Improvements in Apparatus for Coating Flexible Fabrics.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 24th July, 1893-Accepted, 23rd Sept., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Coating Flexible Fabrics.
We, FREDERICK CRANE, of Short Hills, New Jersey, United States of America,
Manufacturer, and JAMES BOOKER BLAKEMORE WELLINGTON, of Headstone
Drive, Harrow, in the County of Middlesex, Manager of Works to the Eastman
Photographic Materials Company Limited, 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 an apparatus for the coating of flexible fabric such as
paper, woven fabrics, or the like in long lengths with fluid materials, the invention
embracing the coating, drying and rolling up of the web of material as completed.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing
which is a transverse vertical section through a room or special apparatus fitted up
so as to carry out the invention. The drawing represents a large apparatus the
exact size of which may of course be varied according to circumstances but the
room or chamber A might be about 12 feet high, of a convenient width, and having
end supports or bearings for the rollers hereinafter mentioned.
The apparatus comprises a room, chamber or the like A closed-in so as to exclude
dust and provided with heating coils or equivalent device B at or near the bottom
between which and through a perforated screen B, at the bottom, the air is drawn
into the chamber by an exhaust fan or the like exhausting through any suitably-
placed opening C. For convenience of access and inspection the top of the
chamber may be glazed or may be formed as shown with a sliding glazed sash D.
E is the vessel containing the viscous fluid or material to be coated upon the
flexible fabric and F is an adjustable scraper or coating knife, secured to the wall
of the vessel E by adjustable bolts or the like G so that its height may be varied
as required. This coating knife F serves to restrain the flow of the fluid and also
to regulate the thickness of it upon the paper.
His the web of paper or other flexible fabric which may be carried upon a
spindle H or may lie in a suitable box the end being carried over the roller I and
back to the roller J immediately underneath the discharge opening E¹ of the
vessel E. The paper passes over the roller J and is therefore presented immediately
underneath the opening E' (which in length equals the width of fabric to be coated)
and receives the viscous fluid at the same time that it blocks the opening and
prevents the fluid from escaping excepting such as can pass between the surface of
the paper and the scraper F. The paper is then carried over a series of rollers K
of any suitable size and description and made of or covered with any suitable
material and preferably arranged in the form of a snail as shown, the paper when
leaving the last of the rollers K being wound round a roller L upon the end or
shaft end of which may be placed a belt pulley M shown in dotted lines in the
drawing around which passes a belt N, also shown dotted, driven from any
convenient source of power. O is a platform upon which the attendant can stand
and P is an angled door hinged at P₁ so as to cover in the paper web H but to be
capable of being readily removed to give access when required.
In operation the paper or fabric is carried from the web H around the rollers I J
and all of the rollers K and secured to the roller L ready for winding; the vessel E
s then charged with the material with which the web is to be coated and the
oller L is then started and proceeds to wind up the web drawing it round the set
of rollers K and off the web H the coating of fluid being automatically supplied as
he web passes the opening El. If the coating be too thick the scraper F can be
owered or if it be too thin the scraper can be raised without admitting dust from
he exterior.

page_text: The snail or distance traversed by the web H is arranged to give sufficient time
for the fluid to dry or set before the web His wound upon the roller L and this
result may be facilitated by adjusting the speed of the roller L, so as to give
sufficient time and also be regulating the temperature of the air in the chamber A
by means of the coils or equivalent B so as to allow of the evaporation of the
volatile constituents of the coating fluid.
The invention is primarily intended for forming photographic films in long lengths
but may be used for imitation leather fabrics and for other useful purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is;-
1. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete coating
apparatus substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
2. In coating apparatus the combination with an enclosing chamber such as A of
a vessel E to supply the viscous fluid or other material to be coated upon the web
and of the arrangement of rollers J K and a web of paper or other flexible fabric H
carried around the said rollers substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawing.
3. In coating apparatus the combination with an enclosing chamber such as A
supply vessel such as E web H and rollers J K of a roller such as L upon which
the web is wound and by which it is drawn around the other rollers and underneath
the coating vessel E substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.
4. In a coating apparatus the combination of a chamber such as A. heating
apparatus B supply vessel E web H rollers JK and L and of an exhausting
device substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
5. In an apparatus for coating flexible fabrics the combination of a dust excluding
chamber A supply vessel E containing a bottom discharge opening E' an adjustable
scraper Fa roller J situated immediately below the discharge opening flexible
material H passing beneath the said discharge opening E' and scraper F and over
the said roller J and means for drying the coated flexible material substantially as
herein described and illustrated.
Dated this 24th day of July 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants.