Patent ID: 7559989

Claim:
An apparatus for producing a lenticular material having a predetermined surface characteristic of high quality and fine definition formed on one side thereof, said apparatus comprising: an adjustable base frame having an adjustable opening disposed therein; a cylindrical roll supported within the opening of the base frame and having a peripheral surface of a predetermined texture corresponding to the desired surface characteristic to be produced in the material, said cylindrical roll being adjustable with the base frame to accommodate flexible web materials and rigid sheet materials; a first pair of corresponding adjustable nip rolls being spaced apart at a predetermined distance to form a fixed narrow gap of predetermined width therebetween; a drive mechanism operatively connected to said cylindrical roll for rotating said cylindrical roll at a predetermined speed of rotation; means for directing the material through the narrow gap onto the peripheral surface of said cylindrical roll and over a predetermined arcuate path therealong; a reservoir operable for applying to the exposed surface of the cylindrical roll as it rotates a coating of a flowable uncured thermosetting resin; at least one heat source for curing the coating of uncured thermosetting resin while it is in contact with the peripheral surface of said cylindrical roll and the material to cure and harden the coating; a doctor blade for controlling the coating thickness of the cylindrical roll; and a second pair of nip rolls for directing the material away from said cylindrical roll to thereby separate the cured coating from the peripheral surface of said cylindrical roll and to thus provide a material with a predetermined surface characteristic of high quality and fine definition.