Roller press

Abstract

A portable roller press can be configured with a suction base to stabilize the press during operation. The suction base can allow for the roller press to remain stationary when feeding cutting or embossing dies or templates through the rollers. Substantially the entire bottom surface of the roller press can correspond to the suction base. The suction base can be configured to be generally rectangular or generally oval or circular. The spacing between the roller can be maintained to a desired tolerance that is based on a working height of corresponding cutting or embossing dies or templates. A crankshaft distinct from a roller shaft can be used to transfer rotational forces to the rollers.

1 . A roller press comprising: 
 a frame;    a crankshaft supported by the frame and configured to receive a first rotational force;    a first roller supported by the frame and having a first roller shaft coupled to the crankshaft and configured to rotate based on a rotation of the crankshaft;    a second roller supported by the frame and having a second roller shaft coupled to the first roller shaft and configured to rotate synchronized to the rotation of the first roller; and    a suction base coupled to the frame and configured to stabilize the roller press by applying a partial vacuum on at least a portion of the suction base.    
   
   
       2 . The roller press of  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises: 
 an upper frame portion having a plurality of holes positioned to align the locations of the crankshaft, first roller and second roller; and    a lower frame portion configured to interlock with the top frame portion, and having a plurality of holes configured to align with the plurality of holes in the upper frame portion when the upper frame portion is interlocked with the lower frame portion.    
   
   
       3 . The roller press of  claim 1 , wherein the frame is configured to position the first roller substantially a predetermined distance from the second roller, the predetermined distance based on a working height of an associated template.  
   
   
       4 . The roller press of  claim 1 , wherein the frame is configured to locate the axis of the first and second rollers within a tolerance varying less than approximately  0 . 010  inch.  
   
   
       5 . The roller press of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a pinion gear with gear teeth positioned on the crankshaft; and    a drive gear with gear teeth positioned on the first roller shaft and coupled to the pinion gear, the drive gear having at least four times the number of gear teeth of the pinion gear.    
   
   
       6 . The roller press of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a drive gear positioned on the first roller shaft and configured to rotate based on the rotation of the crankshaft;    a first roller gear positioned on the first roller shaft; and    a second roller gear positioned on the second roller shaft coupled to the first roller gear, and configured to rotate in a substantially opposite direction of the first roller gear.    
   
   
       7 . The roller press of  claim 1 , further comprising a feed surface configured to align a work piece with a space between the first and second rollers.  
   
   
       8 . The roller press of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover configured to substantially cover the crankshaft and first and second rollers, the cover having at least one opening substantially aligned with a working area between the first and second rollers.  
   
   
       9 . The roller press of  claim 1 , wherein the suction base comprises: 
 at least one resilient material covering at least a portion of a bottom of the suction base; and    a lever coupled to the resilient material and configured to displace a portion of the resilient material so as to produce a partial vacuum beneath the suction base.    
   
   
       10 . The roller press of  claim 9 , wherein the resilient material substantially covers all of a substantially rectangular bottom of the suction base.  
   
   
       11 . The roller press of  claim 9 , wherein the resilient material substantially covers all of a substantially oval bottom of the suction base.  
   
   
       12 . A roller press comprising: 
 a frame;    a crankshaft supported by the frame and configured to receive a first rotational force;    a pinion gear positioned near a first end of the crankshaft;    a first roller supported by the frame and having a first roller shaft;    a drive gear positioned on the first roller shaft and coupled pinion gear to rotate the first roller shaft based on a rotation of the crankshaft;    a first roller gear positioned on the first roller shaft;    a second roller supported by the frame and having a second roller shaft;    a second roller gear positioned on the second roller shaft and coupled to the first roller gear and configured to rotate synchronized to the rotation of the first roller; and    a suction base coupled to the frame and configured to stabilize the roller press by applying a partial vacuum on at least a portion of the suction base.    
   
   
       13 . The roller press of  claim 12 , wherein the first roller gear is positioned on the first roller shaft substantially opposite the drive gear.  
   
   
       14 . The roller press of  claim 12 , wherein the drive gear is configured to rotate completely at least four times for each complete rotation of the drive gear.  
   
   
       15 . The roller press of  claim 12 , wherein the suction base comprises a substantially rectangular suction base.  
   
   
       16 . The roller press of  claim 12 , wherein the suction base comprises a substantially oval suction base.  
   
   
       17 . The roller press of  claim 12 , wherein the suction base comprises: 
 a resilient material; and    a lever coupled to the resilient material and configured to displace a portion of the resilient material so as to produce a partial vacuum beneath a portion of the suction base.    
   
   
       18 . The roller press of  claim 17  wherein the suction base further comprises a shaft arm coupled to the lever and the resilient material, the shaft arm configured to deflect the portion of the resilient material when the shaft arm is rotated.  
   
   
       19 . A method of rolling material in a roller press, the method comprising: 
 stabilizing a roller press to a surface using a partial vacuum;    rotating a crankshaft of the roller press; and    supplying a working material to a working area of the roller press.    
   
   
       20 . A method of manufacturing the roller press of  claim 1 , the method comprising: 
 locating the crankshaft in the frame;    locating the first roller in the frame so as to couple the first roller shaft to the crankshaft;    locating the second roller in the so as to couple the second roller shaft to the first roller shaft; and    coupling the frame to the suction base.