Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Methods – Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-11
2002-01-15
Sells, James (Department: 1734)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Methods
Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
C156S553000, C156S555000, C156S582000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06338770
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A wide variety of different types of equipment have been developed for sealing pressure activated adhesive (primarily pressure activated cohesive) business forms, and particularly mailer type business forms, such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,174,493 and 5,201,464. The equipment developed includes edge sealing rolls which engage only the edge portions of the forms which contain the pressure activated cohesive, or steam roller type rollers which engage the entire forms (where inserts are not used), and often various types of turning mechanisms between sets of rolls so as to seal patterns of adhesive having different orientations. Typically such equipment applies a sealing force of at least 100 pounds per lineal inch, typically about 200 pounds per lineal inch.
In U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,938,880 and 5,944,946 a method and apparatus are disclosed that allow both the “horizontal” and “vertical” patterns of cohesive of mailer type business forms to be sealed in a single pass but without the crushing action provided by steam roll type equipment. While the method and apparatus in those patents is highly useful, it normally effects sealing of the same patterns of adhesive at a number of different locations, and is limited in its ability to adapt to different locations of the patterns of pressure sensitive cohesive on particular forms.
The method and apparatus according to the present invention allow the same advantages as the method and apparatus in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,938,880 and 5,944,946 as far as being able to effectively seal both vertical and horizontal patterns of pressure activated adhesive in a single unidirectional path and without utilizing a steam roller action which can crush inserts or portions of the form between the patterns, but does so with greatly enhanced versatility, and also in a very cost effective manner. This enhanced versatility and cost effectiveness are provided by utilizing two different sets of rolls. The first set includes a first roll that is substantially continuous but a second roll which is non-round and has projection portions which are the only portions of the roll that can effectively seal with the first roll. The second roll is controlled by a stepper motor, in turn controlled by a microprocessor, so that a projection of the second roll can be brought into operative association with the first roll whenever desired, whether at a regular interval or irregular interval, in order to effectively seal a pressure activated adhesive pattern which is substantially parallel to the axes of rotation of the rolls. A second set of rolls, for sealing pressure activated adhesive patterns that are substantially perpendicular to the axes or rotation of the first set of rolls, is preferably provided substantially immediately adjacent the discharge from the first set of rolls, and includes a continuous roll and a pair of rolls that cooperate with the continuous roll (second and third rolls) and which are on a substantially common axis. The positions of the second and third rolls with respect to each other and the first roll may be adjusted so as to accommodate different widths of forms (spacings between the pressure activated cohesive patterns to be sealed by the second set of rolls). No further sealing equipment is necessary.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of sealing a business form having pressure activated adhesive including a first pattern in a first dimension, and a second pattern in a second dimension substantially transverse to the first dimension, comprising: (a) Moving the form in a direction substantially parallel to the second dimension; and while practicing (a). (b) At only a first location, automatically applying at least about 100 pounds per lineal inch of pressure to the form at the second adhesive pattern to seal the form at the second adhesive pattern substantially without engaging any other portion of the form. And (c) at only a second location, spaced in the direction of movement of the form, automatically applying at least about 100 pounds per lineal inch of pressure to the form at the first adhesive pattern.
Typically (b) is practiced using a first set of rolls including a first substantially continuous roll having a length greater than the length of the second adhesive pattern, and a second roll having a non-round shape with at least one projection having a length greater than the length of the second adhesive pattern and comprising the only part of the second roll cooperating with the first roll to seal the first adhesive pattern. Also typically (c) is practiced using a second set of rolls including a first substantially continuous roll and a second substantially continuous roll, the second set of rolls aligned with the first adhesive pattern of the business form.
When the form comprises two first substantially parallel patterns of adhesive spaced from each other a first distance in the second dimension, then (c) is further practiced using a third roll of the second set rotatable about an axis substantially common with that of said second roll, and operatively spaced approximately the first distance from the second roll in the second dimension, so that the second and third rolls of the second set cooperate with the first roll of the second set to substantially simultaneously seal the two first patters of adhesive of the form. Where the form comprises two second substantially parallel patterns of adhesive spaced from each other a second distance in the first dimension, then (b) is further practiced to selectively rotate the first roll of the first set to come into contact with the form at both second patterns of adhesive to seal the form at both second patterns, but so as to substantially not come in contact with the form between the two second patterns of adhesive. When the form comprises a third second pattern of adhesive substantially parallel to both of the two second patterns of adhesive, disposed between the two second patterns in the first dimension, then (b) is further practiced to selectively rotate the first roll of the first set to come into contact with the form at all three of the second patterns of adhesive to seal the form at all three second patterns, but so as to substantially not come in contact with the form between the second patterns of adhesive.
In the preferred embodiment (a)-(c) are practiced so as to first move the form into operative association with the first set of rolls, and then into operative association with the second set of rolls. The invention also further comprises adjusting the positions of the second and third rolls of the second set with respect to each other along the common axis, to accommodate forms having different spacings between the second patterns of adhesive. The adjustment may be accomplished using any conventional mechanism or technique.
According to another aspect of the present invention a sealing apparatus is provided. The sealing apparatus comprises or consists of the following components: A first set of rolls comprising a first substantially continuous roll, and a second roll having a non-round shape with at least one projection, the first and second rolls mounted and positioned for rotation about substantially parallel axes and so that at a first position the at least one projection comes into operative association with the first roll to perform a sealing action, but the second roll besides the at least one projection not coming into operative association with the first roll, and at a second position the at least one projection is not in operative association with the first roll. A stepper motor operatively connected to the second roll of the first set so as to effect rotation thereof to move the at least one projection between the first and second positions. And a second set of rolls including a first substantially continuous roll having a first length and a second substantially continuous roll having a second length less than about half of the first length, the first and second rolls of the second set mounted and
Moore North America Inc.
Nixon & Vanderhye PC
Sells James
LandOfFree
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