Method for making engagement cover for rollers for web conveyance apparatus

• US 8,784,940 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2010
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Newhouse, Kevin B., Tait, Bruce E., Clark, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): CAMERON, ERMA C
• Application Number:
  US13/498,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20120240370A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 427/394
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/114 Built-up elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 27/00 Special constructions, e.g. surface features, of feed or guide rollers for webs rollers in general F16C13/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/1752 Polymer film

Abstract

A method of making an engagement cover for rollers for use in web conveying, the method comprising: (a) providing a knit fabric comprising a woven base layer having first and second faces and a resilient looped pile protruding from the first face; (b) applying an elastomeric coating composition to the looped pile; and (c) curing the coating composition to leave a deposit of elastomeric polymer on the looped pile to yield the engagement cover.

Claims

1. A method of making a roller engagement cover, said method comprising:

(a) providing a knit fabric comprising a base layer having first and second faces and a resilient looped pile protruding from said first face wherein said looped pile has a loop height of from about 0.4 to about 0.8, one loop thread per stitch, and 25 stitches per inch;

(b) applying an elastomeric coating composition comprising one or more elastomeric polymers to said looped pile, in an array of unconnected deposits of elastomeric polymer; and

then

(c) curing said deposits to form grip enhancement elements, wherein said grip enhancement elements are equivalent to from about 5 weight percent to about 50 weight percent of the weight of said loop pile;

to yield said roller engagement cover.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said base layer comprises fibrous material selected from the group consisting of poly(tetrafluoroethylene), aramid, polyester, polypropylene, nylon, or a combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said looped pile comprises a fibrous material selected from the group consisting of poly(tetrafluoroethylene), aramid, polyester, polypropylene, nylon, or a combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said looped pile has a loop height of from about 0.5 to about 0.7 mm.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said looped pile comprises fibers having a denier of between about 100 and about 500.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric coating composition comprises said one or more elastomeric polymers dissolved in a solvent.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said one or more elastomeric polymers is selected from the group consisting of styrenes, urethanes, acrylics, silicones, olefins, and combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said solvent is selected from the group consisting of xylene, toluene, isopropanol, methyl ethyl ketone, and combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric coating composition comprises a water-based emulsion of said elastomeric polymer.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of said deposit of elastomeric polymer is equivalent to from about 5 to about 20 weight percent of the weight of said loop pile.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of said deposit of elastomeric polymer is equivalent to about 10 weight percent or more of the weight of said loop pile.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the Shore A hardness of said deposit of elastomeric polymer is less than about 75.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the Shore A hardness of said deposit of elastomeric polymer is from about 30 to about 60.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the Shore A hardness of said deposit of elastomeric polymer is between about 30 and about 45.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said engagement covering has a coefficient of friction with polyester of from about 0.25 to about 3.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said engagement covering has a coefficient of friction with polyester of about 1 or more.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising washing said looped pile to remove fiber lubricants therefrom before applying said elastomeric coating composition to said looped pile.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said applying an elastomeric coating composition is by a method selected from the group consisting of dipping, coating, and spraying.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising removing some elastomeric coating composition after applying an elastomeric coating composition and before said curing.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising installing said roller engagement cover on a roller with said second face of said base layer facing said roller.

21. The method of claim 1 further comprising mounting said knit fabric on a roller with said second face of said base layer facing said roller before said applying said elastomeric coating composition to said looped pile.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

(1) providing a web material;

and after installing said roller engagement cover on a roller;

(2) configuring said web material into passing configuration to said engagement cover; and

(3) passing said web material through engaging contact with said engagement cover.