Roll or roller – With end ring or reinforcement
Reexamination Certificate
2003-09-12
2004-11-09
Jimenez, Marc (Department: 3726)
Roll or roller
With end ring or reinforcement
C029S895220, C029S418000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06814693
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is related to a master processing apparatus for performing a master processing operation on a selected substrate.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Master processing apparatuses, such as laminating apparatuses and adhesive transfer apparatuses, are well-known in the art. These apparatuses typically include a frame to which a pair of feed rolls are mounted (either individually or in cartridge). A master processing assembly is provided in the frame and the stock materials on the feed roll are unwound and fed into the processing assembly. A power-operated or hand-operated actuator may be included in the master processing apparatus to actuate the processing assembly. A master (such as a photograph, printout, business card or any other selected substrate or document) to be processed is fed into the processing assembly and the processing assembly causes adhesive from one or both the stock materials to bond to the master.
In laminating operations, both stock materials are laminating films coated with pressure-sensitive or heat-sensitive adhesive and these films are both adhered to the opposing sides of the master. In adhesive transfer operations, one of the stock materials is a release liner on which a layer of adhesive is coated and the other is an aggressive or non-aggressive mask. During the operation, the adhesive on the release liner is transferred to one side of the master and, if the mask substrate is aggressive (i.e. has an affinity for adhesive bonding), then any excess adhesive will transfer to the mask substrate, which is then peeled off to expose the master on the release liner and remove the excess adhesive. For further details on these operations, reference may be made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,580,417 and 5,584,962.
In any master processing apparatus, the feed rolls of stock material must periodically be replaced. The above-mentioned '962 patent discloses an advantageous arrangement that facilitates loading the lead ends of the stock materials in between the nip rollers of a master processing assembly. In the '962 patent, the upper portion of the frame pivots relative to the bottom portion between open and closed positions. An upper nip roller is rotatably mounted on the upper frame portion and a lower nip roller is rotatably mounted on the lower frame portion. As a result, pivoting the upper frame portion to its open position separates the nip rollers to facilitate placement of the stock material lead ends between the nip rollers. Upon moving the upper frame portion to its closed position, the nip rollers will be engaged together in pressure applying relation.
It is advantageous, however, that the nip rollers be accurately aligned with one another when they are engaged in pressure applying relation. If the rollers are not properly aligned (by being, for example, parallel, but spaced too far apart, or by being skewed out of parallel alignment with one another), they cannot apply equal, uniform pressure to all portions of the sheets of stock material therebetween and the resulting final product may be of inferior or unacceptable quality. In the construction of the '962 patent, if wear occurs at the pivotal connection between the upper and lower frame portions, then the frame portions may unintentionally shift relative to one another due to the loose play in the pivotal connection. As a result, the nip rollers may not be brought into proper pressure applying relation when brought together during movement of the upper frame portion into the closed position thereof.
To obviate the above-described problem, one aspect of the present invention provides a master processing apparatus for use with a pair of removable feed rolls, each carrying a supply of stock material to be unwound and at least one of the stock materials having a layer of adhesive provided thereon. The apparatus includes a frame having a first frame portion and a second frame portion movably connected for movement relative to one another between open and closed positions. A pair of cooperating pressure applying structures are mounted within the frame, the cooperating structures being constructed and arranged to be positioned adjacent one another in a cooperating pressure applying relationship wherein, when the master with the first and second stock materials on opposing sides thereof and the adhesive contacting the master is positioned between the cooperating structures, the cooperating structures apply pressure to the master and stock materials as they pass therebetween so as to affect adhesive bonding between the master and the stock materials. One of the pair of cooperating pressure applying structures is mounted on the first frame portion and the other of the pair of cooperating pressure applying structures is mounted on the second frame portion such that (a) movement of the frame portions into their open positions moves the pressure applying structures apart from one another into an open access position to facilitate positioning of the stock materials therebetween and (b) movement of the frame portions into their closed positions moves the pressure applying structures into engagement with one another and into pressure applying engagement with the portion of the stock materials positioned therebetween. The apparatus further includes guiding structure providing a guiding surface constructed and arranged to guide the movement of the pressure applying structures into their engaged positions.
It is also known in the art to provide a cutting apparatus on a master processing apparatus at the discharge opening to sever the processed master from the continuous supply of stock material. For example, International Application PCT US98/23237 and the counterpart U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,322 discloses a master processing apparatus wherein the cutting apparatus has a cutting blade that is moved transversely to cut through the processed stock materials. In the disclosed arrangement, the blade is always positioned so that transverse movement thereof will cut through the materials on the apparatus' exit tray or other substrate supporting surface. Specifically, the blade extends into a groove to ensure that lateral movement thereof cuts through the materials on that surface. This arrangement presents a risk of accidentally cutting through the master by moving the blade by bumping into or otherwise accidentally contacting the blade carrier and pushing the blade edge into contact with the master. Likewise, the user could accidentally cut the processed stock materials at the wrong point. In either of these situations, the operation must be performed over again.
To solve the problem described above, another aspect of the present invention provides a master processing apparatus for use with a pair of removable feed rolls, the removable feed rolls each carrying a supply of stock material to be unwound and at least one of the stock materials having a layer of adhesive provided thereon. The apparatus includes a frame constructed and arranged to removably mount the feed rolls. The frame is constructed and arranged such that, when the feed rolls are removably mounted thereto, a master can be inserted into the master processing assembly together with the stock materials unwound from their respective feed rolls and disposed on opposing sides of the master. The master processing assembly is constructed and arranged to perform a master processing operation wherein the processing assembly causes adhesive bonding between the master and the stock materials fed into the feed side thereof and subsequently discharges the processed master and stock materials outwardly from a discharge side thereof. The frame provides a substrate supporting surface positioned on the discharge side of the processing assembly. The substrate processing surface is configured to receive and support the processed master and stock materials discharged from the processing assembly in a substantially flat relation. A cutting assembly is disposed on the discharge side of the master processing assembly. The cutting assembly i
Hoffman Ronald J.
Lemens Paul J.
Reed Daniel G.
Velasquez Joseph Elijio
Jimenez Marc
Pillsbury & Winthrop LLP
Xyron Inc.
LandOfFree
Master processing apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Master processing apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Master processing apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3323896