US2825557A

US2825557A - Mechanical take-up for tear strip applicator

Info

Publication number: US2825557A
Application number: US429348A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul W Jacobsen
Original assignee: HG Weber and Co Inc
Current assignee: HG Weber and Co Inc
Priority date: 1954-05-12
Filing date: 1954-05-12
Publication date: 1958-03-04
Anticipated expiration: 1975-03-04

Description

March. 9 P. w. JAcosEm 2,825,557

MECHANICAL TAKE-UP FOR TEAR STRIP APPLICATOR Filed May 12, 1954 3 sheets sheec l E3 37 FE 7.7. ZU 2" Pa 1;! W rfaaobsezz March 4, 1958 P. w. JACOBSEN 2,825,557

MECHANICAL TAKE-UP FOR TEAR STRIP APPLICATOR Filed May -12. 1954 3 Sheets-sheaf; 2

.27 FE Paul W c/Zzcobsezz W W, M a

March 4, 1958 P. w. JACOBSEN MECHANICAL TAKE-UP FOR TEAR STRIP APPLICATOR Filed May 12, 1954 s sheets-sheet 3' V N m. x l

EFE'I'ZZLUT R111! W daaobs-ezz United TAKE-UPFOR TEAR STRIP APPLICATOR Applieation May 12, 1954, Serial No. 429,348.

3LCIaimS. (Cl; 271-.-.-2.2)

Thisinvention relatestoamechanical take-up for tape applying mechanisms and particularly to amechanical takeeup fora rocker typelay down deviceemployed in a tear. strip.- applicator machine.

It is an objectof the present invention to provide-novel means for accommodating application of tape to rapidly moving articles.

ItviS a. further object of'the present invention to provide novehmeans for effectively reducing the inertia of a tape supplyin amachine. for applying a tape-to moving arti: cles.

It is another object of. thc-present-invention to provide a-novel take-upwmechanism for use with a rocker type lay down device in applying a tear strip to carton blanks;

' Qther objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detaileddescription takenin connection with; the accompanying sheets of drawinggain which:

Fignrelis aidiagrammatic illustration of a tape applying mechanism for a .tear strip applicator machine embodying thetakcmp. device of the present invention and illustrating theinitial condition of the apparatus;-

Figure -2 is adiagrammatic view similar-to Fig. 1 but illustrating the condition ofthe take-up mechanism just aftertravelof a carton blank through: theapparatus;

Figure,3 is a diagrammatic view.similar toFig. l and illustrating the condition-of the. apparatus justprior to arrival of a second cartonblank at the tape applying me an m:

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view-of the take up mechanism of the present invention;

'Figure 5.is .a fragmentary end-elevational view of the m t re l Fi Figure 6 is ,a fragmentary vertical sectional. view illustratinglthe take-up carriage in front, elevation; and

Figure .7 is .-a fragmentary transversesectional view illustrating the ttake-up-carriage in side elevation.

As shown on thedrawings: The present invention.is particularly adapted for use witha tear; strip applicator machine for applying anad-i.

hes; tape toimoving articles, and particularly to the app.icationofacontinuous strip of normally tacky. pressure sensitive adhesive tape having great tensile strength tofa cartonblank stamped from a piece of boxboard ni oneformof tear strip applicator for carton blanks, thetapeisapplied along one broad surface of the cartonblank, around the leading end surface and thence alonga seconc l ,broad .surface on the opposite side of the blank, thettapeserving as a tear strip after the blank has been formedintoga carton for use inopening the carton.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there is illustrated a pair anemones 10 and '11'for delivering a carton blank 1210a tape applying section 13 of a tear strip applicator machine.- An elongated frame 15 is disposed along the path of advancement of the carton blank 12, with its near cndblSCextending toward the point fromwhich the blank 12fisadvanced; and its far end 15" extending toward the paint toward which thearticleisadvanced. The frame atent F Ice 15 is mounted at'a'point between its ends 'for pivotal movement about an-axis, 16" thatis parallel to a taperapplying platen 18 and at right angles. to the path of advanccment of the blank 12.

An'applying roller 19 is mounted atthe near end 15' oftheframe for rotation about aniaxis 21 that is parallel withthe-pivotal axis- 16. An idler roller 22 is mounted at the near end 15' of the frame between the applying: roller 19 and the point from which the blank 12" isadf vanced, for rotation about "an axis 24 that is parallel with the-pivot-axis 16: Twopilot rollers 26; one on either sideof the frame 15; are mounted at the'far end '15" of the frame for -rotation about an axis-27 that is parallel with the-pivotaxis 16;

Yieldable bias-means-in-the form of a" spring 30' that isattached to-the-nearencllS of the frame, impels the nearend upwardly about the pivot *axis 16, thereby causingthe-fanend 15 of the -frarne1S normally to bear downwardly towardsthe platen 18" to bring the peripheries of the pilot rollers 26 in closer spaced relationito the =platen-than isthe. periphery of the applying roller 19. ThefIame-IS is then at rest, in-norrnal position (Figs. 1-3 )1 The distance between the periphery oftheapplyg ingiroller 19 "and the -platen-18 is greater than the height ofthe blank- 12.

The respective:spaced-relations--of the applying roller 19., the. pilot rollers :26: and the pivotal axis 16 of the'frame' 15,: insrespect'rto the platen 18; are such that th'e'advanc ing blankllwilliholdthe pilot rollers 26 upwardly away from. the platen a distance sufiicient' to cause the applying? roller 19 :to beardownwardly against theforce "of the, spring -bias v30') upon thetop surfaceof the blank '12" and therebypressxandapply tape 32ito the top surface: The frame isthen in tape applying position (notsh'own'li The idler roller; 22;is:positioned in' the frame so thatit's periphery will notcontact the top surface ofthe bla'nlc when the. frameissin theapplying position with the -ap'=" plying roller 19 bearingupon-the top=surfaceof the bki nk.

After the. blank-J2 travels past :the lay-dowmdevicei including the frame 15, pilot rollers 26 and applying roller 19;-the I ,blank travels pastea bufiing pad *andkutterassembly 35 mounted 'for: vertical -reciprocation' and' inr-'- pelled downwardly and upwardly, asbymeansof a spring means and a ;solenoid.:(not -shown) or by means-"of a mechanically actuated systemsuch as disclosed 'inmy' copending application entitled Mechanical Cfit-Oif -for Tear- Strip Applicator, SerialJNo. 429,350; file'd of even date herewith. The-assemblysili comprises a bufiingpad' 38'and a knife 39;

The portion;ofvthe.;working surface of 'theplaten-=18 adjacent the tape (beneath thettapein:the-illustrated-machine)v is slightlywdepressedin :respect'tothe general level of the working surfacealong which the carton blank-"' slides. The depressed portion formed by the platen 18' extends in alignmentwithjtheutape r32,.:and-.is wider'th'an': the tape but narrower than thevlengthi'of the applyingroller-19. The depthof therchannelis somewhat greaterf than the thickness of the taper-and it-extends to-theright and left. (Figure 1) beyond the abutting,pad' 38eand ztheis applying roller 19,;respectiVely: Thelbuflingepad is nar rower than the ehannelgsosthat it may'fit intorlthelchannel or depressed :Portion and: press: the. tapezagainstzthe dea: pressed. portion of the; platen-:surface;.

In operation of ,the, lay;- down: mechanism;;thentapefiisn unwound from a ;supply:-roll 40iand isled from the supply to and..-around.= the" idler: rollerz22 'with itsadhesive-w. side out. From thence itisLled'to the -right,-"adhesiv'e'" side down, beneath the applying roller" 19 "and thence: along the platen ls be'neath the raised butfin'g' pad 38:: until the leading end indirectly beneath'theknife39. The leading portion -32 0f thetape that extendsfro'nit" the left end of the bufiing pad 38 to the knife 39 is then manually pressed down upon the depressed portion of the surface of the platen 18to adhere'it thereto. It may subsequently be peeled off without soiling the platen or harming the tape. The leading portion has thus been temporarily applied to the platen; The'unapplied portion of the tape extends upwardly from the platen to and around the applying roller 19, and thence through the take-up device to be hereinafter described to the supply roll 40.

As the first carton blank 12 is fed from the left by the feed rollers and 11, it is advanced along the platen in the direction of the arrow 41 until the leading end of counterclockwise about the pivotal axis 16 against the pull of the spring 30, and thereby causing the apply ng roller 19 at the near end of the arm to move downwardly into contact with the top surface of the blank 12 with a portion of the tape 32 between the roller 19 and the top surface of the blank.

The tape is thus applied, at this point in the progress of the blank 12 through the machine, to the leading edge surface of the blank and thence along the top surface of the blank to the applying roller point of contact. Since the application of this length of tape on the leading edge and top surfaces is accomplished by the time the blank commences to pull or withdraw fresh tape from the takeup mechanism indicated generally at 44, the strain'on the blank which is caused by the sudden commencement of the tape withdrawal is distributed over a portion of the blank that is relatively great in comparison to the portion that would thus be strained were the pull-ofi to commence when the tape is applied only to the leading edge surface of the blank. The applying roller 19 is located at a point removed from the leading'portion of the tape and is normally in spaced relation to the platen 18 and it does not descend until a portion of the blank has passed under it, so that. its first contact with the blank is made at a point removed from the leading end edge of the 7 blank.

Continued advancement of the blank peels off the portion of the tape that was initially applied to the platen 18 and turns the tape back on itself so that it'becoines applied to the bottom of the blank until all the portion a 32' has been transferred from the platen to the bottomof the blank.

'After the trailing end of the blank has passed the pilot rollers, the spring 30 returns the applying roller frame 15 to its normal position with, the applying roller 19 above the level of the top surface of the blank (Fig. 2).

After the trailing end of the blankhas passed the knife 39, the assembly 35 automatically moves down into operative position, whereby the knife 39 severs the tape and the buffing pad 38 presses downwardly upon the platen 18. The length of tape that was drawn out along the platen beneath the pad 38 by the movement of the carton blank prior to the above described severance, is thus pressed by the downwardly moving pad to become the leading portion such as 32' of the next succeeding length temporarily applied to the platen.

Inaccordance with the presently claimedinvention,

- there is interposed between the tape lay down mechanism ward movementrof the spool 50, to provide the initial supply of tape. The roller 50 is carried by a carriage 51 of relatively low inertia in comparison with the supply roll 40, and the carriage is guided by means of a guide structure indicated generally at"52.

Additional guiding rollers

53, 54, 55 and 56 are provided for .defining the path of the tape. Means including a cable 60 connected to the carriage 51 is provided for urging the carriage in a direction to extend the path of travel of the tape to take-up slack in the tape as the sudden demand during initial application of the tape to the carton blank subsides.

Thus, as the box blank enters therocker type applying mechanism heretofore described including the frame 15 and the components carried thereby, the tape applying mechanism or lay down mechanism applies the tape several inches away from the leading edge of the box blank, freely snapping the loose tape tab provided by the tape portion 32' over this leading edge, so that the tape tension and the action of the spool 50 is absorbed in shear only of the bond between the tape and the carton blank.

Spool 50 is mounted on a shaft 62 and is=rotatable on the shaft, the shaft being mounted on the'lightweight carriage 51 which may be made'of aluminum. Carriage 51 is free to travel vertically in a range of approximately six feet within the guide structure 52. The carriage, with its component parts, is extremely light in weight to provide low starting inertia when a carton blank calls for immediate tape pay-elf. Bearings assist in the free wheeling of the carriage to provide anti-friction traveling throughout the six foot length of take-up stroke, the bearings also stabilizing the carriage laterally and endwise. Inits uppermost position, the restoring means including the cable 60 exert approximately a one pound tension.

When a carton blank such as 12 travels through the tapev applying station, the spool 50 travels down' the guide;v

structure 52 from four to six feet, depending on the speed of the carton blank and other variables, before the tape supply roll 40 gets up to the speed of the blank. Due. to the rapid acceleration of the supply roll 40, it not only arrives at box blank speed, but exceeds the speed of the box blank to pay off more tape than that which is actual 1y being applied on the box blank at a particular instant.

The slack in the tape 32 allows the take-up spool 50 to rise and resume nearly its original position at the top -ofthe track as indicated in Fig. 3.

Because the supply roll 40 continues in motion after the first box blank 12 has passed through the station, succeed ing box blanks such as 67 in Fig. 3 do not impose as great a tension on the tape as the first blank. As a consequence the travel of the tape take-up'spool 50 is considerably less,

the spool hunting in about a two foot space near the top. V of the guide structure 52. With the tape spool 50 in this hunting condition, there is not a great differential in tape tension and a relatively uniform and continuous tape pay-01f from supply roll 40 is possible. The mandrel. of

the supply roll '40 is equipped with a friction drum indi- Y cated diagrammatically at 68 and a simple friction brake.

indicated at 69 to apply the slight amount of friction necessary to inhibit over-run of supply roll 40 and thus to prevent excessive tape pay-off when take-up spool 50 is in its uppermost location; eliminates looping of the'tape.

In detail, the illustrated take-up'device comprises an upright tube (Figure 4) having a plurality of spacer brackets 81 mounting a guide track 82 for the carriage 51. The'tube 80 may be carried by means of a bracket 84 which may be secured with the tape applying structure, which structure in turn may be laterally movable relative to the path of travel of the carton blanks through the machine. For returning the carriage toward its vupper position to take-up slack in the tape 32, the tube .80 has a spring 86 secured therein which is connected to cable 60 trained around a pulley 88 carried by the pipe, the cable being attached to the. carriage 51 by means of a The friction brake 69 thus,

clamp down plate indicated at 90 (Figure 6). A bracket 93 mounts the pulley 88 and is slotted or apertured to accommodate the portions of the cable on either side of the pulley which extend downwardly through the bracket.

The guiding structure for the carriage comprises a pair of angle track bars 95 secured to a track bar 96 carried by brackets 81. The angle bars have inturned flanges 95a providing the outer bearing surfaces for the rollers of the carriage and sides 95b providing the side bearing surfaces for the rollers. The track bar 96 provides an inner surface upon which the rollers bear.

As seen in Figs. 6 and 7, a shaft 97 at the upper end of the carriage 51 carries rollers 98, a lower shaft 100 carries rollers 101, while lateral rollers 102 are carried by spaced ears 103 projecting laterally from the body of the carriage 51.

The leader spool 50 has a generally hour glass shape with a central reduced diameter tape receiving portion and diverging frusto conical side portions such as 50a and is carried on the shaft 62 secured centrally of the carriage 51.

The carriage 51 is thereby constrained both laterally and endwise for relatively frictionless traveling throughout the six footh length of the take-up stroke. The tension of spring 86 is adjusted by means of a fastening bolt 110 which can be located in any one of a plurality of vertically spaced holes 111 in the tube 80 adjacent the lower end thereof.

It will be apparent that modifications and variations may be eifected over a wide range without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a tape supply, a tape applying device for applying tape received from said tape supply to a traveling article, a take-up device operably receiving said tape and interposed between said supply and said applying device to establish a circuitous path for tape from said supply to said applying device, said take-up device being movable to shorten said circuitous path and thereby to provide a supply of tape to said applying device independent of delivery of tape from said tape supply, and said take-up device having an effective inertia less than the inertia of said supply, said take-up device thereby being operative to absorb an initial high demand for tape by said applying device prior to delivery of tape by said tape supply at the speed of travel of the article, the take-up device having means providing progressively increasing resistance to movement thereof in a direction to shorten said circuitous path to progressively increase the force exerted by the tape tending to pull tape from the supply thereof to rapidly bring the speed of the tape delivered from the supply up to article speed, said take-up device comprising a carriage, a guideway for said carriage, and a tape receiving means carried by the carriage, said carriage being movable along said guideway to shorten the path of the tape from said supply to the applying device.

2. A tape applying mechanism comprising a rocker type tape lay down device for applying tape to a succession of articles traveling at substantially constant speed, a tape supply roll for supplying tape to said lay down mechanism, a take-up assembly having a spool means for receiving said tape and defining a circuitous path for tape from said supply roll to said lay down mechanism, an upright support structure including a guideway for guiding said spool means for movement to reduce the length of the path of said tape from said supply roll to said lay down device, and means urging said spool means in a. direction to extend the path of said tape from said supply roll to said lay down device, said spool means being movable along said guideway to define a shorter path for said tape from said supply roll to said lay down device to supply tape to said lay down device during a period when the tape is applied to an article moving faster than the speed at which tape is supplied from the supply roll.

3. In combination, a tape supply roll, a rocker type tape applying mechanism for receiving tape from said roll and applying the same to articles traveling through said lay down device, and a take-up assembly between said tape supply roll and said lay down device and having a tape receiving means for defining a circuitous path for tape from said supply roll to said lay down device, a guiding structure defining a path of travel to reduce the length of said circuitous path for tape from said roll to said lay down device, a carriage having rollers cooperating with said guiding structure for movement along said path and carrying said tape receiving means, an upright tube carrying said guiding structure and having a pulley at the upper end thereof, a flexible cable connected with said carriage and extending around said pulley and into said upright tube, and a spring secured within said tube and connected at one end with said cable for urging said carriage to its upper position with the tape receiving means defining an elongated circuitous path for the tape.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,964,874 Fankboner July 3, 1934 2,050,053 Graf et a1 Aug. 4, 1936 2,195,222 Neumair Mar. 26, 1940 2,564,901 Hess Aug. 21, 1951 2,604,825 Sieg July 29, 1952