Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
63423-372
1
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l~lP~,'~:US P1ZOCES~ 1~'!~E
PE~ar~~rER p~.ES~uaaE sE~az~c
~ACxcROU~ ~ S~ o~. arao~
In the manufacture of business forms, it is
almost always necessary to seal one part of the form
construction with respect to another. This is
typically accomplished by utilizing an adhesive which
acts between the two portions of the business form to
be fixed together. Oftentimes, heat activated
adhesives are utilized, but in many circumstances it
is desirable to utilize pressure sensitive adhesives.
A sealing system for business farms used with
one type of pres$ure sealing adhesive requires that
the adhesive applied to the .forms during manufacture
be capable of cohesive bonding to a fiber tearing
strength when pressure sealed after computer printing
by the end user, but must b~ entirely free of
adhesive bonding under all conditions of normal
handling during manufacture, storage and imaging.
Thus the rnargine of pressure applied to the paper
during normal handling, and the pressure applied to
effect fiber tearing bonds are widely separated.
A typical pressure sealing piece of equipment
for use with business forms uses a multiple rail
2
63423-372
~~~~~~a ~ ~
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sealing system to apply Pressure to the entire web
(or the entire individual sheets) being processed.
Those rolls are capable of exceeding the threshold
unit pressure required, which is quite 3aigh,
typically about 200 lbs, per lineal inch~o~ paper
width when using a succession of two or three
pressure couples. This requires a very rigid yet
accurate mechanical system. While the application of
such high forces requires massive and precise
construction of the sealer, it is also necessary that
the web or sheet manifold be clean -- that is that
there be no disturbances in the surface
configuration. Therefore it is extremely difficult
to utilize such equipment with inserts, window
patching, folds internal to the form, etc., since
such build ups in thickness or non-uniformities in
the surface characteristics decrease the unit
pressure at the sealing edges and could increase the
sealing pressure in the inclusion area so that a jam
or physical tearing of the sheet occurs. When
inserts are provided, there also is the problem of
"tenting" or "pillowing".
A method and apparatus have recently been developed
that overcome certain of the problems associated with
full-width pressure sealing systems by making It possible
to continuously, and at high speed, act upon business
Forms including those having inserts, window patching,
Folds intexnal to the Forms, and other surface non-
uniformities. The "pillowing" effects (where the sealed
manifold is forced apart), and the "tenting" effects
(where
CA 02061453 2002-04-30
72049-47
3
various plies of the assembly shift relative to each other
and thereby prevent formation of a completely flat form) are
substantially avoided.
The general manner in which these results are
' S accomplished is by effecting sealing along only the pressure
sensitive adhesive strips of the business forms - rather
than along the entire surface of the forms. This allows the
coupling force between each sealing roll pair to be reduced
from about 1,000 lbs. in the prior art, to about 100-200
lbs., dependent on the ratio of total form width to sealing
bond width. This also allows production of a system that is
much less massive than conventional, and one that is
reliable and simple and easy to utilize.
There may be disadvantages in the above described
system, however. For example, in order to apply pressure to
adhesive strips extending transverse to the longitudinal
edges of the form, the latter is turned ninety degrees and
fed sideways through a second sealer. In other words,
longitudinal edge sealing is achieved with the forms passing
between a roll pair in the grain direction, while a second
roll pair acts on the form in a direction 90° from the grain
direction. While the concept of narrow pairs of rollers
under high pressure effect the seal of the perimeter of
forms with inserts quite satisfactorily in the grain
direction, some wrinkling can occur in the direction
perpendicular to the grain direction.
In accordance with the present invention, there is
provided a method of handling business forms, each, having
at least two strips of pressure sensitive adhesive of a
predetermined width for fixing one part of the business form
to another part, and wherein one of said strips of pressure
sensitive adhesive extends substantially perpendicularly to
CA 02061453 2002-04-30
' 72049-47
3a
the other, comprising the step of (a) automatically, in a
continuous, sequential manner, acting on successive business
forms aligned in a predetermined orientation and fed in a
single direction of movement to apply a force thereto
sufficient to activate the pressure sensitive adhesive to
fix one part of the form to another, the force being applied
only to the approximate area of the predetermined width of
said two strips of pressure sensitive adhesive, without
having to alter said predetermined orientation or single
direction of movement.
In accordance with the present invention, there is
provided an apparatus for pressure activation of a plurality
of pressure sensitive adhesive strips located in marginal
edge portions of a business form, wherein at least two of
said plurality strips are arranged perpendicular to each
other, the apparatus comprising: a first roll set for
activating one of said two pressure sensitive adhesive
strips; a second roll set for activating the other of said
two pressure sensitive adhesive strips, wherein said first
and second roll sets rotate about parallel axes.
In accordance with the present invention, there is
further provided an apparatus for pressure activation of
first and second longitudinally extending pressure sensitive
strips located in longitudinal marginal edge portions of a
business form, and third and fourth transversely extending
pressure sensitive adhesive strips located in transverse
marginal edge portions of the business form, the apparatus
comprising: a first roll pair including upper and lower
rollers, one of said upper and lower rollers formed with
enlarged end portions and a first transverse sealing surface
extending between said enlarged end portions for activating
one of said third and fourth transversely extending pressure
sensitive adhesive strips; a second roll pair including
CA 02061453 2002-04-30
V
' 72049-47
3b
upper and lower rollers, one of said upper and lower rollers
being formed with enlarged end portions and a second
transverse sealing surface extending between said enlarged
end portions for activating the other of said third and
fourth transversely extending pressure sensitive adhesive
strips.
The objective of the invention is to expand the
concept of perimeter sealing as disclosed in the above
identified co-pending application by applying
4
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sealing pressure to both the longitudinal and
transverse adhesive strips while the forms are
traveling in a single orientation and in a single
direction, i.e., the grain direction of the paper.
It will be appreciated, however, that the
transversely extending sealing strips, which will
usually be of greater length than the transverse
sectional length of the longitudinally extending
margin strips, will require greater force between the
cooperating rotary couples (or roll pairs) to effect
the same unit pressure. For example, an 11" wide
document, with a 10-1/2" transverse sealing length,
and with two marginal strips each 1/2" wide (for a
total of 1") wall require 10.5/1 or 10.5 times the
force to effect the same sealing gressure on the
transverse strip as on the longitudinal margin
strips. This can be accomplished if separate
longitudinal sealing wheels and transverse sealing
segments are used, by simply so selecting the spring
force necessary to impact the desired sealing
pressure of about 150 pounds per lineal inch.
In the case o~ a combined
longitudinal/transverse s~aling wheel, this same
result could be accomplished by providing a slightly
reduced diameter on the longitudinal sealing portion
of the sealing wheel to thereby reduce the effective
unit pressure on the longitudinally extending stripe
to more n~axly approximate or equal the unit pressure
on the transverse sealing stripe.
Thus, in accordance with one exemplary
embodiment, perimeter sealing of the form is achieved
by two sets of spring-loaded roll pairs, the upper
roller of each set having enlarged circumferential
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sealing surfaces at opposite ends thereof for sealing
the longitudinal marginal edge portions of the form,
and a transverse sealing bar eattending between the
longitudinal sealing surfaces for sealing the
transverse marginal edge portions of the form.
In this arrangement, the farm is fed toward the
roll pairs until the forward edge of the form engages
a stop gate which serves to establish proper timing
and registration for the form relative to the
transverse sealing bar of the first roll pair. Upon
retraction of the gate, the form will be fed between
the rollers of the first roll pair to thereby
activate the pressure~sensitive adhesive along the
Forward transverse marginal edge and the longitudinal
edges of the form. After the form has passed
completely through the first roll pair, it engages a
second stop gate where timing and registration is
again established to insure engagement of the second
transverse sealing bar with the second or rearward
transverse marginal edge of the form. Upon
retraction of the second gate, the form passes
between the rollers of the second roll pair to
activate the pressure sensitive adhesive along the
rearward transverse marginal edge, while at 'the same
time, the longitudinal marginal edge portions of the
form are again pressed in a redundant or baci~-up
sealing action.
It will be appreciated that the spacing between
the two roll pairs in the direction of travel of the
forms may be adjusted as required. At the same time,
sequencing and control of the gate stops and the
drive means of the two roll pairs may be accomplished
electronically or mechanically in accordance with
0
63423-372
6
conventional control technology. As a result, the
rotational velocity of the rollers and the rate of
feed of the forms may be coordinated so as to permit
the two roll pairs as described above to
longitudinally and transversely seal business forms
of virtually any length, but with a fixed width.
In a second exemplary embodiment, the
longitudinal edge sealing and transverse edge sealing
of each successive form is carried out separately,
i.e., with two roll pairs effecting transverse edge
sealing, substantially as described above, and two _
pair of laterally aligned rollers upstream or
downstream of the two transverse edge sealing roll
pairs for effecting longitudinal edge sealing.
In this second embodiment, the
transverse edge sealing rollers have lengths greater
than the widths of the forms so that the enlarged
circumferential edges of the upper rollers directly
engage surfaces o~ associated lower rollers, and so
that the forms pass between but out of contact with
these enlarged edge surfaces. Thus, the enlarged
edge surfaces have a bearing function only, without
any pressure sealing function.
Flere again, this arrangement may be adapted to
handle any length form. Tn addition, since the
transverse edge sealing rollers have lengths greater
than the width of the forms, the apparatus as
described in this second embodiment can accommodate
forms of different widths when combined with
laterally adjustable longitudinal edge sealing
rollers.
7
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In a third exemplary embodiment of the
invention, a single roll pair may be employed to seal
both the longitudinal and transverse edges of each
form. In this embodiment, the upper roller of the
roll pair has raised circumferential edge surfaces
for sealing the longitudinal edges of the forms, and
a single raised transverse edge sealing bar. Stated
otherwise, the upper roller is relieved in those
areas corresponding to the center area of the form,
within the transverse and longitudinal marginal edges
thereof. This embodiment is intended for dedicated
applications, i.e., where single length and single
width forms are to be processed. Thus, the
transverse sealing bar and the form feed will be
adjusted so that the transverse sealing bar pressure
activates the forward transverse seal and, upon
rotation through 360°, the same bar will pressure
activate the rearward transverse seal. At the same
time, the longitudinal edge seals are pressure
activated by the raised circumferential surfaces at
either end of the upper roller.
It will be appreciated from the above that the
circumference of the pressure roller will be
substantially identical to the form length.
In a fourth exemplary embodiment, two sets of
length-adjustable roll paired are provided in spaced
relationship, in the direction of movement of the
forms, each set having a longitudinal edge and
transwerse edge sealing function. This embodiment
permits perimcster sealing of forms having different
lengths and different widths.
~'o this end, the rollers of each roll pair are
of a telescoped construction so that the length
.~
thereof may be adjusted to accommodate forms of
different widths.
In each of the above described embodiments where
longitudinal and transverse sealing surfaces are
provided on a single roller, the longitudinal edge
sealing surfaces may have slightly reduced diameters
(or radii) as compared to the intermediate roll
diameter (ar radius, as determined by the distance
from the roll center axis to the transverse sealing
surface) in order to more nearly equalize the
longitudinal and transverse sealing pressures.
Thus, in its broader aspects, the present
invention relates to a method of handling business
forms, each having at least two strips of pressure
sensitive adhesive of a predetermined width far
fixing one part of the business form to another part,
and wherein one of the strips of pressure sensitive
adhesive extends substantially perpendicularly to the
other, comprising the step of (a) automatically, in a
continuous, sequential manner, acting on successive
business forms aligned in a predetermined orientation
and fed in one direction of movement to apply a force
thereto sufficient to activate the pressure sensitive
adhesive to fix one part of the form to another, the
force being applied only to the approximate area of
the predetermined widths of flue two strips of
pressure sensitive adhesive, without having to alter
the predetermined orientation or one direction of
movement .
from an apparatus standpoint, the invention
relates broadly to a system for pressure activation
of ~a plurality of pressure sensitive adhesive strips
located in marginal edge portions of a business form,
9
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wherein at least two of the plurality strips are
arranged perpendicular to each other, the apparatus
comprising: a first roll set for activating one of
the two pressure sensitive adhesive strips; a second
roll set for activating the other of the two pressure
sensitive adhesive strips, wherein the first and
second roll sets rotate about parallel axes.
In a related aspect, the invention relates to
apparatus for pressure activation of first and second
longitudinally extending pressure sensitive adhesive
strips located in longitudinal marginal edge portions
of a business form, and third and fourth transversely
extending pressure sensitive adhesive strips located
in transverse marginal edge portions of the business
form, the apparatus comprising: a first roll pair
including upper and lower rollers, one of the upper
and lower rollers formed with enlarged end portions
and a first transverse sealing surface extending
between the enlarged end portions for activating one
of the third and fourth transversely extending
pressure sensitive adhesive strips; a second roll
pair including upper and lower rollers, one of the
upper and lower rollers being formed with enlarged
end portions and a second transverse sealing surface
extending between the enlarged end portions for
activating the other of the third and fourth
transversely extending pressure sensitive adhesive
strips.
Other objects and advantages of the invention
will became apparent from the detailed description
which follows.
to
-~ . ~..r ,.
PRIEF DESCRTPTION of Dg~.NIyJOs
FIGURE 1 is a perspective, ea~ploded view o~ a
business form of the type to be sealed in accordance
with the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the form shown in
Figure I. but in assembled form;
FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a perimeter
pressure roll configuration in accordance with a
First embodiment of the invention;
FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a perimeter
pressure roll configuration in accordance with a
second embodiment of the invention;
FIGURE 5 is a perspectiv~ view of a perimeter
pressure roll configuration in accordance with a
third embodiment of the invention; and
FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a perimeter
pressure roll configuration in accordance with a
fourth embodiment of the invention.
DETl~ILED DESCRIPTION OF TEIE DId.A'HlaNGS
With reference now to Figure 1, a typical
business form 14 of the type which may be handled in
accordance with this invention includes a sheet 12
having a forward edge 14, a rearward edge 16, and
parallel side edges 1S, 20. The sheet also includes
11
at l "~ "~ 'l.' d.~'.~
a transversely extending fol. line 22 which becomes
the rearward edge of the form when folded, while
rearward edge 16 becomes the forward edge, in
alignment with edge 1~.
The form is provided with longitudinally
extending pressure sensitive adhesive strips 2~, 26
extending between the edge 16 and the fold line 22,
and transversely extending pressure sensitive
adhesive strips 28, 30 extending transversely along
the fold edge 22 and along the forward edge 14,
respectively. This arrangement provides a complete
perimeter seal about the form 10 when the latter is
folded, as best seen in Figure 2.
The form 10 is designed to receive one or more
inserts 32, 3~, the inserts being sized so that they
do not come into contact with any of the above
described adhesive strips.
With reference now especially to Figure 2, after
the inserts 32, 3~ have been located within the form
10, in an area inside the marginal portions thereof,
and after folding of the sheet 12 about the fold line
22 (it is not relevant here whether the inserts are
placed in the form before or after folding), the
assembled form comprises upper and lower plies 31, 33
enclosing one or more inserts 32, 34 and is in
condition ~or perimeter pressure sealing which is to
take place along the transverse marginal edges
portions 36, 38 and the longitudinal marginal edge
portions 40, 42. It will be understood, of course,
that the transverse and longitudinal marginal ~dge
portions correspond to the width of the individual
pressure sensitive adhesive strips 24, 26, 28 and
30. It should be understood further that the
12
relative transverse and longitudinal dimensions as
shown in the drawings are exemplary only.
It will also be appreciated that a plurality of
forms 10 may be interconnected by transverse score
lines (ar perforation lines) ira continuous web form,
with longitudinally extending and removable marginal
edge portions having apertures for engaging a
conventional tractor feed mechanism as will be
understood by those skilled in the art.
Alternatively, the forms 10 may be fed individually,
in succession, by conventional pressure feeding
mechanisms.
With reference now to Figure 3, an arrangement
in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of
the invention is illustrated for effecting perimeter
pressure sealing of a plurality of successive forms
10. Specifically, a first roll pair 46 includes an
upper longitudinal edge sealing roller 50, and a
lower cooperating pressure roller 52. The lower
roller has a substantially smooth circumferential
surface S4 extending along the full length of the
roller. xhe upper longitudinal edge pressure sealing
roller 50 is formed with enlarged opposite ends
including longitudinal edge sealing surfaces 56, 58
and a transverse bar including a transverse sealing
surface 60 extending between 'the enlarged ends. Tt
will be understood that the sealing surface 60 may
lie flush with the longitudinal edge sealing surfaces
56, 58. the roll pair as described above, is
preferably spring loaded (in the manner disclosed,
for example, in the commonly assigned parent
application) to permit the introduction of a form 10
0
13
between the rollers of the roll pairs during the
perimeter sealing operation.
It will be appreciated, however, that, absent
some accommodation, the sealing pressure applied by
the longitudinal edge sealing surfaces 56, 58 will be
greater than the transverse sealing effected by
transverse sealing bar surfaces 60, 72. In other
words, and with reference to figure 3, the
longitudinal sealing surfaces 56, 58, 68 and 70 would
apply a high unit pressure when measured in pounds
Per square inch. When the roller rotates to contact
the transverse sealing bar surfaces 60 and 72, the
pounds per square inch drops substantially under the
same spring loading because the sealing surface area
has increased substantially. One way to overcome
this problem is to reduce very slightly the diameter
of the longitudinal sealing surfaces 56, 58, 68 and
70, leaving the transverse sealing bar surfaces 60
and 72 slightly raised relative to the longitudinal
sealing surfaces, so that when the cylinders revolve
to the transverse sealing portion, a greater amount
of unit pressure would be applied to bar surfaces 60
and 72, so as to more nearly equalize the
longitudinal and transverse sealing pressures. Thus,
the relative longitudinal and transverse sealing
surfaces can be varied as a function of the amount of
diameter reduction in the longitudinal sealing
surface portions of the roller. This technique for
equalizing longitudinal and transverse sealing
pressures can be utilized in any of the embodiments
described herein which employ rollers having both
longitudinal and transverse sealing surfaces.
4
14
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v~r~ -m x ~3,
It will also be appreciated that the widths of
the longitudinal edge sealing surfaces S6, S8 are
substantially equal to the widths of the longitudinal
marginal edge portions 40, 42 (figure 2), and the
width of the transverse sealing bar surface 60 is
substantially identical t~ the width of the leading
transverse marginal portion 36. This arrangement
insures that the high pressures necessary to effect
the activation of the pressure sensitive adhesive
strips will not be brought to bear on any portion of
the inserts 32, 34 located between the upper and
lower sheets of tl~e form 10.
Downstream of the roll pair 46, there is located
an identical roll pair 48 which includes an upper
sealing roller 62 and a lower pressure roller 64, the
latter having a substantially smooth circumferential
surface 66 extending the full length of the roller.
Similar to the roller 50, the roller 62 includes
longitudinal marginal edge sealing surfaces 68, 70
located at opposite ends of the roller 62, and a
transverse surface 72 extending between the enlarged
end portions, the surface 72 being flush with
surfaces 68 and 70.
A stop gate 74 is located upstream of the first
roll pair 46 and a second stop gate 76 is located
upstream of the second roll pair 48 for a purpose
described further hereinbelow.
In order to activate the pressure sensitive
adhesive strips 24, 26, 28 and 30 located about the
periphery of the form 30, the form is initially fed
to a first stop location at a stop gate 74, x'his
enables the form ZO to be properly~registered, and
the timing of the form feed with the roller actuation
s
15
~~. ~ ~.3
to be timed, so that, upon lowering o~ the stop gate
74, the form will be introduced into the nip between
rollers 50, 52 so that the transverse sealing surface
60 of roller 50 will engage the form 10 precisely at
the forward transverse marginal edge portion 36 so as
to activate the pressure sensitive adhesive strip
30, At the same time, the longitudinal edge sealing
surfaces 66, 58 of roller 50 apply pressure along the
longitudinal marginal edge portions 40, 42 to
activate the pressure sensitive adhesive straps 24.
26.
Upon exiting the first roll pair 46, the .form 10
is fed to a second stop gate 76 which enables timing
and registration vis-a-vis the second roll pair 48~
At the appropriate time, the gate 76 is lowered so
that the form 10 may be introduced into the nip
between rollers 62, 64. The coordination between the
feed means and the roll actuation means insures that
the transverse edge sealing surface 72 of roller 62
will engage the rearward transverse marginal edge
portion 38 of the form 10. During this rearward
transverse edge sealing step, the longitudinal edge
sealing surfaces 68, 70 of roller 62 carry out a
redundant pressure sealing step as they engage the
longitudinal edge marginal portions 40, 42 which have
already been sealed during passage through, the first
roll pair 46.
~y a judicious spacing of the roll pairs 46, 48
in the direction of movement o~ the forms 10, and
through effective control of the form feed and roller
drive means, it will be appreciated that the
arrangement illustrated in Figure 3 can effect
perimeter edge sealing of forms of virtually any
16
length, but with a fixed width. At the same time,
the arrangement illustrated in ~°igure 3 enables the
form 10 to be sealed not only along the longitudinal
marginal edge portions 40, 42, but also along the
forward and rearward transverse marginal edge
portions 36, 38 while the forth 10 continues to travel
in a single direction, i.e., in a preferred direction
that is parallel with the grain of the paper. This.
then, eliminates the possible wrinkling of the form
as may be experienced in systems where the form
changes direction between longitudinal edge sealing
and transverse edge sealing, such as in the above
identified co-pending parent application.
Smith reference now to Figure 4, a second
exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated
wherein three successive roll pairs 78. 80, 82 are
arranged longitudinally along the direction of travel
o~ a plurality of forms 10. In this second exemplary
embodiment, the first roll pair 78 includes upper and
lower rollers 86, 88, the latter having a
substantially smooth circumferential surface 90. The
upper roll 86 has enlarged ends with bearer surfaces
92, 94 which dixectly engage the circumferential
surface 90 of the roller 88. A transverse sealing
bar having a transv~rse edge sealing surface 96
extends between the enlarged end portions of the
upper roll 86.
The second roll pair 80, located downstream of
the first roll pair 78 a distanc~ greater than the
length of the ~arm 10, includes upper and lower
rollers 96, 98, the latter having a substantially
smooth circumferential surface 100 extending along
the length of the roller. The upper roller 96
. 17
includes enlarged end surfaces with substantially
smooth bearer surfaces 102. 104 which directly engage
the circumferential surface 100 of the roller 98.
Extending between the enlarged end portions of the
taller 96, there is a transverse edge sealing bar
having a transverse edge sealing surface 106.
E'urther downstream of the second roll pair 80, a
distance greater than the length of the form 10,
there are laterally aligned roll pairs 82, 84. The
roll pair 82 includes an upper roll 106 and a lower
roll 108. The upper roller has a substantially
smooth circumferential edge sealing surface 110,
while the lower roller~has a substantially smooth,
circumferential surface 112. The laterally aligned
roll pair 82 includes an upper roller 114, and a
lower roller 116, having upper and lower
circumferential edge sealing surfaces 118, 120,
respectively. The width of each of the rollers 146,
108, 114, 116, corresponds substantially precisely to
the width of the longitudinally extending pressure
sensitive adhesive strips 24, 26 in the marginal edge
portions 40, 42 of the form 10.
In the above described second exemplary
embodiment, the axial length of each roller 86, 88,
96 and 98 of the first and second roll pairs 78, 80
is longer than the width of the forms 10 to be fed
between the rollers. In other words, the
circumferential edge surfaces 92, 94 and 102, 104 of
the upper rollers 86, 96, respectively, do not engage
the forms 10 (they bear directly an surfaces 90, 100)
and have no function with respect to activation of
the pressure sensitive adhesive strips 24, 26 located
18
~~~,~t'~~ ~a ~
along the longitudinal marginal edge portions of the
form.
Tn order to effect longitudinal edge sealing of
the forms 10, the downstream roll pairs 82. 84 are
laterally aligned to correspond to the width of the
forms 10.
In operation, forms 10 are fed into engagement
with an initial stop gate 122 upstream of the first
roll pair 78. Upon registration and coordination
with the roller drive means, the gate 122 is lowered
to permit the form 10 to be introduced into the nip
between the rollers 86, 88 where transverse marginal
edge sealing along the forward marginal edge portion
36 of the form is effected by the transverse edge
sealing surface 96 of the upper roller 86 as it
exerts pressure on pressure sensitive adhesive strip
30. Upon exiting the first roll pair 78, the form
will proceed downstream until it engages a second
stop gate 124 which permits proper registration and
timing relative to the second roll pair 80. When the
gate 124 is lowered, the form 10 ig introduced
between the nip of rollers 96, 98 and the transverse
sealing surface 106 will activate the pressure
sensitive adhesive strip 28 along the rearward
marginal edge portion 38 of the form 10.
after exiting the second roll pair 80, the forms
pass between the longitudinal edge sealing roll
pairs 82, 84 'to activate the pressure sensitive
adhesive strips 24, 26 along the longitudinal
marginal edge portions 40. 42 of succ~asive forms.
By this alternative arrangement, forms of a wide
variety of lengths may be processed through the
system with perimeter sealing effectively carried
s
1g
out, again, without having to change the orientation
or direction of the form.
With reference now to Figure 5, a third
exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown which
includes a single roll pair 126 including an upper
roller 128 and a lower roller 130, the latter having
a substantially smooth circumferential surface 132
extending between the opposite ends of the roller.
the upper roll 128 is provided with enlarged ends
having longitudinal edge sealing surfaces 134, 136
and a transverse sealing bar including a transverse
edge sealing surface 13g extending between and flush
with the longitudinal sealing surfaces 128, 136. It
will be appreciated that the upper roll 128 may be
formed from a cylindrical roller, with areas between
the pressure sealing surfaces removed to form the
pattern of sealing surfaces as shown in Figure S.
In this arrangement, the roll pair 126 is
dedicated to a specific length and width form 10 and
is particularly useful for users who distribute large
numbers of forms of a single size. In other words,
the longitudinal edge sealing surfaces 134, 136 of
the roller 128 are sized specifically to handle a
form 10 with longitudinally extending pressure
sensitive adhesive strips 24, 26 which are spaced
precisely the same distance apart as the longitudinal
edge sealing surfaces 128, 136. In addition., the
circumference of the upper roller 128 is chosen so
that the transverse sealing surface 138 will engage
the forward transverse marginal edge portion 36 of
the form 10 as the form is introduced into the nip
between the rollers, and upon rotation of 360°, the
surface 138 will engage the rearward transverse
20
marginal edge portion 38, to thereby activate the
associated pressure sensitive adhesive strips 30, 28.
Here again, a stop gate 140 is utilized in order
to properly register and align each successive form
with the roller pair 126 to insure precise
engagement of the pressure sesasitive adhesive sealing
activating surfaces of the roll pair with the
corresponding marginal edge portions of the form.
With reference now to Figure 6, a fourth
exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown which
includes first and second roll pairs 142, 144 4the
lower rollers of each pair not shown). The upper
roller 146 of the first roller pair 14.2 includes
enlarged end surfaces 148, 150, the peripheral end
surface 148 being a longitudinal marginal edge
pressure sealing surface ~or engaging longitudinal
marginal edge portion 42 of the form 10~ 'tee
opposite peripheral end surface 150 has a bearing
function only, bearing only upon the lower roller in
a similar manner to the bearing surfaces associated
with roller pairs 78, 80 in the Figure 4 embodiment.
There is also a transverse edge sealing bar including
a transverse edge sealing surface 152 extending
between the surfaces 148, 150. Surface 152 insures
transverse edge sealing of the forward transverse
pressure sensitive adhesives strip 30 of the form 10.
In this arrangement, however, the roller 146 is
constructed of two axial portions 154, 156 in
telescoping relationship to thereby enable the roll
146 to be adjustable in length to thereby accommodate
forms of different widths.
The second roll pair 144 is~substantially
identical to the first roll pair 142 but is reversed
21
so that the pressure sensitive adhesive strip along
the opposite longitudinal marginal edge portion of
the form can be activated. Specifically, the roller
158 is provided with enlarged end portions 160, 162,
the latter being a longitudinal marginal edge
pressure sealing surface for engaging longitudinal
marginal edge portion 40 of the form 10. The
opposite surface 160 has a bearing function only,
engaging directly with the peripheral surface of the
lower roller. A transverse sealing bar extends
between the enlarged ends 160, 162 and includes a
transverse edge sealing surface 164 which lies flush
with surfaces 160, 162. This surface 164 insures
pressure activation of the rearward transverse
pressure sensitive adhesive strip 28.
It will thus be appreciated that by judicious
selection of the longitudinal distance between the
roll pairs 142, 144, and with the appropriate
adjustment of the length of the rollers of each roll
pair, forms of varying lengths and widths may be
processed through the first and second roll pairs to
effect perimeter edge sealing of successive forms 10.
Other arrangements are within the scope of this
invention. For example, the roller pairs 46, 48 of
the embodiment illustrated in Figure ~ and the roller
pairs 78, 80 of the embodiment illustrated in Figure
4 may be constructed in the manner of the
length-adjustable rollers in the roll pairs 142, 160
as shown in Figure 6 to provide additional
flexibilit~r to these perimeter sealing systems,
permitting perimeter sealing of forms of different
lengths and widths.
2~
r~~'" a ~~.'~.~ 3
It will also be appreciated that suitable
conventional drive mechanisms may be utilized in the
above described systems to effect coordination of the
feed mechanism and the rotational velocity of the one
or more roll pairs utilized in any particular
arrangement. For example, a microprocessor may be
utilized to manage the position of the transverse
edge sealing surfaces of the individual roll pairs,
the rotation of the rolls, and the movement of the
stop gates so that the movement of the forms will be
timed with the roll pairs to effect perimeter sealing
in the desired location. .Other drive systems,
including mechanical and/or rotating, encoded pulse
drives may be utilized. Pressures may be applied
between the rollers of the individual roll pairs by
hydraulic or spring loading, and adjustable bearers
may be utilized to prevent or limit radial
displacement of the individual rolls.
It is also contemplated that forms may be
processed through tine above described systems in
either individual, separated form Format or in a
continuous format utilizing a tractor feed for
registration. Since it is imperative to eliminate
the conflict of meter feeding (tractor feed) and
pressure feeding, the rollers would either be caromed
apart between forma or the rollers would have built
in pressure relief between the forms.
Depending upon the pattern of pressure sensitive
adhesive, engraved or relievod roll pairs can also be
relieved on the pressure surfaces so that only
intermittent sealing is achieved. In this way, the
paper web could be run incrementally faster or slower
than the rollers. Within a small range of sizes of
23
form heights, one pair of rollers could accommadate
different repeats, as the form would be
intermittently buckled or stretched during "spot"
sealing.
While the invention has been described in
connection with what is presently considered to be
the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to
be understood that the invention is not to be limited
to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is
intended to cover various modifications and
equivalent arrangements included within the spirit
and scope of the appended claims.
