Progressive Continuous Bonding Press (e.g., Roll Couples) Patents (Class 156/555)
  • Patent number: 6367532
    Abstract: In the film holder of a laminator, film sucking bores are arranged so that pitch P2 in the Y direction and pitch P1 in the X direction become gradually smaller toward laminate roll. Therefore, the laminator capable of stably performing the laminating operation even in laminating the rear end of a film sheet can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Sanei Giken Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ken Miyake
  • Patent number: 6360803
    Abstract: A laminating device includes two pressure rollers pressed toward each other and together defining a pinch and a first feed mechanism for guiding to the pinch a strip of a flexible first substrate provided with a thermally-activated glue layer. The first feed mechanism includes a first heater for heating the first substrate with the glue layer. The laminating device also includes a second feed mechanism for guiding a flexible second substrate to the pinch such that this second substrate and the glue layer are pressed against each other by the pressure rollers. The laminating device also includes a second heater placed in the zone of the pinch upstream thereof for heating the first substrate with the glue layer heated by the first heater and the second substrate immediately prior to the joining together thereof in the pinch, such that a laminate is formed including two substrates mutually connected by the glue layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Texmach B.V.
    Inventor: Arnold August Petronella Marie d'Hondt
  • Publication number: 20020033235
    Abstract: A roller arrangement suitable for use in a laminating machine. The roller arrangement comprises: a laminating roller of substantially cylindrical shape; a curved plate disposed around at least a part of the outer cylindrical surface of the laminating roller, the curved plate having a shape generally in conformance with that of the outer cylindrical surface of the laminating roller; and a heating layer integral with at least a part of the outer surface of the plate. When the heating layer is activated the laminating roller is heated by the curved plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Inventor: Dirk Maes
  • Patent number: 6357504
    Abstract: An insulation product includes an elongated batt of fibrous insulation material, and a facing adhered to a major surface of the batt. The facing is a coextruded polymer film of barrier and bonding (and preferably carrier) layers, with the bonding layer having a softening point lower than the softening point of the barrier layer. The bonding layer can include one or more of ethylene N-butyl acrylate, ethylene methyl acrylate, low density polyethylene and ethylene ethyl acrylate. When the facing has been heated to a temperature above the softening point of the bonding layer, but below the softening point of the barrier layer, the facing is adhered to the batt by the attachment of the bonding layer to the fibers in the batt due to the softening of the bonding layer. The heating can be either conduction heating or ultrasonic heating. For ultrasonic heating, the bonding layer is resonant at a different ultrasonic frequency than the barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bharat Dahyabhai Patel, Weigang Qi
  • Patent number: 6352095
    Abstract: A card straightener is used for cooling a card that has been processed using heat, such as in a printing or lamination process. The card straightener includes a plate member that has a heat sink in heat conducting relation. The plate member is positioned to receive a card from the heated process. The card is passed over the plate and is urged against the plate so that the card is cooled while held flat while it becomes rigid, so it remains planar after cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Fargo Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary B. Fulmer, Darren W. Haas
  • Publication number: 20020013112
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a multi-layered web uses contoured honeycomb drums for the manufacture of non-woven webs used to make the multi-layered web. The method can use spunbonded, melt blown, or electro-static spun techniques for depositing solidifying filaments on outer collection surfaces of a multi-drum system. The multi-drum system may be employed to improve multi-layered web uniformity and the overall quality of the multi-layered web by presenting a single optimal collection surface for each independent web layer being produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Inventors: George J. Bontaites, George Lee
  • Patent number: 6338769
    Abstract: A method to obtaining a product formed by a discontinuous/interrupted material and backing, using a continuous gluing/heating machine. A base material is provided with a thermo adhesive resin or an elastomer. A discontinuous/interrupted material is placed over the base material and pressed or joined to form a product comprising the base material and the discontinuous/interrupted material. The combined produce undergoes a predetermined temperature and a predetermined pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Inventor: Jorge Salles Rabasa
  • Patent number: 6338770
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a business form having pressure activated adhesive utilizes a minimum amount of equipment in a simple arrangement that has optimum versatility. Sealing is accomplished utilizing a first set of rolls which has a first substantially continuous roll and a second roll having a non-round shape with at least one projection (and typically having a configuration that in end view substantially simulates an airplane propeller including first and second projections angularly spaced about 180°). The first and second rolls are mounted in position for rotation about parallel axes so that the projections come into operative association with the first roll to perform the sealing action in a first position, and at a second position the entire second roll is not in operative association with the first roll. A stepper motor controls the rotation of the second roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Moore North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Lee T. Spranger
  • Publication number: 20020003028
    Abstract: The gluing together of flat materials between belt faces (21, 22), facing one another, of belt conveyors (15, 16) arranged over one another is effected usually with the application of heat and pressure. However there are pressure sensitive materials that with the gluing may only be impinged with a slight pressure. Here already the weight of the sagging belt face (21) of the upper belt conveyor may lead to an excessive pressure loading and a permanent deformation of the materials caused by way of this. The invention solves the mentioned problem in that the upper belt face (21) located above the materials to be glued is held up without contact, e.g., by means of suction nozzles or magnets. The sagging of the belt face (21) is alleviated by way of this and an undesirable high pressure loading of the materials to be glued is avoided. By way of the contactless holding-up of the belt face (21) the suction nozzles or magnets do not interfere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Inventors: Peter Schwenk, Wilfried Dreischmeier
  • Publication number: 20010054486
    Abstract: The invention relates to a laminating apparatus for sealing or sealing in flat material with the aid of at least one plastic laminating film coated with an adhesive. The laminating apparatus includes a laminating unit and a deposition unit. Lamination is performed as the material passes through a laminating unit, which has at least one pair of rolls with transport rolls driven in opposite senses in the pass direction. To obtain laminates free from curvature, the invention proposes that the transport rolls of the at least one pair of rolls are arranged in pairs at the same height and delimit a nip which can be supplied in a vertically downward pass direction, and in that the deposition unit is arranged underneath the laminating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventor: Klaus Botta
  • Publication number: 20010054487
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus in an adjustable creasing tool (1). The creasing tool (1) includes two mutually co-operating creasing rollers, a male roller (2) and a female roller (3), a gear wheel transmission with a housing (8) for operation and mutual co-ordination of the creasing rollers (2, 3), means for adjusting the mutual position of rotation of the two creasing rollers (2, 3), means for adjusting the position of one of the creasing rollers along its axis of rotation, and means for adjusting the mutual spacing between the axes of rotation (4, 5) of the creasing rollers. Each respective shaft (4, 5) is fixedly connected to each respective gear wheel (6, 7) in the gear wheel transmission by means of rotationally rigid, both radially and axially limited, flexible couplings (9). These permit adjustment of the mutual positioning of the rollers (2, 3) without the meshing relationship of the transmission (8) needing to be affected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventors: Ingvar Andersson, Thomas Pettersson
  • Patent number: 6332488
    Abstract: Apparatus having laminating rolls for laminating continuous strips of different kinds of material together wherein all of the continuous strips enter the nip between the laminating rolls from one side of a plane tangent to each of the laminating rolls at the nip. Also, apparatus having rotary cutting and creasing rolls located before the laminating rolls form most of the cut lines for the carton blank without changing the continuity of a continuous strip of a relatively rigid material so that it can be pulled through the laminating rolls. In those instances wherein two carton blanks are formed at the same time, scrap removal apparatus is provided for removing scrap located between the two carton blanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph C. Walsh
  • Patent number: 6325878
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus (10) for producing a packaging container for liquid foods from a packaging container blank (40) by permanently uniting and sealing at least two of its edges (61, 65) with the aid of a hot melt glue, the hot melt glue being applied along one of the two edges with the aid of a heated applicator roller (11). The circumferential surface (21) of the hot roller is preferably made of hardened steel with a coating (22) countersunk in a groove int he surface along the circumference of the circumferential surface, the coating possessing good slippage properties in relation to the hot melt glue and the coating being of a width which corresponds to the region intended for application. A counter roller (14) acts on the opposite side of the packaging laminate blank against the applicator roller for controlling the outflow of the applied hot melt glue strand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventor: Rolf Borgström
  • Patent number: 6315020
    Abstract: A laminating apparatus 1 is controlled in the following manner: if power supply from a utility power source through a power supply part 85 is started (S1:YES), a cold flag 72B is set to the on state (S2); if opening of a cover 13 causes a cassette sensor 56 to turn on from on (S11:YES, S12:YES), a cassette replacement flag 72A is set to the on state (S13); and if the flag 72B or 72A is in an on state (S14:YES, S15:YES) at power-on of the apparatus 1 by a power switch 17 (S5:YES), a slack removal processing is performed on a first and second sheets 27 and 29 (S7, S16-S19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takao Seki
  • Publication number: 20010030020
    Abstract: Methods and systems for producing continuous laminated film label stock from a polypropylene or polyethylene film with pressure-sensitive adhesives which cure without evaporation by heating and labels produced by these methods are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Inventors: SUBHASHIS NANDY, ULRICH E. WEYERMANN, DANIEL B. CHAFFEE
  • Patent number: 6296032
    Abstract: A laminator/printer for laminating, cleaning, imprinting and trimming print media, capable of printing on the print media and the laminate with a single print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Zih Corp.
    Inventors: Danny Louie, Faustin Marentes
  • Patent number: 6294033
    Abstract: The invention provides a lamination apparatus including using a sheet roll with an encoder plate secured to the end face of an adhesive sheet roll, and a slit pattern on the encoder plate being detected by a photointerruptor. In addition, a duty ratio is calculated on the basis of rectangular pulse signals output from the photointerruptor, thereby identifying the type of the adhesive sheet roll. Further, the period of the rectangular pulse signals output from the photointerruptor is compared with a predetermined value, such that the trailing edge of the adhesive sheet of the adhesive sheet roll is detected at the time point when the period is smaller than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mutsuo Fukuoka, Hirokazu Iwata
  • Patent number: 6289961
    Abstract: An apparatus for longitudinally welding and severing superposed thermoplastic films forming a packaging hose includes first and second feed rollers each having an outer periphery contacting one another for advancing the films passing therebetween; a drive for rotating at least one of the feed rollers; a circular heating disk mounted in the first feed roller coaxially therewith and having an outer diameter greater than the peripheral diameter of the first feed roller; and a circumferential groove provided in the second feed roller in alignment with the heating disk. Peripheral portions of the heating disk project into the circumferential groove of the second feed roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: SIG Pack Systems AG
    Inventors: Günther Bausch, Alfred Wipf
  • Patent number: 6290800
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a laminate particularly adapted for bedding, padding upholstering and like applications by feeding an indeterminate length of a first material along a predetermined first path of travel from a source of the first material to a downstream assembly area. Feeding an indeterminate length of second material along a predetermined second path of travel from a source of the second material to the downstream assembly area. Depositing a multiplicity of substantially yieldable cushioning materials upon an upper surface of one of the first and second indeterminate lengths of material during the feeding thereof between the respective sources and the assembly area. Thereafter, sandwiching the cushioning materials between the indeterminate lengths of first and second materials to form a laminate therefrom, and rolling the laminate into a roll. The cushioning materials are foam latex and/or down and the first and second lengths of material are polyester fiber material and/or convoluted foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Inventors: Steven Antinori, Manuel Fernandez, William Harp
  • Patent number: 6287403
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for effecting an operation on at least one moving substrate web is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a rotatable bonding roll that is located adjacent the substrate web and configured to rotate about a bonding axis. A rotatable anvil roll has an anvil surface and is configured to rotate about an anvil axis to press the substrate web against an outer peripheral bonding surface of the bonding roll thereby bonding the substrate web. At least three support wheels are configured to contact the bonding surface of the bonding roll and to hold the bonding roll in a substantially fixed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Lee Couillard, Chinmay Suresh Betrabet, James Melvin Gaestel, Chris Lee Heikkinen, Daniel Hoo, Jeffery Joseph Samida, Daniel James Sorensen
  • Patent number: 6277224
    Abstract: The invention includes of a system and method of ultrasonically perforating adhesive bandage backings. The invention eliminates the gap between the ultrasonic horn and the pin roll, and provides for a wear resistant release coating on the pin roll. Further, the method and system disclose cooling the ultrasonic horn with a forced air stream, and provide for a pre- or post-nip roll to control the tension of the continuous web of backing. The web of backing is kept under tension with a nip roll, and passes between an ultrasonic horn and an immediately adjacent pin roll for perforation by the ultrasonic horn. The resulting material of the web backing is smoother, and has better hole quality than that seen in the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Inventors: Edward Muesch, Charles Lee Adams, Angela Chaney, James Meizanis, Robert Kapalo
  • Publication number: 20010013395
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Inventors: Nasser Pourmand, John James Boyer
  • Patent number: 6270612
    Abstract: A multi-purpose laminating and adhesive transfer apparatus having a frame supporting rotatably engaging nip rollers. A replaceable cartridge is insertable into the frame and has upper and lower feed rolls which may be a laminate, film or paper, or an adhesively coated film or a film having an affinity for adhesive. The upper and lower feed rolls containing the webs of laminating or adhesive transfer material have tensioning caps which can be adjusted to provide the proper tensioning to prevent the rollers from overrunning as they rotate. Tensioning caps and the cartridges are pre-set and provided to the user. A cutter blade is positioned at the discharge side of the nip rollers and may be actuated to sever the master at any desired location. The apparatus may be operated to apply lamination to either top or bottom surfaces of a substrate or an adhesive to the top or bottom surface of the substrate or to both surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Xyron, Inc.
    Inventor: Franklin C. Bradshaw
  • Publication number: 20010009172
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus is provided for continuously embossing a precision pattern of micro-prismatic elements on a surface of a resinous sheeting material with the aid of an endless metal embossing belt. The method includes the steps of moving the belt along a closed path through a heating station and a cooling station, conveying superimposed resinous film and sheeting material into proximity with the belt, passing the film and sheeting between the belt and a series of sonic welding heads to thereby begin to impress a pattern of micro-prismatic formations of the belt into one surface of the sheeting, pressing the film and sheeting against the heated belt until the one surface of the sheeting fully conforms to the embossing pattern, and stripping the film and embossed sheeting from the belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Publication date: July 26, 2001
    Applicant: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventors: Scott W. Thielman, Robert M. Pricone
  • Patent number: 6264781
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for continuously producing composite structural beams is disclosed. The process includes a first step of forming a tubular element from fibers of composite material, a second step of separating the tubular element into longitudinally extensive, circumferentially separated, corner caps, a third step of securing sandwich panels between adjacent corner caps to form a tubular beam, a fourth step of shaping the tubular beam, and a fifth step of curing the shaped tubular beam. Also disclosed is an exemplary beam constructed in accordance with the process of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Bott
  • Patent number: 6264774
    Abstract: An identification card laminator for laminating a protective layer to an identification card substrate, includes a substrate positioner configured to secure the substrate during lamination, a protective layer positioner configured to position the protective layer on the substrate during lamination and a heat source proximate the film positioner configured to heat the protective layer in response to a control signal. A temperature sensor proximate the protective layer positioner is configured to provide a temperature output related to a temperature of the film and the heat source. A controller coupled to the heat source is configured to provide the control signal to the heat source as a function of the temperature signal, the control signal having at least two values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Fargo Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary A. Lenz, Aurelian Dumitru
  • Patent number: 6253821
    Abstract: A device for eliminating static electricity from protective film of a laminated sheet in a laminator is disclosed. A longitudinal fan is set in the laminator. An air suction port is formed on the bottom wall of the laminator, thus guiding atmospheric air to the fan. An air passage is formed in the laminator so as to guide the pressurized air current from the fan to the rear wall of the laminator. An air exhaust port is formed on the rear wall of the laminator at a position around the rear end of the air passage, thus discharging the pressurized air into the atmosphere. In the fan, a drive motor is installed at one end of a longitudinal housing, while a plurality of longitudinal blades are regularly arranged in the housing so as to form a cylindrical blade body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: GMP Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yang-Pioung Kim
  • Patent number: 6248203
    Abstract: An apparatus for laminating a first continuous web to a second continuous structure includes a plurality of rollers arranged for cooperative rotation, each of the plurality of rollers having a first circular end, a second circular end and a cylindrical middle surface. The plurality of rollers are positioned to define a first inlet nip and a second inlet nip. A first roller of the plurality of rollers is positioned adjacent a second roller of the plurality of rollers to define a primary outlet nip. The first roller includes at least one void formed in its cylindrical middle surface. First and second sealing panels engage the first and second circular ends of each of the plurality of rollers, wherein the first and second sealing panels and the plurality of rollers define a chamber. A first pressure source is fluidly coupled to the chamber to pressurize the chamber with a fluid. A differential pressure source is fluidly coupled to an interior of the first roller to evacuate the at least one void.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiertechnik Patent GmbH
    Inventor: David A. Beck
  • Patent number: 6244322
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a laminating and adhesive transfer apparatus for use with a pair of removable feed rolls. The removable feed rolls carrying a supply of stock material to be unwound. The apparatus comprises a frame constructed and arranged to removably mount the feed rolls. A pair of nip rollers are rotatably mounted to the frame. The nip rollers define a nip area therebetween with a feed side and a discharge side. An actuating mechanism is constructed and arranged to affect nip roller rotation. The frame is constructed and arranged such that, when the feed rolls are removably mounted thereto, a master can be inserted between the feed rolls, the stock materials can then be unwound from each of feed rolls so as to be disposed on opposing sides of the master, and the master and the stock materials can thereafter be fed together into the feed side of the nip rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Xyron, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael W. Paque
  • Patent number: 6227271
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Textile Systems & Supply, Inc.
    Inventors: Nasser Pourmand, John James Boyer
  • Patent number: 6227272
    Abstract: A low speed, low cost mechanical device for sealing folded product treated with pressure sensitive adhesive into ready to mail documents. Designed as a stand-alone machine powered by a gear motor for small business applications or as a back-up machine for larger users of pressure seal products. The unit can also be used in conjunction with any form folder for a more “automated” system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Inventors: Wayne R. Lindsay, Brett A. Lindsay
  • Patent number: 6221192
    Abstract: Individual carton blanks formed from a lamination of a continuous strip of a relatively rigid material and a relatively flexible fluid impervious material and in some instances from spaced apart continuous strips of a relatively flexible material wherein all of the cut and fold lines are formed in the continuous strip of a relatively rigid material and then conveyed to the nip between two rotating laminating rolls where all of the continuous strips are secured together by an adhesive at desired locations. In some instances, the continuous strip of a relatively flexible fluid impervious material and the spaced apart continuous strips of a relatively flexible material are cut at a location spaced from the leading edge of the individual carton blanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Coors Brewing Company
    Inventor: Joseph C. Walsh
  • Patent number: 6220328
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Textile Systems & Supply, Inc.
    Inventors: Nasser Pourmand, John James Boyer
  • Patent number: 6217991
    Abstract: A resin laminated metallic sheet having excellent adhesion during forming, corrosion resistance, and impact resistance is continuously manufactured at high speed with consistent properties is constantly kept at a selected and variable traveling speed of the metallic sheet by controlling the orientation of resin film after lamination, heating the continuously traveling metallic sheet, laminating resin films on both sides of the heated metal sheet using laminating rolls, and thereafter deflecting the traveling direction of the resin laminated metallic sheet using a deflector roll disposed movably in a direction perpendicular to the direction at a right angle from traveling direction of the metallic sheet, and further, differentiating a contacting period of time in which each surface of the resin laminated metallic sheet is contacting each of the laminating rolls, or differentiating an amount of the heat of each surface portion of the resin laminated metallic sheet lost by the cooling effect due to the contact o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Toyo Kohan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuo Tanaka, Yoshiki Sakamoto, Noriaki Kaguma
  • Patent number: 6213183
    Abstract: A laminator assembly and method utilizes an endless belt (17a, 17b, 300) and roller arrangement to apply pressure to media (100) to be laminated and to convey the media in a controlled manner to heated pressure rollers (11a, 11b, 301, 307). In one feature of the invention, control nips can be provided on one or both sides of the heated pressure rollers so as to minimize or eliminate flutes or ripples in the media to be laminated. The control nips can be applied by plate assemblies (29, 30, 315) which create the control nip and also serve to gain control of the media to be laminated prior to the media reaching the heated pressure roller arrangement. In the case where the plate assembly is downstream of the heated pressure roller arrangement, the plates can serve to hold the media flat while it cools down. The endless belts apply a tapering and controlled pressure to the media prior to the media reaching the heated pressure rollers where lamination occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Roger S. Kerr, John D. Gentzke
  • Patent number: 6213184
    Abstract: A hot wedge, automatic seam welder is disclosed. The welder is comprised of a chassis having a base plate, a motor housing and a support arm extending from the motor housing. An S-shaped guide for guiding opposing sheets of material is between the base plate and the motor housing. Disposed downstream from the motor housing, depending from the support arm, is vertically-movable suspension for a driven upper pressure roller which is occludable with a driven lower pressure roller on the base plate. Also depending from the support arm is vertically-movable and adjustable suspension for the hot wedge. A horn-shaped shroud for guiding material over and under the wedge, and for shrouding the wedge when in its disengaged mode, is disposed upstream from the wedge. Guides for performing lap welds, fin welds and hem welds, as well as many variations thereupon, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Inventor: Frank Sinclair
  • Patent number: 6200409
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of and an apparatus for manufacturing a resin coated metal sheet, in which it is possible to reduce bubbles included between a laminated resin film and a metal sheet even when a thermoplastic resin film is laminated onto a web-shaped metal sheet even at high speed, and the laminated resin film is excellent in formable adhesion. The method of manufacturing a resin coated metal sheet comprises the steps of heating a web-shaped metal sheet (1), which advances continuously, supplying a thermoplastic resin film (5), which is heated to below a softening temperature of the thermoplastic resin film and to at least a surface temperature of a lamination roll (7), to a nip of the lamination rolls while maintaining the thermoplastic resin film at a higher temperature than the surface temperature of the lamination roll (7), and pressure-welding the metal sheet (1) and the thermoplastic resin film (5) against each other to laminate them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Toyo Kohan., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuo Tanaka, Yoshiki Sakamoto, Noriaki Kaguma
  • Patent number: 6200397
    Abstract: A novel method and apparatus to apply a corrosion protection in the form of a zinc (or other sacrificial anodic material) tape to a tubular member such as pipe or coiled tubing to used as an underground or underwater pipeline or flow line is disclosed. The zinc tape is applied with sufficient heat and pressure to form a metallurgical bond between the zinc tape and underlying metal pipe. This allows the zinc tape to act simultaneously as a continuous protective metal barrier to the normal scrapes and nicks the pipe experiences during installation and as a sacrificial anode. The novel apparatus preheats the zinc tape with a nozzle containing heated gas such as nitrogen as it approaches the pipe surface. At the point of contact with the pipe surface, the nozzle continues heating the tape and pipe surface while a plurality of pressure rollers exert sufficient force on the zinc tape to form a metallurgical bond between the zinc tape and the pipe surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Inventor: John R. Allen
  • Patent number: 6200399
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus is provided for continuously embossing a precision pattern of micro-prismatic elements on a surface of a resinous sheeting material with the aid of an endless metal embossing belt. The method includes the steps of moving the belt along a closed path through a heating station and a cooling station, conveying superimposed resinous film and sheeting material into proximity with the belt, passing the film and sheeting between the belt and a series of sonic welding heads to thereby begin to impress a pattern of micro-prismatic formations of the belt into one surface of the sheeting, pressing the film and sheeting against the heated belt until the one surface of the sheeting fully conforms to the embossing pattern, and stripping the film and embossed sheeting from the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventor: Scott Thielman
  • Patent number: 6186210
    Abstract: The invention concerns a heat-sealing device for overlapping heat-sealing of film edges, having pressure rollers, for pressing the film edges together after they are heated, which sit on shafts of which at least one is movably guided in the direction of the other shaft and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Wegener GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Gehde
  • Patent number: 6179952
    Abstract: Business forms with pressure activated adhesive or cohesive are handled by a sealing apparatus which has a reduced weight, foot print of equipment, and lower cost to the end user, because of its simple construction. First, second and third rollers are provided which have axes of rotation that are vertically spaced from each other and are preferably substantially vertically aligned, with the second roller between the first and third rollers. The forms pass through a first nip between the first and second rollers, are re-directed, and then pass through the second nip between the second and third rollers. Preferably forms pass through both nips at the same time to maximize the pressure in both nips. Typically, when passing through each of the nips the rollers exert a force of between about 100-200 pounds per lineal inch. Preferably all of the rollers are driven, such as by a motor connected to the second roller, and with gears acting between the second roller and the first and third rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Moore U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Lee T. Spranger
  • Patent number: 6176286
    Abstract: A film applying apparatus 10 is provided with preparatory bonding rolls 20A, 20B and laminating rolls 21A, 21B, and a laminated film 12 wound out from a film roll 18 and a substrate 16 conveyed by a substrate conveying device 14 pass between these rolls and pressure bonding is performed. Diameter of the preparatory bonding rolls 20A, 20B is made smaller than diameter of the laminating rolls 21A, 21B and range of elastic deformable area S1 at the roll surface at grasping starting of the substrate and the laminated film 12 by the preparatory bonding rolls 20A, 20B is made small thereby range of generating, air holding or the like is limited to small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Somar Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Kitagawa, Shigeru Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6176287
    Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for mechanically treating paper and includes two engraved cylinders each mounted between two support plates of the apparatus in a mutually tangential manner by means of cylindrical bearings affixed in corresponding housings fitted into the support plates, a first roller of the engraved rollers being mounted on a cradle pivoting relative to a stationary base plate on which is mounted the second engraved roller, the invention being characterized in that the cylindrical bearings are affixed in housings bounded at least in part by a detachable bracket which, when detached, frees a radial aperture through which the cylindrical bearing can be removed along a radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Fort James France
    Inventor: Manfred Weber
  • Patent number: 6164360
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method of producing a laminated composite comprising at least one core layer with at least one covering layer, the layers to be interconnected being assembled in the form of strips and being acted upon with the desired laminating pressure between laminating rollers in the roll gap by adjustment of the gap height. The laminated composite emerging from a first roll gap wrap partially around one of the laminating rollers and is then guided through at least one further roll gap. A suitable laminating mechanism comprises three laminating rollers in an approximately L-shaped mutual arrangement. For technical laminates with traction-resistant covering layers, the removal force of the covering layers can generate by reversal a pressure force on the laminating rollers. The duration of the pressure is increased by the action of the subsequent loops wrapping around the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Alusuisse Technology & Management AG
    Inventors: Hanns Watrinet, Urs Gabi
  • Patent number: 6164358
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide equipment for manufacturing a laminated metal sheet, which eliminates bubbles even in high speed lamination of 200 m/min or more and is excellent in productivity. In the equipment for manufacturing a laminated metal sheet according to the present invention, a metal sheet (1) is laminated with a resin film (3) on one or both side of it by lamination rolls (2), and a support roll (5) is disposed on projected beyond a straight line between the lamination roll (2) and a film roll (6) so as to impart tension to the film (3) when the film (3) is fed to the lamination rolls (2) from the film roll (6). Further, the support roll (5) is provided directly before the lamination roll (2) so as to satisfy the relation of L.times.V.ltoreq.600 when the lamination speed is V (m/min) and the length of the resin film between the lamination rolls and the support roll is L (m).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Toyo Kohan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Kaguma, Yoshiki Sakamoto, Atsuo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6165298
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for effecting an operation on at least one continuously moving substrate web is disclosed. In particular, the apparatus includes a patterned anvil roll which includes a plurality of projections arranged in a predetermined pattern for effecting an operation on the web such as, for example, bonding, cutting, embossing, perforating and the like. The anvil roll includes recesses between the projections and resilient release material located in the recesses to improve the release of the substrate web from the anvil roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Joseph Samida, Chris Lee Heikkinen, Daniel Hoo, David Andrae Justmann, David James Van Eperen
  • Patent number: 6162316
    Abstract: A mailer form adapted to be advanced through a folder-sealer apparatus having a first roller and a second roller, with the second roller having a number of sealing projections extending therefrom, includes a first edge portion having a first number of pressure sensitive adhesive patches disposed thereon. The form also includes a second edge portion having a second number of pressure sensitive adhesive patches disposed thereon. The mailer form is configured such that during advancement of the mailer form between the first roller and the second roller (i) the mailer form is folded by the first roller and the second roller such that the first number of pressure sensitive adhesive patches are aligned with the second number of pressure sensitive adhesive patches, and (ii) both the first number of pressure sensitive adhesive patches and the second number of pressure sensitive adhesive patches are aligned with the number of sealing projections of the second roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Privatizer Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Spitler, William D. Baker
  • Patent number: 6159334
    Abstract: A device for adhering a protective film to a personal data recording surface of an individual identification booklet comprising a heat press board and a pressure receiving board disposed in vertically opposed relationship, an upper and a lower belt disposed between opposing surfaces of the heat press board and the pressure receiving board, and a booklet transfer mechanism interposed between opposing surfaces of the upper and lower belts and adapted to intermittently transfer an identification booklet. The upper and lower belts and the identification booklet interposed between the upper and lower belts are heated while being held under pressure between the opposing surfaces of the heat press board and the pressure receiving board so that the protective film bound into the identification booklet is thermally adhered to the personal data recording surface when the book transfer mechanism stops transferring of the identification booklet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Inventor: Tadao Uno
  • Patent number: 6159330
    Abstract: Business forms having longitudinal and transverse patterns of pressure activated cohesive requiring a sealing force of at least about 50 lbs. per lineal inch are sealed preferably by a single pass through a nip formed by first and second rollers. The first roller is a larger diameter substantially smooth surfaced roll, while the second roller is a small diameter serrated or ribbed roll, e.g. having serrations or ribs having a dimension substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of about 0.04-0.1 (e.g. about 1/16) inches, with spaces therebetween of between about 0.2-0.1 inches (e.g. between about 1/32-1/16) inches. Preferably the serrations or ribs are oppositely directed angled serrations or ribs on different halves of the second roll, each making an angle of at least about 10.degree. with respect to a plane substantially transverse to the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Moore U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Lee T. Spranger
  • Patent number: RE37345
    Abstract: A multi-purpose laminating and adhesive transfer apparatus having a frame supporting rotatably engaging nip rollers. The frame and has upper and lower feed rolls which may be a laminate, film or paper, or an adhesively coated film or a film having an affinity for adhesive. The upper and lower feed rolls containing the webs of laminating or adhesive transfer material have tensioning caps which can be adjusted to provide the proper tensioning to prevent the rollers from overrunning as they rotate. The tensioning caps are pre-set and provided to the user. A cutter blade is positioned at the discharge side of the nip rollers and may be actuated to sever the master at any desired location. The apparatus may be operated to apply lamination to either top or bottom surfaces of a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Xyron, Inc.
    Inventors: Franklin C. Bradshaw, Thomas L. Soderman