Laminating device for consecutively laminating plural sheets

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a laminating apparatus for executing laminating processes on an object, such as a paper sheet, to cover the object by adhering a synthetic resin sheet or web to the upper and lower surfaces of the object.

2. Description of the Related Art

There has been a laminating device for laminating a synthetic resin web, for example, onto a card or other sheet-shaped object.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. HEI-6-122153 discloses a laminating apparatus for laminating sheet-like objects. The apparatus includes a sheet pick-up roller, first and second detection sensors, and a pair of pressure/thermal rollers, all disposed in this order with respect to a sheet transport direction. That is, the second detection sensor is disposed further downstream than the first detection sensor, although both are disposed upstream from the pressure/thermal rollers. The first and second sensors are for detecting sheets to be laminated. A shutter is disposed between the sensors.

When the second detection sensor detects the front edge of a first sheet, and the first detection sensor detects the next sheet, then the laminating device recognizes that consecutive laminating processes are to be performed on two sheets. In this case, the shutter functions to prevent the subsequent sheet from being drawn with the prior sheet toward the laminating unit. Also, once a predetermined duration of time elapses after the second detection sensor detects the rear edge of the first sheet, then the shutter is retracted upward away from the second sheet. The pick-up roller is lowered onto the second sheet and driven to convey the second sheet to the pressure/thermal rollers. This time ensures that the sheets are separated by a fixed distance.

Also, this laminating apparatus discharges subsequent laminates with the laminate sheet connected between adjacent targets of lamination. This reduces the length (in the sheet transport direction) of the laminate portion comprising only laminate web, that is, the portion of the laminate that extends perpendicular to the transport direction with no target sheet sandwiched therebetween.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to set the timing for transporting the subsequent sheet, the pickup roller for intermittently transporting one sheet at a time must be provided. Also, the shutter for restricting the front edge of the second sheet introduced in between the first and second sensors must also be provided. Also, operation of the pickup roller and shutter must be controlled. As a result, this conventional laminating device has a great number of components and also complicated control operations so that production costs are high.

Because the prior and subsequent sheets remain connected by web as described above, the user must pick up a pair of scissors and the like to cut the laminate sheets between the adjacent targets of lamination, which takes time and effort on the part of the user. It is desirable if the laminates could be laterally out automatically.

It is a first object of the present invention to provide a laminating apparatus capable of consecutive laminating operations using a simple configuration and control method.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a laminating apparatus capable of automatically cutting laminates in their widthwise direction after being subjected to consecutive laminating processes.

To achieve the above-described objectives, a laminating apparatus according to the present invention includes introduction-side transport rollers, a web supply unit, a laminate processing unit, a detector, and a consecutive lamination control unit.

The introduction-side transport rollers transport objects to be laminated in a transport direction

The web supply unit supplies a pair of webs.

The laminate processing unit adheringly laminates the pair of webs onto upper and lower surfaces of the objects.

The detector is disposed between the introduction-side transport rollers and the web supply unit. The detector detects a. front edge of objects transported by the introduction-side transport rollers.

When the detector detects a front edge of the prior object transported by the introduction-side transport rollers, the consecutive lamination control unit controls the introduction-side transport rollers and the laminate processing unit to transport and laminate the prior object until a rear edge of the prior object is positioned in the vicinity of the web supply unit. Then after the rear edge of the prior object is positioned in the vicinity of the web supply unit, the consecutive lamination control unit controls the introduction-side transport rollers and the laminate processing unit to stop transport and lamination of the prior object for a predetermined duration of time. Then once the detector detects a front edge of the subsequent object after the predetermined duration of time elapses from stopping transport of the prior object, the consecutive lamination control unit controls the introduction-side transport rollers to transport a subsequent object to the laminate processing unit.

With this configuration, consecutive lamination processes can be performed on a plurality of objects with the objects separated by a predetermined distance. This can be accomplished using an extremely simple configuration and control process. That is, configuration is extremely simple because only a single detector is required. Also, control is simple because only a. simple time-based control is required to stop transport of the preceding object when the detector detects the rear end of the preceding object, and to wait for the predetermined time to elapse after transport is stopped before detecting the front edge of a subsequent object.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the laminating apparatus further includes a lateral cutting unit that cuts in a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the transport direction. The lateral cutting unit is positioned downstream from the laminate processing unit. During a margin mode, the consecutive lamination control unit controls the lateral cutting unit to cut the webs along an imaginary line between the rear edge of the preceding object and the front edge of the subsequent object.

With this configuration, when consecutive lamination processes are performed on two sheets having the same width the lateral cutting unit outs only once along an imaginary line between the rear edge of the preceding object and the front edge of the subsequent object, the imaginary line extending in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the objects. Therefore, no residual web is generated when the adjacent objects are cut apart, so that the webs can be fully used without waste. Also, lamination processes can be quickly performed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the laminating apparatus further includes a pair of discharge rollers provided downstream from the lateral cutting unit in the transport direction. The distance between the discharge rollers and the lateral cutting unit is set shorter than a length of margin residues strips out from laminates by the lateral cutting unit.

With this configuration, residual web generated from cutting laminates will always be held between the discharge rollers after cut away from a laminate by the lateral cutting unit, and so will be reliably discharged from the lamination apparatus by the discharge rollers.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the laminating apparatus further includes an indication unit that visually indicates elapse of time by dividing the predetermined duration of time into substantial front and rear halves when the consecutive lamination control unit controls to perform consecutive lamination.

With this configuration, the user can insert a subsequent object while viewing the indication unit, and can easily know that it is possible to perform consecutive lamination processes.

According to another aspect of the present invention. the laminating apparatus further includes an operation panel including a mode setting switch. The mode setting switch is for selectively setting a single item process mode for laminating single sheets at a time; a consecutive laminate process routine; and a binder mode for forming laminates with a large-width margin portion downstream with respect to. the transport direction.

With this configuration, users can easily switch between three different types of lamination processes as the user desires.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from reading the following description of the embodiment taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1

is a plan view showing a laminating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, with a portion of an external case cut out to enable viewing internal components;

FIG. 2

is a cross-sectional side view showing the laminating apparatus of

FIG. 1

;

FIG. 3

is a cross-sectional view taken from the left side, that is, with respect to viewing the side of the laminating apparatus

1

that discharges the laminates and schematically showing distribution of components upstream and downstream from a web cassette with respect to the transport direction of the sheets;

FIG. 4

is a front view showing overall configuration of a rotary lateral cutter unit of the laminating apparatus;

FIG. 5

is a partial plan view showing position of a cutter carriage of the lateral cutter unit on a detachable frame;

FIG. 6

is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along a line VI—VI of

FIG. 4

;

FIG. 7

is a plan view showing configuration of a longitudinal cutting unit;

FIG. 8

is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the reference side, that, is right side, of the longitudinal cutting unit and the power source switch, that is, a rotary knob;

FIG.

9

(

a

) is a schematic view showing relationship between a NO CUT mode position of the rotary knob and positions of components in a link mechanism;

FIG.

9

(

b

) is a schematic view showing relationship between a POWER OFF mode position of the rotary knob and positions of components in the link mechanism;

FIG.

9

(

c

) is a schematic view showing relationship between a MARGIN mode position of the rotary knob and positions of components in the link mechanism;

FIG.

9

(

d

) is a schematic view showing relationship between a NO MARGIN mode position of the rotary knob and positions of components in the link mechanism:

FIG. 10

is a block diagram showing connection of electrical components of the laminating device;

FIG. 11

is a schematic view showing positions of cutting units with respect to a laminate during each of the modes shown in FIGS.

9

(

a

) to

9

(

d

)

FIG. 12

is a plan view showing an operation panel of the laminating apparatus;

FIG. 13

is a side view schematically showing positional relationship of different sensors for judging length of a sheet to be laminated;

FIG.

14

(

a

) is a schematic view showing cutting positions during a MARGIN mode when two consecutive sheets have the same width;

FIG.

14

(

b

) is a schematic view showing cutting positions during a NO MARGIN mode when two consecutive sheets have the same width;

FIG.

14

(

c

) is a schematic view showing cutting positions during a MARGIN mode when two consecutive sheets have different widths;

FIG.

14

(

d

) is a schematic view showing cutting positions during a BINDER mode; and

FIGS. 15

to

19

are flowcharts representing lamination operations performed by the laminating apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Next, an explanation of a laminating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described while referring to the attached drawings.

As shown in

FIG. 1

, a laminating apparatus

1

according to the present embodiment includes a case

1

a

formed from synthetic resin. As shown in

FIG. 2

, the laminating apparatus

1

includes a sheet supply portion SP for supplying an sheets P, such as a document or a card represented by sheet P hereinafter, a web supply portion WP for supplying laminating webs S

1

, S

2

for laminating the sheet P, a laminating portion LP that operates to sandwich the sheet P supplied from the sheet supply portion between the webs S

1

, S

2

, and a cutting portion CP that cuts the laminate discharged from the laminating portion LP.

As shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, the sheet supply portion SP includes a sheet supply tray

11

and a pair of sheet supply rollers

8

a.

8

b.

The sheet supply tray

11

is disposed at the upper left hand portion of the case

1

a

as viewed in FIG.

2

.

The sheet supply tray

11

includes a flat surface, on which sheets P are stacked as target objects to be laminated, and sheet guides

12

a,

12

b

for positioning the sheets P in the widthwise direction. At least one of the sheet guides

12

a,

12

b

are supported movable in the x-wise directions to enable freely adjusting distance between itself and a wall surface of the case

1

a.

The pair of sheet supply rollers

8

a,

8

b

are rotatably supported on shafts

10

. which are positioned at left and right hand sides of the laminating apparatus

1

. As shown in

FIG. 2

, the sheet supply rollers

8

a,

8

b

are disposed between the base end of the sheet supply tray

11

and the sheet entrance of a web cassette

20

(to be described later) of the web supply portion WP. As shown in

FIG. 3

, a drive motor

93

is provided for supplying drive force, and a transmission gear mechanism

97

is provided for transmitting drive force from the drive motor

93

to one end of the shaft of the sheet supply roller

8

b

. The transport drive motor

93

can be a stepping motor, and is capable of driving in forward and reverse directions. Gear trains are also provided for transmitting drive force from the drive motor

93

to the pinch rollers

26

,

27

and the discharge rollers

31

. That is, a transmission gear mechanism

95

is provided for transmitting drive force to the pinch rollers

26

,

27

. A clutch mechanism

109

is provided at the feed side of the transmission gear mechanism

95

. The clutch mechanism

109

is formed from a cam or planetary gear for example. The clutch mechanism

109

can be switched so that drive force from the motor

93

is transmitted to the pinch rollers

26

,

27

and blocked to the discharge rollers

31

. By further switching the clutch mechanism

109

, all of the rollers

8

a,

8

b,

26

,

27

, and

31

can be driven at the same time, or the rollers

8

a,

8

b,

31

can be selectively driven simultaneously.

The web supply portion WP includes the web cassette

20

, as mentioned previously. The web cassette

20

is freely detachably mounted in a cassette housing portion, which has an open upper surface. The web cassette

20

is positioned to laminate the sheet P, with the right side of the sheet P as a reference. In this case, “right” side of the sheet P refers to the sheet P as viewed from the sheet discharge slot of the case

1

a

. The web cassette

20

includes a housing

23

that houses two web rolls

21

,

22

, with the web roll

21

disposed above the web roll

22

. The housing

23

is formed from a front and rear pair of cases, and is formed with a sheet insert port

24

and a sheet feed-out port

25

. The sheet insert port

24

is formed extending laterally at the front end of the housing

23

, and serves to feed in sheets P between the web rolls

21

,

22

. The sheet feed-out port

25

is formed in the rear of the housing of the web rolls

21

,

22

, and functions to feed out a sheet fed in from the sheet insert port

24

and the webs S

1

, S

2

fed out from the web rolls

21

,

22

, respectively, to a pair of pinch roller

26

,

27

of the laminating portion LP. Although not shown in the drawings, a pair of upper and lower shutters for opening and closing the sheet feed-out port

25

are provided at the sheet feed-out port

25

.

The housing

23

is also formed with a pair of upper and lower guide plates

30

a

,

30

b

that extend from the sheet insert port

24

toward the sheet feed-out port

25

. The guide plates

30

a

,

30

b

form a guide path for guiding the sheet P from the sheet insert port

24

toward the sheet feed-out port

25

. According to the present embodiment, the guide plates

30

a

,

30

b

have different lengths. That is, the lower guide plate

30

b

is shorter than the upper guide plate

30

a

. Although not shown in the drawings, a resin spring plate is attached to the lower guide plate

30

b

for positioning the sheet P by pressing the sheet P up against the upper guide plate

30

a.

The web rolls

21

,

22

are wrapped with elongated webs S

1

, S

2

, respectively, around their exteriors in a roll condition. The webs S

1

, S

2

have a particular construction. The upper web S

1

has a base layer of transparent resin film coated with an adhesive layer on one surface of the resin film. In the present embodiment, the base film of the web S

1

is a film of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

The lower web S

2

is a separation film, formed from paper in the present embodiment. That is to say, the web S

2

has a base of paper laminated with a material, such as paraffin, for enhancing the separation effect of the web S

2

. Adhesive layer of the web S

1

has adhesive strength sufficient for enabling the web S

2

to be easily peeled away from the web S

1

after they have been laminated together. The web S

2

is thicker than the web S

1

so the roll diameter of the lower web roll

22

is larger than the roll diameter of the upper web roll

21

when both webs S

1

, S

2

are the same length. It should be noted that the web S

2

can be Configured from materials other than a separation sheet with a base layer of paper. For example, the web S

2

can be made from a transparent web with a resin base having good separability.

The web rolls

21

,

22

are rotatable supported within the housing

23

so that the webs S

1

, S

2

are fed out from the sheet feed-out port

25

of the web cassette

20

with the adhesive surface of the web S

1

facing the separation surface of the web S

2

.

The laminating portion LP includes a pair of upper and lower pinch rollers

26

,

27

as mentioned above. The lower pinch roller

27

is rotatably supported on the left and right shafts

10

. The lower pinch roller

27

is a drive roller driven to rotate by drive force from the transport drive motor

93

as transmitted through the gear mechanism

97

. The upper pinch roller

26

and the lower pinch roller

27

are connected by gears (not shown). Therefore, the upper pinch roller

26

is driven to rotate in synchronization with the lower roller

27

.

Here, operation of the laminating portion LP will be described. As described above, the web S

1

has a transparent resin web layer as its base and this base is laminated on one side with adhesive layer, and the web S

2

is a separable paper web. The upper pinch roller

26

presses the web S

1

down against the upper surface of the sheet P so that the film layer of the web S

1

adheres to the upper surface of the sheet P through the adhesive layer of the web S

1

. Also, lower pinch roller

27

presses the web S

2

against the underside of the sheet P. However, because the web S

2

is only a separation type sheet layer, the web S

2

will not adhere to the sheet P. If the webs S

1

, S

2

are wider than the sheet P, then the webs S

1

, S

2

will protrude beyond the edge of the sheet P in the widthwise direction of the sheet P. In this case, the adhesive layer of the web S

1

will adhere to the separation sheet layer of the web S

2

at this protruding portion. Therefore, the webs S

1

, S

2

and the sheet P will be formed into a substantially integral laminate R shown in FIG.

11

. The laminate R is transported from the laminating portion P to the cutting portion CP.

The cutting portion CP includes a lateral cutting unit

41

and a longitudinal cutting unit

42

. The lateral cutting unit

41

follow a guide rail

44

to move reciprocally in the X directions indicated in

FIGS. 1

,

5

, and

11

. The lateral cutting unit

41

functions to cut the laminate R following the X directions. The longitudinal cutting unit

42

cuts the left and right edges of the laminate R following the transport direction of the laminate R, that is, following Y directions shown in

FIGS. 1

,

7

, and

11

. The cutting portion CP includes a reference-side longitudinal cutting unit

42

a

and an other-side longitudinal cutting unit

42

b.

According to the present embodiment, the right side of the sheet P, that is, the right side when viewing the discharge side of the laminating apparatus

1

, is used as the reference for aligning sheets P, particularly when introducing the sheets P into the web cassette

20

. Therefore, the reference-side longitudinal cutting unit

42

a

is disposed on the reference-side, that is, the right side. The other longitudinal cutting unit

42

b

is disposed on the left hand side as viewed in the discharge portion of the laminating. apparatus

1

.

As shown in

FIGS. 7 and 11

, the webs S

1

, S

2

are set with a width W

2

greater than the width W

1

of the sheet P. When the user indicates that the laminate R is to be. discharged with the same width as the webs S

1

, S

2

, the reference-side longitudinal cutting unit

42

a

and the other-side longitudinal cutting unit

42

b

are positioned beyond the width W

2

of the laminate R. Hereinafter, discharging the sheet as is, with the width of the webs S

1

, S

2

, will be referred to as no cut hereinafter.

The reference-side longitudinal cutting unit

42

a

and the other-side longitudinal cutting unit

42

b

are set at predetermined positions for a MARGIN mode or a NO MARGIN mode. In the MARGIN mode, the cutting units

42

a

,

42

b

cut the left and right edges of the webs S

1

, S

2

by an amount that maintains a margin that equals the width W

1

of the sheet P plus a width WB shown in FIG.

11

. In the NO MARGIN mode, the cutting units

42

a

,

42

b

cut a slim width from widthwise left and right edges of the sheet P itself, so that the laminated condition of the webs S

1

, S

2

does not stand out when the laminate R is viewed in plan.

Transport of the laminate R proceeds to a predetermined position in the Y directions, that is, in the transport direction of the sheet P, until the laminate R reaches the cutting position of the lateral cutting unit

41

, whereupon the lateral cutting unit

41

cuts the laminate R the X directions and the discharge rollers

31

transport the laminate R out through the discharge port

32

.

Next, the lateral cutting unit

41

will be described in more detail while referring to

FIGS. 4

to

6

. As shown in

FIGS. 4 and 5

, the lateral cutting unit

41

includes a guide rail

44

, a fixed blade

45

, a support chassis

46

, a left and right pair of support chassis

10

,

10

, a cutter carriage

49

, and a drive unit

48

. The guide rail

44

Is made from metal and is disposed in a horizontal posture between the support chassis

10

,

10

. The fixed blade

45

is made from metal plate disposed below the guide rail

44

. The fixed blade

45

also serves as a guide plate. The support chassis

46

supports the fixed blade

45

. The cutter carriage

49

is made from a synthetic resin material and mounted with a rotary blade

50

. The cutter carriage

49

is fitted at the one end of the guide rail

44

in the guide groove of the guide rail

44

, so as to be movable in the X directions following the guide groove. The drive unit

48

drives the cutter carriage

49

to move reciprocally in the X directions.

As shown in

FIG. 6

, the fixed blade

45

is supported on the upper surface of the support chassis

46

. The fixed blade

45

includes a sheet guide portion

45

a

and a blade portion

45

b

at opposite ends thereof with respect to the transport direction in which the laminate R is transported, which is one of the Y directions. The sheet guide portion

45

a

is formed by a downward bend in the fixed blade

45

at a position downstream from the upper surface of the support chassis

46

. The blade portion

45

b

is formed by the edge of the fixed blade

45

that is downstream from the support chassis

46

in the transport direction, and that abuts against the side surface of the rotary blade

50

. The guide rail

44

made from a metal material, such as aluminum pressed out member. The guide rail

44

includes integral upper and lower rail portions

44

a

,

44

b

and a guide slot portion

44

c

. The upper and lower rail portions

44

a

,

44

b

together form a substantial C shape in cross-section and are slidably fitted with upper and lower guide protrusion portion

51

,

52

, respectively of the cutter carriage

49

. The guide slot portion

44

c

is formed between the upper and lower rail portions

44

a

,

44

b

, that is, substantially centered vertically between the upper and lower rail portions

44

a

,

44

b

. The guide slot portion

44

c

has an open edge. A spiral coil shaft

54

is fitted in the guide slot portion

44

c

. The spiral coil shaft

54

is connected to the cutter motor

53

and driven to produce a spiraling motion. The cutter motor

53

is a direct current motor capable of forward and reveres rotation and a part of the drive unit

48

.

Limit sensors

55

,

56

are disposed at left and right ends of the support chassis

46

. The limit sensors

55

,

56

are limit switches, for example, for detecting movement limits of the cutter carriage

49

in the widthwise direction of the sheet, that is, in left and right directions as viewed in FIG.

4

. In the present embodiment, the home position is determined when the leftmost limit sensor

55

detects the cutter carriage

49

. When the cutter carriage

49

is detected by the rightmost limit sensor

56

, then the cutter motor

53

is driven to rotate reverse so that the cutter carriage

49

is moved back to the home position at the left end as viewed in

FIGS. 4 and 5

.

The cutter carriage

49

is made from front and rear side plates

49

a

,

49

b

, which are connected at upper ends by the upper end guide protrusion portion

51

. The front and rear side plates

49

a

,

49

b

support both ends of a support shaft

50

a

on which the rotary blade

50

is supported. The lower edge and the left and right ends of the front and rear side plates

49

a

,

49

b

are open. At least the lower rounded edge of the rotary blade

50

is exposed out through this open lower edge of the side plates

49

a

,

49

b

. An urging coil spring

57

is located between the side surface of the rotary blade

50

and the inner surface of the front side plate

49

a

. With this configuration, the rotary blade

50

is slidingly pressed against the blade portion of the fixed blade

45

by the coil spring

57

.

An engagement protrusion portion

58

protrudes horizontally outward from the rear side plate

49

b

from the surface of the rear side plate

49

b

into confrontation with the guide slot portion

44

c

of the guide rail

44

, and into engagement with the spiral portion of the spiral coil shaft

54

. As shown in

FIGS. 4 and 5

, a detachment guide frame

59

is formed at one side of the guide rail

44

in the lengthwise direction of the guide rail

44

. According to the present embodiment, the detachment guide frame

59

is formed at the home position, which is the left end of the guide rail

44

as viewed in

FIGS. 4 and 5

. The detachment guide frame

59

is made from a synthetic resin material and is for detaching the cutter carriage

49

when exchanging the cutter carriage

49

. A cutout indentation

60

is formed in the guide rail

44

from the upper rail portion

44

a

to the guide slot portion

44

c

so as to intersect in the lengthwise direction of the guide rail

44

. The cutout indentation

60

enables the engagement protrusion portion

58

to pass therethrough by the guide slot portion

44

c

when detaching or engaging the spiral coil shaft

54

during exchange of the cutter carriage

49

.

Next, configuration of the longitudinal cutting unit

42

will be described while referring to

FIGS. 2

,

3

, and

7

through

10

. As mentioned previously, the longitudinal cutting unit

42

includes the reference-side longitudinal cutting unit

42

a

and the other-side longitudinal cutting unit

42

b

. According to the present embodiment, the right side, that is, as viewed from the discharge side of the laminating apparatus

1

, is used as the reference for positioning the sheet P. such as with respect to the web cassette

20

when inserting the sheet P. Accordingly, the position of the reference-side longitudinal cutting unit

42

a

is on the right side (reference-side) as shown in FIG.

1

. The other-side longitudinal cutting unit

42

b

is disposed at a position on the left side as viewed from the discharge side of the laminating apparatus

1

. Each longitudinal cutting unit

42

a

(

42

b

) includes a synthetic resin support body

61

a

(

61

b

) and a knife shaped cutters

62

a

(

61

b

). The knife shaped cutters

62

a

,

61

b

, are supported on the support bodies

61

a

,

61

b

, so as to protrude downward from the lower end of the corresponding support body

61

a

,

61

b.

A photo sensor

66

serving as a second sensor is provided upstream in a transport direction from the center of the nip between the sheet feed rollers

8

a

,

8

b

, that is to near the side of the sheet feed rollers

8

a

,

8

b

at the sheet feed tray

11

. The photo sensor

66

functions to detects presence and absence of a sheet and also functions to detect width of the sheet.

As shown In

FIGS. 2 and 3

, an introduced sheet sensor

73

serving as a first detector for detecting presence and absence of introduced sheets is provided between the insert port

24

of the web cassette

20

and the center of the nip between the sheet feed rollers

8

a

,

8

b

, that is, for example near the side of the sheet feed rollers

8

a

,

8

b

. The introduced sheet sensor

73

includes an arm

74

and electrical sensor

75

. The arm

74

is freely rotatably supported on the shaft of the lower sheet supply roller

8

b

. The upper edge detection portion

74

a

of the arm

74

protrudes into the sheet transport pathway of the sheet P. The lower end of the arm

74

protrudes into the electrical sensor

75

, which can be a photo sensor or proximity sensor. When the front edge of the sheet P presses against the detection portion

74

a

, the detection portion

74

a

pivots around the arm

74

, so that the lower end of the arm

74

separates from the electrical sensor

75

. This results in determination that a sheet exists. In association with passage of the sheet P, the front and rear edges of the sheet P are detected, so that the length of the sheet P can be measured.

As shown in

FIG. 13

, the distance L

0

from the nip center between the sheet feed rollers

8

a

,

8

b

to the nip center of the pinch rollers

26

,

27

is set shorter than the distance L

1

, which is 10 mm in the present embodiment, between the detection portion

74

a

and the photo sensor

66

.

As shown in

FIG. 7

, shafts

63

,

64

of the longitudinal cutting unit

42

extend in the X directions. Both of the support bodies

61

a

,

61

b

are fitted on the shafts

63

,

64

so as to be freely slidable in the X directions.

As shown in

FIG. 7

, an arm

65

including a base, a center portion, and a free end, is freely slidably engaged by its base on the guide shafts

63

,

64

. The support body

61

b

of the other-side longitudinal cutting unit

42

b

is fixed to the base-end side surface of the arm

65

. As best seen in

FIGS. 1 and 3

, the center portion of the arm

65

is formed with a downward-facing concave shape that enables the upper portion of the web cassette

20

to pass through in the X directions. A detector casing

66

a

is mounted on the free end of the arm

65

. The detector casing

66

a

houses a photo sensor

66

, which serves as a sheet width sensor. A detection lever

66

b

protrudes downward from the detector casing

66

a

. The detection lever

66

b

is swingable with respect to the detector casing

66

a

. When the left edge of the sheet P abuts against the detection lever

66

b

, resultant swinging movement of the detection lever

66

b

is detected by the photo sensor

66

so that the width of the sheet P introduced by way of the sheet supply tray

11

can be measured.

As best seen in

FIG. 7

, a timing belt

67

which extends in the X directions is disposed above the transport pathway of the laminate R, which is downstream from the sheet feed-out port

25

of the web cassette

20

. The timing belt

67

is wrapped around pulleys

68

,

69

, which are disposed to either side in the widthwise direction of the web cassette

20

. A stepping motor

72

is provided for driving the pulley

69

to rotate in forward and reverse directions. The base of the arm

65

is connected to one position of the timing belt

69

.

Swing arms

70

a

,

70

b

are connected to the ends of the guide shafts

63

,

64

for linking the guide shafts

63

,

64

together so that the auxiliary guide shaft

64

is pivotable vertically around the guide shaft

63

. As shown in

FIG. 8

, the right swing arm

70

a

is engaged with the shaft

63

at one end and connected to an urging spring

71

and an actuator

78

at the other. The urging spring

71

pulls to move the right swing arm

70

a

in a direction that separates the cutter

62

a

away from the upper surface of the laminate R. The actuator

78

is, for example, an electromagnetic solenoid. When the actuator

78

is operated, the swinging arm

70

a

pivots against the urging force of the urging spring

71

so that the cutter

62

a

lowers down onto and pierces the laminate R that is being transported. The cutter

62

b

lowers down onto and pierces the laminate R in linking association with movement of the cutter

62

a.

Next, an explanation will be provided for the control unit of the longitudinal cutting unit

42

while referring to

FIGS. 8

to

9

(

d

). A rotary knob

80

for turning ON and OFF the power source of the laminating apparatus

1

is disposed on upper surface of the case

1

a

. The rotary knob

80

is integrally formed with a vertically extending shaft

81

and is rotatable about the shaft

81

. A rotary power switch

82

is connected to the lower end of the shaft

81

and disposed at a position inside the case

1

a

. The rotary power switch

82

is for turning ON and OFF the power circuit

83

. As shown in FIGS.

9

(

a

) to

9

(

d

), the upper surface of the case

1

a is printed with indicia of, from left to right NO CUT, POWER OFF, MARGIN, NO MARGIN, for indicating various modes that can be selected by rotating the rotary power switch

82

to the corresponding position.

A link mechanism

84

shown in FIGS.

8

and

9

(

a

) links together the rotary knob

80

and the reference-side longitudinal cutting unit

42

a

so that the reference-side longitudinal cutting unit

42

a

moves In linking association with rotation of the rotary knob

80

into either a retracted position or a longitudinal cutting position depending on the modes selected by position of the rotary knob

80

. The link mechanism

84

includes a rotation cam frame

87

, an operation shaft

85

, and a link plate

86

. The rotation cam frame

87

is provided to rotate integrally with the rotary knob

80

. The operation shaft

85

is disposed to the outer peripheral side of the rotation cam frame

87

, and protrudes downward from the lower surface of the rotary knob

80

. The link plate

86

is connected to the support body

61

of the reference-side. longitudinal cutting unit

42

a

, and is formed with a guide slot

88

. The operation shaft

85

is fitted in the guide slot

88

. The link plate

86

is supported by a guide member (not shown) so as to be reciprocally movable in only the X directions, that is, the widthwise direction of the laminate R.

As shown in FIG.

9

(

a

), the guide slot

88

formed in the link plate

86

includes an arch-shaped slot portion

88

a

, a slot portion

88

b

, and a bent linear slot portion

88

c

, which are all continuous with each other. When viewed in plan as in FIG.

9

(

a

), the arch shape of the arch-shaped slot portion

88

a

and the movement path of the operation shaft

85

follow the same imaginary circle around the center shaft

81

of the rotary knob

80

, when the rotary know

80

is positioned between the NO-CUT mode position and the POWER-OFF mode position. Therefore, when the rotary knob

80

is moved between the NO-CUT mode position and the POWER-OFF mode position, the operation shaft

85

moves within the slot portion

88

a

. Therefore, consequently, the link plate

86

will not be moved by rotation of the rotary knob

80

when the rotary knob

80

is pivoted between the NO-CUT mode position and the POWER-OFF mode position. The linear slot portion

88

b

extends in a direction so that distance between the linear slot portion

88

b

and the shaft

81

of the rotary knob

80

increases with distance along the linear slot portion

88

b

from the arch-shaped slot portion

88

a

. The operation shaft

85

is located in the linear slot portion

88

b

while the rotary knob

80

is between the POWER-OFF mode position and the MARGIN mode position. The bent linear slot portion

88

c

is bent at substantially a right angle, that is, as viewed in plan, with respect to the guide slot

88

. The operation shaft

85

is located in the bent linear slot portion

88

c

when the rotary knob

80

is between the MARGIN mode position and the NO-MARGIN mode position.

Accordingly, as shown in FIGS.

9

(

a

) and

9

(

b

), when the rotary knob

80

is rotated between the NO-CUT and the POWER-OFF mode selection positions, the movement path of the operation shaft

85

is aligned with the arch-shaped of the arch-shaped slot portion

88

a

on the same imaginary circle that is centered on the shaft

81

of the rotary knob

80

. Therefore, while the knob is moved from the NO-CUT to the POWER-OFF mode selection positions, the operation shaft

85

moves only within the arch-shaped slot portion

88

a

so that the link plate

86

will not move even though the rotary knob

80

is moved. Accordingly. the cutter

62

a

, which is connected to the link plate

86

, will remain at a position Y

01

shown in

FIG. 11

, that is, will remain at the retracted position to the exterior of the right edge of the laminate R.

As shown in FIG.

9

(

c

), when the rotary knob

80

is rotated to the MARGIN mode selection position, the operation shaft

85

pivots around the shaft

81

within the linear shaped slot portion

88

b

, and presses against the inner surface of the linear shaped slot portion

88

b

. As a result of this pressing movement by the pivoting operation shaft

85

, the link plate

86

moves leftward from the position shown in FIG.

9

((

b

) to the position shown in FIG.

9

(

c

), and the cutter

62

a

moves accordingly into position Y

11

shown in FIG.

11

. The position Y

11

is the right most position and is separated from right edge of the sheet by a distance WB. In this condition, the webs S

1

, S

2

will be cut be with a right margin having a predetermined width WB.

As shown in FIG.

9

(

d

), when the rotary knob

80

is further rotated into the NO-MARGIN mode selection position, the operation shaft

85

moves within the bent linear slot portion

88

c

so as to press against the inner peripheral surface of the bent linear slot portion

88

c

. In accordance with pivoting movement of the operation shaft

85

, the link plate

86

moves slightly to the left from the position shown in FIG.

9

(

c

) to the position shown in FIG.

9

(

d

). As a result, the cutter

62

a

moves to a position Y

21

shown in FIG.

11

. The position Y

21

is slightly to the left of the right edge of the sheet P. As a result, the webs S

1

, S

2

will be cut with no right margin.

As shown in FIGS.

9

(

a

) to

9

(

d

), the outer surface of the rotation cam frame

87

is formed with protrusions and indentations. The rotation cam frame

87

rotates Integrally with rotation of the rotary knob. A click spring

89

engages in a groove of the rotation cam frame

87

that corresponds to the mode selection position of the rotary knob

80

. That is, each time the click spring

89

falls into one of the grooves with rotation of the knob

80

, the user will sense a click that indicates that the rotary knob

80

is temporally stopped in place.

The rotation cam frame

87

is provided with a maximum diameter section

87

a

. First and second switches

90

,

91

are disposed adjacent to the rotation cam frame

87

so as to selectively abut against the maximum diameter section

87

a

with pivoting movement of the rotary knob

80

. A controller

92

to be described later controls rotation of the stepping motor

72

to move the other-side longitudinal cutting unit

42

b

leftward and rightward via the timing belt

67

, so that the position of the other-side longitudinal cutting unit

42

b

can be set to a predetermined position based on the output from the first and second selection switches

90

,

91

.

That is to say, when the rotary knob

80

is located at either the NO-CUT or POWER OFF mode selection position, the controller

92

controls the other-side longitudinal cutting unit

42

b

to move the cutter

62

b

into the Y

02

position shown in

FIG. 11

, that is, to the retracted position to the outside of the left edge of the laminate R. When the rotary knob

80

is rotated to the MARGIN mode selection position, the cutter

62

b

will be moved to position Y

12

, that is, the position separated by a distance WB from the left edge of the sheet P. In this condition, the webs S

1

, S

2

can be cut with a left margin having the predetermined width WB. When the rotary knob

80

is rotated further to the NO-MARGIN mode selection position as shown in FIG.

9

(

d

), the cutter

62

b

will be moved to the position Y

22

shown in

FIG. 11

, that is, at a position slightly to the right of the left edge of the sheet P. As a result, the webs S

1

, S

2

can be out with no left margin.

The controller

92

can be an electric microcomputer including a central processing unit (CPU), a ROM storing predetermined control programs, and a RAM storing a variety of different data types. The controller

92

uses the signal from the sheet width sensor

66

to detect the width of the sheet P introduced into the web cassette

20

, and then automatically controls the position of the other-side longitudinal cutting unit

42

b

based on the detected width. The controller

92

also changes the cutting condition of the left and right side longitudinal cutting units

42

a

,

42

b

, controls operation of the lateral cutting unit

41

, and executes other programs.

As shown in

FIG. 10

, the controller

92

is connected to the rotary power switch

82

, the first selection switch

90

, the second selection switch

91

, the photo sensor

66

, the paper introduction sensor

73

, and the limit switches

55

,

56

, and receives input signals from all of these elements. Also, the controller

92

is connected to, and drives at a predetermined timing, the power circuit

83

, the actuator

78

for operating for driving the longitudinal cutting, the stepping motor

72

for driving longitudinal cutting in the widthwise direction of the sheet P, and the cutter motor

53

for driving lateral cutting operations.

As shown in

FIG. 12

, an operation panel

100

is located on the upper surface, that is lid, of the case

1

a

. The operation panel

100

includes a start button

101

, a stop button

102

, a feed button

103

. a consecutive process button

104

, a cut button

105

, and a binder button

106

. When one of the buttons

101

to

106

is pressed and turned ON, the controller

92

generates a command that corresponds to the depressed button, so that predetermined corresponding operations are executed. For example, when the start button

101

is pressed down, lamination processes are started. When the stop button

102

is pressed down and turned ON, the laminating processes are temporarily stopped and the transport of the sheet P is stopped. When the start button

101

is again pressed down in this condition, transport and lamination of the sheet P restarts.

When the cut button

105

is pressed down and turned ON, the lateral cutting unit

41

operates to cut the laminate R at a desired position. When the feed button

103

is pressed down, the rollers

8

a

,

8

b

,

26

,

27

,

31

are driven to rotate so that the sheet P is transported, laminated, and the laminate R is discharged. When the feed button

103

is released, then the sheet transport and lamination processes are immediately stopped.

When the consecutive process button

104

is pressed down and turned ON, and sheets P on the sheet feed tray. are supplied one after the other separated by a fixed time. Then as shown in FIG.

14

(

a

) adjacent laminates R, which correspond to adjacent sheets P, are laterally cut at position X

2

so that no strip (

107

) is generated between the adjacent laminates R.

When the binder button

106

is pressed down, a rear margin portion formed at the rear edge of the laminate R, that is, behind the rear edge of the sheet P, is cut to a slightly larger length. In this case, as shown in FIG.

14

(

d

), punch holes

110

can be punched into this rear margin portion so that the laminate R can be clipped into a binder. It should be noted that, although not shown in the drawings, when the consecutive process button

104

is turned OFF, then a single lamination routine is performed each time a single P is inserted in the lamination apparatus

1

. In this case, a residual strip (

107

) will be generated at the front end of each laminate R.

Next, operations performed by the laminating apparatus

1

to prepare laminates R will be explained. First, when a single sheet P only is placed on the sheet feed tray

11

, and the start button

102

is pressed down, the front edge of the sheet P is moved in between the sheet feed rollers

8

b

,

8

b

. Next, the transport drive motor

93

is rotated in the forward direction until the front edge of the transported sheet P is detected by the detection portion

74

a

of the arm

74

, whereupon the electrical sensor

75

outputs a signal. The stepping motor

72

is driven to move the arm

65

in the rightward X direction. The detection lever

66

b

of the photo sensor

66

scans rightward until it abuts the left edge of the sheet P. In this way, the width of the sheet P is measured.

When the electrical sensor

75

output a signal indicating detection of the front edge of the sheet P. The number of drive pulses applied afterward to the transport drive motor

93

is counted to drive the transport motor

93

by a predetermined amount. If the transported sheet P is sufficiently long, then after the transport drive motor

93

is driven by this predetermined amount, the front edge of the sheet P will pass by the web cassette

20

and reach the nip between the pinch rollers

26

,

27

.

However, a potential problem arises if the sheet P is too short, and has a length Lx that is shorter than the length L

0

of FIG.

13

. If the transport drive motor

93

is driven by the predetermined amount when the sheet P is too short, then before the front edge of the short sheet P reaches the nip between the pinch rollers

26

.

27

, the end edge of the short sheet P will have already passed out from between the nip between the sheet feed rollers

8

a

,

8

b

. Therefore, the sheet transport can not be performed any further, so that the laminating processes cannot be performed.

To prevent this potential problem, the distance L

1

from the photo sensor

66

to the detection portion

74

a

is set shorter than the distance L

0

from the nip center between the sheet feed rollers

8

a

,

8

b

to the nip center between the pinch rollers

26

,

27

. Once the front edge of the sheet P is detected by the electrical sensor

75

, then the transport drive motor

93

is driven while measuring the distance that the sheet P is transported. If the photo sensor

66

stops detecting the sheet P, that is, if the rear edge of the sheet P is detected to have passed by the detection position of the photo sensor

66

, before the time the transport drive motor

93

transports the sheet P by a distance equivalent to (L

0

-L

1

), then it is determined that the sheet P is too short, so rotational direction of the sheet feed rollers

8

a

,

8

b

is reversed by reversing driving direction of the transport drive motor

93

. With this configuration, before the rear edge of a short sheet P passes out through the nip portion between the sheet feed rollers

8

a

,

8

b

, the rotational direction of the sheet feed rollers

8

a

,

8

b

is reversed, so that the short sheet P is automatically return in the direction of the sheet feed tray

11

.

The transport amount for the sheet P to enable executing detection of the width of the sheet P and existence of a sheet P using the photo sensor

66

is shorter than the distance equivalent to (L

0

-L

1

). Therefore, even if the side edge of the sheet P held between the sheet feed rollers

8

a

,

8

b

abuts against the detection lever

66

b

of the photo sensor

66

, the orientation of the sheet P will not be changed.

While the rotary knob

80

is located at the POWER-OFF mode selection position, the cutter

62

a

of the reference-side longitudinal cutting unit

42

a

is located at the retracted position Y

01

to the right of the edge of the laminate R as a result of mechanical linking relationship between the rotary knob

80

the operation shaft

85

, and the link plate

86

described above. Also, because only the first detection switch

90

is in its ON condition, the cutter

62

b

of the other-side longitudinal cutting unit

42

b

will also be in Its retracted position Y

02

to the left edge of the laminate R, and also the rotary power switch

82

will be in be turned OFF so that the power supply is stopped. It should be noted that when the rotary knob

80

is in any mode selection position other than the POWER-OFF mode selection position, the rotary power switch

82

will be turned ON so that power is supplied to the laminating apparatus

1

through the power circuit

83

.

When the rotary knob

80

is in the NO-CUT mode selection position, the first and second selection switches

90

,

91

will output OFF signals, which indicates that the laminate R should be discharged with the width same as the width of the supplied webs S

1

, S

2

. Therefore, the left and right longitudinal cutting units

42

a

,

42

b

are maintained in the same retracted positions as for the POWER-OFF mode selection position.

When the rotary knob

80

is rotated into the MARGIN mode selection position, the cutter

62

a

of the reference-side longitudinal cutting unit

42

a

is set in the position Y

11

of FIG.

11

. Also, both of the first and second selection switches

90

,

91

output ON signals so that the stepping motor

72

is operated to move the arm

65

in one of the X directions until the photo sensor

66

detects the left edge of the introduced sheet P. Once the left edge is detected, the control program for providing margin controls to move the arm

65

in the direction for separating the arm

65

from the left edge of the sheet P. Movement of the arm

65

is stopped once the arm

65

has moved a duration of time required to separate the arm

65

from the left edge of the sheet P by the distance WB. At this time, the cutter

62

b

of the other-side longitudinal cutting unit

42

b

, which moves in the X directions in association with the arm

65

, is set at the position Y

12

of FIG.

11

. Next, the sheet P is fed into the web cassette

20

, and discharged a predetermined distance. Once the front edge of the laminate R is fed to pass-by both the cutting units

42

a

,

42

b

, the actuator

78

is operated so that the left and right cutters

62

a

,

62

b

are lowered down onto the laminate R so as to pierce through the laminate R. As a result, as the laminate R passes through the laminating apparatus

1

, it is cut in the longitudinal direction to retain margins with a width WE at both left and right edges of the sheet P.

If the rotary knob

80

is rotated to the NO-MARGIN mode selection position, the cutter

62

a

of the reference-side longitudinal cutting unit

42

a

is set to the position Y

21

shown in FIG.

11

. Also, only the second selection switch

91

will output an ON signal. Therefore, the stepping motor

72

moves the arm

65

in one of the X directions until the photo sensor

66

detects the left edge of the sheet P. Then the control program for not providing any margin controls the stepping motor

72

to further move the arm

65

slightly to the right from the left edge of the sheet P, so that the cutter

62

b

of the other-side longitudinal cutting unit

42

b

is set at the position Y

22

of

FIG. 11

, where the arm

65

is located slightly to the right of the left edge of the sheet P. Afterward, in the same manner as in the MARGIN mode, the left and right cutters

62

a

,

62

b

are driven to drop down and pierce the laminate R. As a result, the laminate R is cut longitudinally with no margin to the left and right sides of the sheet P.

Next, when the sheet feed rollers

88

a

,

88

b

and the pinch rollers

26

,

27

are operated for a predetermined duration of time after the front edge of the introduced sheet P, which has a normal length, is detected, the rear edge of the sheet P will have passed by the location of the lateral cutting unit

41

. Therefore, by operating the cutter motor after the sheet P has been transported slightly after passing the unit

41

, the drive unit

48

moves reciprocally so as to cut the laminate R following the X directions while the side surface of the rotary knob

80

abuts against the fixed blade

45

to horizontally cut while maintaining a margin at the front and rear of the laminate R in the transport direction.

Next, an explanation will be provided for consecutive laminating processes while referring to the flowcharts in

FIGS. 15

to

19

. Consecutive laminating processes are performed when the consecutive process button

104

shown in

FIG. 12

is pressed down. FIG.

14

(

a

) shows the situation wherein sheets P

1

, P

2

with the same width W

1

are consecutively processed to prepare laminates R formed with a margin having a width WB to both left and right sides of the sheets P

1

, P

2

. In this case, the pointer of the rotary grip

80

is pre-set to the MARGIN mode selection position. Once the consecutive process button

104

is depressed, the display lamp

108

, such as an LED, is continuously illuminated and the consecutive process mode is entered. First, the user places the first sheet P

1

on the sheet feed tray

11

, and presses the start button

101

down. As a result, the sheet feed rollers

8

a

,

8

b

are driven in S

1

to rotate. The sheet P

1

is picked up by the nip between the sheet feed rollers

8

a

,

8

b

and then transported until its front edge abuts against the detection portion

74

a

. As a result, the front edge of the sheet P

1

is detected (S

2

:YES) and drive of the sheet feed rollers

8

a

,

8

b

is temporarily stopped in S

3

.

Next, in order to measure the width of the supply sheet P

1

using the photo sensor

66

, the arm

65

is moved in S

4

in the rightward X direction into contact with the left edge of the sheet P

1

. The sheet feed rollers

8

a

,

8

b

are rotated in the forward direction in S

5

until it is judged in S

6

whether or not the sheet P

1

is shorter than the predetermined length L

0

. During this time, the length of the sheet P

1

is judged and the width of the sheet P

1

is measured in S

4

. If the length of the sheet P

1

were shorter than the predetermined length L

0

(S

6

:NO), then the sheet feed rollers

8

a

,

8

b

would driven to rotate in the reverse direction in S

7

. However, in this example, the length of the sheet P

1

is longer than the predetermined length L

0

(S

6

:YES), so the sheet feed rollers

8

a

,

8

b

are further driven to rotate in the forward direction in S

8

until it is judged in S

9

that the front edge of the sheet P

1

is transported to the position where the lamination processes start. Then in S

10

, the sheet P

1

is subjected to the laminating processes by passing between the rotating pinch rollers

26

,

26

, until the front edge of the resultant laminate R is transported to near the longitudinal cutting unit

42

.

In S

11

, the other side cutting unit

42

b

is transported according to the present mode. Because the lamination apparatus is in the MARGIN mode in the present example, the left side longitudinal cutting unit

42

b

is transported in the leftward X direction to position Y

12

for producing a margin WB. In S

12

the actuator (electromagnetic solenoid)

78

is driven so that the cutters

62

a

,

62

b

of the reference side longitudinal cutting unit

42

a

and the other side longitudinal cutting unit

42

b

lower into the sheet feed pathway.

Because the MARGIN mode is selected in this example (S

13

:NO), in S

14

the pinch rollers

26

,

27

and the sheet feed rollers

8

a

,

8

b

are further driven in the forward rotational direction until the front edge of the laminate R passes by the lateral cutting unit

41

by a distance Lk. As a result, the lateral cutting position X

1

, which is an imaginary line across the width of the laminate R, is positioned at the lateral cutting unit

41

, so that a strip-shaped portion with only the webs S

1

, S

2

adhered together, that is, with no portion of the sheet P

1

interposed therebetween, extends beyond the lateral cutting unit

41

by a width Lk. In S

15

, transport of the laminate R is stopped and the fixed blade

45

and the rotational blade

50

of the lateral cutting unit

41

perform a lateral cut at the lateral cutting position X

1

. That is, the rotational blade

50

is driven to move reciprocally and cut the laminate R across its width, so that a strip

107

a

with a width Lk is cut off from the laminate R. As shown in

FIG. 13

, the lateral cutting unit

41

and the discharge rollers

31

are separated by a distance L

2

, that is, 18 cm in the present embodiment. The distance L

2

is set shorter than the length Lk of the strip

107

a

. As a result, when performing a lateral cut, a front edge of the laminate R, that is, the front edge of the strip

107

a

, is held at a nip between the discharged rollers

31

, so that the strip

107

a

can be discharged out of the laminating apparatus

1

from the discharge port

32

by driving the discharge rollers

31

.

Next, in S

16

lamination processes are restarted until a predetermined position beyond the end edge of the sheet P

1

from when the detection portion

74

a

detects the rear edge of the transported sheet P

1

. That is, the pinch rollers

26

,

27

and the discharge rollers

31

are driven to laminate the sheet P

1

while the longitudinal cutting units

42

a

,

42

b

cut the laminate R along lines Y

11

, Y

12

to retain a margin at widthwise edges of the laminate R.

Next, in S

17

the cutter

62

a

,

62

b

of the longitudinal cutting units

42

a

,

42

b

are lifted up to a no-cut position. In S

18

, the other side longitudinal cutting unit

42

b

is moved to its home position to the left of the webs S

1

, S

2

, and stopped there. Next, in S

19

both cutters

62

a

,

62

b

are lowered to prevent changing that margin setting. Then, in S

20

drive of the sheet feed rollers

8

a

,

8

b

, the pinch rollers

26

,

27

, and the discharge rollers

31

is stopped to temporarily stop laminating processes.

Next, in S

21

the user is urged to insert a subsequent sheet P

2

while a predetermined time, that is, 7 seconds in the present embodiment, is awaited in S

23

. During the first half of this waiting time, the display lamp

108

is blinked ON and OFF for a constant interval. During the later half of the waiting time, the display lamp

108

is blinked ON and OFF at a shorter interval. This provides a user with a visual understanding of time passing until the sheet P

2

is inserted in the laminating apparatus

1

. If the user inserts a subsequent sheet P

2

within the predetermined waiting time, and presses the start button

101

(S

22

:YES), then the laminating processes can be restarted and consecutively performed. Even if the start button

101

in not pressed, once the predetermined waiting time has elapsed (S

23

:YES), then after raising the cutters

62

a

,

62

b

in S

24

, forward rotation of the sheet feed rollers

8

a

,

8

b

will automatically start in S

25

.

If the user inserts the subsequent sheet P

2

within the predetermined waiting time, and the user notices that the sheet P

2

is tilted in the transport direction in the time between when the sheet feed rollers

8

a

,

8

b

begin rotating in the forward direction and when the front edge of the sheet P

2

reaches the nip center between the pinch rollers

26

,

27

a

, then the user can press the stop button

102

to have the sheet P returned to the sheet feed tray

11

and to return the laminating apparatus to the waiting condition of S

23

.

In this way, once the waiting time has elapsed (S

23

:YES), then in S

24

the cutters

62

a

,

62

b

are raised up to release the margin setting change prevention condition. In S

25

the sheet feed rollers

8

a

,

8

b

are then rotated in the forward direction until the detection portion

74

a

detects the front edge of the subsequent sheet P

2

(S

26

:YES), whereupon the left edge of the sheet P is detected and the width of the sheet P is measured in S

28

. In S

29

it is judged whether the subsequent sheet P

2

has a different width than the preceding sheet P

1

. In S

29

, it is judged that the subsequent sheet P indeed has a different width than the preceding sheet P if the difference in their widths is a predetermined value, such as ±1 mm or greater. Processes performed when two sheets have different widths will be described later with reference to FIG.

14

(

c

) and FIG.

19

.

Because this example is for the MARGIN mode (S

30

:NO), in S

31

the subsequent sheet P

2

is transported until the distance between the front edge of the subsequent sheet P

2

and the rear edge of the preceding sheet P

1

is a predetermined distance L

3

. In this condition, in S

32

both cutters

62

a

,

62

b

are lowered onto the end points of left and right longitudinal cuts previously cut in the preceding sheet P

1

, so that consecutive longitudinal cuts can be executed at the positions Y

11

, Y

12

.

Next, in S

33

the rollers

8

a

,

8

b

,

26

,

27

,

31

are all driven together to perform lamination processes while transporting the sheets P

1

, P

2

until a lateral cutting position X

2

of the laminate R reaches the lateral cutting unit

41

. As shown In FIG.

14

(

a

), lateral cutting position X

2

is positioned between the rear edge of the preceding sheet P

1

and the front edge of the subsequent sheet P

2

. Then, in S

34

the transport of the laminate R is stopped, and a lateral cut is performed.

As a result, a lateral cut is executed between the two successive sheets P

1

, P

2

when performing consecutive laminating processes. A laminate R including the preceding sheet P

1

is produced with a margin having a predetermined width around all the four edges of the preceding sheet P

1

. The laminate R with the preceding sheet P

1

is discharged through the discharge port

31

. Afterward, the processes described in S

11

and on are repeated when a subsequent sheet P

2

is inserted in the laminating apparatus

1

as in the present example, that is, that is, when consecutive laminating processes are performed. on the other hand, if after the waiting time is completed (S

23

:YES), the sheet feed rollers

8

a

,

8

b

are rotated for a predetermined duration of time without detecting the front edge of a subsequent sheet P

2

(S

27

:YES), then it is assumed that no subsequent sheet P

2

was inserted into the laminating apparatus. In this case, in S

35

the sheet P

1

is transported to perform laminating processes and left and right longitudinal cuts. In S

36

the laminate R is stopped so that a predetermined margin section from the rear edge of the sheet P is located at the lateral cutting position X

3

, and a lateral cut is executed. Afterward, in S

37

the discharge rollers

31

alone are driven to rotate so that the laminate R is discharged from the laminating apparatus

1

.

Next, an example will be provided for consecutive laminating processes performed in the NO MARGIN mode while referring to FIG.

14

(

b

). To set the MARGIN mode, the rotary grip

80

is rotated to point at the NO MARGIN position. As a result, after S

1

to S

10

of

FIG. 15

are executed as described above, in S

11

the other side longitudinal cutting unit

42

b

is moved leftward and stopped at a predetermined position with its left side is slightly to the right from the left edge of the sheet P. Then in S

12

the actuator

78

is driven to lower the cutters

62

a

,

62

b

of the cutting units

42

a

,

42

b

into the sheet transport pathway. As shown in FIG.

14

(

b

) , in S

12

the left and right cutters

62

a

,

62

b

are lowered within a strip

107

b

and at points on lines Y

21

, Y

22

, respectively.

Because this example is for the NO MARGIN mode (S

13

:YES), in S

38

the laminate is transported until its front edge passes the lateral cutting unit

41

by a distance equivalent to the width Lk

1

of the strip

107

b

. While transported, the laminate R is cut on its left and right sides to an extent to also slightly cut the sheet P

1

by a width W

3

. Transport is stopped when the front edge of the laminate R passes by the lateral cutting unit

41

by the distance Lk

1

, so that a position X

3

of the laminate R is aligned with the lateral cutting unit

41

. When the lateral cutting unit

41

is driven in S

15

, the lateral cutting unit

41

will cut the laminate R along line XS so that a strip

107

b

with a width Lk

1

is generated.

After the end edge of the preceding sheet P

1

is detected in S

16

, then S

17

to S

22

are performed as described above. After the predetermined waiting time for inserting a subsequent sheet P has elapsed (S

23

:YES), then S

24

to S

28

are performed as described above. After it is determined that the subsequent sheet P

2

has the same width as the preceding sheet P

1

(S

29

:NO), then in S

30

it is determined that the laminating apparatus

1

is in the NO MARGIN mode (S

30

:YES), whereupon in S

39

transport is performed until just before the rear edge of the preceding sheet P

1

reaches the lateral cutting unit

41

. Then in S

40

a lateral out is performed along line X

4

of the preceding laminate R to leave no web margin at the rear edge of the preceding sheet P

1

. Next, the longitudinal cutters

62

a

,

62

b

are lowered in S

41

. In S

42

transport is performed until the front edge of the subsequent sheet P

2

is located slightly beyond the lateral cutting unit

41

. Then, in S

34

a lateral cut is performed along the lateral out line X

5

to leave no web margin beyond the front edge of the subsequent sheet P

2

. With these operations, a strip

107

c

with length Lk

2

is cut off from between the laminates, and the preceding laminate R ejected from the discharge port

32

of the laminating apparatus

1

has all four sides with no laminated portion formed from the webs S

1

, S

2

. Said differently, a laminate R with no margin can be formed. Afterward, the above-described operations can be repeatedly executed as needed.

Next, consecutive lamination processes performed when preceding and subsequent sheets P

3

, P

4

have different width dimensions will be described while referring to FIG.

14

(

c

). In this example, the first sheet P

3

has a width W

1

and the second sheet P

4

has a different width W

1

′. Laminating processes are performed on the first sheet P

3

in S

1

to S

28

in the same manner as described above. After the width W

1

′ of the subsequent sheet P

4

is measured, and determined to be different from that of the preceding sheet P

2

(S

29

:YES), then in S

43

the subsequent sheet P

4

is transported until the front edge of the subsequent sheet P

4

and the rear edge of the preceding sheet P

3

are separated by a distance L

4

. In S

44

the other side cutting unit

42

b

is moved from the position Y

12

to a position Y

12

′ because the left edge of the subsequent sheet P

4

Is positioned differently from the left edge of the preceding sheet P

3

. Then, in S

45

the longitudinal cutters

62

a

,

62

b

are lowered and a longitudinal cut is started. At this time, the left cutter

62

b

is lowered at the position Y

12

′ where a margin with a predetermined dimension will be formed from the left edge. Next, in S

46

the lateral cutting unit

41

is driven at the position X

2

for. performing a lateral cut to retain a predetermined margin to the rear edge of the preceding sheet P

1

. Then, in S

47

the laminate including the preceding sheet P

1

is separated from the laminate including the subsequent sheet P

2

and discharged from the laminating apparatus

1

by the discharge rollers

31

.

Next, in S

47

the laminating processes are executed for the distance Lk

3

. In S

48

the lateral cutting unit

41

is driven at position X

6

to make a lateral cut for removing a strip

107

d

with a length Lk

3

. Then the routine returns to S

16

, whereupon the cutting units

42

a

,

42

b

are driven to cut following longitudinal lines Y

11

, Y

12

′ as shown in FIG.

14

(

c

) in order to form predetermined margins to two left and right sides of the laminated subsequent sheet P.

During the different lamination processes described above, when only the sheet feed rollers

8

a

,

8

b

are to be driven by drive force transmitted from the transport drive motor

93

, the clutch mechanism

109

is switched so that drive force from the motor

93

is cut off for the pinch rollers

26

,

27

and the discharge rollers

31

. The clutch mechanism

109

is further switched to drive rotation of all of the rollers

8

a

,

8

b

,

26

,

27

, and

31

at the same time, and to drive rotation of only the rollers

8

a

,

8

b

,

31

.

Also, the size relationship between the rollers

31

,

26

,

28

,

8

a

,

8

b

is set so that the peripheral speed of the discharge rollers

31

is greater than that of the pinch rollers

26

,

27

, and the peripheral speed of the pinch rollers

26

,

27

is greater than that the sheet feed rollers

8

a

,

8

b

. Furthermore, the size relationship of the rollers is set so that the pressing force at the nip between the discharge rollers

31

is greater than that at the nip between the pinch rollers

26

,

27

, and that the pressing force at the nip between the pinch rollers

26

,

27

is greater than that at the nip between the sheet feed rollers

8

a

,

8

b

. With this configuration, the sheet P will not bend from when it is supplied from the sheet supply portion until lamination processes are finished. Also, the lamination sheet will not tilt its orientation during lamination. Also, the sheet will not wrinkle. Also, cutting mistakes generated by the laminate bending during lateral or longitudinal cutting operations, after lamination is completed, can be reliably prevented.

The present invention can be applied to a configuration wherein the sheet to be laminated with the laminating webs is inserted directly into the laminating apparatus without use of a web cassette.

Number	Name	Date	Kind
5571368	Barge	Nov 1996	A
5639339	Couillard	Jun 1997	A
5735998	Bradshaw	Apr 1998	A
5853531	Murphy et al.	Dec 1998	A

Laminating device for consecutively laminating plural sheets

Information

Patent Number

Date Filed

Date Issued

Inventors

Original Assignees

Examiners

Agents

CPC

US Classifications

Field of Search

US

International Classifications

Term Extension

Abstract

Description

Claims

Priority Claims (1)

US Referenced Citations (4)

Foreign Referenced Citations (1)