초록 ▼

A semi-rigid heated element assembly and method of manufacturing semi-rigid heated element assemblies is provided. A heated element assembly includes a first thermoplastic sheet, a second thermoplastic sheet, and a resistance heating element laminated between the first and second thermoplastic sheet

A semi-rigid heated element assembly and method of manufacturing semi-rigid heated element assemblies is provided. A heated element assembly includes a first thermoplastic sheet, a second thermoplastic sheet, and a resistance heating element laminated between the first and second thermoplastic sheets. The resistance heating element includes a supporting substrate having a first surface thereon and an electrical resistance heating material forming a predetermined circuit path having a pair of terminal end portions. The circuit path continues onto at least one flap portion that is capable of rotating about a first axis of rotation. The reformable continuous element structure may be formed into a final element assembly configuration whereby at least the flap portion is rotated along its axis of rotation to provide resistance heating in at least two planes. Semi-rigid heating elements may be formed into heated containers, heated bags, and other objects with complex heat planes.

대표청구항 ▼

A semi-rigid heated element assembly and method of manufacturing semi-rigid heated element assemblies is provided. A heated element assembly includes a first thermoplastic sheet, a second thermoplastic sheet, and a resistance heating element laminated between the first and second thermoplastic sheet

A semi-rigid heated element assembly and method of manufacturing semi-rigid heated element assemblies is provided. A heated element assembly includes a first thermoplastic sheet, a second thermoplastic sheet, and a resistance heating element laminated between the first and second thermoplastic sheets. The resistance heating element includes a supporting substrate having a first surface thereon and an electrical resistance heating material forming a predetermined circuit path having a pair of terminal end portions. The circuit path continues onto at least one flap portion that is capable of rotating about a first axis of rotation. The reformable continuous element structure may be formed into a final element assembly configuration whereby at least the flap portion is rotated along its axis of rotation to provide resistance heating in at least two planes. Semi-rigid heating elements may be formed into heated containers, heated bags, and other objects with complex heat planes. ch batch of sheets between a pair of markers. 3. The system of claim 2 wherein each of said markers comprises a sheet having a pre-defined characteristic detected by said detector. 4. The system of claim 3 further comprising: a diverter between said detector and reader on the one hand and said accumulator on the other for diverting each sheet having said pre-defined characteristic. 5. The system of claim 4 wherein said feeder is a pulse wheel feeder. 6. The system of claim 3 wherein said detector detects each sheet fed by said feeder and detects a sheet having said pre-defined characteristic differently from a sheet not having said pre-defined characteristic. 7. The system of claim 1 wherein said processor, when acting, takes an alarm action if said received account number read from said one of said documents does not match said account number read from each sheet in said given batch. 8. The system of claim 7 wherein said processor, when acting, takes an alarm action if said received indication of a batch quantity read from said one of said documents does not match said batch count obtained for said given batch. 9. The system of claim 8 wherein said alarm action comprises stopping said feeder. 10. The system of claim 1 wherein said processor is also for receiving a signal when said one of said documents is at said accumulator, for tracking when said given batch has been accumulated into a stack at said accumulator, and, when said signal has been received and said given batch has been accumulated into a stack, for operating said accumulator in order to convey said given batch downstream. 11. The system of claim 10 wherein said processor, controls said feeder to feed sheets of said given batch and stops said feeder once said given batch is at said accumulator if said processor has not received said signal. 12. The system of claim 11 further comprising a document reader for reading an account number and batch number from documents on said conveyor and wherein said processor is responsive to an output of said document reader. 13. The system of claim 1 wherein each sheet of said given batch comprises a negotiable instrument and wherein each of said documents comprises a statement summarising negotiable instruments of said given batch. 14. The system of claim 1 wherein said accumulator is a reciprocating table. 15. The system of claim 1 wherein said accumulator is for conveying each accumulated stack to said document conveyor at a position on said document conveyor occupied by said one of said documents. 16. The system of claim 15 wherein said accumulator is responsive to said processor for conveying a stack when prompted by said processor. 17. The system of claim 16 wherein said accumulator is a reciprocating table. 18. A system for collating sheets each bearing an account number, comprising: means for singly feeding sheets; means for detecting fed sheets; means for reading an account number on said fed sheets; means, downstream of said means for feeding, for accumulating sheets into a stack and for conveying each accumulated stack downstream; processor means for: receiving an account number and batch size read from each of a plurality of documents on a document conveyor; obtaining a batch count for a given batch of sheets based on indications from said detector; receiving from said reader said account number read from each sheet of said given batch; comparing said received indication of a batch quantity read from one of said documents with said batch count obtained for said given batch; comparing said received account number read from said one of said documents with said account number read from each sheet in said given batch; and acting based on each said comparing. 19. A system for collating sheets each bearing an account number, comprising: a feeder for singly feeding sheets; a sheet conveyor extending downstream from said feeder; a detector associated with said sheet conveyor for detecting fed sheets ; a reader associated with said sheet conveyor for reading an account number on said fed sheets; an accumulator at an output of said sheet conveyor for accumulating sheets into a stack and for conveying each accumulated stack downstream; a processor for: receiving an account number and batch size read from a first document on a document conveyor; obtaining a batch count for a first batch of sheets based on indications from said detector; receiving from said reader said account number read from each sheet of said first batch; comparing said received indication of a batch quantity read from said first document with said batch count obtained for said first batch; comparing said received account number read from said first document with said account number read from each sheet in said first batch; and based on each said comparing, selectively establishing an alarm condition. 20. The system of claim 19 wherein said processor is also for receiving a signal when said first document is at said accumulator, for tracking when said first batch has been accumulated into a stack at said accumulator, and, when said signal has been received and said first batch has been accumulated into a stack, for operating said accumulator in order to convey said first batch downstream. 21. A system for collating sheets each bearing an account number, comprising: a feeder for singly feeding sheets; a detector and reader for detecting fed sheets and for reading an account number on said fed sheets; an accumulator downstream of said feeder for accumulating sheets into a stack and for conveying each accumulated stack downstream; a processor for: receiving an account number and batch size read from each of a plurality of documents on a document conveyor; obtaining a batch count for a given batch of sheets based on indications from said detector and reader; receiving from said detector and reader said account number read from each sheet of said given batch; comparing said received indication of a batch quantity read from one of said documents with said batch count obtained for said given batch; comparing said received account number read from said one of said documents with said account number read from each sheet in said given batch; and acting based on each said comparing. 22. A method for collating sheets each bearing an account number, comprising: singly feeding sheets from a stack; detecting sheets fed from said stack; reading an account number on said sheets fed from said stack; receiving an account number and batch size read from each of a plurality of documents on a document conveyor; obtaining a batch count for a given batch of sheets based on said detecting; comparing said received indication of a batch quantity read from one of said documents with said batch count obtained for said given batch; comparing said received account number read from said one of said documents with said account number read from each sheet in said given batch; and acting based on each said comparing. 23. The method of claim 22 further comprising, provided said batch quantity matches said batch count and said received account number matches with said account number read from each sheet in said given batch, accumulating said given batch and synchronising said given batch with said one of said documents.