U.S. patent number 3,596,899 [Application Number 04/859,020] was granted by the patent office on 1971-08-03 for method of producing web units.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Paper Converting Machine Company, Inc.. Invention is credited to James B. Fulk.
United States Patent |
3,596,899 |
Fulk |
August 3, 1971 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
METHOD OF PRODUCING WEB UNITS
Abstract
A method of producing web units wherein at least two units are
simultaneously processed while in superimposed relation, and
thereafter the units are laterally separated -- the invention
finding particular utility in connection with business forms.
Inventors: |
Fulk; James B. (Monte Sereno,
CA) |
Assignee: |
Paper Converting Machine Company,
Inc. (Green Bay, WI)
|
Family
ID: |
25329786 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/859,020 |
Filed: |
September 18, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
270/52.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41F
17/02 (20130101); B65H 45/20 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B41F
17/02 (20060101); B41F 17/00 (20060101); B65H
45/12 (20060101); B65H 45/20 (20060101); B65h
041/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;270/4,5,7,8,9,10,18,32,52,52.5,61R,61F |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Skogquist; Harland S.
Claims
I claim:
1. A method of producing a plurality of web units comprising:
simultaneously at least two of said units while the same are in
superposed relation, and thereafter laterally separating said units
for further processing.
2. The method of claim 1 in which said units are initially
processed separately.
3. The method of claim 2 in which said initial processing includes
the step of printing.
4. The method of claim 1 in which said simultaneous processing
includes one or more of the following:
cross perforation, file hole punching, crash numbering, crimp
locking, line hole punching, or a like operation adapted for use
with business forms.
5. The method of claim 1 in which each web unit is a single
thickness web.
6. The method of claim 1 in which at least one of said web units
includes a plurality of web thicknesses.
7. The method of claim 1 in which said web units are folded
subsequent to lateral separation.
8. The method of claim 7 in which said web units are zigzag
folded.
9. The method of claim 1 in which one of said web units is skewed
twice.
10. The method of claim 9 in which said one web unit is guided
during the second skewing.
11. The method of claim 9 in which said web units are folded about
a common axis.
12. The method of claim 11 in which the folding of one web unit is
longitudinally spaced from the folding of an adjacent web unit.
13. The method of claim 1 in which said web units are slack during
lateral separation.
14. The method of claim 13 in which said web units are engaged by
pinned belts after lateral separation.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The advantages of the invention can be most quickly understood when
discussed in terms of the manufacture of business forms; however,
it will be appreciated that the invention is adapted for many
diverse applications In the manufacture of business forms,
particularly when increased production is desired, the art has
turned to wider machines. In a typical business form machine, webs
are unwound from parent rolls, directed through printing units,
thereafter conducted through processing units (commonly referred to
as "specifications") which can include operations such as across
perforation, pinhole punching, crash numbering, crimp locking,
line-hole punching, etc., and are thereafter zigzag folded. When
the art has faced the problem of needed increased production, these
machines have been made wider. Where the printing mechanism has
been made wider, immediate disadvantages attend. The widening of
the printing press plate has necessitated increasing the diameter,
which, in turn, necessitated additional plates, creating problems
of register, cost of the machine, etc. The advantages of the narrow
parent rolls of web material, which include superior quality and
greater handleability are also lost when wider machines are turned
to. In particular, the various specifications have to be duplicated
across the web when wider machines are utilized. These
disadvantages are avoided, and corresponding advantages provided
through the practice of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The invention is described in conjunction with an illustrative
embodiment in the accompanying drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus incorporating teachings
of this invention; and
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1
looking essentially forward in the direction of web travel, as from
the station designated A in FIG. 1.
In the illustration given, and with particular reference to FIG. 1,
the numeral 10 designates generally an unwind mechanism. The unwind
mechanism 10, as illustrated, supports a pair of parent rolls 11
and 12. The material unwound from the parent rolls is termed herein
as a web unit, and the term "web unit" can refer to either a single
thickness of web material or to a plurality of thicknesses of web
material. It will also be appreciated that a number of parent rolls
can be unwound simultaneously, but, for the purpose of ease in
explaining the invention, a simple version is presented. The unwind
mechanism 10 is seen to be equipped with additional mandrels, as at
13, which are used to carry replacement parent rolls so that
substantially continuous operation is achieved. For example, after
a given parent roll 11 or 12 is exhausted, the unwind mechanism 10
is rotated 180.degree. (as illustrated) to position a new parent
roll for supplying a web-- this being spliced to the trailing edge
of the web issuing from the exhausted parent roll.
In the illustration given, the web units 14 and 15 are advanced
into a first processing station generally designated 16. In the
illustration given, this is a printing press arrangement which
permits separate processing or printing of the webs 14 and 15.
Thus, it is possible to impress different information on the
different web units 14 and 15. As indicated previously, it is
possible to increase the number of web units, and it will be
appreciated that in such instance it is possible to increase the
number of printing presses provided in the station 16. For example,
the numeral 17 designates the adjustment hand knob of the press
portion which imprints the web unit 14, while the numeral 18
designates the adjustment hand knob for the press portion employed
to print the web unit 15.
After the web units have been initially processed separately, the
same are brought together in superposed relation for simultaneous
processing of the character hereinbefore indicated. For example,
the superimposed webs are directed to a file hole punch 19, thence
to a line hole punch 20, thence to another file hole punch 21, and
thereafter to a cross perforator 22. Details of the foregoing type
of simultaneous processing can be seen in my earlier patents.
The superposed web units 14 and 15 are advanced by the tractor unit
23 just prior to the lateral separation operation which can be seen
by reference to FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the webs 14 and 15 pass over an
idler roll 24 suitably supported on the main frame 25. The upper
web unit 14 (in the illustration shown) follows a direct path
(i.e., no lateral translation) to the folding mechanism generally
designated 26. The web 14 is seen to pass under another idler roll,
as at 27, before entering an upward run, as at 28, just prior to
being zigzag folded.
The lower web unit 15 is directed around an idler roll 29, and then
over a skewed member 30. This results in the festooning depicted in
the central lower portion of FIG. 2, the web unit 15 passing around
a stationary drum 31. Thereafter the travel of the web 15 includes
passing over a second skewed member 32 which is seen to be equipped
with guide elements 33. Thereafter the web follows a path generally
upwardly, engaging suitable idler rolls as at 34 for entering the
folding mechanism 26.
It will be seen that the net result of the operations described
thus far is the same as that which would have been achieved with a
"two wide" machine, but without any of the attendant disadvantages.
Among the advantages that attend the use of the invention is that
it permits using one around plates because the cylinder is small
diameter and can run at high speed, i.e., in excess of about 1,000
feet per minute. With a wider plate cylinder there is the
disadvantageous deflection which renders high speed operation
difficult. The invention also permits the use of different colors
and different kinds of paper. It will be appreciated that an
important advantage of the invention, particularly from the
standpoint of the user, is the reduced cost of the machine. Using
narrower parent rolls means that they are easier to control, and
narrower parent rolls conventionally are superior, wider rolls
often having loose edges, etc. The inventory through the use of the
invention is the normal inventory for multiple copy forms, since
the usual parent roll inventory is maintained for narrow machines.
The invention also makes possible the running of two jobs at one
time, which, in turn, permits reduction of the inventory of stock
forms, i.e., finished goods forms. As indicated previously, all of
the specifications, i.e., file hole, line hole, etc., are easier to
set up because this is required only once rather than two or more
times. The artisan does not have to "match up" the two setups. The
important "make ready" time is greatly reduced.
In the illustration given, the folding mechanism 26 can also be
seen in FIG. 1. As the webs 14 and 15 change direction by virtue of
being partially wrapped about turnaround member 35, the webs
proceed downwardly, and are conducted in a controlled fashion by
means of pinned belts associated with tractor units 36 and 37. It
will be appreciated that these units are essentially the same as
the tractor unit 23.
The webs thereafter enter a zigzag folder, a portion of which can
be seen in FIG. 2. The zigzag folder portion seen in FIG. 2 is
constructed according to the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 3,195,882.
The folding rolls are two-wide to accommodate the two webs 14 and
15. The rear folding roll 38, which, as indicated, is "two-wide",
thus has the folding elements for the two webs disposed about a
common axis. These elements are offset from each other, as can be
appreciated from the gripper elements 39 and 40, so that the
folding of one web unit is longitudinally spaced from the folding
of an adjacent web unit.
The folding mechanism 26 is run at high speed, and this is
facilitated through the slack introduced in the web units,
hereinbefore referred to.
It will be appreciated that other arrangements of apparatus are
comprehended within the scope of this invention. For example, in
certain instances, it may be desirable to utilize rewind elements
following lateral separation, instead of utilizing the folding
mechanism described herein. However, the zigzag folder described
herein operates advantageously in conjunction with multiple copy
forms seen issuing at the extreme left in FIG. 1 which are
collected on suitable descenders 41.
I cannot emphasize sufficiently the advantages that accrue from
utilizing the narrower machine. Those skilled in the art have found
that serious speed limitations inhere with wider machines at many
positions or stations along the machine, i.e., at all
specifications. In the present machine, the only wider element is
the folder mechanism 36. By having a common shaft but individual
grippers for the two web units-- the grippers being individually
actuated-- I have avoided any speed limitations that ordinarily
would arise from the wider folding mechanism.
* * * * *