Abstract:
The device for actuation of rollers using a feed tray in a laminator. The roller actuating device of the present invention mechanically and simply actuates both a pair of heating rollers for thermal coating of films on both surfaces of an object material and a pair of compressing rollers for compressing and feeding the film-coated object material to the outside. The roller actuating device has a simple structure, thus allowing a user to easily manipulate the laminator.

Description:
RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS 
   Not applicable. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable. 
   REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
   Not applicable. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to devices for the actuation of rollers in laminators and, more particularly, to a device for the actuation of rollers using a feed tray in a laminator which mechanically and simply actuates both of a pair of heating rollers for thermal coating of films on both surfaces of an object material and a pair of compressing rollers for compressing and feeding the film-coated object material to the outside, thus allowing a user to easily manipulate the laminator. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Generally, laminators thermally coat two thin plastic films on both surfaces of an object material using heating rollers and compress both the films and the object material using compressing rollers, thus providing film-coated products. In a conventional laminator having the above-mentioned structure, the respective pair of heating rollers and compressing rollers are repeatedly compressed against each other and spaced apart from each other during coating processes, so as to insert both the object material and the films into a gap between the rollers for coating the film on the object material and remove the film-coated product from the laminator. This operation is executed in every laminator regardless of the size of the laminator. 
   Conventional laminators are classified into small laminators and large laminators according to the size of object materials. The large laminators can economically coat films, supplied from film rolls, on large object materials. However, a small laminator to be used in general offices or homes has a structure in which a film roll cannot be set in the laminator due to the small size. Accordingly, a user must purchase expensive sheet films and use one sheet film at a time. It is uneconomical. 
   Furthermore, in conventional laminators, a device for the actuation of heating and compressing rollers has a complex structure using gears operated by electricity. Alternatively, the heating and compressing rollers may be actuated by an air compressor installed in the laminator. Such structures increase the costs of the laminator and, as well, may cause breakdown of the laminator due to the complex structure. 
   In addition, in the case of the small laminators to be used in small workshops or on worktables, a possible reduction in size of the laminator is limited due to the size of the roller actuating device. Thus, there is difficulty in manufacturing slim laminators. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a device for the actuation of rollers using a feed tray in a laminator which mechanically actuates the heating and compressing rollers by controlling only the feed tray without a separate drive unit, thus reducing the manufacturing costs of the laminator, and which has a simple structure unlike conventional laminators, thereby preventing breakdown of the laminator from occurring. 
   In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a device for the actuation of rollers in a laminator, including: a feed tray having a U-shape, with a stop notch and a coupling slot provided at predetermined positions on each of opposite sides of the feed tray; a plurality of coupling units provided at predetermined positions inside opposite sidewalls of the laminator, with a coupling rail provided on each of the plurality of coupling units while being bent inwards to be inserted into each of the coupling slots of the feed tray; and a plurality of rotating arms each having an L-shape, with a slide slot provided on an upper portion of each of the rotating arms, so that each of the coupling units is movably coupled at a central portion thereof to each of the rotating arms by a locking bolt passing through the slide slot, and both a support shaft and a film supporting shaft provided between the rotating arms in latitudinal directions. The roller actuating device further includes a first link provided on an outer surface of each of opposite sidewalls of the laminator and coupled at a first end thereof to a lockingu hole of an associated coupling unit provided in the laminator through a guide slot of each sidewall of the laminator; a second link coupled at a first end thereof to a second end of the first link and rotatably coupled at a second end thereof to the sidewall of the laminator; a third link coupled at a first end thereof to a central portion of the second link, the third link being vertically movable; and a movable plate coupled to a second end of the third link, so that, when the feed tray rotates downwards, the first link moves downwards and, simultaneously, the movable plate coupled to the first link through the second and third links moves downwards, thus pulling down a guide rod coupled to the movable plate, with a spring fitted over the guide rod while being supported by a guide support, thereby both an upper heating roller and an upper compressing roller move downward due to elasticity of the spring. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a laminator having a device for the actuation of rollers according to an embodiment a present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view to show a part of the roller actuating device of  FIG. 1  centered on a feed tray. 
       FIG. 3  is a side sectional view to show the roller actuating device of the laminator of  FIG. 1 , in which corresponding rollers are spaced apart from each other. 
       FIG. 4  is another side sectional view to show a compressed state of the corresponding rollers of the roller actuating device of  FIG. 3 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a laminator having a device for the actuation of rollers according to an embodiment of a present invention.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view to show a part of the roller actuating device of  FIG. 1  centered on a feed tray  20 .  FIG. 3  is a side view to show the roller actuating device the laminator of  FIG. 1 , in which corresponding rollers  30 ,  40  are spaced apart from each other.  FIG. 4  side view to show a compressed state of the corresponding rollers  30  and  40  of the roller actuating device of  FIG. 3 . 
   As shown in the laminator having roller the  FIG. 1 , actuating device according to the present invention includes at both sides thereof a pair of cases  11  each having a  10  sidewall  10  therein. Film rolls are supported between the cases  11  on upper and lower parts of the laminator. The feed tray  20  is provided between the cases  11  on a front part of the laminator. The pair of heating rollers  30  and the pair of compressing rollers  40  are provided at predetermined positions  15  between the cases  11 . 
   The feed tray  20  has a U-shape. A stop notch  21  and a coupling slot  22  are provided at predetermined positions on each of opposite sides of the feed tray  20 . 
   A plurality of rotating arms  60  are provided at predetermined positions in the laminator. A coupling unit  50  is coupled to each of the rotating arms  60  and rotates along a slide slot  61  formed on the rotating arm  60 . A coupling rail  51  is provided on each of the coupling units  50  while being bent inwards. Both a support shaft  63  and a film supporting shaft  62  provided rotating in the arms  60  between are latitudinal directions. 
   A coupling hole  64  is formed at an upper position on each of the rotating arms  60  so that the rotating arm  60  is rotatably coupled to each of the opposite sidewalls  10  of the laminator. 
   The coupling rail  51  of each of the coupling units  50  is inserted into each of the coupling slots  22  of the feed tray  20 . Inner surfaces of the coupling units  50  are in close contact with outer surfaces of the sidewalls of the feed tray  20 , thus preventing the feed tray  20  from undesirably moving. 
   When the feed tray  20  is closed, the stop notches  21  of the feed tray  20  are hooked to stop protrusions  10   b  provided on the inner surfaces of the opposite sidewalls  10  of the laminator, so that the feed tray  20  is reliably fastened to the opposite sidewalls. 
   The feed tray  20  can be removed from the laminator only by removing the coupling slots  22  thereof from the coupling rails  51  of the coupling units  50 . Thus, in an early stage of a film coating process, an end of a film is easily supplied from the lower film roll to the heating rollers  30  via the film supporting shaft  62 , without being blocked by the feed tray  20 . 
   The roller actuating device of the present invention further includes a first link  75  which is provided on an outer surface of each of opposite sidewalls  10  of the laminator and coupled at a first end thereof to a locking hole  52  of an associated coupling unit  50  provided in the laminator through a guide slot  10   a  of each sidewall  10  of the laminator. The roller actuating device further includes a second link  74  which is coupled at a first end thereof to a second end of the first link  75  and hinged at a second end thereof to the sidewall  10  of the laminator. The roller actuating device further includes a third link  73  which is coupled at a first end thereof to a central portion of the second link  74 . The third link  73  is vertically movable. The roller actuating device further includes a movable plate  72  which is coupled to a second end of the third link  73 . A guide rod  76  is coupled to the movable pate  72 . A spring  77  is fitted over the guide rod  76  while being supported by a guide support  71   a . In the laminator with the roller actuating device having the above-mentioned structure, when the feed tray  20  rotates downwards, the first link  75  moves downwards and, simultaneously, the movable plate  72  coupled to the first link  75  through the second and third links  74  and  73  moves downwards, thus pulling down a guide rod  76  coupled to the movable plate. Thereby, both the upper heating roller and the upper compressing roller move downward due to the elasticity of the spring  77 . 
   In detail, the operation of the roller actuating device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 
     FIG. 3  is a side view to show the roller actuating device of the laminator of  FIG. 1 , in which corresponding rollers  30 ,  40  are spaced apart from each other.  FIG. 4  is a side view to show a compressed state of the corresponding rollers  30  and  40  of the roller actuating device of  FIG. 3 . 
   First, before the laminator enters the state of  FIG. 3 , that is, before the feed tray  20  is set in the laminator, ends of films are supplied from the upper and lower film rolls into a gap between the upper and lower heating roller. 
   Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 3 , to couple the feed tray  20  to the coupling units  50  provided on the upper parts of the rotating arms  60  inside the opposite sidewalls  10  of the laminator, the coupling slots  22  of the feed tray  20  are fitted over the coupling rails  51  of the coupling units  50 . 
   In this state, the rotating arms  60  are vertical. The lower film sags below the film supporting shaft  62  of the rotating arms  60 . The first link  75  is set in the same the feed tray  20 , that is, in the vertical direction as direction. The first end of the second link  74 , which is coupled to the first link  75 , is placed at an upper position. Thereby, the third link  73  coupled to the second link  74  moves upwards. Thus, the movable plate  72  coupled to the third link  73  also moves upwards. As a result, the upper heating roller  30  and the upper compressing roller  40  move upwards, so that the heating and compressing rollers  30  and  40  are spaced apart from each other. 
   In the above state, if a user rotates the feed tray  20  downwards to compress the heating and compressing rollers  30  and  40 , the stop notches  21  of the feed tray  20 , are hooked to the stop protrusions formed on the inner surfaces of the opposite sidewalls  10  of the laminator. Simultaneously, the coupling unit  50 , inserted in the coupling slots  22  of the feed tray  20 , rotates downwards. Thus, the rotating arms  60  coupled to the coupling units  50  are rotated around the coupling holes  64  thereof. As a result, the lower film, which has sagged below the film supporting shaft  62  of the rotating arms  60 , becomes tense due to the film supporting shaft  62 . 
   While the above-mentioned operation is executed inside the opposite sidewalls  10  of the laminator, the following operation is executed outside the opposite sidewalls  10 . Due to the rotation of the feed tray  20 , the first link  75 , coupled to each coupling unit  50  through each guide slot  10   a  of the opposite sidewalls  10  of the laminator, rotates downwards along with the coupling unit  50 . Simultaneously, the second link  74 , coupled to the second end of the first link  75 , moves downwards. Thereby, the third link  73 , coupled to the second link  74 , moves downwards, so that the movable plate  72  moves downwards along with the guide rod  76  while compressing the spring  77  which is fitted over the guide rod  76  and supported by the guide support  71   a . Thus, both the upper heating roller  30  and the upper compressing roller  40  are moved downwards. As a result, the respective pairs of heating and compressing rollers  30  and  40  are compressed against each other. 
   As described above, the present invention provides a device for the actuation of rollers using a feed tray in a laminator which can economically laminate an object material regardless of the length of the object material, unlike conventional laminators which require expensive sheet films to laminate even small object materials. Furthermore, rollers are simply compressed against each other and spaced apart from each other only by rotating the feed tray vertically. Therefore, in an early stage, film consumption is minimized. As well, the roller actuating device of the present invention prevents a user from mistakenly failing to operate a roller compressing unit after films are set. 
   Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.