METHOD FOR MAKING ENGAGEMENT COVER FOR ROLLERS FOR WEB CONVEYANCE APPARATUS

• US 20120240370A1
• Filed: 09/24/2010
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 8,784,940 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 28/169
• 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 woven base layer having first and second faces and a resilient looped pile protruding from said first face;

(b) applying an elastomeric coating composition to said looped pile; and

(c) curing said coating composition to leave a deposit of elastomeric polymer on said looped pile to yield said engagement cover.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said deposit is an array of grip enhancement elements.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said looped pile has a loop height of from about 0.4 to about 0.8 mm.

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

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

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said looped pile has a one loop thread per stitch.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric coating composition comprises said elastomeric polymer dissolved in a solvent.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said elastomeric polymer is selected from the group consisting of styrenes, urethanes, acrylics, silicones, olefins, and copolymers, block copolymers, and other combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said solvent is selected from the group consisting of xylene, toluene, isopropanol, methyl ethyl ketone, and combinations thereof.

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

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of said elastomeric coating is equivalent to from about 5 weight percent to about 50 weight percent of the weight of said loop pile.

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

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

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the Shore A hardness of said elastomeric coating is less than about 75.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the Shore A hardness of said elastomeric coating is from about 30 to about 60.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the Shore A hardness of said elastomeric coating is between about 30 and about 45.

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

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

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

22. The method of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric coating composition is applied to said pile by a method selected from the group consisting of dipping, coating, or spraying.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said elastomeric coating composition is applied to said pile by coating and further comprising removing excess elastomeric coating composition before drying to yield an array of discontinuous grip enhancement elements.

24. The method of claim 1 further comprising installing said roller covering on a roller with said second face of said base layer facing said roller.

25. 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 an elastomeric coating to said looped pile.