LUBRICATOR WITH QUICK RELEASE MODULAR MOUNTING
Systems and methods are provided for mounting a fluid applicator to or proximate a press, stamping machine or assembly line. The fluid applicators are releasable and replaceable without cleaning or contacting the fluid application surfaces.
This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/105,831, filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Jan. 21, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSUREModern manufacturing concepts such as “just in time” (JIT) and “lean manufacturing” have changed the stamping industry. For instance, large inventories of sheet stock are no longer stored on site. Smaller inventories require shorter stamping runs and more frequent setups to accommodate customer orders as they are received.
It is not uncommon for each production run to have individual lubrication needs such as a specific concentration or a different lubricant from a previous run. However, some lubricants may react with others and cause adverse effects (e.g., shearing or coagulation) so clean-up between short runs becomes problematic. Additionally, residual lubricant (“carry out”) in a system may not be compatible with finishing processes. Contamination with the wrong lubricant can adversely affect cleaning, painting or plating of the stock.
Although atomized or spray lubricants can be relatively quickly changed to accommodate different runs, due to undesirable health effects caused by inhalation as well the housekeeping problems created by overspray of such lubricants, the industry is moving away from atomized lubricants. Slippery floors and oily work environments also are undesirable side effects of spray lubricants.
Roller applicators are increasingly used instead of spray applicators. However, roller applicators with wicking contact surfaces cannot be easily or thoroughly cleaned when changing to different lubricants. Moreover, few manufacturers offer roller applicator mounting accessories. Typically, the end user must fabricate brackets or, more often, use whatever is readily available in the work area to position and secure the applicator equipment.
What is needed in the industry is an applicator system that can be changed quickly, reduces contamination, and does not require cleaning rollers or changeover between lubricants. Further, the desired system should be adjustable to accommodate different heights and lateral positions in various working environments.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREThe present disclosure is directed in general to provide a roller applicator with quick change capability having a complement of mounting options. The roller applicator system is modular in design. Beginning with the roller head, in one embodiment, a cassette can be mounted directly or fit into a quick release mounting base. The base can be permanently mounted and the roller head can be snapped out and replaced by another. A user might designate a specific roller head for a specific lubricant and designate other roller heads for other lubricants, thus eliminating contamination or the need for cleaning. Changeover between lubricants would complement the quick die change technologies employed in the various embodiments of the disclosure.
In one aspect, the device is an applicator whereby lubricant is applied to the top and bottom surfaces of metal strips, typically from coil form, as it enters a stamping press or similar. Opposing rollers having a wicking surface, fibrous or otherwise, contact the named surfaces of the strip and roll on their axles by a motion created by the advancement of the strip being powered by its feeding system(s). The rollers are continuously replenished with lubricant, in this case internally, in graduated amounts to control the thickness of the coating.
According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a roller assembly is configured for modular mounting and includes quick change features. The roller assembly may have a base affixable to a process line such as stamping equipment. A roller applicator may be rapidly removed and replaced with another roller applicator without cleaning or contacting fluid application surfaces.
In another embodiment, a fluid applicator system may include a fluid applicator; a quick release base for carrying the fluid applicator, the quick release base being configured to hold and release the fluid applicator; a height adjustment assembly configured for positioning the fluid applicator; and means for mounting the fluid applicator proximate a processing line.
The fluid applicator in this embodiment may be a roller configured to apply a lubricant to a stock material. The roller may be two or more rollers that form a nip therebetween through which the stock material travels. One of the rollers may include elastomer rings disposed along the roller to help catch and guide the stock material. Also in this embodiment, the quick release base may include a catch having a spring constant. The catch in a first state may hold the fluid applicator at or near the processing line. The catch in a second state may release the fluid applicator for cleaning, replacement or other maintenance.
The height adjustment assembly may include a slot and may further include a mounting assembly connecting the quick release base to the quick release base. The mounting assembly may be adjustable along the slot. The fluid applicator may be mounted using a bracket or the like to mechanically connect the system to the processing line. Alternatively or additionally, the fluid applicator may be mounted using a magnet for communication with the processing line.
Additional objects and advantages of the present subject matter are set forth in, or will be apparent to, those of ordinary skill in the art from the description herein. Also, it should be further appreciated that modifications and variations to the specifically illustrated, referenced, and discussed features, processes, and elements hereof may be practiced in various embodiments and uses of the disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter. Variations may include, but are not limited to, substitution of equivalent means, features, or steps for those illustrated, referenced, or discussed, and the functional, operational, or positional reversal of various parts, features, steps, or the like. Those of ordinary skill in the art will better appreciate the features and aspects of the various embodiments, and others, upon review of the remainder of the specification.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present subject matter, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which:
In general, the present disclosure provides systems and methods for improving operations and functionality of applicator devices during treatment of stock metal strips before the stock enters a stamping press or similar production line. The systems disclosed herein and their equivalents are economical to make and use.
Detailed reference will now be made to the drawings in which examples embodying the present subject matter are shown. The detailed description uses numerical and letter designations to refer to features of the drawings. The drawings and detailed description provide a full and written description of the present subject matter, and of the manner and process of making and using various exemplary embodiments, so as to enable one skilled in the pertinent art to make and use them, as well as the best mode of carrying out the exemplary embodiments. However, the examples set forth in the drawings and detailed descriptions are provided by way of explanation only and are not meant as limitations of the disclosure. The present subject matter thus includes any modifications and variations of the following examples as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
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Also shown through a stock window 426, the cassette 412 includes at least one roller 444 for fluid treatment of stock material such as metal sheets. Here, one or more hoses or conduits 407 may be connected to a fluid source containing, for instance, a lubrication fluid that may be fed into the roller applicator head 412 and applied to the metal. Once the metal is lubricated or otherwise treated with the fluid, the metal exits the roller applicator head 412 through stock exit window 426 for stamping or the like by the machine 41.
While the present subject matter has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing may readily produce alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to such embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is by way of example rather than by way of limitation, and the subject disclosure does not preclude inclusion of such modifications, variations and/or additions to the present subject matter as would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.
Claims
1. A roller applicator being configured for modular mounting and including quick change features, the roller applicator comprising:
- a base affixable to stamping equipment; and
- a roller assembly configured for connection with the base in fluid communication with a fluid supply, the roller assembly including a handle for connecting the roller assembly to the base and opposing rings configured for passage of stock material therebetween for treatment with a fluid from the fluid supply;
- wherein, upon treatment of the stock material with the fluid, the handle is activated to release the roller assembly from the base.
2. The roller applicator as in claim 1, wherein the base is affixed proximate a stamping line for treating the stock material.
3. The roller applicator as in claim 1, wherein the opposing rings form a nip therebetween through which the stock material travels.
4. The roller applicator as in claim 1, wherein the opposing rings are made from felt and at least one of rings has a plurality of elastomer rings disposed thereon.
5. A fluid applicator system, comprising:
- a fluid applicator;
- a quick release base for carrying the fluid applicator, the quick release base being configured to hold and release the fluid applicator;
- a height adjustment assembly configured for positioning the fluid applicator; and
- means for mounting the fluid applicator proximate a processing line.
6. The fluid applicator system as in claim 5, wherein the fluid applicator is a roller being configured to apply a lubricant to a stock material.
7. The fluid applicator system as in claim 5, wherein the roller is a plurality of rollers forming a nip therebetween through which a stock material travels.
8. The fluid applicator system as in claim 5, wherein the quick release base includes a catch having a spring constant, the catch in a first state holding the fluid applicator proximate the processing line, the catch in a second state releasing the fluid applicator.
9. The fluid applicator system as in claim 5, wherein the height adjustment assembly includes a slot therein and further comprising a mounting assembly connecting the quick release base to stamping equipment in the processing line, the mounting assembly being adjustable along the slot.
10. The fluid applicator system as in claim 5, wherein the means for mounting the fluid applicator proximate the processing line is a bracket for connection to the processing line.
11. The fluid applicator system as in claim 5, wherein the means for mounting the fluid applicator proximate the processing line is a magnet for connection to the processing line.
12. A fluid applicator system, comprising:
- a fluid applicator;
- a quick release base for carrying the fluid applicator, the quick release base being configured to hold and release the fluid applicator;
- a height adjustment assembly configured for positioning the fluid applicator; and
- means for mounting the fluid applicator proximate a processing line.
13. The fluid applicator system as in claim 12, wherein the fluid applicator is a roller configured to apply a lubricant to a stock material.
14. The fluid applicator system as in claim 13, wherein the roller is at least two rollers forming a nip therebetween through which the stock material travels.
15. The fluid applicator system as in claim 13, wherein the roller has a plurality of elastomer rings disposed along the roller to guide the stock material.
16. The fluid applicator system as in claim 13, wherein the quick release base includes a catch defining a spring constant, the catch in a first state being configured to hold the fluid applicator proximate the processing line, the catch in a second state being configured to release the fluid applicator from the processing line.
17. The fluid applicator system as in claim 13, wherein the height adjustment assembly includes a slot defined therein and further includes a mounting assembly connecting the quick release base to the quick release base, the mounting assembly being adjustable along the slot.
18. The fluid applicator system as in claim 13, wherein the fluid applicator is mounted using one of a bracket or a magnet for connection proximate the processing line.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 28, 2015
Publication Date: Jul 21, 2016
Inventor: Duane Aiken (Brevard, NC)
Application Number: 14/980,841