METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING BLIND MATERIAL

METHODE ET APPAREIL DE FABRICATION DE MATERIAU A STORES

English Abstract

ABSTRACT
Method and apparatus for manufacturing cellular
blind material and in particular honeycomb blind
material. A material feeding means moves along and
parallel to a stack supporting means. The material
feeding means feeds a layer of blind material onto the
stack and a hot melt adhesive attaches the layer to the
stack.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN
EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE
DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A method of manufacturing an expandable blind material
having a plurality or longitudinally extending super-imposed cells of
predetermined length, from a supply of strip-like material, said method
comprising the steps of applying a first layer of strip-like material to a
stack supporting means, applying a second layer of the strip-like material
to the first layer by positioning and holding a first portion of the second
layer onto a corresponding portion of the first layer, at the end of the
stack, and by relative movement between a supply of the strip-like material
and said stack supporting means, in a direction parallel to the length of
the first layer, the first and second layers of strip-like material each being
flattened, longitudinally doubled material, having upper and lower layer
portions, adhering the first layer to the second layer, and repeating the
above steps to produce a required number of layers, characterised in that
the adhesive is applied as at least one longitudinal strip to the upper layer
portion of the first layer supported on the stack supporting means, or to
the lower layer portion of the second layer, by moving an adhesive
applicator relative to the strip material and in that the lower layer portion
of the second layer is then immediately applied to the first layer adjacent
the applicator and is adhered thereto by said at least one longitudinal strip
of adhesive.
2. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the
strip-like material is a flattened tubular material.
3. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that said
strip-like material is folded into a Z-shape by longitudinal folds, forming a
main layer having the width of the strip, an upper layer portion hinged to
one fold and a lower layer portion hinged to the other fold.
4. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that said
strip-like material has two longitudinal folds defining the width of the strip

and inwardly directed end portions separated from one another.
5. A method according to any of claims 1-4 characterised in
that the adhesive is a hot melt glue.
6. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the first
and each subsequent layer are cut to length individually after each layer is
applied to the stack.
7. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the
second layer of strip-like material is applied to the first layer of strip-like
material by moving a material supply along the length of the first layer,
which first layer is held stationary, to position said second layer on said
first layer as said material supply means moves along the length of the first
layer.
8. A method according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the
material supply means applies the material upon relative movement
between said supply means and said first layer in a first direction along the
stack, but not when moving in a second direction opposite to said first
direction.
9. A method according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the
material supply means applies the material upon relative movement
between said supply means and said first layer in both the first direction
parallel to said first layer and the second direction opposite said first
direction.
10. A method according to claim 9, characterised in that the
material supply means has a single source of strip-like material for
application in both the first and second direction.
11. A method according to claim 9 characterised in that the
material supply means supplies material from two sources of strip-like
material and the first is used for applying in a first direction along the first
layer and the second is used for applying in the second direction.
12. A method according to any one of claims 1, 4, 6 or 7
characterised in that the strip-like material is applied in a width to form a

hollow cell structure with a single cell width.
13. Apparatus for fabricating expandable blind material, said
apparatus comprising supporting means for supporting a first layer of strip-
like material, material supply means for laying a second layer of strip-like
material on said first layer firstly including material feeding means
mounted for movement relative to said supporting means in a direction
extending along the length of the first layer and parallel thereto and
secondly including guide means, capable of guiding the strip-like material
in the form of flattened, longitudinally doubled material having upper and
lower layer portions, onto a first layer; means for applying adhesive to said
strip-like material; and cutting means for cutting said second layer of
expandable blind material to a desired length, characterised in that said
means for applying adhesive comprises at least one adhesive applicator
nozzle mounted adjacent said guide means, whereby said adhesive is
applied to the strip-like material immediately before said second layer is
applied to said first layer.
14. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterised in that the
supporting means comprises a pair of supporting members extending in
spaced relation above said first layer, said supporting members defining a
slot therebetween extending along said upper surface thereby to permit
contact of a central portion of the second layer with said upper surface
while supporting said second layer.
15. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterised in that said
material feeding means, includes a driven roller and a second parallel
roller which form a nip to hold and feed said second layer.
16. Apparatus according to claim 15, characterised in that
vacuum means, provides suction on a surface of said driven roller to hold
said second layer in contact with said given roller until said second layer is
laid on said first layer.
17. Apparatus according to claim 14, characterised in that the
supporting members are movable between a first position for supporting

said second layer and a second position which permits passage of said
second layer therebetween.
18. Apparatus according to claim 17, characterised in that said
supporting means comprises a pair of spaced walls having face to face
parallel inner surface defining an elongated slot therebetween for guiding
a stack of blind material therethrough and a constriction at a lower part of
said slot narrowing the spacing of said inner surfaces to restrict movement
of blind material therethrough.
19. Apparatus according to claim 18 characterised in that said
movable supporting perpendicularly to said inner surfaces above said slot
in spaced relation to define an elongate opening above said layer of blind
material when said flaps are in a first side portions of a bottom surface of
said layer of blind position; and in that said material feeding means are
adapted to guide and position said layer of blind material onto an upper
surface of said flaps in said first position while a central portion of said
bottom surface contacts the top of the stack of blind material.
20. Method of manufacturing an expandable integral blind mat
having a plurality of longitudinally extending superimposed cells of
predetermined length, from a supply of strip-like material, by stacking of
subsequent layers of the material in direct face-to-face contact and
adhering said layers comprising the steps of:
(a) applying a first layer of said strip-like material to a stack
supporting means;
(b) applying a second layer of said strip-like material to the first
layer by:
(i) positioning and holding a first portion of said second
layer onto a first portion of the first layer at an end of
the stack; and
(ii) applying the remainder of said second layer on face-
to-face contact with the remainder of the first layer by
relative movement between a supply means for the
11

strip-like material and said stack supporting means in
a direction extending parallel to the length of said
first layer;
(c) adhering the first layer to the second layer;
(d) repeating the steps to produce a required member of
subsequent layers; and
(e) cutting individually the second and each subsequent layer to
length after each said layer is applied.
21. Method of manufacturing an expandable integral blind mat
having a plurality of longitudinally extending superimposed cells of
predetermined length, from a supply of strip-like material having folded
over portions extending longitudinally of the strip-like material to form the
cells of said mat by stacking of subsequent layers of the material in direct
face-to-face contact and adhering said layers comprising the steps of:
(a) applying a first layer of said strip-like material to a stack
supporting means;
(b) applying a second layer of said strip-like material to the first
layer by:
(i) positioning and holding a first portion of said second
layer onto a first portion of the first layer at an end of
the stack; and
(ii) applying the remainder of said second layer in face-to-
face contact with the remainder of the first layer by
relative movement between a supply means for the
strip-like material and said stack supporting means in
a direction extending parallel to the length of said
first layer;
(c) adhering the first layer to the second layer; and
(d) repeating the steps to produce a required number of
subsequent layers.
22. The method according to claim 21 further comprising cutting
12

the second and each subsequent layer to length individually after said layer
is applied.
23. The method according to claim 20 or 21 wherein:
(a) adhering the first layer to the second layer includes applying
hot melt glue to at least one of the first and second layers
immediately before the second layer is applied to the first
layer to adhere the first and second layers upon cooling of
the hot melt glue.
24. The method according to claim 23 wherein:
(a) said hot melt glue is applied to said first layer as at least one
bead running substantially the length of the first layer.
25. The method according to claim 20 or 21 wherein:
(a) the material supply means applies the material upon relative
movement between said supply means and said first layer in
a first direction along the stack but not when moving in a
second direction opposite to said first direction.
26. The method according to claim 20 or 21 wherein:
(a) the material supply means applies the material upon relative
movement between said supply means and said first layer in
both a first direction parallel to said first layer and a second
direction opposite said first direction.
27. The method according to claim 26 wherein:
(a) the material supply means has a single source of strip-like
material for application in both the first and second
directions.
28. An apparatus for fabricating expandable blind material
comprising:
(a) supporting means for supporting a first layer of expandable
blind material having an upper surface and first and second
ends separated by a predetermined length;
(b) material supply means for laying a second layer of blind
13

material on said first layer including:
(i) material feeding means mounted for movement
relative to said supporting means in a direction
extending along the length of the first layer and
parallel thereto;
(ii) guiding means on said material feeding means for
guiding said second layer onto said first layer; and
(iii) adhesive applying means on said material feeding
means for adhering said first and second layer in face-
to face contact; and
(c) cutting means for cutting said second layer of expandable
blind material to a length compatible with said
predetermined length.
29. The apparatus according to claim 28 further comprising:
(a) a pair of supporting members extending in spaced relation
above said first layer, said supporting members defining a
slot therebetween extending along said upper surface to
thereby permit contact of a central portion of said second
layer with said upper surface while supporting said second
layer.
30. The apparatus according to claim 29 wherein:
(a) the supporting members are movable between a first position
for supporting said second layer and a second position which
permits passage of the second layer therebetween.
31. The apparatus according to claim 28 wherein:
(a) said material feeding means includes a driven roller and a
second parallel roller which form a nip to hold and feed said
second layer.
32. The apparatus according to claim 31 further comprising:
(a) vacuum means for providing suction on the surface of said
driven roller to hold said second layer m contact with said
14

driven roller until said second layer is laid on said first layer.
33. The apparatus according to claim 28 wherein:
(a) said supporting means comprises a pair of spaced walls
having face-to-face parallel inner surfaces defining an
elongated slot therebetween for guiding a stack blind
material therethrough and a constriction at a lower part of
said slot narrowing the spacing of said inner surfaces to
restrict movement of blind material therethrough.
34. The apparatus according to claim 33 wherein:
(a) said constriction prevents movement of blind material
therethrough.
35. An apparatus for fabricating expandable blind material of
predetermined length comprising:
(a) a pair of spaced walls having face-to-face parallel inner
surfaces defining an elongated slot therebetween for guiding
a stack of blind material therethrough;
(b) a construction at a lower part of said slot narrowing the
spacing of said inner surfaces to provide restriction of
movement of said blind material therethrough;
(c) a pair of movable flaps extending perpendicularly to said
inner surfaces above said slot in spaced relation to define an
elongated opening above said slot, said elongated opening
being narrower than said layer of blind material when said
flaps are in a first position to support said layer of blind
material along side portions of a bottom surface of said layer
of blind material and means for moving said flaps to a
second position;
(d) material supply means for guiding and positioning said layer
of blind material onto an upper surface of said flaps in said
first position while a central portion of said bottom surface
contacts the top of the stack of blind material;

(e) an applicator for applying adhesive material to at least one
of the top of the stack and the layer of blind material as said
layer of blind material is guided and positioned by said
material supply means to thereby adhere said layer of blind
material to the top of said stack of blind material and
(f) a cutter to cut the layer of blind material to said
predetermined length.
36. Method according to claim 20 or 21 wherein the second layer
of strip-like material being applied to the first layer of strip-like material
by moving a material supply means along the length of the first layer,
which first layer is held stationary, to position said second layer on said
first layer as said material supply means moves along the length on said
first layer
37. Method according to claim 20 or 21 wherein the second layer
of strip-like material being applied to the first layer of strip-like material
by a stationary material supply means and said first layer is moved beneath
said material supply means to effect relative movement between said
material supply means and said first layer along the length of said first
layer to thereby position said second layer on said first layer.
38. Method of manufacturing an expandable integral blind mat
having a plurality of longitudinally extending superimposed cells of
predetermined length, from a supply of strip-like material, by stacking of
subsequent layers of the material in direct face-to-face contact and
adhering said layers comprising the steps of:
(a) applying a first layer of said strip-like material to a stack
supposing means;
(b) applying a second layer of said strip-like material to the first
layer by:
(i) positioning and holding a first portion of said second
layer onto a first portion of the first layer as an end of
the stack; and
16

(ii) applying the remainder of said second layer in face-to-
face contact with the remainder of the first layer by
relative movement between a supply means for the
strip-like material and said stack supporting means in
a direction extending parallel to the length of said
first layer;
(c) material supply means supplying material from two sources
of strip-like material and a first source is used for applying in
a first direction along the first layer and a second source is
used for applying in a second direction;
(d) adhering the first layer to the second layer; and
(e) repeating the steps to produce a required number of
subsequent layers.
39. The method according to claim 20 or 21 wherein:
(a) the strip-like material has folded over portions extending
longitudinally of the strip-like material to form the cells of
said mat.
17

Description

~ ` 1312723
METHOD AND APPARATVS FOR MANUFACTURING
BLIND MATERIAL
BACKGROrJND
Thi8 inventio~ relates to i~ method and an ~pparatus
for ~anufacturing blind ~a~erial ~nd in particular ~at~
o~ honeycomb blind ~terial.
~ at~ o~ in~ul~tlng blind material in the ~orm o~ 2
~tac~ o~ ~ plur~ y o~ contlguous cell~ ~re known in the
art. Unt~l now these ~ats have been made by a number of
methods which produce 6ubstantial quantitle~ o~ wa~te.
For Qx~mple, U.S. P~tent No. ~,388,354 ~ssued June
1~, 1983 di~close6 an appar~tus wh~ch compri~e~ a
rot~ting cyl~nder which is wound over by two 6heet~ o~
blind ma~er~al~ ~n adhe~iY~ i8 po~itioned on the sheets
at alternate locat~on$ as the ~heet~ are wound to create
the cell~ o~ the blind. Once the ~aterial i$ ~ound on
the c~l~nder it i8 CUt axi~lly. ~he ~at ~8 then
~traightened. Thi~ ~ethod ~or~s l~yer~ of une~ual len~th
and a tendency ~$ ~he ~aS to bend to ~t~ curved po~i~ion.
U.S. Patent No. 4,450,027 ~ued ~y 22, 1984
disclo~es ~ ~ethod which p~rt~ally overco~es th~
drawback~ ~entioned ~bov~. The ~e~hod uses a movable
rack wh~ch rot~tes ~s materi~l ~s ~ound thereon. The
rack ha~ at least t~o oppos~te ~lat 6urface6. The
material is ~olded ~nd then wrapped around the rack to
for~ a plurality of layers. Bl~nd ~ats are cut from $he
flat surface~ while the turned portions ~t either end o
the surfac~s produce unusable ~at6 which g~ to ~ast~.
"
3~
............................................................................................................................... .

~3~2723
.
Summary of the Invent.lon
It ~s an ob~ect o~ the invention there~ore to
produce a blind uat by a ~ethG~ which reduce~ waste ~nd
produces a ~lat bl~nd mat ln the po5ition 0~ it~ u~e thus
preventlng curl$ng of the ~aterial.
The ~ethod ~upport~ ~ ~tsck o~ bl~nd material
~dditional layers of blind ~aterial are added to thQ
~tack. A flr6t lay~r Or th~ ~at~ri~ ppl~ed to the
stack ~upporting ~n~O A ~e~ond l~yer is then ~pplied
~o th~'first'layer by po~itioning ~ ~ir~t portion o~ the
~econd layer onto ~ co~p~t~ble ~portion og ~ ~ir~t layQr
at an end o~ the ~tack. The re~ainder o~ the 8e~0nd
layer ~ then ~pplied in ~ace-to-face cont~ct with the
rem~inder o~ the ~lrat layer by rel~t~ve ~ove~ent between
a ~upply ~eans for ~h~ ~aterial and the 6t~ck supportlng
~eans. The relativQ ~otlon in in a direct~on extend~ng
- parallal to the lenqth o~ the ~irst l~yer.
~he ~irst and second layer~ are adhered t~qether and
:; then the 8tep5 ar~ repeated. Thus ~ blind ~t i8 qu~ckly
created ~n a Plat or~Qntation.
The app~ratus ~a8 ~ ~upportin~ ~eans Çor 6upporting
a strfp o~ blind ~aterial. A ~ateri~l ~upply ~eans l~y~
; n ~econd layer of blind ~ateri~l on ~ fir8t l&y~r which
is supported by the ~upporti~g means. The ~aterial
~upply ~eans includes ~ material feeding ~a~s mounted
for ~ovement relat~ve to ~he 6upporti~g ~ean~ in a
direction extending ~long th~ lenqth o~ the first layer
and parall~l th~reto. An ~dhering ~eans ~s provided to
~dhere the fir~ ~nd ~e~ond lsyer in fac~-to-f~ce
contact. A cutting ~ans auts the ~econd layer to the
same length as the ~irst layer~
Brief De~criPtion of the Drawin~
Fig. l 18 a ~ront ~chemati~ view of the apparat~s o~
the invention at the ~nd o~ layin~ the fir~t layer;
.

1312723
-3-
~ gO 2 ~ ~ sche~atlc view o~ Flg. 7 ~ th~ return
~tep;
Fig. 3 i~ a ~ch~ati~ ~ew showing the initi~tfon o~
the l~ying of a ~econd l~y2r3
~ ig. ~ i8 ~ 6chematic v1ew 6howing the l~ying o th~
~con~ lay~r;
Fig. S 1~ a ~op v~w Or ~hQ ~ppar~tu~ og the
invention taken along lines 5-5 o~ Fig. 4 and sho~ing a
single ~ource of material;
Fig. 6 i8 an enlarged v~w o~ the ~aterial ~eeding
means of the invention 810ng lines 6-6 o~ FiqO 5;
Fig~ 7 i6 ~n end view of the blind ~t in the
supporting ~eans o~ the ~pparatus along llne~ 7 7 o~ Fig.
. 5:
Fig. 8 i~; the ~vlew o~ ~ig. ~ with the 8UppOrtillg
~ember6 ~oved to an op~n position;
Fig. 9 iB an e~l~rged view showing the cutting ~eans
of the apparatus~; ~
rig. 10 i ~n enl~rgQd ~lew of a~ alternat~
~bodi~ent o~ tbe ~at~r~ P~eding a~ang; and
2~ Fig. 11 is a side view, partially in cr~ss-section of
the em~odi~ent of ~ig. 10 sho~ing a double source of material.
De.cr~Ption og the Pr~ferred EmbodiLment
In the m~thod o~ ~he invent~on (F~gs. 1-4) ~ first
layer 1 is pulled fro~ ~upply roll ~ of ~trip-like
material ~nd laid upon ~ s~ack 6upporting mean~ 3~ A
6econd l~yer 4 is pulled ~ro~ .upply roll 2 ~Flg. 2)
until the end 5 of the str~p like ~ateri~l ~akche~ the
end 6 of the 6t~c~ 7. ~aterial feed~ng ~eans 8 ~ then
low~red onto ~t~cX 7.
3~ An adh~iv~ applicator 9 ~pplie~ ~t lea t ~ne
adhesive bead to ~he ~urface oP tha ~ir~t l~yer 1. ~he
~econd layer 4 :Ls then ~pplied in face-to-face contact
with the ~ir~t layer by ~ovemant of the ~aterial feeding
~ean~ along ~ d~Lrection parallel to the length o~ the
~ir6t layer. ~he adhe~ive ~ay be a hot melt glue, ~poxy
or even two adhesive sided tape. The method of the

~3~2723
--4--
invention permits th~ u8e 0~ ~ quic~ aetting ~dhe~ive as
the second layer ~ preferably applied immediately after
the adhesive. It should be und,erstood however that a
slower setting adhesive may be used and applied at a
point remote from feedin~ means 8.
Alternatively, supply roll 2 may be mounted directly
to the feed~ng means Z ~nd may ride there~n. The supply
may also be an apparatus for fo~nming the ~trip-like
material which moves relative tl1e stack supportlng means
or which remains ~tationary as the ~tack suppor$1ng mean~
tO moves relative thereto~
The second layer i8 CUt to length after ~eing l~id
upon the fir~t layer. The cutting apparatus may be
rotary cutter, laser cutter, blade or other cutt~ng
device.
It is further ~een that the material ~upply means
only applies the strip-lik~ material to the stack when
moving in the direction shown in Fig. ~. A second
material ~upply ~an~ which i8 a ~rror imag~ of th~
first may be used to supply strip-like material when the
material supply means moves in a direction opposite to
that 6hown in F~g. ~. Thus there i5 no wasted motion of
the ~upply ~eans a it supplies material ~n both
- directions using the ~ame adhesive applicator in both
directions.
The ~trip-like material may be unfolded flat, ~ingle
layer material, tubular (circumferentially closed)
material, folded ~n a Z-shape or in a shape as ~hown in
Figs. 7 ~ 8. If unfolded or tubular material i~ used, a
single supply i6 811 that i~ necessary for the dual
direction application described above. If folded
mater~al i~ u~ed, it i~ necessary to use two separate
~upplies to assure proper orientation of the fold~ or the
material must ~e twi~ted when supplied in one direction
~nd untwisted to ~upply the othcr direction.
.

~3~272~
--5--
The app~r~tu~ o~ ~h~ lnv~n~inn 1~ ~hown ~n P~gs.
5 & 6. A stack supporting ~ean6 3 hold~ a st~ck 7 o~
blind ~aterial. First layer 1 i8 at th~ top of the st~c~
bene~th ~ p~ir of supporting ~e~bers or 1~p~ 10. ~he
~upporting ~embers 10 extend in ~paoed p~r~llel rel~ion
along ~hQ upper ~urfac~ 11 of ~irst l~yer 1. Ths
~upportlng a~bers 10 define ~ longitudin~l ~lot ~h~ch
~xpsse~ ~hQ centr~l portion of upp~r ~urg~c~ 11.
The stack supporting means 3 LFigs. 7 an~ 81 has a ~air
of spaced parallel walls 12 wh:ich define a space to receive
iO stack 7. At the bottom of each o~ the walls i5 a ridge 13
forming a constriction 14 therebetween. The constriction
hold~ a portlon oP ~he ~tac~ 7 ~bove th~ ~on~tri~tio~ ~nd
between w~llG 12. A~ the weight of the ~tAC~ increases
or under the influence of ~echanicdl fvrc~s, the lowe6t
layer iG ~orced ~hrough th~ constriction. Thi8 unfolds
~he blind per~itting ~nspectlon of cell~ 15.
A ~upply roll 2 supplies ~Srip~ e ~tarlal to a
~aterial ~eding ~eans 8. The ~ter~al f~eding ~ean~ 8
i~ ~ounted on bar~ ~6 or line~r ~ove~ent p~rallel to the
length o~ st~cX 7. The materi~l feeding ~e~n~ 8 ~ncludes
a pa~r of guide-~ur~aces 17 which guide ~he strip-llke
~ateri~l fro~ ~ 6upply t~ the upper ~ur~ace 1~ o~ first
layer 1.
An ~dheslve applicator 18 2ppl~e~ ~dhesive ~long the
upper sur~ace 11 exposed ~etween ~upporting members 10.
Preferably a folded ~a erial i8 u~ed ~nd there~ore two
beads of ~dheslva ~re supplied through a pa~r o~ spouts
lg on the adhes~ve ~ppliaator. Thi~ appar~tus is
particularly ~uited to the use of Aot ~elt adhesives. A
~etered ~ount of adhesive 1~ applied t~ the fir t layer
and the 6econd layer 1~ applied i~mediat21y thereto to
prevent intervening cool~ng.

~312~2~
--6--
At the eJ3d of the appl ic~tion o~E ~econd layer ~, the
layer i6 cut to length by cutting m~ans ~o ~Fig. 9~
cutting ~ean6 20 is shown ~ rec~Lproc:at~ng blade but
~ay be ~ er, rot~ u'ct:er or ~ny other ~u~table
cutting n!ec:hani~
- S After the 6econd layeY 4 ~E~ cut 6upportl31g ~e~bers
10 rotate~ fro~ z~ supporting po~it~on (Fig. 7a to ~n open
po~;ition (Fig. 8~. The ~;upportlng ~eml~er~ nre ln the
form o~ hinged ~lap~ ~nd ~re ro~cate~ to the s:~pen po8iti9n
by linear ~ctu~tor~ 21. q.`he we~ght of the ~ddition~l
lt) layer and the ~oechanical ~ction o~ the suppor'c mslober~ 10
closing ~orces lowe~t layer 22 throuqh constriction î4
where it open~ for ~nspection. It should be note~ that
it i8 possible to ~ce cor~triction 1~ go a~ to prevent
passage Qf g:he lowe 1~ layer therethrough thus Dlakillg the
apparatus only u~ble to manu~acture bl~nd mat o~ a
- discrete length.
~ An alternative em~odi~nt of the ~aterial feedin~
~eans ~ is ~hown in ~g. 10. ~ ~ir~t roller 23 havlng a
hollow interior co~unicat~ng with ~ plural~ty o~
openings 24 in its Sace 25 i8 posi lonesl with lt6 ~1Xi8
perpendicular lto the length vf the stacic. A ~econd
roller 26 iE proved with its axi6 par;~llel to fir~'c
.. roll~r 23, for~ing a nip ther~betweerl. Strip li~ce
material 27 i8 fed therethrough by driving either ~ir~t
roller 23 or E;ecs3nd roller 26. A vacuu~ i8 c:rea . ed
within roller 23 ~;uch that the vacuum pu118 6trip-llke
ma~erial 27 to the ~¢~ 25 throug21 the di~ference in air
pressure lbetween a~nbient and opening 24 whic~h co~nun~ cat~
with the eva¢uated ~;pace within rs:~ller ~3. This controls
the application of the aaaterial. A bloc:ka~ge 28 i8
provided to i601a~e th* openings ~fter they pa~s the low
poin~ ~f` ro:Lle3: 23 E;o thl2 material i5 releaBed-

: 1~1 2723
--7--
It ~hould be noted that certain modl~ication~ to the
~pparatus may be made wi'chin the scope of the inventlon.
For example ~ the material eed ~ ng ~eans ~ay be ~ounted to
a ~tationary ~aterial foldlng apparatus and the staclc
6upporting ~eans ~oved back and forth thereunder.
5 Alternatively, th2 entire ~ol~ing ~nd feeding app~lratus
may be ~noved. E''urther~ore, tSle device may be operated
without f;upport ~ember~ lO. The device therl uses the
feeding ~eans 8 to ~eed the ~;econd layer directly onto
th~ top of the 6tack.
~0
. .