Fluid application device, strand engagement device and method of controlling the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9932704-B2
Application number	US-201414525774-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 28, 2014
Priority date	Nov 22, 2013
Publication date	Apr 3, 2018
Grant date	Apr 3, 2018

Abstract

A fluid application device, strand engagement device, and method of controlling the same are provided. The fluid application device includes an applicator head and a nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly includes a guide slot configured to receive a strand of material and an orifice configured to discharge a first fluid on to the strand. The strand engagement device is secured to the applicator head and includes an actuating assembly and an engagement arm connected to the actuating assembly. The engagement arm is configured to engage the strand and move between a first position and a second position in response to actuation of the actuating assembly. The method of controlling the strand engagement device includes receiving an input signal including content, determining the content of the input signal and operating the strand engagement device in response to, and based on the content of, the input signal.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fluid application device for coating a strand of material with a first fluid, comprising:
an applicator head;
a nozzle assembly fluidly coupled and secured to the applicator head, the nozzle assembly comprising a guide slot and an orifice through which a first fluid is discharged, the guide slot configured to receive a strand of material and the orifice configured to discharge the first fluid onto the strand;
a strand engagement device operably connected to the applicator head, the strand engagement device comprising an actuating assembly and an engagement arm connected to and actuated by the actuating assembly, the engagement arm configured to engage the strand and move between a first position spaced a first distance from the nozzle assembly and a second position spaced a second distance from the nozzle assembly, the second distance being less than the first distance, in response to operation of the actuating assembly so as to move the strand toward and away from the orifice, wherein the actuating assembly comprises a cylinder and a piston slidably positioned therein and a distal end of the piston is connected to the engagement arm;
a controller configured to operate the actuating device to move the engagement arm between the first and second positions; and
a sensor operably connected to the controller and configured to detect an active line condition where the strand is fed past the nozzle assembly and a static line condition where the strand is stationary,
wherein, in response to the sensor detecting the active line condition with the engagement arm in the first position, the controller operates the actuating assembly to move the engagement arm to the second position, and in response to the sensor detecting a passive line condition with the engagement arm in the second position, the controller operates the actuating assembly to move the engagement arm to the first position.

2. The fluid application device of claim 1 , further including a mounting bracket secured to the applicator head, and wherein the actuating assembly is attached to the mounting bracket.

3. The fluid application device of claim 1 , wherein the engagement arm is formed of a non-stick material.

4. The fluid application device of claim 1 , wherein the engagement arm is rotatable on an axis defined by the strand engagement arm.

5. The fluid application device of claim of claim 1 , wherein the actuating assembly further comprises a solenoid valve operably and communicably connected to the controller.

6. The fluid application device of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle assembly comprises more than one guide slot and more than one orifice, each guide slot configured to receive a respective strand of material and each orifice configured to discharge the first fluid onto a respective strand of material, wherein the engagement arm is configured to engage each strand of material.

7. The fluid application device of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle assembly is a contact nozzle assembly.

8. The fluid application device of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle assembly is a non-contact nozzle assembly.

9. A strand engagement and fluid application system comprising: a fluid application device comprising an applicator head and a nozzle assembly for discharging a fluid onto at least one strand of material and a strand engagement device comprising:
an actuating assembly coupled to the applicator head comprising a cylinder and a piston slidably positioned therein;
an engagement arm operably connected to and actuated by the actuating assembly at a distal end of the piston, the engagement arm configured to engage the at least one strand of material and move between a first position spaced a first distance from the nozzle assembly and a second position spaced a second distance from the nozzle assembly, the second distance being less than the first distance, in response to operation of the actuating assembly to move the at least one strand of material toward the nozzle assembly when moving the engagement from the first position to the second position and away from the nozzle assembly when moving the engagement arm from the second position to the first position, the engagement arm comprising a contact surface for engaging the at least one strand of material, the contact surface being cylindrical in shape, a controller operably connected to the actuating assembly to actuate the actuating assembly so as to move the engagement arm between the first position and the second position, and
wherein in an active condition, the engagement arm is in the second position, the at least one strand is fed past the nozzle and the fluid is discharged from nozzle assembly for application onto the at least one strand.

10. The strand engagement device of claim 9 , further including a mounting bracket for mounting the actuating assembly to the fluid application device.

11. The strand engagement device of claim of claim 9 , wherein the actuating assembly is pneumatically loaded.

12. The strand engagement device of claim 11 , further comprising a solenoid valve to control pneumatic loading and unloading of the actuating assembly.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Lessley Mel Steven
• Bolyard Jr Edward Wayne

Classifications

• B05C5/0241

  for applying liquid or other fluent material to elongated work, e.g. wires, cables, tubes · CPC title

• B05D1/02

  performed by spraying · CPC title

• B05B13/0214 Primary

  the liquid or other fluent material being applied to the whole periphery of the cross section of the elongated body · CPC title

• B05C13/00

  Means for manipulating or holding work, e.g. for separate articles {(B05C1/0821 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• D06M23/00 Primary

  Treatment of fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, characterised by the process · CPC title