Claims
- 1. A method for applying adhesive to a closure flap of envelopes comprising the following steps:
- (a) feeding said envelopes on a conveyor (33) including a counter roller (24) in a feed advance direction (2B), whereby closure flaps of said envelopes are oriented substantially horizontally and crosswise to said feed advance direction;
- (b) feeding a continuous flat, unfolded carrier web (15) having an anti-stick surface, through an adhesive applicator device (1, 1A);
- (c) sequentially applying adhesive stripes (3C) to said anti-stick surface of said flat, unfolded carrier web (15) so that said adhesive stripes (3C) extend perpendicularly to and crosswise to a length of said web (15) on said anti-stick surface and so that a spacing (S) without adhesive is provided between each two neighboring adhesive stripes (3C) on said flat, unfolded carrier web (15);
- (d) using a single cutter roller (21) also as a transfer roller for cooperation with said counter roller (24) in a transfer plane common to both rollers (21, 24);
- (e) cutting said flat, unfolded carrier web (15) along and within said spacing (S) without adhesive with said single cutting roller (21) into individual adhesive carrying cover strips (3A), each strip having a carrier web backing and one of said adhesive stripes (3C) on said anti-stick surface; and
- (f) transferring and securing said cover strips (3A) with said single cutting roller (21) now operating as a transfer roller to said envelopes at said counter roller (24) so that a strip securing roller pressure is effective perpendicularly to a length of said cover strips (3A) and simultaneously along a length of said cover strips whereby one of said adhesive stripes (3C) is sandwiched between said backing formed by said flat, unfolded carrier web (15) and a surface of each closure flap, and so that said flat, unfolded carrier web (15) and said envelopes (2) can travel in vertical alignment with each other toward said transfer plane common to both rollers (21, 24).
- 2. The method of claim 1, comprising using as said flat, unfolded carrier web (15) a material that has an inherent anti-stick characteristic on said anti-stick surface.
- 3. The method of claim 1, comprising applying an anti-stick coating to a surface of said flat, unfolded carrier web (15) to form said anti-stick surface prior to said sequential applying of said adhesive stripes (3C).
- 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said adhesive stripes (3C) comprise a pressure sensitive adhesive on said anti-stick surface of said carrier web (15).
- 5. The method of claim 1, wherein a tape of silicone paper is used as said flat, unfolded carrier web (15), said silicone paper having an anti-stick characteristic to form said anti-stick surface.
- 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said cutting step is performed substantially centrally along said spacing (S) without adhesive between said two neighboring adhesive stripes (3C).
- 7. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of sequentially applying adhesive strides (3C) is performed so that a margin (44) without adhesive is formed at least along one edge of said flat, unfolded carrier web (15).
- 8. The method of claim 1, wherein said cutting step is performed by said single cutter and transfer roller (21) by severing said flat, unfolded carrier web (15) perpendicularly to a longitudinal edge (43) of said flat, unfolded carrier web (15), and wherein said securing step is performed by moving severed strips (3A) with said cutter and transfer roller (21) sequentially onto envelopes moving on said conveyor (33) in synchronism with said cutter and transfer roller (21) so that one cover strip (3A) carrying one adhesive stripe (3C) is secured to each closure flap (2B) of each envelope (2).
- 9. An apparatus for applying an adhesive to envelope closure flaps, comprising an adhesive applicator mechanism (1) including a supply device (14, 20) for supplying a flat, unfolded carrier web (15) having an anti-stick surface, rotatable adhesive applicator roller (6) and feed advance and guide rollers (8 to 13) for transporting said flat, unfolded carrier web (15) through said adhesive applicator mechanism (1) for applying adhesive stripes (3C) to said anti-stick surface of said flat, unfolded adhesive carrier web (15) by said adhesive applicator mechanism (1) so that said adhesive stripes (3C) extend on said anti-stick surface perpendicularly to a length of said carrier web (15) and crosswise to said anti-stick surface so that a spacing (S) without adhesive is provided between each two neighboring adhesive stripes (3C), a web cutting and strip applicator (16) arranged downstream of said adhesive applicator mechanism as viewed in a feed advance direction of said carrier web (15), said web cutting and strip applicator (16) comprising a combined web cutter and strip transfer roller (21) including a cutting knife (22) carried by said web cutter and strip transfer roller (21) and a counter member (23) positioned for cooperation with said cutting knife (22) on said roller (21) along said spacing (S) without adhesive thereby cutting said flat, unfolded carrier web (15) along and within each said spacing (S) without adhesive into cut strips (3A), each cut strip (3A) having one of said adhesive stripes (3C) at least on part of one surface of a strip (3A) forming a backing for said adhesive stripe (3C), said feed advance and guide rollers comprising a pair of feed and guide rollers (8) arranged opposite each other and directly upstream of said web cutter and strip transfer roller (21) for feeding said flat, unfolded carrier web onto said web cutter and strip transfer roller (21), said apparatus further comprising a roller conveyor (33) for transporting envelopes in a feed advance direction (2B, 33B), said roller conveyor (33) including a counter roller (24) positioned for cooperation with said web cutter and strip transfer roller (21) in a transfer plane common to both rollers (21, 24) for applying cut strips (3A) to said envelope closure flaps, said conveyor (33) comprising a first group of feed advance rollers (26) arranged upstream of said counter roller (24) and a second group of feed advance rollers (25) arranged downstream of said counter roller (24), said conveyor (33) and said feed advance and guide rollers (8 to 13) being arranged in vertical alignment with each other so that said envelopes (2) and said cut strips (3A) can travel into alignment with each other in said common transfer plane, whereby a transfer pressure applied by said rollers (21, 24) to said cut strips (3A) is effective perpendicularly to a length of said cut strips (3A) and simultaneously along said cut strips (3A), and wherein said feed advance and guide rollers comprise a guide and counter roller (10) for said adhesive applicator roller (6), a mounting bracket (17) journalled to said adhesive applicator mechanism (1) for a tilting movement of said mounting bracket, said guide and counter roller (10) being rotatably mounted to said mounting bracket (17), and a drive (18) connected to said mounting bracket (17) for pressing said guide and counter roller (10) against said adhesive applicator roller (6).
- 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said adhesive applicator mechanism (1) further comprises an adhesive supply trough (5) for holding a supply of adhesive (4), said rotatable adhesive applicator roller (6) dipping into said supply trough (5), a doctor blade (7) arranged for screeding off excess adhesive from said applicator roller (6), and wherein said flat, unfolded carrier web (15) is looped around said guide and counter roller (10) positioned for cooperation with said adhesive applicator roller (6) to expose said flat, unfolded carrier web to adhesive carried by said applicator roller (6).
- 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said feed advance and guide rollers are rotatably mounted on a plurality of rotational axes distributed around said trough (5) and around said adhesive applicator roller (6) so that said flat, unfolded carrier web (15) first travels from said supply device (20) downwardly on one side of said trough (5), then below said trough (5), then upwardly on the opposite side of said trough (5) and of said adhesive applicator roller (6), then around said counter roller (10) into contact with said adhesive applicator roller, and then away from said adhesive applicator roller (6) toward said web cutting device (16).
- 12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said drive (18) operates said mounting bracket and thus said guide and counter roller (10) in a pulsating manner for sequentially applying said adhesive stripes (3C) to said anti-stick surface of said flat, unfolded carrier web (15) whereby said spacing (S) is formed between each two neighboring adhesive stripes (3C) on said flat, unfolded carrier web (15).
- 13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said adhesive applicator roller (6) comprises depressions (32) arranged in a raster pattern in its roller surface, said raster pattern comprising a plurality of stripe surfaces (31) extending in parallel to each other on said roller surface and with a circumferential spacing from, each other substantially corresponding to said spacing (S), said raster pattern depressions holding adhesive in the manner of an intaglio printing roller, whereby said spacing (S) is formed between each two neighboring adhesive stripes (3C) on said flat unfolded carrier web (15).
- 14. An apparatus for applying an adhesive to envelope closure flaps, comprising a supply device (14A, 20A) for supplying a flat, unfolded carrier web (15A) having an anti-stick surface, an adhesive applicator mechanism (1A) including feed advance and guide rollers (8A, 10A, 10B, 13A) for applying adhesive stripes (3C) to said anti-stick surface of said flat, unfolded adhesive carrier web (15A) by said adhesive applicator mechanism (1A) so that said adhesive stripes (3C) extend on said anti-stick surface perpendicularly to a length of said carrier web (15) and crosswise to said anti-stick surface with a spacing (S) without adhesive between each two neighboring adhesive stripes (3C), a web cutting and applicator mechanism (16A) arranged downstream of said adhesive applicator mechanism (1A) as viewed in a feed advance direction of said carrier web (15A), said web cutting and applicator mechanism (16A) comprising a combined web cutter and strip transfer roller (21A) including a cutting knife (22A) carried by said web cutter and strip transfer roller (21A) and a counter member (23A) positioned for cooperation with said cutting knife (22A) on said roller (21A) along said spacing (S) without adhesive thereby cutting said flat, unfolded carrier web (15A) along and within each said spacing (S) without adhesive into cut strips (3A), each cut strip carrying one of said adhesive stripes (3C) at least on part of one surface of said cut strip forming a backing for said adhesive stripes (3C), said feed advance and guide rollers comprising a pair of feed and guide rollers (8A) arranged opposite each other and upstream of said web cutter and strip transfer roller (21A) for feeding said flat, unfolded carrier web (15A) onto said web cutter and strip transfer roller (21A), said apparatus further comprising a roller conveyor (33) for transporting envelopes in a feed advance direction (2B, 33B), said roller conveyor (33) including a counter roller (24A) positioned for cooperation with said web cutter and strip transfer roller (21A) in a transfer plane common to both rollers (21A, 24A) for applying cut strips (3A) to said envelope closure flaps, said roller conveyor (33) comprising a first group of feed advance rollers (26A) arranged upstream of said counter roller (24A) and a second group of feed advance rollers (25A) arranged downstream of said counter roller (24A), said roller conveyor (33) and said feed advance and guide rollers being arranged in vertical alignment with each other so that said envelopes (2) and said strips (3A) can travel into alignment with each other in said common transfer plane, wherein a transfer pressure applied by said rollers (21A, 24A) to said cut strips (3A) is effective perpendicularly to a length of said cut strips (3A) and simultaneously along said cut strips (3A), wherein said adhesive applicator mechanism (1A) comprises an adhesive spray nozzle (40, 40A) and a counter roller (41A) arranged opposite said adhesive spray nozzle (40, 40A) for presenting said carrier web (15A) to said adhesive spray nozzle for applying said adhesive stripes (3C) to said anti-stick surface of said carrier web (15A), said adhesive spray nozzle (40, 40A) having a slot with a slot length corresponding to a length of said adhesive stripes (3C), said nozzle slot length extending perpendicularly and crosswise to a length of said adhesive carrier web (15A) and parallel to said anti-stick surface of said adhesive carrier, web (15A) for applying said stripes (3C) to said carrier web (15A) with said spacings (S) without adhesive between each two neighboring adhesive stripes (3C).
- 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said counter edge (23A) is positioned above said roller conveyor (33).
- 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said counter edge (23A) and said counter roller (24A) are circumferentially spaced around said web cutter and strip transfer roller (21A).
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
43 14 685.6 |
May 1993 |
DEX |
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Parent Case Info
This application is a file wrapper continuation of application Ser. No. 08/237,115, filed on May 3, 1994, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (31)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2195938 |
Apr 1974 |
FRX |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
237115 |
May 1994 |
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