US3206911A

US3206911A - Tape application

Info

Publication number: US3206911A
Application number: US156041A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert A Carle; Norman T Blasor
Original assignee: Phillips Petroleum Co
Current assignee: Phillips Petroleum Co
Priority date: 1961-11-30
Filing date: 1961-11-30
Publication date: 1965-09-21
Anticipated expiration: 1982-09-21

Description

Sept. 21, 1965 R. A. CARLE ETAL TAPE APPLICATION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 30, 1961 INVENTORS R. A. CARLE N.T. BLASOR ATTORN V5 Sept 21, 1965 R. A. CARLE ETAL 3,206,911

TAPE APPLICATION Filed Nov. 30, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lav IN VEN TORS R. A. CARLE N. T. BLASOR sept. 21, 1965 R, A. CARLE ETAL 3,206,911

TAPE APPLICATION Filed Nov. 30, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 /N VEN TORS RAGA NT A TroR/VE Ys t United States Patent O 3,206,911 TAPE APPLICATION Robert A. Carle and Norman T. Blasor, Bartlesville,

Okla., assignors to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 30, 1961, Ser. No. 156,041 7 Claims. (Cl. 53-137) This invention relates to the application of sealing tape. In one aspect, the invention relates to a tape applying apparatus. In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for applying tape to an object.

flhere are many instances in which it is necessary to apply an adhesive tape to an object. For example, in modern packaging the wrapped or bagged product often is sealed with an adhesive tape. Many products, such as carbon black, fertilizer, cement, lime, grain feeds, and other granular or powdery materials are packaged in paper bags. One type of container suitable for such use is the open mouthed bag. An improved machine and method for closing open mouthed bags is disclosed in U.S. Serial No. 105,059, tiled April 24, 1961. This machine and method utilize .strips of adhesive tape pressed over the closed end o'f the bag.

An object of this invention is to provide apparatus and method for applying tape to an object.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus and method for applying strips of adhesive tape across the cl-osed mouth of a filled bag.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine and method for closing and sealing illed bags including the yapplication of strips of adhesive tapes thereto.

Other objects, aspects, and the advantages of our invention are apparent in the written description, the drawing andthe claims.

A tape applying apparatus according to our invention comprises a support, a frame pivotally mounted on the support, actuating means to pivot the frame, tape supply means mounted on the frames, a taping head resiliently attached to the frame, the head comprising a presser foot pivotally mounted thereon and resiliently urged to an extended position, guide, applicator and follow-up rollers on the foot, means to feed the tape from the supply means over these rollers and means to energize the actuating means to pivot the frame to cause the presser foot to press the tape against the object.

|Further, according to my invention is provided a method for applying tape to an object lwhich comprises feeding the tape through a tape application zone and causing this zone to swing through an arc to engage an object to be sealed and press the tape thereto.

Further, according to my invention there is provided a machine and method for closing and sealing a filled bag by gripping the lips of the bag mouth with ngers, rotating the fingers to roll the lips to close the bag mouth, .applying strips of adhesive tape across the rolled lips, and removing the lingers.

In the drawing, FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a tape applying apparatus.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation, partly in cross section and partly broken away, of the apparatus of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged elevation of a tape control mechanism.

`FIGURE 4 is a diame-tric view of a bag closing machine utilizing the tape applying apparatus of FIGURE l.

Referring particularly to FIGURES l and 2, the tape applying apparatus comprises a support 11, a frame 12 pivoted to support 1'1 by shaft Z13-and bearings 14. Frame 12 comprises support arm 16, and a pair of cylindrical extensions 17. Supported by such extension 17 is a taping head 18. Each head 18 comprises a presser foot 19 to ice which are attached .a guide roller 21, an applicator roller 22, and a pair of Ifollow-up

rollers

23 and 24. Follow-up roller 24 is attached by means of a resiliently biased arm which is pivoted to foot 19. Also, supported on presser foot v19 are knife 26, knife actuating cylinder 27, and tape control mechanism 28.

Each presser `foot'i19 is supported on the corresponding taping head 18 by a shoulder screw 29 in a drilled hole 30 and a shoulder screw 31 in an arcuate slot 32, and is biased toward an extended position by a piston 33 attached to foot y1'9 by a shoulder screw 34 and acting against a spring 36 in cylinder 37 which is attached to an ear 38 on head y18 by a shoulder screw 39. Each exte-nsion 17 comprises a cylinder 41, a piston 42 and a spring 43. A machine bolt 44 extends through piston 42 and slots 46 and thus permits the length of each extension to ybe adjusted. Although machine bolt 44 provides sufficient `friction with the walls in cylinder 411 to hold each sealing head in place in normal operation, if an unusual force is applied these bolts slide upwardly in slots 46 thus preventing damage to some parts of the apparatus.

Also attached to head 18 is a knu-rled roller 47 which is provided with a nonreversing clut'ch 48. A pair of knurled rollers 49 is provided on frame 12 as shown to assist in feeding tape to the application zone.

Supported on the upper end of frame 12 is a tape supply apparatus 51. Apparatus 5-1 comprises a central cross arm 52 and a pair of roller support arms 53. Each arm 53 supports a pair of friction drums 54 to which rolls 55 of tape are attached by thumb screws 56.

An electrical switch 57, having an actuating lever 58 is mounted on support 11, and a switch actuating cam 59 is attached beneath `cross arm 52 thus actuating switch 57 as frame 1-2 approaches the vertical.

An air cylinder 61 is pivotally attached to one end to a `bracket 62 on support 111 and at the other end by a pin 63 to support arm y16. Actuating air is supplied to cylinder 61 through conduit 64 from a suitable source of air pressure (not shown).

A tape prestrip roller 66 is rotatively attached to a roll'er arm 67 supported on an angle support 68 0n each side of support 11. Provision for adjustment of the position :of roller 66 is provided by slot 69 in arm 67 and machine bolt 70.

As shown more clearly in FIGURE 3, each ltape control mechanism 28 includes a small frame 71, a roller bracket 72, a roller 73 pivotally mounted in bracket 72, a hold down pin 74, a compression spring 76, and a rod 77. Preferably rod 77 is made of polytetrafluoroethylene to which the adhesive tape adheres but does not leave residual adhesive when pulled therefrom. Pins 78 of roller 73 extend into slots 79 which permit a relatively small amount of movement o'f roller 73 with respect to rod 77, roller 73 at all times being biased toward rod 77 by spring 76 acting against roller bracket 72.

A solenoid valve 81 is provided in conduit 64 and connected, through a switch 82, with a source of electrical energy 83. A conduit 84 is provided to connect knife-actuating cylinder 27 with a suitable source of pressure uid (not shown) and a solenoid Valve 86 controls the supply of uid in conduit 84 and is actuated by switch 57 which `connects valve 86 with a suitable source of electrical energy 87.

In the embodiment as illustrated in FIGURE 4, the bag closing machine comprises a base 91 made of suitable structural materials such as the steel channels illustrated. A vertical support column 92 is located centrally on and attached to said base. A frame surrounds column 92 comprising an octagonal number 93 attached to a hub 94, rotatively mounted around the upper portion of column 92, by a plurality of spokes 96. A second octagonal member 97 is attached to a second hub 98- by spokes99. Hub 98 is rotatively mounted around the lower portion of column 92. First, second, third and fourth pairs of wall members 101-101',k 102-102, 103- 103 and 104-104', respectively, extnhglgiorizontally from the four sides of member 97 forming, iespectively, first, second, third and fourth bag receiving pockets, spaced 90 degrees apart. Connecting

members

105, 106, 107 and 108and braces 109, 110, 111 and 112 complete the frame. A bag conveyor assembly comprising a plurality of conveyor rolls 113 mounted between brackets 114 forms the bottom of each` of the bag receiving pockets. Each of these conveyor assemblies is slidably mounted for limited vertical movement between the wall members of the corresponding pockets through the use of a tongue 116 on each bracket and a grooved boss117 on the surface of each wall member. A circular track 118 supported on base 91 by adjustable bolts is adjusted to have a lower elevation at station one than at stations two, three and four. Each of the bag conveyor assemblies is supported on track 118 by a wheel 119 attached to brackets 114 by a branched leg 121.v

Fourr bag engaging andV closing means are provided, e'ach positioned above and extending horizontally over one of the bag receiving pockets. Each comprises a pair of lingers 122, 122 eccentrically rotatable on the shaft 123, which shaft is, in turn, rotatable in the rotating frame, the lingers and the shaft bothy being actuated by the rotation ofthe frame. A conveyor 1-24 is provided for moving loaded bags into the bag closing machine, and a conveyor 125 for removing the closed bag from the machine. The

belts

126 and 127, driven froma power source (not shown) rotate over pulleys 128 and 129 toassist in moving the filled but unclosed bag into the machine. Suitable mechanism (not shown) but more fully described in the above identified application, is provided to rotate

fingers

122, 122 relative to shaft 123. Also, more fully described in the above mentioned application are additional components of the machine including, for example, a framed indexing apparatus, timing and controlling means, bag moving mechanism, etc.

The operation of the taping apparatus shown at station 2 preferably'is associated with the timing and indexing means for the frame so that the taping operation is coordinated With the various operations of bag closing.

In operation a filled but open bag is delivered by conveyor 124, the lips of the open mouth being guided by the

belts

126 and 127 into the bag receiving pocket at station 1. Thefentrance of the bag into this pocket actuates the timing and indexing mechanism by actuating a switch (not shown) in the pocket. The indexing mechanism operates to cause thefingers 122-122 to rotate relative to shaft 123, thus bringing the fingers together tightly on each side of the bag mouth. As the movement of the frame proceeds, the bag-moving from'staion 1 to station 2, shaft 123 is rotated to rotate the attached fingers andV As the thus roll the lips of the-bag around the lingers. frame is turned to move the bag from station.. 1 to station 2 the associated bag conveyor assembly is raised by the rising of track 118 to correct for the change in height of the bag due to the rolling of the lips.

When thebag reaches station 2, the lips are rolled and the fingers 122122 are still within the roll. At this station the bag-taping assembly is actuated. When the bag enters station 2 the frame 12 has been rotated up and away from the position of the bag mouth (dotted position in FIGUREy 1), cylinder 61 being retracted. With the sealing tape extending from roll 55 around knurled roller 49, knurled roller 47, guide roller 21, through tape control mechanism 28 and to applicator roller 22'. When the frame 12 is rotated to the lifted position, roller 66 engages the tape between

rollers

47 and 49, to cause a fixed length of tape to be removed from the roll 55, the rotation of roll 47 in the reverse direction being prevented by nonreversing clutch 48. As the mechanism is actuated by the closing of switch 82,

thus opening valve 81 permitting pressure fluid to enter cylinder 61, the frame is swung toward the vertical position. Prior to reaching the vertical position, however, the tape. As the frame and the pressor foot continue side of the upper end of the bag to press the tape against the bag causing it to adhere thereto. As the frame 12 swings farther toward the vertical, the presser foot 19 is lifted by contact lof the rollers withthe bag thus compressing springs 36 permitting each presser foot to rise smoothly following the contour of the bag at that vicinity. As the presser foot rises across the top of the bag the tape is allowed to unreel

past rollers

47, 21, 22 and 23, thus utilizing the slack which was obtained through the use of roller 66. Just prior to the timeA that frame 12 reaches the vertical position, switch actuating ,cam 59 moves actuating lever 58 to close switch 57, thus energizing solenoid valve 86 permitting pressure fluid to ow to knife actuating `cylinder 27, thus extending knife 26 to cut the tape. As the frame and the presser foot continues their movement, follow-up roller 23 (and, follow-up. roller 24, if provided) further smooth the adhesive tape against the bag, these rollers being permitted to follow down the opposite side of the bag -to a limited degree by the restoring action of the spring 36. In some instances, this iinal action of smoothing the trailing edge of tape does not occur until the bag is moved from station 2.

When the tape is cut there is a tendency` for it to develop slack at the lower end. This permits the spring 76, through the action of roller bracket 72 to push roller 73 to engage the tape` between this roller and the rod 77, thus preventing the tape from falling free from the pressure foot. As the next bag is contacted for sealing it is noted that tension is immediately placed in the tape, thus lifting roller 78` freeing the tape from contact with the rod 77 and permitting it to move freely over roller 73.

As the indexing mechanism` is operated by the next bag entering station 1, the bag, now sealed, is moved from station 2 to station 3. At station 3 a bag pushing mechanism (not shown) is actuated, thus pushing the bag to conveyor 125, inthe vertical dotted position illustrated. The bag tilting apparatus 136 then is actuated to tip the bag onto the moving portion of conveyor 125. As each next indexing step occurs the fingers which are `at station 4, as they move to` station 1,l are rotated relative to shaft 123, thus moving the fingers to their openV position ready for reception of another bag for closure. Similarly the bag conveying assembly in that particular section is lowered by the lowering of track118 so that it is in position to receive a bag from conveyor 124. As the particular bagwhich has just been sealed from station `2, that is, each time the ,indexing mechanism is actuated to begin the movement of a bag from station 1 to station 2, the tape sealing apparatus is` actuated by the opening of switch 82 to cause the frame 12 to swing back to its retracted position. At the same time it will be seen that switch actuating cam 59A also releases lever 58 thus permitting switch 57 to open. to close valve 86, permitting knife actuating cylinder 27 to restore the knife 26 to its retracted position.

Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope of our invention which sets forth in a tape-y sealing apparatusV and a method for applying scaling tape to' an object.

We claim:

1. Tape applying apparatus comprising a support, a frame pivotally mounted on saidsupport, actuating means. to pivot said frame, a tape supply roller rotatively mounted on said frame, a taping head resiliently attached to' said frame, said head comprising a presser foot pivotally mounted thereon and resiliently urged into an extended position, a guide roller, an applicator roller and a followup roller rotatively mounted on said foot, means to feed tape from said supply roller over said guide, applicator and follow-up rollers and means to energize said actuating means to pivot said frame to cause said presser foot to press said tape against an object to be taped.

2. Tape applying apparatus comprising a support, a frame pivotally mounted on said support, actuating means to pivot said frame, a tape supply roller rotatively mounted on said frame, a taping head resiliently attached to said frame, said head comprising a presser foot pivotally mounted thereon and resiliently urged into an extended position, a guide roller, an applicator roller and a follow-up roller rotatively mounted on said foot, means to feed tape from said supply roller over said guide, applicator and followup rollers, a tape cutting knife between said applicator roller and said follow-up roller, means to energize said actuating means to pivot said frame, and means actuated automatically by the pivoting of said frame to cut said tape with said knife.

3. Tape applying apparatus comprising a support, a frame pivotally mounted on said support, actuating means to pivot said frame, a tape supply roller rotatively mounted on said frame, a taping head resiliently attached to said frame, said head comprising a presser foot pivotally mounted thereon and resiliently urged into an extended position, a guide roller, an applicator roller and a followup roller rotatively mounted on said foot, means to feed tape from said supply roller over said guide, applicator and follow-up rollers, a tape cutting knife positioned between said applicator roller and said follow-up roller, means to energize said actutaing means to pivot said frame, means actuated by said frame when pivoted to cause said tape to be cut by said knife, and means positioned between said guide roller and said applicator roller to grip said tape when slack is induced therein due to cutting and to release said tape when said tape is placed under tension as said presser foot applies said tape to an object to be taped.

4. Tape applying apparatus comprising a fixed support, a frame pivotally mounted on said support, an actuating fluid cylinder to pivot said frame, a rst tape supply roller rotatively mounted on said frame, a second tape supply roller rotatively mounted on said frame, a taping head resiliently attached to said frame, said head comprising a pressure foot pivotally mounted thereon and resiliently urged into an extended position, a guide roller, an applicator roller and a follow-up roller rotatively mounted on said foot, means to feed tape from either of said supply rollers over said guide, applicator and follow-up rollers, a tape cutting knife positioned between said applicator and said follow-up rollers, means to supply pressure uid to said actuating cylinder to pivot said frame, means actuated by the pivoting of said frame to cut said tape with said knife, means positioned between said guide and said applicator rollers to grip said tape when slack occurs therein as a result of cutting and to release said tape when tension is applied by said presser foot pressing said tape against an object to be taped.

5. A bag closing machine comprising a rotatable frame, means for rotating said frame through a plurality of consecutive stations comprising a lirst station and a second station, a bag receiving pocket formed in said frame in one side thereof, said pocket consecutively occupying said stations during said rotation of said frame, means for actuating said rotating means When an open bag is moved into said pocket While it is occupying said first station, means for closing said open bag as said frame is rotated and said containing said bag is moved from said iirst station to said second station, tape applying apparatus at said second station comprising a support, a frame pivotally mounted on said support, actutaing means to pivot said frame, a tape supply roller rotatively mounted on said frame, a taping head resiliently attached to said frame,

said head comprising a presser foot pivotally mounted thereon and resiliently urged into an extended position, a guide roller, an applicator roller and a follow-up roller rotatively mounted on said foot, means to feed tape from said supply roller over said guide, applicator and followup rollers, and means to energize said actuating means to pivot said frame, thus causing said presser foot to press foot tape against said bag to apply tape thereto.

6. A bag closing machine comprising a rotatable frame, means for rotating said frame in stages through a plurality of consecutive stages comprising a first station and a second station, a bag receiving pocket formed in said frame on one side thereof, said pocket consecutively occupying said stations during said rotation of said frame, means for actuating said rotating means when an open bag is moved into said pocket while it is occupying said rst station, means for closing said open bag as said frame is rotated and said pocket containing said bag is moved from said rst station to said second station, tape applying apparatus comprising a support, a frame pivotally mounted on said support, uid cylinder actuating means to pivot said frame, first and second tape supply rollers rotatively mounted on said frame, a taping head resiliently attached to said frame, said hear comprising a presser foot pivotally mounted thereon and resiliently urged into an extended position, a guide roller, an applicator roller and a followup roller rotatively mounted on said foot, means to feed tape from said rst and second rollers alternately, a tape cutting knife positioned between said applicator and follow-up rollers, means to supply pressure fluid to said actuating means to pivot said frame, means actuated by the pivoting of said frame to cut said tape with said knife, and tape handling means positioned between said guide roller and said applicator roller to grip said tape upon the occurrence of slack therein by cutting and to release said tape when under tension.

7. Tape applying apparatus comprising a support, a frame pivotally mounted on said support, actuating means to pivot said frame, a tape supply roller rotatively mounted on said frame, a taping head resiliently attached to said frame, said head comprising a presser foot pivotally mounted thereon and resiliently urged into an extended position, a rst guide roller, an applicator roller and a follow-up roller rotatively mounted on said foot, an arm pivotally attached to said foot, a second guide roller rotatively mounted on said arm, means to feed tape from said supply roller over said guide, applicator and followup rollers and means to energize said actuating means to pivot said frame to cause said presser foot to press said tape against an object to be taped.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,023,682 12/35 Higginbottom 53--14 2,200,313 5/40 Volksdorf 53-14 2,834,168 5/58 Lopez 53-137 2,892,293 6/59 Langdon 53-14 2,978,852 4/61 Hopkins et al 53--137 FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT A. LEIGHEY, Examiner.

Claims

1. TAPE APPLYING APPARATUS COMPRISING A SUPORT, A FRAME PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT, ACTUATING MEANS TO PIVOT SAID FRAME, A TAPE SUPPLY ROLLER ROTATIVELY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, A TAPING HEAD RESILIENTLY ATTACHED TO SAID FRAME, SAID HEAD COMPRISING A PRESSER FOOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTED THEREON AND RESILIENTLY URGED INTO AN EXTENDED POSITION, A GUIDE ROLLER, AN APPLICATOR ROLLER AND A FOLLOWUP ROLLER ROTATIVELY MOUNTED ON SAID FOOT, MEANS TO FEED TAPE FROM SAID SUPPLY ROLLER OVER SAID GUIDE, APPLICATOR AND FOLLOW-UP ROLLERS AND MEANS TO ENERGIZE SAID ACTUATING MEANS TO PIVOT SAID FRAME TO CAUSE SAID PRESSER FOOT TO PRESS SAID TAPE AGAINST AN OBJECT TO BE TAPED.