Coating processes – Roller applicator utilized
Reexamination Certificate
2002-06-10
2003-12-30
Barr, Michael (Department: 1762)
Coating processes
Roller applicator utilized
C427S207100, C427S208600, C427S284000, C427S285000, C427S286000, C427S288000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06669992
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a stack of flexible sheet material and to a dispenser containing such stack. The stack contains a plurality of sheets with each sheet attached to the other by repositionable adhesive and wherein at least two sheets are different from each other. The present invention further relates to a method for applying coating material to a plurality of sheets of which at least two sheets are different and to an apparatus for carrying out that method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,345 discloses a dispensing device for use in dispensing sheets of material coated along one edge with a narrow band of readily releasable pressure-sensitive adhesive. The dispenser comprises a container having a pair of sidewalls is connected by a top wall which is formed with a transversely extending rectangular opening extending in the direction parallel to the side walls. The sheets are stacked within the dispenser such that upon removing the uppermost sheet in the stack the adhesive coating along one edge of the sheet adhered to the edge of the next sheet in the stack will cause the next sheet in the stack to be withdrawn at that free edge through the dispensing opening upon withdrawal of the uppermost sheet. A typical embodiment disclosed includes a stack of sheets where the adhesive alternates between two opposite edges of the stack. Further, dispensers such as those disclosed in this patent are commercially available. However, a stack of sheets used therein typically consists of sheets that are all similar.
There exists now a desire to have one or more sheets in the stacks of such dispensers to be different from the other sheets in the stack. For example, it may be desirable to have sheets of alternating color in the stack or to have one or more sheets in the stack that contain a message, in particular an advertisement or an indication that the end of the stack is approaching.
It has however until now not been possible to produce such stacks of sheets where the adhesive alternates between opposite edges. In particular, a stack of sheets as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,345 is typically prepared by coating the adhesive stripes to a continuous web of sheet material, for example paper. Such process does not give the required flexibility needed to produce stacks in which one or more sheets are different from the other sheets.
WO 94/19419 discloses a process for coating a plurality of individual sheets with adhesive, for example repositionable adhesive. This process allows for one or more sheets, different from the other sheets to be inserted during the coating process thereby allowing to produce a stack of sheets with inserts. However, the process disclosed in this patent application is not adapted to produce stacks of sheets where the adhesive alternates between opposite edges of the stack and that can be used in a dispenser such as disclosed in the above U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,345.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a stack of flexible sheet material comprising a plurality of sheets disposed one on top of another, each sheet having repositionable adhesive along one edge and being free of adhesive along the opposite edge and the sheets are stacked with the repositionable adhesive edge of each sheet disposed along alternate opposite edges to maintain the sheets in the stack, characterised in that said stack comprises at least two sheets that are different from each other.
The present invention also provides a dispenser comprising a stack of sheets as defined above, said dispenser having wall means enclosing the stack including a top wall with a transverse opening through which a portion at the edge free of adhesive of the uppermost sheet in the stack extends.
The present invention further provides a method for applying coating material to sheets, comprising the steps of:
(a) applying coating material to an endless transfer surface;
(b) conveying a plurality of sheets, of which at least two sheets are different from each other, in an overlapped end-to-end relationship to a transfer location; and
(c) contacting the sheets at the transfer location with the transfer surface to transfer the coating material to the sheets thereby obtaining a coated area on each of said sheets;
wherein said coating material is applied to said endless transfer surface such that when coating material is transferred to a first and second sheet that are next to each other, the coated areas on said first and second sheets are offset relative to each other in the direction perpendicular to the direction of conveyance of the sheets.
Also provided is an apparatus for applying coating material to a plurality of sheets, the apparatus including a conveyor arrangement for conveying a plurality of sheets in overlapped end-to-end relationship to a transfer location;
an endless transfer surface which is movable through the transfer location in contact with the conveyed sheets;
and a coating means arranged to apply, to the endless transfer surface, coating material for subsequent transfer to sheets to form coated areas thereon at the transfer location;
wherein said coating means is capable of applying coating material to said endless transfer surface in such a way that when coating material is transferred to a first and second sheet that are next to each other, the coated areas on said first and second sheets are offset relative to each other in the direction perpendicular to the direction of conveyance of the sheets.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1781877 (1930-11-01), Levin
patent: 2060800 (1936-11-01), Ehrig et al.
patent: 2130605 (1938-09-01), Staude
patent: 2146945 (1939-02-01), Ehrig et al.
patent: 2647463 (1953-08-01), Ferrar
patent: RE24906 (1960-12-01), Ulrich
patent: 3029731 (1962-04-01), Bussey
patent: 3257226 (1966-06-01), Thwaites
patent: 3407084 (1968-10-01), Heywood
patent: 3467060 (1969-09-01), Klebanow et al.
patent: 3565728 (1971-02-01), Alton
patent: 3691140 (1972-09-01), Silver
patent: 3857731 (1974-12-01), Merrill, Jr. et al.
patent: 4004061 (1977-01-01), Creighton et al.
patent: 4166152 (1979-08-01), Baker et al.
patent: 4214743 (1980-07-01), Meier
patent: 4325321 (1982-04-01), Wahnschaff
patent: 4399767 (1983-08-01), Simeth
patent: 4416392 (1983-11-01), Smith
patent: 4416448 (1983-11-01), Meier
patent: 4495318 (1985-01-01), Howard
patent: 4526362 (1985-07-01), Thierstein
patent: 4558888 (1985-12-01), Hanson et al.
patent: 4664949 (1987-05-01), Greiner et al.
patent: 4779557 (1988-10-01), Frazzitta
patent: 4781306 (1988-11-01), Smith
patent: 5009408 (1991-04-01), Pulskamp
patent: 5029832 (1991-07-01), Orsinger et al.
patent: 5032460 (1991-07-01), Kantner et al.
patent: 5040778 (1991-08-01), Cole, Jr.
patent: 5045569 (1991-09-01), Delgado
patent: 5050909 (1991-09-01), Mertens et al.
patent: 5067699 (1991-11-01), Gadway et al.
patent: 5080254 (1992-01-01), Feer
patent: 5143250 (1992-09-01), Freitag
patent: 5167346 (1992-12-01), Bodziak
patent: 5202190 (1993-04-01), Kantner et al.
patent: 5363985 (1994-11-01), Cornell
patent: 5382055 (1995-01-01), Mertens et al.
patent: 5397117 (1995-03-01), Mertens
patent: 5409208 (1995-04-01), Schmid
patent: 5417345 (1995-05-01), Smith
patent: 5487780 (1996-01-01), Ritter
patent: 5571617 (1996-11-01), Cooprider et al.
patent: 5618062 (1997-04-01), Mertens et al.
patent: 5849358 (1998-12-01), Le Riche et al.
patent: 5851592 (1998-12-01), Le Riche et al.
patent: 5863330 (1999-01-01), Alain Le Riche et al.
patent: 5868838 (1999-02-01), Le Riche et al.
patent: 5916630 (1999-06-01), Le Riche et al.
patent: 5958135 (1999-09-01), Pierre
patent: 5972113 (1999-10-01), Le Riche et al.
patent: 6040006 (2000-03-01), Le Riche et al.
patent: 6074704 (2000-06-01), Le Riche et al.
patent: 6153278 (2000-11-01), Timmerman et al.
patent: 6406244 (2002-06-01), Le Riche
patent: 31 21 992 (1982-12-01), None
patent: 36 06 199 (1987-08-01), None
patent: 36 28 784 (1988-03-01), None
patent: 36 32 816 (1988-03-01), None
patent: 195 13 211 (1996-10-01), None
patent: 0 163 127 (1985-12-01), None
patent: 0 395 295 (1990-10-01), None
patent: 0 2
3M Innovative Properties Company
Barr Michael
Peters Carolyn V.
LandOfFree
Stack of sheets with repositionable adhesive alternating... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Stack of sheets with repositionable adhesive alternating..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Stack of sheets with repositionable adhesive alternating... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3135102