D&k Custom Machine Design, Inc.

American Roller Company, LLC

Lawrence B LeStarge

Robert Allen Crimmins

Karl Singer

Bruce E Hyllberg

Gary S Butters

A heated roller assembly (10) is disclosed having a rotatable roller (12). The roller (12) has a generally cylindrical section (20) with an outer diameter D and includes an inner insulative layer (36) thereover, a conductive layer (38) over the inner insulative layer (36), and an outer insulative layer (40) over the conductive layer (38). The roller assembly (10) also has an inwardly projecting conical portion (22) adjacent the cylindrical section (20) of the roller (12) with the inner insulative layer (36), conductive layer (38) and outer insulative layer (40) respectively thereover. A portion (A) of the conductive layer (38) on the conical portion (22) of the roller (12) is exposed. An external contact body (14) has at least one electrically conductive outer surface (46) that projects towards and contacts the conductive layer (38) of the conical portion (22) while piercing an imaginary plane P1 formed by an extending outer diameter (D) of the cylindrical section (20). A wire (18) having one end connected to the outer surface (46) of the contact body (14) delivers electricity to heat the roller (12).

Heated roller assembly

A feeder system is disclosed having suction members (30,60) attached to a cage assembly (101) containing sprockets (102,103) and a belt. These suction members (30,60) act simultaneously, but out of phase with one another, picking up, moving and releasing the sheets (TS).

Method and apparatus for feeding sheets

A heated roller assembly (10) is disclosed having a thermal conductive shell (21) with an inner surface (22) and an outer surface (23). A plurality of parallel, annularly spaced apart heat pipes (31) are positioned within longitudinal channels (25) provided along the outer surface of the core (21). A thermal conductive ceramic putty or ceramic (51) overlays the heat pipes (31) and is contoured to be flush with the outer surface (23) and prevent damage to the heat pipes (31) during the turning process. An electric (17,18) heater (41) is secured to the inner surface (22) of the shell (21). End caps (15) and axle(s) (16) contain and support the assembly (10), respectively. The core (21)/pipe (31) assembly is encased in an outer sleeve (55) with a non-stick functional surface (61).

A registration/indexing system is disclosed having a conveyor system (20), a gate (30), a plurality of hard rollers (40,50) and a plurality of soft rollers (60).

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Elgin, IL, United States of America

Lawrence B LeStarge