Apparatus for patterning paint roller covers

Abstract

An apparatus used to pattern the surface of a roller cover includes a surface having a desired pattern therein. A holder for a roller cover holds or presents the roller cover to the surface. A heater is attached to the surface. The apparatus may also include a mechanism for rotating the roller covers and moving one of either the surface or the holders for the roller covers.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for treating the surface of a paint roller cover comprising: 
 a die having a desired pattern therein;    a mechanism for moving the die; and    a paint roller cover holder carrying a paint roller cover having an outer surface of paint absorbing material, the holder positioning the cover in contact with the die to produce a pattern within the paint absorbing material for applying paint to a surface in a pattern.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the mechanism for moving the die further comprises: 
 a driver, and  
 an attachment point for the driver on the die.  
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the driver is a chain.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the driver is a worm gear.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a driver for the paint roller cover holder for contacting the paint roller cover with the die.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a heater for heating the die.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  further comprising a control system for maintaining the die within a selected temperature range.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a platen attached to said mechanism for moving the die, said die attached to said platen; and  
 a heater positioned within said platen for transferring heat to said die.  
 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising a control system for maintaining the die within a selected temperature range, said control system further comprising: 
 a control circuit;  
 a thermistor for determining the temperature of the die and delivering the result to the control circuit;  
 a control line from the control circuit to the heater, said control circuit heating or cooling the platen in response to the temperature of the thermistor.  
 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for treating the surface of a roller cover for a paint roller comprising: 
 a cylinder having a desired pattern therein;    a mechanism for moving the cylinder; and    a holder for a roller cover which presents the roller cover to the cylinder.    
     
     
         11 . The apparatus for treating a roller cover for a paint roller of  claim 10  further comprising a second mechanism for moving the holder for the roller cover with respect to the cylinder.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus for treating a roller cover for a paint roller of  claim 11  wherein at least one of said mechanism for moving the cylinder and said second mechanism for moving the holder for the roller cover can move at a variable rate.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus for treating a roller cover for a paint roller of  claim 10  wherein the desired pattern of said cylinder further comprises: 
 a cylindrical surface at a first distance from the axis of the cylinder; and  
 a cylindrical surface at a second distance from the axis of the cylinder.  
 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus for treating a roller cover for a paint roller of  claim 13  wherein the desired pattern of said cylinder further comprises a third surface located at a third distance between the first and second cylindrical surfaces.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus for treating a roller cover for a paint roller of  claim 10  further comprising a heater for transferring heat to the cylinder.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for treating the surface of a roller cover for a paint roller comprising: 
 a paddle wheel apparatus further comprising a plurality of paddles;    a holder for a roller cover which presents the roller cover to the paddle wheel apparatus; and    a mechanism for rotating the paddle wheel apparatus and moving at least one of the paddles into contact with the roller cover.    
     
     
         17 . The apparatus for treating a roller cover for a paint roller of  claim 16  further comprising a heater for transferring heat to a plurality of said paddles of said paddle wheel apparatus.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus for treating a roller cover for a paint roller of  claim 16  wherein said mechanism for rotating the paddle wheel apparatus is adjustable so as to move at a variable rate.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus for treating a roller cover for a paint roller of  claim 16  further comprising a second mechanism for moving the holder for the roller cover with respect to the paddle wheel apparatus.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus for treating a roller cover for a paint roller of  claim 19  wherein at least one of said mechanism for moving the paddle wheel apparatus and the mechanism for moving the holder for the roller cover with respect to the paddle wheel apparatus is adjustable so as to move at a variable rate.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus for treating a roller cover for a paint roller of  claim 19 , wherein a roller cover has a nap of a set height, the paddles of the paddle wheel apparatus singe the nap of the roller cover to a depth of less than the height of the nap of the roller cover.  
     
     
         22 . An apparatus for treating the surface of a paint roller cover comprising: 
 a holder holding at least one paint roller cover that has a paint absorbing outer surface;    a die including a pattern; and    a mechanism that moves the die and the paint roller cover relative to each other and provides contact between the die and the paint absorbing outer surface to produce a pattern in the paint absorbing outer surface for painting the pattern on a surface using the paint roller cover.    
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the holder moves relative to the stationary die.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the die moves relative to the stationary holder.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the die comprises a plate formed with the desired pattern.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the die comprises a cylinder formed with a desired pattern.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the cylinder comprises a plurality of die portions forming a desired pattern.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the die comprises a plurality of dies corresponding to a plurality of paint roller covers.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the holder comprises a rotatable mechanism providing rotation of the paint roller covers.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the rotation of the paint roller cover is coupled to the relative movement of the die with respect to the paint roller cover.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the die is heated.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising a plurality of holders, each holder holding at least one paint roller cover.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 22  in combination with a paint roller cover, wherein the paint absorbing outer surface includes a napped outer surface and the pattern of the die produces the pattern in the napped outer surface of the paint roller cover.  
     
     
         34 . An apparatus for treating the surface of a paint roller cover comprising: 
 a die having a desired pattern therein;    a paint roller cover holder carrying a paint roller cover having an outer surface of paint absorbing material; and    a mechanism for moving the paint roller cover holder so as to contact the paint roller cover with the die to produce a pattern within the paint absorbing material.