Abstract: A flow through felt liquid dispensing apparatus for applying liquids to a receiving surface. The dispensing apparatus may include one or more dispensing heads each including a dispensing gun and an articulated rub block. The articulated rub block includes a recess or galley just behind the felt so as to provide a puddle of liquid material for soaking through the felt during a dispensing operation. The apparatus may be tilted so as to present only one dispensing head at a time to the receiving surface. The galley has a geometry to improve the bead profile of the liquid material dispensed onto the surface. Liquid material is dispensed by relative lateral movement between the apparatus and the receiving surface.

Abstract: A flow through felt liquid dispensing apparatus for applying liquids to a receiving surface. The dispensing apparatus may include one or more dispensing heads each including a dispensing gun and an articulated rub block. The articulated rub block includes a recess or galley just behind the felt so as to provide a puddle of liquid material for soaking through the felt during a dispensing operation. The apparatus may be tilted so as to present only one dispensing head at a time to the receiving surface. The galley has a geometry to improve the bead profile of the liquid material dispensed onto the surface. Liquid material is dispensed by relative lateral movement between the apparatus and the receiving surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying a two-component, electrically conductive coating material which includes a first flow path for supplying a metered quantity of a catalyst from a source to a mixing device, a second flow path for applying a metered quantity of resin from a source to the mixing device, a third flow path for transferring the resulting two-component coating material from the mixing device to at least one coating dispenser which discharges electrostatically charged coating material onto a substrate, and, at least one voltage block device for maintaining a continuous voltage block between the electrostatically charged coating material and the sources of catalyst and resin.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing chopped fibers from essentially continuous tows, each consisting of individual strands, comprises independently or selectively feeding at least two tows to a venturi pump and associated cutter mechanism where the tows are cut or chopped into relatively short lengths to form chopped fibers. The apparatus includes sensors for monitoring the movement of each of the tows to the pump and cutter mechanism, and a controller which adjusts the feed rate of the tows and the rate of operation of the cutter mechanism in the event movement of one of the tows varies from a predetermined feed rate.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying electrically conductive coating material, such as water-based paint, includes a manifold connected to a high voltage electrostatic power supply and to one or more coating dispensers, and, a number of coating transfer units which are movable between a discharge position or station at the manifold and a filling station physically spaced from the manifold. Each of the transfer units includes a combined shuttle and pumping device which initially receives coating material at the filling station, and is then movable to the discharge station where the coating material is transferred from the pumping device, through the manifold, and then to one or more coating dispensers for deposition onto a substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying electrically conductive coating material, such as water-based paint, includes a manifold connected to a high voltage electrostatic power supply and to one or more coating dispensers, and, a number of coating transfer units which are movable between a discharge position or station at the manifold and a filling station physically spaced from the manifold. Each of the transfer units includes a combined shuttle and pumping device which initially receives coating material at the filling station, and is then movable to the discharge station where the coating material is transferred from the pumping device, through the manifold, and then to one or more coating dispensers for deposition onto a substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing chopped fibers from essentially continuous tows, each consisting of individual strands, comprises selectively feeding at least two tows to a venturi pump and associated cutter mechanism where the tows are cut or chopped into relatively short lengths to form chopped fibers. The apparatus includes sensors for monitoring the movement of each of the tows to the pump and cutter mechanism, and a controller which adjusts the feed rate of the tows and the rate of operation of the cutter mechanism in the event movement of one of the tows varies from a predetermined feed rate.

Abstract: A coupling device comprises a male coupling member and a female coupling member, each having outwardly extending ends which carry male and female sealing elements, respectively, formed with mating, spherical-shaped surfaces which are effective to force solvent or coating material which may have collected thereon into passageways formed in each of such sealing elements or onto facing surfaces of the coupling members to substantially prevent contamination of new coating material flowing through the coupling device after a cleaning and/or color change operation has been performed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a non-woven pad of fibrous material is provided in which highly moisture-absorbent particles and fibers of thermoplastic material are intermixed with the fibrous material throughout one or more predetermined portions of the thickness of the non-woven pad while maintaining other portions of the thickness of the pad substantially free of highly moisture-absorbent particles and/or thermoplastic fiber material. The non-woven pad is formed on one side of a conveyor moving through a forming chamber which has a duct connected to a source of vacuum operable to draw fibrous material injected into the chamber onto the conveyor.

Abstract: A fiber spray system for depositing fibers onto a substrate or article comprises a vibrating feeder bowl having an opening in its sidewall covered by a grid or screen through which fibers loaded into the feeder bowl are discharged therefrom into the fiber collector. A delivery hose is connected between the fiber collector and a pump which is operative to create a negative pressure within the fiber collector to draw fibers through the grid of the feeder bowl, out of the feeder bowl into the fiber collector and to entrain the collected fibers within a stream of air. The air-entrained fibers are drawn through the delivery hose to the pump, and in the course of passage therethrough the velocity of the fibers is reduced so that they collect or accumulate within an area in the delivery hose upstream from the pump. The pump uniformly withdraws fibers from the area where they accumulate and discharges the fibers directly into a spray gun connected to the pump for deposition onto a substrate.