GB2215642A

GB2215642A - Apparatus for adhesive tape manufacture

Info

Publication number: GB2215642A
Application number: GB8806379A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Yu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-03-17
Filing date: 1988-03-17
Publication date: 1989-09-27
Also published as: GB8806379D0

Abstract

Double-sided adhesive tape is manufactured by pulling plastic tapes (1) downward over adhesive-applying tubes (41, 42) transversely placed in the central portion of the tape path. Under a predetermined pressure, a predetermined quantity of adhesive flows out of the two tubes from the openings (411, 412) on those walls. Hence when the tapes pass the openings of the tubes the adhesive is discharged onto the two faces of the tapes. After the adhesive application is completed, the tapes continue to move downward and pass through a dessiccator (5) to dry the adhesive on the tapes. <IMAGE>

Description

THE VERTICAL STAND TYPE SIZING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADHESIVE TAPE This invention relates to a sizing method and apparatus for the double-sided adhesive tapes1 and particularly relates to a vertical stand type of sizing method and apparatus for producing double-sided tapes in one operation.

Conventional methods of sizing adhesive tapes mostly adopt a horizontal mechanism as shown in Figure 1. The rolls of the plastic tapes 1 pass through the sizing device 11 to enable one side of the rolls of tapes to be sized. They are then dried in a desiccator 12 and cooled by passing over a cooling roller 13. After being cooled the tapes pass through press rollers 15, 15' and at that time release film 14 is applied to its adhesive surface and then the tape is packed into rolls by the roller 16. If it is desired to produce double-sided adhesive tapes, then the tapes have to be unrolled to undergo the same process as described above for sizing the other side.

The above mentioned sizing device 11 uses an adhesive fluid tank 111 to supply the adhesive fluid onto a coating roller 114. A roller 113 spreads the fluid in a flat and even manner on the surface of the coating roller 114. Finally the coating roller 114 cooperates with a press wheel 115 to apply the adhesive to the face of the tape 1. Such sizing method in a uniform even way can provide sizing on one face of the tape at a time. However, the mechanisms are very complex and occupy much space. Further, the rollers can produce uneven pressures after their long periods of use. Therefore, if one wants to size many tapes at the same time, the thicknesses of the adhesives may not be uniform with less sizing accuracy.Moreover, because the adhesives are spread over the rollers, whilst the tapes are of a predetermined narrower width, the excess adhesives not in use on the rollers constitutes a waste. As the rollers may attract dirt, the adhesive tapes are frequently contaminated. When one wants to make the double-sided adhesive tapes, they must undergo two successive sizing processes. This is time consuming. Hence such conventional method of sizing is not ideal.

In view of the disadvantages of the prior art, the main object of the present invention is to provide a tape sizing method in a vertical stand type so that tapes can be sized on both sides at the same time.

According to the present invention there is provided a sizing method for tapes comprising pulling the tapes downwardly over upper and lower sizing tubes transversely placed in a central region, which two sizing tubes supply adhesive fluid, under a fixed pressure, from respective wall pores, so that the upper and lower sizing tubes apply the adhesive fluid on the two faces of the tapes passing over them after which the tapes continue to move downwardly passing through a drying device to dry the adhesive fluid on the tapes to complete the sizing operation on both sides in one operation.

The sizing method and apparatus for tapes according to this invention provides a sizing tube transversely placed. The tube body of the sizing tube includes a number of pores for the adhesive fluid to flow out of the tube, and under a fixed pressure, the adhesive fluid can flow out of the pores at a fixed rate. By means of tubes arranged in upper and lower positions in parallel, the doublesided sizing of a tape can be achieved in one operation.

Thus, the sizing is simple and accurate.

A more complete understanding of these and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful consideration of the following detailed description of certain embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a sketch of a conventional sizing system for adhesive tape; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the sizing method of the invention; and Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the sizing apparatus of the invention.

The conventional tape sizing method shown in Figure 1 has been-mentioned as above.

Preferring to Figure 2, the vertical stand type sizing method of the invention and apparatus use the rolling mechanism to make rolls of tapes 21, 22..., which pass over a fixed roller 3 and the tapes 21, 22... are pulled downward. During their downward travel they are made to pass over two horizontally placed upper and lower sizing tubes 41, 42. A portion of the walls of each of the sizing tubes 41, 42, has many openings or pores 411, 412,..; 421, 422,... for the adhesive fluids to flow out of the tubes 41, 42. The size of the pores for discharging fluids can be regulated by adjusting shutters 431, 432....; 441, 442..., and they are adjusted to a similar width to that of the tapes being processed.Those two sizing tubes 41, 42 are connected to a single adhesive fluid tower 4, and the adhesive fluid then flows into the sizing tubes 41, 42 with a predetermined pressure(controlled flowing rate and quantity). Thus, the fluid flows out of pores 411, 412....; 421, 422.... at a fixed quantity and flow rate. At that time, the tapes 21, 22...during their travel downward have their respective two faces toward and gliding by the respective pores 411, 412,....; 421, 422,....flowing adhesive fluid. Due to the fixed rate of their sliding with the appropriate pressure over the two faces of the tapes, each tape's face has an evenly distributed glue layer of uniform thickness. After sizing, the tapes enter the desiccator 5 for baking and drying. Then the sizing operation for the double sided tapes is completed.

Based on the above, the invention enahles the multitape sizing on both faces of a tape in one operation.

It provides a simpler and more accurate sizing.

Claims

1. A sizing method for tapes comprising pulling the tapes downwardly over upper and lower sizing tubes transversely placed in a central region, which two sizing tubes supply adhesive fluid, under a fixed presure, from respective wall pores, so that the upper and lower sizing tubes apply to the adhesive fluid on the two faces of the tapes passing over them after which the tapes continue to move downwardly passing through a drying device to dry the adhesive fluid on the tapes to complete the sizing operation on both sides in one operation.

2. A sizing apparatus for tapes comprising a roller mechanism for drawing the tapes to be sized downwardly over upper and lower sizing tubes located on opposite sides of the tape path for supplying adhesive fluid at a controlled rate to both sides of the tape to be sized and a drying device to dry the adhesive to complete the sizing operation.

3. A sizing apparatus for tapes as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sizing tubes are connected with the adhesive fluid tower, the walls of the sizing tubes point up to the tape have pores to exude the adhesive fluid.

4. A sizing apparatus for tapes according to claim3, wherein, the pores on the sizing tubes are provided with adjustable doors for regulating the pores' width to be the same as that of the tapes.

5. A sizing method for tapes substantially as hereinbefore described.

6. A sizing apparatus for tapes substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.