GB2265354A - Device for dispensing tape - Google Patents

Abstract

An adhesive tape dispensing device 2 is mounted on a roller of adhesive tape 40. The device 2 includes a body which supports a roller 18 whose axis of rotation is translationally fixed relative to the body and a roller 30 which is resiliently biased towards the roller 18 so that the tape roll 40 is clamped between the rollers 18 and 30. The device 2 is arranged to be releasably mounted on the roll 40. A length of adhesive tape 50 passes over a tape guide member 10 towards a serrated cutting edge 12. In use, the free end of the adhesive tape 50 is held by an operator in one hand and the device 2 is held in the other. The required length of tape is then unwound from the roll and cut using the cutting edge 12. The new free end of the tape remains adhered to the edge 12 and/or to the guide member 10 so that the end may easily be picked up by an operator when it is required to dispense a further length of tape. <IMAGE>

Description

DEVICE FOR DISPENSING TAPE This invention relates to a device for dispensing tape and particularly, although not exclusively, to a device for dispensing adhesive tape.

Adhesive tape dispensers are well known. In general, these comprise a heavy base on which is rotatably mounted a cylindrical core. A cutting blade is provided at a position which is generally tangentially disposed relative to the core.

The cylindrical core is a frictional fit within a tape roll and, when so disposed, the tape roll is rotationally fixed relative to the central core.

In use, with the cylindrical core (and tape roll) mounted on the heavy base a length of tape may be withdrawn from the roll and extended tangentially towards the cutting blade which may cut the tape as desired.

It will be appreciated that such an adhesive tape dispenser as described will be a relatively bulky and heavy device since the core must have a diameter of a similar magnitude to that of the tape roll with which the device is to be used and, furthermore, the cutting blade must be spaced from the cylindrical core a suitable distance so that tape may be cut thereby.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for dispensing tape which may solve at least some of the problems associated with prior known devices.

According to the invention, there is provided a device for dispensing tape from a tape roll, the device being arranged to be mounted on a tape roll and including cutting means for cutting a length of tape to be dispensed.

In the context of the present specification, the term tape should be construed to include any long narrow strip of material.

Since the device is arranged to be mounted on the tape roll, the device may be substantially less bulky in comparison to prior known devices in which a tape roll is mounted on a cylindrical core of the tape dispenser.

Preferably, the device is arranged to be mounted on a portion of the tape roll which is preferably an arcuate portion thereof. The arcuate portion preferably subtends an angle of less than 1800, more preferably less than 90" at the centre of the tape roll.

The device is preferably arranged to be releasably securable to the tape roll.

The device is preferably arranged to move around the circumference of the tape roll, suitably when tape is being dispensed therefrom. Preferably, means is provided for reducing friction between the device and the roll during such movement. To this end, preferably, the device is arranged to slide or roll around the circumference of the roll.

The device preferably defines an opening in which a portion of the tape roll may be releasably secured. The device is preferably arranged to clamp a portion of the tape roll on which it is mounted. Preferably, the device includes resilient clamp means, suitably defining, at least in part, said aforementioned opening and being arranged to clamp a portion of the roll. Said clamp means is preferably automatically adjustable in order to clamp the portion of the roll, even as the thickness of the roll reduces as tape is dispensed therefrom.

The device preferably includes a first member and a second member, said members being arranged to receive, and preferably to clamp, a portion of the tape roll therebetween, as described above. Said first and second members are preferably arranged to clamp the tape roll between its outwardly and inwardly facing circumferential surfaces. Said first member is preferably arranged to apply a force, in use, to an outwardly facing surface of the roll, said second member being arranged to apply a force, in use, to an inwardly facing surface of the roll.

Said first member is preferably arranged to roll or slide relative to the tape roll on which the device is mounted. The second member is also preferably arranged to roll or slide relative to the tape roll on which the device is mounted. The first member preferably comprises a roller. Said second member preferably comprises a roller.

Resilient means is preferably provided for resiliently biasing said first and second members towards one another for clamping the roll therebetween. Said resilient means preferably comprises a spring, for example, a tension spring, fixed between said first and second members.

The device preferably comprises a body which includes said first and second members. Said first member is preferably restricted from translational movement relative to the body (but may rotate relative thereto). Said second member may be arranged to effect translational movement relative to the body towards or away from the first member for clamping the tape roll between the first and second members. The body may include a slot or slots for guiding the movement of said second member. The second member may be arranged to slide or roll, preferably to slide, in said slot or slots.

The body preferably includes said cutting means. The body may include guide means for guiding the passage of tape through the device in use.

The device is preferably arranged to dispense adhesive tape.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tape dispensing device; Figure 2 is a cross-section along line A-A of the tape dispensing device when mounted on a roll of tape; and Figure 3 is a top plan view of the tape dispensing device mounted on a roll of tape.

The tape dispensing device 2, shown in Figure 1, comprises two identically shaped sidewalls 4, 6 which are rigidly spaced apart by means of an end wall 8 extending perpendicularly thereto and a wedge-shaped tape guide member 10. The end wall 8 has an upwardly facing serrated cutting edge 12. An upper surface 14 of the tape guide member 10 slopes upwardly towards the serrated edge 12 such that it is in line with the cutting edge 12.

Towards an end of the device 2, opposite the end wall 8, the device includes a roller arrangement 16. The roller arrangement 16 includes a roller 18 having a axle 20 which is rotatable within respective aligned holes in the side walls 4,6.

Elongate slots 22, 24 are provided in the respective side walls 4, 6, below the level of the roller 18, each slot being in line with a respective adjacent hole in which the axle 20 is mounted. The axle 28 of a roller 30 is arranged to slide within the slots 22, 24 so that the roller 30 may move towards and away from the roller 18.

Tension springs 34, 36 are fixed between the axles 20, 28 in order to bias the roller 30 towards the roller 18. The roller 30 is arranged to be removed from the slots 22, 24 so that the device can be mounted on a roll of adhesive tape.

The device 2 is mounted on a roll 40 of adhesive tape as described below with reference to Figures 2 and 3.

With the roller 30 removed from the slots 22, 24, the device 2 is placed around an outwardly facing circumferential surface 60 of the tape roll 40, with the side walls 4, 6 of the device straddling the tape roll, so that the roller 18 abuts the outwardly facing circumferential surface 60 of the roll. When so disposed, the bottoms of the slots 22, 24 are positioned below the level of the inwardly facing circumferential surface 62 of the tape roll. The roller 30 is then fitted into the slots 22, 24, below the inwardly facing circumferential surface of the tape roll and the springs 34, 36 are attached to respective ends of the axle 28.

The springs 34, 36 urge the roller 30 in the direction of the roller 18 until the roller 30 abuts the inwardly facing circumferential surface 62 of the roll 40.

The rollers 18, 30 serve to clamp the device 2 to the tape roll 40 and, accordingly, the device 2 is substantially restricted from moving radially relative to the tape roll 40.

A length of adhesive tape 50, which includes adhesive only on an inner surface 52 thereof, is then withdrawn from the roll and fed underneath roller 18 and over the tape guide member 10, towards the serrated cutting edge 12.

The device may be used to dispense a length of adhesive tape 50, as follows.

The free end of the adhesive tape 50 is held by an operator in one hand and the device 2 is held in the other hand. The required length of tape is then unwound from the roll. It should be appreciated that during unwinding, the device 2 will travel along the roll in a clockwise direction (as seen in Figure 2). When the required length of tape has been unwound from the roll, the length of tape withdrawn is urged downwardly towards the cutting edge 12 which, accordingly, cuts the tape. The new free end of the tape remains adhered to the edge 12 and/or to the guide member 10, so that the end may easily be picked up by an operator when it is required to dispense a further length of tape.

It should be noted that, as lengths of tape are dispensed, the thickness "x" of the tape roll gradually becomes less. As this occurs, the axle 28 and the roller 30 mounted thereon are urged by springs 34, 36 to move along the slots 22, 24 towards the roller 18 so that the roller 30 always remains in contact with the inwardly facing circumferential surface 62, irrespective of the thickness "x" of the tape roll.

When all the tape on the tape roll has been dispensed, the device 2 may be removed from the tape roll and used to dispense tape from another roll.

The device 2 is suitably made substantially of plastics. Devices similar to device 2 may be made of various dimensions so as to accommodate tape rolls of varying widths and thicknesses.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims (20)

1. A device for dispensing tape from a tape roll, the device being arranged to be mounted on a tape roll and including cutting means for cutting a length of tape to be dispensed.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the device is arranged to be mounted on an arcuate portion of the tape roll.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the device is arranged to be releasably securable to the tape roll.

4. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device is arranged to move around the circumference of the tape roll when tape is being dispensed therefrom.

5. A device according to Claim 4, wherein means is provided for reducing friction between the device and the tape roll during such movement.

6. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device is arranged to slide or roll around the circumference of the tape roll.

7. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device defines an opening in which a portion of the tape roll may be releasably secured.

8. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the device is arranged to clamp a portion of the tape roll on which it is mounted, in use.

9. A device according to Claim 8, wherein clamp means is provided which is automatically adjustable in order to clamp the portion of the roll.

10. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device includes a first member and a second member, said members being arranged to receive a portion of the tape roll therebetween.

11. A device according to Claim 10, wherein said first and second members are arranged to clamp the tape roll between its outwardly and inwardly facing circumferential surfaces.

12. A device according to Claim 11, wherein said first member is arranged to apply a force, in use, to an outwardly facing surface of the roll, said second member being arranged to apply a force, in use, to an inwardly facing surface of the roll.

13. A device according to any of Claims 10 to 12, wherein said first member is arranged to roll or slide relative to the tape roll on which the device is mounted in use.

14. A device according to any of Claims 10 to 13, wherein the second member is arranged to roll or slide relative to the tape roll on which the device is mounted in use.

15. A device according to any of Claims 10 to 14, wherein resilient means is provided for resiliently biasing said first and second members towards one another for clamping the roll therebetween.

16. A device according to any of Claims 10 to 15, wherein the device comprises a body which includes said first and second members.

17. A device according to Claim 16, wherein said body includes said cutting means.

18. A device according to Claim 16 or 17, wherein the body includes guide means for guiding the passage of tape through the device in use.

19. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the device is arranged to dispense adhesive tape.

20. A device for dispensing tape from a tape roll substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.