Abstract:
A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COATING THE ENDS OF ELONGATED MEMBERS, PARTICULARLY FILE FOLDER HANGER RODS, WITH PLASTIC MATERIAL WHICH IS FIRMLY BONDED THERETO TO PROVIDE FOR EASY SLIDING ACTION ON THE COOPERATING SUSPENSION RODS. THE HANGER RODS ARE ADVANCED ALONG A PATH EXTENDING TRANSVERSE TO THEIR AXES AND AFTER BEING CONDITIONED AS BY HEATING TO CAUSE POWDERED PLASTIC MATERIAL TO ADHERE THERETO, THE ENDS OF THE RODS ARE CAUSED TO ENTER BETWEEN PAIRS OF POROUS BELTS HAVING COMPRESSIBLE EDGES, WHICH BELTS CARRY POWDER WHICH IS THUS PRESSED AGAINST THE ROD ENDS AND ADHERES THERETO. THE POWDER IS TAKEN FROM FLUIDIZED BEDS AND FLOWS AS A LIQUID ONTO THE POROUS BELTS, BEING RETAINED THEREON BY SUCTION WHICH ALSO SERVES TO REMOVE AIR AND COMPACT THE POWDER MATERIAL.