GB2607710A

GB2607710A - Improvements to apparatus for applying tape

Info

Publication number: GB2607710A
Application number: GB2205914.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Magee Marcus
Original assignee: Xtaper Ltd
Current assignee: Xtaper Ltd
Priority date: 2021-04-23
Filing date: 2022-04-22
Publication date: 2022-12-14
Also published as: WO2022223996A1; GB202105831D0; GB202205914D0

Abstract

Apparatus 2 for the supply, activation and dispensing of a length of adhesive tape 4 includes a feed assembly to move the said length of tape 4 to an exit port 15 and cutting means (34 figure 2) to separate the said length from a supply roll (20 figure 2) of said adhesive tape 4 held on the apparatus 2, a liquid application station (32 figure 2) to allow liquid to be applied to activate an adhesive coating on the said adhesive tape 4 as it passes to the exit port 15 and the feed assembly includes a gap 56 through which the tape 4 passes towards the exit port 15 and at least one rotatable member 48 which is selectively movable between a first condition (figure 3a) which allows a drive force to be applied by the feed assembly on the tape 4, a second condition (figure 3b) in which the tape 4 can be pulled through the feed assembly and a third condition (figure 3c) in which the tape 4 is free to be slid through the feed assembly. The feed assembly may include a drive shaft 42 rotatable in a first direction to move a series of spaced drive members 50 to engage with faces 52 on the rotatable member 48 on which is provided a drive tyre 54. A pinch roller 40 may be provided opposing the rotatable member 48.

Description

Improvements to Apparatus for Applying Tape the invention to which this application relates is to apparatus for use in the application of adhesive tape to an article such as, for example, a box made of cardboard, in order to allow lid panels of the box to be retained in a closed position such as, for example, once the contents have been placed into the box and the box is then required to be transported to a delivery loca tion, with the contents held secure therein.

While the application of adhesive tape to boxes is well known and can be performed manually by a person applying a leading edge of the tape roll to the box and then relatively moving the box and roll of tape so as to unroll a length of the tape and attach the same to the box, this can be a time consuming process and can be wasteful of the tape material such that, if the operation is performed repeatedly on a number of boxes, the manual application of the adhesive tape is not satisfactory, and can take excessive time which is a significant factor in large volume delivery warehouses.

As a result of this, it is known to provide apparatus which can be used to automatically dispense a measured and predetermined length of tape for use with respect to a particular box size and the automatic dispensing of the length of tape is known to reduce the time for application of tape to the box and also to reduce wastage of material. A problem with this known form of apparatus is that it tends to be bulky and needs to be mounted on a desk or tabletop and is not portable such that an application station is required to be formed to which the boxes are brought for the application of the tape from the apparatus onto the box. 't his, in turn, can cause the creation of bottlenecks in the packaging and transport process so that time savings which may be achieved in the dispensing of the tape, can be lost during the application of the tape to the boxes and movement of the boxes between the different locations.

The Applic2mt, in their co-pending application number GB2575712, the contents of which are included herein by reference hereto, discloses apparatus which can be handheld and thereby taken to a location of a box onto which the tape is to be dispensed. Furthermore, the apparatus allows for the powered movement of a length of tape from a. roll of tape which is located with the apparatus, the cutting of the length of the tape and, as part of the procedure, the application of the tape to the box as the tape is dispensed from the apparatus, and, typically the handheld apparatus is moved along the join of the box to which the tape is to be applied.

The tape material is typically provided a.s a. layer of paper and/or plastics material or a mixture of the same and which may also be provided with a reinforcing material extending along the same. On one surface of the layer there is provided an adhesive material provided in an initial inactivated form within the reel and which, when a liquid is applied thereto, the adhesive material is activated and increases the adhesion strength of the same to a sufficient extent to allow the tape to be applied to and retained on the box. In one embodiment, on the opposing surface of the tape material layer, there is provided a release layer material which ensures that when the tape is initially provided in a. reel, the outer layer of tape is easily removable from the reel, so as to be dispensed In order to allow the liquid to be applied to the adhesive layer, it is known that there are a number of possible options and in the Applicant's co-pending application, there is provided a bath of liquid which is maintained with a quantity of liquid during use so that bristles of a brush assembly pick up sufficient liquid from the bath so that, at the free end of the bristles, when the same contact with the tape, liquid is applied from the bristles to the layer of adhesive to a sufficient extent to increase the adhesion and effectively activate the adhesive. Typically, the bath of liquid is located adjacent to the dispensing or exit port of the tape from the apparatus such that during the dispensing of the tape through the apparatus, the layer of adhesive is in a non-activated condition thereby improving the movement of the tape through the apparatus.

An aim of the present invention is to provide a means of allowing the reliable filling of liquid into the bath of liquid to be ensured so that there is a continuity of supply of liquid into the bath during use of the apparatus. A further aim is to allow an improved feed assembly to be provided to allow the improved feeding and control of the adhesive tape through the apparatus from the reel to the exit port In a first aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for the supply, activation and dispensing of a. length of adhesive tape, said apparatus including a feed assembly to move the said length of tape to an exit port and cutting means to separate the said length from a supply roll of said adhesive tape held on the apparatus, a liquid application station to allow liquid to be applied to activate an adhesive coating on the said adhesive tape as it passes to the exit port and wherein the feed assembly includes a gap through which the tape passes towards the exit port and at least one rotatable member which is selectively movable between a first condition in which the same allows a drive force to be applied by the feed assembly on the said tape, a second condition in which the said tape can be pulled through the feed assembly and a third condition in which the tape is free to be slid through the feed assembly.

In one embodiment the said at least one component is a rotatable member such as a drive ring, or roller.

Typically when the rotatable member is in the first condition a motor drive operates the feed assembly and hence provides the drive force for movement of the said tape through the apparatus.

Typically when the said rotatable member is in the third condition, a gap is created through the feed assembly which is of a dimension sufficient to allow a manual movement applied to the tape to cause the tape to be slid through the feed means.

Typically when the rotatable member is in the third condition the gap which is created is of a dimension to prevent the feed means from exerting a drive force on the tape.

Typically the manual movement is achieved by the leading end of the tape having been applied to the item and relative movement between the apparatus and item.

In one embodiment an interlock is provided which, when the rotatable member is in the third condition, prevents the motor from exerting a drive on the feed assembly.

Typically the tape lies intermediate the at least one rotatable member on a first side and one or more rollers on the opposing side of the tape and when the rotatable member is in the first condition the rotatable member and/or rollers contact and exert the drive force on the tape.

In one embodiment the rotatable member has an internal bore which is shaped so as to selectively engage with a. drive shaft via an integral or atta.ched drive core. Typically the drive shaft is attached to be driven by the motor.

In one embodiment the said second condition of the rotatable member is intermediate the first and third conditions. In one embodiment, when in the second condition, the said tape is free to be pulled through between the gap between the rotatable member, which is disengaged from the drive means, and the at least one roller, with the gap between the same substantially the same as when in the first condition but with the rotatable member free to rotate.

Typically the apparatus is provided to be hand held and is operable by the same hand as used to hold the apparatus in order to dispense the tape.

In one embodtanent, the feed assembly for the apparatus, includes a driveshaft provided to rotate in a first direction and, as it does so, to move a series of spaced drive members to engage with the rotatable member on which is provided a drive tyre and said drive shafts, members, rotatable member and lyre, are all mounted to rotate around a common axis of rotation. Typically, the said assembly includes a second axis of rotation on which is mounted a roller, bearings, and a Cain provided to rotate about said second axis and there is provided, between the components on the said first and second axes the said gap through which the adhesive tape passes.

The assemblies are provided so that in the first condition, the rotatable member acts to contact and drive the adhesive tape through and along said gap towards the dispensing assembly.

In the third condition, the said gap is of a sufficient size so as to allow free passage of the adhesive tape. In this embodiment the said rotatable member and tyre are effectively floating.

S

In the second condition the said rotatable member is free wheeling so that the tape can be pulled through the gap which is of substantially the same dimension as when the feed means is in the first condition Typically, the rotatable member includes a. (gripping tyre, and/or is eccentrically mounted with respect to the first axis of rotation.

In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an application head with bristles and the free ends of the bristles, are located adjacent to one or more cavities in an interface part which form the second side of the tape path and which are provided to receive excess liquid and/or adhesive winch is detached from the tape during the activation process. In one embodiment the dispensing assembly includes a movable flip to allow access to be gained to remove debris and prevent blockage of the movement of the tape through the exit port.

In one embodiment the first side of the tape path through the dispensing assembly is formed by a paddle which is biased towards the tape location.

Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figures la-d illustrates schematically the use of apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; igure 2 illustrates part of the housing of the apparatus with the internal components of the drive assembly illustrated in accordance with one embodiment of the nwention; Figures 3a-d illustrate the conditions of a feed assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Figures 4a-d illustrate the drive shaft sub assembly of the feed assembly of Figure 3a-d in more detail; Figures 5a-f illustrates the drive shaft sub assembly of Figures 4a-d in the first condition; Figures 6a-h illustrate the drive shaft sub assembly of Figures 4a-d in the third and second conditions; and Figures 7a and b illustrate further features of apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Referring firstly to I,'igures la-d, there is illustrated schematically the use of apparatus 2 in accordance with the invention to apply a length of tape 4 to an item 6 which, in this embodiment has lid flaps which are required to be scaled together by the application of the length of tape thereto. In order to apply the length of tape to the item, the tape is activated by applying liquid to the adhesive layer of the tape as the tape passes through the apparatus. The leading end 12 is dispensed from the exit port 15 of the apparatus by a feed assembly provided in the apparatus.

The operation of the apparatus is typically controlled by the user when gripping the apparatus so that the apparatus is handheld, and the leading end of the tape can be applied to the sidewall 11 of the item as indicated by arrow 13 in 1;igure la. 't he apparatus 2 can then be moved upwardly onto the top surface of the item and with flaps 8,10 being held in position, the tape is placed across and along the gap 14 between the same so as to seal the flaps together. By this stage, the driven movement of the tape which occurs when the apparatus is in the first condition is stopped, the feed assembly moves to the second and then third condition and it is the relative movement between the item 6 and the apparatus as indicated in the direction of arrow 16 in Figure lb which causes the length of tape to be freely dispensed from the apparatus until the end of the required length of tape for application is reached. When the end position is reached, the user moves the apparatus further beyond the item as shown in Figure lc and operates a trigger switch of the apparatus which allows a cutting blade within the apparatus 2 to be operated to cut and separate and define the length of tape 4 which is dispensed from the tape supply in the apparatus as shown in Figure Id, arrow 19 and therefore the length of tape 4 is now separated from the tape supply in the apparatus and it can be fully adhered to the item.

In Figure 2, there is illustrated part of the apparatus housing 22 with the other part of the housing removed in order to allow the internal components to be schematically shown. The components include a tape supply 20 in the form of a roll of the tape 4 and one or more power cells for the drive means which are held in a compartment 24. The user actuation means in the form of the trier 26 is located adjacent to the handle portion 28 so that the trigger can be operated by the same hand of the user that is used to grip the handle portion and move the apparatus. It will therefore be appreciated that the apparatus is portable and handheld in use. A feed assembly 30 is provided which will be described in more detail subsequently and which allows the guided movement and driven movement of the tape 4 towards a cutting station 34 and water dispensing station 32 and then exit port 36. In one embodiment, a heater element 38 is provided to aid activation of the adhesive coating on the tape once the same has been wetted.

With regard to the feed assembly, then the same is now described in detail with regard to the Figures 3a-6h With regard to Figures 3a-d the feed assembly is shown in cross section along the centre line between the two parts of the housing and with part of the length of tape 4 located therewith. In _Figure 3a the feed assembly is shown in the first condition with a pinch roller 40 assembly engaged, and the drivcshaft 42, with drive core 44 therein, is driven as indicated by arrow 46 to engage the rotatable member in the form of drive ring 48, via members 30 on the drive core 44 engaging with faces 52 on the drive ring to thereby rotate the drive ring and, via the drive tyre 34, contact and drive the tape 4 through a gap 56 indicated by the arrows and so move the tape 4 towards the application and activation head and exit port as indicated by arrow 38.

In the second condition shown in Figure 3b, which is intermediate the first and third conditions, the pinch roller assembly 40 is engaged and the drive shaft 42 is static but the drive ring 48 is free to rotate with respect to the drive core as the members 50 and faces 52 are disengaged. The gap 56 is still the same size as in the first condition and so the tape 4 is pulled through the gap as indicated by arrow 68, typically once the tape leading end has already been attached to the item.

S

In the third condition shown in Figure 3c the pinch roller assembly 40 is engaged but the drive ring 48 and tyre 54 float or freewheel with respect to the drive core 44 and drive shaft 42 as the members 50 and faces 52 are disengaged and so the tape 4 is then free to slide in any direction 60,62,64,66 within the gap 56 which is of a greater size than in the first or third conditions.

As shown in Figure 3d, when moving the feed assembly from the third condition back to the first condition the pinch roller assembly 40 is engaged and the drive shaft 42 is reactivated to rotate so that the drive ring 48 self-centres on the drive core 44 to engage the members 50 with faces 52 and so the drive of the shaft and the driving of the tape 4 through the feed assembly is resumed as indicated by arrow 70.

The drive shaft sub assembly is shown in greater detail in Figures 4a-d and is shown to include the drive shaft 42, drive core 44, drive ring 48, retaining washer 72, and spring 74 with the drive tyre 54 moulded over the drive ring.

In the condition shown in Figures 3a, and Figures 5a-f, the drive ring 48 and tyre 54 grip and drive the adhesive tape 4 towards the exit port of the apparatus when driven by the motor and this is the first condition, in which the leading end of the tape is exposed from the apparatus and attached to the item.

II° wever, in the second condition shown in Figures 3h and 6d when the driveshaft 42 is static, i.e. not driven by the motor, the motion of manually pulling or drawing the adhesive tape 4 in the direction of arrow 68 through the rollers in the same direction as it has been driven causes the drive ring 48 to move to the third condition in which the same is free to a floating or free wheeling condition and therefore no compression of the adhesive tape against the pinch roller assembly 40 occurs. Thus, the assembly has moved from the second to the third condition of Figures 3c and 6e. This then allows the tape 4 to slide left, right, forward, or back in the resulting increased size gap 56 between the drive ring 48, and tyre 54 when fitted, and the pinch roller assembly 40, and so relative movement of the apparatus and item allows the required length of tape to be moved out of the apparatus.

Once the required length of the adhesive tape has been advanced and the trigger of the apparatus is released to cut the length of the adhesive tape, the apparatus can then deliver another length of activated adhesive tape relatively quicldy. With the drive ring 48 still in its floating position, the trigger activation causes the motor drivesha.ft 42 to be moved and automatically connects with a.nd drives the drive ring 48 from the floating eccentric position of the third condition of Figure 3c to the concentric driven first condition shown in Figure 3d and so the first condition is reestablished and hence re-establishes a pressure grip on the tape 4 against the pinch roller assembly 40 and so allows the driven feed out of the length of tape from the apparatus.

The pinch roller assembly 40 is able to be advanced and withdrawn by an externally operated lever of the apparatus for installation of the tape through the gap.

This therefore means that as soon as a length of tape 4 has been determined and formed by operating the cutting mechanism, then there can immediately be the automatic feeding of a further portion of adhesive tape which is to form the next length of tape to be dispensed. 'this therefore means that the change in operation conditions of the apparatus is relatively quick between the dispensing of successive of lengths of adhesive tape and so an increased throughput and creation of lengths of tape can be achieved thereby increasing the productivity of the users of the apparatus.

Typically, the drive ring includes a retaining washer 72 and spring clip 74 and the drive core 44 and is fitted to the driveshaft 42 and prevented from rotating on the shaft by means of a keyway or flat cut 76011 the shaft. The drive core typically has three (Jr more outward fa.cing members 50, equi-spaced and parallel with the shaft axis. the drive ring has a matching number of equi-spaced inward spacing slots 78 around a central aperture, each of which has an inclined ramp 80 with a contact face 52 at each end. Rotation in one direction drives the members 50 up the respective ramps 80 to render the two pa.rt rigidly concentric, and ready to continuously drive the tape through the cutting and dispensing assemblies in the first condition. Rotation in the opposite direction when in the second condition and caused by the manual drawing or pulling of the tape through the mechanism, forces the members 50 down the respective ramps 80 and thereby allows the drive ring 48 and tyre 54 to become loosely eccentric about the drive core 44, relieving all pressure and grip on the tape 4 between the drive ring and the pinch roller. The tape will now dispense more freely through the gap, with the apparatus moved to the third condition with no directional control for the drive ring and pinch roller assembly.

The subsequent driving of the shaft 42 with the motor returns the drive core members 50 up the drive ring ramps 80 to re-establish its concentricity and the first condition and therefore its ability to drive the tape out continuously as required.

The feed assembly therefore services to grip and drive forward the tape when driven by the motor in the first condition. However, when the feed assembly is changed through the second to the third condition the motion of manually drawing the tape through the rollers in the same direction renders the drive wheel free to float, no longer compressing the paper tape against the pinch roller, allowing the paper tape to slide left, right forward or back in the resulting gap between the drive ring tyre and the pinch roller.

Once the required length of paper has been pulled out and the trier released to cut it free, the unit is ready to deliver another length of wetted paper tape. With the drive ring still in its floating position the trigger activation of the motor drive shaft automatically drives the drive ring from floating eccentric to concentric, reestablishing the pressure grip on the paper tape against the pinch roller to feed out the required length of tape.

The pinch roller remains as it is; able to be advanced and withdrawn by external lever for installation of the paper tape. 'thus the feed assembly includes the drive core which is rigidly fitted to the drive shaft and prevented from rotating on the shaft by means of a key-way or flat cut into the shaft. The drive core has three or more outward facing fibs, equispaced and parallel with the shaft axis. The drive ill. ig has a matching number of equispaced inward facing slots around a central hole, each of which has an inclined ramp with a stopping surface at each end. Rotation in one direction drives the chive core ribs up the ramps to render the two parts rigidly concentric, ready to continuously drive paper tape through the cutting and wetting area. of the unit. Rotation in the opposite direction by the manual drawing of paper tape through the mechanism, forces the drive core ribs down the drive ring ramps thereby allowing the drive rung and tyre to become loosely eccentric about the drive core, relieving all pressure and grip on the paper tape between the drive ring and the pinch roller. The paper tape will now dispense more freely, with no directional control from the drive wheel and phich roller. Driving the shaft with the motor returns the drive core ribs up the drive ring ramps to re-establish its concentricity and therefore its ability to drive paper out continuously as required.

Further features of the apparatus are also disclosed with reference to Figures 7a and b.

In Figure 7a there is illustrated a tape loading cartridge 90 that is provided to receive the supply of tape in the form of roll 20. The full roll of tape is placed into the cartridge externally of the apparatus and then the cartridge 90, with the roll 20 located therein forms a loading cassette which can then be inserted into position in cavity 92 in the housing of the apparatus in a. sliding manner as indicated by arrow 95 and this is an alternative to the direct loading of the tape roll 20 as shown in Figure 2.

In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an application head 94 as shown in Figure 7b with bristles 96 and the free ends of the bristles, are located adjacent to one or more cavities in an interface part which forms the lower side of the tape path at the water dispensing station 32 and which includes a sump 96 provided to receive excess liquid and/or adhesive which is detached from the tape during the activation process. In one embodiment the dispensing assembly includes a movable flap 98 to allow access to be gained to remove debris and prevent blockage of the movement of the tape through the exit port.

The present invention therefore provides an effective hand-held tape dispensing apparatus which can change between different operating conditions quickly and reliably and thereby improve the dispensing of the tape from the apparatus

Claims

CLAIMS1 Apparatus for the supply, activation and dispensing of a length of adhesive tape, said apparatus including a feed assembly to move the said length of tape to an exit port and cutting means to separate the said length from a supply roll of said adhesive tape held on the apparatus, a liquid application station to allow liquid to be applied to activate an adhesive coating on the said adhesive tape as it passes to the exit port and wherein the feed assembly includes a gap through which the tape passes towards the exit port and at least one rotatable member which is selectively movable between a first condition in which the same allows a drive force to be applied by the feed assembly on the said tape, a second condition in which the said tape can be pulled through the feed assembly and a third condition in which the tape is free to be slid through the feed assembly.
2 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein when the rotatable member is in the first condition, a motor drive operates the feed assembly and hence provides the drive force for movement of the said tape.
3 Apparatus according to claims 1 (Jr 2 wherein when the said rotatable member is in the third condition, the said gap size is greater than that when the rotatable member is in the first and second conditions.
4 Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the said gap is of a dimension to prevent the feed assembly from exerting a drive force on the tape.
3 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein an interlock is provided which, when the drive ring is in the third condition, prevents the drive force from a motor from being exerted on the feed assembly.
6 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the tape lies intermediate the at least one rotatable member on a first side and one or more rollers on the opposing side of the tape and when the rotatable member is in the first condition, the rotatable member is driven by the drive force to rotate and contact and exert a movement force on the tape.
7 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the rotatable member has an internal bore which is shaped so as to selectively engage with a drive shaft via an integral or attached drive core.
8 Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the drive shaft is attached to be driven by the motor.
9 Apparatus according, to any of the preceding claims wherein the second condition is intermediate the first and third conditions and, when in the second condition the said tape is not driven by the drive force and can be pulled through the gap with the rotatable member disengaged from the drive core.
Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the feed assembly for the apparatus includes a drive shaft provided to rotate in a first direction and, as it does so, to move a series of spaced drive members to engage with the rotatable member on which is provided a drive tyre and said drive shafts, members, rotatable member and tyre, are all mounted to rotate around a common first axis.
11 Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein-the said feed assembly includes a second axis of rotation on which is mounted a roller, bearings, and a cam and the said gap is provided between the respective components on the said first and second axes.
12 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein in the third condition, the said gap is of a sufficient size so as to allow free passage of the adhesive tape.
13 Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein in the third condition the said rotatable member and drive tyre are effectively floating.
14 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein when in the second condition the said rotatable member is free wheeling so that the tape can be pulled through the gap which is of substantially the same dimension as when the rotatable member is in the first condition.
15. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the apparatus includes a tape loading cartridge to receive a supply of tape in the form of roll to form a loading cassette which can then be inserted into position in a cavity in the housing of the apparatus.
16. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the apparatus includes an application head including a sump to receive excess liquid and/or adhesive which is detached from the tape during the activation of the adhesive of the tape and a movable flap to allow access to be gained to remove debris and prevent blockage of the movement of the tape through the exit port.