Improvements in Machinery for Spreading Liquid or Semi-liquid Substances over Paper, Cardboard, Fabric, Sheet-metal, Glass, or other Surfaces.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 8th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 14th Dec., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Spreading Liquid or Semi-liquid
Substances over Paper, Cardboard, Fabric, Sheet-metal, Glass, or
other Surfaces.
I, JOSEF HEIM of Offenbach-on-the-Main in the German Empire, Manufacturer
do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to machinery for spreading liquid or semi-liquid substances
over paper, cardboard, fabric, sheet-metal glass or other surfaces and more
especially to that class of machines in which the substance to be applied, is
spread over the surface which it is desired to cover or impregnate with it by
means of rollers.
A simple method of constructing a machine of this description consists in so
arranging the spreading roller, that it rotates in the receptacle containing the
substance to be applied, in direct contact therewith, and that the article which is
to receive the coating, is afterwards caused to travel over such roller. In such an
arrangement however it is necessary to insert the printed sheets or other articles to
be coated, with the printed surface downwards, and consequently the removal of
the coated articles while in a moist condition, can not be effected by means of, say,
a collecting table or any other of the usual stripping devices, such as bands or the
like, lest they should be damaged. All that can be done under the circumstances
is to remove the articles by hand; and even then the danger of spoiling the
machinery is not altogether obviated. Besides it is in such case impossible to
ascertain whether as an article passes through the machine, the substance employed
to form the coating is being spread thereon in a uniform and proper manner, or
not. And lastly the printed articles to be inserted with the front side downwards
if placed on a table or platform prior to being taken up by the machine, are apt to
be marked with scratches or otherwise damaged through contact with the table
unless the insertion of the articles be also effected by hand.
Now the object of this invention is to provide an improved machine for the
purpose stated, which is capable of spreading the liquid in the downward direction ;
so that the sheets or other articles to be covered or coated before their introduction
into the machine may be placed on the feeding table with their backs downwards,
and after passing through the machine in the same position be delivered onto a
table, band, or apron, or the like, without any danger of damaging the coated
surface.
Where the liquid is spread downwardly it is of course impossible to allow the
spreading roller to revolve in direct contact with the liquid in the reservoir, and it
is necessary that it should be fed with such liquid from the reservoir through the
intermediate agency of auxiliary rollers. Inasmuch however as the spreading
roller in order to be capable of uniformly distributing the liquid over the surface
to be covered or impregnated, must possess a very considerable diameter, the
liquid transmitted from the auxiliary or feeding rollers on to the main or spreading
roller is liable in course of time to harden upon the wide surface of the latter, and
form a crust which is apt to interfere with or render altogether impossible the
desired uniformity of the coating. This danger is obviated in the improved
machine forming the subject of the present invention by so arranging the feeding
rollers that they supply the spreading roller with a quantity of liquid considerably

page_text: in excess of that which is required for covering the articles so that the surplus
constantly keeps the material adhering to the spreading roller, in a liquid condition,
and prevents any solid crust from forming thereon.
In order to avoid the inconvenience which would, on the other hand, result from
the surplus liquid running down the side of the spreading roller, as soon as
delivered onto it, whereby it would not only fail to attain the object just stated,
but also smear or stain the surface to be covered, guard plates are arranged on
either side of the spreading roller; which plates, by bearing upon each end of the
said roller form in conjunction with this and the adjoining feeding roller, receptacles
for the liquid to collect up to a certain level. On the side next to the roller the
grooves or channels formed by the plates conduct the liquid, overflowing the upper
edges of the plates, back to the reservoir. Owing to this arrangement liquid is
kept in constant circulation from the supply reservoir to the spreading roller, then
from this roller into the receptacles formed by the rollers and the side plates and
back again to the main reservoir which effectually prevents any of the liquid from
solidifying on the spreading roller. By adjusting the plates higher or lower as
required the depth or level of the liquid layer on the spreading roller can be
controlled. The height or level of the said plates may be adjusted and their
bearing against the sides of the rollers be regulated or the said plates be removed
for cleaning purposes by mounting each plate upon a bar or rod adjustable
horizontally within a sleeve by means of a screw nut working upon the threaded
end of the said bar or rod the said sleeve being carried by a rod mounted in a
sleeve in which it can be raised and lowered by means of a nut working on its
screwed end.
Where the liquid is to be spread over both sides of a sheet or article there may
be provided an additional spreading roller underneath, which may either rotate
within the liquid supply reservoir direct, or be arranged similarly to the upper
spreading roller.
Dated this 18th day of July 1895.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Spreading Liquid or Semi-liquid
Substances over Paper, Cardboard, Fabric, Sheet-metal, Glass, or
other Surfaces.
I, JOSEF HEIM of Offenbach on the Main, in the German Empire, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates to machinery for spreading liquid, or semi-liquid substances,
over paper, cardboard, fabric, sheet-metal, glass, or other surfaces, and more
especially to that class of machines in which the substance to be applied, is spread
over the surface which it is desired to cover, or impregnate, with it, by means
of rollers.
A simple method of constructing a machine of this description consists in so
arranging the spreading roller, that it rotates in the receptacle containing the
substance to be applied, in direct contact therewith, and that the article, which is
to receive the coating, is afterwards caused to travel over such roller. In such an
arrangement, however, it is necessary to insert the printed sheets or other articles
to be coated, with the printed surface downwards, and consequently the removal
of the coated articles, while in a moist condition, can not be effected by means of,

page_text: say, a collecting table, or any other of the usual stripping devices, such as bands,
or the like, lest they should be damaged. All that can be done under the
circumstances is to remove the articles by hand; and even then the danger of
spoiling the machinery is not altogether obviated. Besides, it is, in such case,
impossible to ascertain whether, as an article passes through the machine, the
substance employed to form the coating is, or is not, being spread thereon in a
uniform and proper manuer, and lastly, the printed articles to be inserted with
the front side downwards, if placed on a table, or platform, prior to being taken up
by the machine, are apt to be marked with scratches, or otherwise damaged,
through contact with the table, unless, the insertion of the articles be also effected
by hand.
The object of this invention is to provide an improved machine for the purpose
stated, which machine is capable of spreading the liquid or semi-liquid substance
in a downward direction; so that the sheets or other articles to be covered or
coated, may, before their introduction into the machine be placed on the feeding
table with their backs downwards, and, after passing through the machine in the
same position, be delivered onto a table, band, or apron, or the like, without any
danger of damaging the coated surface.
Where the liquid or semi-liquid substance is spread downwardly, it is, of course,
impossible to allow the spreading roller to revolve in direct contact with the liquid
or semi-liquid substance in the reservoir and it is necessary that it should be fed
with such liquid or semi-liquid substance from the reservoir through the inter-
mediate agency of auxiliary rollers. Inasmuch, however, as the spreading roller,
in order to be capable of uniformly distributing the liquid or semi liquid substance
over the surface to be covered, or impregnated, must possess a very considerable
diameter, the liquid or semi liquid substance transmitted from the auxiliary, or
feeding rollers on to the main or spreading roller is liable in course of time, to:
harden upon the wide surface of the latter, and form a crust, which is apt to
interfere with or render altogether impossible, the desired uniformity of the
coating. This danger is obviated in the improved machine constituting the present
invention by so arranging the feeding rollers that they supply the spreading roller
with a quantity of the liquid or semi-liquid substance considerably in excess of that
which is required for covering the articles so that the surplus constantly keeps the
material, adhering to the spreading roller, in a liquid or semi liquid condition, and
prevents any solid crust from forming thereon.
In order to avoid the inconvenience which would, on the other hand, result from
the surplus liquid or semi-liquid substance running down the side of the spreading
roller, as soon as delivered on to it, whereby it would not only fail to attain the
object just stated, but also smear, or stain, the surface to be covered-guard plates
are arranged on either side of the spreading roller which guard plates, by bearing
upon each end of the said roller form, in conjunction with this and the adjoining
feeding roller, a receptacle for the liquid or semi-liquid substance to collect up to
a certain level. On the side next to the roller, the grooves or channels formed by
the plates conduct the liquid or semi-liquid substance overflowing the upper edges
of the plates, back to the reservoir. By this arrangement the liquid or semi liquid
substance is kept in constant circulation from the supply reservoir to the spreading
roller, then from this roller into the receptacle formed by the rollers and the
guard plates, and back again to the main reservoir, which effectually prevents any
of the liquid or semi liquid substance from solidifying on the spreading roller.
By adjusting the plates higher, or lower, as required, the depth or level, of the
liquid layer on the spreading roller can be controlled.
In order that the invention may be well understood I will describe with reference
to the accompanying drawings an arrangement according thereto-but I do not
limit myself to the precise details shewn.
Figure 1 is a transverse sectional elevation, and
Figure 2 is a one half front elevation of so much of a machine as is necessary to
illustrate my invention.

page_text: The liquid (or semi-liquid) substance used is fed to the spreading roller 2, in
large quantities, from the reservoir a by means of feeding and distributing
rollers and any surplus of the liquid or semi-liquid collects between the
spreading roller 62 and the roller 61, as shewn at a¹, in Figure 1. To retain this
superfluous liquid or semi-liquid al and prevent it from flowing off the sides of the
roller 6, plates a² are arranged on both ends of the said roller 62, the said plates a³
closing in laterally the space between the two rollers 62. These plates a² have
each an outwardly extending groove or channel, through which the superfluous
liquid or semi-liquid substance which rises above the upper edge of the plates a²
flows back into the main reservoir a. The quantity of liquid or semi-liquid
substance which will collect at a¹ will be in accordance with the position of the
plates a² that is whether they are raised or lowered.
In order to enable the height or level of the said plates a² to be adjusted, and
their bearing against the ends of the rollers b 2 to be regulated or to enable them
to be moved away from such rollers, for cleaning or other purposes each plate is
mounted upon a bar or rod a³, adjustable horizontally within a sleeve a. This
adjustment is effected by means of a screw nut a working upon a screw thread on
the end of the said bar or rod a³; the said sleeve a¹, being carried by a rod a
mounted in a guiding sleeve a', and being screw threaded, and capable of being
moved either up or down, in the sleeve a', by means of a nut a working on its
screwed end.
It is to be understood that the same arrangement is repeated at the other side
of the machine.
Where the liquid is to be spread over both sides of a sheet or article there may
be provided an additional spreading roller underneath, which may either rotate
within the liquid supply reservoir direct, or be arranged similarly to the upper
spreading roller.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is --
1. In a machine for spreading liquid, or semi-liquid, substances, over paper,
cardboard, fabric, sheet-metal, glass, or other surfaces, the provision of plates with
a return channel or return channels, the said plates closing in the lateral space
between the spreading roller and the feeding or distributing roller and the said
channel or channels, forming collecting troughs or receivers for superfluous liquid
or semi-liquid substance which overflows at the upper edges of the plates and
passes back to the reservoir, all substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described.
2. Apparatus for the purposes mentioned the said apparatus consisting of the
arrangement and combination of parts substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 8th day of November 1895.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.