All purpose belt coater

Claim 1

An apparatus for coating an article having a cross section of any shape, said apparatus comprising: a. a frame b. a major applicator belt having a foam layer and a coating surface, c. a minor applicator belt having a foam layer and a coating surface, at least a portion of the coating surface of said minor bElt being parallel to and facing a portion of the coating surface of said major belt, the space between said belts permitting the coating surface of each of said belts to contact the peripheral surface of said article, d. a plurality of spools rotatably mounted to said frame for mounting said belts, e. a backplate having a foam layer and a coating surface, said backplate being mounted to said frame in a position so that at least a portion of said backplate coating surface is parallel to and facing a portion of the coating surface of said major belt and so that the space between the coating surface of said backplate and the coating surface of said major belt will permit both the backplate coating surface and the major belt coating surface to contact the peripheral surface of the article in all rotational positions of the article, the combined thickness of said major belt foam layer and said backplate foam layer being large enough to permit rotation of the article between the backplate and major belt surfaces, f. means for transporting said article through the spaces between said major belt surface and said backplate surface and between said major belt surface and said minor belt surface, g. means for driving said belts, and h. means for supplying coating material to said coating surfaces.

Claim 2

An apparatus for coating an article having a cross section of any shape, said apparatus comprising: a. a frame b. a major applicator belt having a foam layer and a coating surface, c. a minor applicator belt having a foam layer and a coating surface, at least a portion of the coating surface of said minor bElt being parallel to and facing a portion of the coating surface of said major belt, the space between said belts permitting the coating surface of each of said belts to contact the peripheral surface of said article, d. a plurality of spools rotatably mounted to said frame for mounting said belts, e. a backplate having a foam layer and a coating surface, said backplate being mounted to said frame in a position so that at least a portion of said backplate coating surface is parallel to and facing a portion of the coating surface of said major belt and so that the space between the coating surface of said backplate and the coating surface of said major belt will permit both the backplate coating surface and the major belt coating surface to contact the peripheral surface of the article in all rotational positions of the article, the combined thickness of said major belt foam layer and said backplate foam layer being large enough to permit rotation of the article between the backplate and major belt surfaces, f. means for transporting said article through the spaces between said major belt surface and said backplate surface and between said major belt surface and said minor belt surface, g. means for driving said belts, and h. means for supplying coating material to said coating surfaces.

Claim 11

An apparatus for coating an article having an irregular cross section comprising: a. a frame b. a conveyor mounted to said frame c. a first series of spools rotatably mounted to said frame proximate one edge of said conveyor, said first series of spools extending substantially the entire length of said apparatus, d. a continuous major applicator belt having a foam layer and a coating surface, said major belt being mounted on said first series of spools, so that said coating surface faces outwardly, e. a backplate having a foam layer and a coating surface, said backplate being mounted to said frame proximate the other edge of said conveyor in a position substantially parallel to and facing a portion of said coating surface of said major applicator belt and so said backplate is separated from said coating surface by a distance which will permit both the backplate coating surface and the major applicator belt coating surface to contact the peripheral surface of the article, the combined thickness of said major belt foam layer and said backplate foam layer being large enough to permit rotation of the article between said surfaces, f. a second series of spools rotatably mounted to said frame proximate said other edge of said conveyor and proximate said backplate in a position substantially parallel to said first series of spools, g. a continuous minor belt having a foam layer and a coating surface mounted on said second series of spools so a portion of the coating surface of said minor belt faces the coating surface of said major belt, the distance betWeen said belts permitting the coating surface of each of said belts to contact the peripherals surface of said article as said article moves between said belts, h. at least one drive means mounted to said frame, i. a connecting means for transmitting the energy of said drive means to at least one of the spools of said first series and, j. a means for supplying coating material to the surface of said major applicator belt.

Claim 12

An apparatus for coating an article having an irregular cross section comprising: a. a frame b. a conveyor mounted to said frame c. a first series of spools rotatably mounted to said frame proximate one edge of said conveyor, said first series of spools extending substantially the entire length of said apparatus, d. a continuous major applicator belt having a foam layer and a coating surface, said major belt being mounted on said first series of spools, so that said coating surface faces outwardly, e. a backplate having a foam layer and a coating surface, said backplate being mounted to said frame proximate the other edge of said conveyor in a position substantially parallel to and facing a portion of said coating surface of said major applicator belt and so said backplate is separated from said coating surface by a distance which will permit both the backplate coating surface and the major applicator belt coating surface to contact the peripheral surface of the article, the combined thickness of said major belt foam layer and said backplate foam layer being large enough to permit rotation of the article between said surfaces, f. a second series of spools rotatably mounted to said frame proximate said other edge of said conveyor and proximate said backplate in a position substantially parallel to said first series of spools, g. a continuous minor belt having a foam layer and a coating surface mounted on said second series of spools so a portion of the coating surface of said minor belt faces the coating surface of said major belt, the distance betWeen said belts permitting the coating surface of each of said belts to contact the peripherals surface of said article as said article moves between said belts, h. at least one drive means mounted to said frame, i. a connecting means for transmitting the energy of said drive means to at least one of the spools of said first series and, j. a means for supplying coating material to the surface of said major applicator belt.