US 11,752,792 B2
Method and apparatus for applying a material onto articles using a transfer component
Christopher Gerald Donner, Playa del Carmen Q Roo (MX); Robert Paul Cassoni, Waynesville, OH (US); and Matthew Richard Allen, Mason, OH (US)
Assigned to The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH (US)
Filed by The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH (US)
Filed on Mar. 4, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/191,746.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/986,828, filed on Mar. 9, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0276355 A1, Sep. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. B41M 5/025 (2006.01); B41J 2/005 (2006.01); B44C 1/17 (2006.01); B41J 3/407 (2006.01); B41F 16/00 (2006.01)
CPC B41M 5/0256 (2013.01) [B41J 2/0057 (2013.01); B44C 1/1733 (2013.01); B41F 16/00 (2013.01); B41J 3/40731 (2020.08); B41J 3/40733 (2020.08); B44C 1/17 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for transferring a transfer material from a transfer component to an article, the method comprising:
providing a cavity comprising a frame that defines an opening and a chamber, wherein the frame has a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, and wherein the longitudinal axis is parallel to the transverse axis;
providing an article comprising a face, wherein the face comprises a first edge portion and a second edge portion;
providing a transfer component, wherein the transfer component comprises a transfer material;
transferring the article into the cavity;
positioning the transfer component over the frame, wherein the face of the article is in facing relationship with the transfer material disposed on the transfer component;
sealing a supported portion of the transfer component to a perimeter of the frame, wherein an unsupported portion of the transfer component is disposed over the opening;
applying a first pressure differential to the unsupported portion of the transfer component, wherein the unsupported portion of the transfer component is moved toward the first article;
contacting a portion of the unsupported portion of the transfer component to a portion the face of the article to form an initial contact area; and
applying a second pressure differential to the unsupported portion of the transfer component, wherein the unsupported portion of the transfer component continues to contact the face of the article in a direction beginning from the initial contact area toward the frame.