Album leaf and method and apparatus for making an album leaf

#The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for automatically folding a sheet of imaging media, for example a photographic paper, about a fold line such that an album page is formed. The imaging media has images only on one side. A heat activated adhesive sheet is provided between the sides of the imaging media during folding. The adhesive sheet when exposed to heated and pressure rollers will cause the sides of the imaging media to be secured to form a single album page.

#The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for making an album leaf, preferably out of photographic print media or digital thermal imaging media.

#In a typical photofinishing lab, photographic prints are made using a mini-lab or a high volume printer. In a high volume printer the prints are produced on a roll of photographic paper whereas in a mini-lab the prints may be made on cut sheets or from a roll of photographic paper that is cut into individual prints or cut sheet output from a digital thermal printer. It is known from U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,004,061; 5,957,502; and 5,791,692 that album pages can be made by folding a cut sheet of material such as photographic paper and adhesively securing the folded sides together. While the technique of folding the sheet produces an excellent product, there is a need to be able to make photographic album pages in a high volume, low cost environment. In particular, there is a need to produce album leafs from photographic print media produced either by high speed photographic printers, mini-labs or digital thermal printers.

#In the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 illustrates an elevation view of an apparatus made in accordance with the present invention;

#FIG. 2 illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 1 at a different angle in the first step of the folding process;

#Referring to FIG. 1 there is illustrated an apparatus 10 made in accordance with the present invention and FIGS. 2-10 illustrates in sequence the various stages of folding a cut sheet to form an album leaf made in accordance with the present invention. The apparatus 10 includes a first supply of a media 12 (see FIG. 9) having an image bearing side 14 and a backside 15. The backside 15 typically being a non-image bearing side. In the particular embodiment illustrated the supply of media 12 comprises a plurality of cut sheets 16. The plurality of cut sheets 16 are placed in supply bin 17.

#Referring to FIG. 9 there is illustrated one of the cut sheets 16. The image bearing side 14 of sheet 16 has been printed thereon so as provide a first image section 18 and a second image 20 in which images 21 of various sizes have been provided. It is of course to be understood that any desired images, text or combination thereof may be provided in the image sections 18, 20. In the embodiment illustrated, the cut sheets 16 comprise photographic paper. The image section 18 and second image section 20 are separated by a fold line 24. The images sections 18, 20 will be folded about fold line 24 so a to form an album page as discussed later herein. The fold line 24 is not necessarily a visible line, but simply indicates a line about which the image sections 18, 20 will be folded. In the embodiment illustrated, there is no visible fold line 24, therefore the fold line 24 is shown by dash lines.

#Referring FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the cut sheets are placed in bin 17 so that back side 15 is facing upwards. An appropriate transport mechanism 26 is provided for transporting of the sheet 16 from supply bin 17 along processing path 26. In the embodiment illustrated the transport mechanism 26 comprises an air bearing. It is to be understood that any appropriate transport mechanism may be used for feeding individual sheets from bin 17 to the folding mechanism.