Method and apparatus for manufacture of swatch bearing sheets

A method of manufacture of swatch bearing sheets having rows of swatches thereon at predetermined locations on the sheet, said method comprising the steps of:

• continuously feeding a succession of sheets for continuous travel along a predetermined path through a plurality of swatch applying stations, applying a first row of swatches to each continuously moving sheet by rolling contact therewith at a first one of said stations, continuously feeding each of said sheets to at least a second swatch applying station, and applying a second row of swatches to each continuously moving sheet by rolling contact therewith while said sheet travels through said second station to form a plurality of rows of swatches on said sheets.

A method of manufacture of swatch bearing sheets each having a plurality of rows of swatches thereon at predetermined locations, said method comprising the steps of:

• feeding a succession of sheets forwardly along a predetermined path to an adhesive application station, applying adhesive to each of said sheets at the adhesive applying station by a rolling contact adhesive applicator at the adhesive station in a plurality of successive rows of adhesive spots, feeding a plurality of webs of swatch material forwardly to a severing means at each of a plurality of swatch forming stations, severing the webs to form sets of swatches of predetermined lengths at each of the swatch forming stations, and transferring by rolling contact a row of swatches at each of the swatch forming stations by a rolling transfer means to each sheet as it passes through each of the several swatch forming stations.

An apparatus for manufacturing swatch bearing sheets each bearing rows of swatches adhered to the sheet at predetermined locations thereon, said apparatus comprising:

• means for feeding a succession of sheets along a predetermined straight path at timed intervals, means for feeding a first set of webs of swatch material to a severing station, means for severing individual swatches from the webs, means for transferring to said sheet by rolling contact a set of swatches moving along a path intersecting said straight path and for applying said severed swatches from said first set of webs to each sheet, means for feeding each sheet along said straight path to a second downstream swatch forming and applying station, means for feeding a second set of webs of swatch material at said second station, means for severing swatches from the second sheet of webs of swatch material, and means for transferring by rolling contact the second set of swatches from an in-line and intersecting path with said straight path and for applying a second set of swatches to each sheet to provide plural rows of swatches at predetermined positions on each of the sheets.

An apparatus for manufacturing swatch bearing sheets having rows of swatches thereon at predetermined locations on the sheet, said apparatus comprising:

• means for continuously feeding each of said sheets for continuous travel through a plurality of swatch applying stations, means for applying a first set of swatches to each of the continuously moving sheets by rolling contact therewith at a first swatch applying station, means for continuously feeding each of said sheets to a second swatch applying station, and means for applying a second set of swatches to each of said sheets by rolling contact with each of the sheets.

An apparatus for manufacturing swatch bearing sheets each having a plurality of rows of swatches thereon at predetermined locations, said apparatus comprising:

• means for feeding a succession of sheets forwardly along a predetermined path to an adhesive applying station, rolling adhesive means for applying adhesive to each of the swatch receiving locations on each sheet by a rolling contact at the adhesive station in a plurality of successive rows of adhesive spots, means for feeding a first set of webs of swatch material forwardly to a severing station at a first swatch forming station, means for severing the first set of webs to form swatches at predetermined lengths at the first swatch forming station, rolling applicator means for applying the swatches formed at the first swatch forming station by rolling contact to each of the sheets passing through the first swatch forming and applying station, means for feeding each sheet to a second swatch forming and applying station, means for feeding a second set of webs of swatch material to a second severing station, severing means at the second severing station for severing the second set of webs to form swatches of predetermined length, and means for applying by rolling contact the second swatches to each of the sheets.

An apparatus for the manufacture of swatch bearing sheets having rows of swatches adhered thereto at predetermined locations on the sheets, said apparatus comprising:

• means for feeding a succession of sheets through a series of swatch forming and applying stations located along a predetermined path of travel for the sheets, means for severing a plurality of webs of swatch material to form individual swatches at each of the swatch forming and applying stations, rotating vacuum drum means at each of said swatch forming and applying stations for holding the webs at a predetermined spaced relationship while the webs are being severed to form swatches and for holding and maintaining the swatches in said predetermined spaced relationship until the swatches are transferred and adhered to a sheet.

An apparatus for manufacturing swatch bearing sheets each having a plurality of rolls of swatches thereon at predetermined locations, said apparatus comprising:

• means for holding a stack of sheets, means for removing an individual sheet from the stack at predetermined time intervals a first conveyor means for continuously forwarding each of the sheets provided thereto at said timed intervals to an adhesive applying station, adhesive applying means including a rotatable adhesive applying drum means at said adhesive applying station for applying spots of adhesive to each of the sheets as it travels uninterrupted through said adhesive applying station, and a plurality of swatch forming and applying stations comprising means for holding a plurality of reels of different colored webs of swatch material, a vacuum feed means for feeding predetermined lengths of the webs of swatch material in timed relationship to the movement of said sheets by said conveyor means, means for severing each of said webs to form individual swatches, vacuum drum means for holding said severed swatches in a row and at predetermined transversely spaced positions relative to one another, a vacuum transfer drum means for maintaining a row of swatches in their predetermined positions and for moving the swatches into engagement with a predetermined row of adhesive spots on each sheet.

An apparatus for manufacturing swatch bearing sheets each bearing rows of swatches adhered to the sheet at predetermined locations thereon, said apparatus comprising:

• means for feeding a succession of sheets along a predetermined path at timed intervals, rotatable adhesive drum means for applying spots of adhesive to each of the sheets at locations to receive a swatch, means for feeding a first set of webs of swatch material to a severing station, rotatable drum means for severing individual swatches from the webs, rotatable drum means for applying said severed swatches from said first set of webs to a row of adhesive spots on each sheet, means for feeding each sheet to a second swatch forming and applying station, means for feeding a second set of webs of swatch material at said second station, rotatable drum means for severing swatches from the second sheet of webs of swatch material, rotatable drum means for applying a second set of swatches to adhesive spots on each sheet to provide plural rows of swatches at predetermined positions on each of the sheets, and adjusting means for said drum means to shift the drums incrementally in a circumferential direction to provide registering of said adhesive spots and the swatches at the respective stations.