US3747748A - Rolled adhesive tape having transverse edge slits - Google Patents

Abstract

In a preferred form, this disclosure relates to a pressure sensitive, vinyl backed roll of adhesive tape whose opposite sides or side faces are slit in a particular pattern such that when the tape is unrolled its opposite side edge portions are transversely slit at longitudinally spaced locations so as to enable the tape to be easily torn transversely thereof. This disclosure also relates to a method for slitting the tape by providing a roll of tape and then cutting the sides of the roll with a cutting means to provide a plurality of slits in a particular pattern extending transversely across the side of the roll and inwardly from the side a predetermined depth.

Description

ROLLED ADHESIVE TAPE HAVING TRANSVERSE EDGE SLITS Inventors: John S. Kiley, Rumson, N.J.; Robert C. Jason, Warren, Ohio Assignee: General Motors Corporation,

Detroit, Mich.

Filed: June 1, 1972 Appl. No.: 258,742

Related US. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 93,141, Nov. 27, 1970, Pat. No. 3,688,617.

11.8. C1. 206/58 llnt. Cl B65d 85/67 Field of Search 206/58, 59 C References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1942 Stephenson 206/58 11 July 24, 1973 2,508,855 5/1950 Brown 206/58 UX Primary Examiner-Leonard Summer Attorney-W. E. Finken and W. A. Schuetz In a preferred form, this disclosure relates to a pressure sensitive, vinyl backed roll of adhesive tape whose opposite sides or side faces are slit in a particular pattern such that when the tape is unrollled its opposite side edge portions are transversely slit at longitudinally spaced locations so as to enable the tape to be easily torn transversely thereof. This disclosure also relates to a method for slitting the tape by providing a roll of tape and then cutting the sides of the roll with a cutting means to provide a plurality of slits in a particular pattern extending transversely across the side of the roll and inwardly from the side a predetermined depth.

ABSTRACT 2 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Patented July 24,, 1973 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented July 24, 1973 3,747,748

' 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ROLLED ADHESIVE TAPE HAVING TRANSVERSE EDGE SLITS This is a Division of Ser. No. 93,141, filed Nov. 27, 1970 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,688,617.

The present invention relates to a roll of tape whose opposite sides are slit in the particular pattern such that when the tape is unrolled its opposite side edge portions are transversely slit at spaced longitudinal locations, and to a method for slitting the tape.

Heretofore, adhesive tapes of various kinds have been provided with slits which extend inwardly from a side edge thereof at spaced longitudinal locations. The provision of the slits facilitates transverse tearing of the tape at the slits.

As far as known, these slits were individually cut into the tape at spaced longitudinal locations by a cutting means prior to the tape being rolled up into rolls for shipment and use. A disadvantage of this method is that it requires numerous cutting operations and thus, is a relatively slow method. Also, in the case of elastically backed adhesive tape, such as vinyl backed tape, the cutting of the slits in the tape is somewhat difficult.

Thepresent invention overcomes the above-noted difficulties by slitting the tape subsequent to the tape being rolled into a roll. This is accomplished by cutting one or both sides of the rolled tape to provide a roll of tape whose side or sides have a plurality of linear transversely extending slits in a predetermined pattern and which are cut to a predetermined depth so that when the tape is subsequently unrolled its side edge or edges will be transversely slit at spaced longitudinal locations.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved roll tape, preferably a vinyl backed tape having a pressure sensitive adhesive on one side, in which at least one side of the roll has a plurality of slits which are linear, extend transversely of the side and which are cut to a predetermined depth whereby when the tape is unrolled from the roll it is transversely slit from one side edge thereof at longitudinally spaced locations so as to enable it to be easily torn transversely thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved roll of tape, as defined in the preceding object, and wherein the side of the roll of tape is slit in a criss-cro'ss pattern so that when the tape is unrolled the side edge will be slit at unevenly spaced longitudinal locations.

A further object is to provide a new and improved roll of tape, as defined in the first object, and in which the side of the roll of tape is slit along radial lines at spaced annular locations and with alternate ones of the slits extending from the outer circumference of the roll to approximately half-way the length of the other slits whereby when the tape is unrolled the side edge will be slit at substantially equally spaced longitudinal locations thcrealong.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved method for producing tape, preferably a vinyl backed tape having a pressure sensitive adhesive on one side, having longitudinally spaced transversely extending slits extending inwardly from at least one side edge thereof and which includes the steps of providing a roll of tape and then cutting at least one side of the roll of tape with a cutter means to provide a plurality of linear slits extending transversely across the side of the roll and inwardly from the plane of the side to a predetermined depth whereby the roll when subsequently unrolled will have transverse slits at spaced longitudinal locations.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved method, as defined in the next preceding object, and in which the side of the roll of tape is first cut to provide a first plurality of parallel spaced, transverse slits and then cut to provide a second plural ity of spaced parallel, transverse slits extending transversely of or normal to the first plurality of cuts to provide a criss-cross pattern.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved method, as defined in the penultimate object, and in which the side of the roll of the tape is cut along radial lines and with alternate ones of the radial lines extending inwardly from the circumference of the tape a distance less than the other lines so that when the tape is subsequently unrolled it will have transverse slits at substantially equally spaced longitudinal locations.

The present invention further resides in various novel constructions and arrangement of parts, and further objects, novel characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates and from the following detailed description of the illustrated embodiments thereof made with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which similar reference numerals or characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a roll of tape constructed in accordance with the provisions of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the roll of tape shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of an apparatus for carrying out the method of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken approximately along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of a roll of tape constructed in accordance with the provisions of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the roll of tape shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic side elevational view of an alternate apparatus for carrying out the method of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 7 and looking in the direction of the ar' rows 8-8.

As representing a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 of the drawings shows a roll of tape l0.'The roll of tape 10 is wound or rolled around a hollow mandrel or core 12 and has planar supposed sides 13 and 14.

The tape 10 could be of any suitable or conventional construction and does not, per se, form a part of the present invention. Suffice it to say that the tape preferably has an elastic backing, such as a suitable vinyl or polyvinyl chloride, and a suitable or conventional pressure sensitive adhesive applied to one side thereof.

Both sides or side faces 13 and 14 of the roll of tape 10 are cut or slit along spaced, parallel, linearly extending horizontal and vertical cut or slit lines 20 and 21. The spaced horizontal cut lines 20 extend transversely across the entire sides 13 and 14 of the roll of tape 10 and extend axially inwardly from the plane of the sides a predetermined depth, preferably one-thirty-second to three-sixteenth of an inch. The vertical cut lines 21 extend vertically across the entire sides 13 and 14 and to the same depth of the horizontal cut lines 20. The horizontal and vertical cut lines and 21 extend transversely or normal to each other and together define a criss-cross cut line pattern.

The cut lines 20 and 21 on the opposite sides 13 and 14 of the roll 10 provide opposed transverse slits 22 extending inwardly from the side edges of the tape at spaced longitudinal locations therealong when the tape is unrolled. The slits 22 extend normal to the side edge of the tape and enable the tape to be readily torn transversely thereof at the slits 22. The slits 22 are at unequally spaced longitudinal locations along the tape.

The present invention also provides a novel method for producing tape having its side edge portions transversely slit at spaced longitudinal locations. The method contemplates the steps of providing a roll of tape 10, preferably vinyl backed adhesive tape, and then cutting at least one, but preferably both, sides 13, 14 of the roll of tape 10 with a cutting means or cutter apparatus to provide cut-lines extending linearly across the side or sides 13, 14 and inwardly thereofa predetermined depth.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, an apparatus for carrying out the novel method of the present invention is thereshown. The apparatus broadly comprises an endless conveyor for conveying the rolls of tape 10 to an inclined chute 32 from which they are fed by gravity in back to back fashion to a cutting mechanism 34.

The endless conveyor 30 could be of any suitable or conventional construction and is hereshown as comprising an endless belt 35 trained around a drive pulley (not shown) and an idler pulley 37. The belt 35 has a plurality of longitudinally spaced projections 38. The projections 38 are received within the hollow mandrels l2 and serve to carry the rolls of tape 10 upwardly to the upper end 39 of the chute 32. As the endless belt 35 goes around-the idler pulley 37, the rolls of tape 10 fall off and are deposited on the chute 32. The rolls of tape 10 deposited on the chute 32 slide down the chute in back to back fashion toward the cutting mechanism 34.

The cutting mechanism 34 comprises a support frame 40. The support frame 40 at its upper left side supports a first cutting means or assembly 42. The cutting assembly 42 comprises a generally U-shaped, fabricated stationary support means 44 which is suitably secured to the frame 40. The support means 44 supports a pair of spaced, but vertically aligned, rotary cutters 45 and 46. The rotary cutters 45 and 46 are of the same diameter and each comprise a cylindrical body member 48 which is secured to a shaft 49 having its opposite ends rotatably journaled in bearings 50 supported by the opposite side walls 51 of the support means 40. The upper cylindrical body member 48 suitably carries a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially and radially extending knives 52. The lower cylindrical body member 48 suitably carries a plurality of axially spaced, annular radially extending knives 54. The knives 52 of the upper cutter 45 provide horizontal slits or cuts 20 in the side 13 of the roll of tape 10 and the lower knives 54 provide vertical slits or cuts 21 in the side 13 of the roll of tape 10 as the roll 10 moves therepast.

The upper and lower cutters 45 and 46 are adapted to be simultaneously driven at the same rotary speed by a drive means 60. The drive means 60 comprises an electric motor 61 whose output shaft is connected to a sprocket wheel 62. The sprocket wheel 62 is drivingly connected to sprocket wheels 63 and 64 keyed to the shafts 49 of the cutters 45 and 46 by a sprocket chain 65. Thus, when the motor 60 is energized both of the cutters 45 and 46 are rotated simultaneously and at the same speed.

The cutting mechanism 34 further comprises a second rotary knife assembly which is of the same construction as the rotary knife assembly 42, except that the second assembly 70 has a support means 72 which is slidably supported on upstanding ways (not shown) secured to the frame 40. The parts of the assembly 70 which are identical to the parts of the assembly 42 have been given the same reference numerals. The support means 72 of the assembly 70 carries a suitable nut (not shown) which is in threaded engagement with a threaded lead screw (not shown) having its opposite ends rotatably journaled in the frame 40 and which is drivingly connected to a hand wheel 75. The right hand cutter assembly 70 can be adjustably positioned with respect to the left hand cutter assembly 42 by suitably rotating the hand wheel 75 which causes the support means 72 to slide on the ways toward and from the left hand cutter assembly 42. By being able to adjustably position the right hand cutter assembly 70 with respect to the left hand cutter assembly 42, different width rolls of tape can be accommodated and cut.

The rolls of tape 10 slide down the chute by gravity and move between the cutter assemblies 42 and 70. As they move between the cutter assemblies 42 and 70, the knives 52 of the upper rotary cutters 45 horizontally cut the opposite sides 13 and 14 of the roll of tape 10 to provide the horizontal slits 21. After passing between the rotary cutters 45, the vertically disposed knives 54 on the rotary cutters 46 cut the opposite sides 13 and 14 of the roll of tape 10 to provide the vertical slits 20. After the opposite sides 13 and 14 of rolled tape have been so cut, they fall by gravity into a hopper 80.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an alternate roll of tape 82 produced in accordance with the provisions of the present invention. Corresponding parts of the roll of tape 82 will be given the same reference numerals as the roll of tape 10, but with a prime added thereto. The roll of tape 82 is of an identical construction to the roll of tape 10 except that the sides 13 and 14' are cut along cut or slit lines 83 and 84 which are linear and extend radially of the roll of tape 82. As shown in FIG. 5, alternate ones 83 of the cut lines extend from the outer circumference of the tape to the inner mandrel 12. The depth of the cut lines 83 and 84 is from one-thirty-second to three-sixteenth of an inch. Alternate ones 84 of the cut lines also extend from the outer periphery of the roll of tape 82 to a point intermediate, preferably half-way between, the outer periphery and the mandrel 12. The cut lines 83 and 84 are equally angularly spaced. The reason for providing alternate cut lines 84 which are only half the radial extent of the other cut lines 82 is so that when the tape is unrolled it will have opposed slits 22' at substantially equally spaced longitudinal locations. As can be seen from FIG. 5, the length of tape between the cut lines 83 and 84 adjacent the outer circumference thereof substantially equals the angular distance of the tape between the cut lines 83 adjacent the inner circumference.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show an apparatus 90 for carrying out a novel method for producing the cut lines 83 and 84 in the roll of tape 82. The apparatus comprises a stationary bottom member 91 having an upwardly extending mandrel 92 which receives the hollow mandrel 12' of the roll of tape 82. The apparatus further includes a vertically reciprocable cutter 93 in the form of a die which carries a plurality of knives 94 at spaced angular locations. The knives are of a length and arranged so as to produce the cut line pattern shown in FIG. 5. The die 93 would be suitably carried by a ram of a press and be vertically aligned with the bottom member 91.

In operation, the roll of tape 82 would be placed on the bottom member 91 and the cutter 93 then moved downwardly toward and against the side 13' of the roll of tape 82. During this movement the knives 94 would cut into the side 13 a predetermined depth to provide the cut line pattern shown in FIG. 5. If desired, the other side 14 of the roll of tape 82 can be identically cut.

Although the illustrated embodiment hereof has been described in great detail, it should be apparent that certain modifications, changes, and adaptations may be made in the illustrated embodiment, and that it is intended to cover all such modifications, changes and adaptations which come within the spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A roll of tape of the type having an elastic backing, such as a vinyl backing, and an adhesive, such as a pressure sensitive adhesive, on one side of the backing, said roll having planar opposite sides, a first plurality of spaced parallel, linear, cut lines extending across one of the sides, a second plurality of spaced parallel, linear cut lines extending across said one of the sides and transversely of the first plurality of cut lines, said first and second plurality of cut lines extending inwardly from the plane of the sides a predetermined depth whereby said tape when unrolled will have slits extending transversely from its side edge at unevenly longitudinally spaced locations so as to enable the tape to be easily torn transversely thereof at the slits.

2. A roll of tape as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second pluralities of cut lines extend perpendicular to each other and extend across each of said planar opposite sides.

Claims (2)

1. A roll of tape of the type having an elastic backing, such as a vinyl backing, and an adhesive, such as a pressure sensitive adhesive, on one side of the backing, said roll having planar opposite sides, a first plurality of spaced parallel, linear, cut lines extending across one of the sides, a second plurality of spaced parallel, linear cut lines extending across said one of the sides and transversely of the first plurality of cut lines, said first and second plurality of cut lines extending inwardly from the plane of the sides a predetermined depth whereby said tape when unrolled will have slits extending transversely from its side edge at unevenly longitudinally spaced locations so as to enable the tape to be easily torn transversely thereof at the slits.

2. A roll of tape as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second pluralities of cut lines extend perpendicular to each other and extend across each of said planar opposite sides.

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