Apparatus and method for coating of elongate flimsy members

Abstract

A coating apparatus and method for flimsy elongate members has at least one elongate funnel tube with an inlet, an outlet, and an intermediate portion, the inlet in a basin, a fluid circulating system suitable connecting the outlet to provide flow into the inlet. Each inlet receives an elongate flimsy component and utilizes the circulating fluid to pull the flimsy elongate member into the funnel tube whereby the coating of the flimsy elongate member is accomplished. The invention also includes the method for coating such a flimsy elongate member utilizing the coating apparatus.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a perspective-schematic view of an embodiment illustrating a basin according to the invention herein.

FIG. 3 is a perspective-schematic view of an embodiment illustrating a basin according to the invention herein.

Claims

1. An apparatus for coating elongate flimsy members, the elongate flimsy members including a first end, an opposite second end, and an intermediate portion, the apparatus comprising: an elongate flimsy member suspension portion, said suspension portion including a securement portion for removable attachment of the first end of the elongate flimsy member whereby the intermediate portion and second end portion are suspended therebelow, and a drive system for vertically moving the securement portion and an attached elongate flimsy portion secured therein;a coating portion comprising a coating tube and a fluid circulation system, the coating tube having an inlet portion and a subordinate portion, the fluid circulation system connecting to the coating tube for providing a flow of fluid to the inlet portion for circulation through the subordinate portion, anda control processor operatively connected to the fluid circulation system and the suspension system, the control processor configured for controlling the fluid circulation system sufficient for drawing an attached flimsy member into the coating tube.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fluid circulation system further comprises a funnel portion at the inlet portion, the funnel portion having a upper lip and wherein the fluid circulation system provides a flow of fluid into the funnel portion over the funnel lip.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fluid circulation system further comprises a funnel portion at the inlet portion and wherein the flow of fluid into the funnel portion comprises a vortex.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the coating system comprises a plurality of coating tubes, each of said tubes connecting to the fluid circulation system.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the elongate flimsy member suspension portion comprises a plurality of securement portions for handling a plurality of elongate flimsy members.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the plurality of coating tubes each has an associated funnel and the plurality of funnels are arranged in an array.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the fluid circulation system comprises a pump and wherein a vortex is formed in the fluid inlet when said fluid circulation system is operating.

8. An apparatus for coating a batch of elongate flimsy members, the apparatus comprising a plurality of coating tubes each having an inlet portion configured as a funnel and an outlet portion, the inlet portions arranged with the inlet portions facing upwardly and said inlet portions arranged coplanarly with each other, a basin surrounding the inlets, a fluid circulation system connecting to the basin and the outlet portions of the coating tubes, a suspension system for suspending and lowering the batch of elongate flimsy members into the plurality of inlet portions, the suspension system comprising a support structure, a elongate flimsy member securement portion, and a drive for vertically moving said securement portion.

9. A method of insertion of elongate flexible members into a coating tube, the elongate flexible members each having a first end, an opposite second end, and an intermediate portion, the method comprises the steps of: providing fluid circulation to a coating tube, the coating tube having an inlet and a subordinate portion positioned below the inlet, the fluid circulation entering the inlet and flowing through the subordinate portion,insertion of the second end of an elongate flexible member into the inlet, and providing sufficient fluid flow into the inlet to provide a bias for drawing the elongate flexible member into said coating tube.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of suspending the elongate flimsy member by the first end connecting to drive system and controlling the draw of the elongate flexible member into the coating tube by controlling the drive system.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of utilizing a control processor for controlling the drive system.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of utilizing a control processor for controlling the fluid flow.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the coating tube has an upwardly facing funnel at the inlet of said coating tube, and the method further comprises the step of insertion of the second end of the flimsy member into said funnel.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of forming a fluid vortex in the fluid circulation system before the elongate flimsy member is inserted therein.

15. The method of claim 9 further providing the step of providing fluid circulation to a plurality of coating tubes, the coating tubes each having an inlet and a subordinate portion positioned below the inlet, the fluid circulation entering each of the inlets and flowing through the subordinate portion,

16. A method of insertion of elongate flimsy members into coating tubes for coating said elongate flimsy members, the method comprising the steps of forming a fluid vortex at an inlet of said coating tubes and utilizing the vortex to draw the elongate flimsy member into said coating tube.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of suspending the elongate flexible members above the inlet of said coating tubes and controlling the insertion of the elongate flimsy members into the inlet so as to optimize the insertion rate while preventing buckling of the elongate flimsy member.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the steps of forming a vortex at a plurality of inlets of a plurality of coating tubes and simultaneously inserting a plurality of elongate flimsy members into the plurality of inlets.

19. A method of insertion of a plurality of elongate flimsy members into a coating portion of process equipment, the method comprising the steps of creating a plurality of vortexes in a plurality of inlets configured as funnels, and simultaneously lowering the plurality of elongate flimsy members into the inlets.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of controlling the lowering of the elongate flimsy members into the plurality of vortexes by a control processor to minimize buckling of the elongate flimsy members during the lowering.