Self-adjusting roll coater

A machine for coating liquid onto sheet material workpieces comprising;

• a frame,
• a first coating roller fixed for rotation relative to said frame,
• a second coating roller fixed for rotation relative to said frame,
• coating means for causing said liquid to coat at least one of said first or second roller,
• transport means for causing said sheet material workpieces to enter said machine and pass between said first and second coating rollers thereby causing said liquid coating at least one of said coating rollers to be transferred onto said sheet material workpieces, and
• adjustment means for causing the separation distance between said first and second coating rollers to automatically adjust to a desired separation distance for said sheet material workpieces of varying thicknesses, said adjustment means including a movable frame member supporting at least one of said coating rollers and a gaging means for measuring the thickness of said sheet material workpieces before passing between said coating rollers and an actuator for setting a separation distance between said rollers, said actuator having a cam and follower which set a minimum distance between said coating rollers, and said adjustment means having a pressure applying member for applying a controllable force on said moveable frame member causing said follower to engage said cam and enabling said rollers to separate beyond said minimum distance causing said follower to disengage said cam in response to the compressive force exerted by said rollers against said workpieces exceeding a predetermined level.