Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Methods – Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
Reexamination Certificate
1997-06-10
2001-02-06
Ball, Michael W. (Department: 1733)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Methods
Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
C156S200000, C156S216000, C156S221000, C156S269000, C493S407000, C493S464000, C493S967000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06183586
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This process is for the production of a padding material made from paper or similar flat structures that are folded together and is formed by tools. At least one intermediate layer is perhaps incorporated into a top layer that is to be folded together. The top layer and the intermediate layer that may or may not be provided are formed along their narrow sides by at least one forming tool after the top layer has been folded together.
2. The Prior Art
In the past, padding materials of this kind have been formed by using gear wheels that are at the same time responsible for transporting the paper or similar material during the forming operation. When gear wheels are used, there is, however, a danger that the paper or similar material will start to tear. Also this tearing will tend to continue when the material is being put to its intended use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a process by which padding material can be formed very effectively, but in a way that is also very gentle to the padding material.
This object is achieved according to the present invention by providing an intermittent transport unit. This unit acts on the structure that is still flat but after it has been folded together. This causes the structure to be elongated longitudinally, in addition to the indenting along the sides that is carried out by the forming tool. This means that the structure is not only formed including depressions along its side edges but is also compressed and extended longitudinally. The result is that both of these forming operations can be carried out less intensively and thus more gently. It is sufficient for the invention if the structure is only folded together loosely. However, it is preferable if the two strips of the structure overlap.
The present invention is directed to a process for the production of a padding material made from a flat structure that is folded together and is formed by tools, comprising the steps of folding together a top layer of a flat structure optionally incorporating perhaps at least one intermediate layer in said top layer that is folded together, said top layer and said intermediate layer having a narrow end forming the top layer and the intermediate layer that may or may not be provided at each's narrow end by at least one forming tool after the top layer has been folded together; and an intermittent transport unit acting on the structure that is still flat but has been folded together and said intermediate transport unit causing the structure to be formed longitudinally, in addition to the forming that is carried out by at least one forming tool.
Also the present invention is directed to a padding material comprising a top layer having two edge strips which is folded together along said two edge strips; optionally at least one intermediate layer surrounded by said top layer; said padding material having a longitudinal direction and having a left side longitudinal edge and a right side longitudinal edge; said padding material having a wide top side and wide bottom side and having a narrow left side and a narrow right side; said padding material provided on at least one longitudinal edge with depressions; and wherein the padding material is formed in the longitudinal direction by compression applied at right angles to the longitudinal direction.
In addition, the present invention is directed to an apparatus for the production of a padding material comprising a folding unit for folding together a top layer of the padding material in such a way that a sleeve is formed which is closed at least to a large extent; and said top layer having two longitudinal side edges.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the two edge strips of the top layer are only folded on top of each other to overlap minimally. These two edge strips can be bonded together by means of adhesive or gluing or a similar forming process. Since the material is first of all compressed longitudinally, excellent padding material can be produced even if the edge strips only overlap to a minimum extent. When a higher degree of forming is required, the padding material can, however, be made even more stable by gluing the edge strips together as well.
In another embodiment of the invention, the two edge strips of the top layer do not overlap; and both edge strips are possibly bonded to an adjacent intermediate layer by gluing.
In another embodiment of the invention the intermediate layer is at most the same width as the top layer after it has been folded together. This structure is both simple to fold together and easy to form as a result.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the edge areas of the top layer are located on the top side or the bottom side of the padding material. Here the forming tools engage the side edges of the padding material.
In another embodiment of the invention, a cross-cutting unit is provided behind the forming tools in the downstream direction in which the padding material is transported. This unit cuts sections of the padding material off the web of padding material at right angles to the direction of transport.
In a further embodiment of the process in accordance with the invention, the cross-cutting unit is activated when the padding material is not engaged by the lateral forming tools. The advance or forward movement in the downstream direction is attributable to the lateral forming tools and is not taking place at this moment. Thus, the padding material is therefore only being transported forward to an insignificant extent if at all. Thus, fully effective cutting of the material by the cross-cutting unit can be guaranteed.
In a preferred embodiment of the process in accordance with the invention, the intermittent forward advance speed of the structure (which is still flat) is higher than the transport speed of the forming tools.
When the advance forward movement is being carried out, this means that the structure is compressed and narrowed longitudinally, while this operation is followed by the transverse forming operation.
The padding material of the invention has a top layer which is folded together and which possibly surrounds at least one intermediate layer. The padding material is provided on at least one of its longitudinal edges with depressions. It is formed in the longitudinal direction by compression applied at right angles to the longitudinal direction.
A padding material of this kind has proved to be an excellent way to support objects that need to be packaged, while paper or a similar material that is inexpensive to produce can be used at least for the intermediate layer. The top layer can, however, be made from paper or a similar material with lower tear strength properties also. This is because the material is treated very gently due to the fact that the lateral depression forming and the longitudinal compression operations are carried out separately.
Another embodiment of the padding material in accordance with the invention can be used for special applications. Here the two edge strips of the top layer are bonded together or to an adjacent intermediate layer by means of adhesive such as by gluing. The glued seam is located on one wide top or bottom side of the structure, while the forming operations are carried out on the narrow lateral sides of the structure.
In an apparatus embodiment of the invention, a folding unit is provided in which a top layer of the padding material is folded together in such a way that a sleeve is formed. This sleeve is closed at least to a large extent.
In addition, a loading apparatus is provided with which at least one intermediate layer is inserted into the sleeve. In a further embodiment of the invention, a gluing unit is provided in which the two longitudinal edges of the top layer are glued together or are glued to the adjacent intermediate layer. It is also possible in accordance with the invention to provide a forming shaft in which at least one forming tool is located that engages a side edge of the top
Ball Michael W.
Collard & Roe PC
Piazza Gladis
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