US3869831A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible foam material shaper
Assignee: Backer Rod Manufacturing and Supply Co
•
Filing: 1973-09-04
•
Granted: 1975-03-11
•
Expires: 1993-09-04
Abstract
Abstract Sheet foam (usually synthetic, flexible, foam plastic) is cut into a plurality of strands of uniform cross-sectional dimensions in a two stage operation by securing the sheet foam to a backing roller by a first pair of spaced-apart holding or pinching rollers and a first cutter mounted between the first holding rollers to cut part way through the sheet, and then securing the partially cut sheet to a second backing roller by a second pair of spaced apart holding rollers with a second cutter roller cutting the opposite or uncut side of the sheet between the second holding rollers. The holding rollers are positioned closely adjacent to the cutting rollers to secure the soft foam plastic in position for accurate cuts at high speed production rates. Take-up means between the first and second cutters maintains uniform rate of travel of sheet through the cutters and a uniform tension on the sheet therein.
Inventors
- 👤 John F Gibb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:08
CPC Classifications
B; B26; B26D; B26D3/00; B26D3/006; B29; B29C; B29C44/00; B29C44/34; B29C44/56; B29C44/5627; B29C44/5654; B29L; B29L2007/00; B29L2007/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
Apparatus for shaping at least one surface of soft, flexible foamed sheet material, comprising: a. at least one cylindrical drive roll means having a peripheral surface for passing an elongated sheet around and in contact with a substantial portion thereof, b. cylindrical roll means juxtaposed with said drive roll means for compressing said sheet material Against said drive roll means at about its first contact with said drive roll means, c. a pair of closely spaced pinch roll means juxtaposed with said drive roll means adjacent to and downstream from said cylindrical roll means arranged for pressing said sheet material into contact with said drive roll means passing therebetween, and d. high speed rotary cutter means juxtaposed with said drive roll means mounted between said pair of pinch roll means and rotating in the direction of travel of said sheet material arranged to shape said at least one side of said sheet material while it is in contact with said drum roll means, said rotary cutter means being shaped to provide corresponding cut in one surface of said sheet material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
Apparatus for shaping at least one surface of soft, flexible foamed sheet material, comprising: a. at least one cylindrical drive roll means having a peripheral surface for passing an elongated sheet around and in contact with a substantial portion thereof, b. cylindrical roll means juxtaposed with said drive roll means for compressing said sheet material Against said drive roll means at about its first contact with said drive roll means, c. a pair of closely spaced pinch roll means juxtaposed with said drive roll means adjacent to and downstream from said cylindrical roll means arranged for pressing said sheet material into contact with said drive roll means passing therebetween, and d. high speed rotary cutter means juxtaposed with said drive roll means mounted between said pair of pinch roll means and rotating in the direction of travel of said sheet material arranged to shape said at least one side of said sheet material while it is in contact with said drum roll means, said rotary cutter means being shaped to provide corresponding cut in one surface of said sheet material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
180 words
Apparatus for shaping at least one surface of soft, flexible foamed sheet material, comprising: a. at least one cylindrical drive roll means having a peripheral surface for passing an elongated sheet around and in contact with a substantial portion thereof, b. cylindrical roll means juxtaposed with said drive roll means for compressing said sheet material Against said drive roll means at about its first contact with said drive roll means, c. a pair of closely spaced pinch roll means juxtaposed with said drive roll means adjacent to and downstream from said cylindrical roll means arranged for pressing said sheet material into contact with said drive roll means passing therebetween, and d. high speed rotary cutter means juxtaposed with said drive roll means mounted between said pair of pinch roll means and rotating in the direction of travel of said sheet material arranged to shape said at least one side of said sheet material while it is in contact with said drum roll means, said rotary cutter means being shaped to provide corresponding cut in one surface of said sheet material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
180 words
Apparatus for shaping at least one surface of soft, flexible foamed sheet material, comprising: a. at least one cylindrical drive roll means having a peripheral surface for passing an elongated sheet around and in contact with a substantial portion thereof, b. cylindrical roll means juxtaposed with said drive roll means for compressing said sheet material Against said drive roll means at about its first contact with said drive roll means, c. a pair of closely spaced pinch roll means juxtaposed with said drive roll means adjacent to and downstream from said cylindrical roll means arranged for pressing said sheet material into contact with said drive roll means passing therebetween, and d. high speed rotary cutter means juxtaposed with said drive roll means mounted between said pair of pinch roll means and rotating in the direction of travel of said sheet material arranged to shape said at least one side of said sheet material while it is in contact with said drum roll means, said rotary cutter means being shaped to provide corresponding cut in one surface of said sheet material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said surfaces of said cylindrical drive roll are provided with a gripping surface for said sheet material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cylindrical roll means is driven at a conjoint rate with said driven roll.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said rotary cutter includes a grit surface for cutting said sheet material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the upstream said pinch roll means is arranged to meter said sheet material to said cutter means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
151 words
Apparatus for forming uniform cross-section strands from elongated, soft, flexible, foamed sheet material comprising: a. upstream and downstream cutter sections, each arranged to shape one side of such sheet material passing therethrough to form plural strands of material of uniform cross-section, b. each said cutter section including a drive roll and a pair of closely spaced pinch rolls juxtaposed with said drive roll to secure said sheet material to said drive roll while passing therearound, and a rotary cutter mounted between said pinch rolls positioned to shape one side of said sheet material, c. said upstream cutter section arranged to shape one side of said sheet and the downstream cutter section arranged to shape the opposite side thereof, and d. means arranged between said cutter sections for varying the rate of rotation of one of said drive rolls for maintaining uniform travel of said sheet material through both said cutter sections.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
151 words
Apparatus for forming uniform cross-section strands from elongated, soft, flexible, foamed sheet material comprising: a. upstream and downstream cutter sections, each arranged to shape one side of such sheet material passing therethrough to form plural strands of material of uniform cross-section, b. each said cutter section including a drive roll and a pair of closely spaced pinch rolls juxtaposed with said drive roll to secure said sheet material to said drive roll while passing therearound, and a rotary cutter mounted between said pinch rolls positioned to shape one side of said sheet material, c. said upstream cutter section arranged to shape one side of said sheet and the downstream cutter section arranged to shape the opposite side thereof, and d. means arranged between said cutter sections for varying the rate of rotation of one of said drive rolls for maintaining uniform travel of said sheet material through both said cutter sections.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said upstream drive roll is substantially larger than said downstream drive roll.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said upstream drive roll is rotated at a constant speed and said downstream drive roll is rotated at a variable speed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein a loop is formed between said upstream and downstream cutter sections and a movable idler mounted in said loop provides means for varying the speed of rotation of one of said drive rolls.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said upstream and downstream rolls are covered with grit to provide non-slipping contact with said sheet material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the shape of said cutters is complementary for cutting two sides of predetermined shapes of strands, and are coated with a grit for a cutting medium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
160 words
A process for shaping at least one side of sheets of soft, resilient, foamed material comprising: a. passing an elongated sheet of such material onto at least one rotating drive roll, b. compressing said sheet material between a compression roll and said drive roll for moving said sheet simultaneously with the surface of said drive roll essentially without slippage therebetween, c. passing said sheet material between a pair of closely spaced pinch rolls and said drive roll, said pinch rolls being spaced from said drive roll to compress said sheet material against said drive roll and support said sheet material therebetween and on said drive roll, d. rotating a cutter against one surface of said sheet material between said closely spaced pinch rolls for partially cutting said material and thereby shaping one side of said sheet, e. passing said partially Cut material substantially around said drive roll, and f. then passing said partially cut sheet material off said drive roll.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
160 words
A process for shaping at least one side of sheets of soft, resilient, foamed material comprising: a. passing an elongated sheet of such material onto at least one rotating drive roll, b. compressing said sheet material between a compression roll and said drive roll for moving said sheet simultaneously with the surface of said drive roll essentially without slippage therebetween, c. passing said sheet material between a pair of closely spaced pinch rolls and said drive roll, said pinch rolls being spaced from said drive roll to compress said sheet material against said drive roll and support said sheet material therebetween and on said drive roll, d. rotating a cutter against one surface of said sheet material between said closely spaced pinch rolls for partially cutting said material and thereby shaping one side of said sheet, e. passing said partially Cut material substantially around said drive roll, and f. then passing said partially cut sheet material off said drive roll.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
A process according to claim 12 wherein said sheet material is passed through two rotating drive rolls with one side being shaped on the first such drive roll and the opposite side being shaped on the second such drive roll.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-10 | 1978-09-09 | 1979-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-10 | 1982-09-09 | 1983-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-10 | 1986-09-09 | 1987-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |