Means to vibrate chain link fabric

Abstract

An apparatus and method for removing excess coating material from chain link fabric during the manufacture of the fabric. A gang of sprocket members are arranged side-by-side on a shaft for rotation about the shaft axis. Each of the sprocket members includes a plurality of radially outwardly extending teeth having notches formed along the length thereof. Chain link fabric is passed over the gang of sprockets such that the teeth engage through respective openings formed by the wire or other members of the fabric. When the fabric is removed from the sprockets, the notches in the teeth cause intermittent hitching and release of the fabric which vibrates the fabric to remove excess molten coated material from the fabric. The gang of sprockets is arranged intermediate a coating tank and a cooling tank for the chain link fabric such that the coating material is in the molten state when it passes over the sprockets. The sprocket members are dimensioned slightly smaller than the openings in the chain link fabric and the notches are configured so as to permit relatively smooth movement of the teeth into the openings in the fabric while providing a vibration inducing interengagement between the notches and fabric members upon withdrawal of the fabric from the sprockets.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.