US3166441A - Machine for color coating strands - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 19, 1965 v. P. RYLKA MACHINE FOR COLOR comma STRANDS Filed May 8, 1962 INVENTOR. VINCENT RYLKA BY ww ATTORNE YS United. States Patent 3,166,441 MACHINE FQR CGLQR CUATHQG STRANB'S Vincent P. Ryllra, Nixon, NJL, assignor to Triangle Conduit & Cable Co, inc, New Brunswick, N1, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 8, W62, Ser. No. 193,181 3 tliainis. (til. 118-325) This invention relates to machines for applying different color coatings to successive lengths of a strand'of any stranded material adapted to receive a color coating regardless of its cross-sectional shape, as for example more specifically the insulated electrical conductors.

The purpose ofthis invention is to provide a machine in which any one of a number of different color coatings can be selectively applied to successive lengths of a strand with a minimum of color contamination between successive color applications.

The various detailed objects of this invention will be apparent from the following description of the single embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In that drawing there is illustrated the machine of this invention.

As will be apparent to those skilled in this art the machine of this invention may be used to apply color coatings to various kinds of strands. For the purpose of illustrative disclosure it will be assumed that the machine as disclosed is particularly adapted to applying color coatings to insulated electrical conductors. Such conductors, of course, consist of one or more copper wires individually or collectively enclosed within an insulating casing such as for example a jacket of a specific material.

As is well known in the electrical art, it is common to apply different color coatings to insulated electrical conductors for a number of purposes, but particularly for the purpose of color coding wires. As is the usual case, coils or spools of insulated conductors are mounted in a machine so as to be fed lengthwise from a supply point to a take-up point. At some intermediate point in the path of travel a color coating machine is employed to form a continuous layer of color to the wire. Insulated electrical conductors for coding purposes are coated with a wide variety of colors, each applied of course in a single continuous layer of a single color. The coating machines heretofore used after completing a run of one color are normally shut down and thoroughly cleaned in preparation for the application of another color. This, of course, means an undesirable long period of down time during color changes which are sometimes frequent.

The general purpose of this invention is to provide a machine in which any one of a number of different colors maybe successively applied to a continuously running wire with very little contamination at the points of color change. The important feature is that the machine is not stopped at all but the color selection and application is effected at will.

The form of the machine illustrated in the drawing includes for illustrative purposes an arrangement in which any one of three different colors can be selectively and successively applied. For this purpose there are shown three color coating containers 10, 16 and 20. These containers and associated equipment are exactly alike and so the arrangement will be detailed in connection with the container in which a quantity of coating fluid CF is held. Mounted in the bottom of the container 10 is any suitable form of submerged pump having a color fluid discharge pipe 40. The pump being submerged will of course withdraw the fluid directly through an inlet port, not shown. As illustrated this pump is driven by an air motor 12, supported above the top of the ice,

2 container and directly connected to the rotor of the pump 14 in an obvious manner. v p

The color fluid supply pipe 40 is directly connected through a check valve 42 to a manifold 44 which consists 'of nothing more than a short length of pipe capped at.

both ends. Connected to the manifold 44 is an applicator 46 by means of which the color fluid is sprayed upon the wire W, which is traveling in the direction of its length from a supply spool, not shown, to a take-up spool, not shown. Supported under the applicator 46 and the wire at this point, is a tray 48, in which the excess color fluid CF is collected. At this point it may be noted, as is known in the art, the applicator assembly may include a wiping mechanism by means of which the excess fluid flowing onto the wire is removed and returned to the tray 48. 2' i In a similar way the outlet of the pump for container 16 is connected by the pipe 56 to the manifold 44 through the check valve 58 and the outlet for the container 20 is connected by the pipe 62 through the check valve 64 to the manifold 44. The pumps, not shown, in .the containers 16 and 20 are driven respectively through air motors 18 and 22.

The tray 48 is provided with a return line 50 which connects to a selector valve 52, having three outlet ports. These ports are respectively connected by means of the drain lines 54, 69 and 66 which discharge back into the respective containers 1t), 16 and 20.

Operating compressed air for the pumps is supplied from any suitable source through the supply line 26 to the intake port of a selector valve 24. Line 26 includes the usual moisture trap 28, filter 30 and pressure gauge 32. The valve is provided with three outlet ports which are respectively connected to the air motors 12, 18 and 22 by the compressed air supply lines 34, 36 and 38.

The rotors of the valves 24 and 52 are connected by a common shaft 68 on which is mounted an operating handwheel 70.

With regard to the various components of this equipment it is noted that there is no novelty in any of them per se. Each of these components is available commercially from many sources and in various specifically different forms. For example the valves 24 and 52 are simply valves by means of which the inlet connections, as for example connection for pipe 50 in the case of valve 52 and the connection 26 in the case of valve 24, can be selectively connected to any one of the output connections of these valves. In the case of valve 52 the output connections include respectively the drain pipes 54, 6t) and 66. In the case of valve 24 the outlet connections include specifically the compressed air supply connections 34, 36 and 38.

While it should be apparent how the system works from the above description it may also be helpful to briefly explain its operation.

When the machine is working the wire W is moving continuously in the direction of its length, preferably at a uniform linear speed. If it is desired to apply a coating of a color in a container 10, the handwheel 70 is rotated so as to position the valves 24 and 52 so that compressed air is supplied to the motor 12, causing the pump ,74 to operate, and at the same time the valve 52 is positioned so that the common drain line 50 is connected to the individual drain line 54. The handwheel 60 can be provided with a pointer cooperating with a scale, not shown, to indicate this position. It follows, therefore, that the pump 14 forces the colored coating up through the line 40 and check valve 42 into the manifold 44. From there the coating flows to and from the applicator 46 so as to flood the wire as it passes underneath its discharge end. The excess coating which collects in the tray 48 runs back by gravity through valves 3 50 and 52 and back through drain line 54 into the container 10.

When it is desired to select another coating color the handwheel 7 is rotated to the position to cause the valve 52 to connect the main drain line 50 With one or the other of the individual drain lines 69 and 66. At the same time the valve 24 is correspondingly set so as to supply compressed air to the related motor 18 or 22. There will be a short period of contamination of the desired colors with the last used color until the small amount of coating in the manifold 44 and applicator 46 is cleared out. In practice this can be limited to the extent that only a short length of Wire is given a contaminated color comprising a mixture of the two. It is of course the second color which will force the previous color in the column with the applicator ahead of it so that only contamination will result from the admixture of the new color with the old color collected in the manifold 44. It is apparent, of course, that the check valves 42, S8 and 64 are provided so that no color will be forceddown into the supply lines for the other two colors.

It is noted that the handwheel 70 provides a common control for both of the selector valves 52 and 24. This is a practical convenience doing away with the necessity of individually controlling the valves and synchronizing them.

It Will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a number of changes in the details of the invention comprising the new combination herein disclosed can be effected without departing from the spirit and nature of this invention. For example, the motors 12, 18 and 22 could be electric motors and the selector valve 24 could be a switch, synchronized with the valve 52 just as the valve 24 is synchronized with it. It is desired, therefore, that the scope of this invention be determined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A strand coating machine comprising applicator means for applying a fluid to a strand moving lengthwise, a tray positioned to collect excess coating fluid from said applicating means, a plurality of containers for fluid coatings of different colors, color fluid supply piping between said respective containers and said applicator means, color fluid return piping between said tray and containers, power operated means for forcing the respective fluid coatings through said supply piping, a selector valve in said return piping for selectively connecting said tray to said containers to return the respective fluids from said tray to said containers from which they were supplied, and selector means for selectively energizing said power operated means.

2. In the combination of claim 1, common means for operating said selector valve and selector means simultaneously in synchronism.

3. In the combination of claim 1 said power operated means comprising pumps individually submerged in the contents of each of said containers and motors for independently operating said pumps.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,258,322 3/18 Doellinger 1l824 X 2,726,631 12/55 Rutherford 178-325 X RICHARD D. NEVIUS, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A STRAND COATING MACHINE COMPRISING APPLICATOR MEANS FOR APPLYING A FLUID TO A STRAND MOVING LENGTHWISE, A TRAY POSITIONED TO COLLECT EXCESS COATING FLUID FROM SAID APPLICATING MEANS, A PLURALITY OF CONTAINERS FOR FLUID COATINGS OF DIFFERENT COLORS, COLOR FLUID SUPPLY PIPING BETWEEN SAID RESPECTIVE CONTAINERS AND SAID APPLICATOR MEANS, COLOR FLUID RETURN PIPING BETWEEN SAID TRAY AND CONTAINERS, POWER OPERATED MEANS FOR FORCING THE RESPECTIVE FLUID COATINGS THROUGH SAID SUPPLY PIPING, A SELECTOR VALVE IN SAID RETURN PIPING FOR SELECTIVELY CONNECTING SAID TRAY TO SAID CON-

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