US3561401A

US3561401A - Coater applicator assembly

Info

Publication number: US3561401A
Application number: US819622A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank P Ford; Burton D Bjorn
Original assignee: Rice Barton Corp
Current assignee: Rice Barton Corp
Priority date: 1969-04-28
Filing date: 1969-04-28
Publication date: 1971-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 1988-02-09

Abstract

A roller coating apparatus having a backing roll and wherein there are separately shiftable supports for the applicator roller and for its pan so that the pan may be lowered and tilted to a dump position.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventors Frank P. Ford [50] Field 118/249, Liverpool, N.Y.; 258, 261, 262, 17,203,248 Burton D. Bjorn, Morningdale, Mass. 319, 22 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS [21] Appl. No. [22] Filed Apr. 28, 1969 [45] Patented Feb. 9, 1971 m m n muumww o m m m S 0 m mm [G e a en h t SLRW w WL 8422 356 r 9999 we 1111 n 1131 m 1 m mx 1666 E 0064 r. 29 Wm 296 a 5486 m8. HH 1123 PA m e m 0 M SL-D tea s m 00 n h n 0 Ma n c3 m m -m.% m. Mm J r f 6 owo m w mm O naw nkm n 880" 8 Bwbrm r-t 9 oo .l C00 RwaC3 u n .W A .1 3 7 Attorney- W. R. H ulbert [54] COATER APPLICATOR AS SEMBLY ABSTRACT: A roller coating apparatus having a backing roll and wherein there are separately shiftable supports for the ap- 113/249 plicator roller and for its pan so that the pan may be lowered 305: l/ 12 and tilted to a dump position.

6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

[51] Int Cl PATENTEB FEB 9mm SHEET 1 BF 4 PATENTEU FEB sum sum 3 or 4 COATER APPLICATOR ASSEMBLY This application is a continuation of application 307,187, filed Sept. 6, 1963, and now abandoned.

The present invention relates to apparatus for coating sheet materials, and more particularly to'an improved coating applicator assemblyfor use in a coater in which the traveling web is carried around the underside of a backing roll through the nip provided by a coating roll which dips into a pan containing coating material.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved support assembly for the coating applicator 'roll and associated coating containing pan of the water having a coating rec'eivingtrough providing a small clearance between the surface of the coating roll and the panandwith the sides thereof extending upwardly at each side of and substantially beyond the midpoint or rotationalaxis of the roll, inwhich there is provided an improved mechanism for shifting the pan between a normally operative coating supply position with relation to. the coating roll and a lowered dump position.

A feature of the invention consists in the-provision of a pair of supporting links'for the coating containing pan'pivotedon 'Ser. No.

each of the lever supports for-the coating applicator roll provided at each end of the applicator roll and pan assembly, said links being particularly constructed and arranged to cause the pan'to be shifted downwardly from its normal operative position in a substantially upright position until clear of the'coating roll, and thereafter to be further moved to a tilted dump position. The several features of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawinginwhich:

FIG. I is a somewhat-diagrammatic view in end elevation illustrating a trailing blade coater embodying in a preferred form the several featuresof-theinvention including particularly the applicator roll, the supporting pan for the coating materialin which the coating applicator roll is partially immersed together with the supporting and actuating devices for moving the applicator roll and pan to and from operating position; i

FlGnla is somewhat fragmentary view of the machine I shown in FIG. 1 looking from the left and illustrating particularly corresponding identical parts in the opposite end'of the machine;

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are views illustrating substantially the parts shown in FIG. 1 but on a smaller scale for different positions of the applicator roll and supporting pan, of which;

FIG. 2 discloses the applicator roll and pan in a dropped noncoating position;

FIG. 3 illustrates the position of the pan moved away'from the applicator roll sufficiently so that the sides of the pan are clear of the roll;

FIG. 4 is a view showing the pan moved to its lowered dump position; I

FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention in which a somewhat different arrangement of the supporting structure for the applicator roll and pan is employed, of which;

FIG. 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic view in end elevation illustrating the applicator roll and supporting pan assembly in their normal coating position;

FiG. 6 illustrates the roll and pan assembly dropped to a noncoating position;

FIG. 7 illustrates the panmoved downwardly with relation to the roll a sufficient distance so that the lips of the coating trough are clear of the roll; and

FIG. 8 illustrates the machine with the pan in its lowered dump position.

The trailing blade type coater illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings as embodying one form of the several features of the invention comprises a pair of end frames, one of which is indicated at 10 in FIG. 1 having formed therein a bearing support 12 for engagement with a journal 14 extending axially from one end of the backing roll 16 of the machine. A shaft 18 connected between the two end frames 10 carries adjacent the ends thereof lever supports 22 which provide support for a coating applicator roll 24. Each lever support 22 is formed with a horizontal extension 26 which extends beneath the backing roll 16 and is provided with a bearing support 28 for a journal 30 secured to the adjacent end of coating applicator roll 24. A downward extension 32 of the bell crank 22 is pivotally connected at 34-with the plunger 36 of a fluid actuated cylinder 38 which is in turn connected by a lug 40 and pin 42 with a fixed support 44 anchored on the frame 10. Actuation of the cylinders 38 at the two ends of the machine causes the lever supports 22 and applicator roll 24 to be rocked in a counterclockwise direction as shown in FIG. I to an operating position determined by the engagement of blocks 46 on the lever support 22 with adjustable stop 48 by means of which the coating roll 24 is accurately positioned with relation to the traveling web.

The coating applicator roll 24 is supported and arranged to rotate partially immersed in abath provided by a pan 50 which is supported beneath and extends along the length of the coating applicator roll.

a The coating containing pan 50 comprises an applicator roll receiving trough 51, the two sides of which extend upwardly in close proximity to the peripheral surface of the coating roll 24 and terminate in

lips

52 and 53 located substantially above the rotational axis of the coating roll. In the embodimentshown the lip 52 adjacent the rising side of the rotating coating roll 24 extends upwardly almost to the top of the roll 24. It will be understood that the sides of the pan are spaced from the peripheral surface of the roll an optimum distance to promote a free circulation of the coating within the pan and at the same time to prevent foaming or dewatering of the coating as a result of the turbulence set up by the rapidly rotating peripheral surface of the roll. The spacing referred to may, for example, be from 2 inches to one-half inch or less. The coating material is introduced into the trough 51 through an inlet con- .duit 54 along the side adjacent the downwardly moving surface of the coating applicator roll. The opposite side of the trough 51, terminating in the lip 52 follows the contour of the coating applicator roll and is spaced therefrom an optimum distance to avoid foaming or dewatering of the coating material. The pan 50 is also formed with two outer compartments 60 and 62 which extend along the length of the pan 50, one at each side of the trough 51. The outer wall of the said outer compartment 60 rises somewhat above the sides of the applicator roll containing trough 51 so that excess coating from the trough 51 is permitted to flow over the lip edge 52 thereof into the outer trough 60 from which the coating is drained off to supply through outlet ports 64 located at each end of the trough. The two ends of the pan are formed with cutouts 67 to receive the journals 30 and bearing supports 28 for the applicator roll 24. Members 68 mounted on said bearing supports 28 are arranged for the normally raised operative position of the pan 50 to seal in the ends of the pan to a level substantially above the rotational axis of the roll 24.

The pan 50 is supported at each end of the applicator roll and pan assembly on two generally horizontal links or levers arranged one'above the other, the upper link designated at 72 being pivotally supported at 74 on a pivot formed on the downward extension 32 of the bell crank 22. At its free end the link 72 is pivotally connected with a boss 76 formed on the end of the pan 50. The lower link, designated at 78, is supported on a pivot pin 80 on the downward extension 32. At its inner end the link 78 is pivotally connected with a boss 82 on the lower corner of the pan 50. It will be understood that the applicator roll and pan support specifically illustrated and described in connection with FIGS. 1-4, disclosing one end only of the apparatus, is duplicated at the opposite end of the .machine. The pan 50 and the nearly parallel supporting

links

72 and 78 are moved from the normally raised operating position shown in FIG. 1 with relation to the applicator roll 24 to an alternative lowered dump position away from the applicator roll 24 as shown in FIG. 4 by means of a fluid operated cylinder 84, which is connected at its upper end to a pivot pin 86 carried on a boss 87 secured to the shaft 18. The operating plunger 88 of the cylinder 84 is pivotally connected at its outer or lower end by a yoke 90 and pivot pin 92 with an intermediate portion of the lower link 78. The arrangement is such that a rocking movement of the bell cranks 22 will cause the coating roll 24 and pan assembly to move as a unit to and from the coat applying position. An expanding movement of the cylinder 84 and plunger 88 from the position of FIG. 2 causes the

links

72 and 78 to be rocked so that the pan 50 is moved downwardly and is tipped to the dump position of FIG. 4. It is assumed that the

links

72, 78 are so arranged that the pan in its lowered dump position is tipped at a convenient angle for cleaning. The

links

72, 78 are pivotally supported in generally horizontal positions, one above the other, on the downward extension of the lever support 22 at one side of the pan causing the pan to be moved downwardly a substantial distance while held in a substantially upright position so that the closely adjacent sides of the pan are moved clear of the applicator roll 24.

The precise location and angle of inclination of the pan in the lowered dump position to which the pan is brought by the continued rocking movements of the-

links

72, 78 depends upon the relative length and location of the

links

72, 78 one to the other.

In the structure shown in FIG. 1 for the normally raised operator position of the pan, the pivots and the pan connected ends of the

respective links

72, 78 lie substantially in horizontal planes, the

pivots

74 and 80 lie one above the other; the

links

72, 78 are the same length, but the distance between

pivots

76 and 82 measures slightly less than the distance between

pivots

74, 80. With the arrangement shown, a downward rocking movement of the

links

72, 78 from their initial substantially horizontal position causes the pan to be moved downwardly while held in an essentially upright position a sufficient distance to move the

edges

52, 67 of the pan clear of the applicator roll 16 to the position of FIG. 3. Continued downward movement of the

links

72, 78 causes the pan 50 to be moved to the left and at the same time to be tipped in a counterclockwise direction to the lowered dump position of FIG. 4. The direction and extent to which the pan is tipped will depend primarily upon the relative length and secondly upon the positions of the pivoted supports for the two parallel links.

The applicator roll 24 and coating containing pan 50 are shifted from one to another of alternative coating, noncoating and cleaning positions in the following manner. When coating is being applied, the bell cranks 22 are held by the operation of the fluid actuated cylinders 38 at the limit of their movement in a counterclockwise direction so that the blocks 46 are engaged firmly with the adjustable stops 48 and the coating roll is maintained in the coating applying position with relation to the travelling web. The piston 88 of the cylinder 84 is fully retracted raising the

links

72, 78 and carrying the pan 50 to be held in the normally raised operative position in which the ends of the pan are firmly sealed against the insert members 68 on the bearing supports 28 for the applicator roll 24. When it is desired to stop the coating operation, the cylinders 38 may be operated to rock the lever supports 22 in a clockwise direction dropping the applicator roll 24 and the pan 50 as a unit to the intermediate noncoating position of FIG. 2. In the event that it is desired to further drop the pan 50 to the lowered dump position of FIG. 4, the inflow of coating into the trough 51 is cutoff so that the coating contained in the pan is permitted to drain off through inlet 54. The cylinders 84 are then actuated to swing the

pan supporting links

72, 78 downwardly in a clockwise direction so that the pan is moved to its fully depressed dump position. Due to the arrangement shown in which the links '72, 78 are supported to swing downwardly from a substantially horizontal position, the pan is caused to move first a substantial distance in a downward direction, thus permitting the lip 52 to be moved below and clear of the applicator roll 24 as shown in FIG. 3 and thereafter to be further moved to the fully lowered dump position of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 5 to 8 illustrate a modified form of the invention in which the lever supports for the applicator roll 24, here designated at 110, and the nearly parallel supporting links, here designated at 112 and 114, respectively, for the coating containing pan 50 are constructed and arranged to provide a nip of the applicator roll 24 against the backing roll 16 in the lower quadrant of the downwardly moving surface of the backing roll 16 a number of degrees removed from a vertical plane passing through the rotational axis of the backing roll. The lever supports are pivoted on a bearing shaft 116 having its rotational axis located at one side of and substantially above the bottom portion of the backing roll so that the applicator roll is moved toward and away from the backing roll 16 generally along a radial line passing through the axis of the backing roll. The operating position of the applicator roll 24 is determined by the engagement of adjustable stops 48 on the machine which engage against bearing blocks 46 carried on the respective lever supports 110. The lever supports 110 provide supports for hearing blocks 120 in which are mounted the journals 30 for the applicator roll 24, and further provide at their outer ends bearing supports 122 for the lower of two supporting links for the coating containing pan 50.

Movement of the lever supports 110 and applicator roll 24 supported thereon between the operating position of FIG. 5 and an alternative lowered noncoating position of FIG. 6 is effected by means of a horizontally disposed actuating cylinder 124 pivotally connected to a bracket 126 and having a piston rod 128 pivotally connected at 130 to a downward extension of the lever support 110. With this arrangement a movement of the lever supports 110 in a clockwise direction from the position shown in FIG. 5 causes the applicator roll 24 and associated parts to be moved diagonally downwardly substantially along a radial line passing through the axis of the backing roll 16 to the retracted position of FIG. 6.

In the modified embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 5-8, the coating containing pan 50 is supported at each end of the machine by means of a horizontally disposed upper link 112 pivoted at 134 on the support lever 110 to the left of the axis of rotation of the applicator roll 24 shown in FIG. 5 and having a pivotal connection at 136 with the pan 50 at the further or right-hand side of the axis of rotation of the applicator roll 24, the link 112 being curved downwardly to pass beneath the journal 30. A horizontally disposed lower link 114 provided at each end of the machine for the support of the pan 50 is pivotally mounted to turn on a pivot 137 on the bearing support 122 at the right-hand side of the coating roll 24 as shown in FIG. 5 and is pivotally connected at 138 to the lower left-hand corner of the pan 50. Each of the upper links 112 is provided with an extension 140 which is connected with a piston rod 142 forming part of a vertically arranged actuating cylinder 144, the lower end of which is pivotally connected at 146 with a bracket 148 secured to the downward extension of the support lever 110.

The operation of the modified applicator roll and support mechanism as shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 is as follows. Movement of the lever supports 110 from the operative position of FIG. 5 in a clockwise direction to the retracted position of FIG. 6 causes the applicator roll 24 to be moved diagonally downwardly to the position of FIG. 6 while the pan 50 remains in its operation relation to the applicator roll and continues to be held in a substantially upright position. In the event that it is now desired to drop the pan to the lowered dump position of FIG. 8, the coating. material in the pan is first drained off and actuating cylinder 144 is then actuated to rock the upper links 112 in a clockwise direction downwardly. This movement of links 112 causes the links 114, attached to the lower left-hand comers of the pan, as viewedin FIG. 5, to be moved simultaneously downwardly about pivots 137. Inasmuch as both links start from a horizontal position, the pan is first moved downwardly to the position of FIG. 7 while it is maintained in a substantially upright position so that the side portions of the central trough 51 including the lip 52 and lip 53 extending upwardly in close proximity to the two sides of the applicator roll 24 are caused to move clear of the roll. Thereafter, continued I clockwise rocking movement of links 112 and the simultaneous downward movement of links 114 in a counterclockwise direction causes the pan to be tipped sharply in a counterclockwise direction. This tipping movement is effected as a result of the arrangement of the pivots 134 for the upper links 112 and pivots 137 for the lower links 114 taken in connection with the positions of the individual links which are in effect offset laterally from one another, which causes the right hand upper portion of the pan connected to the-links 112 to be moved downwardly and to the left at the same time that the pivotal connection 138 of links 114 is moved downwardly and to the right to the final dump position of FIG. 8.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is:

We claim: v

1. In a coater comprising a backing roll having the vweb wrapped around the underside thereof, a coating applicator roll providing a nip for said web against the underside of the backing roll, and a coating containing pan underlying said coating applicator roll having thesides thereof closely adjacent the peripheral surface of, and rising substantially above the axis of said coating applicator roll, the combination of lever supports providing bearings for said applicator roll at each end thereof pivoted along an axis parallel to said applicator roll at one side of the nip of said applicator roll and backing roll, positioning means including a stop engaging each of said lever supports for limiting movement of said applicator roll against the web, a pair of supporting links of substantially the same effective length connected between each end of the pan and the adjacent support lever, on which said pan is shiftable-between a normally raised coating position and lowered dump position, each said link having the pivotal connections at the two ends thereof for said coating position of said pan in substantially the same horizontal plane so that a downward swinging movement of said links produces an initial substantially upright downward movement of the pan clear of the coating roll and thereafter a further downward movement to said dump position, control means for rocking said support levers and applicator roll between raised operative and lowered inoperative positions, and operative connections between said support levers and said pan and links for shifting said pan between said operative and dump positions.

2. In a coater comprising a backing roll having the web wrapped around the underside thereof, a coating applicator roll providing a nip for said web against the underside of the backing roll, and a coating'containing pan underlying said coating applicator roll having the sides thereof closely adjacent the peripheral surface of, and rising substantially above, the axis of said coatingapplicator roll, the combination .of a frame, lever supports providing bearing 5 for said applicator roll at each end thereof pivoted on said frame along an axis parallel to said applicator roll at one side of the nip of said applicator roll and backing roll, positioning means including a stop engaging each of said lever supports for limiting movement of said applicator roll against the web, a pair of supporting links of substantially the same effective length connected to each end of the pan on which the pan is shiftable between a normally raised coating position and a lowered dump position, the links of each pair being pivotally connected respectively to the upper and lower portion of said pan and having pivotal connections with the support lever at the same side of the pan so that for the raised coating position of the pan the pivotal connections for each link liein a substantially horizontal plane and are so located that a downward swinging movement of said link produces an initial substantially upright downward movement of the pan clear of the coating roll and thereafter a further downward movement to said dump position, and control means including fluid actuated cylinders connected between each said lever support, and said frame for shifting said lever support, applicator roll, and associated pan between a raised coating and a lowered inoperative position, and fluid actuated cylinders connected between said lever supports and said pan and links for moving said pan from said applicator roll immersing position downwardly clear of said applicator roll, and thereafter to said dump position.

3. In a coater comprising a backing roll having the web wrapped around the underside thereof, a coating applicator roll providing a nip for said web against the underside of the backing roll, and a coating containing pan underlying said coating applicator roll having the sides thereof closely adjacent the peripheral surface of, and rising substantially above,

the axis of said coating applicator roll, the combination of a frame, lever supports providing bearings for said applicator roll at each end thereof pivoted on said frame along an axis parallel to said applicator roll atone side of the nip of said applicator roll and backing roll, positioning means including a stop engaging each of said lever supports for limiting movement of said applicator roll against the web, a pair of supporting links of substantially the same effective length for said pan at each end thereof comprising an upper link connected between an upper corner of'said pan at the opposite side of the nip from the pivotal axis of said lever supports and that portion of the adjacent lever support at the opposite side of said pan, and a lower link connected between a diagonally opposite lower corner of said pan and another portion of the lever support at the opposite side of the pan from said lower comer, the pivotal connections for each said link for the operative applicator roll immersing position of the said pan lying in a substantially horizontal plane whereby the downward rocking movement of said links effects a'downward movement of said pan in a substantially upright position to clear said applicator roll and thereafter a downward and tipping movement of said pan to said dump position, and control means including a fluid actuated cylinder connected between each said lever support and said frame for shifting said lever support, and fluid actuated cylinders connected between each said lever support and the assembly of said pan and supporting links for moving said pan between said operating and lowered dump position.

4. in a device for coating a traveling paper web, in combination, a frame, spaced bearing supports mounted on said frame, a backing roll rotatably journaled in said bearing supports, a coating bath pan disposed beneath said backing roll, support ing means for said coating bath pan comprising a pair of spaced pan supporting arms transversely pivoted to said frame and extending along opposite ends of said pan, means pivotally connecting the free ends of said arms to said pan, fluid pressure cylinder and piston means connected between said frame and said arms for moving said arms and pan toward and from said backing roll, other fluid pressure cylinder and piston means retaining said pan in an upright position with respect to said arms, and pivotally moving said pan into a cleaning position upon lowering movement of said arms.

5. in a coater comprising a backing roll having the web wrapped around the underside thereof, a coating applicator roll providing a nip for said web against the underside of the backing roll, and a coating containing pan underlying said coating applicator roll having the sides thereof closely adjacent the peripheral surface of, and rising substantially above the axis of said coating applicator roll, the combination of applicator support levers providing bearings for said applicator roll at each end thereof pivoted along an axis parallel to said applicator roll at one side of the nip of said applicator roll and backing roll, positioning means including a stop for limiting movement of said applicator roll against the web, pan support levers pivotally connected to the pan for supporting the pan, on which said pan is shiftable between a normally raised coating position and a lowered dump position, control means for rocking said applicator support levers and said pan support levers whereby said applicator roll and said pan are moved away from the raised operative position, and control means for shifting said pan relative to said pan support levers and away from said applicator roll to said dump position.

6. In a device for coating a traveling web, in combination:

a frame;

spaced bearing supports mounted on said frame;

a backing roll rotatably journaled in said bearing supports;

a coating applicator roll mounted to provide a nip for said web against the underside of the backing roll; a coating bath pan mounted beneath said applicator roll;

from said applicator roll and pivoted with respect to said raised coating position;

a first fluid pressure actuator to shift said pan between said raised coating position and said intermediate position and to shift said applicator roll from its said operating position to its said inoperative position; and

a second fluid pressure actuator to shift said pan between said intermediate position and said lowered cleaning position.

Claims

1. In a coater comprising a backing roll having the web wrapped around the underside thereof, a coating applicator roll providing a nip for said web against the underside of the backing roll, and a coating containing pan underlying said coating applicator roll having the sides thereof closely adjacent the peripheral surface of, and rising substantially above the axis of said coating applicator roll, the combination of lever supports providing bearings for said applicator roll at each end thereof pivoted along an axis parallel to said applicator roll at one side of the nip of said applicator roll and backing roll, positioning means including a stop engaging each of said lever supports for limiting movement of said applicator roll against the web, a pair of supporting links of substantially the same effective length connected between each end of the pan and the adjacent support lever, on which said pan is shiftable between a normally raised coating position and lowered dump position, each said link having the pivotal connections at the two ends thereof for said coating position of said pan in substantially the same horizontal plane so that a downward swinging movement of said links produces an initial substantially upright downward movement of the pan clear of tHe coating roll and thereafter a further downward movement to said dump position, control means for rocking said support levers and applicator roll between raised operative and lowered inoperative positions, and operative connections between said support levers and said pan and links for shifting said pan between said operative and dump positions.

2. In a coater comprising a backing roll having the web wrapped around the underside thereof, a coating applicator roll providing a nip for said web against the underside of the backing roll, and a coating containing pan underlying said coating applicator roll having the sides thereof closely adjacent the peripheral surface of, and rising substantially above, the axis of said coating applicator roll, the combination of a frame, lever supports providing bearing s for said applicator roll at each end thereof pivoted on said frame along an axis parallel to said applicator roll at one side of the nip of said applicator roll and backing roll, positioning means including a stop engaging each of said lever supports for limiting movement of said applicator roll against the web, a pair of supporting links of substantially the same effective length connected to each end of the pan on which the pan is shiftable between a normally raised coating position and a lowered dump position, the links of each pair being pivotally connected respectively to the upper and lower portion of said pan and having pivotal connections with the support lever at the same side of the pan so that for the raised coating position of the pan the pivotal connections for each link lie in a substantially horizontal plane and are so located that a downward swinging movement of said link produces an initial substantially upright downward movement of the pan clear of the coating roll and thereafter a further downward movement to said dump position, and control means including fluid actuated cylinders connected between each said lever support, and said frame for shifting said lever support, applicator roll, and associated pan between a raised coating and a lowered inoperative position, and fluid actuated cylinders connected between said lever supports and said pan and links for moving said pan from said applicator roll immersing position downwardly clear of said applicator roll, and thereafter to said dump position.

3. In a coater comprising a backing roll having the web wrapped around the underside thereof, a coating applicator roll providing a nip for said web against the underside of the backing roll, and a coating containing pan underlying said coating applicator roll having the sides thereof closely adjacent the peripheral surface of, and rising substantially above, the axis of said coating applicator roll, the combination of a frame, lever supports providing bearings for said applicator roll at each end thereof pivoted on said frame along an axis parallel to said applicator roll at one side of the nip of said applicator roll and backing roll, positioning means including a stop engaging each of said lever supports for limiting movement of said applicator roll against the web, a pair of supporting links of substantially the same effective length for said pan at each end thereof comprising an upper link connected between an upper corner of said pan at the opposite side of the nip from the pivotal axis of said lever supports and that portion of the adjacent lever support at the opposite side of said pan, and a lower link connected between a diagonally opposite lower corner of said pan and another portion of the lever support at the opposite side of the pan from said lower corner, the pivotal connections for each said link for the operative applicator roll immersing position of the said pan lying in a substantially horizontal plane whereby the downward rocking movement of said links effects a downward movement of said pan in a substantially upright position to clear said applicator roll and thereafter a downward and tipping movement of said pan to said dump position, and contRol means including a fluid actuated cylinder connected between each said lever support and said frame for shifting said lever support, and fluid actuated cylinders connected between each said lever support and the assembly of said pan and supporting links for moving said pan between said operating and lowered dump position.

4. In a device for coating a traveling paper web, in combination, a frame, spaced bearing supports mounted on said frame, a backing roll rotatably journaled in said bearing supports, a coating bath pan disposed beneath said backing roll, supporting means for said coating bath pan comprising a pair of spaced pan supporting arms transversely pivoted to said frame and extending along opposite ends of said pan, means pivotally connecting the free ends of said arms to said pan, fluid pressure cylinder and piston means connected between said frame and said arms for moving said arms and pan toward and from said backing roll, other fluid pressure cylinder and piston means retaining said pan in an upright position with respect to said arms, and pivotally moving said pan into a cleaning position upon lowering movement of said arms.

6. In a device for coating a traveling web, in combination: a frame; spaced bearing supports mounted on said frame; a backing roll rotatably journaled in said bearing supports; a coating applicator roll mounted to provide a nip for said web against the underside of the backing roll; a coating bath pan mounted beneath said applicator roll; shiftable supporting linkage for said pan and said applicator roll, including a pair of applicator roll support levers to shift said applicator roll between an operating position at said nip and an inoperative position separated from said backing roll, and including a pair of arms transversely pivoted to said frame for shifting said pan; a raised coating position with the sides thereof closely adjacent the peripheral surface of said applicator roll; an intermediate position in which said applicator roll is in said inoperative position; a lowered cleaning position in which said pan is separated from said applicator roll and pivoted with respect to said raised coating position; a first fluid pressure actuator to shift said pan between said raised coating position and said intermediate position and to shift said applicator roll from its said operating position to its said inoperative position; and a second fluid pressure actuator to shift said pan between said intermediate position and said lowered cleaning position.