US3900362A - Taping machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A machine for applying a masking tape in lines exactly matching the edges of moulding and trim strips incorporating a pair of accurately aligned resilient applicator rollers with serrated metal guide discs on the sides thereof, the rollers accepting from supply rolls the tape alone or combined with paper.

Description

O United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,900,362

Schaffer Aug. 19, 1975 1 TAPING MACHINE 3,l20 46l 2/l964 Harbour 156/554 3.156.603 11 1964 R i 1. [76) Inventor: Edward W. Schafier, 1690 Walnut 3 3K) 452 3;)67 zz z [56/577 yet a1." 156/577 wmterpark Fla 32739 3.463.694 8/1969 DeRoshia 156/577 3,537,942 11/1970 Kefalos 156/577 [22] 1974 3.567557 3/1971 Kingery e161. 156/577 [21] Appl. No.: 524,513

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Data 698,469 11/1964 Canada 156/506 [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 332,066, Feb 13, 1973,

abandoned Primary Examiner-Clifton B. Cosby 52 us. (:1. 156/577; 156/493; 156/505; jffj' i i jglflig fig h 156/574; 156/579 g u [51] Int. Cl. 844C 7/04; C09,] 7/02 [58] Field of Search 156/60, 71, 230, 475, 485, [57] ABSTRACT A machine for applying a masking tape in lines exactly 55 3 55 42 55 312 39 matching the edges of mouldmg and tnm strips mcor porating a pair of accurately aligned resilient applica- 56 R f d tor rollers with serrated metal guide discs on the sides l l e erences thereof, the rollers accepting from supply rolls the UNITED STATES PATENTS tape alone or combined with paper.

1,739,296 12/1929 Dupont 1. 156/577 2,493,737 1/1950 Burns 156/577 10 Clalms, 9 Drawmg Flgul'es TAPING MACHINE This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 332.066, filed Feb. l3. I973. now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the prior art today professional painters estimate that they spend more time masking the various mouldings and trim strips on cars and around windows, floors, and doors than they do painting. This is true because the masking tape must be applied by hand to insure accurate straight edges. The prior art technique generally involves ripping off a strip of tape of convenient length and applying it by hand along the trim strip to mask an even straight line. The tape must then be smoothed and pressed into place by hand. It would be much more desirable to have a machine to do this task if the machine could apply the tape more quickly but just as accurately as by hand. My invention achieves this objective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly. my invention contemplates a device having a flat metal plate which supports a spring loaded hub carrying a roll of tape. The tape feeds off of the hub and about two applicator rollers which are constructed of a resilient material such as rubber. It has been found that a single roller does not adequately align the tape with the trim strip and. thus. two resilient rubber rollers are provided both of which are mounted on the metal plate in substantial alignment with the hub. The rollers are retained on both sides by serrated metal discs which contain the resilient rubber core and prevent distortion caused by the pressure of the rollers against the tape. The serrated discs also guide the tape accurately along the exact edge of the trim strips and mouldings and further advantagously provide traction to ensure that the rollers rotate smoothly on the trim strip so that the tape is not ripped or distorted during the application process. Furthermore. these serrated traction discs have the additional advantage of ensuring that the application rollers follow a true and straight course along the trim strip.

In a second embodiment of my invention the metal plate additionally carries a roll of paper which feeds onto the edge of the tape as the tape passes over the first applicator roller. The tape secures the edge of the paper to the trim strip. The paper effectively increases the width of the masking tape to prevent paint over spray from reaching the floor or other adjacent surfaces. To accomodate the full width of the paper the first applicator roller is made substantially wider than the trailing applicator roller.

With these two embodiments it may be seen that it is an object of my invention to provide a taping machine which automatically applies masking tape in a true and straight line along both straight and curved moulding strips and ensures that it is firmly pressed into place along the entire length of the trim or moulding strip. It is a further object of my invention to provide a taping machine which rolls smoothly and evenly along trim strips due to the action of the traction discs on the applicator rollers. Further objects and advantages will become apparent upon consideration of the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. I. 2 and 3 comprise. respectively. front. side and back views of the first embodiment of the taping machine of my invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the relative positions of the various rollers and how the tape passes thereover to the trim strip.

FIG. 5 shows how the machine is utilized to apply masking tape to the trim strip.

FIG. 6 is a detail view showing part of a traction disc and the serrations about the edge thereof.

FIG. 7 is a perspective detail view of a housing suitable to enclose the machine shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of my invention wherein paper is applied along with the masking tape.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the machine of FIG. 8 to better show the relative position and sizes of the compo nents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 it may be seen that the first embodiment of my invention utilizes a thin metal backing plate 10 upon which is mounted a pair of resilient applicator rollers I2 and I4. Rollers I2 and 14 may comprise rubber or any suitable flexible resilient material mounted about suitable bolts 30 which pass through metal backing plate I0. A hub I6 is slidably mounted on backing plate 10 by means of a bolt 20 which extends through a slot 26 in backing plate 10 to be retained therein by means of a washer 22 and a nut 24. Hub 16 carries a roll of tape 18 about its outer circumference and is urged downwards toward applicator rollers 12 and 14 by means ofa spring 25 extending between bolt 20 and a suitable anchoring tab 27. In the drawing the spring is shown only schematically and somewhat offset to make slot 26 clearly visible. It should be understood. however. that any suitable springing arrangement which urges the hub 16 downwards toward applicator rollers 12 and 14 would be suitable.

Mounted against the sides of applicator rolls I2 and 14 are serrated metal discs 34 which are retained tightly on both sides of the rubber cores of the rollers. The metal discs 34 are referred to herein as traction discs since they have serrated edges which help the ma chine to accurately follow a straight line along the trim strip on which the masking tape is being applied. In FIG. 6 a portion of the disc is shown in somewhat enlarged scale. The edge of the disc has a number of teeth formed thereon which serve to engage the trim strip and ensure that the rollers 12 and I4 roll smoothly along the trim strip without any slippage. Traction discs 34 also ensure that the edges of the resilient rubber rollers I2 and I4 do not distort under applied pressure. Discs 34 are made slightly larger than rollers I2 and 14 to align the edge of the tape with the roller edge.

In FIG. 5 it may be seen that the machine is utilized by rolling it at an angle along the top ofa trim strip 44. In the sectional view of FIG. 5 trim strip 44 comprises a base board mounted against a wall 40 on top of a floor 42. A moulding strip 46 is also shown since this is typical of construction practice used in modern buildings. It should be understood. however. that the taping machine is equally suitable for masking the trim about doors and windows or any other surface requiring masking tape to be applied in straight even lines. As can be seen in FIG. 5 the applicator rollers 12 and I4 are held directly against the edge of the trim strip 44. The traction discs 34 fit tightly into the corner indicated by the numeral 37 in FIG. 5. The resilient cores of the applicator rollers press the tape in a smooth straight line exactly along the top edge of the trim strip. Referring to PK). 4, it can be seen that tape 49 rolls off the outside of the tape roll 18 and over the front edge of the leading applicator roller at point 48. The strip of tape 49 is then pressed down onto the top of trim strip 44 passing underneath the second applicator roller 12. The tape roll 18 decreases in diameter as the tape is used up, consequently, spring 25 slides hub 16 downward so the tape is always in contact with the top of rollers l2 and 14. In this way the rolling action of the applicator rollers 12 and 14 assists in turning the tape roll 18 and helping with the discharge of tape therefrom. A straight application line is ensured by the use of two applicator rollers 12 and 14 both having traction discs following the exact edge of the trim strip 44.

In FIG. 1 it may be seen that backing plate has a generally circular top edge 11. This top edge 11 is used to retain a suitable housing to enclose the entire machine which housing has not been shown in FIGS. 1 through 5 for the purposes of increased clarity. The housing 50 is shown in FIG. 7 and may comprise, for example, a molded plastic housing having a cylindrical wall 52 terminated at one end by a flat member 54. At the other end of the housing 50 is provided a semicircular ridge 56 which follows the cylindrical wall 52. Ridge 56 is provided with two raised lip portions 58 and 59 so as to form a groove 57 therebetween. Groove 57 is sized to accept the edge 11 of backing plate 10. In this way housing 50 fits down over the tape roll 16 providing a compact package and a convenient handle for holding the machine. The ridge 56 extends around a semicircular path slightly over 180 degrees in extent so that when housing 50 is snapped into place it is retained by wrapping around the slight recurve shown at points 13 in FIG. 1.

The second embodiment of my invention is shown in FIG. 8 and 9. This embodiment works in a fashion similar to that described with respect to the first embodiment except that a roll of paper is included which paper is applied at the same time as the tape so as to provide additional masking protection. In the second embodiment a metal backing plate 60 carries two applicator rollers 64 and 66 as before and also a roll of tape 68. In addition, a roll of paper 62 is carried upon a shaft which is secured through an arcuate shaped slot 70. The paper roll 62 is spaced out from the backing plate 60 by an amount sufficient so that when tape is discharged from roll 68 and travels under paper roll 62 and about applicator roll 64, about half of the sticky side of the tape 75 is exposed for application to the trim strip 77 while the other half of the tape 75 contacts the edge of the paper 76. As can be seen in FIG. 8, the paper 76 is secured by means of tape 75 in a straight line along the top of trim strip 77. To accomodate the width of the paper 76 and the tape 75 applicator roller 64 is made substantially wider. To support this wider applicator roller a shaft extends out from backing plate 60 to a radius rod 74 pivoted about a handle 72. Handle 72 extends out from inside paper roll 62, makes a right angle turn downward, and passes back through a hole in radius rod 74 to the inside of the second applicator roller 66. It is contemplated in the present invention that both paper roll 62 and trailing applicator roller 66 may be mounted to backing plate 60 by means of bolts in the same fashion as described with respect to the first embodiment. Handle 72 is made slightly larger in diameter and designed to slide over these mounting bolts in paper roller 62 and trailing applicator roller 66. Another handle is provided by forming a hole 81 in backing plate 60 and adding suitable hand grips 80. The taping machine may be grasped with two hands by means of handles 72 and and rolled along the trim strip in the same manner as described with respect to the first embodiment.

I claim:

I. A taping machine for applying masking material for painting comprising in combination:

a support means:

first and second resilient rollers mounted on said support means about generally parallel rotational axes:

a rotatable hub mounted on said support means and adapted to carry a roll of tape in position to feed tape onto said first and second resilient rollers.

2. The machine of claim 1 in which each of said resil ient rollers comprise rubber rollers, held snuggly between a pair of traction discs of slightly larger diameter than said rubber rollers.

3. The machine of claim 2 in which said traction discs comprise metal discs with serrated edges.

4. The machine of claim 2 in which said support means comprises a generally flat backing plate and said hub is slidably mounted on a shaft secured through a slot in said backing plate and urged toward said resilient rollers by a spring.

5. The machine of claim 4 in which said traction discs comprise metal discs with serrated edges.

6. The machine of claim 5 including a generally semicircular housing adapted to fit over said machine and having a groove therein to accept the edge of said backing plate.

7. The machine of claim 1 including a roll of paper mounted on said support means in rolling contact with said first resilient roller and in which said hub is positioned to feed tape onto the edge of said paper as the tape and paper pass around said first resilient roller.

8. The machine of claim 7 in which said roll of paper is mounted on a shaft secured through a slot in said sup port means.

9. The machine of claim 8 including a handle extending out from the shaft on which the roll of paper is mounted and back onto the shaft supporting the second resilient roller.

10. The machine of claim 9 including an additional support member extending between said handle and the shaft supporting the first resilient roller.

* k a: =k

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Page 1 CERTIFICATE OF CURRECTION Patent No. 5,900,362 Date August '19, I975 Inventor(s) Edward W. Schaffer It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column LP, cancel all claims and insert the corrected claims 1 through 9, as shown on the attached sheet.

Signal and Scalcd this sixteenth Day Of December 1 9 75 [SEAL] A ttes t:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner uflatenls and Trademarks atent No. 5,900, 562 g 2 1 A taping machine for applying masking tape to surfaces, trims, and moldings prior to' painting comprising in combination:

Q a support providing a frame and handle;

first and second generally cylindrical resilient rollers formed from a solid piece of flexible rubber like material mounted for rotation on axles, said axles carried on said frame and extending from one side of said frame in generally parallel positions to provide parallel rotational axes, each of said resilient rollers held between a pair of thin retaining discs of slightly larger diameter than said rollers, said discs having holes in the center of a size just sufficient to accept the axles therethrough with retaining means on the axles next to the discs so as to hold said discs snuggly against the sides of the rollers so as to hold the rollers in approximate proper shape under applied pressure. but still allowing the rollers to flex sideways,

said discs mounted for independent and free rotation on said axles; and

a rotatable hub means mounted on said frame and adapted for carrying a roll of tape on the same side of said frame as said axles with its axis parallel to said axles and in position to feed tape onto said first and second resilient rollers. 4

2 3 machine of Claim 1 in which said retaining discs comprise metal discs with serrated edges.

P e 5 Patent No. 5,900,562 8;

3- The machine of Claim 1 in which said frame comprises a generally flat backing plate and said hub is slidaoly mounted on a shaft secured through a slot in said backing plate and urged toward said resilient rollers by a spring.

4. The machine of Claim 3 in which said retaining discs comprise metal discs with serrated edges to provide greater traction.

v 5. The machine of Claim 4 including a generally semicircular housing adapted to fit over said machine and having a groove therein to accept the edge of said backing plate.

6. The machine of Claim 1 including a roll of paper mounted on said support means in rolling contact with said first resilient roller and in which said hub is positioned to feed tape onto the edge of said paper as the tape and paper pass around said first resilient roller.

7. The machine of claim 6 in which said roll of paper is mounted on a shaft secured through a slot in said frame.

8. The machine of claim including a handle extending out from the shaft on which the roll of paper is mounted and back onto the shaft supporting the second resilient roll er.

9. The machine of claim 8 including an additional support member extending between said handle and the shaft supporting the first resilient r ller.

Claims (10)

1. A TAPING MACHINE FOR APPLYING MASKING MATERIAL FOR PAINTING COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A SUPPORT MEANS: FIRST AND SECOND RESILIENT ROLLERS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS ABOUT GENERALLY PARALLEL ROTATIONAL AXES: A ROTATABLE HUB MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND ADAPTED TO CARRY A ROLL OF TAPE IN POSITION TO FEED TAPE ONTO SAID FIRST AND SECOND RESILIENT ROLLERS.

2. The machine of claim 1 in which each of said resilient rollers comprise rubber rollers, held snuggly between a pair of traction discs of slightly larger diameter than said rubber rollers.

3. The machine of claim 2 in which said traction discs comprise metal discs with serrated edges.

4. The machine of claim 2 in which said support means comprises a generally flat backing plate and said hub is slidably mounted on a shaft secured through a slot in said backing plate and urged toward said resilient rollers by a spring.

5. The machine of claim 4 in which said traction discs comprise metal discs with serrated edges.

6. The machine of claim 5 including a generally semicircular housing adapted to fit over said machine and having a groove therein to accept the edge of said backing plate.

7. The machine of claim 1 including a roll of paper mounted on said support means in rolling contact with said first resilient roller and in which said hub is positioned to feed tape onto the edge of said paper as the tape and paper pass around said first resilient roller.

8. The machine of claim 7 in which said roll of paper is mounted on a shaft secured through a slot in said support means.

9. The machine of claim 8 including a handle extending out from the shaft on which the roll of paper is mounted and back onto the shaft supporting the second resilient roller.

10. The machine of claim 9 including an additional support member extending between said handle and the shaft supporting the first resilient roller.

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