Abstract: A device for simultaneously and evenly toasting articles of differing contours and dimensions arranged upon a heated griddle. A clamshell plate, positioned in stand-off relationship above said griddle-arranged articles, has a plurality of slideably moveable fingers or pins mounted therein which float, that is, are brought into contacting and resting relation with the upper surfaces of said articles to provide a gentle pressure thereon to urge the lower surfaces into more intimate contact with the griddle until the toasting process is completed, thereby accelerating the toasting process without undesirable side effects such as distortion of, and condensation on, the upper surfaces and caramelization of the lower surfaces of said articles.

Abstract: A device for simultaneously and evenly toasting articles of differing contours and dimensions arranged upon a heated griddle. A clamshell plate, positioned in stand-off relationship above said griddle-arranged articles, has a plurality of slideably moveable fingers or pins mounted therein which float, that is, are brought into contacting and resting relation with the upper surfaces of said articles to provide a gentle pressure thereon to urge the lower surfaces into more intimate contact with the griddle until the toasting process is completed, thereby accelerating the toasting process without undesirable side effects such as distortion of, and condensation on, the upper surfaces and caramelization of the lower surfaces of said articles.

Abstract: A laminating heating module for use in a flatbed laminating machine. The heating module comprises an elongate body portion with at least one heating pad attached thereto. The heating pad is fabricated from silicone rubber and includes three separate heating zones for regulating the heat to the body portion. Attached to each heating zone of the heating pad is a respective thermocouple to control the temperature of each heating zone. The heating module further comprises a thermostat attached to the heating pad and operative to protect the temperature of the body portion of the heating module from overheating.

Abstract: A lamination machine for adhesively heat laminating adjacent surfaces of two lengths of material to each other. The machine includes a flatbed pre-laminating station with upper and lower pre-lamination conveyor belts and banks of heater components immediately above and below. At least one pre-lamination belt is vertically movable to establish and adjust a gap between belts while its associated bank of heating elements is vertically pressuredly movable to thereby tightly maintain proximity of heater elements, belts, and laminate materials. Situated immediately downstream is a pressure roller independently vertically movable to establish and adjust laminate gap distance and, during lamination operation, tensioned against a lower conveyor belt guide roller and movable by a roller pressure driver toward the guide roller.

Abstract: A lamination machine for adhesively heat laminating adjacent surfaces of two or more layers of material to each other. The machine includes upper and lower opposing conveyor belts disposed one above the other to form a lamination passage therebetween and through which layers of material travel during lamination. At least one pressure roller is tensioned against the layers to be laminated. A heating module is disposed between the entrance and pressure roller, while a cooling module is disposed between the pressure roller and an exit. The heating module provides a plurality of rigidly maintained single-structure extruded heater components for melting an adhesion constituent disposed between the layers of material in preparation for lamination.

Abstract: A digitally controlled, manually actuated press comprising a housing having a lower platen attached thereto. The lower platen defines a generally planar top surface. Pivotally connected to the housing are left and right actuation handles, each of which is selectively movable between a loading/unloading and a press position. The press further comprises left and right transitional leveling members which are cooperatively engaged to respective ones of the actuation handles. Also included in the press are left and right upper platens which are cooperatively engaged to respective ones of the leveling members. Each of the upper platens define a generally planar bottom surface. In the press, each of the leveling members is configured to facilitate the rotation of the bottom surface of the corresponding upper platen into generally parallel relation to the top surface during the movement of the corresponding actuation handle from its loading/unloading position to its press position.

Abstract: A lamination machine for adhesively heat laminating adjacent surfaces of two lengths of material to each other. The machine includes a flatbed pre-laminating station with upper and lower pre-lamination conveyor belts and banks of heater components immediately above and below. At least one pre-lamination belt is vertically movable to establish and adjust a gap between belts while its associated bank of heating elements is vertically pressuredly movable to thereby tightly maintain proximity of heater elements, belts, and laminate materials. Situated immediately downstream is a pressure roller independently vertically movable to establish and adjust laminate gap distance and, during lamination operation, tensioned against a lower conveyor belt guide roller and movable by a roller pressure driver toward the guide roller.

Abstract: A lamination machine for adhesively heat laminating adjacent surfaces of two or more layers of material to each other. The machine includes upper and lower opposing conveyor belts disposed one above the other to form a lamination passage therebetween and through which layers of material travel during lamination. At least one pressure roller is tensioned against the layers to be laminated. A heating module is disposed between the entrance and pressure roller, while a cooling module is disposed between the pressure roller and an exit. The heating module provides a plurality of rigidly maintained single-structure extruded heater components for melting an adhesion constituent disposed between the layers of material in preparation for lamination.