Apparatus for applying lubricant pattern to a sheet work piece

An apparatus for applying a liquid lubricant in a pattern to at least one of a pair of parallel faces of a sheet workpiece, the apparatus comprising:

• a support frame;
• means for transporting the workpiece in a travel direction substantially parallel to its faces through the support frame;
• upstream and downstream axles in the frame extending along respective parallel upstream and downstream axes generally perpendicular to the direction and generally parallel to the workpiece faces;
• support means carrying the axles on the frame for individual displacement generally perpendicular to a plane parallel to the direction, to the faces, and to the respective axes;
• respective upstream and downstream liquid-pervious applicator rollers journaled on the axles about the respective axes, the upstream rollers being offset axially from each other and defining axially spaced gaps of predetermined relatively short axial lengths, the downstream rollers being offset axially from each other and being aligned in the travel direction with the gaps between the upstream rollers;
• guide means including rollers engaging the workpiece axially between the rollers and bearing on the workpiece transversely of the travel direction at locations offset from the applicator rollers for preventing movement of the workpiece transversely of the plane as the workpiece moves through the frame;
• means for feeding a liquid lubricant to the rollers;
• means including respective actuators connected between the axles and the frame for displacing the respective rollers perpendicular to the direction and to the respective axes and out of contact with the workpiece as the workpiece passes in the direction through the frame;
• control means connected to the actuators for individually controlling and operating the actuators and to the liquid-feed means to apply the liquid lubricant in the rollers to the workpiece in a predetermined pattern as the workpiece passes through the frame;
• and
• drive means for rotating the rollers at a peripheral speed generally equal to a travel speed of the workpiece in the transport direction even when the rollers are out of contact with the workpiece.

An apparatus for applying a liquid lubricant in a pattern to at least one of a pair of parallel faces of a sheet workpiece, the apparatus comprising:

• a support frame;
• means for transporting the workpiece in a travel direction substantially parallel to its faces through the support frame;
• upstream and downstream axles in the frame extending along respective parallel upstream and downstream axes generally perpendicular to the direction and generally parallel to the workpiece faces;
• support means carrying the axles on the frame for individual displacement generally perpendicular to a plane parallel to the direction, to the faces, and to the respective axes;
• respective upstream and downstream liquid-pervious applicator rollers journaled on the axles about the respective axes, the upstream rollers being offset axially from each other and defining axially spaced gaps of predetermined relatively short axial lengths, the downstream rollers being offset axially from each other and being aligned in the travel direction with the gaps between the upstream rollers;
• guide means engaging at least one of the faces of the workpiece and bearing on the workpiece transversely of the travel direction at locations offset from the applicator rollers for preventing movement of the workpiece transversely of the plane as the workpiece moves through the frame;
• means for feeding a liquid lubricant to the rollers including a valve operated by the controller for cutting off the supply of the lubricant to an unused roller;
• means including respective actuators connected between the axles and the frame for displacing the respective rollers perpendicular to the direction and to the respective axes into and out of contact with the workpiece as the workpiece passes in the direction through the frame;
• control means connected to the actuators for individually controlling and operating the actuators and to the liquid-feed means to apply the fluid lubricant in the rollers to the workpiece in a predetermined pattern as the workpiece passes through the frame;
• and
• drive means for rotating the rollers at a peripheral speed generally equal to a travel speed of the workpiece in the transport direction even when the rollers are out of contact with the workpiece.