Manufacturing container or tube from paper; or other manufacturi – Bending – Pulling over an edge
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-15
2001-09-04
Vo, Peter (Department: 3721)
Manufacturing container or tube from paper; or other manufacturi
Bending
Pulling over an edge
C493S346000, C493S955000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283907
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the automated manufacture of decorative elements for the adornment of packages and the like, and more particularly to a novel method of imparting a curl to one or more ribbon strands for incorporation in the decorative elements.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Decorative elements such as ribbons and bows are commonly affixed to packages, gifts, and the like. Often times, these decorative elements serve as a reminder of a particular holiday, event, or simply serve as a personal expression of one's thoughtfulness. Indeed, a carefully packaged, decorative gift wrapping is increasingly recognized as a desirable component of any personal, family, or holiday celebration. As such, the degree of perceived originality or creativity in the design of such packaging ornaments is a key component of the commercial appeal of these items to the buying public.
In response to consumer demand for increased selection and originality in ribbon designs, manufacturers have introduced hand-made ribbon arrangements. These arrangements are multicolored ribbons of varying width, thickness, patterns, and colors which are hand wound, packaged, and sold individually. The ribbon arrangement is processed by hand to impart a curl to the material, resulting in a pleasing combination of grouped sections of multicolored helically coiled ribbons. Typically, the curl in a flat ribbon is created by running the length of the ribbon materials across a sharp edge.
The hand-made ribbons are packaged by attaching the ribbon arrangement to a cardboard placard for positioning on a retail display. Upon purchase, the ribbon is detached from the packaging and affixed to a gift box by way of an adhesive included on the underside of the ribbon arrangement or placard, typically double face tape.
Yet, while aesthetically appealing, hand made ribbons are cost prohibitive for many consumers. Consumers have grown accustomed to machine produced ribbons which are less expensive due to the lack of manual labor required for their creation. Heretofore, attempts at automating the curling process have been frustrated by the varying materials, widths, and thicknesses commonly encountered in the most desirable hand-made ribbons.
Therefore, currently a method and associated apparatus is desired in which decorative ribbons of varying thickness, width, and material can be produced, curled, grouped, and packaged for sale automatically and cost effectively.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A method and associated apparatus in which decorative ribbons of varying thickness, width, and material can be automatically produced, curled, grouped, and packaged for sale is provided. The apparatus includes one or more roll stands, a feed unit, a tension regulator unit, and a packaging unit. The apparatus imparts a helical curl to at least one of a plurality of ribbon strands, measures the strands into preselected lengths, separates the lengths from the ribbon stock, and packages the resulting coiled ribbon arrangements for distribution to customers.
The method of imparting the curl to the ribbon is accomplished through the application of controlled temperature to a ribbon strand advancing along an apparatus travel path. The ribbon is wound around a mandrel or curl tube as a helix and is heated to a predetermined temperature and cooled along the ribbon travel path to impart a curling tendency to the ribbon strand. The ribbon travel path spirals about the periphery of hollow threaded curl tubes such that apertures formed therein exhaust temperature-controlled air for imparting and setting a curl to the ribbon traveling around the tube.
The roll stand of the apparatus provides ribbon stock for supplying the apparatus with a plurality of ribbon materials of varying dimension, styles, and colors. The ribbon is drawn off from the free spooling roll stand by the feed unit.
The feed unit draws the ribbon strands from the roll stand. Drive rollers of the feed unit frictionally engage the ribbon strands drawing them into the feed unit. The ribbon strands are drawn from the roll stand, and are fed by the drive rollers of the feed unit to a corresponding one of the curl tubes of the feed unit. The curl tubes put a helical curl in the ribbon strands, and temperature-controlled air is provided for setting the curl in the ribbon strands. The ribbon strands exit the feed unit passing to the tension unit.
The tension regulator unit is provided to regulate the tension in the exiting ribbon strands and control rotation of the drive rollers of the feed unit. At its exit end, the tension regulator unit stacks multiple strands of the flat ribbon in face-to-face contact, and passes a group of ribbon strands to the packaging unit in a single vertical stack.
The packaging unit clamps, automatically arranges, and secures the curled ribbon strands onto a placard for distribution to customers, dropping the packaged ribbon product to a conveyor belt for shipping.
Still other benefits and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification and related drawings.
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Berwick Delaware, Inc.
Huynh Louis K.
Seidel Gonda Lavorgna & Monaco, PC
Vo Peter
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