Perforated End Removal Apparatus

1. Field of the Invention

The field of invention relates to edge removal apparatus, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved perforated end removal apparatus wherein the same effects removal of perforated end portions of a sheet web typically utilized in printing press organizations.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The severing and removal of perforated end portions of a sheet web typically involved bulky and awkward equipment associated with drive rollers. U.S. Pat. No. 3,729,123 to Lloyd sets forth a prior art printing machine wherein a sheet web is fed therethrough, of typical configuration as utilized in the prior art.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,275 to Taguchi, et al. sets forth a rotary press structure setting forth web feeding, as utilized in the prior art.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,293 to Ende sets forth a roller organization utilized with a sheet web, wherein the roller is arranged to prevent wrinkling of a web utilizing perforated side edges.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,060 to Proctor sets forth a further example of a prior art web feed structure utilized in a printing organization.

As such, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for a new and improved perforated end removal apparatus as set forth by the instant invention which addresses both the problems of ease of use as well as effectiveness in construction and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of edge removal apparatus now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a perforated end removal apparatus wherein the same utilizes rotary cutting disk mounted within respective confronting "U" shaped housings to sever and remove perforated end portions of a sheet web fed therethrough. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved perforated end removal apparatus which has all the advantages of the prior art web cutting apparatus and none of the disadvantages.

To attain this, the present invention provides an apparatus arranged for mounting upon a delivery system to effect removal of side edge portions of a web, wherein the apparatus includes a plurality of "U" shaped housings, wherein each housing includes a feed slot therethrough, each feed slot arranged in confronting relationship relative to one another secured together by a support link, with a roller mounted overlying the feed roller of the web to effect rotation of a cutting disk mounted within each slot to effect removal of side edges of the web.

My invention resides not in any one of these features per se, but rather in the particular combination of all of them herein disclosed and claimed and it is distinguished from the prior art in this particular combination of all of its structures for the functions specified.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved perforated end removal apparatus which has all the advantages of the prior art web removal apparatus and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved perforated end removal apparatus which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved perforated end removal apparatus which is of a durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved perforated end removal apparatus which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such perforated end removal apparatus economically available to the buying public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved perforated end removal apparatus which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved perforated end removal apparatus wherein the same is readily retrofitted overlying a printing feed roll of an associated printing press organization to effect severing and removal of perforated side edge portions of a web fed through opposed "U" shaped housings.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric illustration of a prior art web apparatus, as typically utilized by the prior art.

FIG. 2 is an orthographic side view, taken in elevation, of the instant invention.

FIG. 3 is an isometric illustration of the cutting shaft utilized by the instant invention.

FIG. 4 is an orthographic side view, taken in elevation, of the instant invention.

FIG. 5 is an isometric illustration of one of the plurality of "U" shaped housings utilized by the instant invention.

FIG. 6 is an orthographic end view, taken in elevation, of the "U" shaped housing as set forth in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an orthographic, taken along the lines 7--7 of FIG. 6 in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIG. 8 is an orthographic side view, taken in section, of the gear drive train utilized by the instant invention.

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 to 8 thereof, a new and improved perforated end removal apparatus embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art web feed organization 1, as utilized with a conventional printing press, wherein a sheet web 2 utilizing spaced perforated side portions 3 are directed therethrough, in a manner as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,293.

More specifically, the perforated end removal apparatus 10 of the instant invention essentially comprises a plurality of "U" shaped housings defining a right and left respective housing 10a and 10b (see FIG. 2), with each housing formed as a mirror image configuration relative to one another and joined together by a paper bail or interconnecting link 15. The housings each include a feed slot 25 defined between a housing top leg 11 and a housing bottom leg 12. As the housings are of a mirror image configuration, where understandably the other housing is of identical configuration.

The interconnecting link 15 is orthogonally mounted between each right and left housing 10a and 10b mounted contiguous the bottom leg rear face 27 thereof to enhance guidance of the web 2 into each feed slot 25 of each housing. A feed roller 16, as illustrated in phantom in FIG. 2, mounts the confronting "U" shaped housings together, wherein each housing includes a drive roller 21 to effect rotation of the drive rollers upon rotation of the feed roller 16. The drive roller 21 is cooperative with an intermediate gear 22 (see FIG. 8), which in turn effects rotation of a cutting shaft drive gear 18 of an associated cutting shaft 17, with the cutting shaft 17 orthogonally mounting the cutter disk 19 which rotatably and operatively rotates within the feed slot 25 longitudinally relative to orientation of the web feed of the web to be fed through each slot 25. A separating wedge 20 is orthogonally mounted on the housing bottom leg top surface 13 adjacent the bottom leg forward face 26 aligned with the cutting disk 19 that is fixedly mounted on the cutting shaft 17. A compression spring 24 biasingly mounts the top gear 23 to accommodate shock to the gear system, as illustrated in FIG. 8, as the drive roller 21 rotatably is mounted on the feed roller 16.

Further it should be noted, as depicted in FIG. 8, that a track feed organization 50 utilizing spaced pin members therefrom are spaced by predetermined spacing equal to a spacing defined by the apertures within the perforated side portions 3 of a conventional sheet web 2. This track feed may be utilized to enhance and maintain feeding of the sheet web through the "U" shaped housings, as required.

As to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention, the same should be apparent from the above disclosure, and accordingly no further discussion relative to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention shall be provided.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.