GB2196317A - Method and apparatus for securing strips to sheet material - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides apparatus for, and a method of, applying lead alloy strip 5, Fig. 1, initially provided with a backing tape 6, to a pane of window glass 35, Fig. 4. The apparatus may be held manually by a handle 1, or a modified form thereof 49 may be slideably mounted on a batten 38 that can be secured in a plurality of positions in register with a template behind the pane of glass 35 at one side of an A-frame 34. A reel 20 of the strip 5 is rotatably arranged on a mounting plate 3 of the apparatus and the strip is passed between rollers 7 and 8 of a roller assembly 4 where the backing tape 6 is parted from the strip 5 and is wound onto a re-wind drum 9. The adhesive strip 5 is entered between rollers 10 and 11, the roller 10 being employable to press the adhesive strip 5 against the window glass 35. A plurality of different roller assemblies 4 are provided of which one assembly 4 may be chosen and arranged on the mounting plate 3 to match different widths of the strip 5 that are supplied on corresponding reels 20. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Methods and apparatus for securing strips to sheet material This invention relates to methods and apparatus for securing strips to sheet material and is primarily concerned with the production of socalled "leaded lights". Leaded light windows are traditionally constructed from a number of separate pieces of glass, usually of square or rhombic (diamond) shape, the initially separate pieces being connected together, and to a surrounding frame, to form a window pane by lead which surrounds and encapsulates their edges. The production of leaded light windows in this manner is very labour intensive, time consuming and thus expensive and consequently "new" windows are only produced very rarely indeed in this way and its use is confined almost exclusively to the repair and maintainence of existing leaded light windows.

Leaded light windows are attractive in appearance and this appearance is simulated in modern installations by simply sticking strips of lead, or lead alloy, to both sides of a single pane of window glass in whatever pattern may be desired. The lead or lead alloy strip for this purpose is supplied from commercial sources in reels with the strip in various widths. That side of each strip which will face outwardly or inwardly of the window away from the glass has a convex profile whilst its flat opposite side carries a layer of a known adhesive material which, in turn, has its own adhesive surface protected by a-backing tape formed from waxed paper. The strip may be applied to the glass of existing windows, in situ, or, more often, is applied to the window glass by the window manufacturers in their own premises before the windows are installed in a building.The work is done by hand and the current way of doing it is by marking out the required pattern on the glass or following a paper or like template located under the glass and visible therethrough. The required number of lead or lead alloy strips are cut to length, the backing tape is pealed off, and the readily bendable- metal strip is applied to the glass by hand following the prescribed pattern. It is finally rubbed down to ensure adhesion, particular attention being paid to joint locations in the pattern. This currently employed method of producing leaded light window panes simulating traditionally produced leaded lights is itself somewhat slow and operatives need to acquire a significant degree of skill, by practice and experience, before they can produce a satisfactory result at an anywhere near viable speed.

The present invention seeks to provide methods and apparatus for securing strips to sheet material, the methods and apparatus being particularly suitable for the production of leaded light panes of glass simulating traditionally constructed panes, the primary object of the invention being to enable high quality panes of this kind to be made quickly, easily, and therefore relatively inexpensively, by operatives who do not need to have any high degree of skill in such work.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for the application of adhesive strip to sheet material, the apparatus comprising means rotatably to support a reel of the adhesive strip and means to urge the strip into contact with the sheet material whilst moving said apparatus relative to the sheet material to enable the strip to be progessively applied thereto whilst being unwound from said reel.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of applying adhesive strip to sheet material, the method comprising the steps of rotatably supporting a reel of the adhesive strip whilst urging the latter into contact with the sheet material and maintaining such contact whilst moving the point of application of pressure upon the sheet material whereby the strip is progressively applied to that sheet material whilst being unwound from said reel.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of apparatus in accordance with one aspect of the invention, the drawing illustrating the employment of the apparatus in accordance with another aspect of the invention; Figure 2 is a front view of a roller assembly of the apparatus of Figure 1,; Figure 3 is a view as seen in the direction indicated by an arrow Ill in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a view as seen in the direction indicated by an arrow IV in Figure 2; Figure 5 substantially corresponds to Figure 2 but illustrates an alternative position of the roller assembly which facilitates the initial correct guiding of a length of strip therethrough;; Figure 6 is a sectional side view of a rewind drum of the apparatus of Figure 1 and of the mounting upon which it is rotatably arranged; Figure 7 is a front view of a frame upon which glass to be used in a method in accordance with the invention can be disposed to have a pattern marked thereon to serve as a guide for the subsequent attachment of lead or lead alloy strips to the glass; Figure 8 is a side view of the frame of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a front view of a frame which is generally similar to that of Figures 7 and 8 but incorporating a modified form of the apparatus of Figures 1 to 6; Figure 10 is a side view corresponding to Figure 9; Figure 11 is an enlarged scale front view of the modified apparatus carried by the frame of Figures 9 and 10;; Figure 12 is a perspective view of a slide assembly by which the modified apparatus of Figures 9 to 11 is movably connected to the frame in the same Figures: and Figure 13 is a part-sectional side view corresponding to Figure 12 but also showing the modified apparatus in outline and the frame batten upon which the assembly is slidably movable.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and initially to the first six figures thereof, the apparatus that is shown in full in Figure 1 is a hand applicator intended for use in securing commercially available lead or lead alloy strip to panes of window glass in desired patterns to produce a finished result simulating traditionally formed leaded light window panes.

The apparatus comprises a handle 1 whose particular form is by no means critical, the handle 1 that can be seen in Figure 1 of the drawings being merely one example of a number of different possible forms. The upper end of the handle 1 is secured to a perpendicularly bent-over bracket 2 at the foot of a flat mounting plate 3 that is approximately, but by no means exactly, triangular in shape. A roller assembly 4 is releasably secured to the mounting plate 3 at one upper corner of the latter and it will become apparent below that said roller assembly 4 is one of a number of basically similar assemblies, the correct one being chosen to match the particular width of lead or lead alloy strip that is to be applied.

The chosen assembly 4 is secured to the mounting plate 3 by screws which are not visible in the drawings.

Figure 5 of the drawings shows the roller assembly 4 in a position which facilitates the initial threading therethrough of a length of lead or lead alloy strip 5 which is indicated by a regularly broken line in Figure 5 and the lower surface of which, in that Figure, bears the previously mentioned layer of adhesive that is not, of course, itself visible in the drawings. Figure 5 also indicates, by an irregularly broken line, the previously mentioned waxed paper backing tape 6 that is peeled from the adhesive surface of the strip 5 immediately before the application of the latter to the glass.The initially united strip 5 and backing tape 6 are passed between a first upper plain roller 7 and a first lower flanged roller 8, the flanges 8A (Figure 3) serving to ensure that the initially united strip 5 and backing tape 6 remain accurately in position between the rollers 7 and 8 and do not deflect laterally therefrom, the axial width of the roller 7 and that of the roller 8, between its flanges 8A, exactly matching the width of the particular strip 5 that is to be applied.

The backing tape 6 is peeled from the lower adhesive surface of the strip 5 after having passed between the rollers 7 and 8 and the backing (tape 6 is collected on a rewind drum 9 as will be described below. The strip 5, with its lower adhesive surface exposed, passes between a second upper profiled roller 10 and a second lower plain but flanged roller 11. The second lower roller 11 is rotatably mounted on an axle pin 12 carried by an arm 13 that is angularly displaceable about an axle pin 14 secured to a back plate 15 of the roller assembly 4 to serve also as the rotary mounting of the first lower flanged roller 8. Thus, the arm 13 can be turned upwardly and downwardly about the axis defined by the pin 14, bearing with it the axle pin 12 and the second lower roller 11 that is rotatably mounted on the latter.Once the backing tape 6 has been peeled from the strip 5 and passed downwardly through the space between the rollers 8 and 11, the arm 13 can be turned upwardly in a clockwise direction as seen in Figure 5 of the drawings to bring it to a position in which the strip 5 passes contactingly between the second rollers 10 and 11.

This bodily position is maintained by stretching a rubber or other resilient band 16 between grooves (one of which is visible in Figure 1) formed towards the outer end of the axle pin 12 and the outer end of another axle pin 17 upon which the second upper roller 10 is rotatably mounted, the root end of this axle pin 17 being directly secured to the back plate 15 of the roller assembly 4.

As can be seen best in Figure 4 of the drawings, the second upper roller 10 has a concave strip-engaging surface, the concave curvature matching the convex curvature of that surface of the strip 5 which will face outwardly away from the glass when the leaded light pane is completed. Like the first lower roller 8, the second lower roller 11 has a plain surface to match the flat adhesivecarrying lower surface of the strip 5 and carries opposite flanges 11 A that are spaced apart from one another axially by exactly the width of the particular strip 5 that is to be applied. The first upper roller 7 is rotatable about an axle pin 18 whose root end is directly secured to the back plate 15 of the roller assembly 4 in the same manner as the axle pins 14 and 17, only the axle pin 12 being secured to the arm 13 rather than directly to the back plate 15.

Figures 1 and 6 of the drawings illustrate the backing tape re-wind drum 9 and, in Figure 1 alone, a reel holder 19 and a reel 20, it being pointed out that the reel 20 is a commercially obtained item carrying approximately 10 meters of the lead or lead alloy strip 5 having adhesive on its flat surface and the layer of adhesive being protected by the backing tape 6. A single reel 20 will usually carry enough material to furnish at least one window pane with all the required strip 5 to complete a pattern but it will be appreciated that a fresh full reel 20 frequently has to be substituted for an emptied reel. The reel holder 19 is in the form of a pulley and is secured to a mounting spigot 21, the parts 19 and 21 being rotatable together around a shaft that is fastened to the mounting plate 3 of the apparatus by a screw 23 and a washer 22 located at the outer end of the spigot 21.Each reel 20 is formed from synthetic plastics material and has a slot (not visible) extending radially from the central opening which surrounds the spigot 21 when the reel is mounted thereon.

8aid slot engages a drive pin 24 that is fixed to the reel holder or pulley 19 so that said reel 20 must revolve around the axis of the spigot 21 with the reel holder or pulley 19.

Such rotation is caused by the initially united strip 5 and tape 6 being progressively unwound from the reel 20.

It will be remembered that the apparatus can accommodate several different widths of strip 5, the different widths naturally being supplied upon reels 20 of matching widths.

Grooves 25 are formed in the outer surface of the mounting spigot 21 to receive a spring clip (not shown) to unite the pulley-shaped reel holder 19 with reels 20 of different widths. The apparatus is shown in Figure 1 accommodating a reel 20 of relatively narrow width and it will also be remembered that a range of different roller assemblies 4 is provided, each different assembly 4 exhibiting rollers that will substantially exactly match any standard width of strip 5 carried by any particular reel 20.

It is emphasised that, in Figure 1 of the drawings, only the outer circumference of the phantom-indicated reel 20 is shown and that said reel 20 is in front of the pulley-shaped reel holder 19 from the vantage point of a viewer of Figure 1. The pulley groove in the periphery of the reel holder 19 is embraced by a rubber or other flexible drive belt 26 and this belt 26 also embraces a much smaller diameter pulley groove 27 formed integrally with the re-wind drum 9 (see Figure 6). The drum 9 is hollow and is rotatable relative to the mounting plate 3 of the apparatus around a shaft 28 fastened to said mounting plate 3 by a screw 29. However, a friction pad 30 of annular form is recessed into the surface of the drum 9 which abuts against the plate 3 in such a position that it surrounds the root end of the shaft 28.An outer end region of the shaft 28 is screw-threaded and receives a knurled knob 31 by way of a matchingly screw-threaded bore formed axially through that knob 31. A helical compression spring 32 surrounds the shaft 28 and bears between the inner end of the knob 31 and the base of the hollow interior of the drum 9. The knob 31 can be screwed onto the shaft 28, against the action of the spring 32, to a greater or lesser extent which increases or decreases the resistance to rotation of the drum 9 around the axis of the shaft 28 because of the increased or decreased frictional pressure by which the pad 30 bears against the surface of the mounting plate 3 in response to the imposed degree of compression of the spring 32.

The outer surface of the re-wind drum 9 has a spring clip 33 fastened to it by screws or rivets and this spring clip is intended to receive and hold the leading end of the backing tape 6 of the adhesive layer on the lead or lead alloy strip 5 which tape 6 is passed downwardly through the space between the lower rollers 8 and 11 of the roller assembly 4.

When the hand applicator that has been described is to be used, a fresh full reel 20 of lead or lead alloy strip 5, with its adhesive backing tape 6, is mounted on the spigot 21 in front, as seen in Figure 1 of the drawings, of the reel holder 19 in such a position that the radial slot (not shown) in the reel 20 makes engagement with the drive pin 24 to ensure that the reel holder 19 and reel 20 will essentially revolve together and at the same speed around the axis of the spigot 21. The mounting plate 3 will carry whichever roller assembly 4 has rollers that match the width and profile of the strip 5 that is to be applied from the reel 20 which carries that strip, the spring clip (not shown) having been entered in an appropriate groove 25 in the spigot 21 to retain said reel 20 against the front surface of the reel holder 19.The rubber or other resilient band 16, which is conveniently in the form of an "0" ring, is temporarily removed from the grooves in the axle pins 12 and 17 which allows the arm 13 carrying the second lower roller 12 to be tilted downwardly about the axle pin 14 to the position shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. The leading end of the strip 5 is passed from the reel 20 between the first upper and lower rollers 7 and 8 and, at this location, the backing tape 6 is peeled from the adhesive layer on the lower surface of the strip 5 and is directed downwardly through the gap between the lower rollers 8 and 11 to have its leading end engaged beneath the spring clip 33 on the outer surface of the re-wind drum 9.The lead or lead alloy strip 5 itself which is flexible, but substantially non-resilient, is directed forwardly to the left as seen in Figures 1 and 5 of the drawings and is turned upwardly around the matchingly profiled surface of the second upper roller 10 substantially as shown in Figure 1. At this stage, the arm 13 carrying the roller 11 is turned back upwardly in a clockwise direction about the axle pin 14 and the rubber or other resilient band 16 is re-engaged around the grooves towards the outer ends of the two axle pins 12 and 17 thus resiliently sandwich- ing the strip 5, without its backing tape 6, between the second upper and lower rollers 10 and 11.

The pane of glass to which the lead or lead alloy strip 5 is to be applied will already have been marked with the required pattern in a conventional manner or using the frame which will be described below with reference to Fig ures 7 and 8 of the drawings. A batten could be placed against the glass as an assisting alternative to merely following this marked pattern by eye. Holding the complete appara tus which is shown in Figure 1 of the draw ings in one hand, the second upper profiled roller 10 is placed alongside the batten, or directly onto the marked pattern, and the lead or lead alloy strip 5 is pressed onto the glass running the roller 10 over the glass under hand pressure. As the lead or lead alloy strip 5 is unwound from the reel 20, the backing tape 6 is progressively peeled from the strip 5 and wound onto the drum 9.This keeps the backing tape 6 well clear of the strip-applying area.

The tensioning mechanism in the re-wind drum 9 which includes the knob 31, the spring 32 and the friction pad 30, is neces sary because the peripheral speed of rotation of the reel 20 will progressively change as continued rotation thereof in the direction indicated by an arrow in Figure 1 unwinds the strip 5~and reduces the effective diameter of the reel. There will be a tendency for the drum 9, which is driven from the reel holder 19 by the belt 26, to over-run but the frictional resistance to its rotation that is given by the friction pad 30 allows slippage to take place and prevents such over-running. In addition to the effective diameter of the reel 20 of strip 5 becoming progressively smaller, the effective diameter of the drum 9 becomes larger as it collects more of the unwound backing tape 6.A correct degree of compression of the spring 32 is necessary to ensure that the tape 6 is not so slack that it will remain stuck to the strip 5 and be pulled between the rollers 10 and 11 instead of passing downwardly (as sden in Figure 1) through the gap between the lower rollers 8 and 11 towards the drum 9. On the other hand, if the resistance to rotation of the drum 9 is too great, the backing tape 6 will tend to break and again remain struck to the strip 5 to pass between the rollers 10 and 11 instead of downardly through the gap between the rollers 8 and 11 towards the drum 9. It is necessary for the speeds of rotation of the reel 20 and the rewind drum 9 to remain substantially synchronised during dperation and the slippage of the drive to the drum 9 which is brought about in the manner just described achieves this.The correct extent of tightening of the knob 31 is not excessively critical and an operator will quickly master this aspect of the operation after only a very little practice. When a reel 20 of lead or lead alloy strip- 5 is emptied, its adhesive backing tape 6, which will have been collected on the re-wind drum 9, is released from the spring clip 33 and is thrown away.

When, during the application of lead or lead alloy strip 5, the end of a straight run of the pattern on the glass is reached, the lead or lead alloy strip 5 is merely cut off by hand, preferably at a location approximately 25 mms away from the second upper profiled roller 10.

Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings illustrate a frame or table 34 which can most advantage ously, but not essentially, be employed in indicating a pattern on window glass which is to have lead or lead alloy strip 5 fastened to it in that pattern by the use of the hand applicator which has been described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings or without the use of that apparatus. It is current practice either to place a paper template under the glass and to stick the lead or lead alloy strip to the glass judging its correct position of application by eye or, alternatively, to make up a slotted wooden former in the required pattern, applying the lead or lead alloy strip along the slots in the wooden former.

Referring now to Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings, a pane of glass 35 to which lead or lead alloy strip 5 is to be applied to simulate a leaded light window is inclined on the frame 34 at an angle of approximately 20 to the vertical, said frame 34 being an "A' frame as seen in side elevation (Figure 8). The lower edge of the pane 35 bears against a support rail 36 and its rear surface lies against a board 37 which very conveniently, but not absolutely essentially, is a white-faced synthetic plastics laminate board. This face of the board can be marked out with a number of standard patterns, using contrasting colours for the various patterns. Alternatively, a paper template could be laid on the surface of the board 37 beneath the pane of glass 35.A batten 38 is connected to upper and lower roller assemblies 39 and 40, a simple pivot 42 being employed to connect the lower end of the batten 38 to the lower roller assembly 40 whereas a pivotally mounted bracket 41 incorporating a clamp is provided on the upper roller assembly 39 through which bracket an upper end region of the batten 38 is slidably entered. The roller assemblies 39 and 40 are slidable lengthwise along corresponding upper and lower horizontai bars 43 and 44 and the batten 38 can accordingly be moved to, and clamped in, any chosen one of a number of different positions, and particularly different inclinations.

The pivotally mounted bracket 41 which incorporates a clamp can be replaced by a simple slide, equivalant to the slidable lower roller assembly 40, incorporating a clamping screw whose shank extends through a slot formed axially along the batten 38 in an end region thereof remote from the pivot 42. The slot should be of sufficient length to co-operate with the clamping screw in any possible angular position of the batten 38 about the pivot 42. It is only necessary to tighten this clamping screw to maintain any angular setting of the batten 38 for as long as may be necessary.

In the use of the frame 34, the batten 38 is turned about the simple pivot 42 to the required angle and the clamp incorporated in the bracket 41, or the alternative clamping screw, is tightened to maintain that angle as long as may be required. With the pane of glass 35 lying over the required pattern carried by the board 37, the batten 38 is brought into register with one straight line of that pattern. Suction pads (not shown) carried by the batten 38 are actuated to keep that -batten 38 in the required position relative to the board 37 and the lead or lead alloy strip 5 can then be applied to the pane 35 using the batten 38 as a guide, such application preferably, but not essentially, being effected using the apparatus previously described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings.After the first length of strip 5 has been adhesively secured to the glass, the suction pads are released and the batten 38 is moved to the next position required by the pattern, the suction pads then being re-actuated to secure the batten 38 temporarily in that fresh position. The next length of strip 5 is then adhesively secured to the pane 35 and this is repeated until the required pattern is complete. As an example, when producing a rhombic/diamond pattern, the batten 38 will be inclined at a predetermined angle in one direction for all of the lengths of strip 5 extending one way and will be oppositely inclined at the same angle for all the lengths of strip 5 that are to complete the pattern by extending the other way.

The lower bar 44 on the frame 34 can be moved upwardly and downwardly and locked at required levels depending upon the size of pane of glass 35 which is to be provided with a pattern of the strip 5. If this were not possible, it would be difficult to work on small panes of glass at the bottom of the board 37, the work being much easier if it is located at a comfortable height. Pulleys 45 and co-operating wires or other flexible but inextensible members 46 are provided for this purpose whilst retaining a parallel relationship. Since the frame 34 is basically an "A" frame, it will be realised that the board 37, batten 38 and co-operating parts that can been seen at the left thereof in Figure 8 of the drawings, could, if desired, be duplicated at the right thereof in the same figure to enable the same frame 34 to be used simultaneously for two different operations.

Although the methods and apparatus that have been described are intended primarily for use in producing leaded light window panes simulating traditional leaded light windows, it will be appreciated that the methods and apparatus that have been described could equally well be employed in applying strips to sheet materials of other kinds. The strips need not necessarily be formed from lead or lead alloy and the sheet materials need not necessarily be glass or be strictly planar, the apparatus of Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings being equally capable of applying self-adhesive or other strips to curved surfaces.

Reference will now be made to Figures 9 to 13 inclusive of the drawings which Figures illustrate a frame that is very similar to the frame of Figures 7 and 8 but which frame incorporates an apparatus similar to that which has been described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings with some modifications. Accordingly, many of the references that are employed in Figures 9 to 13 inclusive are the same as references already used in Figures 1 to 8 of the drawings, such repeated references indicating parts that are identical, or very similar, to the previously described parts bearing the same numbers.

Figure 9 of the drawings shows the batten 38 formed, in the region of the bracket 41, with the previous mentioned slot 47 through which slot the shank of a clamping screw extends, as previously described. The batten 38 has slidably mounted thereon an assembly indicated by the reference 48, the latter being illustrated in detail in Figure 12 of the drawings. The slide assembly 48, in turn, has an apparatus releasably secured to it which is similar to the apparatus of Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings but which has necessarily been modified in certain respects. This modified apparatus is generally indicated by the reference 49 and is illustrated in more detail in Figure 11 of the drawings.

The modified apparatus 49 which can be seen in Figure 11 is very similar to the apparatus of Figures 1 6 of the drawings except that the various components are arranged at the opposite side of the mounting plate 3 as compared with the embodiment that has already been described, the handle 1 being entirely omitted and being replaced by a pair of co-axial handles 50 which project perpendicularly from opposite sides of the mounting plate 3 at a location approximately centrally of the latter and approximately half-way between its uppermost and lowermost extremities as seen in Figure 11. The arrangement and extent of the co-axial handles 50 may be clarified by also referring to Figure 13 of the drawings.

Figure 12 illustrates the slide assembly that is generally indicated by the reference 48; it is slidable lengthwise along the batten 38 employing two diametrically opposed grooved runners 51 formed from a self-lubricating bearing material. If preferred, opposed pairs of rotatable flanged rollers may be employed as an alternative to the runners 51, each such roller embracing one edge of the batten 38. The way in which the grooves of the two runners 51 co-operate with the opposite edges of the batten 38 can readily be seen in Figure 13 of the drawings. The diametrically opposed grooved runners 51 are secured to one side of a base plate 52 of the slide assembly 48.

Their relative spacing is such that the assembly 48 will slide readily along the batten 38 but will not deflect angularly to any significant extent in any direction relative to that batten 38. A pivot block 53 is fixedly secured to the base plate 52 at the opposite side thereof from the grooved runners 51 and has a pivot pin 54 entered through it in parallel relationship with the plane of the base plate 52, the end of said pivot pin which is closest to a viewer of Figure 12 of the drawings being screwed into a pivot arm 55.

The modified apparatus 49 of Figure 11 of the drawing has its mounting plate 3- firmly but releasably secured to the pivot arm 55 by a pair of screws (visible only in Figure 13) entered into the threaded holes that can be seen in Figure 12 of the drawings, the position of these holes also being visible in Figure 11. Thus, the modified apparatus 49 can be tilted about the axis defined by the pivot pin 54 relative to the slide assembly 48 which allows the second profiled roller 10, which functions as a strip application roller, to be tilted towards the pane of glass 35 (Figure 13) or to be tilted away from that pane 35.

It will be seen from Figure 12 that the slide assembly 48 also includes two arrow plates 56 and 57 which are aligned in a direction strictly parallel to the length of the batten 38, each arrow plate being carried by, or being integral, with, a correspondirig shaped bracket that is releaseably fastened by screws to the base plate 52. One or the other of the arrow plates 56 and 57, or both of them, can be employed accurately to align the modified apparatus 49 with a template located at the opposite side of the pane of glass 35. A brake pad 58 is carried by a shaped bracket releasably secured by screws to the pivot arm 55. When the modified apparatus is tilted about the axis of the pivot pin 54 in a direction which moves the roller 10 away from the pane of glass 35, the brake pad 58 will quite soon, although not immediately, come into contact with the batten 38.This stops the slide assembly 48 from sliding down the batten 38 towards the pivot 42 and can be very useful should the operator wish to stop the slide assembly 48 at an intermediate position down the batten 38. The position of the pivot 54 relative to the centre of gravity of the modified apparatus 49 is such that, should an operator accidently or deliberately let go of the modified apparatus 49 when the slide assembly 48 is at an intermediate position along the length of the batten 38, the apparatus 49 would immediately and automatically pivot in the direction which brings the brake pad 58 into movement arresting contact with the batten 38.

When using apparatus constructed in accordance with Figures 9 to 13 of the drawings, a reel of the strip 5 is loaded onto the modified apparatus 49 in the same way as has already described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings. The batten 38 is set at an appropriate angle about the pivot 42 and the apparatus 49 is lined up with a template located beneath the pane of glass 35 using one, or the other, or both of the arrow plates 56 and 57. The batten 38 is then fixed in position employing the known suction pads (not illustrated) that have previously been mentioned or, as an alternative, employing a clamp pad to fasten the lower roller assembly 40 temporarily to the lower bar 44 to achieve the same result, that is to say, temporarily securing the batten 38 at a pre-determined inclination in register with the template at the opposite side of the pane of glass 35.The modified apparatus 49 secured to the slide assembly 48 is then moved upwardly along the batten 38 by hand to a location approximately in register with the uppermost edge of the pane of glass 35 ensuring that said apparatus 49 is tilted about the pivot pin 54, whilst this movement takes place, so far that the roller 10 is clear of contact with the glass 35 but not far enough for the brake pad 58 to be effective.

When the position just described has been reached, the modified apparatus 49 is tilted about the pivot pin 54 in a direction which brings the roller 10 to a position in which it presses the self-adhesive strip 5 onto the pane of glass 35. The action is basically the same as has already been described for the embodiment of Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings which is directly held manually using the handle 1. By holding the aligned handles 50 and pressing the apparatus 49 gently but firmly against the pane of glass 35, the adhesive surface of the strip 5 is pressed onto the surface of the glass and the assembly 48 and apparatus 49 can be slid down the batten 38, progressively applying the strip 5 to the pane 35, until the lowermost edge of that pane 35 is reached.

The apparatus 49 is then tilted about the pivot pin 54 and the lead strip 5 is cut off at a location spaced from the roller pin by a short distance, such as 25 mms. The suction pads or alternative clamp pad are/is then released and the batten 38 is moved over the pane of glass 35 to the next location at which strip 5 is to be applied in the same manner as has already been described with reference to Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings. Once again, the construction which has been described with reference to Figures 9 to 13 of the drawings could be employed in applying strips of material other than lead or lead alloy to panes of glass for sheets of materials other than glass. However, it will be appreciated that it is necessary, as will usually be the case, that the glass or other sheet material should be substantially flat and that the application of lead or lead alloy or other strips to curved surfaces may be carried out using the hand held apparatus that has been described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings.

Claims (15)

1. Apparatus for the application of adhesive strip to sheet material, the apparatus comprising means rotatably to support a reel of the adhesive strip and means to urge the strip into contact with the sheet material whilst moving said apparatus relative to the sheet material to enable the strip to be progressively applied thereto whilst being unwound from said reel.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein means is provided to remove backing tape from the adhesive strip as it is unwound from said reel and to collect said backing tape upon a re-wind drum.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of different roller assemblies of which any appropriate one can be employed to match the width of the particular adhesive strip that is to be used and the coiresponding width of the reel upon which that strip is supplied.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each roller assembly comprises two flanged rollers and two companion rollers that are arranged to guide the adhesive strip between the flanges of the respective flanged rollers.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the flanged roller of one pair is displaceable relative to its companion to a location which facilitates the initial positioning of adhesive strip between the two rollers, releasable resilient means being employed normally to maintain the two rollers in contact with the adhesive strip extending between them.

6. Apparatus according to claim 2 or to any one of claims 3 to 5 when read as appendant to claim 2, wherein a rotary drive to said rewind drum includes a tensioning mechanism arranged to allow a progressively changing degree of slippage to accommodate the progressively changing effective diameters of said reel and of the re-wind drum as the adhesive strip with its backing tape is unwound from the wheel and the backing tape is wound onto the drum.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein said means to urge the strip into contact with the sheet material comprises a manually holdable handle secured to a mounting plate of the apparatus.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the adhesive strip is formed from lead or lead alloy and said sheet material is window glass.

9. A method of applying adhesive strip to sheet material, the method comprising the steps of rotatably supporting a reel of the adhesive strip whilst urging the latter into contact with the sheet material and maintaining such contact whilst moving the point of application of pressure upon the sheet material whereby the strip is progressively applied to that sheet material whilst being unwound from said reel.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said method comprises the employment of apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the sheet material is supported by a frame which includes a rectilinear batten capable of being retained in any chosen one of a plurality of positions in front of said sheet material, and wherein a slide assembly is movable along said batten and carries said apparatus whereby that apparatus can apply the adhesive strip to the sheet material in directions that are parallel to the chosen dispositions of said batten, such dispositions being dictated by a template or other markings.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said frame is an A-frame exhibiting two oppositely inclined working surfaces.

13. A method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein said apparatus is pivotally mounted on said slide assembly and can be tilted between a position in which a roller of said apparatus presses the adhesive strip onto the sheet material and a position in which said roller is withdrawn from the sheet material whilst a brake pad contacts said batten.

14. A method of applying adhesive lead or lead alloy strip to window glass employing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

15. Apparatus for the application of adhesive strip to sheet material or a method of applying adhesive strip to sheet material substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to either of the embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.