Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Methods – Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-06
2001-12-18
Johnstone, Adrienne C. (Department: 1733)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Methods
Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
C156S304300, C156S502000, C156S505000, C156S506000, C242S556100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06331222
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to devices for joining together thin sheets of material, such as sheets of paper, particularly in connection with operations in the printing field.
BACKGROUND
In feeding paper and other sheet materials to printers and other kinds of finishing machines, it is often a desire that the feeding of sheet material be continuous. Thus, when the sheet material is supplied in batches, a first batch must be connected to the second batch upstream of the processing machine. While such a need is present when handling rolls of sheet material, it is particularly present when fanfold sheet and the like are being fed. Fanfold sheet is usually supplied in relatively small cartons or stacks which can be readily handled by an individual worker. Thus, for continuous operation, each small quantity of fanfold sheet must be joined to the other. More specifically, the tail end of the pages, or the “footer”, of a stack being used up must be joined readily and reliably to the first pages, or header, of the next stack to be processed.
Typically, fanfold paper will have perforated side edges suited for engagement by sprockets on the printing machine being fed. Thus, it is highly desirable that the hole-to-hole spacing across any splice be maintained. Splice joints must be made quickly and easily, and be strong and consistent. The splicing tape ought not run into the region where the sprocket-perforations are. Typically, the splice tape will have fine perforations running along its centerline, so that when the tape is used to make a splice, the fanfold sheet will not have a discrepancy insofar as fanfolding and segmentation is concerned. Thus, it is important that the perforation is carefully aligned with the joint between butt joined sheets. In the most basic way of joining sheets, an operator manually, and without mechanical guide, runs a piece of tape across the joint between the header and footer while they are hand-held in proximity. Different fixtures have been employed, and of course there are a variety of commercial holders for applying tape to the surfaces of objects.
Generally, the prior art splicing devices have either of two general types of inadequacies. Either they are cumbersome and slow to use, or they do not place the tape accurately. Consequently, there is a continuing quest for a splicer which has good performance, ease of use, reliability, and reasonable cost. The present invention is concerned primarily with satisfying such needs for joining fanfold paper sheets, in the context that any such improvement will have other applications.
SUMMARY
An object of the invention is to provide a way for making splice joints reliably and efficiently between the ends of sheets, particularly between headers and footers of stacks of fanfold paper. Another object of the invention is to provide in a splicer a tape dispenser which ensures that tape laid on a splice joint is well adhered across the whole length of the joint.
In accordance with the invention, a splicer for joining the ends of sheets is comprised of a clamp assembly and a dispenser. The clamp assembly is comprised of a base, and a top which is adapted to move toward and away from the base, preferably by pivoting. The top is comprised of two spaced apart bars running along the length of the base, thereby defining a lengthwise slot. The underside of each bar is surfaced with a first resilient material. The top surface of the base has a layer of second resilient material. When the clamp assembly top and base are mated, the two layers of first resilient material mate with the layer of second resilient material. Thus, when the ends of the sheets to be spliced are butted together within the assembly, so the butt line lies centrally along the length of the slot in the top, the sheet ends are frictionally held in place. A dispenser for applying tape to the joint is slidable lengthwise and vertically within the slot of the top. When the dispenser is moved along the slot, the dispenser lays down tape across the joint butt-line and automatically cuts it at the end. Thereafter, the clamp assembly may be opened and the spliced sheets removed. In different embodiments, the top may pivot or translate relative to the base, to open and close the clamp assembly.
Preferably, when perforated sheet is being spliced, there are sets of blocks having pin arrays on each side of the base. Each set is comprised of a rear block near the rear end of the base; and, a front block at the front end of the base. The rear block is preferably adjustably positioned along the length of the base, according to the width of paper being joined. The front block has an internal spring mechanism for biasing of the pin array away from the rear block. Thus, when the operator places the end of a perforated sheet on the base, the operator manually biases the front block toward the rear block, releasing it when the perforations of the sheet are engaged with the opposing block pin arrays, to thereby tension the sheet prior to closing the clamp.
As the tape dispenser is guided along the joint between the sheets, the tape is fed down the front part of the dispenser and laid on the joint by adhesive engagement of the tape with the sheets. The tip or lowermost part of the dispenser presses the tape onto the sheet surface as the dispenser moves. Preferably, the tape dispenser is pivotally mounted with a somewhat loose fit on the pivotable arm of a carriage assembly which is moved manually lengthwise along the top. That fit and the fit between the lower end of the dispenser and the slot in the top enables the dispenser to rock slightly in the plane transverse to the dispenser travel path. Thus, the lower end of the dispenser will maintain contact with the sheets, as the dispenser lower end runs over small variations and unevenness, ensuring good and continuous adherence of the tape. A wiper, supported off the carriage, rubs along the tape just behind the point of adhering. It's principal function is to ensure that the first laid, or beginning, portion of the tape is adhered. Proximate the end of the dispenser travel path along the joint, the dispenser is caused to rotate and lift, preferably by means of interaction of the dispenser and carriage with two cams on the base. A first cam engages a pin on the dispenser, rotating it slightly in the longitudinal vertical plane of the top. A second cam engages the carriage arm on which the dispenser is mounted, lifting it slightly. The rotating and lifting motion cause a knife located rearward of the dispenser bottommost tip to contact and cut the tape, while avoiding contact with the resilient strip on the base surface. The cam-induced motions also cause the tip of the dispenser to lift and the trailing edge of the lower end of the dispenser to contact the tape, so that the very last part of the tape which is laid down will be pressed firmly onto the sheet surface.
The splicer preferably has a vertical post extending downward to the machine at which splices are to be made, such as a stacker-feeder; and the post and related structures provide the splicer with a combination of vertical motion, two horizontal motions, and rotary motion about the post. Alternately, the splicer it is mounted from a dolly base or on a bench. The splicer optionally includes a reversing bar which is mounted at an elevation above the clamp, so that when a header or footer is run to the splicer it may be made to follow an S-shape curve path, while the other header/footer is made to follow a U-shape path. Thus the sides of sheet which are presented to the tape dispenser or other joining means are reversed, and the tape is placed on the underside of the sheet joint.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5779851 (1998-07-01), Ifkovits et al.
The Laserfeed Company “How To Use The Laserfeed Splice Rite® ”, unknown date, Instruction Sheet, One Page.
Laserlink Corporation “L
Burton Peter C.
Hotkowski Peter D.
Richardson Brian C.
Todaro Frank A.
Williams Daniel J.
Asterisk, Inc.
Johnstone Adrienne C.
Nessler C. G.
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