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US 5,495,418 AGranted
Automatic panning system
AssigneeLatini Machine Company, Inc.
InventorsLeo Latini, Dennis Plegge
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for coating a plurality of centers with coating material is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a rotatable drum supported within a housing by a drive assembly. A spray arm assembly connected to a plumbing system is mounted within the drum to supply the coating material to the centers. An air flow system is provided to the drum to aid in the coating process. The coating process can be performed under hot or cold conditions and involves the repeated coating and drying of the centers until the desired product is obtained.
Claims31
A mechanism for coating a mass of centers, comprising:
- a drum rotatably supported about an axis of rotation for receiving said mass of centers;
- means for rotating said drum;
- means for coating said mass of centers;
- an inlet structure for selectively directing a processed gas into said drum;
- an outlet structure for allowing said processed gas to leave said drum;
- first gas processing means for producing cooled gas;
- second gas processing means for heating said cooled gas, said second processing means being in fluid communication with said first processing means;
- and
- control means for selectively operating and monitoring said mechanism.
6 more elements
A method for producing a shell coating on a mass of centers, comprising the steps of:
- (f) placing said mass of centers in a drum rotatably mounted in a drum housing having an air inlet duct mounted therein;
- (g) closing an air control damper in said air inlet duct to prevent air from flowing through said drum;
- (h) rotating said drum to tumble said mass of centers;
- (i) spraying said mass of centers with a coating solution from a spray bar having spray guns extending longitudinally into said drum through a front opening thereof;
- (j) distributing said coating material to saturate individual pieces of said mass of centers by allowing the centers to tumble for a period of time after spraying;
- (k) opening said air control damper in said air inlet duct to allow a flow of air through said drum;
- (l) drying said coating solution on said mass of centers by allowing the centers to tumble in said flow of air for a period of time;
- (m) repeating steps (b) through (g) a predetermined number of times to produce a finished product;
- and
- (n) stopping rotation of said drum.
7 more elements
An apparatus for coating a plurality of centers, comprising:
- a drum rotatably supported inside a drum housing for receiving said plurality of centers;
- a plurality of wheels in rolling contact with and supporting said drum, said plurality of wheels mounted on a plurality of shafts supported by a housing structure;
- a drive assembly operatively associated with said plurality of wheels on said plurality of shafts to provide rotational movement to said drum;
- a spray arm assembly extending into said drum through a front opening thereof, said spray arm assembly operatively connected to a plumbing system for supplying a coating solution to said plurality of centers;
- an air flow system for supplying drying air to said plurality of centers in said drum;
- and
- computer control means for selectively operating and monitoring said apparatus.
4 more elements
An automatic panning system comprising:
- a housing structure;
- a drum housing mounted in said housing structure;
- a drum rotatably supported in said drum housing for receiving a mass of centers, said drum comprising a first end, a second end, a drum surface, and a front opening at said first end, said first end and said second end extend outside said drum housing;
- a pair of idler wheels in rolling contact with and supporting said drum in said drum housing;
- a pair of drive wheels in driving contact with and supporting said drum in said drum housing;
- a spray bar having spray guns extending through said front opening and into said drum, said spray bar in fluid communication with a plumbing system for supplying a coating material to said mass of centers;
- an air inlet duct and an air outlet duct mounted in said housing structure allowing a flow of air through said drum;
- and
- a computerized control means for selectively operating and monitoring said system.
6 more elements
A method for coating a plurality of centers, comprising the sequential steps of:
- (a) tumbling said plurality of centers in a rotating drum;
- (b) spraying said plurality of centers with a coating solution from spray guns on a spray bar extending into said rotating drum, in the absence of air flow through said drum;
- (c) distributing said coating solution amongst individual pieces of said plurality of centers by continuing to rotate said drum for a period of time after spraying;
- (d) downwardly directing a flow of drying air through said rotating drum at approximately a thirty degree angle to the horizon to dry the distributed coating solution on said plurality of centers;
- (e) repeating steps (a) through (d) a predetermined number of times to obtain a finished product.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.