Apparatus and method for producing embossed paper or laminated metallic foil sheets

• US 8,347,684 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2008
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: Coderre, Claude
• Primary Examiner(s): Ekiert, Teresa M
• Application Number:
  US12/594,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20100129681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,741 Days
• Field of Search: 721/84, 721/96, 721/97, 101/5, 101/22, 264/145, 264/280, 264/284, 83/27
• US Class Current: 72/197
• CPC Class Codes: B31F 1/07 Embossing , i.e. producing impressions formed by locally deep-drawing, e.g. using rolls provided with complementary profilesB31F1/128 takes precedence; corrugating B31F1/20; embossing in combination with printing B41F19/02, B41M1/24; typewriters for embossing B41J3/38; stamping in combination with deforming B41K3/36
• CPC Class Codes: B31F 2201/0733 Pattern
• CPC Class Codes: B31F 2201/0741 Roller cooperating with a non-even counter roller
• CPC Class Codes: B31F 2201/0782 Layout of the complete embossing machine, of the embossing line
• CPC Class Codes: B31F 2201/0794 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1241 Nonplanar uniform thickness or nonlinear uniform diameter [e.g., L-shape]

Abstract

An apparatus (1) and method for producing embossed paper or laminated metallic foil sheets (55) comprising means for feeding an elongate strip (20) of paper or laminated metallic foil, a pair of matched embossing rollers (5, 10) disposed to receive such a strip from the feeding means, and means for receiving such a strip from the embossing rollers after being embossed thereby, and for cutting such strip into sheets. The rollers have a plurality of embossing sectors (75) arranged on the surface thereof. At least one of the sectors imparts a first embossing, and at least another of the sectors imparts an alternate embossing different in appearance from the first embossing. The sectors are dimensioned similarly to the foil sheets. At least one group of the sheets carry the first embossing while at least another group of the sheets carry the alternate embossing.

Claims

1. An apparatus for producing embossed paper or laminated metallic foil sheets, comprising:

means for feeding an elongate strip of paper or laminated metallic foil;

first and second embossing rollers disposed to receive said strip from said feeding means, said first roller having a plurality of embossing sectors arranged on the surface thereof, at least one of said sectors imparting a first embossing, and at least another of said sectors imparting an alternate embossing different in appearance from said first embossing, said sectors being dimensioned similarly to said foil sheets;

means for receiving such a strip from said embossing rollers after being embossed thereby, and for cutting said strip into sheets, at least a portion of said sheets carrying said first embossing, and at least another portion of said sheets carrying said alternate embossing; and

a sorting mechanism for sorting said at least one portion of said sheets carrying said first embossing from said at least another portion of said sheets carrying said alternate embossing.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising synchronization means to synchronize said receiving and cutting means with said embossing rollers.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said embossing sectors are arranged circumferentially around said first embossing roller.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said embossing sectors are arranged axially along said first embossing roller.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said embossing sectors are also arranged circumferentially around said first embossing roller.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said second embossing roller has a substantially smooth and deformable outer contacting surface.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first embossing roller is a drive roller.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said second embossing roller has a plurality of embossing sectors arranged on the surface thereof, at least one of said sectors imparting a first embossing, and at least another of said sectors imparting an alternate embossing different in appearance from said first embossing, said sectors being dimensioned similarly to said foil sheets, said sectors being arranged to match similar sectors on said first embossing roller.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 further comprising synchronization means to synchronize said receiving and cutting means with said embossing rollers.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said embossing sectors are arranged circumferentially around said embossing rollers.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said embossing sectors are arranged axially along said embossing rollers.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said embossing sectors are also arranged circumferentially around said embossing rollers.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said sectors are contiguous on said embossing rollers.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for cutting comprises a longitudinal mechanism and a lateral cutting mechanism.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said embossing rollers are made of steel.

16. An apparatus for producing embossed paper or laminated metallic foil sheets, comprising:

means for feeding an elongate strip of paper or laminated metallic foil;

first and second embossing rollers disposed to receive said strip from said feeding means, said first roller having a plurality of embossing sectors arranged on the surface thereof, at least one of said sectors imparting a first embossing, and at least another of said sectors imparting an alternate embossing different in appearance from said first embossing, said sectors being dimensioned similarly to said foil sheets; and

means for receiving such a strip from said embossing rollers after being embossed thereby, and for cutting said strip into sheets, at least a portion of said sheets carrying said first embossing, and at least another portion of said sheets carrying said alternate embossing, wherein said second embossing roller has a plurality of embossing sectors arranged on the surface thereof, at least one of said sectors imparting a first embossing, and at least another of said sectors imparting an alternate embossing different in appearance from said first embossing, said sectors being dimensioned similarly to said foil sheets, said sectors being arranged to match similar sectors on said first embossing roller.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 further comprising synchronization means to synchronize said receiving and cutting means with said embossing rollers.

18. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 further comprising means for sorting said at least one portion of said sheets carrying said first embossing from said at least another portion of said sheets carrying said alternate embossing.

19. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said embossing sectors are arranged in one of circumferentially around and axially along said first embossing roller.

20. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said second embossing roller has a substantially smooth and deformable outer contacting surface.

21. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said first embossing roller is a drive roller.

22. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said embossing sectors are arranged in one of circumferentially around and axially along said embossing rollers.

23. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said sectors are contiguous on said embossing rollers.

24. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said means for cutting comprises a longitudinal mechanism and a lateral cutting mechanism.

25. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said embossing rollers are made of steel.