Books – strips – and leaves – Book – element thereof – or accessory therefor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-12
2001-09-11
Wellington, A. L. (Department: 3722)
Books, strips, and leaves
Book, element thereof, or accessory therefor
C428S040900, C281S005000, C281S002000, C283S067000, C283S081000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286871
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pads of embossed, self-stick, removable paper and processes and apparatus for making the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Note pads made up of stacks of self-stick, removable sheets of notepaper that can be removed from the pad one sheet at a time and applied to various surfaces for use as reminder notes or for sending messages to others have been commonly used for many years in business, industry and in households. Such pads of self-stick notepaper come in various colors. However, other than the variety of colors in which such pads are available, they are, for the most part, made up of plain, non-decorative notepaper.
Applicants have envisioned that it would be desirable to provide pads of self-stick notepaper that are considerably more decorative than those currently available. In particular, they have envisioned providing pads of self-stick decoratively embossed notepaper. However, they have determined that currently available methods and apparatus for manufacturing pads of self-stick, removable paper cannot be used for making such pads of embossed self-stick removable paper.
Conventionally, to form a note pad of self-stick, removable notepaper, an apparatus comprising a web-fed press is used. A web-fed press is designed to accept paper in a continuous sheet from rolls rather than in individual sheets. It is considered necessary to provide a continuous feed (i.e., web-feed) of paper so that adhesive may be applied to the sheet in a continuous manner. Continuous application of the adhesive is preferred to provide an adhesive coating of uniform width and thickness to the sheet. Typically, following application of the adhesive and a release agent, the continuous sheet is cut into individual sheets, which are then stacked and cut into pads.
Available methods for embossing a continuous sheet of paper such as in a web-fed press using an embossing roll are problematic. If embossing of good depth, quality and accuracy of registration with other elements of a design on a sheet are desired, individual sheets of paper must be embossed. Also, the individual sheets must be embossed prior to application of adhesive and/or a release agent. Consequently, pads of embossed, self-stick removable paper as envisioned by the present invention cannot be made using a conventional web-fed press. However, a conventional sheet-fed press, wherein individual sheets of paper are transported separately through the apparatus, cannot be utilized to form the embossed, self-stick pads of paper of the present invention because such sheet-fed presses are not capable of applying adhesive to the individual sheets in a continuous manner so as to insure uniformity of application of the adhesive coating and release agent to each individual sheet.
Accordingly, there is a need not only for pads of embossed self-stick notepaper that are more decorative than currently available pads of self-stick paper, there is also a need for a method and apparatus for making such pads of embossed, self-stick paper.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Primary objects of the invention are to:
Provide pads of removable, self-stick notepaper, the individual sheets of which are embossed, and printed if desired; and
Provide a low-cost, fast and accurate method and apparatus for manufacturing the aforesaid notepads.
More specific objects include the provision of a method and apparatus for making pads of embossed sheets of self-stick paper that have coatings of self-stick adhesive and release agent that are of uniform thickness and width, and uniformly positioned on the sheets.
A further specific object is to provide a method and apparatus as aforesaid in which a coating of self-stick adhesive and/or release agent may be applied accurately to embossed portions or any other desired portions, of the sheets.
The pad of embossed self-stick paper may be made by embossing, and decoratively printing if desired, relatively large sheets of paper. The embossed sheets are fed singly by a sheet feeder onto a conveyor at a speed such that the sheets overlap one another to define an artificial continuous web of paper. The amount of overlap may be adjusted to be minimal before the web is conveyed through a release agent applicator and an adhesive applicator where selected zones on opposite sides of the web are continuously coated, one side with adhesive and the opposite side with release agent. The web proceeds from the applicators into a dryer where a dryer conveyor, operating at a faster speed than the preceding conveyor, separates the web into individual sheets. From the dryer, the sheets proceed onto an overdrive conveyor which delivers each sheet separately at a high rate of speed into a stacker above the upper level of previously stacked sheets. Rails guide each sheet into the stacker, and back and side joggers jog the newly delivered sheet into alignment with previously stacked sheets as the newly delivered sheet descends onto the top of the stack. Front stops within the stacking chamber assist in aligning the sheets in the stack. The stacker also includes a hoist that can be lowered to lower the upper level of the stack as the stack builds up so as to maintain a desired clearance between each newly delivered embossed and adhesive-coated sheet and the top of the stack.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3332829 (1967-07-01), Avery
patent: 3508754 (1970-04-01), Shorin
patent: 3524782 (1970-08-01), Bushe
patent: 4157410 (1979-06-01), McClintock
patent: 4264388 (1981-04-01), McClintock
patent: 4281762 (1981-08-01), Hatterner
patent: 4460634 (1984-07-01), Hasegawa
patent: 4760790 (1988-08-01), Birkett
patent: 4768810 (1988-09-01), Mertens
patent: 4895746 (1990-01-01), Mertens
patent: 5050909 (1991-09-01), Mertens et al.
patent: 5143404 (1992-09-01), Flowers
patent: 5153041 (1992-10-01), Clements et al.
patent: 5154962 (1992-10-01), Mertens et al.
patent: 5158380 (1992-10-01), Hauslaib et al.
patent: 5382055 (1995-01-01), Mertens et al.
patent: 5618062 (1997-04-01), Mertens et al.
patent: 5641550 (1997-06-01), Berman et al.
Beaulieu Anthony
Spector Gary C.
Carol Wilson Fine Arts, Inc.
Henderson Mark
Klarquist Sparkman Campbell & Leigh & Whinston, LLP
Wellington A. L.
LandOfFree
Pads of embossed, self-stick paper and process and 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 Pads of embossed, self-stick paper and process and apparatus..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Pads of embossed, self-stick paper and process and apparatus... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2488467