US4829793A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultra uniform fluid application apparatus
Assignee: Burlington Industries Inc
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Filing: 1987-12-24
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Granted: 1989-05-16
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Expires: 2007-12-24
Abstract
Abstract A fluid jet applicator is disclosed which senses orifice plate fluid pressure and the fabric substrate speed and electronically controls the flow of fluid by modulating fluid pressure in accordance with the speed and characteristics of the fabric substrate. In this fashion, a highly uniform solid shade is applied across the width of the fabric. The uniformity of the applied solid shade is limited only by the uniformity of the orifices in the applicator orifice plate. Additionally, by operating at higher fluid pressures than electrostatic fluid jet applicators, the present invention is significantly more productive than such electrostatic applicators.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph P. Holder
- 👤 Michael I. Glenn
- 👤 Bobby L. McConnell
- 👤 Louis A. Graham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 08:04
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06B; D06B11/00; D06B11/0056; D06B11/0063
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A fluid jet applicator for uniformly applying fluid from a fluid source to a substrate movable along a predetermined path, said fluid jet applicator comprising: an orifice plate having a linear array of orifices extending transversely to said predetermined path, said orifice plate including in the range of 50 to 150 orifices per inch; a manifold for receiving fluid from said fluid source and for distributing said fluid to said orifice plate; regulator means for regulating the pressure of the fluid fed to said orifice plate; and control means coupled to said regulator means and responsive to the speed of said substrate and data relating to tee characteristics of the substrate to control the uniform application of fluid to said substrate by regulating the pressure of the fluid fed to said orifice plate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A fluid jet applicator for uniformly applying fluid from a fluid source to a substrate movable along a predetermined path, said fluid jet applicator comprising: an orifice plate having a linear array of orifices extending transversely to said predetermined path, said orifice plate including in the range of 50 to 150 orifices per inch; a manifold for receiving fluid from said fluid source and for distributing said fluid to said orifice plate; regulator means for regulating the pressure of the fluid fed to said orifice plate; and control means coupled to said regulator means and responsive to the speed of said substrate and data relating to tee characteristics of the substrate to control the uniform application of fluid to said substrate by regulating the pressure of the fluid fed to said orifice plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A fluid jet applicator according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes data processing means for providing pressure control signals to said regulator means for modulating the fluid pressure received at said array of orifices in accordance with the fluid flow rate required at a predetermined substrate speed to achieve a uniform application of fluid to said substrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A fluid jet applicator according to claim 2, further including means for generating substrate speed indicating signals; and means for coupling said substrate speed indicating signals to said data processing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A fluid jet applicator according to claim 2, further including means for sensing the pressure of fluid being fed to said orifice array and for transmitting a signal indicative thereof to said data processing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A fluid jet applicator according to claim 2, wherein said data processing means includes memory means for storing fluid flow rates and associated fluid pressures for a predetermined orifice array.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A fluid jet applicator according to claim 5, wherein said data processing means further includes means responsive to predetermined fluid jet applicator operating conditions for retrieving from said memory means the fluid pressure required to uniformly apply fluid to a substrate having predetermined characteristics.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A fluid jet applicator according to claim 1, further including means disposed between said regulator means and said manifold for measuring the fluid flow rate of the fluid being fed to said orifice array and for transmitting a signal indicative thereof to said control means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A fluid jet applicator according to claim 7, wherein said control means includes feedback means responsive to said fluid flow rate indicating signal for controlling said pressure regulator means if said signal indicates that the actual flow rate does not match the desired flow rate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A fluid jet applicator according to claim 7, wherein said means for measuring flow is a magnetic flow meter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A fluid jet applicator according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes data entry means for entering substrate characteristic related data.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A fluid jet applicator according to claim 10, wherein said substrate related characteristic data includes desired liquid add-on indicia.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A fluid jet applicator according to claim 10, wherein said data entry means includes means for entering an adjustment factor relating to the flow rate of the particular orifice plate in use.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A fluid jet applicator according to claim 1, further including a catch pan disposed between the orifice plate and said substrate during time periods when it is desired to prevent fluid from striking the substrate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A fluid jet applicator according to claim 13, wherein said catch pan is disposed to prevent fluid from striking the substrate from initial start up until a predetermined substrate speed and fluid pressure has been reached.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
A fluid jet applicator according to claim 1, further including means coupled to said fluid source for supplying fluid to said regulating means having a fluid pressure in excess of the pressure needed under normal fluid jet operating conditions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A fluid jet applicator according to claim 1, wherein said orifice plate is on the order of 1.8 meters in length.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
A fluid jet applicator according to claim 1, wherein said control means for controlling the uniform application of fluid to a substrate operates such that the variation in the uniformity of fluid application over the cross-machine width of the substrate is in the range of 11/2 to 10 percent.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-05-15 | 1992-11-14 | 1993-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-05-15 | 1996-11-14 | 1997-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-05-15 | 2000-11-14 | 2001-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |