Curing system and method for curing pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to products
AssigneeMJR Vision LLC
InventorsMichael Schum, Heriberto Medina
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides a compact curing assembly that receives folded and glued booklets for storing these booklets under pressure and subsequently feeds these booklets to a post-processor (i.e. inspection system) after each booklet is completely cured. A first pressure plate can keep stacked booklets under pressure as newly input booklets or products enter the curing assembly and push the entire stack of booklets. A second pressure plate can apply pressure to a trailing edge of the stacked booklets as the booklets are discharged from the curing assembly.
Claims22
A curing assembly comprising:
- a track assembly;
- an overhead guide assembly configured to engage an upper portion of the product stack, with a height of the overhead guide assembly being adjustable;
- a first pressure plate assembly attached to the track assembly;
- a second pressure plate assembly attached to the track assembly;
- and
- a control assembly configured to selectively drive the first pressure plate assembly and the second pressure plate assembly along the track assembly;
- wherein products are configured to be fed to the curing assembly such that the products are stacked against one another to form a product stack,
- the first pressure plate assembly is configured to apply a first predetermined pressure to a leading edge of the product stack at least during an initial stage of an accumulating state;
- and
- the second pressure plate assembly is configured to apply a second predetermined pressure to a trailing edge of the product stack at least during final stage of an output state.
A method of applying pressure to products for curing adhesive, the method comprising:
- (i) feeding the products to a curing assembly to form a product stack;
- (ii) engaging a leading edge of the product stack with a first pressure plate assembly at least during an initial stage of an accumulating state such that a first predetermined pressure is applied to the product stack;
- (iii) engaging a trailing edge of the product stack with a second pressure plate assembly at least during a final stage of an output state such that a second predetermined pressure is applied to the product stack;
- (iv) engaging an upper portion of the product stack with an overhead guide assembly, and guiding lateral portions of the product stack via a side guide assembly;
- and
- (v) discharging the products from the curing assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.