the loading member is a hose.

Inventors: KORHONEN HANNU, KOSKINEN JUKKA, LUMMILA MARKKU, PALOVIITA PETRI, RANTANEN RAUNO, KORHONEN, HANNU, KOSKINEN, JUKKA, LUMMILA, MARKKU, PALOVIITA, PETRI, RANTANEN, RAUNO
Applicants: VALMET CORP, VALMET CORPORATION
Application year: 1992
Main classification: D21H25
IPC codes: D21H25