AU640403B2 - Bag sealer and adhesive tape therefor - Google Patents

Description

BAG SEALER AND ADHESIVE TAPE THEREFOR

The invention relates to a device for binding an article with adhesive tape, whereof ends can adhere to one another, which device comprises:

- a housing with a cavity bounded by a front wall and a rear wall for accommodating a supply roll of the adhesive tape with:

- means for guiding the tape;

- means for carrying an article at least along and against the adhesive side of the first tape; and - cutting means actuable by a through-fed article for cutting off the tape after the article has passed through the said means,

- a star wheel rotatable with light friction having a number of substantially radial recesses disposed at mutually equal angular distances,

- two mutually registered channels open to the top present in the front wall and the rear wall respectively of the housing and wherethrough an article for binding has to be moved from top to bottom, - wherein the adhesive tape is guided over the top part of the star wheel with the sticking side facing outward,

- wherein the star wheel is formed and positioned relative to the channels such that an article for binding engages onto the star wheel in a recess thereof carrying with it the first tape adhering thereto, the opening of which recess is situated in the region of the channels, whereby the star wheel is set into rotation so that in the recess the article is bound with the first tape with the progres¬ sive rotation of the star wheel, and - wherein the cutting means comprise a tilt piece with an actuating part movable pivotally about a pivot axis towards and away from the star wheel, which tilt piece is con¬ strained by spring means to a rest position wherein the cutting knife is located at an interval from the star wheel and the actuating part is located in the region of the channels for actuating of the tilt piece by an article carried through the channels and cutting through the tapes wherewith an article is bound, which cutting knife in the extreme active cutting position remote from the rest posi¬ tion lies with its active front part in a recess of the star wheel.

Such a bag sealer is known in diverse embodiments. The object of the invention is to utilize as fully as possible the space available inside the said cavity in the housing.

. Another object of the invention is to embody a bag sealer such that it satisfies the highest hygienic requirements. Particularly, although not exclusively, in a retail establish¬ ment where foodstuffs are packaged, it is necessary for the sake of good hygiene to prevent the bag sealer becoming dir¬ tied by foodstuff remnants.

The invention also has for its object to embody a bag sealer such that the danger of such a contamination is vir¬ tually eliminated.

This last objective can be realized by a bag sealer of the stated type having the special feature that the cavity inside the housing has a narrow outlet opening bounded on.one side by the top wall of the housing and on the other by the star wheel and through which the adhesive tape is fed to the nip.

It must nevertheless remain ensured that the adhesive tape allows of easy loading into the device without there being an increased chance of dirtying due to too large an outlet opening. To this end the device preferably displays the feature that the height of the passage opening lies at - most in the order of magnitude of 2.5 mm.

The device can also have the feature that the breadth of the passage opening is only a little larger than the breadth of the tape.

The structure of the device according to the invention is such that the device -lends itself exceptionally well to for instance the foodstuffs industry. Basic requirements herefor are that no food can penetrate into the device, there are no corners where foodstuff remnants can accumulate, the bag sealer can be removed simply and cleaned internally and externally and consists of a smooth, easily cleanable materi¬ al, particularly plastic. Chosen for this purpose is a sub¬ stantially closed housing, with the exception of course of the strictly necessary passages which are, however, restricted to minimum dimensions. Also aimed for is a very large degree of compactness, since the size of the surfaces involved con¬ tributes to the chance of contamination. It is also the aim to save material. A drawback of the compact structure can be a resulting lack of space for accommodating adhesive tape and, if required, paper tape.

It will become apparent hereinafter that joins of mutual¬ ly displaceable components are as seamless as possible. Any hinge that is present is placed internally as far as this is possible. It is noted that for an easy, albeit somewhat superfi¬ cial, cleaning with a high pressure spray it is of importance that the housing is closed since otherwise there is the chance that paper tape that may be present becomes wet.

The invention further relates to a device for placing round an article a first tape, in particular adhesive tape, whereof the zones can adhere to one another and optionally a weak, non-adhering second tape, for instance a paper tape, for arrangement against the free, adhesive ends thereof such that the ends can be gripped individually and separated by tearing through the second tape, which device comprises: a housing with a cavity for accommodating a supply roll of the first and optionally a supply roll of the second tape with: means for guiding the tape; a nip for carrying an article at least along and against the sticking side of the first tape; and cutting means actuable by a through-fed article for cutting off the tape after the article has passed the nip.

Such a device is known in various embodiments. The inven¬ tion has for one of its objects to embody a known device such that it can be fixed reliably on a work surface with very simple aids. In this respect the invention aims also to bring about the fixing of the device on a work surface such that for instance when the device is used in a retail estab¬ lishment there need be no fear that someone of malicious intent can remove the device easily from the work surface. This objective is achieved with a device characterized by a base fixable, for example fixedly screwable or ad- herable, to a work surface, on which base the housing can be fixed, for instance by screwing. In a preferred embodiment the device displays the feature that the housing can substantially cover the base. The ad¬ vantage of this embodiment is that in this manner the base is not easily dirtied during use, which is of great importance particularly in the food department of large retail stores. In a particular embodiment the device is characterized by a plate for fixed attachment to the work surface having at least one fastening hook which can co-act with a hole in the base of the device.

In order to also be able to place the device loosely on a work surface with a good friction the device can display the feature that the base has a number of flexible cushions. In a combination of the aforementioned two aspects the device can have the feature that the cushions ensure the frictional clamping between the plate and the base. The cush- ions can take the form of rubber tulles.

The invention further relates to a closure comprising: an edge which forms part of a body with a cavity that is accessible from outside via an opening bounded by the edge; a cover connected by means of a hinge connection to the body such that the cover is movable between a first pivot position wherein the cover rests on the edge and covers the opening and a second pivot position wherein the cover is pivoted outward round a pivot line and uncovers the opening, and manually operable, spring loaded locking means for locking the cover in the first position by spring pressure and for releasing thereof through manual operation counter to the spring pressure.

Such a closure is known in diverse embodiments. Mentioned as an example of such a known closure is a box with closing cover wherein the cover is provided with a spring loaded protrusion which can co-act with a protrusion arranged on the box and can be placed from outside by a user counter to spring pressure into a position such that the closing protrusions can pass over one another, whereby the cover can be opened.

The object of the invention is to embody a closure of the stated type such that a non-evident extra operation is required to open the closure. This can be of importance for instance to give a box a child-proof form. Reference is made as another random example to a known bag closing device which is used in retail establishments to close plastic bags by means of an adhesive strip. The adhesive strips, in cassettes or otherwise, are arranged on rolls in the devices. The bag sealers are often placed on a counter in a store such that they can be touched by the public. A possible occurrence then is that someone of malicious intent opens the closing cover of the bag sealer and removes a cassette or roll of adhesive tape, which is undesirable for good management.

With a view to the above the invention offers a closure having the feature that the hinge connection is embodied such that the cover is slidable over the edge over a certain dis¬ tance between two slide positions in a direction substantially transversely of the pivot line and that the locking means lock the cover in the first slide position through spring pressure and release it through manual operation counter to the spring pressure, so that the cover can be pushed from the first to the second slide position, from which second slide position the cover can be pivoted to the second pivot posi¬ tion.

In a particular embodiment the closure displays the characteristic that the locking means comprise a manually movable protrusion which in the first slide position lies behind a locking surface such that the cover is locked in the first slide position and through manual operation counter to the spring pressure can pass over that locking surface for carrying the cover into the second slide position.

In another embodiment to which preference is given, the device has the feature that at least a second protrusion, which in the first slide position lies behind an associated second locking surface, which protrusions and which locking surfaces are placed such that when the cover is displaced the or each second protrusion is first released from the asso¬ ciated second locking surface and only thereafter the first protrusion from the associated first locking surface. The invention further relates to an adhesive tape for use in a bag sealing device.

Described in applicant's non-prepublished Netherlands patent application 8902097 is a bag sealing device constructed such that due to the nature of the tape travel mechanism a comparatively small tensile force is exerted on the adhesive tape. Underlying the present invention is the insight that it is possible to make use of this required comparatively small tensile force to give the adhesive tape desired properties. An important property can for instance be that the material is not harmful to the environment.

Another property can be that the material is transparent. The use of transparent adhesive tape together with paper protective foil at the outer ends thereof can have the advan¬ tage that the paper can be used as printable information carrier, for instance for price indications, latest date for use and the like. If required, either the transparent material itself or also the adhesive layer can be coloured in order to obtain a colour effect.

Yet another property can be that the material is thin and large adhesive tape lengths can therefore be wound onto a core.

In general the invention provides an adhesive tape of the stated type which has the feature that the adhesive tape consists of a film of stretchable material onto which is applied an adhesive layer.

In a particular embodiment the tape displays the charac- teristic that the film is transparent.

In preference the tape has the feature that the film consists of an environmentally harmless material.

The tape can also consist of polypropylene, cellulose, acrylate or other suitable material chosen with a view to the foregoing.

The use of adhesive tape that is wound onto a cylindrical core is generally known. With regard to factory operations such cores are generally wound onto cores with an inner wall and an outer wall mutually separated by spacer elements. This furthers easy handling of the cores during manufacture. Accor¬ ding to the invention space is now saved with an embodiment wherein the adhesive tape is wound onto a cylindrical core with a solid wall. It has been found possible with simple means to maintain easy handling of the rolls of adhesive tape in the manufacturing process.

In a particular embodiment the adhesive tape displays the feature that the length of the adhesive tape wound onto the core amounts to more than 45 metres.

In another embodiment the length amounts to more than 60 metres.

The invention also relates to a roll of adhesive tape consisting of a core and adhesive tape according to the stated specifications wound thereon.

In the use of a bag sealer such as described in, among others, the mentioned Netherlands patent application 8902097 of applicant, use can additionally be made of a roll of paper tape. This paper tape can be arranged against the free adher¬ ing end zones of the adhesive tape such that the ends of the adhesive tape can be individually grasped and a closed bag is again re-closable after being opened. The paper tape which is joined together adheringly in a nip to the adhesive tape ensures that downstream of this nip the combination of ad- hesive tape and paper is no longer εtretchable so that down¬ stream of this nip no special demands are made of the small tensile force in this tape.

Compared to PVC, PP-adhesive tape for instance can have a smaller thickness. A conceivable thickness for PVC is for example 38-40 μm, exclusive of the adhesive layer. For PP a thickness of 28 μm or less is more usual.

Polyester, which like PP is an environmentally harmless and relatively stretchable material, can be used in practice in even smaller thicknesses. Conceivable are thicknesses in the order of 23 μm and even as low as 19 μm. It will be ap¬ parent that for the same cross sectional surface of a roll of adhesive tape the total available length is inversely proportional to the above stated thicknesses of the adhesive tape. It should however be noted that the thickness of the adhesive layer is not included in the above.

The invention likewise relates to a roll of paper tape for a bag sealing device consisting of a core and an adhesive tape wound thereon. In known rolls the problem can occur that when the device is opened the layers of paper come loose and drop downward in uncontrolled manner out of the device. In this respect the invention proposes a roll of paper tape whereof the layers of paper lying one on the other are adhered very lightly to each other. This roll can in particular be embodied such that a film of an adhesive substance is applied to an axial end surface.

An embodiment wherein the adhesive tape is wound with constant tensile stress onto the core has the advantage that the risk of "telescoping" of a finished roll of adhesive tape is prevented, while the chance of air inclusion is also con¬ siderably reduced. Such a roll of adhesive tape also has a virtually constant pull-off tension.

The invention will now be elucidated with reference to the annexed drawing, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a bag sealer whereof the base plate is drawn remotely; fig. la is a partly broken away perspective view of a detail wherein can be seen another manner of fixing the device to a work surface or on a wall; fig. 2 shows a side view of the most important detail of the interior of the bag sealer; fig. 3 shows a bundle of foil which is bound by the bag sealer; fig. 4 shows a partly perspective view of the bag sealer; fig. 5, 6, 7, 8 show four phases of the binding cycle; fig. 9 shows an embodiment of a cutting knife other than is drawn in fig. 4; fig. 10 shows yet another embodiment of the cutting knife; fig. 11, 12, 13 and 14 show four different rolls of adhesive tape according to the invention; fig. 15 and 16 show two different rolls of paper tape for use thereby; fig. 17a and 17b are perspective views of a device in a further embodiment, whereof respectively the internal parts and the front part can be seen; fig. 18 is a perspective view, substantially from the front, of a bag sealer; fig. 19 is a perspective view of the bag sealer as in fig. 1, substantially from the rear; fig. 20 shows the detail III-III from fig. 19; and fig. 21 shows an alternative in partly broken away per¬ spective view.

Fig. 1 shows a device 1 according to the mentioned non- prepublished Netherlands patent application 8902097 of appli¬ cant for arranging round an article 16 (see fig. 3), in par- ticular a bundle of plastic foil such as a plastic bag, a bunch of flowers or the like, a binding consisting of single- sided adhesive tape 2 whereof end zones can adhere to one another in a manner to be described further, in addition to a paper tape 3 for arranging against the free adhering ends thereof such that the ends of the adhesive tape 2 can be grasped individually and separated by tearing through the paper tape 3. The device 1 comprises a housing 4 with an internal cavity for accommodating a supply roll 5 of the adhesive tape 2 and a supply roll 6 of paper tape 3. The housing can be fixed by means of screws 7 on a base plate 8 which has for this purpose bent, upright ends 9. The base plate 8 is fixed to a work surface 11 by means of screws 10.

As indicated by arrows 12 the underside of the housing can substantially entirely cover the base plate 8.

Via a star wheel, to be further described hereinafter and designated schematically here, over which the adhesive tape 2 is guided, an article 16 for binding, in particular a bundle of plastic foil, is inserted with force from above according to an arrow 17 at the open top part of a straight channel 14, fed therethrough with force until the article has reached the underside of the channel 14 provided with a widen¬ ing 15 and in bound state can subsequently be removed there¬ from in sideways direction according to arrow 18.

Fig. la shows a work surface 401 whereon a steel fixing plate 403 is fastened by means of screws 402. This fixing plate 403 has four hooks 404 pressed out of the surface of the plate which can co-act with holes 405 in a base plate 406 of the bag sealer 407. The base plate 406 likewise has a number of holes through which are arranged rubber tulles 408. The dimensioning is such that the bag sealer 407 can only be pushed with the base plate 406 with friction force under the hooks 404 by depressing the rubber tulles 408. This ensures a very robust clamp fixing of the bag sealer 407 on the work surface 401. It will otherwise be apparent that this manner of fixing can also be applied for wall attachment. Fig. 2 shows the interior of the device 1, or at least the essential components and their interrelation, wherefor reference is also made to the figures 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

The device comprises a housing whereof the rear wall 19 is drawn, which rear wall comprises the straight channel 14 which has the widening 15 at the bottom. The supply rolls 5 and 6 are carried by the respective carrier cylinders 20, 21 moulded on the rear wall 19 by injection moulding and whereof a wall portion 22, 23 is embodied as an outwardly resilient lip such that the inside of the supply rolls 5, 6 is rotatable with light friction over the carrier cylinders 20, 22 and 21, 23. The lip-shaped wall portions 22, 23 extend in lengthwise direction of the cylinders 20, 21 and each have on their outer surface a cam which ensures a small axial locking of the supply rolls 5, 6.

The star wheel 13 also accommodated in the housing 4 is carried rotatably by a like carrier cylinder 24 with resilient lip 25, whereby the star wheel 13 is rotatable in housing 4 with small friction.

The cavity inside housing 4 displays a narrow outlet opening 202 bounded on one side by the upper wall 201 and on the other by the star wheel 13 and through which the adhesive tape 2 is fed over the star wheel 13 to a nip to be described hereinbelow where the adhesive tape 2 is placed into co-action with the paper tape 3. The height of the passage opening amounts in this embodiment to roughly 2 mm, while the breadth of the opening is only a little greater than the breadth of the adhesive tape. In this respect reference is also made to fig. 4.

A carrier cylinder 26 with resilient lip 27 bears a tilt piece 28 whereof an outer end 29 acting as actuating part is located in the region of the channel 14 in the drawn rest position, while extending from the end remote therefrom is a tapering projection 30 serving as knife holder, in which holder 30 is received a cutting knife 31 to be described hereinafter. The tilt piece 28 is loaded by a draw spring 32. The longitudinal direction of the active leading part of the cutting knife 31 is more or less tangentially oriented relative to the pivot axis defined by the carrier cylinder 26. In the drawn rest position the draw spring extends roughly tangentially relative to the said pivot axis.

The star wheel 13 has six recesses 33 placed equidistant- ly in angular direction.

The actuating part 29 is loaded by the draw spring 32 such that it exerts a spring pressure on the star wheel 13. The actuating part 29 has on the side facing the star wheel 13 a recess 36 relative to a slightly spherical outer shape. Due to this more or less spherical shape the surfaces 34, 35 adjoining the recess 36 have an angular position relative to the free edges of the recesses 33 that together they can lock the star wheel 13 resiliently against rotation in the position shown. This is of importance for the insertion of an article according to arrow 17. As fig. 2 clearly shows, in the shown angular position a recess is located with its free opening in the region of the channel 14 so that an article can be placed therein to be bound by the device 1.

A spring loaded pressure member 37 presses with the force of a spring 38 with its rounded front face against the peripheral wall 39 of star wheel 13 for pressing against one another tapes for mutual connection, as will be described later. The pressure spring 38 is accommodated in a cavity 40 which is covered by a plate 41. The rear wall 42 of the pres¬ sure member co-acts with a stop 43 present on the rear wall 19 of the device 1. The dimensioning of the various components is such that the pressure member 37 can exert pressure on tape present between the pressure member 37 and the star wheel 13 while the chamfered active front part of the pressure member 37 and the positioning of the stop 43 also prevent the pressure member 37 coming to lie in a recess 33 and blocking the further rotation of the star wheel 13.

As shown in fig. 2 the paper tape 3 is guided over the top surface of the pressure member 37 while the single-sided adhesive tape 2 is guided with its adhesive side facing upward over the top of star wheel 13. In the above described nip designated with the reference numeral 44 the tapes 2 and 3 come together and are pressed between the pressure member 37 and star wheel 13.

Situated above the nip 44 is a guide face 45 having the same shape as the peripheral wall 39 of the star wheel 13. As previously mentioned, fig .3 shows a bundle of plastic foil, for instance the end of a packing bag for binding and thereby sealing. The bundle 16 is bound by adhesive tape 2 the free ends of which are mutually adhered along zones 46, while the adhesive sides extending outward beyond this zone 46 are jointly covered by a strip of paper tape 3.

Fig. 4 shows in perspective view a portion of the device 1 according to fig. 1. As can be seen, the knife holder 30 is shaped tapering on four sides. The cutting knife 31 has two points with two pairs of cutting edges.

As is apparent from fig. 4, the cutting knife 31 is fixed by two ribs 47 arranged therein which are received in hollows 48 present in the tilt piece 28 and which adjoin a slot 49 for receiving the cutting knife 31.

Fig. 9 shows a cutting knife 50 which in contrast to cutting knife 31 has only one point, adjoining which are two sharp cutting edges in the form of a V. Fig. 10 shows a cutting knife 51 which is manufactured, starting from the cutting knife 50 as in fig. 9, by arranging a slit 52 therein on the leading side by means of a grinding disc. The active leading side of cutting knife 51 thus has two chamfered, sharp cutting edges separated by the lengthwise slit 52.

The figures 5-8 show successive phases of the binding of an article with the device 1 according to the invention.

As shown in fig. 5, the article 16 is introduced accord¬ ing to arrow 17 into the straight channel 14. It is taken up into the recess 33 of star wheel 13 present in that region carrying with it a piece of adhesive tape 2 according to arrow 53.

Fig. 6 shows that according to arrow 54 the star wheel is set into rotation by the article 16 being displaced down- ward with some force by the user. Thereby formed round the article 16 is a loop of adhesive tape 2 whereof the free ends are carried towards one another with their adhering sides.

In the phase according to fig. 7 the rotation of the star wheel 13 has progressed still further and a strip of paper tape 3 has also been carried along. The article 16 thereby comes into force transmitting engagement with the actuating part 29 of tilt piece 28 and sets the latter into pivoting movement according to an arrow 55, whereby the cut¬ ting knife 31 displaces in the direction of the recess 33 of the star wheel 13 then present there, in front of which a combination of mutually adhered paper tape 3 and adhesive tape 2 under tensile stress is then situated, which can sub¬ sequently be cut through by the cutting knife 31.

As shown clearly in fig. 7, the cutting knife 31 is located at a small distance from the bottom surface 56 of the relevant recess 33 whereby the tape laminate has only a small deflection possibility, which aids sharp cutting.

Fig. 8 shows that as a result of still further pivot tilting of the tilt piece 28 the cutting knife 31 has com¬ pletely cut through the laminate 2, 3. The recess 36 in the actuating part 29 ensures a positive contact between the article 16 that has meanwhile been bound and the tilt piece 28.

As fig. 8 shows, the face 57 of the tilt piece 28 direct¬ ed to the star wheel 13 has an arcuate form with the same curvature as the peripheral surface of the star wheel 13, whereby in the situation shown in fig. 8 a further additional pressing of the strip of paper tape 3 onto the ends of the adhesive tape 2 is obtained.

After removing the article from the device in the situ- ation shown in fig. 8 the device is once again ready for re¬ use and after rotation through 120° the star wheel 13 is again situated in the same active position as at the beginning of the cycle as shown in fig. 5.

Fig. 11 shows a roll of adhesive tape 101. This roll comprises a cylindrical core 102 with solid wall having wound thereon a quantity of transparent adhesive tape 103 consisting of polypropylene with the adhesive layer facing towards the core 102. The polypropylene film has a thickness in the order of 28 μm. As a consequence hereof a greater adhesive tape length can be wound onto the core compared with thicker films, while the outer diameter remains the same. In this case the core 102 has a diameter of about 1 inch and the roll 101 has a length of about 66 metres. With the use of polyester, an environmentally harmless but also stretchable material, a film thickness of for example 23 μm to as low as 19 μm can be used, in which case tape lengths to in the order of 100 metres can be wound onto the core 102. The breadth of the adhesive tape 103 is approximately 9 mm.

Fig. 13 shows a roll 104 consisting of a core 105 of the same type as the core 102 but with a diameter of about 3 inches. The adhesive tape 103 is wound thereon. Fig. 12 shows a roll 106 with a core 107 of the same type as the core 102. In contrast to the embodiments according to fig. 11 and 12 the adhesive tape 108 has a breadth of 12 mm. The axial length of the core 107 is therefore also 12 mm. Fig. 14 shows a roll 109 with a core 110. The adhesive tape 108 is wound thereon. The breadth is here also 12 mm. Fig. 15 shows a roll 111 comprising the core 102 and paper tape 112 wound thereon. The breadth thereof amounts to 12 mm. The roll 111 is thus suitable for use in combination with the rolls 101 and 104. Fig. 16 shows a roll 113 comprising the core 107 and paper tape 114 wound thereon with a breadth of 12 mm. This roll 113 is therefore suitable for use in combination with the rolls 106 and 109.

Both the roll 111 and the roll 112 have on an axial end face a film 120 consisting of a thin layer of an adhesive substance whereby the layers of paper lying one on the other are lightly adhered to each other. Unexpected unwinding of the paper is hereby prevented but the adherence is light such that the operation of the device is not influenced thereby. Fig. 17a shows another embodiment. In this embodiment cutting means loaded by a spring 216 are present with a tilt¬ ing arm 27 which can be actuated on the one side by an article guided through the device according to arrow 218 and on the other side bears a knife 219 having a V-shape with a point and adjoining cutting edges.

The supply rolls 205 and 206 are wound onto respective reels 220 and 221 having respectively a comparatively large and a comparatively small diameter. These reels are placed over hollow cylinders 222 and 223 respectively which are each provided with lips lightly resilient in outward direction and all designated 224. These lips each bear at their end on the outer surface a cam 225 which ensures a light axial locking of the reels 221, 222.

The adhesive tape 202 is guided from the supply roll 205 to a star wheel 225 without intermediate guiding means. As fig. 17b shows, the channel 226 wherethrough the article is displaced according to the arrow 218 is in this embodiment not entirely straight, but still substantially so. In known devices the channel 226 displays a considerable curvature. The channel 226 according to fig. 17b and in par¬ ticular the straight channel 214 as in fig. 1 ensure a very easy passage through the device of an article for processing. Fig. 17b shows the front part of the housing 227 of device 228. Moulded on pins 229 serve for co-action with sleeves 230 to close the device 228.

The device 228 can for instance be fixed to a work sur- face with screws 231. Wall attachment by means of hooks or use of double-sided adhesive tape or any other suitable fixing is also possible.

Fig. 17b further shows the manner in which the cylinders 222, 223 are accessible for replacing supply rolls 205, 206. To this end the respective covers 232, 233 can slide open, whereby the interior of the device 228 becomes accessible.

All parts of the housing accessible from outside substan¬ tially adjoin each other without clearance in order to prevent dirtying of the device. Fig. 18 shows a bag sealer 301 with a closure according to the invention. This bag sealer 301 comprises a body 302 with a plinth 303. The body 302 takes an at least partially hollow form and is thus capable of accommodating a roll of adhesive tape 304 and a roll of paper tape 305. Such a known bag sealer closes a bag such that the ends of the adhesive tape are covered in more or less T-shaped manner by a strip of paper, whereby the closure lends itself for re-use. The invention does not however relate to this aspect.

The hollow in the body 302 generally designated 306 is enclosed by an edge 307 on which can rest a hingeable cover 308. To this end the cover 308 bears on the underside two pins 310, 311, together defining a line of pivot 309, which engage into and co-act with two slotted holes 312, 313 respec¬ tively arranged in the body.

Fig. 19 shows that as a result of these hinge connections 311, 313; 310, 312 the cover 308 can be displaced upward according to an arrow 314 until the situation shown in fig. 19 is reached wherein the pins 310, 311 have reached the top end of the associated slotted holes 312, 313. In this situ¬ ation shown in fig. 19 two hooks 316, 317 have passed over associated edges 318, 319 present on the body 302 whereby cover 308 is free to fold open as indicated with an arrow 320.

In the situation shown in fig. 18 the cover 308 is situ¬ ated in its lowest position, the position wherein the hooks are in locking co-action with the edges 18, 19.

In order to ensure that the upward directed movement of the cover 308 according to arrow 314 cannot take place auto¬ matically, the cover 308 bears on its top a locking protrusion 21 which in this case is manufactured from plastic and has a form such that at rest it assumes the position shown in fig. 19 relative to the cover, that is, it lies with its free end zone 322 at an interval therefrom. In this situation the top surface of the free end zone 322 of the locking protrusion 321 co-acts with the relevant inner surface at the top of the body 302, as a consequence whereof, due to the rigid connec¬ tion at an end zone 323 between the locking protrusion 321 and the cover 308, the vertical displacement of the cover 308 according to arrow 314 is blocked.

A user wishing to open the cover must first exert a pressure on the locking protrusion 321 according to arrow 323, whereby this can pass the top wall of body 302 and the cover can be placed in the position shown in fig. 19. Only after these actions have been performed is the cover in a position wherein it can be pivoted open for removal or re¬ placement of rolls 304, 305 or for maintenance purposes. Closing of the cover from the opened position takes place by placing it from the opened position into the position shown in fig. 19. As a result of the presence of a positioning edge 324 on the hooks 316, 317 no extra operation has to be performed for this purpose. As soon as the cover is pressed against the edge 307 it can then be pressed downward according to arrow 325, whereby the spring loaded locking protrusion

321 can pass over the upper wall of the body 302 which serves as locking edge and assume under its own resilient tension the position shown in fig. 18 locking the cover against upward vertical displacement. Fig. 20 shows the detail XX-XX according to fig. 19.

Finally, fig. 21 shows a bag sealer 341. This bag sealer 341 differs from the bag sealer 301 according to the figures 19 and 20 in respect of opening and closing. In this embodi¬ ment the resilient press-in lip 21 is omitted. Instead, a resilient hinge strip 342 is arranged internally which on one side serves as pivot shaft for the cover 343 and which on the other side also exerts a resilient pressure such that this cover 343 is pressed downward in the situation where three protrusions 344, 345, 346 are in locking co-action with locking surfaces 347, 348 and 349 respectively. By gripping via an opening 350 intended therefor onto a wall portion 351, which in fig. 21 is drawn broken away, a user can move the cover 343 upward counter to the action of the hinge pin 342, whereby the protrusions 344, 345, 346 disengage from the locking surfaces 347, 348 and 349. The cover hereby comes to lie in the second slide position wherein it can be hinged forward, and the device becomes internally accessible.

When the cover 343 is moved upward, in this preferred embodiment the protrusions 345, 346 are first disengaged from the corresponding locking surfaces 348, 349. Only thereafter does the protrusion 344 disengage from the corresponding locking surface 347. Were this step to be omitted, the danger would then exist of a user already performing a forward di¬ rected hinging movement while the said protrusions were still in engagement with the locking surfaces, which could cause damage to the cover. It is otherwise noted that in these circumstances a user would immediately notice that a disturbance was occurring. Through use of a strong plastic, such as ABS, no damage can occur even in the case of such an incorrect use.

*****

Claims (37)

1. Device for binding an article with adhesive tape, whereof ends can adhere to one another, which device com¬ prises:

- a housing with a cavity bounded by a front wall and a rear wall for accommodating a supply roll of the adhesive tape^" with:

- means for guiding the tape;

- means for carrying an article at least along and against the adhesive side of the first tape; and - cutting means actuable by a through-fed article for cutting off the tape after the article has passed through the said means,

- a star wheel rotatable with light friction having a number of substantially radial recesses disposed at mutually equal angular distances,

- two mutually registered channels open to the top present in the front wall and the rear wall respectively of the housing and wherethrough an article for binding has to^" be moved from top to bottom, - wherein the adhesive tape is guided over the top part of the star wheel with the adhering side facing outward,

- wherein the star wheel is formed and positioned relative to the channels such that an article for binding engages onto the star wheel in a recess thereof carrying with it the first tape adhering thereto, the opening of which recess is situated in the region of the channels, whereby the star wheel is set into rotation so that in the recess the article is bound with the first tape with the progres¬ sive rotation of the star wheel, and - wherein the cutting means comprise a tilt piece with an actuating part movable pivotally about a pivot axis towards and away from the star wheel, which tilt piece is con¬ strained by spring means to a rest position wherein the cutting knife is located at an interval from the star wheel and the actuating part is located in the region of the channels for actuating of the tilt piece by an article carried through the channels and cutting through the tapes wherewith an article is bound, which cutting knife in the extreme active cutting position remote from the rest posi¬ tion lies with its active front part in a recess of the star wheel, characterized in that the cavity inside the housing has a narrow outlet opening bounded on one side by the top wall of the housing and on the other by the star wheel and through which the adhesive tape is fed to the nip.

2. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the height of the passage opening lies at most in the order of magnitude of 2.5 mm.

3. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the breadth of the passage opening is only a little larger than the breadth of the tape.

4. Device for placing round an article a first tape, in particular adhesive tape, whereof the zones can adhere to one another and optionally a weak, non-adhering second tape, for instance a paper tape, for arrangement against the free, adhesive ends thereof such that the ends can be gripped indi¬ vidually and separated by tearing through the second tape, which device comprises: a housing with a cavity for accommodating a supply roll of the first and optionally a supply roll of the second tape with: means for guiding the tape; a nip for carrying an article at least along and against the sticking side of the first tape; and cutting means actuable by a through-fed article for cutting off the tape after the article has passed the nip, characterized by a base fixable, for example fixedly screwable or ad- herable, to a work surface, on which base the housing can be fixed, for instance by screwing.

5. Device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the housing can substantially cover the base.

6. Device as claimed in claim 4 or 5, characterized by a plate for fixed attachment to the work surface having at least one fastening hook which can co-act with a hole in the base of the device.

7. Device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the base has a number of flexible cushions.

8. Device as claimed in claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the cushions ensure the frictional clamping between the plate and the base.

9. Device for binding an article with a first tape, in particular single-sided adhesive tape, whereof ends can adhere to one another and a relatively weak, optionally non-adhering second tape, for instance a paper tape, for arrangement again¬ st the free, adhesive end zones thereof such that the ends can be gripped individually and separated by tearing through the second tape, which device comprises:

- a housing with a cavity bounded by a front wall and a rear wall for accommodating a supply roll of the first tape and a supply roll of the second tape with:

- means for guiding the tape;

- means for carrying an article at least along and against the adhesive side of the first tape; and - cutting means actuable by a through-fed article for cutting off the tape after the article has passed through the said means,

- a star wheel rotatable with light friction having a number of substantially radial recesses disposed at mutually equal angular distances,

- two mutually registered channels open to the top present in the front wall and the rear wall respectively of the housing and wherethrough an article for binding has to be moved from top to bottom, - wherein the adhesive tape is guided over the top part of the star wheel with the adhering side facing outward,

- wherein in a nip the weak second tape is brought into adhering co-action with the adhering side of the first tape,

- wherein the star wheel is formed and positioned relative to the channels such that an article for binding engages onto the star wheel in a recess thereof carrying with it the first tape adhering thereto, the opening of which recess is situated in the region of the channels, whereby the star wheel is set into rotation and the second tape remains at least substantially stationary in the nip so that in the recess the article is bound with the first tape with the progressive rotation of the star wheel, subsequently the second tape is also carried along to cover the adhesive sides of the protruding loose portions of the first tape, and - wherein the cutting means comprise a tilt piece with an actuating part movable pivotally about a pivot axis towards and away from the star wheel, which tilt piece is con¬ strained by spring means to a rest position wherein the cutting knife is located at an interval from the star wheel and the actuating part is located in the region of the channels for actuating of the tilt piece by an article carried through the channels and cutting through the tapes wherewith an article is bound, which cutting knife in the extreme active cutting position remote from the rest posi- tion lies with its active front part in a recess of the star wheel, characterized in that

- the cutting means comprise a cutting knife whereof the active front part comprises at least one point with at least one adjoining, inclining, sharp cutting edge for placing in first contact with the tape for cutting through.

10. Device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the active front part of the cutting knife has at least two cutting edges separated by a longitudinal slit.

11. Device as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the longitudinal slit is arranged by slit-grinding.

12. Device as claimed in any of the claims 9-11, charac- terized in that the longitudinal direction of the cutting knife in the region of the active front part thereof is orien¬ ted at least roughly tangentially relative to the pivot axis.

13. Device as claimed in any of the claims 9-12, charac- terized in that the cutting knife protrudes from a tangential projection of the tilt piece serving as knife holder, which projection is tapering and fits into the recesses of the star wheel.

14. Device as claimed in any of the claims 9-13, charac- terized in that the spring means comprise a draw spring which in the rest position of the tilt piece is oriented at least roughly tangentially relative to the pivot axis.

15. Device as claimed in any of the claims 9-14, charac¬ terized in that the actuating part of the tilt piece co-acts with the edges of the recesses of the star wheel such that it can lock the star wheel resiliently in positions corresponding with the positions of the actuating part and the recesses.

16. Device as claimed in. claim 15, characterized in that the actuating part has a recess parallel to the pivot axis of the tilt piece, which recess, in the rest position wherein the tilt piece locks the star wheel against rotation, is situated between the edges of the relevant recess.

17. Device as claimed in any of the claims 9-16, charac¬ terized in that the surface of the tilt piece facing the star wheel has the same curvature as the star wheel and in the extreme active cutting position of the tilt piece remote from the rest position lies against that star wheel and presses on the tapes present therebetween.

18. Device as claimed in any of the claims 9-17, charac- terized in that in the extreme active cutting position the cutting knife lies at a small distance from the bottom face of the relevant recess.

19. Device as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that in the extreme active cutting position the knife holder lies at a small distance from the bottom face of the relevant recess.

20. Device as claimed in any of the claims 9-19, charac- terized by a curved guide face situated between the channels and the nip and bounding, together with the star wheel, the path of the first tape, which guide face is located at a small interval from the star wheel such that the first tape, but not the first tape having adhered thereto the second tape, particularly arranged in two layers, can pass between the guide face and the star wheel.

21. Device as claimed in any of the claims 9-21, charac¬ terized in that the channels are straight.

22. Closure, comprising: an edge which forms part of a body with a cavity that is accessible from outside via an opening bounded by the edge; a cover connected by means of a hinge connection to the body such that the cover is movable between a first pivot position wherein the cover rests on the edge and covers the opening and a second pivot position wherein the cover is pivoted outward round a pivot line and uncovers the opening, and manually operable, spring loaded locking means for lock- ing the cover in the first position by spring pressure and for releasing thereof through manual operation counter to the spring pressure, characterized in that the hinge connection is embodied such that the cover is slidable over the edge over a certain distance between two slide positions in a direction substantially transversely of the pivot line and that the locking means lock the cover in the first slide position through spring pressure and release it through manual operation counter to the spring pressure, so that the cover can be pushed from the first to the second slide position, from which second slide position the cover can be pivoted to the second pivot position.

23. Closure as claimed in claim 22, characterized in that the locking means comprise a manually movable protrusion which in the first slide position lies behind a locking sur¬ face such that the cover is locked in the first slide position and through manual operation counter to the spring pressure can pass over that locking surface for carrying the cover into the second slide position.

24. Closure as claimed in claim 22, characterized by at least a second protrusion, which in the first slide position lies behind an associated second locking surface, which pro¬ trusions and which locking surfaces are placed such that when the cover is displaced the or each second protrusion is first released from the associated second locking surface and only thereafter the first protrusion from the associated first locking surface.

25. Adhesive tape for use in a bag sealing device, char¬ acterized in that the adhesive tape consists of a film of εtretchable material onto which is applied an adhesive layer.

26. Adhesive tape as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the film is transparent.

27. Adhesive tape as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the film consists of a material not harmful to the environment.

28. Adhesive tape as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the film consists of polypropylene.

29. Adhesive tape as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the film consists of cellulose.

30. Adhesive tape as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the film consists of acrylate.

31. Adhesive tape as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the adhesive tape is wound onto a cylindrical core with a solid wall.

32. Adhesive tape as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the length of the adhesive tape wound onto the core amounts to more than 45 metres.

33. Adhesive tape as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the length of the adhesive tape wound onto the core amounts to more than 60 metres.

34. Roll of adhesive tape consisting of a core and ad¬ hesive tape as claimed in any of the foregoing claims wound thereon.

35. Roll of adhesive tape as claimed in claim 34, charac¬ terized in that the adhesive tape is wound with constant tensile stress onto the core.

36. Roll of paper tape for use in a bag sealing device consisting of a core and an adhesive tape wound thereon, characterized in that the layers of paper lying one on the other are adhered very lightly to each other.

37. Roll of paper tape as claimed in claim 36, charac¬ terized in that a film of an adhesive substance is applied to an axial end face.

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