GB2370531A

GB2370531A - Laminating machine

Info

Publication number: GB2370531A
Application number: GB0124969A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Herrera Jose Manuel Fernandez
Original assignee: Ferman Ind S L
Current assignee: Ferman Ind S L
Priority date: 2000-10-18
Filing date: 2001-10-17
Publication date: 2002-07-03
Anticipated expiration: 2021-10-17
Also published as: DE10150751A1; GB0124969D0; GB2370531B

Abstract

A laminating machine comprising an application roller 7 and an opposing surface 9 tangential to the application roller, protective material supply means 4 and means 6a, 10, 9e (figure 3) to ensure the protective material is applied the material to be protected with the correct alignment. The opposing surface comprises a continuous conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is driven by toothed, lateral belts 9e at its edges which ensures that its movement is never out-of square.

Description

LAMINATING MACHINE

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

5 The present invention refers to a laminating machine that can be used to apply laminar pieces of plastic covering and/or protection to flat surfaces such as documents, plans posters, etc. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Lamination can currently be made with self-adhesive vinyl, application tape, etc. onto documents, plans posters and other flat surfaces to plastify and/or protect them. 15 This lamination is carried out by laminating machines that are made up of a rotating applicator roller that presses against another opposing roller, with at least one of them being motorised, and both the protective material and the material to be protected pass simultaneously over the tangential area between both rollers by traction, causing the sticking together of both materials due to the pressure of the 20 rollers.

The protective material has a web of release material such as silicone paper covering the adhesive side, and this component is fed from a roll with a roller/rewinding mechanism that removes the silicone protective paper from the adhesive face of the protection material before it is stuck on, while the material to be 25 protected is placed on a platform on the machine itself and slides on the same when drawn along by the rollers.

The problem arising from this type of machine is that the rollers frequently catch one corner of the edge of the material to be protected before the other, and the material enters at an angle in the application zone, causing defective lamination.

30 Also, when applications are carried out in series, because there is an area of

-2 separation between two materials to be protected when they pass between the rollers, the adhesive on the protective material often sticks to the lower roller, following its rotational movement and the machine must be stopped to avoid damage to the same and to the protective materials and those to be protected.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The machine of the invention optimises the lamination in a simple manner since it leads the material to be protected on a conveyor belt, preferably anti-adhesive 10 and of very large area instead of dragging the same, thus solving the problems described. The machine of this invention comprises an application roller and an opposing surface which is tangential to the application roller, at least one of the roller 15 and surface being motorised; and protective material supply means; characterized in that the opposing surface comprises a continuous conveyor belt; and in that there are means to ensure the protective material is not applied 20 to the material to be protected with out-of- square alignment: The means of avoiding out-of-square preferably comprises two lateral toothed belts attached to the conveyor belt, and running over pairs of toothed wheels that turn at the same rate and cooperate in the drive of the belt.

Movable and adjustable guides are advantageously provided for at least one of the protective material and the material to be protected.

The protection material supply means desirably comprises support means for 30 said material and means of collecting unwanted backing material that protects the

-3 adhesive face of the protective material.

The protective material support means optionally includes a brake to regulate the tension of the protective material, and additionally, the means of collecting the 5 unwanted backing material optionally includes a clutch to regulate its speed.

Desirably, means of avoiding trapping are provided between the application roller and the opposing surface, preferably including a photo electric cell.

A pedal is conveniently provided for optional manual activation.

To use the machine, first it must be perfectly levelled by adjusting the leveller 10 legs, and then the roll of protective material and the rewinding tube are placed on their supports, held by conical parts, and the protective material is led by its guides to the pressing zone where the applicator roller is raised to facilitate placement.

Afterwards the application roller is lowered and the material to be protected is placed on the conveyor belt, adjusting the corresponding guides. The machine is 15 then activated manually or automatically, making the adjustments necessary in: the speed of the belt, the clutch of the rewinder, and the braking of the roll to achieve optimum lamination.

If the photoelectric cell detects the presence of an object near the zone of application, it causes the stoppage of the machine and this must then be restarted by 20 rearming using the corresponding button located with the machine controls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the machine of the invention.

25 Figure 2 shows a lateral section of the machine of the invention.

Figure 3 shows a front view section of the machine of the invention.

Figure 4 shows a scheme of the working of the machine of the invention.

-4 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The machine 1 of the invention is formed by a chassis 2 with regulating legs 3 to obtain optimum levelling.

5 On this chassis is mounted (i) a support spindle 4 for a reel 4a of protective adhesive material 4b, (ii) another support spindle 5 for a tube 5a for rewinding during the lamination of the silicone backing paper 5b that protects the adhesive face of the protective material, and (iii) spindles 6 with moveable guides 6a to guide and lead the protective material along a precisely defined path. An applicator roller 7, that can 10 be raised by a mechanical control 8, is positioned over a conveyor belt 9 for the material 9a to be protected held by rollers 9b, 9c, 9d. Continuous, toothed belts 9e at the edges of the conveyor belt 9 run over pairs of lateral toothed pulleys, which are mounted on the rollers, 9b, 9c, and therefore rotate together to ensure that at no time is there movement out-out-square of the belt. Laterally adjustable guides 10 position 15 the material to be protected. A photoelectric cell 11 with its corresponding emitter 12 serves as an anti-trapping safety measure. A control 13 for braking the roller is formed by a friction facing and spring, not shown, to regulate the tension of the protective material during application. A control 14 operates a clutch 14a that regulates the speed of the rewinding tube 5a on which the used backing sheet is taken 20 up. There is a motor 15 that by a belt 16, activate some of the rollers (9b, 9c) holding the belt 9 and drives them by their lateral toothed pulleys. Another belt 17 drives the rewinder spindle from one (9c) of these rollers. There is also a control panel 18 that controls the action of the machine and may be automatic or manual, controlled in the latter case by a pedal 19.

25 A reel 4a of protective material 4b is placed on the spindle 4, and a rewinding tube 5a on the spindle 5, holding the roll and the tube by moveable conical parts 20 on both spindles. The end of the backing paper 5b is unstuck and attached to the rewinding tube. The protective material is then taken under the applicator roller 7.

The material to be protected is placed on the conveyor belt. When the machine is 30 started the material to be protected will pass under the application roller 7 and the

-5 lamination will be carried out, without out-of-square alignment thanks to the lateral toothed belts on the conveyor belt and the guidance given them by the flanges on the pulleys and also to the guides 10 defining the path for the material 9a to be laminated.

Claims

-6 CLAIMS

1. A lamination machine for laminating protective material onto other flat material to be protected by exerting a pressure; 5 comprising an application roller and an opposing surface which is tangential to the application roller, at least one of the roller and surface being motorised; and protective material supply means; characterised in that the opposing surface comprises a continuous conveyor belt; 10 and in that there are means to ensure the protective material is not applied to the material to be protected with out-of-square alignment:

2. A lamination machine according to claim 1 wherein the means of avoiding out-of-square comprises two lateral toothed belts attached to the conveyor 15 belt, and running over pairs of toothed wheels that turn at the same rate and cooperate in the drive of the belt.

3. A lamination machine according to claim 1 or 2 wherein movable and adjustable guides are provided for at least one of the protective material and the 20 material to be protected.

4. A lamination machine according to any of claims 1 to 3 including a pedal for optional manual activation.

25

5. A lamination machine according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the protective material supply means comprises support means for said material; and means of collecting unwanted backing material that protects the adhesive face of the protective material.

30

6. A lamination machine according to claim 5 wherein the protective material

-7 support means includes a brake to regulate the tension of the protective material.

7. A lamination machine according to claims 5 or 6 wherein the means of collecting the unwanted backing material includes a clutch to regulate its speed.

s

8. A lamination machine according to any of the preceding claims including means of avoiding trapping between the application roller and the opposing surface.

9. A lamination machine according to claim 8 wherein the means of avoiding 10 trapping includes a photoelectric cell.

10. A laminating machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.