Paint roller with integrated core and cover and method and apparatus for production of same

Abstract

An apparatus and method for the production of a thermoplastic tubular structure is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a stationary mandrel, a first and second feeder for feeding a first and a second strip to a mandrel at a first location and second location respectively, and a third feeder for feeding a cover strip to the mandrel at a third location, the third location being downstream of the second location. A transport system adapted to wind and advance the strips as they are being fed to the mandrel is used to helically wind the fed strips around the mandrel. A head for dispensing a width of a liquefied thermoplastic material is also disclosed. The head is oriented to dispense the width of the liquefied thermoplastic material on at least part of a winding of the first strip and part of a winding of the second strip. A cutter is used for cutting the thermoplastic tubular structure into predetermined sizes.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An assembly line for the continuous manufacturing of a thermoplastic tube with a cover, the assembly line comprising: 
 a. stationary mandrel;    b. first feeder for feeding a first strip to a mandrel at a first location, the first strip comprising a thermoplastic material;    c. second feeder for feeding a second strip to the mandrel at a second location, the second location being downstream of the first location, the second strip comprising a thermoplastic material;    d. third feeder for feeding a cover strip to the mandrel at a third location, the third location being downstream of the second location;    e. transport system adapted to wind and advance the strips as they are being fed to the mandrel, thereby helically winding the fed strips around the mandrel;    f. head for dispensing a width of a liquefied thermoplastic material, the head being oriented to dispense the width of the liquefied thermoplastic material on at least part of a winding of the first strip and part of a winding of the second strip such that the width of the liquefied thermoplastic material forms a substantially uniform layer between the second strip and the cover strip; and    g. cutter for cutting the thermoplastic tube and cover to predetermined sizes.    
     
     
         2 . An assembly line for the continuous manufacturing of a thermoplastic tube with a cover, the assembly line comprising: 
 a. stationary mandrel;    b. first feeder for feeding a first strip to a mandrel at a first location, the first strip comprising a thermoplastic material;    c. second feeder for feeding a second strip to the mandrel at a second location, the second location being downstream of the first location, the second strip comprising a thermoplastic material;    d. third feeder for feeding a cover strip to the mandrel at a third location, the third location being downstream of the second location;    e. transport system adapted to wind and advance the strips as they are being fed to the mandrel, thereby helically winding the fed strips around the mandrel, the transport system causing a substantially uniform layer of a liquefied thermoplastic material to be formed between the second strip and the cover strip;    f. head for dispensing a width of the liquefied thermoplastic material, the head being oriented to dispense the width of liquefied thermoplastic material on at least part of a winding of the first strip and part of a winding of the second strip; and    g. cutter for cutting the thermoplastic tube and cover to predetermined sizes.