US3543622A

US3543622A - Severing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3543622A
Application number: US693585A
Authority: US
Inventors: Christopher R Rice
Original assignee: Polaroid Corp
Current assignee: Polaroid Corp
Priority date: 1967-12-26
Filing date: 1967-12-26
Publication date: 1970-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 1987-12-01

Description

United States Patent 797,886 8/1905 Deely lnventor Christopher R. Rice Wakefield, Massachusetts 693,585

Dec. 26, 1967 Dec. 1, 1970 Polaroid Corporation Cambridge, Massachusetts a corporation of Delaware Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee SEVERING APPARATUS 25 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl .I 83/117, 83/342, 83/346, 83/672 Int. Cl B26d 1/56 Field ofSearch..... 83/116, 117, 342, 346, 347, 672, 677, 663, 665, 659

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,158,180 10/1915 Cohn 83/346 1,577,619 3/1926 Gammeter 83/342 1,580,916 4/1926 Putt 83/342 2,183,722 12/1939 Newman. 83/342X 2,257,336 9/1941 Feurt 83/341X 3,071,175 1/1963 Karkoska 83/672X 3,247,746 4/1966 Nystrand 83/342 FOREIGN PATENTS 931,256 10/1947 France 83/342 Primary Examiner-James M. Meister Attorneys-Brown and Mikulka, William D. Roberson and James L. Neal ABSTRACT: This disclosure involves a pair of rollers for drawing sheet material therebetween and severing the sheet material as it is drawn between the rollers. The rollers are disclosed in conjunction with apparatus for laminating a succession of discrete sheet segments to a continuous web and severing the web between each segment.

Patented Dec. 1, 1970 Sheet 2 of 2 llllllll l IIII LINE us VAC fi/wwozazjma.

agma ATTORNEYS BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A This invention concerns severing apparatus wherein a pair of rollers are cooperatively mounted for drawing sheet material therebetween and severing the sheet material as it is drawn between them. One roller includes a blade means and blade supporting-means which is easily adjustable or removable. The other roller includes cooperating anvil means which is wide relative to the blade means. As sheet material is drawn between the rollers, it is squeezed between the blade means and the anvil means and severed.

In a preferred embodiment, this invention is used in conjunction with apparatus for laminating a succession of photographic prints to a continuous transparent plastic sheet and severing the plastic sheet between each print. This apparatus has a particular use in the production of identification cards from a photographic print bearing desired identification information. Photographic prints of the type produced by the wellknown color diffusion transfer process are of particular ad- The larninator must be capable of rapid continuous operation. Accordingly, the severing means involved must require little maintenance and be easy to remove and replace or repair when maintenance is required. The apparatus of this invention accomplishes these objectives. Since the blade means is mounted upon an easily removable support and the anvil is wide relative to the blade means, the support and the blade means may quickly be removed, replaced and alined with the anvil, precise registration between the blade and the anvil not being necessary since the' blade will cooperate with any portion of the relatively wide anvil.

Another advantage of the apparatus of this invention is its economy. In the preferred embodiment of the invention subsequently disclosed in detail, the blade means comprises means defining an elongated rounded surface, such as a wire,

disposed along the support means. It will be appreciated that the rounded surface defined by the wire is capable of squeezing the sheet material between it and the anvil means until the vantage. These photographic products include a sheet of photosensitive material and a color print-receiving layer which are superposed during development of the color negative and production of the color print. Thereafter, the printreceiving layer is stripped from the photosensitive sheet.

When freshly stripped from the photosensitive material theprint is wet and if, while it is in this wet condition, it is pressed against the surface of a rigid or sernirigid vinyl having a suitable coating with a hydrolyzed surface; a virtually indestructible bond is formed between the hydrolyzed surface and wet surface of the color print. This bond and the materials necessary for the formation thereof are described in a US.

Pat. application in the names of Howard C. Haas and Harold O. Buzzell, Ser. No. 451,894, filed Apr. 29, 1965, and entitled, Laminations.

It is anticipated that the photographic positive print will be laminated to the hydrolyzed vinyl surface immediately after it is stripped from the photosensitive material and thus while it remains wet. If, however, the print is allowed to dry prior to lamination, the lamination may be effected by wetting either the hydrolyzed surface or the image-bearing surface of the print prior to pressing the print and the hydrolyzed surface together.

High pressures are not necessary to achieve the bond, contact is sufficient, but firm pressure is necessary during the laminating operation to insure complete surface-to-surface contact of the photographic print and the hydrolyzed surface and to expel air which may tend to be trapped between the two layers.

The herein disclosed preferred embodiment of this invention includes a pair of rollers having resilient, engaging surfaces; severing means on one roller; anvil means on the other roller; means for supporting a continuous plastic web supply and means to guide the end of the web and the print into the nip of the rollers. The print and the plastic web pass between the rollers upon rotation thereof, the wet surface of the photographic print and the hydrolyzed surface of the web being arranged in face-to-face contact. Contact is assured by the engaging surfaces of the rollers and since the surfaces of the lamina adhere to each other upon contact, the lamination is formed as the materials pass between the rollers without the BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of one preferred embodiment of the severing apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2 ,is a view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 taken along the common tangent of the pair of rollers;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic wiring diagram of an electrical control system useful in connection with the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional end view of another embodiment of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the severing apparatus of this invention will now be described in connection with the laminating and severing apparatus discussed above and shown in FIGS. 1-4.

Rollers l0 and 12, of equal radius, are mounted for rotation about parallel axes in housing 14. A spool 16, carrying a roll of the continuous plastic sheet 18, is rotatably mounted in housing 14 and located

adjacent rollers

10 and 12 such that the leading end of sheet 18 is drawn over roller 12 and engaged in nip 19 of the rollers. An element 20, on housing 14, includes a tapered slot 22 for guiding a photographic print 24 into the nip of the rollers so that it will. be drawn between the rollers upon rotation thereof.

Rollers

10 and 12 may consist primarily of relatively rigid

cylindrical portions

26 and 28 mounted on

shafts

30 and 32, abutting

resilient sleeves

34 and 36 covering

portions

26 and 28, severing means 38 on roller 10 and means 40 on roller 12 forming an anvil for cooperation with severing means 38.

Severing means 38 is mounted in cutout portion 42 of roller 10 and comprises a blade means for severing sheet 18, support means 44 for the blade means and bearing plate 46. The blade means may be characterized by means defining an elongated rounded surface which, in the preferred embodiment, takes the form of wire 48 having a diameter substantially equal to the thickness of sheet 18. The wire is attached to support means 44 by wrapping it around screws 50 in the ends of the support means and tightening the screws. Severing means 38 also includes support screws 52 and setscrews 54 for properly positioning the blade means.

Support means 44 forms an elongated bar, complementary in shape to cutout portion 42, having one arcuate side 56 with a radius substantially equal to the radius of roller m. The support means includes unthreaded openings 58 having shoulders 60 for accommodating the support screws and threaded openings 62 for the setscrews. The support means is adapted to be mounted within the roller, adjacent its surface, so that its arcuate surface conforms generally to the cutout of the roller, the exact position of the support means being determined by adjustment of the aforesaid means. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. l3, the arcuate surface of support means 44 is located radially inward of the uncompressed resilient surface 34 of roller by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of wire 48. Preferably the blade means, or wire, is disposed along the arcuate surface of the support means at approximately a 4 angular orientation to the axis of roller 10, helically of its axis.

Bearing plate 6, setscrews 54 and support screws 52 serve to accurately orient arcuate surface 56 relative to the surface of roller 10 and anvil means 40. The bearing plate is located at the innermost surface of cutout portion 42 of roller 10 to distribute the forces applied thereto by the setscrews.

Support screws 52 each include threaded shaft portion 64, unthreaded shaft portion 66 and enlarged head portion 68. The head portioncooperates with shoulder 60 and is configured for a flush fit with the arcuate surface of support means 44. setscrews 54 are threaded along their entire lengths and include setscrews for permitting engagement thereof by an appropriate wrench or the like. Head portions 72 of the setscrews are configured for a flush fit with arcuate surface 56 of support means 44.

Support screws 52 pass through openings 74 in support means 44, through openings 76 in bearing plate 46 and into threaded openings 78 in roller 10. Screws 52 are turned down into openings 78 until arcuate surface 56 of the support means is located at approximately the correct position. Setscrews are then adjusted relative to plate 46 for moving the support means radially outward of roller 10 until it is held tightly between head portions 68 of support screws 52 and the locations at which the setscrews bear against plate 46. Support screws 52 and setscre'ws 54, are then adjusted until wire 48 is accurately positioned for continuous contact with anvil means 40.

Anvil means 40 defines a bar which includes arcuate surface 80 having a radius substantially equal to the radius of roller 12. Anvil means 40 further includes unthreaded openings 58 having shoulders 60 through which screws 52 may pass. Roller 12 includes two threaded openings 78 for mating with the thread shank portions 64 of screws 52. Screws are passed through openings 58 and turned into threaded openings 78 to properly locate surface 80 of anvil means 40.

The anvil forms a rigid, relatively incompressible surface, substantially wider than the blade means for cooperation with severing means 38 to perform the severing operation. The blade means may cooperate with any portion of the anvil means and since the anvil means is substantially wider than the blade means, the two parts do not have to be precisely alined axially of the rollers to mate. The only adjustment necessary is the above-described radial alinement effected by the support screws and setscrews.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention herein described, arcuate surface 80 is positioned radially outward of the axis of roller 12 by a distance equal to the uncompressed radius of the roller so it is flush with the uncompressed resilient surface of the roller.

Since

resilient sleeves

34 and 36 abut and surface 56 of support means 44 is located radially inward of the uncompressed resilient surface of roller 10 by a distance equal to the thickness of wire 48 and since surface 80 of anvil means 40 is flush with the uncompressed resilient surface of roller I2, the wire engages surface 80 once per revolution of the rollers to perform the severing operation.

Thelaminating and severing apparatus may be electrically driven in a manner described below. When the drive means is activated, the rollers make one complete revolution and automatically stop. The position from which they start and at which they stop is shown in FIG. 1, that position being the one occupied by the rollers just subsequent to the completion of the severing operation, which operation will also be subsequently described.

A color print 24, when first stripped from the image-receiving negative is wet and while in this wet condition, it is inserted in tapered slot 22 in member 20 until it abuts the blade means and the leading end of sheet 18 near the nip of

rollers

10 and 12. Actuating button 82 (FIG. 1) of switch 34 (FIG. is then depressed to cause the electrical drive means to drive the rollers such that photographic print 24 and plastic sheet 18 are drawn therebetween in face-to-face contact. The print and sheet are compressed between the rollers so that the wet surface of color print 24 is pressed evenly against the hydrolyzed surface of sheet 18, whereby the surfaces are securely bonded together in the manner described in the above-mentioned Haas and Buzzell U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 451,894.

The linear extent of the circumference of each of the rollers is slightly greater than the length of the photographic print, thus upon one revolution of the rollers the photographic print will pass completely between the nip of the rollers. Severing means 38 and anvil means 46 are at least as long as sheet 18 is wide and are so arranged in

rollers

10 and 12, respectively, that they cooperate to sever plastic sheet material I8 at the nip of the rollers after photographic print 24 has completely passed therethrough. Thus, upon one revolution of rollers 10' and 12, the lamination of the photographic print to the plastic web is effected and the plastic web is severed. The severed laminate drops down chute 84 and the rollers are abruptly stopped in this postsevering position. The new leading edge of sheet 18 remains gripped in the nip of

rollers

10 and 12, between resilient abutting

surfaces

34 and 36. The rollers are appropriately positioned for insertion of another print and repetition of the laminating and severing operation.

Blade means, or wire 48, is preferrably installed in roller 10 in slightly helical fashion, as described above. This construction causes the severing operation to begin along one edge of plastic sheet 18 and proceed thereacross, in scissorlike fashion, to the other edge. The cut established by this apparatus is superior to that effected by apparatus forming a simultaneous cut across the width of the web since the cut which proceeds from edge to edge is easier to produce and creates less shock on the machine than the simultaneous cut. It should, however, be understood that blade means 38 may be alined parallel to the rotational axis of roller 10 to effect the entire cut at once, if so desired. The cut produced by the helical blade arrangement does not extend across the web in precise perpendicular alinement to the edge of the web, but proceeds at an angle slightly larger than This result is not objectionable since the laminated print is to be subjected to a further operation for trimming it to a precise size and shape.

The rotational displacement of blade means 48 and anvil means 40 from the nip of

rollers

10 and 12 is equal, as may be seen in FIG. 3. This relationship is maintained by a gearing system interconnecting the two rollers and connecting them to an electric drive motor 52. The gearing system, as well as the electric motor, is mounted in housing 86 and may be of any appropriate conventional construction, not shown. When wire 48 and anvil 40 move toward and to the severing position at the nip of

rollers

10 and 12, wire 48 presses against sheet 18 and squeezes the sheet between the wire and anvil means 40. As the wire moves into substantial engagement with anvil means 40, sheet 18 is squeezed to the extent that it is completely severed.

The schematic wiring diagram shown in FIG. twill now be described in relation to the operation of the laminating and severing apparatus. The rotation of

rollers

10 and 12 must be terminated in an abrupt and positive manner just after completion of the severing operation so they will be properly positioned for beginning the next laminating and severing cycle. The rollers tend to continue rotation, due to momentum,

after the power is cut ofi. If this continued rotation is permitted, the rollers will move past the desired postsevering stopping position. This overtravel will cause the rollers to be positioned such that the severing operation of the next laminating and severing cycle will be completed prior to the completion of one revolution of the rollers and thus be completed prior to completion of the laminating operation.

A capacitor discharge electric brake is effective for securing the desired stopping action. Switch means 88, operative in response to eccentric cam 90 on rotary shaft 32, and switch 84 establish a sequence of operation whereby armature winding 92 of motor 94 is energized to initiate rotation, capacitor 96 is charged, the line current to winding 92 and capacitor 96 is cut off in response to one revolution of rollers and 12 and the capacitor discharges to apply a direct current across winding 92 to terminate rotation. Application of direct current across the armature winding induces a magnetic. force therein which locks the armature of motor 94, and thus all rotary parts, against further rotation.

The operation will now be described in more detail. After insertion of print 24 into the

nip'of rollers

10 and 12 as described above, button 82 is depressed to close momentary contact switch 84 to thereby complete the circuit through winding 92'and through line 98, diode 100, resistor 102 and capacitor 96. This serves to initiate rotation of all rotary parts including cam 90 and to begin charging capacitor 96.

Cam 90 is so constructed that raised portion 104 thereof is effective to urge plunger 106 in a first direction against the bias of spring 108. When the plunger is so

moved contact arms

110 and 112, which form a part of the staggered throw, double pole, double throw switch means 88, are in contact with

poles

114 and 116, respectively. Upon initial rotation of cam 90, plunger 106 rides off raised portion 104 of the cam such that the force of spring 108 moves the plunger in a second direction, oppositeto the first. In response to movement of plunger 106 in the second direction, contact arm 1 10 moves from pole 114 into contact with pole 118 thus shunting momentary contact switch 84 so that the circuit remains completed after momentary contact switch 84 is opened. Just subsequent to movement of contact arm 110, contact arm 112 moves from pole 116 to unconnected pole 120. After one revolution of

rollers

10 and 12 and cam 90, thus just after the completion of the severing operation, portion 104 of the cam moves plunger 104 back in the first direction to reverse the switching action. Contact arm 112 first moves away from pole I 120 and into contact with pole 116; then arm 110 moves from pole 118 to pole 114. Movement of arm 110 from pole 11% opens the circuit thus disconnecting winding 92 and all other components, including capacitor 96, from the line current. Connection of arm 110 with pole 114, however, completes a circuit through winding 92, capacitor96, "resistor 102, line 122, pole 116, arm 112, pole 114 and arm 110 to allow the capacitor to discharge and thereby apply the aforesaid direct current across winding-92 to terminate rotation. Switch means 88 is now in the position it occupied prior to closure of switch I 84 and the rollers have been stopped at the desired postsevering position. The laminating apparatus is thus ready for reactuation. I

It should of course be understood that the laminating apparatus and the drive means and circuitry therefor are shown and described by way of example only and that'the severing apparatus defined by the claims is of general application.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 5.

Rollers

124 and 126 are firm and relatively incompressible. Severing means 38 is mounted in roller 124 so that arcuate surface 56 of support means 44 is located substantially flush with the surface of roller 124. The severing element, which takes the form of wire 48, is drawn helically across the support means. Roller 126 presents a continuous firrn surface so that the zone thereof which cooperates with severing means 38 comprises the anvil means.

Rollers

124 and 126 are spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to their combined radii plus the thickness of wire 48. The apparatus of FIG. 5 operates identically to the apparatus discussed above. It should be observed however, that for sheet 128 to be drawn between rollers 1245 and 126 and compressed, it must be at least somewhat thicker than the width of gap 130 formed at the nip of the rollers.

A further embodiment of the invention may involve apparatus similar to that shown in FIG. 5 wherein wire 4% is simply drawn across the firm surface of roller 124 and the rollers are spaced apart by a distance equaling not less than the sum of their combined radii plus the diameter of the wire.

It should also be noted that apparatus may be constructed according to this invention wherein one roller is characterized by a-resilient surface and the other is characterized by a firm surface.

Obviously, the rollers may be of different radii; for example, when the anvil bearing roller presents a continuous relatively firm surface and when the rollers include several appropriately spaced severing means or anvil means or both.

Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. Severing apparatus comprising:

a. a pair of rollers cooperatively mounted for drawing sheet material therebetween;

b. relatively firm support means extending across one of said rollers, the axial extent of said support means along the one roller being not less than the width of the portion of said sheet material to be severed;

c. blade means comprising an elongated flexible member having a rounded severing surface, said member being drawn tautly along said support means; and

d. a relatively firm, smooth anvil surface extending across the other roller for intermittent cooperative severing action with said blade means upon rotation of said rollers, whereby said sheet material is severed as it is drawn between said rollers. I

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said rollers has a resilient surface.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the surfaces of said rollers abut.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein both said rollers have resilient surfaces.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said rollers abut.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said blade means is helically disposed about said one roller.

7'. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the surface of said support means upon which saidblade means is supported the surfaces of 'is of arcuate configuration.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said blade means comprises a wire drawn tautly over said arcuate surface.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said wire is helically disposed along said arcuate surface.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said rollers have resilient abutting surfaces. I

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein:

a. said blade means is positioned adjacent the surface of the one said roller at a distance from the axis thereof not in excess of the uncompressed radius of said one roller; and

b. said anvil means is positioned adjacent the surface of the other of said rollers at a distance from said other axis thereof not less than the uncompressed radius of said other roller.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising means for variably adjusting said distance between said blade means and said axis of said one roller.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said adjusting means is effective to independently vary the said distance between said blade means and said axis of said one roller at least two spaced locations.

14. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said rollers are mounted for rotation about coplanar axes to form a nip for rig said sheet material therebetween, said axes being ,d apart by a distance not exceeding the compressed radii r d rollers and less than the compressed radii of said rollers s the thickness of said sheet material.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said blade means is positioned adjacent the surface of said one roller at a distance from the axis thereof substantially equal to the uncompressed radius of said one roller plus the thickness of said sheet material 16. Apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising adjusting means for varying the radial distance between said blade means and said axis of said one roller.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said adjusting means is effective to independently vary said radial distance between said blade means and said axis of said one roll at least two spaced locations.

l8. Severing apparatus comprising:

a. a pair of rollers having abutting resilient surfaces, said rollers being cooperatively mounted for drawing sheet material therebetween;

b. relatively firm support means defining a smooth arcuate supporting surface extending across one of said rollers, the axial extent of said supporting surface being not less than width of the portion of said sheet material to be severed;

c. a taut wire laid across the outer periphery of said arcuate supporting surface, helically of said one roller with its opposite ends releasably connected to said support means; and

d. a relatively firm, smooth arcuate anvil surface extending across the other roller for intermittent cooperation with said taut wire to sever said sheet material between said taut wire and said anvil surface upon rotation of said rollers as said sheet material is drawn between said rollers.

19. Severing apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising means for variably adjusting the position of said support means radially of said one roller.

20. Severing apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the rotational axes of said resilient rollers are parallel and spaced apart by a distance not exceeding the sum of the uncompressed radii of said rollers 21. Severing means according to claim 1 further comprising means for variably adjusting the position of said support means radially of said one roller.

22. Apparatus for laminating in face-to-face relation, a pair of sheet materials, at least one of which is in continuous web form, and severing portions of said web laminated to the other of said materials from the remainder of said web, said apparatus comprising in combination:

a. a pair of rollers having resilient surfaces cooperatively mounted for drawing said sheet materials therebetween in face-to-face relationship;

b. relatively firm support means defining a smooth arcuate support surface extending across one of said rollers, the axial extent of said support surface along the one roller being not less than the width of the portion of said sheet to be severed;

c. a flexible wire laid tautly across the outer periphery of said smooth support surface and releasably connected to said support means; and d. relatively firm smooth arcuate anvil means extending paratus com rising in combination:

a. a pair 0 rollers, at least one of which has a resilient sur face, cooperatively mounted for rotation about substantially parallel axes for drawing said sheet materials therebetween in face-to-face relationship, said rollers being mounted for rotation about fixed parallel axes;

b. relatively firm support means defining a smooth arcuate support surface extending across one of said rollers, the axial extent of said support means along the one roller being not less than the width of the portion of said sheet to be severed;

c. a flexible wire laid tautly across the outer periphery of said smooth support surface and releasably connected to said support means; and

d. a relatively firm smooth arcuate anvil surface extending across the other roller for intermittent cooperative severing action with said wire upon rotation of said rollers, the radial distance from the rotational axis of the one roller to the surface of said wire which cooperates with said anvil surface plus the radial distance from the rotational axis of the other roller to said anvil surface not exceeding the sum of the uncompressed radii of said rollers, whereby a leading portion of said continuous web may be continuously compressively engaged between said rollers and said continuous web will be severed as said sheet materials are drawn between rollers.

24. Apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said support means defines an arcuate surface substantially conforming to the configuration of the arcuate surface of said roller and wherein said wire is helically disposed about said support means so that all portions of the surface of said wire which cooperate with said anvil surface of said wire which cooperate with said anvil surface are radially displaced equally from the rotational axis of the one roller.

25. Apparatus according to claim 24 further comprising means for variably adjusting the position of said support surface, and thereby the position of said wire, radially of said one roller.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION pa ent No, 3,543,622 Dated December 1, 1970 Inventor(s) chrlstopher Rice It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 28, "setscrews" should read Setscrews line 29, "setscrews" should read sockets 70 Column 6 line 68, "said other" should read the Column 7, line 1, after "at" insert." at line 7, "compressed" should read uncompressed Column 8, line 10, "outer" should read other Signed and sealed this 30th day of May 1972.

,(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Pate