US2357173A - Strip affixing device - Google Patents

Description

,F. J. CONNOLLY STRIP AFFIXING DEVICE Filed Nov. 19, 1942 Aug. 29, 1944.

Patented Aug. 29, 1 944 UNITED STATES PATENT oF-FicE Application November 19, 1942, Serial No. 466, 229 In Great Britain November 20, 1941 9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements co'nnected with devices for aflixing tape, ribbon and like strips and is concerned with portable hand devices for afixin'g strip material such as gummed paper strip or adhesive tape to the surfaces of articles such as parcels.

One object of the present invention is to enable the strip of material to be passed into an aflixing device Without danger of jamming or tearing. Another object is to adapt the portable hand devices in question so that by a ready interchange of parts they can be used for the ap plication of strips of different widths, whereas at present a separate device complete in itself is necessary for each width of strip to be applied. Another object is to provide a'liquid' reservoir of more convenient shape and dimensions and better adapted for manipulation than those heretofore provided. Yet another object is toprovide for the more convenient and efi'lcient hand operation of pivotally mounted afiixing means and severing mean-s mounted at the delivery end of the appliance.

With portable hand devices for afiixing a strip' taken from a roll, the strip may easily become curled, coiled or cockled in its passage between the reel and the hand device, particularly if the latter is being Worked around the several sides of a package. The'result is that as such curled strip arrives at the intake guides of known devices, which guides are adapted'for receiving the strip in a flat condition, the curled strip is apt to jam, catch or tear in the inlet thereby involving a loss of time and material. Moreover, a gummed paper strip may become gummy or tacky in passing to the device, or when coming into contact with guide parts of the device and" an adhesiv tape may be tacky and sticky as it comes from a reel or roll. For'this reason it is desirable that the gummy or tacky surface of a strip or tape should not come into contact with parts of the device until such strip arrives at the point where it is tobe affixed, or where it is to be moistened preparatory to being affixed. The present invention provides means for enabling such undesirable contact to be avoided.

According tothis invention, a guide means comprising a curvedsurface is" provided at the" entry of the strip or tape into the afiixing device, the action of this guide means being to impart a transverse curvature to the strip'or tape sliding through it. The guide meansmay be a length of tube of circular cross'section and presenting a smooth bore, the diameter of the tube being less than the width-of the stripor tape to" strip of four inches in width, which means that" be dealt with. A strip or tape threaded through such tube acquires a transversely bent form therein. Thus, in cross-section it may appear as a segment of a circle, for example a semicircle, or it may even be bent into substantial-1y circular form. When gummed strip or adhesive tape is passed into the device, the surface hear: ing the gum or adhesive is on the inner side of the bend and with gummed paper strip there is a natural tendency favouring the bending or curling of the strip this ma ner. I

A strip or tape entered through this: guide means is passed to the affixing means disposed at a suitable distance ahead, As thestrip is applied and is consequently drawnthrough the guide means, it is immaterial to whateiitent it may have become curled or co'il'edin its passage from the reel to the affixing device for in any condition it is found to pass smoothly easily into the guide m ans and longitudinally v, to straighten itself out from any tanglin'g that may have occurred.- Having passed through theguid ing means, the strip giradually fiatten's out tra'n's' versely as it approaches the a'fiiXin-g means and its gummy or tacky surfaee'makes n contact with any part of the device until the am ne means are reached. The feedis reliably smooth, unchecked and uninterrupted In hand-operated affi'xing' devices, the width of the devices is usually a little more than" that of the strip or tape in use. If it'- is d-esired to employ a wide strip, for example, mar -series in width, the Width of the afilxing' d vice becomes uncomfortably large, or impossible,- for grasping by the hand. With theimproved guiding means of this invention however, a tube of much less than four inches in' diameter can be used for a that portion of the aflixing device whereon the tube is mounted can be of greatly reduced width withdrawal'of the stripor tape, for without such" means the flat sliding strip couldeasily be unin tentionall-yretracted. Such auxiliary means are dispensed withby the present invention fonthe transverse spreadingor} flattening outof thestrip at each end of the guide means, providesijiistj that amount of resistance which-isrequiredjor preventing unintentional retraction of thestripi' Further, according to the presentinvention,"

the appliance is adapted for the ready inter'-' changeable attachment of nozzle heads of different width, each having its own appropriate fixing means, whereby when a strip of different width is to be afiixed, all that is required is to substitute 'an appropriate nozzle head and afiixing means of a different width from that previously in use. The reservoir to which the nozzle head is attached is advantageously of tubular or cylindrical form making ityery convenient for grasping by the hand and such reservoir preferably contains a flexible bag for containing the liquid requiring to be fed to the wick or absorbent material in the nozzle head. The afiixing means which is pivotally mounted on the nozzle head is provided with an Operating lever. which extends beneath the reservoir so that it can be operated by fingers of the hand grasping the reservoir. By this arrangement, the afiixing means is very much more conveniently and surely operated as compared with affixing means requiring to be operated by a finger extended forwardly from the hand grasping the device.

In order to enable the invention to be readily understood, reference is made to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional elevation of one construction of aflixing appliance embodying the present improvements.

Figure 2 is a plan of the device illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end view of the appliance as seen from the left hand side of Figure 2.

Figure 3a is a cross section, to a smaller scale than Figure 3, illustrating a modification.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic elevation of the rear end portion of an afiixing appliance with a modified form of strip-guiding means, the passage of a curled strip into and through the guiding means being indicated.

Figure 5 is a plan of Figure 4, and

Figure 6 is a cross-section of Figure 4.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, a

is a cylindrical casing enclosing a water reser voir as hereinafter described and serving as a handle for holding the appliance. b is a nozzle head detachably connected with'the cylindrical casing a and containing a wick c for wetting the strip to be afiixed. d is a lever pivotally mounted. on the nozzle head b and carrying the strip pressing and severing means hereinafter described, and e is a cylindrical or tubular guide for the strip to be affixed.

- As seen in Figure 1, the left hand end of the casing a is closed by a disc f formed centrally, on its outer side with a screw threaded spigot and on its inner side with a screw threaded stub F. A small duct 7 passes through the spigot ,f and stub f and terminates within the stub at a seating-for the end of a valve rod g. Radial ports f in the stub f communicate with the central bore in which the valve rod g slidably fits. A cylindrical water bag 12. of rubber or waterproof material has its inner end secured water-tightly against the disc 1 by means of a washer 7' and a nut 7 screwed On to the stub f The'outer end of the cylindrical casing 11 is closed by a ring k which is screw threaded to receive a screw plug Z. The ring is formed with a shoulder to seat the out-turned end of the bag It and such seating may be effected by a washer ring I forced against the said out-turned end by the screwing in of the plug Z. A non-return valve m in the plug 1 permits air to enter the bag it but prevents water escaping from the bag. The valve rod 9 extends through a central perforation in the plug Z and its end portion is screw threaded to receive a milled nut n. A compression spring 0 operating between the plug Z and an abutment g on the rod g, normally holds the valve shaped end of such rod hard against its seating in the stub f As will be apparent, the valve end of the rod 9 can be withdrawn temporarily from its seating and so as to uncover the ports I by pulling the rod 9/ against the resistance of the spring 0 and using the nut n as a finger grip. Or, the said withdrawal and valve opening can be effected in a graduated and lasting manner by turning the nut n.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the nozzle head b,

L which is of so-called shoe-form in the section F in Figure 1, has a flattened toe portion of the width of the wick c which is of the same width I as the strip to be affixed. The heel portion of the nozzle head is of reduced width and of somewhat cylindrical form. This end of the nozzle head is closed by an annulus 12 which is internally screw threaded for enabling the nozzle head to be detachably connected with the casing 11 by screwing on to the spigot P. The wick 0 may be coiled around a transverse pin p extending through the side walls of the nozzle head. The uncoiled portion of the wick is taken along the flat sole portion of the nozzle head I) and passed through the slot or orifice of the latter and so as to extend a little beyond such orifice as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Thus, the wick can be pulled out to a desired extent or to make up for wear. Space within the nozzle head, which otherwise would remain unoccupied, may be filled with an absorbent such as cotton wool, as indicated in Figure 1.

The transverse pin 11 in the nozzle head may have its end portions adapted to serve as pivots for arms or prongs of the lever 11. The said arms or prongs at one end are brought together and bent to form a handle (1 which extends beneath the cylindrical casinga in such manner that the handle d can be pressed upwards by fingers of a hand grasping the said casing. At their outer end, the arms of the lever d support between them two revoluble transverse rollers r r These latter are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, the roller 1 coming above the protruding portion of the wick c and the roller 1' being in advance of the tip of the wick. A cross bar d may connect the arms at the free end and may serve as a support for a cutter q which may be of the razor edge variety, or of the serrated Variety and Which may be of flat formation as shown in Figure 2 ormay be of a slightly curved formation to facilitate cutting. In Figure 2, the cutter q is shown set at right-angles to the longitudinal axis of the appliance but it may, with advantage, be set slightly askew of the rightangled position.

The strip guiding means e is of tubular or cylindrical formation and, in the example illustrated, it surrounds the casing a. The guide e need not be a complete tubeor cylinder, for its bottom segment may be cut away as seen in Figure 3, the longitudinal edges thus formed being attached to supporting bars or blocks e on the casing a. At the rear end, the tubular guide e may be flared, as at '6 to facilitate entry of a strip into such guide.

The appliance is made ready for use and is operated in the following manner: The wick 0 having been adjusted to protrude to a suitable extent, as seen in Figure 1, the bagh is charged withwater. This may be done either by removing the plug 1 or by forcing water past the spring loaded valve-m. The valve rod yjs then moved endwise so as to uncover the ports I*, whereupon water passes from the bag it thrOughthe ports f and the duct 1 into the-nozzle head '19. This Water is absorbed by the cotton wool and the wickc in the nozzle head b and when the wick c is sufficiently wet, thevalve rod g may be released soas to cut offthe ports and seat itself to close the duct F. -A gummed paper strip (indicated by chain line) is then inserted .at the flared end e of the guide e and passed through the latter and, upon emerging at the opposite end, is drawn forwards and led beneath the rollers 1 r To aflix the strip to a package, the ap pliance is grasped by a hand gripping the guide e and-the cylindrical casing a, fingers of the hand beingextended so asto apply upward pressure against the handle d of the lever d. Such upward pressure on the handle (1 causes the free end of the lever d to be depressed so that the roller r presses the strip upon the surface of the package to be treated, whilst the roller 1' presses the gummy face of the strip upon the wet tongue of wick prortuding from the nozzle head b. By nowdrawing the appliance. in the desired direction, the roller 1' presses the Wetted strip .upon the package and owing to the strip being held by the roller r, and also by its adhesion when it begins to stick to the. package, it is drawn through the appliance as required. When the required length has been afiixed, the appliance is held still and tilted a little about the axle of the roller r as fulcrum. This, aided possibly by a slight twist, produces depression of the blade q and severance of the strip at a point a little in advance of the roller 1.

The functioning of the guide 6 will be readily understood from Figures 4 to 6, although these figures illustrate a modification wherein the guide e is completely tubular and is mounted upon the top of a cylindrical casing a instead of surrounding the latter as in Figures 1 to 3. This guide e is formed with a flat base which fits into a trough t on the cylindrical casing a such trough being of the kind heretofore used as a flat guide for a strip s. As Will be seen from Figure 6, the strip 3 is bent to an arched formwhilst in the guide e and usually the arch form will fit the interior of the cylindrical guide, the separation of the strip from the guide in this figure merely being for the sake of clearness. Owing to this bending of the strip s, its normal width in the flat state is reduced. Referring to Figures 4 and 5, it will be seen that when the strip s emerges at the left hand end of the guide e and passes to the affixing rollers which flatten it, it reacquires its normal width in the fiat state as shown. Consequently, resistance is offered to retraction of the strip 8 through the guide e from left to right and such resistance renders it usually unnecessary to employ special gripping means designed for preventing withdrawal of the strip. When the strip s'is drawn from a reel or roll which may be some little distance away, the strip in its passage from the reel to the appliance is liable to become cockled or coiled, as indicated in Figures 4 and 5. This is particularly the case when the appliance is being worked around several sides of a package, for example. With a fiat guide, and particularly one having a slot-like entry, there is danger of the strip jamming and tearing when in the; coiled or cockled state but with the cylindrical guide provided by these improvements the strip in any condition passes easily into and through the guide and then gradually flattens out as it approaches the affixing rollers. The cylindrical guide 6 of Figures 1 to 3 operates inthesame manner and with preciselythe same advantages as the cylindrical guidee in Figures 4=-to 6. When a strip having a'tacky gummy surface has to be applied, a cylindrical guide e' disposed as in Figure 1 might bring the tacky surface too near to the surface of the cylindrical casing-a so that interference With the feed of the strip might occur if the two surfaces came into contact. For strips with tack surfaces, therefore, it may be preferable to mount the cylindrical guide at a greater distance from the cylindrical casing a, as for example in Figures 4 to 6. .7

A further modification consists in longitudinally dividing a guide, such as the guide e in Figures 1 to 3, and in mounting each divided part one. hinge at one ofthe supports 6 c Figure 3. Thesaid parts would preferably be made to overlap along their dividing line. when in the operative position. With this modification, the two divided parts can be opened out as shown, by turning themlike flaps on their hinge mountings, when a new strip is to be introduced into the appliance. This avoids the possibly tiresome operation of threading the strip through the narrow guiding space seen in Figure 1, for with the modification the flaps are opened outwards, the strip is readily arched and disposed lengthwise over the cylindrical casing a, whereupon the flaps are again closed over the casing to constitute the cylindrical guide 6 hereinbefore described.

I claim: Y

1. Portable hand device for affixing adhesive strip comprising strip afiixing means adapted for flattening the strip'upon a surface, and curved guide means adapted for imparting a transverse curvature to the strip during its passage through said guide means and towards said affixing means, said guide means terminating at a distance from said affixing means to permit the strip to flatten out transversely as it approaches the aflixing means.

2. Portable hand device for aifixing adhesive strip comprising strip affixing means adapted for flattening the strip upon a surface, and cylindrical guide means adapted for imparting a transverse curvature to the strip during its passage through said guide means and towards said affixing means, said cylindrical guide means terminating at a distance from said aflixing means to permit the strip to flatten out transversely as it approaches the affixing means.

3. Portable hand device for affixing adhesive strip comprising strip affixing means, a hand grip part supporting said affixing means, and a cylindrical guide mounted on said hand grip part, said guide part being adapted for imparting a transverse curvature to the strip during'its passage through said guide and towards said affixing means and being terminated at a distance from said affixing means to permit the strip to flatten out transversely as it approaches the aflixing means.

4. Portable hand device for afiixing adhesive strip comprising strip affixing means, a cylindrical hand grip part supporting said means, and a cylindrical guide disposed around said hand grip part and adapted for imparting a transverse curvature to the strip during its passage through said guide and towards said afiixing means, said cylindrical guide terminating at a distance from said afiixing means to permit the strip to flatten out transversely as it approaches the affixing means. i i V 5. Appliance for afiixing adhesive strip comprising a nozzle device, a wick housed within said nozzle device and extended through the orifice thereof, strip-pressing means, a lever mounted on said nozzle device and supporting said strippressing means, a liquid reservoir formed to serve as a hand-grip, coupling means detachably connecting said reservoir with said nozzle device and formed with an intercommunicating water duct, and strip-guiding means mounted on said reservoir.

6. Appliance for aflixing adhesive strip comprising a nozzle device, a wick housed within said nozzle device and extended through the orifice thereof, a liquid reservoir formed to serve as a hand grip, coupling means detachably connecting said reservoir with said nozzle device and formed with an intercommunicating water duct, strip guiding means mounted on said reservoir, a two-armed lever pivotally mounted on said nozzle device and having one of its arms extended as a handle beneath said reservoir, and strip presssing means mounted on the other arm of said lever so as to be operative just beyond the orifice of said nozzle device.

'7. Appliance for affixing adhesive strip comprising a nozzle device, a wick housed within said nozzle device and extended through the orifice thereof, a casing formed to serve as a hand grip, coupling means detachably connecting said casing with said nozzle device and formed with an intercommunicating water duct, a Water bag fixed Watertightly Within said casing, self-closing valve means controlling admission to said water bag, strip guiding means mounted on said casing, a two-armed lever pivotally mounted on said nozzle device'and having one of its arms extended as a handle beneath said casing, and strip pressing means mounted on the other arm of said lever so as to be operative just beyond the orifice of said nozzle device.

8. Appliance for affixing adhesive strip comprising a nozzle device, a wick housed within said nozzle device and extended through the orifice thereof, a cylindrical reservoir adapted to serve as a hand grip, coupling means detachably connecting said reservoir with said nozzle device and formed axially with an intercommunicating water duct, an axial self-closing valve'normally closing the passage through said duct, a pull rod operative for opening said valve, strip guiding means mounted on said reservoir, a two armed lever pivotally mounted on said nozzle head and having one of its arms extended as a handle beneath said reservoir, and strip pressing means mounted on the other arm of said lever so as to be operative just beyond the orifice of said nozzle device.

9. Appliance for affixing adhesive strip comprising a nozzle device, a wick housed within said nozzle device and extended through the orifice thereof, a liquid reservoir formed to serve as a hand grip, coupling means detachably connecting said reservoir with said nozzle device and formed with an intercommunicating water duct, strip guiding means mounted on said reservoir, a two-armed lever pivotally mounted on said nozzle device and having one of its arms extended as a handle beneath said reservoir, strip pressing

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