EP0417458B1 - Apparatus for splicing decorative ribbons - Google Patents

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 comparatively time-consuming, since the four guide pins limit the device laterally 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-U1-88 16 240, in which the cutting element of the device has a plurality 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-A-3 883 953, which represents the closest prior art, shows another device for slitting decorative packaging tapes. A cutting element and a counterpart are pretensioned away from each other via a spring and connected to one another via a joint. 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 cling to 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, that the counterpart has a plate with a recess for engaging the metal cutting edges, and that the plate is detachably connected to the counterpart is.

The use of detachable cutter bars means that they can be replaced after wear, becoming blunt, or breaking off individual metal cutting edges. In contrast to the embodiments known from DE 88 16 240 U1 or from US-A-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 .

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 cutting edges also results in a significantly improved service life compared to plastic cutting edges. Both wear and tear as well as breaking off only take place after a correspondingly longer period of time or less likely.

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

A strip cutter for cutting leather and textiles is known from US-A-3 709 081. The strip cutter is to be fastened to a table and has cutting knives which could be inserted by means of knife fastening plates by screws in one side of the known device.

The knife mounting plates are used to make different strip widths adjustable, for example depending on the material to be cut. The entire device is used for commercial purposes, cannot be operated from the hand and is very complex and expensive. It is neither intended nor suitable for slitting decorative packaging tapes.

In the invention, 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 screwdrivers 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 into place and the device is thus ready for sale.

It is also preferred 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 roughly to staplers 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 one another 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 cutter 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 transverse bar parts of the cutting element or counterpart, which are spaced apart from one another in the idle state, and approximately parallel to the foot bar. 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:

Fig. 1

a lower part of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention in plan view, in section and from the side;

Fig. 2

a matching top in top view and from the side;

Fig. 3

Side view of a composite device;

Fig. 4

Details of a cutter bar;

Fig. 5

a counter plate;

Fig. 6

a second embodiment in plan view;

Fig. 7

this embodiment from the side in the folded state and

Fig. 8

the same embodiment at rest.

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 outer side 13 is formed as smoothly as possible in order to facilitate use and to avoid injuries.

Projections 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 the largest part of the length of the upper part 10, are located on the inside 16 of the upper part 10. This inside 16 faces the lower part 20 in the assembled state.

The recess 15 is essentially rectangular and serves to receive a knife 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 achieved, 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 outer side 23 of the lower part can either also have a recessed grip in order to enable symmetrical use of the device, or it can be areally reinforced in order 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 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 pretensioned 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 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 (6)

1. A device for slitting decorative packing ribbons comprising a cutting member and an opposing piece which are movable relative to each other, the cutting member having metal cutting edges, characterised in that the cutting member, as the upper part (10), has a cutter bar (30) which is fixed detachably in the cutting member (10) and provided with the metal cutting edges (31), that the opposing piece, as the lower part (20), has a plate (40) with a depression (41) for engagement of the metal cutting edges (31), and that the plate (40) is joined detachably to the opposing piece (20).
2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the cutter bar (30) can be snapped into the cutting member (10).
3. A device according to either of the preceding claims, characterised in that the plate (40) can be snapped into the opposing piece (20).
4. A device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cutting member (10) and opposing piece (20) are each of elongated construction and are joined together flexibly at one end (11, 21) by joints (12, 22) and movably.
5. A device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cutting member (10) and opposing piece (20) are biassed away from each other by a spring (50).
6. A device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cutting member (10) and opposing piece (20) are each T-shaped, that they are joined together flexibly by joints (12, 22) and movably in the region of the base point of the base bar (61) of the T, and that the cutter bar (30) and, if appropriate, the plate (40) are arranged in the crossbar (62) of the T.

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