CONTACT LUBRICATOR WITH METERED SUPPLY

A liquid dispenser and contact applicator having an applicator member which in a preferably comprises at least one roller for contacting advancing workpieces and applying liquid to surfaces thereof as they pass. A cyclically repeatable volumetric displacement pump accurately meters predetermined quantities of the liquid from a source to a dispensing tube extending axially along the applicator member, and applies pressure to the liquid within the dispensing tube so as to periodically and repeatedly expel metered quantities of the liquid out of the dispensing tube as a spray, into the hollow interior confines of roller type applicator members. The roller of such applicators is highly perforate in nature to conduct the liquid through its sidewall and into a compressible outer cover through which the liquid passes to be present at the outer surface, for application thereby to the advancing workpieces. In preferred embodiments, the metering pump is a reciprocating plunger device which extends through a metering chamber or orifice, for accurately repetitive precise metering of discrete quantities of the liquid, and the roller includes a supportive tubular inner shell of a highly perforate nature, with a cover comprised of resilient open-celled polymeric foam, self-wicking felt or fiber, etc.