Laminating and adhesive transfer apparatus

An applicator and adhesive transfer device comprising:

• (a) an upper frame member having opposite sides and a lower frame member having opposite sides , said upper frame member being pivotally connected to said lower frame member;
• (b) a first nip roller rotatively rotatably mounted and extending between the sides of to said upper frame member;
• (c) a first feed roll mounting means structure associated with the upper frame member;
• (d) a second nip roller rotatively rotatably mounted and extending between the sides of to said lower frame member;
• a second feed roll mounting structure associated with the lower frame member;
• (e) second mounting means associated with the said lower frame member;
• (f) first and second removable feed rolls of feed material each having a generally cylindrical core about which the feed material is wound and , said first and second feed rolls being supported for rotation in said respective first and second mounting means removably mounted to said first and second feed roll mounting structures, respectively, so as to allow the feed materials thereof to be unwound from their respective cores and fed in between said first and second nip rollers, at least one of said feed materials carrying a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive;
• (g) said feed rolls comprising pre-tensioning means integrally associated with each of said cores for selectively establishing a predetermined resistance to rotation of the rolls of feed material to provide the proper application tension for the feed material, said pre-tensioning means including a tensioning cap affixed to said associated core having an end plate engaging the associated core and said plate having with securement means engageable in said mounting means and further including biasing means for applying a predetermined force biasing said end plate into engagement with the associated core brakes that are constructed and arranged to cooperate with said frame when said feed rolls are removably mounted to said frame such that said pre-tensioning brakes remain fixed while said cores are being rotated as a result of the feed materials being unwound so that said pre-tensioning brakes apply friction to said cores to resist rotation thereof;
• and
• (h) actuating means an actuator for imparting rotation to at least one of said nip rollers so that, when a master is fed in between said nip rollers with said feed materials disposed on opposing sides of the master and the adhesive layer facing the master, a master processing operation can be performed by operating said actuator so as to impart rotation to said nip roller, thereby causing said nip rollers to apply pressure to the feed materials and the master fed therein so as to affect adhesive bonding between the master and the feed materials via the aforesaid layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive;
• wherein the removable mounting of said feed rolls allows an operator to remove said feed rolls from said frame and thereafter removably mount replacement feed rolls to said frame.

An apparatus for processing a master, said apparatus comprising:

• a frame that provides a first feed roll mounting structure and a second feed roll mounting structure;
• a first replaceable feed roll having a core about which a first supply of feed material is wound and a first pre-tensioning brake;
• a second replaceable feed roll having a core about which a second supply of feed material is wound and a second pre-tensioning brake;
• said first and second feed rolls being removably mounted to said first and second feed roll mounting structures, respectively, so that said first and second feed materials can be unwound therefrom, at least one of said feed materials carrying a layer of adhesive material;
• a master processing assembly positioned with respect to said first and second feed roll mounting structures such that the master can be fed into said processing assembly with the feed materials being unwound from their respective feed rolls and disposed on opposing sides of the master and with the layer of adhesive material facing said master;
• said master processing assembly being constructed and arranged to perform a master processing operation wherein said processing assembly causes adhesive bonding between the feed materials and the master being fed therein and then subsequently discharges the processed master and feed materials;
• and
• an actuator that selectively affects operation of said master processing assembly so as to perform said master processing operation;
• wherein said pre-tensioning brakes of said first and second feed rolls cooperate with said frame such that said pre-tensioning brakes remain fixed with respect to said frame while said cores are being rotated as a result of said feed material being unwound so that braking friction is created between said cores and said pre-tensioning brakes.

A feed roll assembly to be used in conjunction with an apparatus for performing a master processing operation, the apparatus comprising a frame that provides first and second feed roll mounting structures, a master processing assembly constructed and arranged to perform a master processing operation wherein said processing assembly causes adhesive bonding between adhesive carrying substrates fed therein, and an actuator that affects operation of the master processing assembly, said feed roll assembly comprising:

• a first replaceable feed roll having a core about which a first supply of feed material is wound and a first pre-tensioning brake;
• a second replaceable feed roll having a core about which a second supply of feed material is wound and a second pre-tensioning brake;
• said first and second feed rolls being constructed and arranged to be removably mounted to the first and second feed roll mounting structures of the frame, respectively, so that their respective feed materials can be unwound therefrom, at least one of said feed materials carrying a layer of adhesive material;
• said pre-tensioning brakes being constructed and arranged to cooperate with the apparatus frame when the feed rolls are removably mounted to the respective feed roll mounting structures thereof such that said brakes remain fixed with respect to the apparatus frame while said cores are being rotated as a result of said feed materials being unwound from said cores so that braking friction is created between said cores and said pre-tensioning brakes.