CA2079055A1 - Imperial laminator - Google Patents

Abstract

In this invention, the Imperial Laminator is a laminating machine. If manufactured, this machine would have the ability to laminate the entire pristine cut edge (s) of any paper or paperboard product, measuring from 2 inches to 40 inches in length. There are no restrictions on the number of edges having to be modified. In effect, the edge of the paper or paperboard product would become entirely sealed. The machine is very intricate in that the laminate sealing the edge (s) can measure anywhere from 1/8 inch or more X 2 sides in a wraparound process.

Description

-- 20790~
~[C~lION
Ianinatin8 ~hine It is a~mm today for ~aninating m3chines to ~rdnate either the frlt or bsck or even both sides aE a paper or paperbcerd praduct. Ihe entire pristine cut edges are left unprotected. h~ as a re~t, the edges are pra~e to deterioratil due to excess handling.
Presently there is a ~ardnating nechine an the ~rlc~ whereby a~ index guide card can be l~ninated in a wraparaund process. But ally the projectian is ~minated, leaving the renEIinder af the card unprot~:ted. Since the projectial is tl~ ~ ~ian tauched, there isnlt a need to laninate the r~minin8 portian of the lard. ~p3rently this lardnating nechine is restricted al the type of praduct it can produoe. Ihe lal~inates can ally be a a ce}tain si æ . Ihe nachine does not have the ability to vary greatly in ci~ as dces ncne, the Imperial Laminatar. Mtl~e will have the ability to seal a praduct with a lahinate as small as l/8 inch or m~re X 2 sides.
I have found that these disadvantage3 may be overcome by using a 13minating machine s~ch as the Imperial Laminator æ it is capable of protecting a paper or paperboard prcduct from rapid deterioration. Any prcduct treated by the Inqe~ial Laninator should not ree~Lly fray, tatter or become dirty with h~Kiling.
/ In drawings which illustrate emtxx~ments of the invention, F~gure 1 is an elevatian sbowing the overall lodk of the In~ ial Laninator frcn the frant. Provided is a type of nEe~lring tool such as a grid 1 an the top or workinB surface of the machine. It shculd also be equipped with eithes a maunted (or independant) computerized keyboard 3 and monitor 2;
attached by cord if not unted--with pretpl3nTable features. Here are just some af the features affered by the Imperi31 Laminator Monitor, ~hey are as follows: a) nNmber of pieces modified; b) size of pieces mDdified; c) amount of laminate used per job; d) size of lamdnate lo~ded in machine; e) low roll level indicator; f) paper jam indicator; g)trouble spot indicator. lhe user should be able to specify by punching a few buttons 3 here and there the total maasurements of the pcrticular paperboard prcduct bein8 larl~tsted. Cnce the l~gth and width has been determdned, tl~e mJrbers are carefully punched into the keybo3rd. If lardnating an index card n~ 5X3 inches, the user would then be asked what the desired m3~in is. Ansder: 5 inches in length; and an 1/8 of an inch wide X 2 sides, Therefore the roll oE l~nate lceded into the machine would hsve to be 1/4 lnch wide, Ihe inner makings of the mschine would then start to mDve, preparing itself for the job. Meanwhile, since the m3chine's program fully understands that the rolls of laminste are to be crin~ed precisely in their mdddle (unless o~se specified), an accuratedisplay 4 of what the fir~hed product slxuld lodk ~ke will be proiected for the ucer to see. For example, tbe projection of the index card msy appear in yellow. l~ile the designated laminate size msy app~r in green. Specifications for each job m~ vary. But setup control res~ins in n~ry until the next a~lailable job. Roll size as nell as J ~paperbcard length ar~ ~nate width sizes chosEIl will renE~in in nEmOry at all tines ~less ,~ ~~ a changing of these specifications are required. The feeder in F~gure 2 should act sin~lar to that of a photocopier in that a suction action takes place. Strips with gripping a~nl;ty f ~ 'IQ varying from one to three or more, should carry one piece of paperbDard at a time to the inne~ ne~c~ngs of the mE~rine. The snallest paperboard nE~Lsuren~nt may be as little -as 2 imches; the largest bc m g 40 inches in lesygth (poster si7e). Note that the feeder--preferrably located on the right hand side of the machine--will be equipped with a re~ovable cover ll.lhis cover is shaped like that of the letter U for asthetic purposes.
If a smsller product is to be put through the machine, then this lid is to be left as is duling operation. Ihe guides mly be adjusted acrcn~ngly. If the paperboard product going - 20790~
th~ h the nEK~Iine happens to be larger than cay 8 1/2 X 11 inches, the lid ~ould then be renoved to ~llow for machine adjustments, such æ guides being widened to aocommDdate the excess length and width of this paperboard product. Figure 3 is a view o the p~per feeder without the cover. Figure 4 iR another view of the paper feeder without the cover and lcaded with paper. Ihe paper feeder unit is to be adjuRtable mDving either up or down æ required to one of three wo¢king leve L ( æ Rpecified later on). m e guides themselves 12in F~gure 3 nE#~iure approximately 12 inches high, 2-3 inches in width and 1/2 inch thick, to allow for the pl2K~nent of æ veral paperboard products such as the index card. m e user should be able to place at l~st lOCO index caulls at a time-~one on top o the other - in be~n~en these guides without the worry of these cards sbb~ ng out of p } . Another guide 13 in Figure 3 is approximately 12 inches high, 8-10 inches in Jength and 1/2 inch thick J ~ to help aid the guides 12 in Figure 3. m is guide 13 though, is adjustable either in or out.
/ ~) , . -Ch~e the paperboard product has been treated with laminate it comes out to rest on the psper exit tray, Fi~me 5. Ihe desd8n is the same as that of the paper feeder, Figure 2 but minus the strips with grip~ping ability. As well, the paper exit tray is programmed to autom3tica11y drop if a big job is in progress, therefore causdng a stacking effert.
And in turn keeping the product in the best possible condition. In other words, no backups' me guides 13 are all adju table as well, both with the cover on or off. In case of paper jams, the doors 7, 8, 9 in Figure l should open to allow the user to remove the danLged msteri~ls.
When the paperboard product has been drawn or sucbed inside the mschine through the paper feeder, it sits in between two identir~lly measured beds, F~gure 6, one on top of the other with the aid of some gripping msteriAl or s~ction on or ne_r the beds. Ihere are three levels in all, six pieces a ording to the sperifications above. ApproxImate mea~mnsments of these beds are as follows. Level l: 12 inches in length. Level 2~ 24 inches in lfsygth.
Level 3: 40 inches in length. Its important that these beds be appropriate bn design to accomnodate all the various si æ d pdeces of raw prcduct eventually to p3~s through the mechine. r~D~ing progranning de, the proce~E3ing unit nrx3t suitable for the job will have been selected. Level l, 2 or 3 w1l1 have mDved into action depending on the requi~3nents ag desl8nated by the user. Ihe body of the machine should allow for the placement of at lesst one ro11 of laminating materlal, F~gure 7, per level. (In the event that only one ~7 proce~sing unit be used for the m3nufacture of this n~hine, then n~re than ane roll of lardnate c3n be 103ded into the machine. The crimper, n~rheated rollers and rcds housing the claws wa~ld a~l m~sure 40 inches in length. The claws would have to be snE~Il enough to handle intricate 3iæd pdeees of ~aminate alch as l/4 inch wide and more. ~e purpo~e of having three p~ing units is to save on energy. It takes more power to operateorersiæd mechinery, ~lly when not in use. For example, l~nating a s~ll index card m~suring 5 X 3 w~uld take le~ ene~gy than to ~nate a poster nE#~suring 24 X 36.) The rD~l (s) of lardnate ~uld range anywhere in size frcm l/4 inch to 4 inches or more.
There ale nD restrictions on the size of the lal~inate clxsen except that it must have the ability to canpletely a~l the ed8e of the paperboard product. E~sy aoc~s to these rolls '1 are a must in case the roll color or size has to 'ce frequently changed. Ihese rolls of lan~nate ~t in n~lEni~s, 17 in Fy3ure 8. ~here are three of then in all loeated just inside the front docr 8 or 9 in Figùre l, but just aheE~I of the beds. In the erent that only cne pro~essing unit were used ins~l~ad of three, then the roll (s) of laEIinate n~y possibly be loaded into the nE~chine through a daor located cn the top working surface of the nEx~line 6 in Figure l. Figure 9 is anothPr side~ays uiew of the 3djustab]e housing nEx~h3nisn guide or lead. A set of rotating pcds 18 in Figure 8 found inside the adjusb3ble hf~in8 nEY~Y~Iisn wil1 aid in the feedin8 of lEm ~nate to the procecsing unit. Ihese pads are ms3nt to oushion the roll of laminate as weal as control it for e~3y nEux~euvrability.

, . '' ~:, ' Operatian of the pr~c~ing units (3 of th~n in ~ hich ca~sist of a crimper 20 in F~e 12, na~heat~ rollP~ 2~ and varias t~p~ aE cl~s 25 and a b~ade 29) are as foLla~: once a roll of l~nate ~itable for the job has been ~cted, it sits in bet~en the adjustable ",r, hou~~ d a cl~ in a l~ne aE cl~ws 25 in FYg~e 11 latch~ to the roll of l~nate asld thus dw~s the cut ed8e QE it acr~ith the ~Eilp of a ~d as a guide26 in F~gure 11. N~te that another o~ these ca~rying deviceE; is duplicated ~r~th27 in F~gure 11 so that the lar~natel6 in F~e 11 is accurately ccntrolled at aLI tinE~.
Mare than ~e cla~/ fmn the tcp and bottan nEly be used 25 in Fqg~ 11. 1~ q~7e aE the claws n~y vsry fran level to level. lhe n~t i~portant a~derstian when ~lecting the ~e aE the cl~ is the assu~ance aE sauracy when deali~ with s~llf~r ExLec~ of ~rdnste.
Iev~ 1 ~uld prdasbly s~nodate the m~t d~ ate of lanislating r~ds. lhe follo.~ingare spprwdmste rad size m~sure~rents. Ievea 1: 12 inches in len8th with three claws, two m~vable; ane dorlrsnt and a blade. Ievel 2: 24 inches in ~fflgth with five elaws, falr n~vable; one dor~snt snd a bl~3de. If~vel 3: 40 inches in len8th ~dth æven claws, ~Lx movable; cne dornont and a blade. Ihe blade ~hould IEnre the ability to n~ve both up and da~n and cut a lardnate n~ 1/4 ~h to 4 lnchs wide and ~re. Al~o, theee blf~des ~ould be able to cut s~i8ht ~ as WliLt as di~~l ~ f requlred. ~ore a product co~d be lardn~ted an all four ~des in a unifa~m muner withaut overlapping materi~l. During the prcgranning nDde, for er~nple ~ the user specifles that a poster m~sur~ 24 X 36 is to be lar~nated the ca~ progran ~ould be able to accurately n~sure and thus guide the M1de to a~t the }ar~nate accor~i~y as s~n in Figure 2I.
~qgure 22 indicates how a product w~uld lodc with a~l four sides lallinated usin8 a strai8ht cut ed~e, thus causing the mate~ial to overlap. It is to be ~od that a ~e bladb ¦11~ guided by a verti~ rcd nsy be used for a~l th~ee proce~ng unitsf ar ane in the event I that ~ly ane proc~ing unit wPre uæd. The c}a~ fa~d an~e3ch of t~e afo~entia~d ro~
are ~haped like that of an upside down letter V (with a sufficient anwnt of ~4~ h;
mDre is needed f~ ~31ler, delicate pie~es d l~nate. There ~ be r~ ~n wh~ it wres to the de~;i8n aE the cl~ws for the lar~nate to bPcane loose during proceelsing.) ~hese da~ ~aild open ar~ da~e cn d~nd, ar~ thus grip sr~ carry the If~ate whn requiledto do s~. Ihe rods are desy~ned as free mlring a0ents, a~nplete~y æparate hul~ the adjustable h ~ n8 n ~ But t h se rods n~lst be d a~e ena ~h to this ad~ustable h ~ nB
oe C~EU~L9n to allcw for the feedin8 of lsminate to the prcclY3sing unit. It is to be unders~od that to inqJnDve speed and productivity of the Imçerial laninator, there may be a æ cand set of psrtn~ ng rods eqyipped with d aws and a blade per level. These backup rods are to be fed with laminate while the unit b_fore it is in mDtian with crimper and rollers.
Note that both the r~ds and adjustable hL~Y~n8 nEc~EulL9n 17 in F~gure 8 h ve the ability bD adJust for the insertlon of laminate of any si_e, eg. 1/4 inch to large~ sd;~33. Also the c~fnws 25 in Figure 14 on the rods nust h ~e oomplete flexibil~ty 90 that they can swdn~ badk and forth when required. As well t h y s~xluld be abl~a to stcp in nid~ ng and hold that pose as in Fg4~Dne 13. Ihe pro~m hEls now just tald the prODe~Sing unit where an~ when to stop. And that is when the desdred ar~ount of lfminate has been nEesured o ff .
With the dormant cl~nds holdiJ~g onto the laminate, a bazi1e quickly cuts it in two 29 in Fig~l~e 11. When the piece has been cut fron the T~iL1, the a~qn~Iriate set of dzn~3 either twn, four, or six of tbYm ~dLLl then o~rry the 1m l~lte ac m ss the rods and sto~ in direct line of the paperbonrd product gitting in wait of nrx~E~oation 15 in F~gure 6. ~he do~u~ d~s ~ should be in p~3iti~n ius~/before the cLn~t~ng point 28 in Figure 10. So thalt the roIl of c~ 5~ larl~ate is held up a~d resdy to supply m~terial for the next paperbo0rd praduct. As the n~terial is be~lg cut, these dDnmant clEn~s should be clased. And as the naterial is be~lg dra~n f m n the roll do~n the rnds by the n~vable clzn~3, the don~3nt cla~9 shsuld be open and 90 forth. N~w that the leninate has been accurately neasured and cut, a crinypEr 20 in Figure 12 takes over. The pulp~se of the cring~r is to put a fold or se3n in the laninate.
Ihe crin~Er shK~ild ~ k in unisan; prtx~usion perfect, with a set of n~ni-rollers 21. The crimper can be a very thin, flAt piece of any suitable n~teli~nl. Apl~nxcun~te nE~ra3nents 207905~

of the æ (3 of them in a ) are as follows. Level 1: 12 inches in length. Level 2: 24 inches in length. ~evel 3: 40 inchls in length. ~he crinper shculd be one that assures a p,recise yet appropriate seam or fold. Note that the foldl in Figure 12 is not required to be directly in the middle of the laminate. In fact, the user can if he/she wishes change the folding p~int to allow for mDre of a laminate on ane side of a paperboard product. Iherefore the crinping devices as well as the beds and rollers should attempt to align themselves until the desired po m t of contact has been established. CIhese alterations have to be lCo~ accurate; therefore will be controlled by the computer.) Ncw that the desired point of oontact h~s been establi~t~3d, the cri~per and rollers begin to merge and thus cau æ
a seam or fold in the laminate before quickly seqx3rating ~c seen in F~yyure 14. Ihe criD~per then mDves out of the way, positionnllg itself either just above or below the appropriate teds. Note that the laminate 16 is Ct;ll being held up by the claws 25 located on the two pEItrK~r~ng rods, f l}~se cJaws have flexibility in that they can swing back and forth an dem3nd as seen in Figure 13, So now that the rollers 21 in Fig, 14 have reveræ d them3elves and the crimper 20 is aLso out of the way, the claws 25 in Fig, 14 are in a rigid position, Ihe landnate 16 is sKm~whatin ~he shape ae a sideways letter V and the claws will maintain the rigid hold until the paper 15 in FY~ e 15 that was being held bet~een the beds 14 s~arts to mer8e with the lam ~nate 16. Naw that the paperbosrd product has started to mDve, its gosl is to merge with the seam or fold in the laminate. From there paper and laminste will pase entirely throu&h the ro,llers 21 in Fig. 15 toward a second set of rollers 23 in Fig.
15, these being of the heated type. Eut let us not forget about the cl~ws and their firm grip upon the laminate. As socn æ the merged products (paper and laminate) make contact with the ncn=heated rollers 21 and thu_ begin entry, the claws will relesse their grip.
~krLle the paperboard product is passing thr~ly~h the non-heated rollers, another æ t of claws æ in Figure 15 or 22 in F~gure 16 is Frepsring to latch on to the prcduct (laminate already in place) from both the far left and right edg0 as æ en in Figure 17. Figure 18 is another view of the_e claws cpen. It is to be undt~skood that these claws are free mDving in all dirertions (up, down, forward and bee~oward) during operatial, according to require~ents. Ihey should aocommodate the size of any plper/paperboard prcduct treated with lamfinate, whether it be a margin of 2 inches or 40 inches in length. Ihese claws will then accurately guide the prcduct toward the heated rollers. F~gure 16, 23 is a view of these rollers. There are two tiers 23 in Figure 15, one on top of the other. So that a paperboa~d product dressed with laminate can pass through them and realize the full benefit o heat. ~he adhesive agents~ . the event that a ~ylar type prcduct were used - found on the reverse side o the laninate would be activated a~ hus c8uging it to alhere to the paper. Also these rollers arJ to be made movable up or do~n to the appropriate level in use, either 1, 2, or 3, rhere is no need to have three of these heating s~yskems in place, In the event of paper backups or jams in the helted roller section, a door 5 in Figure 1 should open up, And these rollers should separate (and thus lodk like a sideways letter V) upon the opening of thds door, aIlowing the user easy æ ess to remove anythdllg caught up in the m~chinery. F~gure 19 is a view of the paperboard product treated by the In~rial Lamdnator. Nbte that only o~e edge has been treated. ~ut there are no restrictions on the number of edges having to be modified. Figure 2D is a sideways view of the paperboard prcduct as treated by the Im~iial Laminator. Again, F~gure 21 is a view of the paperboard once treated with diagonally cut edges of lrI~nate. F~4~1re 22 is a view of the paperboard once t~ated with straight cut ed4~s of laminate.
7It is to be un~erstood that the ouber shell 3~ in F~nre 1 su}rounding the entire In~
m ~nator is only for asthetic purposes. Ihi9 oiter shell is not to be constIued as part of this patent. Ihe ~ost i~portant thing in this invention is the ability to seal the entire pristine cut edge of any paper or paperboard product with high productivity and acx mnlcy in n~nd. It is also to be ucderstood that the nE~melents specified in this inventicn can he altered to any cr~le.

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Claims (6)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or priviledge is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A mechanically operable laminating machine for laminating the entire pristine cut edge (s) of any paper or paperboard product.

2. A laminating machine as defined in claim 1, that provides the user with an assortment of laminate size measurements from 1/8 inch or more X 2 sides.

3. A laminating machine æ defined in claim 1 or 2 that allows for a diagonally or straight edge cut of laminate to be applied in a wraparound process to any paper or paperboard product.

4. A laminating machine as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which a crimper, partnering rods, various claws and non-heated rollers of one measurement that aids in the crimping and application of laminate. Heated rollers are provided to activate the adhesive agents on the reverse side of laminate if a product such as Mylar were to be used.

5. A laminating machine as defined in claim 1 with three operating levels. The processing units: crimper, partnering rods, various claws and non-heated rollers vary in size from level to level. Measurements of the heated rollers remain the same as this unit is adjustable from level to level.

6. A laminating machine as defined in claim 1 to 5 but without the outer shell. It is to be understood that the outer shell is only for asthetic purposes. This outer shell is not to be construed as part of this patent.