Crease roller apparatuses and methods for using same

• US 20080090713A1
• Filed: 10/12/2006
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bell & Howell LLC (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Bowe Bell & Howell Company
• Inventors: Snyder, Robert T., Kapturowski, Edward J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,662,080 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 493/442
• CPC Class Codes: B31F 1/10 by rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: B43M 3/045 for envelopes with only one flap
• CPC Class Codes: B43M 5/042 for envelopes with only one flap
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/1916 Envelopes and articles of mail
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/70 Article bending or stiffening arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 45/30 Folding in combination with creasing, smoothing or application of adhesive folding or adhesive application in article or web delivering B65H37/00

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods are provided for improving handling of sheet articles during processing within sheet or mail processing machines, particularly for causing creased sheet articles to assume a more planar position within a sheet or mail processing machine. Rollers may be provided for bending a crease of a sheet article along its crease

Claims

1. A crease roller apparatus comprising:

(a) a first roller having a circumferential perimeter surface, the first roller having a ridge extending at least partially around the circumferential perimeter surface of the first roller;

(b) a second roller having a circumferential perimeter surface, the second roller having a channel extending at least partially around the circumferential perimeter surface of the second roller; and

(c) the first and second rollers being oriented to align the circumferential perimeter surface of the first roller with the circumferential perimeter surface of the second roller wherein the ridge of the first roller extends into the channel of the second roller, and where a sheet article with a crease can pass between the first and second rollers.

2. The crease roller apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ridge on the first roller comprises at least one O-ring disposed around the circumferential perimeter surface of the first roller.

3. The crease roller apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a first shaft engaging the first roller and a second shaft engaging the second roller.

4. The crease roller apparatus according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the first shaft or the second shaft is power driven.

5. The crease roller apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first shaft and the second shaft have feed rollers disposed thereon that are configured to transport sheet articles.

6. The crease roller apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ridge of the first roller has a curvature.

7. The crease roller apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the channel of the second roller has a curvature that is slightly greater than the curvature of the ridge of the first roller.

8. The crease roller apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ridge of the first roller is positioned to engage the channel of the second roller when the ridge extends into the channel.

9. The crease roller apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, of the first and second rollers, only the ridge of the first roller and the channel of the second roller engage the sheet article.

10. A roller apparatus for sheet processing, the roller apparatus comprising:

(a) a first shaft;

(b) a second shaft aligned parallel to the first shaft;

(c) a first roller disposed on the first shaft and having a circumferential perimeter surface with an O-ring disposed around the circumferential perimeter surface of the first roller;

(d) a second roller disposed on the second shaft and having a circumferential perimeter surface with a channel within the circumferential perimeter surface of the second roller;

(e) the first shaft and the second shaft being oriented such that the O-ring of the first roller extends into the channel of the second roller; and

(f) wherein a sheet article with a hinge line can pass between the first and second rollers where the hinge line passes between the O-ring of the first roller and the channel of the second roller.

11. A method for bending a crease of a sheet article, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a sheet article with a crease; and

(b) feeding the sheet article between a pair of rollers where the crease passes between a ridge of a first roller and a channel of a second roller to bend the crease of the sheet article.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the ridge of the first roller extends around a circumferential perimeter surface of the first roller and the channel of the second roller is within a circumferential perimeter surface of the second roller, and wherein feeding the sheet article between the rollers comprises feeding the crease of the sheet article between the ridge and the channel wherein the ridge extends at least partially into the channel.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the sheet article comprises an envelope and wherein step (b) comprises feeding the envelope between the rollers where the crease is fed between the ridge and the channel to bend the crease.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the rollers score the sheet article along the crease.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the rollers bend the crease of the sheet article such that the sheet article assumes a planar position.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the sheet article is an envelope.

17. A method for bending a crease of a sheet article, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a sheet article with a hinge line; and

(b) feeding the sheet article between a pair of rollers where the crease passes between a ridge of a first roller and a channel of a second roller to bend the crease of the sheet article to bend the hinge line of the sheet article in an inverted direction to that of an original fold of the hinge line such that the sheet article assume a planar position.

18. A method for bending a flap of an envelope, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an envelope in an open position with a flap of the envelope extended;

(b) feeding the envelope between rollers;

(c) aligning the envelope so that the rollers bend the flap of the envelope along a hinge line of the flap of the envelope; and

(d) bending the hinge line in an inverted direction to that of a fold of the flap with the rollers to cause the envelope to lay in a planar position.