Process for applying a protective coating to handles

Abstract

An system for protectively coating longitudinally extending rod and bar-like objects, exemplified in application to cylindrical objects such as wooden handles for brooms, brushes and mops, which prescribes effecting a powered, contained movement of handles to be coated in an immediately following series relation; directing the handles to and through an enclosed bath of a selected coating material; in process of the entry of a handle to the bath subjecting it to a movement thereof through a short closely encompassing sleeve which wipes its exterior surface free of dust and dirt, facilitating adherence of coating material thereto and coextensively therewith in its passage through said bath; subjecting the so coated handle to a powered movement thereof through a further short circumferentially and closely encompassing sleeve as it exits from this bath to produce thereby a smooth distribution of adherent coating material over the length of its exterior to form thereon a substantially uniform thin layer thereof and strip excess therefrom to remain in the coating chamber and at the same time, as the leading end of the handle exits from the chamber, substantially immediately subjecting it to air jets to spread coating material over such end in a substantially uniform layer and strip therefrom excess coating material, subjecting the handle immediately thereof to a final stripping, reduction of the thickness and smoothing of the applied coating and immediately curing the same during a continued movement of the handle.