JP6887383B2 - Manual tape applicator device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a manual taping device, and more specifically to an improved device that can ergonomically facilitate the execution of a manual taping operation.

There are many different applicators for manual tape applicators, such as US Pat. No. 2,582,979 issued to Fritzinger on January 22, 1952, Zbinden et al. On August 4, 1970. U.S. Patent No. 3,523,053 issued, U.S. Patent No. 3,831,275 issued to Weik et al. On May 28, 1974, U.S. Patent issued to Urushizaki on December 9, 1980. No. 4,238,271, US Patent No. 4,253,905 issued to Regan on March 3, 1981, US Patent No. 4,345, issued to Iiyoma et al. On August 24, 1982. 966, US Pat. No. 4,762,586 issued to Wilkie on August 9, 1988, US Pat. No. 5,641,377 issued to Chung on June 24, 1997, October 2005. There are applicators described in US Pat. No. 6,799,623 issued to Cheng on May 5, and US Pat. No. 7,669,631 issued to Bailey on March 2, 2010.

In the taping operation, it is generally necessary to always leave a relatively long leading free end on the tape in order to apply it to the next article to be taped, but this part hinders the taping operation. .. In the case of a conventional manual tape sticker, a so-called tape dispenser, the operator usually needs to pull the leading free end of the tape with his finger and attach it to the article before starting the taping process. There is.

A cutting knife is also needed, as the tape is usually supplied as a continuous ribbon from the source of the tape roll. The knife is usually placed away from the tape path and the target article to prevent accidental cutting or damage of the tape during the taping operation. Knife safety guards are also deployed to prevent injuries to workers. U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,377 discloses a knife that retracts from its normal cutting position for safety purposes. U.S. Pat. No. 7,669,631 discloses a mechanism that limits the snapback of the leading free end of the tape.

Some manually actuated tape dispenser devices start the cutting operation by feeding the tape to the cutting blade by some manual triggering operation to cut the tape. For example, US Pat. Nos. 4,762,586, 4,345,966, 4,253,905 and 3,815,275 can be referred to.

No. 4,345,966 and No. 3,815,275 patents, along with Nos. 4,238,271, 3,523,053 and 2,582,979, provide some form of withdrawal system. Then, the free end of the tape is moved in the direction away from the tape attachment position. This movement is often performed by physically moving a tape roll or the like. No. 4,762,586 manually moves the slide to turn the tape and feed the tape over the applicator roll to the tape roll, from which the tape is distributed. To.

These devices disclosed in the patents depend on the manual dexterity of the operator to move the device in the desired direction during the taping operation and / or, in many cases, to cut the tape. The operation is completed by triggering.

A main object of the present invention is to provide an improved manually operated taping device that is easy and safe to use and can maintain control on the device at the leading end of the tape.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a pull-back mechanism for pulling back the leading end of the tape immediately after the tape is cut, and to supply the short cut free end of the tape to the next article to be taped. It is to provide a manually operated tape device that can be used.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a manually operated tape device with an applicator and a cutoff mechanism for making a short free end on the tape for application to the next article to be taped. Is.

A further object of the present invention is manual operation with an applicator and a cutoff mechanism to provide a more desirable cutting angle for the knife and to provide a more active cutting action and a sharper cutting edge for the tape. It is to provide a type of taping device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a cutting knife safety mechanism that requires tape tension to release the knife edge from its retracted position.

A further object of the present invention is to incorporate a tape sticking guide for guiding the device in order to move the device in a direction of relative movement between the tape and the taping device during tape sticking. ..

A further object of the present invention is to provide a manually operated taping device capable of exerting a releaseable braking force on the tape during the tape cutting operation so that the tape is cut more cleanly. ..

A further object of the present invention is to provide a manually operated taping device that includes a guide for holding the tape in place with respect to a tape-attached wiper.

In a broad sense, the present invention is a manually operated tape applicator device, the frame, the tape source of the tape attached by the applicator attached to the frame, the handle extending from the frame, and the tape. A tape path extending from the source to the applicator means for attaching the leading end of the tape and a tape pull-back device deployed on the frame are provided, and the tape pull-back device is attached toward the tape path. When the tension of the tape in the tape path is reduced to the tape retracted position, the tape can be moved to the extension position in order to displace the tape from the normal tape path, and the tape receives tension and the tape roll. When pulled out of, the tape can be moved to a displacement position that forces the tape to move from the normal path to the retracted tape path, which allows the leading end of the tape to be pulled back towards the tape roll.

Another aspect of the invention to obtain a short free end on the tape and / or improve the cutting operation is to use a manually operated tape applicator, wherein the applicator is a frame and. A tape source of tape attached by the applicator attached to the frame, a handle extending from the frame, and a tape path extending from the tape source to the applicator means for attaching the leading end of the tape. A means for mounting the applicator means to the frame, and a means for urging the applicator means from a retracted position to an initial position where the applicator means attaches the leading end portion of the tape. And.

The present invention is also a manually operated tape applicator, from a frame, a tape source of tape attached by the applicator attached to the frame, a handle extending from the frame, and the tape source. The tape comprises a tape path extending into an applicator for attaching the leading end of the tape and a tape guide composed of edges attached to the frame disposed spaced from the handle. It extends along the tape path in the traveling direction of the tape, and the tape guide extends from the frame in a direction parallel to the traveling direction of the tape.

In a broad sense, the present invention relates to a manual tape applicator, wherein the tape applicator rotatably attaches to a main frame and a first axis of the main frame and has an adhesive surface and a non-adhesive surface. , A guide roll for guiding the tape from the tape source toward the tape applicator wiper attached to the wiper assembly rotatably attached to the second shaft of the main frame. At least one guide roll capable of moving the applicator wiper between the extended immovable position and the retracted cutting position when rotated around the wiper assembly and the wiper assembly attached to the extended immovable position. A urging means, a cutter assembly rotatably attached to the third shaft of the main frame, an upper wiper projecting from the cutter assembly, and a cutter blade attached to the cutter assembly. A latch cam element extending from the cutter assembly and a collaborative cam on the wiper assembly are provided, and when the applicator wiper is in the extended immovable position, the latch cam and the collaborative cam interact with each other. The cutter assembly is prevented from moving so that when the applicator wiper moves at least somewhat between the extension position and the retracted position, the cutter assembly freely rotates on the third axis. Nonetheless, the first axis, the second axis and the third axis are parallel.

Preferably, the latch cam comprises a cam element connected to the cutter assembly by an arm, the collaborative cam has a slot having a notch formed in the wiper assembly, and the slot accommodates the cam element. Will be done.

Preferably, the applicator wiper extends between a first end and a free end adjacent to the at least one guide roll, the at least one guide roll being a braking guide roll, said first. The end of 1 is on the side of the second shaft adjacent to the braking guide roll, and when the applicator wiper is in the extending position, it is separated from the braking guide roll and the applicator wiper is separated from the braking guide roll. When in the retracted position, it is pressed toward the braking guide roll and clamps the tape between the braking guide roll and the first end.

Preferably, the applicator wiper extends between a first end and a free end adjacent to the at least one guide roll, the first end adjacent to the braking guide roll. On the side of the second shaft, the free end is on the opposite side of the second shaft, a pair of opposing tabs are attached to the frame, the second shaft and the free end. When the applicator wiper is located adjacent to each side of the applicator wiper, and each of the tabs is arranged so as to overlap the adjacent side edges of the tape, and the applicator wiper is in the extending position. The tab is pressed against the adhesive surface of the tape, and when the applicator wiper moves to the retracted position, the tab and the tape separate.

Preferably, the applicator wiper is wider at the adjacent portion of the free end than at the adjacent portion of the first end, and the applicator is located between the first end and the free end. A narrow portion extending at least half the length of the wiper is formed, the tabs adjacent to the narrow portion of the applicator wiper, each of which overlaps the adjacent side edges of the tape, but the applicator wiper. When the applicator wiper is in the extension position, the tab is pressed against the adhesive surface of the tape, and when the applicator wiper moves to the retracted position, the tab and the tape are separated.

Further features, objectives and advantages will become apparent by reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1a (prior art) is a diagram showing a state of a conventional handheld tape applicator when the tape is cut to complete the taping work of the carton, and the tape is moved to the rear part of the carton by the downward movement of the wiper. It is folded on a vertical surface. FIG. 1b (conventional technique) is a diagram showing a position where the same handheld tape applicator as the tape applicator shown in FIG. 1a is in a position where the tape is attached to the front vertical surface of the carton. FIG. 1c (conventional technique) is a diagram showing adjacent cut edges of tapes cut using a conventional cutting device.

FIG. 2a is a hand applicator of the present invention showing a tape applicator including a spring-loaded tape pull-back device. FIG. 2b shows that the same handheld tape applicator as the tape applicator shown in FIG. 2a is ready to tape the tape to the vertical plane of the illustrated carton.

FIG. 3 is a hand-held tape applicator according to the present invention, showing a tape applicator in a standard position where tape can be attached to the front vertical surface of a carton.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state when the tape applicator of FIG. 3 cuts the tape. FIG. 4a is a diagram showing adjacent cut edges of opposite portions of a tape cutting portion performed using the preferred cutoff system of the present invention (including FIGS. 3 to 6).

FIG. 5 is a handheld tape applicator according to another embodiment of the present invention, showing a tape applicator in a standard position where tape can be attached to the front vertical surface of a carton.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state when the tape applicator of FIG. 5 cuts the tape.

FIG. 7a is a side view showing a simplified operation of the operation guide or the center guide gauge in a preferable form. FIG. 7b is an end view showing a state in which the guide of FIG. 7a is placed in the gap between adjacent ends of the carton's closed flaps to guide the movement of the applicator. FIG. 7c is an end view showing a state in which the guide of FIG. 7a is arranged on the side portion of the carton in order to facilitate attachment of more than half the width of the tape to the top surface portion of the illustrated carton.

FIG. 8 shows a cutoff system similar to the cutoff system of FIGS. 3 and 4, but the cutting knife is fixed to the frame.

FIG. 9 is a side view of another embodiment of the present invention, in which parts are omitted for clarity. FIG. 9a is a view looking up at the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 9 from below, showing a positioning tab for holding a tape adjacent to the applicator wiper.

FIG. 10 is a partial view similar to FIG. 1, but the applicator wiper is in the extension position and presses the tape between the positioning tab and the applicator wiper to tape the tape in a position adjacent to the applicator wiper. It is a figure which shows the applicator wiper which holds and holds a cut-off assembly in a latched position.

FIG. 11 is a partial view similar to FIG. 2, but the applicator wiper moves toward the retracted position, the tape is in a position where it does not hit the tab, and the tape is freely pulled out from the tape source and attached. The cutoff assembly can be in a non-latched position.

FIG. 12 is a partial view similar to FIG. 10, but the tape is clamped between the guide roll and the adjacent end of the applicator wiper to move the applicator wiper to the retracted position and facilitate cutting. The cutoff assembly is in the cutting position and the tape is released from the positioning tab.

1a and 1b show the prior art and are included to show the important disadvantages of the prior art. These figures show an applicator 10 which is a simple form applicator and has a frame 12, a handle 14, and a tape roll attachment portion 15 to which a tape roll 16 is attached. The tape 18 (having an adhesive surface 17 and a non-adhesive surface 19) is drawn from the roll 16, passes along the tape path 21, is guided to the applicator roll 20 by a guide plate or a blade 23, and is attached (an article). In the illustrated example, the adhesive surface 17 of the tape 18 is attached to the carton 22). On the frame 12, a cutoff knife 26 is provided in front of the tape 18 of the applicator roll 20 in the moving direction, and a wiper 24 that wipes down in the trailing direction is provided (note that the cutoff system is a wiper down wiper 24). A relatively simple example including a knife is given, but recently, a system with a knife guard is widely known, and it will be clear that a system with this knife guard will be used).

FIG. 1a shows a tape source that has problems with respect to the length of the free end 28 of the tape 18, which tape has a long free end 28 and is indicated by a distance X. This length X is determined by the distance between the cutoff knife 26 and the outer circumference of the applicator roll 20.

In FIG. 1b, the problem caused by the length X of the free end 28 of the tape 18 is that the free end of the tape is not supported, is on the same remote side from the tape roll 16, and is effectively pressed onto the vertical surface of the carton. It is free to extend from the applicator roll 20 for. Since the non-contact end or free end 28 of length X is not in a position where it is pressed against the carton 22 by the normal operation of the tape applicator, it must be pressed against the carton 22 by other means such as a hand. Only the tape 18 on the opposite side of the free end 28 acts on the carton 22 by the roll 20. The present invention provides a long-standing solution to the shortcomings.

2a and 2b show a manual tape applicator 10 that can solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art relatively easily, and FIGS. 2a and 2b show an equivalent portion of the tape applicator 10. , The same reference number as the reference number used above is used. FIG. 2a shows the hand applicator 10a as in FIG. 1a, the distance between the cutoff knife 26 and the perimeter of the applicator roll 20 is the same as in FIG. 1 and the freedom formed by the applicator 10a. The length X1 of the end 28 is the same as the length of the free end 28 formed by the conventional applicator 10 shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b.

FIG. 1c shows the cut edges 500 and 502 formed by the cutting operation of FIG. 1a, which is jagged, as is clear from FIG. 1c, but more importantly, the serrations commonly used in the industry. The depth of the groove is increasing until the tip or tip of the blade 26 creates the groove 504 and the tip passes through the tape to complete the cut. The unwanted cut edges 500, 502 shown in FIG. 1c are produced because the conventional cutting direction is such that the tape path when cutting the tape is orthogonal to the knife, that is, the approach angle is 90 °.

In the present invention, as described below, the preferred cut edges 600, 602 shown in FIG. 4c are achieved by changing the tape path angle when cutting the tape.

The applicator 10a shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b includes an outer circumference of a tape roll 16 constituting a tape source from which the tape 18 for tape attachment is drawn, and an article to which the tape is attached (a carton 22 in the case of the drawing). A change has been made so that the tape 18 passes through a different tape path 30 with respect to the applicator roll 20 that abuts the adhesive surface 17 of the tape 18. The tape path 30 is composed of a pair of parallel guide rolls 32, 34 arranged at intervals, and the tape 18 is fed over the guide rolls to the applicator roll 20. A tape pull-back device 36 is arranged between the two rollers 32 and 34 so that the device can rotate to the frame 12 at position 40 in the system shown in FIGS. 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b. It is formed by an attached lever arm 38 and is spring urged by a spring 42 toward the path 30 between the rolls 32 and 34. The frame 12 of the embodiments of FIGS. 2a and 2b may optionally make minor changes to the frames of FIGS. 1a and 1b to adapt to the modified path 30 and pullback device 36. it can. The arm 38 is preferably provided with a bent free end 44 so that it extends over the entire width of the tape 18 and facilitates passage of the tape 18 over it.

During operation, the tension of the tape 18 causes a force larger than the pressure from the spring 42 to act on the lever arm 38 of the pull-back device 36, and the arm 38 moves to the position shown in FIG. 2a. The path 30 between them is relatively straight and short. When the tape 18 is cut by the knife 26, the tension of the tape is released, and by the action of the spring 42, the lever arm 38 is pressed against the stopper 46 protruding from the frame 12 and moves to the extension position shown in FIG. 2b. To do. The path 30 between the rolls 32 and 34 is transformed from the relatively straight path shown in FIG. 2a (broken line in FIG. 2b) to the bent path 31 shown in FIG. 2b, and thus the rolls 32 and 34. The length of the tape 18 extending between and is increased. This additional length is obtained by pulling the free end 28 backward along the path 30 towards the roll 16. That is, the free end 28 of the tape 18 is no longer held by tension and recedes freely to form the bending path 31, thus reducing the excess amount of non-contact exposed to the free end of the tape 18. By setting the length of the tape pulled back by the drawback mechanism 36, it is not necessary to wipe the tail end 28 by hand, so that the applicator roll 20 of the applicator 10a abbreviates the tape 18 to the carton 22. It can be pressed against the top portion 46 of the carton 22 over the entire length "Y". That is, the roll 20 presses the tape 18 against the carton 22 from the initial position where the tape 18 is attached to the top portion 46 of the carton 22.

In all the illustrated embodiments, as is widely known, the applicator roll 20 can be replaced by an applicator wiper and vice versa. These terms as used herein should be construed as such. A suitable guide 48 can be provided to prevent the tape 18 from moving laterally.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 3-6, the length of the free end 128 of the tape 118 uses at least one of the mechanisms incorporated in this embodiment. That is, by using a pull-back mechanism 150 that is similar to, but simpler than, the mechanism 36 described above, and / or, as described below, when the cutoff knife 156 cuts the tape 118, it cuts. This is done by arranging the free end 152 of the applicator wiper 154 in a position close to the off-knife 156.

The manually operated tape applicator 110 of FIGS. 3 and 4 includes a frame 112, and a roll 116 is mounted on a tape roll mounting portion 115 attached to the frame, and the tape 118 is unwound from the roll.

In the illustrated system, the dancer arm 160 is rotatably attached to the frame 112 at the position of the shaft 162 adjacent to one end of the arm 160. The shaft 162 also functions as a rotation shaft of the roll 164. There is a nip roll 166 adjacent to the free end of the arm 160, which abuts on the outer circumference of the tape roll 116 and is contacted and held by a spring 168 extending between the arm 160 and the frame 112. The free end of the arm 160, and thus the nip roll 166, comes into contact with the tape roll 116 due to the urging force of the arm 160.

The dancer arm 160 attaches a cutter edge folding station 170 as described in US Pat. No. 8,393,375, granted to Lam on March 12, 2013, although not essential in the present invention. Can also be used for. This U.S. patent is incorporated herein by reference.

The pull-back mechanism 136 operates in the same manner as the pull-back mechanism 36, but in the pull-back mechanism 136, a roller attached to the free end of the arm 174 rotatably attached to the frame 112 at a position 176 away from the roll 172. 172 is included. When the arm 174 rotates around the mounting portion 176, the roll 172 moves with respect to the tape path 130, and the path shown in FIG. 3 when the tension of the tape 118 is released and the path shown in FIG. 3 and the tape 118 are unwound and tensioned. It will be clear that the length of the tape path 130 between and the tape path 130 shown in FIG. 4 will change when receiving. To achieve this, the roll 172 is urged towards the tape path 130 by a spring 178. When the tape is not tensioned, the spring 178 holds the arm 174 against the stopper 180, and when the tape 118 is tensioned, the spring 178 is compressed by the force generated by acting on the roll 172, whereby the roll 172 is compressed. Moves to the position shown in FIG. The pullback mechanisms 36 and 136 operate essentially the same by extending the length of the tape path from the tape roll 16 or 116 to the applicator roll 20 or wiper 154 when the tension on the tape 18 or 118 is released. However, it will be clear that this pulls back the free end 28 or 128 of the tape 18 or 118.

The applicator and cutting mechanism of the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4 are significantly different from those described above with reference to FIGS. 2a and 2b.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 (and FIGS. 5 and 6), the applicator is in the form of a wiper 154 attached to the applicator's mounting arm 202, which mounting arm is in the form of an L-shaped lever. The locking arm 206 of the L-shaped lever 200 is rotatably mounted on one side of the pivot mounting portion 204 represented by reference numeral 204 of the frame 112, and the locking arm 206 of the L-shaped lever 200 is on the other side of the pivot mounting portion 204. The spring 208 urges the wiper to the extension position, and the locking arm 206 is pressed against the stopper 210 fixed to the frame 112. The edge near the free end of the arm 202 and farther from the wiper 154 provides the cam surface 212. This will be explained later.

The trailing or actuating wiper 220 is used to actuate the cutoff knife 222, both attached to the arm 224, cutting the tape 118 and forming an important part of the cutoff mechanism 225. The arm 224 is rotatably attached by reference numeral 226 of the frame 112, urged by a spring 228, and abuts on the stopper 230 fixed to the frame 112. The adjacent edge portion 232 of the arm 224 cooperates with the stopper 230 to stop the counterclockwise movement around the mounting portion 226.

A collaborative cam 234 is attached to the end of the arm 224 near the wiper 154, the collaborative cam being shown as a cam roller, but may have any suitable cam surface and the arm. Arranged to collaborate with cam 212 of 202, relative movement between the applicator formed by the L-shaped lever 200 and the actuation or trailing wiper 220 described below is blocked or allowed.

FIG. 4 shows the cutting action of the knife 222. The position of the applicator wiper 154 immediately after the cams 212 and 234 are separated is indicated by a solid line, and the position when the cams 212 and 234 are separated and immediately after the tape 118 is cut by a knife is indicated by a broken line. As described above, the wiper 154 at the solid line position is only at the time of cutting and for a moment before cutting. Such cam separation occurs when the cutoff mechanism 225 is activated or the trailing wiper 220 is rotated as indicated by the arrow 250 and the arm 224 is moved away from the stopper 230 so that the cam 234 is cam. This is because the 212 is forcibly moved and the engagement with the cam 212 is released.

As soon as the cam 212 and 234 are disengaged, the tension of the tape 118 acts again on the spring 208 and the wiper 154 moves from the dashed line position to the solid line position. Next, the knife 222 of the cutoff mechanism 225 cuts the tape 118 and the tension is released, so that the wiper 154 is returned to the broken line position by the spring 208.

The pull-back mechanism 136 is held in the position shown in FIG. 4 until the tape 118 is cut. That is, the tension of the tape presses the spring 178 to form a short tape path 130 between the tape roll 116 and the applicator 154. However, when the tape is cut by the knife 222 and the tension of the tape is released, the action of the spring 174 causes the pullback mechanism to move to the position shown in FIG. 3 and the path between the tape roll 116 and the wiper 154. Increase the length of 130. This causes the free end 148 of the tape 118 to be returned towards the roll 116, producing a short free leading end on the tape. If certain movements are sufficiently reduced, this leading end may be an alternative to the pullback mechanism 36 or 136. That is, with such a short free end of the tape, the pullback mechanism may not be needed.

When the wiper moves to the solid line position shown in FIG. 4, the approach angle of the knife 222 changes and cuts through the tape 118, so that the tape can be easily cut.

A preferred embodiment of the cutting operation of the present invention is the entry angle or the attack angle of the tape path (with the tape as the tape 118 moves relative to the tape to cut the tape 118). By reducing the angle between the knives), the tape 118 is oriented with respect to the cutting blade 222. The angle C indicates an angle change between the applicator wiper when the tape is attached (broken line) and the direction of the wiper when the tape is cut (solid line position). That is, the cutting angle is not vertical as in conventional devices. This orientation of the knife 222 with respect to the tape 18 at the time of cutting produces essentially the same cut edges 600 and 602 and does not form the grooves as shown in 504 of FIG. 1c.

Also when the wiper retracts, the distance between the cutting blade 222 and the adjacent end 152 of the wiper 154 (see FIG. 3) is reduced, which also reduces the length of the free end of the tape 118.

5 and 6 show more complex cutoff and applicator systems that can be used in place of the systems shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In this embodiment, the pull-back mechanism and other elements that carry the tape to the attachment position are essentially the same, so only the changes in the downstream portion will be described.

In this embodiment, the tape 118 is guided from the pullback mechanism 136 to the cutoff and applicator mechanism 300 via a guide 302. The applicator portion 301 of the mechanism 300 is formed by an L-shaped applicator lever 304 rotatably attached to the frame 312 at the position indicated by reference numeral 306. The applicator lever carries a sticking wiper or an applicator wiper 308 on one side of the arm 310, and the free end 314 of the other arm 316 forming the first cam is a mechanism 317 as described below. Cooperates with the push plate 334 of.

The cutoff portion 317 of the mechanism 300 is rotatably attached to the frame 312 at the position indicated by reference numeral 321 and comprises a second L-shaped arm 321 urged counterclockwise by the spring 323. A trailing or actuating wiper 320 and a cutting knife 320 are attached to the arm 321. The push plate 334 forming the cooperative action cam cooperates with the free end portion 314 of the arm 316, and is attached to the cutoff portion 317 on the knife side opposite to the cutting blade of the arm 316. It is arranged so as to engage at a position adjacent to the cam 314.

The connecting bar 336 connects the arm 310 to the arm 321 via a restricted slip connection 338, thereby interconnecting the mechanical portions 301 and 317 for combinatorial action.

In the system shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the pullback device 136, which functions as described above based on the tension of the tape 118, operates as follows. At the start of the taping operation, the mechanism is in the position shown in FIG. 5, and when the tape acts on the carton 122, tension is applied to the tape 118 and the pull-back mechanism 136 moves to the position shown in FIG. When the taping operation is performed at the trailing corner of the carton, the mechanism 300 is operated by operating or moving the trailing wiper 320 to move to the position shown in FIG. When the wiper 320 initially moves clockwise in FIG. 6, the push plate 334 (which forms a collaborative cam) comes into contact with the adjacent surface of the arm 316 (which forms a cam), causing the arm 304 to rotate. Then, the free end 314 rotates in the same clockwise direction around the mounting portion 306 until it passes through the push plate 334. At this time, since the trailing wiper continues to move clockwise around the mounting portion 321, the connecting bar acts to rotate the arm 304 in the opposite direction. This changes the direction of the applicator wiper 308 and brings its free end closer to the knife 326, which improves the approach angle of the knife 326 and cuts through the tape 18 for easier cutting. As a result, the length of the free end of the tape is shortened (see the description of FIGS. 3 and 4).

The upper edge of the cam 212 and the arm 316 adjacent to the free end 314 acts as a latch cam with the respective collaborative cams 234 and 334 and is released by the movement of the trailing or actuating wiper 220 or 320, respectively. Free the applicator wiper 154 or 308 to move with respect to frame 112. Since the counterclockwise rotation of the arm 202 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is prevented by the stopper 210, this release movement is adapted in the embodiments of these figures by deformation of the arm 202 or cam surface 212. To. Similar counterclockwise movements in the embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6 are controlled by the restricted slip connection 338.

As described above, the devices of FIGS. 5 and 6 reduce the angle of alignment and shorten the free end of the tape, as described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

The manually operated applicator may be provided with an applicator guide that guides the user so that the tape 18 or 118 can be placed at a desired position on the article in the carton (22, 122, etc.) to be taped. it can. One embodiment of such a guide is shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6, and another embodiment is shown in FIGS. 7a, 7b and 7c. Each guide is attached to the frame 12 or 112 and, when applied to the cartons 22, 122, is orthogonal to the guide edge 400, ie, the axis of rotation 40 or 176, which extends parallel to the running normal of the tapes 18, 118. Includes a guide edge that extends in the direction of the run.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6, the guide 400 is formed by a disk or the like 402. It may also include a second edge formed by a flat flat surface 404 that projects from the free end of the handle 14 or 114 and extends in line with the flat surface of the disc 402. The positions of 402 and 404 with respect to the width W of the tape 18 or 118 (see FIGS. 7a, 7b and 7c) and the operation of the guide 400 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 7a, 7b and 7c.

With reference to FIGS. 7a, 7b and 7c, preferred embodiments of the guide 400 are shown. In this embodiment, a thin guide plate 406 replaces the disc 402 and the flat surface portion 404 to form a continuous guide edge, the guide edge being free as indicated by reference numerals 408 of handles 14, 114. It extends from the frame 12 or 112 at a distance from the adjacent portion adjacent to the end to define the opening 410. The guide plate also has the function of protecting the user, as the opening can accept the user's hand when the device is in use. As is clear from FIG. 7b, the plane of the guide 406 extends parallel to the traveling direction of the tape and is usually aligned with the centerline of the tape, i.e., the intermediate width 1 / 2W of the tape having the tape width W.

The guide 400 can be used as an aiming reference for the operator to first position the leading end of the tape with respect to the carton, but a better way of using the guide 400 is shown in FIGS. 7b and 7c. Has been done. In FIG. 7b, guides are placed between the adjacent edges 420 and 422 of the closed flaps 424 and 426 of the cartons 22 and 122, and the guide 400 is with these edges 420 and / or 422 of the closed flaps 424 and 426. Guided to move in parallel, the tape 18 or 118 can be reliably attached parallel to these edges 420, 422, and the guide 400 is collinear with the centerline 425 of the tape. That is, since it is 1 / 2W away from one side surface of the tape 18 or 118, substantially the same tape width is surely attached to each of the flaps 424 and 426.

In FIG. 7c, the guide 400 is placed in contact with the side surface 450 of the carton, 1 / 2W of tape 18 or 188 is affixed to the adjacent surface of carton 22 or 122, the other 1 / 2W protrudes from the carton and the wall. Folded to 450 to seal the corners of the carton.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 3-6, the cutting knives 222 and 326 move relative to frames 112 and 312, respectively, during the cutting operation. FIG. 8 shows a modification of FIG. 3, in which the cutting blade 422 is directly fixed to the frame 112. In this configuration, the mechanism 425 corresponds to the mechanism 225 of FIG. 3 and includes an arm 424 corresponding to 224. The arm 424 is attached to the frame 412 via a rotary attachment portion 426 and a spring 428, and includes a stopper 430 corresponding to the stopper 230, similarly to the attachment of the arm 224 in FIG. However, the stopper 430 is housed in slot 431, and the arm 424 is rotatable around 426. The cam 434 corresponding to the cam 234 acts in cooperation with the cam surface 212 of the L-shaped lever 200 in the same manner as the cams 234 and 212, and functions as a latch cam. The latch cam releases the L-shaped arm 200 by the tension action of the tape 118, and the tape 118 rotates to a position where it is cut by the knife 422. That is, the cams 434 and 212 function in the same manner as the cams 234 and 212 when the trailing wiper 420 corresponding to the wiper 200 moves to rotate the arm 424.

In the illustrated embodiment, the tape source is a roll attached to the applicator, but other suitable tape sources may be used. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the applicator 200 is rotatably attached to the frame 112 at the position 204. The applicator 200 can also be made of an elastic material that can be deformed by the tension of the tape when the cams 212 and 234 are disengaged and the applicator is free to move by the tension of the tape. Under such circumstances, the upstream end of the applicator 200 can be fixed without being rotatable with respect to the frame.

With reference to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 9-12, FIG. 9 shows a manual tape applicator 510 of the present invention, the applicator comprising a mainframe 512 with a handle 514 projecting from it. The handle 514 extends to a position where the user can grip it when using the device. The tape roll 516 supplies the tape 518 attached by the applicator 510 and is attached to the frame 512 in the usual way as shown by 520. The tape 518 has an adhesive or adhesive surface 522 and a non-adhesive surface 524. The tape 518 passes through the guide rolls 526 and 528 and forms part of a tape path 530 from the tape roll 516 to the applicator wiper 532. As described below, the guide roll 528 also functions as a braking guide roll 528 is rotatably mounted to the shaft constituting the first shaft 534.

An applicator assembly 538 is rotatably attached to a second shaft constituting the second shaft 536, and the applicator assembly 538 is an applicator to which an applicator wiper 532 is attached. It comprises an arm 542 composed of a frame 540 and connected to a pin 546 attached to the frame 552 of the cutter assembly 550 via a spring 544, which will be described later. The spring 544 urges the assembly 538 to rotate the assembly counterclockwise on the shaft 536 shown in FIGS. 9, 10, 11 and 12 to bring the applicator wiper 532 to FIGS. 9 and 10. Move to the indicated extension position.

A cutter assembly 550 is also rotatably attached to the mainframe 512 around a third shaft that constitutes the third shaft 548. The cutter assembly is composed of a cutter frame 552, and a cutter or a cutter blade 554 and an upper portion or an operating wiper 556 are attached to the cutter frame. The latch cam 558 is attached to an arm 560 extending from the frame 552. The latch cam 558 engages with a slot-shaped collaborative cam 562 extending through the applicator frame 540. The slot or cam 562 has a laterally extending notch 564 at the end adjacent to the second shaft 536 and a latch cam when the applicator wiper 532 is in the extension position shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. 558 is housed in the notch. At this position, the movement of the cutter assembly 550 is blocked so that the position of the cutter assembly 550 is essentially held when the latch cam is in the notch 564. The lower surface of the cam 562 cooperates with the adjacent edge 565 of the cam 558 to stop the clockwise movement of the applicator assembly 538. This will be described below.

As described above, one end of the spring 544 is connected to the pin 546. The pin 546 is connected to the cut-off frame 552 via the arm 566 at a position slightly away from the third shaft 548, and the cutter assembly is forced, for example, counterclockwise in the figures shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The cut-off assembly 550 is held in contact with the stopper 568 protruding from the main frame 512. The second stopper 570 also protrudes from the mainframe 512, and the cutoff assembly 550 limits movement in the clockwise direction, for example shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

As is apparent from FIGS. 9 and 10, when the cutoff assembly is pressed against the stopper 568 by the spring 544 and the applicator assembly 538, i.e. the applicator wiper 532, is in the extended position, the latch cam 558 is collaborative cam 562. It is housed in the notch 564 of the cutoff assembly 550 and the movement of the cutoff assembly 550 is blocked.

As shown in FIG. 11, the applicator wiper 532 has a first end 574 adjacent to the braking guide roll and a free end 572 adjacent to the cutoff assembly 550. The wiper 532 is formed wider adjacent to its free end 57 2 than its first end 574, with a narrow portion 576 being a significant portion (preferably more than half) of the length of the wiper 532. It extends from the first end 574 to the free end 572. The first end 574 is on the side of the shaft adjacent to the braking guide roll 528 of the shaft 536 and the free end 572 is on the opposite side of the shaft 536.

The pair of opposing tabs 578 and 580 overlap the edges or side edges 582 and 584 of the tape 518 in areas where the edges or side edges 582 and 584 of the tape 518 are not supported by the applicator wiper. That is, tabs 578 and 580 are present on either side of the narrow portion 576 and, in the illustrated embodiment, cover a portion of the narrow portion 576 without extending across the tape.

The tab 580 is fixed directly to the mainframe 512, while the tab 578 facing the tab 580 is a plate or panel 586 attached to the free end of the shafts 536 and 548 (the end farther from the mainframe 512). Connected to and protrudes from it. Both tabs 578 and 580 have trailing edges 579 and 581 inclined in the direction of travel (tape travel direction), respectively, with free ends 583 and 585 adjacent to the downstream end of the tab. This shape facilitates the running of the tape, the edges 582 as shown, located between the tabs 578 and 580, A Ssenburi 538, the adhesive surface 522 of the tape 518 faces the tabs 578 and 580.

As mentioned above, the tape 518 is pulled out of the roll 516, passes around the roll 526, passes through the roll 528 and reaches the applicator wiper 532. The applicator wiper is used to attach the tape 518 to a box or the like 590 (see FIGS. 11 and 12).

When not in use, or at the start of the taping operation, the various parts of the device 510 are in the positions shown in FIG. That is, the applicator wiper 532 is in the extended position, the latch cam 558 is housed in the cam notch 564, and the cutoff assembly 550 hits the stopper 568 urged by the spring 544 to prevent movement. At this position, the tabs 578 and 580 (only 580 are shown) come into contact with the adhesive surface 522 of the tape 518, and the tape 518 is held in that position.

At the start of the taping operation, the applicator assembly 538 and the applicator wiper 532 move from the extension position to the position shown in FIG. At this position, the tape is usually attached by the device 10. When in this position, the latch cam 558 disengages from the notch 564 so that the cut assembly 550 is free to move, but is held by the spring 544 against the stopper 568, with the edge 565 of the cam 558 engaging the lower edge 563 of the cam 562. It fits. That is, the adjacent edges 563 and 565 engage to prevent further movement of the applicator assembly 538. The tape 518 (which tends to move with the applicator wiper 532) is also free to move away from the tabs 578 and 580, and the tape 518 is freely unwound during attachment to a box or the like 590. Can be

When the tape is attached to the box or the like 590, the work is completed by cutting the tape 518 as shown in FIG. This is done by pushing the entire top or actuating wiper 556 against the adjacent corner 592 of the box or the like 590 to move the actuating wiper 556, which causes the cutoff assembly 550 to come into contact with the stopper 570 and the cutter 554. Is the cutting position. By moving the actuating wiper 556, the latch cam 558 is disengaged from the lower edge portion 563 and slides, and the applicator assembly 538 becomes free to move and further moves in the clockwise direction. At the same time, the tension of the tape 518 generated by the movement of the device 510 causes the applicator assembly 538 to rotate clockwise. As a result, the applicator wiper 532 moves to the retracted position, the free end 572 of the wiper 532 moves to the position closest to the cutter 554, and the distance between the cutter 554 and the free end 572 is minimized. The tape 518 can be easily cut. Also, the end 574 of the applicator wiper 532 adjacent to the roll 528 moves and presses the tape against the roll 528, thus preventing further movement of the tape 518 (ie, the end 574 is adjacent to the braking guide roll 528. As the assembly 538 moves clockwise, the end 574 is pressed against the tape so that the end 574 and the roll 528 become like a clam same).

Having described the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the wiper 532 can be replaced with a roller attached to the applicator assembly, in which case the free end of the applicator 538 is placed in the illustrated embodiment to attach the tape 518. Used for. If this is done and a brake is provided, the same elements as the end 574 must be provided to collaborate with the roll 528, just as the end 574 collaborates to form the brake. It doesn't become.

Claims (4)

Manual tape applicator device (510)
Mainframe (512) and
With a tape source (516) that is attached to the main frame (512) and feeds out a tape (518) having an adhesive surface (522) and a non-adhesive surface (524) so that it can be attached to a surface such as a box (590). ,
A first guide roll (526) rotatably attached to the main frame (512),
A second guide roll (528) deployed downstream of the first guide roll (526) and rotatably attached to the main frame (512) via a first shaft (534).
A handle (514) extending from the mainframe (512) and
The deployed on the main frame (512), wherein the tape (518) applicator means (538) for the leading end portion is adhered to the surface of the box (590) of, for cutting the tape (518) The cutter assembly (550) and the urging means (544) stretched between the applicator means (538) and the cutter assembly (550) are provided .
The applicator means (538) includes an applicator frame (540) rotatably attached to the main frame (512) via a second shaft (536), and a free end (572) and a rear end. part has a (574), the deployed to the applicator frame (540), an applicator wiper (532) for attaching said tape (518) in the box (590), said applicator frame (540 ), The first guide roll (526) , and the second guide roll (528) from the collaborative cam means (562) having an edge (563) and the tape supply source (516). and said through an applicator wiper (532), wherein the free end of the applicator wiper (532) and (572) the tape path (530) extending to, and comprises a,
The cutter assembly (550) has a cutter frame (552) rotatably attached to the main frame (512) via a third shaft (548) and the tape (518) at a second position. and Ca Tsu coater blade (554) of cutting, said third axis (548) actuating a wiper for actuating extending out said cutter blade (554) from said main frame in a direction transverse to (512) outwardly and (556) It is equipped with an arm (560) having a latch cam means (558) at the tip.
One end of the urging means (544) is attached to the applicator frame (540), the other end is connected to the cutter assembly (550), and the applicator wiper (532) is attached to the free end portion (540). 572) is an initial position of sticking the tape (518) to the box (590), urging to so that configuration to the first position is a position where movement is prevented in the cutter assembly (550) Being done
The first position is the extension position of the applicator wiper (532), and the second position is the retracted position of the applicator wiper (532).
When the free end (572) of the applicator wiper (532) is pressed against the box (590) in order to attach the tape (518) to the box (598), the applicator wiper (532) against the biasing force of the biasing means (544), at least some move toward the front Kinobede position to said retracted position, prior Symbol cutter assembly (550) is said third axis (548 ) Can be rotated,
When the latch cam means (558) and the edge (563) of the collaborative cam means (562) engage, the applicator wiper (532) is blocked from moving and the tape (518) is the tape source. It is drawn out from (516) and attached to the box (590).
When the actuating wiper (556) abuts on the corner (592) of the box (590), the actuating wiper (556) rotates around the third axis (548) and the latch cam means (558). ) And the edge (563) of the collaborative cam means (562) are disengaged, and the applicator wiper (532) rotates and moves toward the retracted position.
When the applicator wiper (532) reaches the retracted position, the latch cam means (558) and the collaborative cam means (562) engage, and the cutter blade (554) cuts the tape (518). Can be a manual tape applicator device. The manual tape applicator device of claim 1, wherein the collaborative cam means (562) is slot-shaped, has a notch (564), and the latch cam means (558) is housed in the notch (564). .. The rear end of the applicator wiper (532) (574), said time applicator wiper (532) is in said extended position, spaced from said second guide roll (528), before Symbol applicator wiper When the (532) is in the retracted position, it is pressed toward the second guide roll (528) and the tape (518) is placed on the second guide roll (528) and the applicator wiper (532). The manual tape applicator device of claim 1 or 2 , which is clamped to and from the rear end (574). The applicator means (538) further includes a tape guide (400) that guides the traveling of the tape (518), and the tape guide (400) is parallel to the traveling direction of the tape (518) and is a main frame ( 512) The manual tape applicator device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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