US2195671A - Method of coating articles - Google Patents

Description

April 2, 1940. E. T. FERNGREN METHOD 0F COATING ARTICLES original Filed umm 18, i937 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Enoch byA ,6

/4: MANN a. AWV

-Pl'l 2, 1940- E. T. FERNGREN Y 2,195,671

IETHOD 0F COTING ARTICLES Original Filed lax-ch 18, 1957 5l Sheets-Sheet 2 .In ven tor: Enoch I'Ferngren 9 7a 70 bgg/WWW m Attorney April 2, 1940- E. T. FERNGREN 2,195,671

IETHOD 0F COATING ARTICLES Original Filed llarch 18, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 In v en tor:

Attorney En Och T. Fern Agrn by 6,0m 7 gw/wwf April 2, 1940. E. T. FERNGREN union or comme An'rILEs Qrigiul Filed latch 18. 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 In 0 en 0r: Enoch T Fez .1 1I (/1 'en April 2, 1940.

E. T. FERNGREN 2,195,671

IITHOD 0F COATING ARTICLES Orilihll Filod lah 18, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 [72 ver; for:

72065 Zveye/ Patented Apr. 2, 1940 METHOD F COATING ARTICLES Enocn- T. rei-nnen, Lime Neck, Long mand, N. Y.. assigner to Piax Corporation, Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Original application March 18, 1937, Serial No. v

131,736, which is a continuation oi' applications Serial Nos. 743,553, September 11, 1934,

and 38,339, August 31. 1935. this application August 1, 1939, Serial Cla-ima.

This case relates to a method of coating the necks of bottles or analogous articles, which have previously been closed in any suitable manner as by a screw stopper, cork or other closure, for the purpose of providing a tamper-proof and air and liquid-tight seal over the necks of such articles. To the extent that the method herein disclosed is adaptable to the forming of articles on suitable forms by dipping, the invention is to be considered as including such operations.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 131,736, iiledfMarch i 18, 1937, which has been restricted lto apparatus, the

present invention being directed to the corresponding method for coating articles. 'I'his co- `pending application Serial No. 131,738 is itself a combined continuation of my previouslyy copending applications Serial Nos. 743,558 and 38,839, filed respectively September ll, 1934 and Aug. 31, 1935, which earlier applications were abandoned in favor of` the continuation case Serial No. 131,736. The entire disclosure of lthis application will be found in one yor the other of the two original applications.

Many foods and food products, including milk for example, are preferably supplied in containers provided with Lsuitable seals vto render them air-tight and liquid-tight in order to preserve their contents and prevent possible contamination thereof. `Other types of bottled goods, including liquors, are preferably protected in a suitable manner against the possibility of adulteration or contamination as well as against possible leakage of their contents. My present invention includes the provision of a suitable method for supplying sealing closures of film type to any and all such articles,speciiically the necks of bottles, in order to provide suitable closures for effecting these or other purposes.

Among the objects of the present invention are to provide a novel method of applying film-type seals to previously closed bottle necks, or the like, in a manner which will be simple, relatively inexpensive, and such that the seals when made will be uniform and fre'e from blow holes or other imperfections. A specific object of the present invention is to provide for the forming of sealto scavenge from the surface of the -neck of a.`

bottle or form dipped thereinto, or from the Divided and No.

interstices or depressions open to the surface, all air bubbles which might tend to forml blow holes or other imperfections in the nlm coating or seal formed from the liquid in the pool.

A further and more specific object of the present invention is to provide for the successive dipping of the necks of a plurality of bottles or other forms, which are heldin suitable holders on a rotatable carrier with the necks of the bottles diverging and successively dipped into a pool of a film-forming liquid.' and to provide for the rotation of the bottles or forms about their longitudinal axes during the dipping of the necks thereof,` and preferably also during the subsequent draining, in order that-the necks of the bottles or forms be uniformly dipped and an even nlm coating applied thereto, and also in order that subsequent to a reasonable draining period; the film-forming liquid adhering to the neck of a bottle or a form will be evenly distributed to lform a'uniform iilm.

A further object of the'present invention is to provide suitableadjustments by which the dlpping of thearticles may be eilected at desired angles and/or to a desired degree.

A further specific object of the, present inven tion is to provide for the rotation of the bottles or forms about their longitudinal axes at dlilerent speeds in different parts of the dipping operation, including for example the relatively rapid rotation of the bottles or forms during the immersion of the neck portions thereof in the dip- Aping pool, the relatively slower rotation during ing period for the purpose of evenly distributing Further and more detailed objects of the present invention will become kapparent from the following description and appended claims, all when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a view principally in vertical section of one form of bottle dippingapparatus embody- .ing my invention, there being shown in dotted lines a different adjusted position for certain of the parts;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation with parts in vertical section and other parts broken away, taken from the left of' Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view in vertical section illustrating a modified form of drive for the carrier of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View, principally in elevation and with parts broken away and in vertical section, of the driving means shown in Fig. 3; l

Fig. 5 is a View substantially in vertical section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, illustrating the dipping pool and the circulating means therein;

Fig. 6 is a view principally in elevation and similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing the removal conveyor for articles subsequent to their dipping and draining;

Fig. 8 is a view principally in vertical section' on the line 8--8 of Fig. 6, and similar to Fig. 1, showing the detailed construction of this form of the device, the driving means therefor, and the arrangements for producing a submerged upward flow of the nlm-forming liquid in the dipping pool;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view with parts in vertical section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8, illustrating the Geneva driving means for the carrier;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view with parts in vertical section on the line Ill-I0 of Fig. 8, showing the complementary mutilated gears for applying alternate two-speed rotation to the bottle holders;

Fig. l1 is a fragmentary view with parts in vertical section on the line Il--II of Fig. 8, illustrating the tilting means for the tilting frame and also the intermittent rotating means for the carrier;

Figs. 12 to 16 inclusive are a series of diagrammatic views, illustrating the dipping and draining of a bottle neck; and

Figs. 17 to 21 inclusive are a series of diagrammatic figures, similar to Figs. l2 to 16, illustrating a bottle being dipped at a different angle and the draining thereof in forming a film around the neck thereof.

The apparatus disclosed in the drawings, Figs. l to 5, is the same as that disclosed in my prior application, Serial No. 743,558.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, the device comprises a base I0 upon which are mounted suitable brackets II. Pivoted to the brackets II is a support I2 carrying an electric motor I3. The support I2 may be angularly adjusted in respect to the brackets I I and the base I0 by an adjusting bolt I4 for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

Adjacent to the rear of the base I0 there is mounted a suitable standard I5, which supports a frame I6, the latter being pivoted to the standard I5 for adjustive movement about the axis of a pintle I1. A slot I8 formed in a portion |8a of the frame I6 has passing therethrough a bolt I9, which is mounted in suitable portions at the upper end of the standard I5. Threaded through another portion of the upper end of the standard I5 is an adjusting screw 20, the right hand end of which, as seen in Fig. 1, bears against a suitable lug formed on the lower end of the portion I8a of the frame |6. Thus, the screw 20 may serve to adjust the angular position of the frame about its pivot I1 in respect to the standard I5. As shown, the frame I6 is adjusted to its highest position.

At the rear of the frame IG, there is journaled a shaft 2|, as best shown in Fig. 2. This shaft carries at one end a pulley 22, which is adapted to be continuously driven through belt 23 from a suitable driving pulley 24 secured to the shaft of the motor |3. Thus, the adjustment of the support I2 by the screw I4, as above set forth, serves not only to adjust the tension of the belt 23, but also to compensate for various positions of the frame I6 as adjusted by the screw 20. The shaft 2| is provided intermediate its bearings in the frame I6 with a worm 25, which meshes with and drives a worm wheel 26 fixed to a shaft 21, which is journaled in suitable bearings 28 in the frame I6. A gear 29 secured to the opposite end of the shaft 21 from the worm wheel 26 is arranged to mesh with and drive a gear 30, which is mounted on a sleeve 3|. The sleeve 3I is mounted for free rotation on and with respect to a shaft 32 journaled in bearings 33 in the frame I6 above and parallel with the shaft 21.

At the right hand end of the shaft 32, as seen in Fig. l, there is secured a carrier 35, which provides a plurality of journal bearings 36 for a corresponding number of shafts 31, these shafts being arranged at oblique angles to the shaft 32 with their outer ends (at the right as seen in Fig. l) diverging. On the left hand end of each of the shafts 31, as seen in Fig. l, there is secured a bevel gear 38. All the gears 38 mesh continuously with a bevel gear 39 mounted on or integral with the sleeve 3|.

On the right hand end, as seen in Fig. l, of each of the shafts 31 there is splined a member 4U, which supports U-shaped arms 4|, provided with suitable means 42 for engaging and holding bottles, one of which is shown at 43, Fig. l. Arranged parallel to each of the shafts 31 and slidably mounted in suitable apertures in the associated bearing portion 36 is a shaft 44, one end of which is secured to a part collar member 45 engaging in an annular groove 46' formed in the member 40. A cam groove 46 formed in a member 48, which is secured to the frame I6, cooperates with anti-friction Wheels or rollers 41 respectively mounted on each of the members 45 and serves to control the endwise movement of the members 40 in respect to the shafts 31 to which they are splined.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. l and 2, a spur gear 49 on the shaft 21 meshes with a spur gear 5D secured to the left hand end, as seen in Fig. 1, of the shaft 32, so that the carrier 35, which is also secured to this shaft, is rotated continuously.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a means for driving the shaft 32 from the continuously rotating shaft 21 in such manner that the shaft 32 will rotate intermittently, and, hence, will rotate the carrier 35 intermittently, the purpose being to provide a dwell in the rotation of the carrier in timed relation to the immersion and Withdrawal of neck portions of bottles in the film-forming liquid as hereinafter set forth. For this purpose, as shown in these figures, a Worm wheel 26', which corresponds functionally to the worm wheel 26 of Figs. 1 and 2, carries an eccentric driving roll 49", which is arranged successively to engage the slots of a Geneva wheel 50 secured to the left hand end, as seen in Fig. 3, of the shaft 32. The shaft 21 or the gear 26' is also provided with a cut-away mem- 7| ,icaevi ber 43', which cooperates successively with the intermediate reentrant portions 50 of the Geneva wheel 50', thus locking this wheel against rotation during the dwell periods thereof; while the cut-away portion of the member I9 permits the rotative movement of the Geneva wheel.

Referring again to Figs. land 2, each of the shafts 31, which is pivoted in the carrier 35, is provided with a head 5|, which limits the outward movement of the member 43 on this shaft.

Mounted in a suitable position adjacent to the base I0, there is a supplementary base 50, which carries secured thereto a screw threaded standard 5l. A suitable bracket 82 is splined on the standard 6i and is supported thereby through the provision of a pair of spaced ears 53 on the bracket. Between these ears and threaded on the standard 6I is an adjusting nut 6l. Thus, adjustment of the nut 34 will be effective to adjust the position of the bracket 32 and a dipping container 53 rigid therewith along the standard 5l, as between the full anddotted line positions shownin Fig. 1. The bracket 52 carries rigid or integral therewith the container 53, including a socket portion 55. A bottle or other suitable container 58 for a liquidv film-forming material may be associated with the container 53, and in practice may have its neck 31 received in an airtight manner in the socket portion 55, as shown. The liquid from the receptacle 55 discharges into the container 53. 'Ihe container 53 is provided in its lower portion with a pump chamber 39, within which is a pump screw 10 mounted upon a shaft 1I. The shaft 1I passes through a suitable bearing bushing in the container 53 and is provided on the outside with a worm gear 12, which is arranged to be driven by a worm 13 secured to and driven by a flexible cable 1l, which may be arranged to'be driven from the end of the shaft 2| above referred to. The liquid film-forming material is adapted to be driven forcibly upwardly by the pump screw, as indicated by the arrows 15, Fig. 5. The functions resulting from this flow within the dipping pool will be more fully discussed hereinafter in discussing the functions of the dipping pool shown in Fig. 8. 'I'he dipping pool of film-forming material, which is generally indicated at 13, is segregated within the basin or container 53 by an intermediate partition 13, the liquid entering the bottom of the dipping pool through openings in the partition 13, as shown in Fig. 5, and overflowing at 11 into the intermediate space between the partition 13 and the walls of the container 53. This overflowing liquid moves to the right, as seen in Fig. l, through a passage indicated at 13, to a point adjacent to the mouth of the receptacle 55, and thence returns to the vicinity of the pump through a bottom passage indicated at 13a. Inasmuch as the fitting of the receptacle 58 in socket 55 is air-tight, there is provided a barometric feed for the dipping material from the receptacle 55, that is, air can only be admitted to the interior of the receptacle 55 above the liquid therein when the level of the liquid in passage 13 is beneath the top wall 30 of this passage. The liquid within the dipping pool is used or dissipated progressively in forming lms upon the necks of bottles and also, in the event that a solution of one or more film-forming materials in a solvent is being employed, by the evaporation of the solvent.

As shown in Fig. 1, the bottle 53 has its neck 3| dipping into the liquid material in the pool 13; and as this bottle is being continuously rotated about its longitudinal axis through the train of gears previously described. the liquid material will form a coating 32 on the neck of the bottle up to a line 33.

'I'he operation of the device just described may be summarized as follows: Bottles may be inserted manually or by any suitable vautomatic mechanism into the holders including the U-shape members 4I and the bottle gripping portions 42, at some position of these holders other than that in which they hold the bottle for dipping into the pool. The shaft 21 is driven continuously, as hereinabove set forth, by the prime mover or motor I3. This shaft drives the sleeve 3| through gears 23 and 30 and thereby drives the gears 33 and the" shafts 31 continuously, so that continuous rotation is imparted to all the bottle holders to rotate bottles held therein about their longitudinal axes. Also, the carrier 35 is driven continuously from the shaft 21 through the gea rs 43 and 50 and serves to move the bottles successively to and through the lowest point in their path of movement at which the necks of the bottles are dipped into the film-forming material in the dipping pool.

While each bottle, moves through the lowest zone of its movement in the rotation of the carrier 35, the roller 41 associated therewith enters the cam groove 46, which controls the longitudinal movement of the bottle and is preferably so constructed and arrangedas to control this movement to the end that the amount of dipping of a bottle will be constant through a material portion of the rotation of the carrier 35, so that the coating will always be applied up to a predetermined line, as shown at 83. For this purpose, the bottle is first thrust outwardly as it approaches its lowest position due to the rotation of the carrier 35, then gradually moves inwardly as it passes through this lowest position, andA then is again progressively thrust outwardly as it leaves the lowest position. 'I'his outward movement is limited by the head 5I, as previously described.

It will be noted that the arrangement of the gears is such that the holder for each bottle is rotated about its axis to rotate the bottle therein about its longitudinal axis in the direction opposite that of the rotation of the carrier 35 about the axis of the shaft 32. This results in the movement of each bottle neck as it passes through the pool as a sort of rolling action over the surface thereof. In this way, the film-forming liquid is applied in the smoothest possible manner to the neck of each article during the immersion thereof. The length of the pool is uvpreferably sufiicient so that the neck of each bottle is immersed as previously described and is rotated sufiiciently to be completely coated up to the line 33, and then is raised above the pool and any excess nlm-forming material drained off the bottle neck into the pool before the bottle neck passes beyond the edge of the basin or container 63.

While the application of film coatings may be successfully carried on .with suitable liquid filmformlng materials, and with the carrier 35 rotating continuously, as is disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, it is sometimes preferable, particularly with certain types of nlm-forming materials, to give the bottle neck more time for immersion and/or draining than could be afforded with this construction. Fbr this purpose, the alternative or intermittent drive shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and

With the intermittent type of drive of Figs. 3

and 4, the carrier is preferably stopped in synchronized time relation to the immersion and withdrawal of the neck of a bottle to afford adequate time for draining the coated neck portion.

When the construction of Figs. 1 and 2 is used, the bottles will be rotated about their longitudinal axes at a more rapid rate than that of the rotation of the carrier 35 due to the relative sizes of the several gears 28-38 and 48-50. However, when the intermittent drive of Figs. 4 and 5 is used, resulting in an intermittent rotation of the carrier 85, there is a further relative effect. As the gear 39 is rotated in the same direction as the carrier 85, the resultant motion given to each bottle about its own axis is controlled by the differential between the speeds of rotation of the carrier and of the gear 88. Consequently, when the gear.85 is stationary, at one of its dwell positions, the bottles will be rotated about their own axes at a speed greater than their speed of rotation while the carrier is moving. Thus, the speed of rotation of the bottles may be accelerated at a desired part of the draining period, which serves in practice to spread the film-forming material evenly about the neck of the bottle and results in a superior type of film closure.

The angle of dipping of each article may be adjusted as previously stated by the joint adjustment of the angle of the frame I6 in respect to the standard I5, controlled by the screw 28, and the complementary adjustment required for the level of the dipping pool 68. The latter is shown in two adjusted positions, in full and dotted lines respectively in Fig. 1. In that figure, it will be seen that the inclination of the bottle shown in dotted lines is greater than that of the bottle shown in full lines. 'Ihe particular angle to be chosen may depend upon the character of the film-forming material being employed, the shape of the bottle, and/or upon other factors. For example, if a bottle has a relatively short neck and a square shoulder, it may be necessary to employ a sharper angle of dip than is required for a bottle of the shape shown in Fig. 1. In such an event, the dotted line position of the parts shown in Fig. 1 would be chosen rather than the full line position.

Thus, from the foregoing, there is provided a method by which a bottle neck may be coated by a rolling motion across a pool of film-forming material, while being dipped to a substantially constant extent in the pool and while making at least one complete revolution about its own axis. This insures the even coating of the neck of the bottle up to a desired line, as indicated at 83. Thereafter, the bottle may be raised while being still maintained at a downwardly directed angle and while excess film-forming material is being drained from the neck. Also, during the draining period, as well as during the dipping period, the bottles may be continuously rotated about their longitudinal axes. This results in a fairly even fiow of the excess solution from the neck and mouth of the bottle and provides a substantially uniform coating over the previously closed nec or mouth of the bottle.

In Figs. 6 to 11 inclusive, I have shown another embodiment of my invention, this embodiment being the same as is disclosed in my earlier application, Serial No. 38,839. Inasmuch, however, as the device shown in these figures, particularly Figs. 6 and 8, has considerable structural similarity to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

I am employing the same reference characters for substantially corresponding parts.

Referring now to the drawings, Figs. 6 to 11 inclusive, the device may comprise a base I8 having mounted therein or suitably secured thereto a pair of brackets II to which is pivoted a support I2 for a prime mover, such as an electric motor I8. No means are shown corresponding to the adjusting screw Il of Fig. 1, but obviously such means could be provided if desired. Also, mounted on the base I8 is a suitable standard I5, which has pivoted thereto a frame I8, the frame I8 being pivoted to the standard I5 by a pintle shaft I1. Freely rotatable about the shaft I1 intermediate the bearing portions of both the standard I5 supporting the shaft and the frame I8 is a member I8a, one portion of which is en- 8&8ed by an adjusting screw 28 operating for the same purpose as the correspondingly numbered screw of Fig. 1. In this form of the invention, however, there is provision, as hereinafter set forth, for relative movement between the frame I8 and the member Ila.

Also, mounted in the frame I6 is a shaft 2l arranged to be continuously rotated. For this purpose, this shaft is provided on one end with a suitable pulley 22, which is driven through a belt 23 from the motor I3. The shaft 2| carries a worm 25 arranged to drive a worm'wheel 28', in the same way as previously described for Figs. 1 and 4. The worm wheel 26' is provided with a Geneva driving roll 49" arranged successively to engage the slots of a Geneva driving wheel 5D. The worm wheel 28' is mounted on a shaft 21, which is journaled in suitable bearings 28 in the frame I8. The Geneva wheel 58' is carried by one end of a shaft 32, which is journaled in suitable bearings 33 in the frame I6 parallel to the shaft 21. 'I'he shaft21 will be continuously driven from the motor I3 and the shaft 82 will be intermittently driven through the Geneva drive above described and illustrated in Figs. 8 to 11. The shaft 21 is also provided with a sultable cutout locking member 48 arranged to engage reentrant portions 58 of-the Geneva wheel 58 intermediate the slots therein in order to lock the shaft 82 at the several dwell positions thereof. The arrangement of these parts is illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and l1.

Means are provided for intermittently tilting the frame I6 bodily, in order to dip the bottles successively into the dipping pool, later to be described. This means is depended upon for the i dipping in place of the rotating means of Fig. 1, combined with the means shown in that figure for moving the bottles axially oi' the shafts I1. As shown in Figs. 8 and 11, the shaft 21 has secured thereto a cam 84, which is provided with a reduced diameter portion 85 (Fig, 11). In alignment with this cam and freely slidable in a bearing 88 secured to the frame I6 is a push rod 81, the lower end of which bears against a shoulder on the member I8a. Surrounding the push rod 81 and extending between the lower end of the bearing 88 and the upper face of the member I8a is a compression spring 88.

In operation, the member I8a is normally stationary, but its position may be adjusted by the screw 28. The push rod 81 bears at all times against the member I8a and is arranged for sliding movement in the bearing 88. Thus, when the high-portion of the cam 84 is in augment with the push rod, the frame I8 and the parts carried thereby will be in the full line position u 6 'an and 9|. y

ordinary spur gears 92 and 93 respectively, which y The portion of thel shown in Fig. 8. When, however, the low portion 85 of the cam 64 comes into alignment with the push rod 31, the frame I6 will tilt forwardly. due to the unbalanced arrangement of the weight 5 thereof and of the parts and bottles carried thereby, and will bring the parts to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8. Movement to this forwardly tilted position, however, is cushioned by the compression spring 98. The movement back l to the full line position from the dotted line position is a positive one, under control of the cam 34 acting on the push rod 81. The cam 64 rotates continuously and in the direction of the arrow in Fig, 11. -Inasmuch as this cam is secured l tothe shaft 21 and as the arrangement for driving shaft 32 from shaft 21 includes a single action Geneva drive. the frame |6 will be tilted forwardly once for .every dwell of the rotation of the shaft 32 and in synchronized time relation therewith. Furthermore, the cam 84 will cause the tilting of the frame |6 through a predetermined range. The location of this range, however, may be adjusted by adjusting the screw 20, which, in turn, adjusts the position of the member |6a, this to compensate for different types of bottles as discussed above in the description of Figs. 1 and 2.

On the right hand end of the shaft 32, as seen in Fig. 8, is a carrier 35, which is provided with a plurality of bearing portions 36, as described 40 screws. as shown at 89; and there is no relative longitudinal movement between the bottles or.

the holders and the shafts 31.

Each of the shafts 31 is provided with a bevel gear 38, all of which gears mesh with a bevel 45gear 39 mounted on a suitable sleeve 3|, which is mounted concentrically with and freely rotatable about the shaft 32. The drive for the sleeve 3| in this case, however, is different from that previously described for therst embodiment oi' 50 the invention,

In this embodiment of the invention, it is desired that there be provided two speeds of rotation for the bottles about their longitudinal axes. these two speeds being applied alternately so 55 that each bottle is rotated continuously about its' longitudinal axis, but the speed of rotation is alternately changed between a high and a low speed. For this purpose, the shaft 21 is provided with complementarily arranged mutilated gears These gears mesh respectively with are secured to the sleeve 3|. gear 90 provided with teeth is opposite a plain portion of the gear 9|, while the portion of the 5 gear 9| provided with teeth is opposite a plain portion of the gear 90. Inasmuch as the gear 00 is of less diameter lthan is gear 9|, and the gear 92 of greater diameter than gear 93, there will o be a higher speed of rotation for the bottle holdu 8 and 10 thus provides for a continuous drive of space shown as an annular chamber |03.

the bottles inthe bottle holders about their longitudinal axes alternately at two different speeds. The timing oi' the changes in speed in the rota tion of the bottles will be described hereinafter in describing the operation of the device.

Mountedadjacent to the path of movement of the bottles in the bottle holders of the device of Figs. 6 and8 is a container, generally indicated at 94, fora pool of a film-forming liquid. The container 94 is supported upon a vertically adjustable slide 95, which is carried by and arranged for vertical adjustive movement in respect to a Ibracket 96 by the provision of an adjusting screw 91 carried by the slide 35 and threaded through a suitable portion 98 of the bracket 96. The bracket 96 is horizontally adjustable in respect to the base i0 and is carried thereby. For this purpose, this bracket is received in a suitable horizontal guideway, generally indicated at 99, on the base I0 and may be secured in any desired adjusted relation thereto by a set screw |00.

The container 94 is provided with an intermediate partition |0| providing a central dipping pool, generallydndicated at |02, and an overiiow The partition |0| is provided at its lower end with a cylindrical portion |04 having apertures |05 therein communicating between the interior of the cylindrical portion and the annular chamber |03. Arranged for rotation about a vertical axis in the cylindrical portion |04 is a pump screw |06, which is mounted upon a vertical shaft |01 journaled in a suitable bearing in the base of the container 94. The shaft |01 is provided below the container 94 with a worm wheel |08, which is arranged to be driven by a worm |09 carried by a shaft I|0. The shaft H0 is driven from a suitable source of power, here shown as the motor I3, through a flexible shaft The fluid within the dipping pool is circulated in the direction of the arrows, as shown, overflowing the edge.of the partition |0| to fiow down into the annular chamber |03 and thence through the openings |05 to be recirculated by the pump.

While I have not shown any particular means in Fig. 8 for 'supplying hlm-forming liquid to the dipping pool continuously or intermittently, it will be understood that any suitable means, including, for example, the means shown in Fig. l, may be employed for this purpose.

'Ihe container 94 is provided with a suitable cover member |I2 having an aperture therein of the desired shape and size to permit the introduction of a portion of an article, such as the neck of a bottle, to be coated. This cover may also be provided with a bottle rest ||3 rigid or integral therewith serving to steady an article during the dipping thereof and thereby to predetermine the extent to which it is dipped into the pool, as shown in Fig. 8. When film-forming material, including a volatile solvent is employed, it

is desirable that thev free space open to the atmosphere above the dipping pool be minimized in order to minimize volatilization of the solvent and maintain the film-forming material in f proper condition for use.

gas which might be lenclosed or trapped beneath a nlm formed by the process in interatices or depressions in or about the neck portion of an article. Such interstices may occur, for example, in uneven portions at or adjacent to the neck of an article itself and also intermediate an article and closure thereof, for example, a screwcap type of closure. It also happens in some instances that bottles having corked stoppers therein pushed down below the top level of the bottle (when the bottle is standing upright) are to be capped by my process. Under these circumstances, air may be trapped in the reentrant portion at the end of the cork of the bottle. If this air were permitted to remain, it might contract during the volatilization of a volatile solvent from the drying films, for example, and cause a blow hole in the film. Also, bubbles of air if permitted to remain on or about the surface of an article being dipped tend to cause unsightly blemishes in the film formed on the article. By the use of a submerged current of the dipping liquid impinging on the article with a sufficient velocity, I am enabled to scavenge such bubbles of air from the surface so as to provide for the production of uniform films and effectively prevent the production of blow holes and other imperfections in the films.

The circulation of the dipping liquid has another and incidental effect in that it serves to keep the film-forming liquid uniform and homogeneous, which is important where a liquid is employed having some one or more constituents which might tend to settle out to leave a nonhomogeneous liquid in the dipping pool.

I contemplate that when using a device, substantially as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, a bottle will be brought to its lowermost position in the rotation of the carrier 35, which will be a dwell position for the carrier, and then the frame I6 tilted to dip the neck of the bottle into the pool, as shown in Figs. 8, 12, 13, 17 and 18. At the time an article is being dipped into the pool, it will be rotated relatively rapidly, due to gears 9i and 93 being in driving engagement at this time. When the article is emerging from the pool, which' preferably takes place relatively slowly, the bottle is rotated about its longitudinal axis and at its relatively slow rate, due to the gears 90 and 92 being in driving engagement. Subsequent to the dipping and the formation of a film on the end of the article, it drains over the dipping pool, as shown in Figs. 14 and 19 for a short period, the rotation being continued at the slow rate. The bottle is then moved by the next intermitent rotative step of the carrier 35 to the next dwell position, which is clockwise of the dipping position as seen in Fig. 6. At this position, the bottle is again tipped downwardly by the tilting of the frame I6 to dip the next succeeding bottle, .Figs. l5 and 20. The draining, however, has been .substantially completed at this point with the possible exception of a single drop. There is provided, however, a drip catching pan I I 4 beneath this position of the bottle, which pan may be carried by a suitable bracket i I5 extending from the container 94. Here again; the speed of rotation of the article is increased, which is effective to produce an even distribution of the film-forming liquid about the end of the neck and mouth of the bottle, so as to produce a uniform This rapid speed of rotation takes place at thev same time that the succeeding article is being dipped into the pool at the high speed as aforesaid. subsequently, the bottle may be suitin any suitable manner, including air ably removed and the nlm dried or hardened drying by leaving it exposed in open air for a desired period.

I have shown in Pig. '1 a removal conveying means, including a chain conveyor generally indicated at iii, by which a bottle may be continuously rotated while being moved away to a desired delivery point. The bottle is conveyed toward the delivery point by means of a link chain I i1, the links oi' which are sufficiently large so that the bottom portions of the bottles extend therethrough, the bottles being thus bodily moved by the chain II'I. Below and in frictional driving relation to the bottom portions of the bottles being bodily conveyed by the chain lil is a reversely moving belt Ill causing rotation of the bottles, as indicated by the arrows, while they are being conveyed away, the whole conveyor operating to give a sort of a rolling action to the bottles during their travel. The conveyor IIB may be arranged suitably to be driven by a driving gear IIS, shown as a worm gear driven from a worm i20, power for which is supplied through a flexible cable i2i, which, as shown in Fig. 6, may be driven from one end of the shaft 2i.

I do not wish to be limited to any particular type of flmforming liquid for use in either form of my device, but contemplate that any suitable material may be employed, for example, solutions of cellulose acetate dissolved in a suitable solvent, such as acetone, alone or mixed with suitable plasticizers, resins, etc. However, inasmuch as the particular composition of the film-forming liquid forms no part of my present invention, it will not be further described.

While the drawings and the specific disclosure of this application relate to methods for dipping bottle necks to coat the previously closed ends thereof, it is obvious that the invention may be equally well applied to the dipping of suitable forms to form coatings thereof from the lmforming material in the dipping pool. Such coatings may thereafter be stripped from the forms in any way known to the art and used either in that condition or after being subjected to other manufacturing or shaping operations. The bottle holders particularly disclosed in the present application could be used for holding suitable forms either as shown or with such modification as would normally occur to those skilled in the art, in order to adapt them to a desired use. The appended claims are to be construed to include the dipping of forms to the same extent as the coating of bottle necks in so far as the particular method steps recited in the claims are adaptable to such use.

While I have shown but two principal embodiments of my invention, I contemplate that many changes and variations may be made therein and individual features thereof may be used in other combinations. I do not wish to be limited therefore except by the scope of the appended claims, which are to be construed as broadly as the state of the prior art permits.

I claim:

l. The method of applying film coatings to selected portions of articles, which comprises introducing the portion of an article to be coated into a dipping pool of a film-forming liquid, creating in the pool a submerged stream of the liquid arranged to impinge upon the portion of the article dipped thereinto to be coated with a velocity suiiicient to scavenge air bubbles from the surface thereof and from cavities therein open to the surface, withdrawing immersed portions of the article from the poolof film-forming liquid, and draining surplus nlm-forming liquid thererom.

2. The method of applying tllm coatings to selected portions of articles, which comprises introducing the portion of an article to be coated into a dipping pool of a film-forming liquid, rotating the article about its longitudinal axis during the dipping and emerging of said portion thereof, creating in the pool of film-forming liquid a submerged stream of the liquid arranged to impinge upon the portion of the article dipped thereinto to be coated with a velocity sumcient to scavenge air bubbles from the surface thereof and from cavities therein open to the surface, withdrawing the immersed portion ofthe article fromthe pool of film-forming liquid, and draining surplus nlm-forming liquid therefrom.

3. The method of applying Aillm seal-caps to the necks and mouths of bottles which have been previously closed or stoppered in such manner as to leave a recess open to the outside adjacent to the closure of the bottle, which comprises introducing the neck portion of such a previously closed bottle into a dipping pool of a film-forming liquid, creating in the poola submerged stream of the liquid arranged to impinge upon the neck of the bottle dipped thereinto in such manner and direction and with sufficient velocity as to scavenge air bubbles from the surface of the bottle neck and also from the recess provided by the closure, withdrawing the neck of the bottle from the pool of film-forming liquid, and draining surplus film-forming liquid from the neck of the bottle.

4. The method of applying film coatings to selected portions of an article, which comprises introducing the portion of an article -to be coated into a dipping pool of a film-forming liquid, creating in the pool a submerged stream of the liquid arranged to impinge upon the portion of the article dipped thereinto to be coated with a velocity sufilcient to scavenge air bubbles from the surface of such portion and also from cavities therein open to the surface, withdrawing the n neck of the bottle dipped thereinto to be coatedl with a velocity suilicient to scavenge air Lbubbles from the surface of such bottle neck and also from cavities therein open to the surface, ywithdrawing the neck of the bottle from the pool of film-forming liquid, draining surplus film-form` ing liquid from the neck of the bottle, and rotating the bottle about its longitudinal axis at different speeds during the dipping and draining of the neck thereof as aforesaid, including a relatively rapid speed of rotation during the introduction of the neck -of the bottle into the filmformingv liquid, a relatively slower speed during.

the withdrawal of the neck of the bottle from the nlm-forming liquid and during the initial part of the draining period and a relatively faster speed thereafter for spreading the Hlm-forming liquid evenly about the neck of the bottle.

ENOCH T. FERNGREN.

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