EP3402733B1 - Manual device for applying a coating on a substrate using a tape, having an improved end piece - Google Patents

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of manual devices for applying a coating by tape to a support, and more particularly the applicator tip of such devices. These devices are sometimes known under the name of “mouse” or “ribbon applicator” and are used in particular, but not exclusively, in the field of office automation. The coating can be, for example, glue or a white or colored coating.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

The application of the coating on a support using known manual devices is often difficult. In fact, to correctly deposit the coating on the support (ie to unwind the tape and transfer the coating from the tape to a support), predetermined application conditions must be observed, in particular of pressure and of relative position with respect to the substrate. support, which are generally not observed by the user. Moreover, the known manual devices facilitating the deposition of the coating exhibit reliability and ergonomics which are generally not satisfactory. There is therefore a need in this direction. FR 2 981 057 discloses a manual device for applying by tape a coating on a support according to the preamble of claim 1. EP 1 332 998 discloses an applicator of correction tape, adhesive tape and the like. EP 0 386 500 discloses an interchangeable cassette for an apparatus for transferring a film from its carrier tape to a receiver.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment relates to a manual device for applying tape of a coating on a support, comprising an applicator tip assembled to a housing projecting from said housing, the applicator tip extending in a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction. , the applicator tip comprising an attachment portion for its assembly to the housing, an application portion for applying the coating to the support and a rod extending in the longitudinal direction between the attachment portion and the portion of application, the rod being elastically deformable in bending so that the application portion is movable between a rest position and an application position, the rod being an iso-stressed rod.

Hereinafter, and unless otherwise indicated, by “tip” is meant “applicator tip”. Likewise, the term “manual device” is understood to mean “manual device for applying a coating by tape to a support”.

Of course, the manual device according to the invention can be both of the rechargeable type and of the disposable type. If the manual device is of the rechargeable type, the tip is mounted on the housing of an interchangeable cassette. In the latter case, the tip is mounted to an outer casing of the manual device via the casing of the interchangeable cassette.

The attachment portion is the portion through which the tip is mounted on the housing. According to one variant, the end piece comprises a single attachment portion.

The application portion is the portion of the housing which cooperates with the tape to deposit the coating on the support. The application portion is connected to the attachment portion by the rod. The application portion comprises an application stop extending in the lateral direction, this application stop being configured to cooperate in abutment with the face of the tape opposite to the face of the tape bearing the coating. In other words, the tape is disposed longitudinally around the end piece enveloping the rod so as to bypass the application portion.

The term “elastically deformable in bending” is understood to mean that the rod is more easily deformable elastically in bending than all the other parts of the end piece. In particular, the flexural stiffness of the rod is at least 10 times smaller than that of all other parts of the tip (ie the flexural flexibility of the rod is at least 10 times greater than that of all other parts parts of the mouthpiece).

An iso-stress rod is a rod where, when subjected to a bending force, the stresses are equal along the entire length of the rod. In particular, the cross section of such a rod is scalable over the entire length of said rod. This makes it possible to avoid any concentration of stresses in a portion of the rod in order in particular to improve its resistance to creep. This improves the reliability of the nozzle over time.

Thus, the rod being elastically deformable in bending, it is ensured that during the application of the application portion on the support, the user will bring the application portion into the application position. By bringing the application portion into the application position, the user is forced to position the manual device relative to the support in a favorable position for depositing the coating on the support. For example, in the application position, the angle between the part of the tape carrying the coating and the support, at the point of contact of the application portion with the support, is greater than or equal to 40 °.

Moreover, by bringing the application portion into the application position, the user applies a certain pressure on the tape at the level of the application stop. Thus, it is ensured that the user applies a pressure greater than or equal to a predetermined pressure on the tape in the application position, which is also favorable for correctly depositing the coating on the support.

Finally, the rod being iso-stressed, we ensure the robustness and reliability of the end piece as well as its resistance over time, even after a certain number of cycles of use (ie bending of the rod) , while having a flexural rigidity which makes the use of the manual device pleasant for the user.

Thus, such a manual device encourages the user to use it under satisfactory application conditions while having a certain reliability and ergonomics of use.

In certain embodiments, the rod has a strictly decreasing transverse section in the longitudinal direction from the attachment portion towards the application portion.

For example, the section of the rod is solid and of circular, oblong, elliptical, parallelepipedic, rectangular, polygonal shape, which presents a certain ease for the manufacture, but the shape of the section, solid or hollow, is not well heard not limited.

Such a rod forms an iso-stressed rod that is easy to manufacture and to integrate within the end piece.

In certain embodiments, the device comprises a stopper (or first stopper) configured to limit the movement of the application portion in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and to the lateral direction during the passage from the rest position to the application position.

It will be understood that when the end piece is in the application position it cooperates by resting against the stop. Thus, the stopper makes it possible to adjust (for the designer / manufacturer) and to clearly identify (for the user) the application position. Such a stop also makes it possible to avoid excessive stresses on the iso-stressed rod and to ensure its longevity.

In certain embodiments, the play between the stop and the end piece in the rest position is greater than or equal to 1.0 mm (millimeter).

A set chosen from this range of values makes it possible to ensure satisfactory application conditions while providing the user with a certain comfort of use. In fact, in order to travel such a course, the user is encouraged to tilt the manual device relative to the support, thanks to which he positions the manual device in a position favorable to the deposition of the coating of the tape, while maintaining a grip. comfortable manual device.

In certain embodiments, the rod is prestressed in flexion in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and to the lateral direction in the rest position.

For example, the manual device comprises a second stop opposite the first stop relative to the end piece, the end piece cooperating with the second stop in the rest position.

Such a preload makes it possible to limit the stroke necessary to bring the tip into the application position from the rest position, thanks to which the ergonomics are improved and the user more easily brings the manual device into a position favorable to the application. application. Furthermore, such a pre-stress gives the user a certain feeling which improves the perceived quality of the manual device, by preventing the tip from floating in the rest position. For example, the prestress is between 0.1 N (Newton) and 1.0 N. Such prestress values are lower than the force necessary to deposit the coating on a support (ie to unwind the tape and transfer the coating from the tape to a support), by which it is ensured that the user will have to deform the rod in bending, and therefore adopt a suitable application position, before being able to apply the coating.

In some embodiments, the bending stiffness of the rod is between 0.13 N / mm (Newton per millimeter) and 1.35 N / mm while the application pressure required to apply the coating to the support is between 0.10 MPa (MegaPascal) and 1.02 MPa.

Note that the application pressure required to deposit the coating on the support corresponds to the pressure that must be applied to drive the tape and transfer the coating from the tape to the support.

The application pressure P exerted on the tape is directly proportional to the flexural rigidity K (expressed in millimeters) of the rod and to the displacement D of the application portion, namely P = D x K. It is recalled that 1 MPa = 1 N / mm ² (Newton per square millimeter).

The combination of these ranges of values for the bending stiffness of the rod and for the application pressure necessary to deposit the coating makes it possible to ensure satisfactory application conditions while providing the user with a certain comfort of use. .

In certain embodiments, the displacement D of the application portion corresponding to the clearance and the flexural rigidity K of the rod are such that their product is less than the application pressure necessary to deposit the coating of the tape on the support. , let D x K <P.

In certain embodiments, the stopper (or first stopper) cooperates in abutment with the end piece in the vicinity of the connection between the rod and the application part.

By “vicinity of the connection between the rod and the application part” is meant the zone which extends over 30% of the length of the rod in the longitudinal direction around the connection between the rod and the application part.

By arranging the stop in this way, it is ensured to stress the rod during the passage from the rest position to the application position, while remaining within its elastic range, whereby any stress which would tend to deteriorate the elasticity is avoided. rod, for example by plasticization. This ensures the reliability of the manual device and therefore the durability of the reproduction of the favorable conditions of application.

In certain embodiments, the casing has an intermediate portion, said intermediate portion having a wall intended to be opposite the support during application, said wall having a curved shape, the application portion being arranged in the rest position. at least partly outside the curve resulting from the geometric extension of the curved shape of the wall, and inside said curve in the application position.

In the case where the manual device is of the rechargeable type and the applicator tip is mounted on the casing of an interchangeable cassette, it will be understood that the intermediate portion belongs to the outer casing of the manual device and not to the casing of the cassette.

It is understood that the intermediate portion is a portion which is adjacent to a distal end portion of the casing of the manual device, the distal end portion from which the tip protrudes.

It is also understood that the curved shape of the wall of the intermediate portion facing the support during application is oriented such that the center of curvature is disposed on the side of the user's hand, that is to say - say the opposite of the support compared to the manual device.

Such a curved shape naturally encourages the user to rotate the manual device relative to the support so as to bring it into a favorable position for the deposition of the coating.

Furthermore, the fact that the tip is placed outside the curve resulting from the geometric extension of the curved shape of the wall in the rest position, generates discomfort which forces the user to press on the application portion. of the end piece, whereby the end piece is moved into its application position while being subjected to a certain pressure, which favors the deposition of the coating on the support and creates satisfactory application conditions.

In certain embodiments, the applicator tip has an application stop while the housing has an intermediate portion and a distal end portion separated by a junction, the angle between the line passing through the application stop and the junction between the intermediate portion and the distal end portion of the housing, and the line passing through the application stopper and the attachment portion is greater than 40 ° (degrees of angle) in the application position .

It will be understood that the casing of the manual device has a geometric discontinuity, for example a line or a point of inflection between the intermediate portion and the distal end portion, this discontinuity forming the junction between these two portions.

The reference point of the attachment portion through which said straight line passes is for example the middle of the segment resulting from the intersection between the straight line resulting from the neutral fiber of the rod and the general external shape of the attachment portion in the connection zone between the rod and the attachment portion.

Such an angle between the two straight lines passing respectively through the application stop and the junction and through the application stop and the attachment portion, forces the user to position the applicator tip relative to the support in a position favorable to the deposition of the coating on the support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• la figure 1 représente un dispositif manuel vu en perspective,
• la figure 2 représente le dispositif manuel de la figure 1, vu en éclaté,
• la figure 3 représente un détail de l'embout assemblé à une coque du carter,
• la figure 4A représente la forme de l'embout lorsqu'il n'est soumis à aucune contrainte, et lorsqu'il est soumis à une contrainte en flexion,
• la figure 4B représente l'embout vu selon la flèche B de la figure 2
• la figure 5A représente la position relative du dispositif manuel par rapport à un support lors de l'approche du support, et
• la figure 5B représente la position relative du dispositif manuel par rapport au support pendant l'application sur le support.

The invention and its advantages will be better understood on reading the detailed description given below of various embodiments of the invention given by way of non-limiting examples. This description refers to the pages of appended figures, on which:

• the figure 1 represents a manual device seen in perspective,
• the figure 2 represents the manual device of the figure 1 , exploded view,
• the figure 3 shows a detail of the end piece assembled to a casing shell,
• the figure 4A represents the shape of the tip when it is not subjected to any stress, and when it is subjected to a bending stress,
• the figure 4B represents the end piece seen along arrow B of the figure 2
• the figure 5A represents the relative position of the manual device with respect to a support when approaching the support, and
• the figure 5B represents the relative position of the manual device with respect to the support during application to the support.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES OF IMPLEMENTATION

An embodiment of the manual device for applying tape of a coating on a support according to the invention is described with reference to figures 1 to 5B .

The figure 1 shows a manual device 10 for applying a coating by tape to a support, seen in perspective. The manual device 10 comprises a casing 12, in this example an outer casing 12, an applicator tip 14 protruding from said housing 12 and a tape 16, said tape 16 comprising a coating (not shown) configured to be transferred onto a support. In this example, the housing 12 forms a gripping handle for handling and using the manual device 10.

The housing 12 has a substantially crescent moon shape having a first distal end 12a from which the tip 14 projects and a second distal end 12b opposite the first distal end 12a. In use, the concavity of the crescent moon shape is oriented away from the support while, therefore, the convexity is disposed opposite the support. From the second end 12b towards the first end 12a, inside the concavity of the crescent moon shape, the casing 12 has a bulge (or convexity) 12c followed by a recess (or concavity) 12d then by a 12th support portion. The support portion 12e is configured so that the user wedges his thumb when using the manual device 10. In general, the manual device 10 has, on the side opposite the support during use, a portion of the support. 'support to hold the user's thumb during use.

As can be seen on the figures 5A and 5B , the potion of the housing 12 having the distal end 12a forms the distal end portion 12aa. The housing 12 also has an intermediate portion 12f adjacent to the distal end portion 12aa and separated from the distal end portion 12aa by a geometric discontinuity 12g. The face 12ff of the intermediate portion 12f facing the support S during application has a curved shape, in this example in the form of an arc of a circle, the radius of which is between 15 mm and 25 mm, the center of curvature being of course disposed on the side. side opposite the support S from the housing 12.

The casing 12 comprises in this example two half-casings 12I and 12II housing coils 18a and 18b respectively for unwinding and recovering the tape 16, and an associated mechanism 20. In this example, the mechanism 20 is a mechanism with wheels coupled in rotation by a belt, but of course any other type of mechanism can be envisaged. Note that the tape 16 unwinds from the spool 18a so that the coating (not shown) is oriented outwardly, extends longitudinally around the end piece 14 in wrapping a rod 14c of the nozzle 14 (described below) so as to bypass an application portion 14b of the nozzle 14 (described below), and wraps around the recovery coil 18b . On the figure 2 , the arrows on the tape 16 indicate its direction of unwinding.

The housing 12 also partially accommodates the nozzle 14. More particularly, the nozzle 14 extends in a longitudinal direction X and in a lateral direction Y, and comprises an attachment portion 14a, an application portion 14b and a rod 14c connecting the attachment portion 14a to the application portion 14b. The attachment portion 14a is configured to assemble the nozzle 14 to the housing 12. The rod 14c extending longitudinally between the attachment portion 14a and the application portion 14b The application portion 14b is configured to apply the coating of the tape 16 on a support. In this example, the attachment portion 14a and the rod 14c are integrally housed in the casing 12 while the application portion 14b extends partly outside the casing 12. The application portion 14b comprises a application stop 14ba extending in the lateral direction Y, this application stop 14ba being configured to cooperate in abutment with the face of the tape opposite to the face bearing the coating. In this example, the application stop 14ba is distinct from the distal end of the end piece 14. Of course, according to a variant, the distal end of the end piece and the application stop are the same.

The rod 14c is an elastically deformable and iso-stressed rod. Thus, subsequently, and unless otherwise indicated, regardless of the state of bending of the rod 14c, the longitudinal direction X of the end piece 14 is the direction which passes through a first reference point of the attachment portion 14a and by a second reference point of the application portion 14b. For example, the first reference point is stationary during the bending of the rod 14c. In this example, the first reference point is the midpoint C of the segment [AB] resulting from the intersection between the straight line G coming from the neutral fiber F of the rod 14c when the rod 14c is not bent (position shown in continuous lines on the figure 4A ) and the general outer shape of the attachment portion 14a in the connection zone between the rod 14c and the attachment portion 14a (see figure 4B ). The second point of reference is the point of intersection E between the line G coming from the neutral fiber F of the rod 14c when the rod 14c is not flexed, and the distal end part 15 of the application portion 14b.

In this example, as can be seen on the figures 4A and 4B , the rod 14c has a strictly decreasing transverse section from the attachment portion 14a towards the application portion 14b. In this example, the cross section has an elliptical shape.

Thanks to the elasticity of the rod 14c, the application portion 14b is movable, within the housing 12, between a rest position (see figure 5A ) and an application position (see figure 5B ). The shape of the end piece 14 in the rest position is shown in figure 3 while the shape of the nozzle 14 in the application position is shown in broken lines on the figure 4A .

The attachment portion 14a comprises a bar 14aa extending in the lateral direction Y and having a transverse section of oblong shape. The ends 14aa1 and 14aa2 of this bar 14aa are respectively fitted into a housing 121a and 1211a of the half-housings 12I and 12II and cooperate by formally complementary with the walls of these housings. Thus, by virtue of this oblong shape, the bar 14aa is locked in rotation around the lateral direction Y. In this example, the end portions of the bar 14aa are equipped with latching reliefs 14ab for snap-fastening the bar 14aa. at each half-casing 12I and 12II, reliefs not shown of complementary shape being formed in the walls delimiting the housings 12Ia and 12IIa. Furthermore, two flanges 14ac and 14ad form shoulders to limit the fitting in the lateral direction Y of each end 14aa1 and 14aa2 respectively in the housing 121a and 12IIa. In addition, the flange 14ad has a cutout cooperating by complementarity of shape with a projection 12IIa1 extending in the lateral direction Y from the periphery of the housing 12IIa, thanks to which the flange 14ad and the projection 12IIa1 form a keying system facilitating the correct fitting of the end piece 14 within the housing 12.

Each half-casing 12I and 12II has a first stop 12Ib, 12IIb and a second stop 12Ic, 12IIc opposite the first stop. The end piece 14 is disposed between the first stops 12Ib, 12IIb and the second stops 12Ic, 12IIc.

The following description refers to the figure 3 showing in more detail the arrangement of the end piece 14 within the half-casing 12II, but of course this description also applies to the half-casing 12I, the stops 12Ib and 12Ic being arranged symmetrically to the stops 12IIb and 12IIc with respect to the median plane extending in the longitudinal direction X and perpendicular to the lateral direction Y of the application portion 14b. The first stop 12IIb is configured to limit the movement of the application portion 14b in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and to the lateral direction Y during the passage of the application portion 14b from the rest position to the position. application. The first stop 12IIb and the applicator tip 14, and more particularly in this example the application portion 14b, are spaced by a clearance J in the rest position. In this example, the first stops 12IIb and 12Ib cooperate in abutment with the end piece 14, and more particularly with the application part 14b, in the vicinity of the connection between the rod 14c and the application part 14b. More particularly, in this example the first stops 12IIb and 12Ib cooperate in abutment with the part of the application portion 14b adjacent to the rod 14c. The second stop 12IIc cooperates in abutment with the application portion 14b in the rest position (position shown in figure 3 ), whereby the rod 14c is prestressed in bending in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and to the lateral direction Y in the rest position.

The figure 4A represents in continuous lines the end piece 14 when it is not subjected to any stress while it represents in broken lines the end piece 14 when the application portion 14b is in the application position, the rod 14c then being bent . Thus, in the rest position shown in figure 3 , the end piece 14 has an intermediate configuration between the two extreme configurations shown on the figure 4A .

In this example, the bending stiffness of the rod 14c is 0.88 N / mm while the second stops 12Ic and 12IIc impose a displacement of 0.74 mm. Consequently, the prestress undergone by the rod 14c is 0.88 N / mm x 0.74 mm = 0.65 N.

Furthermore, the clearance J between the application portion 14b and the first stops 12Ib and 12IIb in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal and lateral direction is 1.8 mm, thanks to which, the force necessary to bring the application portion into the application position (ie resting against the first stops 12Ib and 12IIb, that is to say to fill the clearance J) is 1.6 N. The force necessary to drive the mechanism 20 and unwind the tape and to peel the coating from the tape 16 in order to transfer it to a support (ie the force to deposit the coating on a support) is 0.7 N. In this example, the force necessary to bring the application portion 14b into the application position is greater than the force necessary to deposit the coating on a support. Of course, according to a variant, the force necessary to bring the application portion into the application position is less than the force necessary to deposit the coating on a support, whereby it is ensured that it is impossible for user to deposit the coating as long as the application portion is not in the application position.

Furthermore, the tape 16 having a width of 5.0 mm, and considering that the contact between the tape 16 and the support corresponds to an arc of 0.2 mm on the surface of the application edge 14ba whose radius of curvature is 0.15 mm, the contact area between the tape 16 and the backing is 1.0 mm ² , whereby the application pressure required to apply the tape to the backing is 0.7 N / 1.0 mm ² = 0.7 Mpa.

As shown in the figure 5A , in the rest position the application portion 14b is partly outside the curve CC resulting from the geometric extension of the curved shape of the wall 12ff of the intermediate part 12f of the casing 12 intended to be facing the support during of the application. More particularly, in this example, the application portion comprises lower cheeks 14bb and upper cheeks 14bc for guiding the tape 16, the lower cheeks 14bb being partly outside the curve CC in the rest position. Such a configuration generates some inconvenience for the user who cannot contact the application stop 14ba if the inclination of the manual device with respect to the support S is not sufficient. In other words, thanks to this configuration, the contact between the support S and the application stopper 14ba is only possible if the angle α between the longitudinal direction X and the support S is greater than or equal to one value predetermined. In this example, the predetermined value of the angle α is equal to 40 °.

As shown in the figure 5B , the application portion 14b is disposed inside the circle CC in the application position. Furthermore, in the application position the angle β between the straight line H passing through the application stop 14ba and the junction 12g between the intermediate portion 12ff and the distal end portion 12aa of the housing 12, and the longitudinal direction X is equal to 29 °. Thanks to this configuration, it is ensured that the angle α is greater than or equal to the angle β, thanks to which the user adopts an inclined position with respect to the support S which is favorable to a correct deposition of the coating carried by the ribbon 16 on the support S. On the figure 5B the end piece 14 is shown with the lower cheeks 14bb in contact with the support S, but this configuration corresponds to the case where the angle α is at its minimum value in the application position. Of course, during the application it is possible, and even preferable, to detach the lower cheeks 14bb from the support S, and consequently to increase the value of the angle α, which generates further application conditions. more favorable.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, it is evident that modifications and changes can be made to these examples without departing from the general scope of the invention as defined by the claims. In particular, individual characteristics of the different illustrated / mentioned embodiments can be combined in additional embodiments. Therefore, the description and the drawings should be taken in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Claims (8)

1. Hand held device (10) for applying, by tape (16), a coating to a substrate, comprising an applicator tip (14) joined to a housing (12) and projecting from said housing (12), the applicator tip (14) extending in a longitudinal direction (X) and a lateral direction (Y), the applicator tip comprising an attachment portion (14a) for joining said tip to the housing (12), an application portion (14b) for applying the coating to the substrate, and a rod (14c) extending in the longitudinal direction (X) between the attachment portion (14a) and the application portion (14b), the rod (14c) being elastically deformable such that the application portion (14b) is movable between a rest position and an application position, characterized in that the rod (14c) is an isostress rod.
2. Hand held device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the rod (14c) has a strictly decreasing cross section in the longitudinal direction (X) from the attachment portion (14a) toward the application portion (14b).
3. Hand held device (10) according to either claim 1 or claim 2, comprising an abutment (12Ib, 12IIb) configured to limit the travel of the application portion (14b) in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X) and to the lateral direction (Y) when passing from the rest position to the application position.
4. Hand held device (10) according to claim 3, wherein the gap (J) between the abutment (12Ib, 12IIb) and the applicator tip (14) in the rest position is greater than or equal to 1.0 mm.
5. Hand held device (10) according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rod (14c) is prestressed in a bending manner in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X) and to the lateral direction (Y) in the rest position.
6. Hand held device (10) according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the bending stiffness of the rod (14c) is between 0.13 N/mm and 1.35 N/mm, while the application pressure required to deposit the coating of the tape (16) on the substrate is between 0.10 MPa and 1.02 MPa.
7. Hand held device (10) according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the housing (12) has an intermediate portion (12f), said intermediate portion (12f) having a wall (12ff) intended to face the substrate during application, said wall (12ff) having a curved shape, the application portion (14b) being arranged in the rest position at least partly outside the curve (CC) resulting from the geometric extension of the curved shape of the wall (12ff), and inside said curve (CC) in the application position.
8. Hand held device (10) according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the applicator tip (14) has an application edge (14ba), while the housing (12) has an intermediate portion (12f) and a distal end portion (12aa) separated by a junction (12g), the angle (β) between the straight line (H) passing through the application edge (14ba) and the junction (12g) between the intermediate portion (12f) and the distal end portion (12aa) of the housing (12), and the longitudinal direction (X) is greater than 40° in the application position.

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