EP0417458A1 - Apparatus for splicing decorative ribbons - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for splicing decorative ribbons possesses a cutting element (upper part 10) and a counter-piece (lower part 20). Cutting element and counter-piece are movable relative to one another. The cutting element has a cutter bar (30) which is detachably fixed in the cutting element and is provided with metal cutting edges (31). As a result of the exchangeable metal cutting edges on the cutter bar, the apparatuses can be used for a longer time. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a device for slitting decorative packaging tapes with a cutting element and a counterpart, which are movable relative to one another, the cutting element having metal cutting edges.

So-called striped ribbons are used to pack gifts. These strips, which are stiff per se, curl when pulled over a sharp edge, such as scissors or a knife. These strips can be slit in the longitudinal direction for optical improvement. Theoretically, this could be done with the help of a needle that is inserted into the tape and guided to the end. If this process is repeated several times parallel to the edge of the strip, there are any number of stripes.

Such measures are usually carried out in nurseries, flower shops or in shops for gifts. It is essential there to be able to carry out these measures for the visual improvement of the ring straps as quickly as possible while the customer is watching the packaging. At the same time, the devices used must not be very space-consuming, since it is a by-product of these shops and therefore there is little space available.

A device is known from two opposing rectangular plates, which have four guide pins are resiliently connected at the corners. One of the plates has a plurality of metal needles arranged in the longitudinal direction of the plate. The tape placed between the plates is pierced when the plates are pressed together and slit by moving the device.

A disadvantage of this device is that the metal needle wears out over time and also inclines due to occasional careless use. It is difficult to correct a deep metal needle. After the wear and tear, only the entire device can be thrown away. In addition, there is a complex manufacture, since the metal needles have to be embedded in a plastic plate.

Handling is also unfavorable and relatively time-consuming, since the four guide pins limit the device to the side and the tape to be slit must therefore be threaded into the opening between the needle tips and the opposite base plate.

Another generic device is known from DE 88 16 240 U1, in which the cutting element of the device has a large number of plastic cutting edges. The cutting punch should also be connected so flexibly and resiliently to a counter plate that both parts form a fork.

A disadvantage is the even faster wear of the plastic cutting edges.

US Pat. No. 3,883,953 shows a further device for slitting decorative packaging tapes. A cutting element and a counterpart are pretensioned away from each other via a spring and ver with each other via a joint bound. The cutting element is equipped with metal cutting edges which are held firmly in a narrow slot provided in the cutting element. For this purpose, laterally projecting thorns or spikes created by punching out are provided, which are intended to claw into the slot.

The metal teeth of such a device also wear out over time, gradually bend to the side due to the constant load, and limit the usability of the device over time.

In contrast, the object of the present invention is to propose longer-used devices for slitting decorative packaging tapes with a cutting element and a counterpart which are movable relative to one another.

This object is achieved in that the cutting element has a cutter bar which is detachably fastened in the cutting element and is provided with the metal cutting edges.

The use of detachable cutter bars means that they can be replaced after wear, becoming blunt or any breaking of individual metal cutting edges. In contrast to the embodiments known from DE 88 16 240 U1 or from US Pat. No. 3,883,953, it is no longer necessary to replace the entire device simply because defects have occurred on individual cutting edges or the device is worn out.

Such interchangeability is not only environmentally friendly because it prevents waste, it is also economical. So it becomes justifiable, also with use these devices improved suspensions to bias the cutting element and the counterpart away from each other. Since the suspension is retained even after replacement, it is not necessary to look at a particularly cheap solution.

The fact that the cutting element is provided with metal cutters also results in a significantly improved service life compared to plastic cutters. Both wear and tear as well as breaking off only take place after a correspondingly longer period of time or less likely.

It is particularly preferred if the cutter bar can be snapped into the cutting element.

With such a snap-in device even unskilled workers can easily handle it. In addition, no tools (such as a screwdriver or the like) are required to replace the cutter bar.

This also has advantages in the manufacture of the device. The cutter bars can be manufactured separately, and this results in better cooling behavior of the cutting elements, which are usually made of plastic, etc. Only then is the cutter bar snapped in and the device is thus ready for sale.

In a preferred embodiment, the counterpart has a plate with a recess for engaging the metal cutting edges, which is detachably connected to the counterpart.

The slots in the counterpart make it easier to slit the decorative packaging tapes. Also the counterpart can, like the cutter bar of the cutting element, be replaced if signs of wear or wear occur.

It is also preferred here if the plate can be snapped into the counterpart. The advantages are the same that occur when the cutter bar can be snapped into the cutting element.

A particularly preferred embodiment is characterized in that the cutting element and the counterpart are each elongated and are connected to one another in an articulated and movable manner.

Such training corresponds approximately to stapling machines that are known from office operations.

The decorative packaging tape is inserted laterally between the cutting element and the counterpart on the side facing away from the joint end. The length of the decorative packaging tape to be slit is to be determined in a very simple manner. Then the cutting element and counterpart are pressed together, so that the decorative packaging tape is clamped between them. Then the band is gripped on the side that cannot be slit and pulled through the device. The metal cutting edges of the cutting element slit the tape.

It is particularly advantageous if the cutting element and the counterpart are prestressed away from one another by means of a spring. Then the cutting element and counterpart automatically separate from each other after slitting and facilitate the threading of a further decorative packaging tape.

In an alternative embodiment, the counterpart and the cutting element are each T-shaped. The foot of the T of the two elements is articulated and movably connected to one another. The two Ts can be made to coincide with each other by pressing them together. The cutter bar and the counterpart are each arranged in the crossbar of the T. Different spacings of the metal cutting edges of the knife bar can be provided on the left or right half of the crossbar, that is to say on the two halves separated by the connection point of the crossbar with the footbar. This allows strips of different widths to be created when the decorative packaging tape is slit.

In this case, the decorative packaging tape is optionally guided on one side or the other through the crossbeam parts of the cutting element or counterpart, which are spaced apart from one another in the idle state, approximately parallel to the footbeam. Here, too, the two elements are pressed together and clamp the decorative packaging tape between them. If the decorative packaging tape is now pulled through the device, it is slit again.

Two exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in detail below with reference to the drawing.

• Fig. 1 ein Unterteil einer ersten Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Gerätes in Draufsicht, im Schnitt und von der Seite;
• Fig. 2 ein dazu passendes Oberteil in Draufsicht und von der Seite;
• Fig. 3 Seitenansicht eines zusammengesetzten Gerätes;
• Fig. 4 Einzelheiten eines Messerbalkens;
• Fig. 5 eine Gegenplatte;
• Fig. 6 eine zweite Ausführungsform in Draufsicht;
• Fig. 7 diese Ausführungsform von der Seite im zusammen­geklappten Zustand und
• Fig. 8 die gleiche Ausführungsform im Ruhezustand.

Show it:

• Figure 1 shows a lower part of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention in plan view, in section and from the side.
• Figure 2 is a matching top in plan view and from the side.
• Fig. 3 side view of a composite device;
• Fig. 4 details of a cutter bar;
• 5 shows a counter plate;
• 6 shows a second embodiment in plan view;
• Fig. 7 shows this embodiment from the side in the folded state and
• Fig. 8 shows the same embodiment in the idle state.

The upper part 10 of the device has an elongated shape which has a joint 12 at one end 11. The joint 12 can have an axis or simply consist of a button-shaped projection. The outside 13 of the upper part 10 can have a recessed grip. Otherwise, the outside 13 is formed as smoothly as possible in order to facilitate use and to avoid injuries.

Protrusions 15 are provided adjacent to the end 11, which should later allow the attachment of a spring, not shown in FIG. 1.

These projections 14 and a recess 15, which extends over most of the length of the upper part 10, are located on the inside 16 of the upper part 10. This inner side 16 faces the lower part 20 in the assembled state.

The recess 15 is essentially rectangular and serves to receive a cutter bar, which is shown in particular in FIG. 4.

2 shows the structure of the lower part 20 in detail. An end 21 is also provided here, adjacent to which a joint 22 is arranged. In the assembled state, the joint 22 also snaps the joint 12 together. This can be brought about, for example, by the fact that button-shaped projections from the lower part 20 snap into corresponding recesses in the upper part 10 (possibly vice versa).

The outside 23 of the lower part can either also have a recessed grip to enable symmetrical use of the device, or it can be areally reinforced to enable use as a table-top device.

Again, projections 24 are provided which are later to receive a spring. A recess 25 similar to the recess 15 is rectangular and extends over the largest part of the lower part 20. Here, the counter plate is later snapped into place. Projections 24 and recess 25 are located on the inside 26 of the lower part 20 and, when assembled, face the upper part 10.

Fig. 3 shows the assembled state of the device, consisting of the upper part 10, lower part 20, cutter bar 30 and plate 40 for the counterpart.

The cutter bar 30 has a larger number of metal cutting edges 31 which are spaced apart and arranged parallel to one another. They run perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the upper part 10. The distance between the individual metal cutting edges 31 can either be constant, or it can be different in different areas of the cutter bar 30, which leads to strips of the slit decorative packaging tape having different widths in use. A cross section through a metal cutting edge 31 in the cutter bar 30 is also shown in FIG. 4. Removed from FIG. 3 and in the left area of FIG. 4 at the same time the area of the joint 12 or 22 of the device is shown in the assembled state. The cutter bar 30 is snapped into the recess 15 of the upper part 10. It therefore has approximately the same dimensions.

The same applies to the plate 40 from FIG. 5, which has various recesses 41 in which the metal cutting edges 31 can engage. A cross section through such a recess is also shown in FIG. 5. It is only indicated in the longitudinal extent that these recesses 41 are also arranged parallel and spaced apart from one another.

A spring 50 can also be seen in FIG. 3, which is held in place by the projections 14 and 24 and always ensures that the upper part 10 and the lower part 20 are preloaded away from one another by the joint 12 or 22. Fig. 3 shows the device after this bias has been overcome and the two parts are pressed together.

Upper part 10 with cutter bar 30 form the cutting element, lower part 20 with plate 40 the counterpart. If the decorative packaging tape is now threaded and pulled between the cutting element and its counterpart, it is slit through the metal cutting edges of the cutter bar 30.

FIGS. 6 to 8 show another embodiment, which - as can be seen above all in FIG. 6 - has the shape of a T with foot bars 61 and cross bars 62.

As can be seen from FIGS. 7 and 8, in cross section this embodiment is that from FIGS. 1 very similar to 5. It has an upper part 10 with an end 11, a joint 12, an outer side 13, projections 14 and an inner side 16. Likewise, a lower part 20 with an end 21, a joint 22, an outer side 23, projections 24 and an inner side 26 is present . These elements are each located in the foot beam 61. They are designed in accordance with the embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 5. However, in this case, the recesses 15 to 25 are provided for the cutter bar 30 or the plate 40 in the crossbar 62, which both the upper part 10 and the lower part 20 have. In this case, the metal cutting edges 31 run parallel to the foot beam 61, ie perpendicular to the cross beam 62 and also to the joints 12 and 22. The sectional drawings 7 and 8 each show the metal cutting edges only symbolically.

In this case, the decorative packaging tape is threaded through the crossbar 62 parallel to the foot beam 61 and slit by pulling.

Claims (7)

1. Device for slitting decorative packaging tapes with a cutting element and a counterpart, which are movable relative to each other, the cutting element having metal cutting, characterized in that the cutting element (upper part 10) has a cutter bar (30) which is detachably in the cutting element (upper part 10) is attached and provided with the metal cutting edges (31). 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the counterpart (lower part 20) has a plate (40) with a recess (41) for engaging the metal cutting edges (31), and that the plate (40) detachably with the counterpart (lower part 20) is connected. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cutter bar (30) can be snapped into the cutting element (upper part 10). 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plate (40) can be snapped into the counterpart (lower part 20). 5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutting element (upper part 10) and the counterpart (lower part 20) are each elongated and at one end (11,21) articulated (joints 12,22) and movably connected . 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutting element (upper part 10) and the counterpart (lower part 20) via a spring (50) are biased away from each other. 7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutting element (upper part 10) and the counterpart (lower part 20) are each T-shaped, that they are articulated in the region of the base of the foot beam (61) of the T (joints 12 , 22) are movably connected to one another and that the cutter bar (30) and possibly the plate (40) are arranged in the crossbar (62) of the T.

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