Lamina Transferred To Base From Adhered Flexible Web Or Sheet Type Carrier Patents (Class 156/540)
  • Patent number: 5988252
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for dispensing postage stamps that are coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive onto envelopes located therebeneath. Such postage stamps are wound in rolls and have a uniform width. In some postage stamp rolls the stamps are supported upon a carrier strip coated with a release agent, while in other arrangements the roll of stamps includes no separate carrier strip. The stamp application device of the invention is applicable to both types of postage stamp rolls. The stamp application apparatus employs a body that defines a stamp roll cavity and a postage stamp dispensing position. An advancement roller is located beneath the stamp roll cavity and above the postage stamp dispensing position and serves to advance the exposed end of the postage stamp roll toward the postage stamp dispensing position in incremental steps in response to operation of an advancement actuator mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Inventor: William Carroll
  • Patent number: 5954915
    Abstract: A surface finishing apparatus for finishing the edge surfaces of fiberboards or like substrates. A pair of axially convergent drive wheels impart rotational and radial motion to a board and pushes the board against a foiling head or other surface finishing hardware. The foiling wheel is pushed by a pneumatic cylinder towards the board. An air clamp holds the board down against the drive wheels during operation. A speed indexer computer controls the rotation of the axially convergent drive wheels in inverse relationship to the rotational speed of the foiling head. In an alternative embodiment, a pair of angled hold-down wheels are used to hold the board against the drive wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Voorwood Company
    Inventors: Theodore Voorhees, William W. Bollinger, Paul L. McDowell
  • Patent number: 5944945
    Abstract: A thermal transfer device including a transfer roller and transporting portions that are spaced apart from and oppose each other; a heating member for heating surface of the transfer roller; a tray for placing thereon a member, being an optical recording-medium, to be subjected to transfer; and a transfer sheet with a transferring portion formed by printing, wherein the tray carrying the transfer sheet and the member to be subjected to transfer Such that the transferring portion faces the member is transported between the transfer roller and the transporting portions with the transfer sheet in contact with the transfer roller, whereby the transferring portion of the transfer sheet is thermally transferred onto the member. The thermal transfer device is capable of providing good quality printing at all times as a result of forming the transferring portion of the transfer sheet by printing, followed by thermal transfer of the transferring portion onto the member being an optical recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignees: Alps Electric Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Shinohe, Junichi Inamura, Shuichi Maeda, Fujio Matsuishi
  • Patent number: 5938889
    Abstract: A tape feeding apparatus capable of feeding a tape laminate made by superposing a first tape having a first chemical material layer on one side and a second tape having a second chemical material layer on one side reacting with the first chemical material with the layers in contact with each other. When the chemical reaction occurs between them, the second chemical material layer exhibits an indication which is visually recognized. Rollers press the first tape drawn out from a first reel and the second tape drawn out from a second reel so that the first and second chemical material layers come in mutual contact, and form the tape laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Atena Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Hirano, Keisuke Kaiho
  • Patent number: 5938890
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing components that are adhesively mounted on a release coated web roll and applying them to items includes holding the component securely in a chuck and then peeling the web from underneath the component. This is achieved by forcing a chuck against a component on a movable peeler plate and holding it in place with vacuum. Tension on the web then pulls the peeler plate away from the component while the web passes over the edge of the peeler plate and peels the web from the adhesive face of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Automatic Manufacturing Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jamie P. Schlinkmann, Alex W. Schlinkmann
  • Patent number: 5908525
    Abstract: For applying a decoration to an article, the decoration with a supporting film is arranged on the surface of a liquid in a tank and is extended and/or condensed parallel to the surface according to requirements depending on the shape of the article to be printed. The article is immersed into the liquid in order to transfer the decoration onto the article. For the extending and/or condensing of the decoration on the surface of the liquid, nozzles are arranged below the surface of the liquid and produce flows in the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Inventor: Maximilian Zaher
  • Patent number: 5904804
    Abstract: A method of wrapping labels about batteries comprising the steps of peeling off individual labels provisionally glued on a band-shaped base paper, holding the individual labels on the surface of a continuously rotating label drum using suction forces applied trough holes or passages on the surface of the label suction drum, and wrapping the labels on the label suction drum on the outer circumference of rotating batteries continuously supplied by a battery conveying table. The apparatus of the invention comprises a battery conveying table for rotatably conveying batteries to a predetermined position for receiving the label, a label drum for holding the labels by suction forces and conveying the labels to the predetermined position, and a battery rotation belt for rotating the batteries while pressing the label to the outer circumference of the battery after the label is positioned by the suction drum, and wrapping the label to the outer circumference of the battery by rotating the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Kouda, Hiroshi Suyama, Ichiro Murata
  • Patent number: 5904794
    Abstract: A method for obtaining a tire comprising a colored motif and a decal inted to be applied to the outer surface of a vulcanized rubber tire. The decal is made of a thin sheet serving as temporary support for a motif made with one or more vulcanizable colored inks. The support has at least one cutout having a shape adapted to permit the fitting therein of at least one element in relief protruding from the surface of a tire at the place selected for the colored motif.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin-Michelin & CIE
    Inventors: Monique Boissonnet, Jean-Michel Tatraux-Paro
  • Patent number: 5900108
    Abstract: An arm (10c) of a manual lever (10) is formed with a pushing portion (10f). A ratchet pawl (17) making reciprocal movement in synchronization with the manual lever (10) is formed with a resilient portion (17a) to be pushed by the pushing portion (10f) and a pawl portion (17b) which makes contact with a tooth of the ratchet wheel (19). A printer (P) is disposed at tip ends of the arms (10c, 10d). The ratchet wheel (19) is integral with the transfer drum (18). In the step of gripping the manual lever (10), the resilient portion (17a) is made to deform, and the pawl portion (27b) makes slide movement toward a tip end of a tooth. At the moment when the pawl portion (17b) gets over the tip end of a tooth, a resistive force against the manual lever (10) is significantly reduced, and as a result, the printer (P) makes impact contact with a label and prints marks on the label. When the label tape (12) is to set, the bottom cover (14) is made open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Shinsei Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoyuki Sekine
  • Patent number: 5897742
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hand-held implement for transferring a film (25) from a backing strip (7) wound on a supply real (5) onto a substrate, the said implement having a housing (2), a pressure-exerting part (16) projecting therefrom, and two bearing and/or carrier devices for the supply reel (5) and a take-up real (6) for the backing strip (7) guided around the pressure-exerting part (16), the housing being able to be opened for the purposes of replacing the reels (5,6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Tipp-Ex GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Georg Semmler
  • Patent number: 5891301
    Abstract: A sticker applicator and a method of using the sticker applicator for applying self adhesive sticker to an article. The sticker applicator comprises a plate bent to form an angle across a portion thereof, a ring portion attached to the top surface of the plate through which a finger is placed for use, and an aperture formed in the plate to receive a portion of the finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Inventor: Frederick Aaron Kerr, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5879506
    Abstract: A label applicator for applying labels to cup-shaped packaging containers including a label storing device means in the form of label rolls, from which labels are removed with the aid of a removal device and labels are applied by a transfer device to the packaging containers. The labels are applied by a contact pressure device to the jacket faces of the packaging containers. Because the application of the labels to packaging containers takes place after the forming of the containers, the design of the label application device is simplified, and accessibility to the containers is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Robert Bosh GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Mueller
  • Patent number: 5876555
    Abstract: An apparatus for labelling packages with postage meter labels performs a method in which postage metered label combinations are received from a label feeder and postage meter, the label is stripped from its release sheet, and then the label is applied to its respective package. The labelling apparatus and method are designed for use in a high speed electronic finishing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Gunther International, Ltd.
    Inventors: Per Hellsund, George Rinaudo
  • Patent number: 5876547
    Abstract: A mug printing clamping device (20) is shown for transferring images to curved substrates such as the surfaces of a mug (10). The device employs a flexible band (28) which forms a cylindrical cavity lined with a pad (30). A decal (14) containing the image to be transferred is inserted between the pad (30) and the mug (10) and pressure is applied to the flexible band (28) by rotating cam (38) counter clockwise, which moves slidable post (58) in the direction of adjustable post (36). A ratchet gear (40) and pawl (42) lock cam (38) into position enabling mug printing clamping device (20) to accommodate a wide variety of mug sizes. The mug (10) and decal (14) are then heated, causing the sublimation dyes on the decal (14) to transfer the image on the decal (14) to the surface of the mug (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Ronald H Kiesow, Raymond E Wess
  • Patent number: 5873975
    Abstract: A computerized apparatus and method for creating and databasing vehicular window template information in memory storage with such template information being used by a window tinting system to generate window tinting film sections for use on corresponding target windows. The database would be continually increased by feeding new digitized window template images into the computer for appropriate scaling, classification, and storage. When tinting a known vehicle, the previously entered template information can be accessed and this will greatly enhance the speed and accuracy of the window tinting process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Inventor: Gary Benoit
  • Patent number: 5857785
    Abstract: A label printing apparatus includes a printing unit for printing an image on a front surface of a label tape having a back surface bearing an adhesive layer via an ink ribbon having a back surface bearing a removal layer. The apparatus further includes a superposed-travelling guiding mechanism for guiding traveling of the label tape and the used label tape together, with the removal layer of the ink ribbon being contacted with and superposed on the adhesive layer of the label tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Fujicopian Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keisuke Fujii
  • Patent number: 5855732
    Abstract: The invention provides an outer lead bonding apparatus for bonding a plurality of leads extending outwardly of a semiconductor chip to bonding pads mounted on a substrate, the apparatus including (a) a bonding-aid member having a central portion and a marginal portion, the semiconductor chip being to be adhered to a lower surface of the central portion of the bonding-aid member, the bonding-aid member being to be adhered at the marginal portion thereof to the substrate, the bonding-aid member being formed with an opening for exposing distal ends of the leads at which the leads are to be bonded to the bonding pads, (b) a device for ascertaining whether the leads align with the bonding pads, and (c) a bonding tool having compressing portions for compressing the leads to the bonding pads, the compressing portions having a cross-section to be able to pass through the opening of the bonding-aid member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 5843270
    Abstract: The two part cassette for a label printer consists of an adapter 1 and a reload unit 2. The adapter 1 contains a colored tape spool 16, from which the colored tape 19 is pulled off via a re-route device 13. The used tape 19 is wound up on a wind-up core 18. The reload unit 2 contains a spool 42 with a transparent tape 44, which is pulled off and passes across a print head 22 along with the colored tape 19. From another spool 43 in the reload unit 2, a dual-faced adhesive tape 45 is pulled off and adhered by a transport roller 50 onto the printed transparent tape 44. The transparent tape 44 and the adhesive tape 45 exit jointly from an exit slot 48 in the reload unit. This construction facilitates reloading of the adapter 1 with the economically manufacturable and recyclable reload units 2. This construction also affords the option of combining a selection of print colors, adhesive tape colors, and label widths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Pelikan Produktions AG
    Inventor: Markus Burgin
  • Patent number: 5820725
    Abstract: A tape application device according to the present invention is designed for applying an adhesive tape on a tape applying surface formed on a work. The tape application device includes a main body having a gripping portion, a tape guide portion provided in the main body and having a pressing portion for pressing the adhesive tape onto the tape applying surface, and engaging means for slidably pressing the pressing portion onto the tape applying surface. The engaging means includes first engaging portion having a sliding block held slidably with respect to a holder block provided in the main body, and a first contact portion provided in the sliding block and releasably contacting with the work and second engaging portion provided on the main body in opposition to the first engaging portion across the tape guide portion and having a second engaging portion with a second contact portion contacting with the work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignees: Lintec Corporation, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Maeda, Sigeyuki Yaguchi
  • Patent number: 5798017
    Abstract: A device for sublimating a decoration on a surface of an object including at least one elastic membrane retained by sealing elements and capable of elastic deformation in all directions when the device is placed under vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Inventor: Jean-Noel Claveau
  • Patent number: 5795435
    Abstract: An applicator for use in conjunction with the top of a work surface, designed for multiple applications enabling a user to either separate an adhesive sheet material from its release paper for application to a substrate or apply transfer tape to a work copy. The invention is made up of a frame, two tension rods immovably affixed between to spaced-apart side members of the frame, and a support axle operably attached to said frame so as to enable said support axle to rotate. The frame is made up of two generally vertically spaced-apart side members affixed to a generally horizontal platform. Each of the side members are generally identically dimensioned, and define a slot at the top edge adapted to accept one end of the support axle whereby the support axle is free to be rotated. The support axle is adapted to frictionally hold a standard roll of commonly available transfer tape or vinyl sheet material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Inventor: Jesse Walter Waters, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5785437
    Abstract: A tape cartridge detachably attached to a refill type coating film transfer tool that allows replacement of coating film transfer tapes, and formed in a compact size and simple structure using fewer components. The tape cartridge has a compact size and simple structure, comprising a pay-out reel with a coating film transfer tape wound thereabout and a winding reel for collecting a used tape rotatably provided in a support base in a form of a flat plate, and the reels are detachably engaged, respectively, with a pay-out rotation part and a winding rotation part rotatably provided in a case of the coating film transfer tool for integral movement therewith. In order to replace a tape cartridge, the support base is placed on the rotation parts, while the reels are in engagement with the rotation parts, respectively, then, the tape is set to a head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Seed Rubber Company Limited
    Inventors: Kouhei Koyama, Shigeru Tamai, Masatoshi Shintani
  • Patent number: 5772840
    Abstract: A casing has an opening at an end thereof, a supply spool and a take-up spool are rotatably mounted in the casing. A pressure blade member is provided in a longitudinal direction of the casing. The pressure blade member has a pressure blade portion projected from the opening, and a shaft portion rotatably supported in the casing so as to be rotated about an axis thereof. A coil spring is mounted on the shaft portion so as to resiliently hold the pressure blade member. A tape is wound on the supply spool and on the take-up spool, and slidably attached on the pressure blade portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Union Chemicar Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideyoshi Morinaga
  • Patent number: 5770007
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a device for dispensing onto a surface a transfer material provided on a carrier strip, and it comprises a supply reel rotatably accommodated in a housing and which is used for storing thereon the carrier strip together with the transfer material, and a take-up reel which is also rotatably accommodated in said housing such that it is radially displaced relative to said supply reel and which is used for receiving thereon the carrier strip from which the transfer material has been removed at least partially. The two reels have provided between them a rotary drive transmitting mechanism and a clutch means for providing a driving transmission ratio which is adapted to the respective unwinding/winding-up condition of the reels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Czewo Plast Kunststoffechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Manuel Czech, Hermann Runge
  • Patent number: 5766402
    Abstract: An apparatus, for applying a pressing tape to an object by applying pressure to the object, includes a pair of vertically movable members spaced at a certain interval. A tape-shaped material is traveled members and including a supporting tape carrying a pressing tape thereon. A pressure applying device is positioned between the movable members for pressing the tape-shaped member against an object. A tape feed-out device is provided upstream of one of the movable members for feeding out the tape-shaped material therefrom. A tape winding device is positioned downstream of the other movable member, for winding the tape-shaped material thereon. A tape feeding device is positioned between the other movable member and the winding device for feeding the tape-shaped material by a predetermined length by pulling the tape-shaped material. A first chuck is positioned on one movable member for chucking the tape-shaped material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Muraoka, Shinjiro Tsuji, Shuichi Hirata, Hirohisa Mozaki
  • Patent number: 5759341
    Abstract: A supply reel collar from which a transfer tape for an adhesive, or correction coating can be unwound in an applicator is fitted on a supply gear and about its hollow cylindrical shaft portion having an upwardly facing shoulder on its outer surface and a downwardly facing shoulder on its inner surface. A retainer has an upper portion engaging the collar and a lower portion engaging the downwardly facing shoulder. A coiled spring is held in a compressed shape between the upwardly facing shoulder and the upper portion of the retainer to ensure tight engagement between the shaft portion and the retainer and thereby between the supply gear and the collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Tombow Pencil Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5735994
    Abstract: In a film printing method for printing a print design on a substrate areas of a surface of a substrate to be provided with a print design is coated in a first step with an adhesive layer. The transfer film for the printing method includes a support film having a separating layer connected thereto and a transfer layer connected to the separating layer. At a first pressure the transfer film with the transfer layer facing the adhesive layer is printed onto the substrate so that the transfer layer adheres to the adhesive layer of the substrate. The support film together with the separating layer is removed from the transfer layer adhering to the substrate. In a final step, the transfer layer adhering to the adhesive layer on the substrate is subjected to a second pressure that is substantially greater than the first pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Inventors: Kurt Lappe, Fred Oudt
  • Patent number: 5733494
    Abstract: Improvements relating to composite materials. In a first aspect of the invention a distinctive and a less costly RTM preform is provided, along with a method of making it. In a second aspect of the invention, a distinctive preheating of an RTM preform provide enhanced surfaces on RTM composite articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: APX International
    Inventor: John H. Moore
  • Patent number: 5730833
    Abstract: An image transfer apparatus preventing transfer misregistration is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a driving roller, a following roller, and a carry including a guide plate and a cover film, wherein an image receiving sheet and a photosensitive material, which are overlapped with each other, are sandwiched by the guide plate and the cover film and then nipped between the driving roller and the following roller in the carry so as to be pressed and conveyed, and a pair of beam members extending along a conveying direction of the carry are disposed at the sides of the guide plate with the cover film being placed therebetween and the upper end portions of the beam members are projected from the upper surface of the cover film laid on top of the photosensitive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Hatakeyama, Yoshihisa Usami, Kenichi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 5713679
    Abstract: There is disclosed a printer and a method for printing and dispensing either liner-type or linerless-type labels. A delaminator is selectively positionable so that the carrier web of a liner-type composite label web can be drawn about the delaminator to delaminate and dispense a pressure sensitive label or so that the delaminator is out of the way to avoid problems when using the printer to print and dispense linerless-type labels. The linerless-type label web is prepared by folding an end portion upon itself to facilitate threading through a printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce E. Taylor
  • Patent number: 5714035
    Abstract: A correction tape dispenser body has an applicator tip assembly connected thereto, the assembly including an applicator tip with an edge for pressing a tape against a surface. The tip is connected to a supporting member by a shell bearing to permit relative movement between the tip and the supporting member, about a common axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventor: Christopher John Stevens
  • Patent number: 5695588
    Abstract: A method for applying an ink-receiving layer to any given substrate comprising the steps of laminating a sheet or web material comprising at least three layers which include a temporary support having a thickness between 40 and 100 .mu.m, an ink-receiving layer and an adhesive layer onto said given substrate, and stripping the temporary support away to free the ink-receiving layer. The ink-receiving layer, according to the present invention, is adapted to be used with water-based inks and enables the end-user of said image-recording member to transfer that ink-receiving layer to any one of the substrates of his choice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Eddie Daems, Guido Desie, Eric Verschueren, Luc Leenders
  • Patent number: 5685944
    Abstract: A film transfer apparatus includes an apparatus casing having a feed-core support shaft for detachably mounting a feed core and a take-up core support shaft for detachably mounting a take-up core. The support shafts respectively include a transmission member for causing the feed core to provide a film ribbon take-up speed higher than a ribbon feed speed of the feed core. For slippably coupling the feed core rotation and the take-up core rotation, a slip coupling mechanism is provided. This mechanism is constituted by an engaged portion of the take-up core for engagement with a mating engaging portion of the take-up core support shaft. The engaged portion is elastically deformable to a non-transmission condition with application thereto of a force exceeding a predetermined level. Further, the engaged portion is provided with a mechanical strength smaller than the engaging portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Fujicopian Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahisa Nose, Hiroshi Kozaki, Kazuhiro Tanaka, Masahiko Ono, Kazuya Watanabe, Makoto Ohtani, Keiichiro Minegishi
  • Patent number: 5674350
    Abstract: A label dispensing and applicator assembly for use with a roll of backing tapes having labels with pressure-sensitive adhesives on the backside detachably adhering the labels to the backing tape, wherein the assembly includes a label dispensing unit having a label separator mechanism attached to the frame and positioned away from a dispensing strip take-up reel wherein the label separator peels the label from the backing tape as the backing tape moves forwardly over the label separator and abruptly changes direction and extends rearwardly beneath the bar such that the labels are stripped and move forwardly from the label separator. A pair of pinch rollers is rotatably supported by the frame away from the label separator and a pinch roller is positioned to removably receive the dispensing strip therethrough as the dispensing strip is pulled through the label dispensing unit. The pinch roller has a drive belt connected to a conveyor assembly that is positioned forward of the label separator unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Perl Packaging Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Donald Jurgich
  • Patent number: 5650037
    Abstract: In a thermal ink transfer machine, the web is drawn translationally through a station at which thermal ink graphics are transferred from the web to the periphery of a container such as a glass or plastic bottle or can. Transfer of the graphics is effected with a transfer head or cylinder which has arranged about its axis of rotation a plurality of equally spaced apart radially spring biased rollers. When the longitudinally extending graphics on the web enters the transfer station, the spring biased rollers yield radially inwardly and outwardly to press against the backside of the web to effect transfer of the graphics. The apparatus has the rotating transfer head on one side of the web and the containers carried on a turntable on the opposite side of the web. The transfer head rotates in a particular direction around its vertical axis and drives the rollers orbitally toward and away from the graphics transfer station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Krones, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark G. Larson
  • Patent number: 5641372
    Abstract: A transferring apparatus and a transferring method are disclosed for pressing a transferring member against a three dimensional material. Fluid pressure is applied to a sheet which press the transferring member against and cause it to conform to the three-dimensional configuration of the material. Thus, the pattern of the transferring member can be easily and reliably transferred to the material (1) even though the material has the three-dimensional configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Nissha Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shiro Okuno
  • Patent number: 5641378
    Abstract: An adhesive sheeting applicator and method adapted to dispense strips of adhesive-backed sheeting from a supply roll rotatably disposed thereon and to apply said strips of sheeting to a surface with a desired spacing between successive strips by advancing the applicator a distance along the surface, the sheeting on the supply roll being in successive cut strips applied to a continuous substrate liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Robert A. Luhman, Craig D. Thompson
  • Patent number: 5618378
    Abstract: A security or other image, for example a hologram, is applied to a moving stock, e.g. banknote sheets, by carrying the images in the form of transfers on a web which is moved at the same speed as the stock during application but at a lower speed between application steps, so as to allow relatively close spacing of the images on the web. The web is retracted following each application to compensate for distance travelled during acceleration and deceleration during each cycle. The images are transferred by pressure cylinders which press the images on to adhesive patches provided on the stock at predetermined positions by applicator rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Molins PLC
    Inventor: Michal J. Cahill
  • Patent number: 5609714
    Abstract: A system for sheetwise dry processing thermographic print media is disclosed. The media is a laminate of a substrate with an attached frangible tab, a peel sheet and an adhesive image forming layer. A feeder feeds the sheets one at a time from a first position and orientation to a second position and orientation with the tab at a trailing end. A print roller is mounted for reversible rotation in infeed and outfeed directions. The print roller has clamps for engaging the sheet as received from the sheet feeder. A thermal printer cooperates with the print roller for thermally exposing the substrate. A peeler receives the sheet from the print roller with the tab at the leading edge. The peeler captures the film and engages the tab bending the substrate about the score line causing it to fracture. The peeler pulls the substrate and adhered image layer apart from peeler sheet to thereby produce a peeled substrate with an image layer and a waste peeler sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Sterling Dry Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: George D. Whiteside, Richard A. Rosenthal, Margaret A. Obermiller
  • Patent number: 5607540
    Abstract: A method of photoforming a three-dimensional object, comprising the steps of transferring onto a work table a semi-hardened layer of a photohardenable resin separably supported on a base film, photoforming a hardened layer by exposing the semi-hardened layer, the hardened layer being laminated on a previously hardened layer to photoform the three-dimensional object, and when the hardened layer is photoformed, photoforming a first-region hardened layer forming the three-dimensional object and also a second region hardened layer that is adjacent to the first-region hardened layer through a predetermined space, the first-region hardened layer being supported through a portion of the semi-hardened layer by the second-region hardened layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Teijin Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hisatomo Onishi
  • Patent number: 5605596
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for applying unvulcanized gumstrips in precise overlapping relation on the marginal edges of an unvulcanized tire reinforcement belt or breaker to enhance the adhesion between the reinforcement belt or breaker and surrounding components of a finished, vulcanized tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: James L. McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 5601685
    Abstract: A laminating apparatus is disclosed which has a loading slot for facilitating the loading of a web through a nip located between a supply and takeup spindle. An inboard support carries the inboard end of the supply and takeup spindles and the laminating rolls, and a spaced outboard support carries the other end of the laminating rolls. The outboard support is formed with a supply aperture aligned with the supply spindle, a takeup aperture aligned with the takeup spindle, and an interconnected threading slot corresponding to the path of the laminating web through the laminating nip between the supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Polaroid Corporation
    Inventors: John B. Morse, Keith D. Joncas, Kenneth A. McAuley
  • Patent number: 5567261
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for decorating articles having at least a generally conical surface portion with a decoration on a stamping foil, the foil passes around a guide roller as it is fed towards the stamping roller for applying a decoration on the foil to the surface portion of the article. The guide roller is displaced by a drive means along an arcuate guide means into a position adapted to the respective rotary angular position of the article to be decorated. The drive means for driving the stamping roller is inoperable to drive same during the stamping operation so that the stamping roller is only driven by frictional engagement during the stamping operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Leonhard Kurz GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Claus Schoetz
  • Patent number: 5564843
    Abstract: A reflective label is produced by forming a print image on one surface of a cover film of a transparent resin of polyester or the like with a thermal head using an ink ribbon according to a thermal transfer printing method, and then, sticking the surface of the cover film with the print image formed thereon, to the reflective surface of a reflective double-coated adhesive tape, formed of a reflective ink layer including light scattering particles of glass beads or the like and a vapor deposited metallic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 5565055
    Abstract: Method and system for decorating a round, oval or irregularly-shaped, open-ended article with a heat-transfer, wrap-around label supported on a carrier web. The system comprises a turret for positioning the open-ended article at a transfer location. The turret comprises a continuously rotating mandrel and a motor, the motor being coupled to the mandrel for continuously driving the rotation of the mandrel. The rotating mandrel is appropriately sized and shaped to be inserted into the open-ended article through the open end thereof and to follow the circumferential contour of the interior surface of the open-ended article when the open-ended article engages and rolls about the rotating mandrel. The system also includes a feed mechanism for positioning the label on the carrier web at the transfer location, the surface speed of the web matching that of the rotating mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventor: Paul C. Croci
  • Patent number: 5552010
    Abstract: As a method for producing a tile carpet having a a lining layer, there is provided a means for obtaining a tile carpet superior in the uniformity of thickness and adhesion of the lining layer and also superior in all of standing stability, shape and dimensional stability and durability, in high applicability of a sealing material in carpet cloth and a lining material and that in high production efficiency. The method of the present invention for producing such tile carpet comprises applying a heat-melted, amorphous olefin polymer composition (11) onto a travelling endless belt (3), then laminating onto this coating surface a carpet cloth (1) which has been sealed beforehand with an amorphous olefin polymer composition (7), to obtain an integral laminate, thereafter cooling the laminate forcibly using a cooling plate (14), separating the laminate from the endless belt (3) and cutting it into a tile shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignees: Suminoe Orimono Kabushiki Kaisha, Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruo Kajikawa, Yasuhiko Ganno, Junichi Takeda, Syuichi Yonezawa
  • Patent number: 5549782
    Abstract: A laminating apparatus is disclosed which is particularly suited to mount holograms on plastic cards. The apparatus comprises a planar support supporting the work pieces to be laminated. A press stamp has a shape of a sector of a circular cylinder wall and is driven by means of a special gear to perform a hobbing motion along the to-be-laminated area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: MELZER Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Bernhard Baist
  • Patent number: 5538588
    Abstract: A head for the application of composite bands, of the type which has a compacting group which incorporates rollers intended to press on a composite band to make it conform to the corresponding piece, the head having a pair of rollers (12.1) and (12.2) mounted in diametrical opposition on a gyratory support, each roller (12.1) or (12.2) being formed by a multiplicity of identical pieces (2.4) which are maintained in position by tubular pipes (12.5) from which a pressurized fluid flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Inventor: Manuel Torres Martinez
  • Patent number: 5536342
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a gasket strip to a substrate. An application head guided by a controlled robot applies the gasket strip to the substrate and cuts the strips to the desired length as they are applied. The application head applies as many strips in as many positions as necessary to form the desired gasket pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley E. Reis, Allan D. Pincus, William G. Lytle, Robert C. Rudolph, Charles R. Geese, Keith D. Adkins
  • Patent number: 5527407
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for supplying a graphic label that is readable with a light scanning device with such label placed on a rubber article. The graphic bar code label is optically interpreted with a bar code reader.Thus, the cured substrate with the label with the graphic message is produced by using thermal transfer techniques. For this purpose, the ribbon in contact with the substrate passes by a print head and the ink can be selectively heated with this operation being synchronized by computer operation. When the ribbon is stripped away, the ink is left where heating occurred on the substrate material. The printed substrate exits and is cut to produce labels of desired length. The label is placed on a curable article and the label and substrate are subjected to curing conditions to effect transfer of the label to the cured substrate which may now contain the message in solely, alphanumeric, bar codes, human readable characters, and logos or mixtures of them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Gartland, Gary T. Belski