James Edward Mackey

US Patent:

39740145, Aug 10, 1976

Filed:

Jul 10, 1974

Appl. No.:

5/486820

Inventors:

Merlin M. Meisner - Overland Park KS
Raymond M. Matulis - Overland Park KS
James R. Mackey - Overland Park KS

Assignee:

Hallmark Cards, Incorporated - Kansas City MO

International Classification:

B32B 0108
B41M 0110
B41M 0312
C11C 0500

US Classification:

156240

Abstract:

A simplified, low-cost method and apparatus for transferring inked design images from preprinted, design bearing waxed sheets to elongated, cylindrical, solid wax candle bodies or the like which permits gravure or lithographically applied halftone and shaded design images to be used as candle decorations, eliminates costly and tedious manual operations characteristic of decal applications and other prior methods and devices, and produces a finished candle having perfectly aligned decorative images thereon which are not susceptible to undesirable torching as the candle burns. The method comprises applying a design-bearing, waxed sheet to the candle body in closely conforming relationship thereto while the latter rotates in pressurized, bridging engagement between a pair of spaced, adjacent, rotating transfer rollers. Heat is applied to the sheet through one transfer roller to thereby effect transfer and partial wax encapsulation of the design image on the candle body, whereupon the transfer sheet is stripped from the candle and discarded. Means are also provided for sequentially heat treating separate candles to remove surface irregularities thereon, followed by water-cooling and air drying thereof prior to the image transfer step.

US Patent:

40309592, Jun 21, 1977

Filed:

Mar 9, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/665255

Inventors:

Merlin M. Meisner - Overland Park KS
Raymond M. Matulis - Overland Park KS
James R. Mackey - Overland Park KS

Assignee:

Hallmark Cards, Incorporated - Kansas City MO

International Classification:

B44B 900
B32B 108
C11C 502

US Classification:

156457

Abstract:

A simplified, low-cost method and apparatus for transferring inked design images from preprinted, design bearing waxed sheets to elongated, cylindrical, solid wax candle bodies or the like which permits gravure or lithographically applied halftone and shaded design images to be used as candle decorations, eliminates costly and tedious manual operations characteristic of decal applications and other prior methods and devices, and produces a finished candle having perfectly aligned decorative images thereon which are not susceptible to undesirable torching as the candle burns. The method comprises applying a design-bearing, waxed sheet to the candle body in closely conforming relationship thereto while the latter rotates in pressurized, bridging engagement between a pair of spaced, adjacent, rotating transfer rollers. Heat is applied to the sheet through one transfer roller to thereby effect transfer and partial wax encapsulation of the design image on the candle body, whereupon the transfer sheet is stripped from the candle and discarded. Means are also provided for sequentially heat treating separate candles to remove surface irregularities thereon, followed by water-cooling and air drying thereof prior to the image transfer step.