Apparatus and Method for Continuously Attaching a Primary Substrate to a Secondary Substrate to Form a Product Having Indicia Thereon

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method of attaching one substrate to another substrate includes supplying a first substrate having an indicium thereon from a first source, supplying a second substrate from a second source, wherein the supplying is accomplished in a continuous manner, and curing the substrates until the substrates are bonded thereto to form a product. The method and apparatus disclosed herein allows a fabric to be integrally bonded to either an elastomeric composition or a urethane composition utilizing a continuous process. The product includes indicium that identifies or conveys information about the product.

1 . A method of attaching two substrates, comprising:
 supplying a first substrate from a first source, wherein the first substrate is a fabric having an indicium thereon;   supplying a second substrate from a second source; and   curing the substrates until the substrates are bonded to each other to form a product, wherein the indicium is visible on the product.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second substrate is an elastomeric composition. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second substrate is a urethane composition. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first substrate is a braid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second substrates are bonded thereto to form a substantially unitary product. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the curing is accomplished through heating from a platen heating system. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the platen heating system includes plates disposed adjacent a conveyor to heat the second substrate. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second substrates are attached to each other in a continuous manner. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for continuously attaching a first substrate to a second substrate, comprising:
 a first substrate supply source that continuously dispenses a first substrate onto a top surface of a second substrate, wherein the first substrate includes an indicium thereon;   a second substrate supply source that continuously dispenses the second substrate onto a conveyor;   a secondary conveyor system that presses the first substrate into the second substrate; and   a heating mechanism that heats the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the first substrate is vulcanized to the second substrate to form a product having a substantially smooth surface and wherein the indicium is visible on the surface.   
     
     
         10 . The attaching apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first substrate is a braid. 
     
     
         11 . The attaching apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first substrate is a fabric. 
     
     
         12 . The attaching apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the heating mechanism heats the first and second substrates to a temperature of between about 200° F. to about 400° F. 
     
     
         13 . The attaching apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the heating occurs for a time period between about 4 minutes and about 10 minutes. 
     
     
         14 . The attaching apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein a substantially permanent bond is formed between the first substrate and the second substrate. 
     
     
         15 . The attaching apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the product is cooled for a period of time less than about a minute after entering a cooling zone. 
     
     
         16 . The attaching apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the second substrate is an elastomeric composition. 
     
     
         17 . The attaching apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the elastomeric composition comprises about 20% to about 40% rubber, about 40% to about 60% fillers, about 2% to about 10% process oil, and about 5% to about 15% other additives. 
     
     
         18 . A method of identifying a source of goods, comprising:
 providing a first substrate comprising a fabric having an indicium thereon;   providing a second substrate comprising an elastomeric composition; and   curing the first substrate to the second substrate to form a product, wherein the indicium is visible on the product to display information about the product.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the method further includes the step of applying the indicium onto the first substrate before the first substrate is provided. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first and second substrates are provided in a substantially continuously manner.