US 6,802,355 B2 · Overcoat application peel apparatus

Abstract

An overcoat application apparatus is used to transfer an overcoat material from a donor to a printed media. The overcoat application apparatus in this case includes a donor supply reel, a donor guide bar, a heated fuser guide, a pressure guide, an overcoat application peel apparatus, and a donor take-up reel. The donor supply reel provides a continuous source of donor plus overcoat material. The donor guide bar guides printed media and the donor plus overcoat into a nip created by forcing the heated fuser guide and pressure guide together. The heated fuser guide is used to transport the printed media and laminate carrying donor through the nip and apply heat to the laminate carrying donor and printed media. The pressure guide is used to apply pressure to the fuser guide in order to produce the mechanical nip. The nip plus the heat causes the overcoat material on the donor to be transferred to the printed media. After the fusing process, the peel bar is used to separate the support layer of the laminate carrying donor from the printed media that is now coated with the overcoat material. The overcoat application peel apparatus has three features that aid in the overall ability to perform the separation of the donor layer from the overcoated printed media. These are the first peel guide, the second peel guide and the take-up platen.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An overcoat application peel apparatus for peeling a donor from a laminated printed media, comprising:

a) a support for conveying a plurality of attached laminated printed articles along a first paper path, the articles comprising at least partially resilient printed media, a layer of laminate on the article, and a removable donor on the layer of laminate;
b) peel guide means for guiding the donor to a donor take-up reel, the peel guide means positioned with respect to the first paper path and the donor take-up reel so that the peel angle between the donor and the laminated printed media as the donor leaves the printed media remains substantially constant as the donor take-up reel fills with donor and changes the angle at which the donor leaves the peel guide;
and
c) an exit platen located downstream of where the donor leaves the printed media and at an upwardly tilted angle with respect to the first paper path, the exit platen being disposed to direct the printed media upwardly with respect to the first paper path to promote the release of the laminate from the printed media at the trailing edge of the printed media as the trailing edge passes the peel guide means.

1 more element

An overcoat application apparatus comprising:

a) an entry roller for accepting printed media from a printer;
b) a donor supply reel to supply a laminate carrying donor comprising a laminate and a donor;
c) a heated fuser guide to apply heat to the laminate carrying donor and the printed media;
d) a pressure guide engaging the fuser guide in order to produce a mechanical nip;
e) a donor guide that guides the laminate carrying donor into the nip formed by the heated fuser guide and the pressure guide;
f) an overcoat application peel apparatus for peeling a donor from a laminated printed media, comprising:
(i) a support for conveying a plurality of attached laminated printed articles along a first paper path, the articles comprising at least partially resilient printed media, a layer of laminate on the article, and a removable donor on the layer of laminate;
and
(ii) a peel guide for guiding the donor to a donor take-up reel, the peel guide positioned with respect to the first paper path and the donor take-up reel so that the angle between the donor and the laminated printed media remains substantially constant as the donor take-up reel fills with donor and changes the angle at which the donor leaves the peel guide;
g) an exit roller which accepts the overcoated printed material and transports it to the next required process station;
and
h) a second peel guide disposed adjacent to the first paper path and sufficiently close to an exit platen so that the laminated printed media resiliently bends around the second peel guide and releases the laminated printed media at a trailing edge of the article downstream the first peel guide.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Overcoat application peel apparatus

Life of this patent

Overcoat application peel apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16