Abstract: A sizing applicator is provided for applying a coating of sizing composition to glass fibers. The sizing applicator includes a housing and a roll applicator which is rotatably coupled to the housing. The housing has a supply port adapted to receive sizing composition from a sizing supply source, an exit slot and a passageway extending from the supply port to the exit slot. The passageway receives sizing composition from the supply port and delivers the sizing composition to the exit slot such that the sizing composition exits the housing and is received on an outer surface of the roll applicator. The roll applicator is spaced from the housing such that the housing does not substantially contact the sizing composition once it is received on the roll applicator.

Abstract: A method for calendering a suture includes passing the suture lengthwise between two pairs of calendering rollers each pair being oriented orthogonally to the other pair. The suture may be coated and/or filled by passing it through the contacting region of a suture filling applicator to which filling agent is supplied by a metering pump. The filling process may be computer controlled.

Abstract: A method for continuously coating individual fibers of a fiber bundle with resin. The individual fibers are grouped at a single grouping pint defined by a first concave supporting surface. The fibers are directed through a resin bath while spreading the fibers apart on a convex surface in a regularly spaced arrangement to form a continuous coating of resin along at least a portion of the fibers. The convex surface is at least partially described by an arc rotated about a horizontal axis, and comprises at least a portion of a surface of maximum radius R which is symmetrical relative to a vertical plane of symmetry passing through the fiber grouping point.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously coating individual fibers of a fiber bundle with resin, which comprises a first concave support surface for grouping the fibers of the bundle substantially at a single grouping point and a second, convex, support surface at least partially described by an arc rotated about its horizontal axis, having a maximum radius R, which at least approximately satisfies the relationship expressed in the following formula: wherein r designates the radius of the arc at distance x from the plane of symmetry, passing through fiber grouping point (P): ##EQU1## and wherein L designates the length of a tangent to the second support surface which passes through grouping point (P), in the plane of symmetry, and .phi. designates the radian angle formed between the tangent and the vertical line.

Abstract: The method of impregnating and the apparatus for impregnating a thin cord with a medicinal solution with the cord to be used in the dental field as an appliance for gingival retraction in conjunction with the teeth of a human being. The cord is immersed in a bath of the medicinal solution, moved from the bath to a squeezing roller assembly so that the medicinal solution evenly permeates the cord, removing excess solution, drying the cord and winding the cord on a wind-up reel prior to being dispensed to the consumer.

Abstract: A device for applying a coating to moving fibers is shown comprised of a cylindrical applicator rotating about its axis, a support frame for supporting the cylindrical applicator wherein said support frame contains a cylindrical opening running through the support frame for supporting the cylindrical applicator, a slot with an opening running from the slot to the cylindrical opening, an internal passageway in the support frame and a tubular connecting piece which fits partially in the internal passageway of the support frame for delivering the coating to the surface of the cylindrical applicator. It is critical that the diameter of the cylindrical applicator be only slightly less than the diameter of the cylindrical opening running through the support frame, thus restricting the amount of liquid coating that can be applied to the moving fiber. By placing the tubular connecting piece directly adjacent to the cylindrical applicator, no pool of coating is created.

Abstract: A coating applicator for a suspended cable comprises a housing defining a coating reservoir and having a roller rotatably mounted in said housing that is at least partly immersed in the coating reservoir. The coating roller includes a peripheral groove defined by tapered walls adapted to receive the cable therein. In one form of the invention, a pair of brackets support suspension rollers from opposite sides of the housing so that each suspension roller is spaced from the other and aligned over the groove in the coating roller from opposite sides of the cable. The housing includes a fluid coupling for connection with a conduit in fluid communication between the coating reservoir and a reversible pump which is in fluid communication with a supply reservoir, so that a predetermined level of fluid can be maintained in the coating reservoir and so that the coating can be drained from the reservoir when the coating operation is completed.

Abstract: An applicator for metering a desired amount of a liquid sizing onto moving glass filaments. In a first embodiment, a foam-covered roller is partially immersed in a reservoir of liquid sizing and is in contact with the smooth surfaced applicator roll. The foam-covered roller is driven in the same direction as the applicator roll and a puddle is formed above the roller/roll nip. The pressure exerted by the foam covered roller on the applicator roll and rate of rotation of the applicator roll determine the size of the puddle, which controls the amount of sizing applied to the glass filaments. A second embodiment employs an elastomeric reservoir which sits generally atop the applicator roll. A plurality of slots in the rotationally downstream side of the reservoir dispense the sizing onto the roll with the pressure between the elements and rate of rotation of the applicator roll, again, determining the application rate. The sizing is pumped through a closed loop to keep its temperature and viscosity more uniform.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided which applies and cures a coating of viscous ink to a moving strand material. This apparatus includes an ink applicator module which comprises a series of rotatable rollers which receive and apply the ink to the moving strand. This apparatus allows substantial quantities of glass fiber waveguide strand material to thus be coated with a UV curable ink in a relatively short period of time so that they may be color coded to facilitate handling and installation.

Abstract: Resin evenly applied to the surface of rotatable drive roller applicator is worked into the fibers of a band of fibrous material one ply thick by fiber tension, without abrasion. Resin is pumped to the roller applicator through a spring loaded applicator block in sealing contact with the surface of the applicator. The resin is pumped by a piston and cylinder pump at a rate determined by the rate of rotation of the applicator roller and thereby in accordance with the rate at which the fibrous band is pulled from the surface of the roller.

Abstract: An applicator for use in applying chemical treatments to textile fibers is described which does not require the presence of a reservoir of the chemical treatment in close proximity to where the textile fibers are treated. The applicator has a rotating cylindrical roll which rotates continuously during application and is in rotatable horizontal attachment with a support means. The rotating cylindrical roll contacts the filaments at one portion one roll while at another portion on the roll a delivery means having a slot and cavity to which there is provided the chemical treatment is in fluid contact with the rotating applicator roll. The chemical treatment flows from the cavity through the slot and onto the rotating applicator roll to contact the textile filaments at another location on the roll. The chemical treatment is supplied to the cavity of the delivery means by a fluid control means which provides a continuous and controlled amount of the chemical treatment to the delivery means.

Abstract: Apparatus for the uniform treatment of thread with a treatment fluid during the winding of the thread on a cross-wound bobbin or the like driven at a constant rotational speed while the speed of the thread is increasing constantly, said apparatus comprising a treatment roller, the lower portion thereof dipping into a bath of the treatment fluid, and two thread guides. The first guide is stationary, the second is movable in a direction parallel to the axis of the treatment roller in response to the speed of the thread, the thread being stretched therebetween and lying against the periphery of the treatment roller. The roller, which is driven at a constant rotational speed, has a cylindrical first section and a second section comprised of a plurality of truncated cone surfaces; a plurality of radially disposed and axially extending small passages on the second section forming grooves having a depth of zero at the border of the cylindrical section and increasing over-proportionally to the groove length.

Abstract: A method for space dyeing yarn wherein a rapidly advancing yarn is intermittently deflected into and out of a nip of a pair of rotating dye applicator rollers, such that those portions of the yarn which pass through the nip are subjected to a rapidly applied and substantial compressive force in the nature of a hammer-like impact in the nip, to cause the dye carried by the rollers to deeply penetrate into the yarn. In the illustrated embodiment, the yarn is advanced past a plurality of such pairs of dye applicator rollers, and an external pattern control acts to deflect the yarn into and out of the various nips in accordance with a predetermined program.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying liquid to filaments that are advanced at high speeds having an open topped container for holding the liquid that is to be applied to the filaments. A rotatable applicator member located so as to transfer liquid from the container to the filaments passed across the member. The member being mounted so that a portion of its axial surface is immediately adjacent the upper edge of the open topped container on the side of filament travel. Means for moving the container with respect to the member so as to modify the spaced relationship between the upper edge and the axial surface to keep a spacing sufficiently close to discourage disruptive air flow into the container from air movement caused by high speed filament travel.