WO2014024070A1

WO2014024070A1 - Tape cutting appendage

Info

Publication number: WO2014024070A1
Application number: PCT/IB2013/056026
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pierpaolo Battista; Renato GRAZIOTIN; Claudio CANAZZA
Original assignee: Unitech S.R.L.
Priority date: 2012-08-06
Filing date: 2013-07-23
Publication date: 2014-02-13
Also published as: ITMI20121393A1

Abstract

A tape cutting appendage comprising a nail-shaped cutting element (2) having a cutting end (3) configured in such a way as to exert a localised pressure on a tape in order to create a tear in said tape, comprising furthermore connecting means (5), stably fixed to the cutting element (2) and configured in such a way as to be applicable and/or wearable by a user on a finger of the hand.

Description

TAPE CUTTING APPENDAGE

The present invention has as its subject a tape cutting appendage, in particular designed for cutting adhesive tapes such as packaging tapes.

It is widely known that in manual packaging stations in warehouses, production lines or other industrial complexes, operators engaged in manual packaging of products carry out sealing of packs (generally cardboard boxes) by the use of adhesive tape applied to edges adjacent to folded panels of the packs themselves.

To facilitate the task of closing the packs, manual applicators are currently known, equipped with a handle to which is fixed a support structure for a roll of adhesive tape.

This support structure, which is thus integral with the handle, principally comprises a cylindrical pin onto which the roll is rotatably fitted, and a cutting organ, generally provided with a sawtooth profile designated with the task of effecting the cutting of the adhesive tape released from the roll.

Although the use of such applicators has simplified the operations of closing packs, their use still remains affected by problems of bulk and manageability which still impair the movements of those engaged in closing the packs .

An object of the present invention is therefore to make available a tape cutting appendage which is free from the disadvantages complained of above.

Within the scope of this technical task it is an object of the invention to propose a tape cutting appendage which comprises limited overall dimensions.

It is a further object of the invention to propose a tape cutting appendage which comprises a high degree of manageability .

The specified objects, and yet others, are substantially achieved by a tape cutting appendage in accordance with what is expressed in claim 1 and/or one or more of the claims depending thereon.

The description is now given, by way of non-exclusive example, of a preferred form of embodiment of a tape cutting appendage in accordance with the attached drawings, in which:

- figure 1 shows a tape cutting appendage according to the present invention, worn by a user and in a non- operative configuration;

- figure 2 shows a tape cutting appendage according to the present invention, worn by a user and in a cutting configuration;

- figures 3-6 show four different embodiments of the tape cutting appendage according to the present invention .

In accordance with the attached drawings, no. 1 comprehensively represents a tape cutting appendage according to the present invention.

The appendage 1 comprises a rigid cutting element 2, having a cutting end 3 designed in such a way that it applies a localised pressure on a tape (not shown) so as to create a tear in the tape;

On the side opposite the cutting end 3, the cutting element 2 comprises a base portion 4 designed to support connecting means 5 which will be explained below. In particular, the cutting element comprises a main lying surface, a front portion of which forms the aforementioned cutting end 3.

The cutting end 3 comprises a curved cutting edge 6 which extends along the aforesaid main lying surface. Preferably, the cutting edge 6 has a minimum radius "R" of 3 mm .

In a preferred embodiment, the cutting edge 6 is not strictly cutting, in other words forming a true blade, but comprises a profile (in cross section) suitably radiused in such a way as to create a concentration of the thrust exerted on the tape sufficient to create a tear (and not therefore a true cut) in the tape itself. Preferably the main lying surface of the cutting element 2 has a curved shape comprising a concavity on one of its sides, in such a way that the concavity can allow the cutting element 2 to be applied to a finger of a user/operator .

In other words, the concavity forms a housing for the user's finger, and therefore allows the cutting element 2 to adapt to the conformation of the finger itself.

As may be inferred from the remainder of the description, within the scope of the present invention it is preferable that the finger should be the thumb, however it is also possible to apply the cutting element 2 to other fingers, for example the index finger.

As may be seen in the attached drawings, the cutting element 2 is nail-shaped and has a main dimension of extension designed to coincide with the main dimension of extension of the finger to which it is applied.

Preferably the cutting element 2 comprises a length "L", measured along the aforementioned direction of extension, comprised between 30 and 50 mm and more preferably between 35 and 45 mm.

In all the embodiments it is however preferable that the overall length of the cutting element 2 should be such that, when applying the cutting element 2 with the base 4 applied to the user's finger, the cutting edge 6 does not overhang beyond the tip of the finger itself.

In this way, when for example applying the cutting element 2 to the thumb, when the thumb is in the extended configuration (figure 1) the cutting edge 6 is further in than the tip of the thumb, (in other words, does not protrude beyond the tip of the thumb) , while in the bent configuration of the thumb (figure 2) the cutting end 3 is exposed and therefore ready for cutting the tape.

To achieve this, it is preferable to bind the base portion 4 of the cutting element 2 to a phalange which is not the end phalange of the finger, because it is precisely the movement of bending the outermost phalange of the finger that leaves the cutting end 3 exposed and thus allows the action of cutting a tape.

By way of example, therefore, if the appendage 1 were to be applied to the index finger of the hand, it could be applied to the first phalange (nearest to the palm of the hand) or to the intermediate phalange but not to the small phalange (the one at the end of the index finger, which carries the nail) .

A description will now be given of the connecting means 5, which are fixed to the cutting element and are configured in such a way as to be stably applicable to a finger of an operator, in particular in such a way as to be wearable by an operator on a finger of the hand.

In a first embodiment, illustrated in figure 3, the connecting means 5 comprise a pair of flexible bands 7, 8 applied to opposite sides of the cutting element, and preferably at the base portion 4, and having respective free ends 7a, 8a which can be stably connected to one another using reversible connecting systems (for example using velcro portions 9) so that they stably clasp the user's finger.

In a second embodiment, illustrated in figure 4, the connecting means 5 comprise at least one rigid connecting portion 10 which extends along at least a stretch of a closed path to form a housing 11 of substantially circular shape to stably accommodate a finger of the user.

Preferably, the connecting portion 10 extends over a closed path to form a ring into which the finger of the user can be inserted.

In a third embodiment, illustrated in figure 5, the connecting means 5 comprise a pair of permanently deformable portions 12, applied on opposite sides of the cutting element 2 so as to be deformed between an away configuration (shown by broken lines), designed for allowing the appendage 1 to be applied and removed, and a near configuration (shown by unbroken lines), designed for stably locking the appendage 1 onto the finger of the user.

It is possible, as may be seen in figure 5, for the two permanently deformable portions 12 to be formed by a single curved, and open, body, fixed at a central portion thereof to the cutting element 2 in such a way that the two lateral ends of said curved body form the permanently deformable portions 12.

The term "permanently deformable" is intended to mean the propensity of the material to be permanently bent without the elastic return of the material bringing it back automatically to the original configuration.

Preferably, the material used for the above-mentioned permanently deformable portions 12 is a ductile metal coated with rubber and/or plastic-polymeric material.

In the second and third embodiments, the curvature of the connecting portion 10 (figure 4) and of the curved body adapt particularly to the connection with the cutting element 2 since the latter is connected to them precisely at its own concave surface. Therefore, by making the curvature of the connecting portion 10 (figure 4), and of the curved body, uniform with the curvature of the concave surface of the cutting element 2, it is possible to confer a very robust structure on the resulting appendage 1.

In a fourth embodiment, illustrated in figure 6, the connecting means 5 comprise a tubular jacket 13, deformable, fittable onto the finger of the user and supporting the cutting element 2, for example by gluing or sewing the base portion 4 to a suitable receiving portion of the jacket 13.

In this configuration, the cutting element 2 is applied to the jacket 13 in such a position as to define the positioning of the cutting end 3 described above (i.e. not overhanging the end of the finger when the finger is extended) . Preferably, the jacket 13 is formed by a finger of a glove 14, preferably the thumb.

The cutting element 2 is made of a rigid material, for example steel (including the stainless type), plastic and/or any other material that has similar mechanical properties, and it is preferably made in a single piece. Furthermore, the connecting means 5 can be connected to the cutting means 2 by gluing or other traditional systems of stable fixture.

The present invention achieves the proposed objects, overcoming the disadvantages complained of in the known art .

Thanks to its simple structure, the tape cutting appendage proves to be easily wearable by an operator who can thus cut a tape (for example an adhesive packaging tape) with a simple movement of bending the finger and bringing the cutting edge close to the tape, without the need to grip bulky applicators or other devices .

The high degree of manageability is thus also evident, making it possible to reduce the time for closing packs by means of adhesive tape.

Claims

1. A tape cutting appendage, comprising a cutting element (2) comprising a cutting end (3) designed in such a way that it applies a localised pressure on a tape so as to create a tear in said tape;

characterised in that it also comprises connecting means

(5) , stably fixed to the cutting element (2) and designed in such a way that they can be stably applied and/or worn on at least one finger or preferably on a hand of a user.

2. The appendage according to claim 1, wherein said cutting element (2) is nail-shaped and comprises a concavity on a side of it designed to face towards the finger of the user.

3. The appendage according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said cutting element (2) comprises a main lying surface and wherein said cutting end (3) comprises a cutting edge

(6) extending on said main lying surface and having a minimum radius (R) of 3 mm.

4. The appendage according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said cutting element (2) has a main dimension of extension and has a length (L) , measured along said main direction of extension, of between 30 and 50 mm, more preferably being between 35 and 45 mm.

5. The appendage according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said connecting means (5) comprise a pair of flexible bands (7, 8) applied on opposite sides of the cutting element (2) and comprising respective free ends (7a, 8a) which can be stably connected to one another using reversible connecting systems (9) so that they stably clasp said finger of the user.

6. The appendage according to any of the preceding claims from 1 to 4, wherein said connecting means (5) comprise a rigid connecting portion (10) extending along at least one stretch of a closed path to form a housing seat (11) in which said finger of the user is stably held.

7. The appendage according to claim 6, wherein said rigid connecting portion (10) extends on a closed path to form a ring in which the finger of the user can be inserted .

8. The appendage according to any of the preceding claims from 1 to 4, wherein said connecting means (5) comprise a pair of permanently deformable portions (12), applied on opposite sides of the cutting element (2) in such a way that they can be deformed between an away configuration, designed to allow appendage (1) application and removal, and a near configuration, designed for stably locking the appendage (1) on the finger of the user.

9. The appendage according to any of the preceding claims from 1 to 4, wherein said connecting means (5) comprise a deformable tubular jacket (13) which can be fitted on said finger of the user, said jacket (13) preferably being formed by a finger of a glove (14) .

10. A tape cutting glove comprising an appendage (1) according to claim 9, wherein a finger of said glove (14), preferably the thumb, forms said deformable tubular jacket (13) .

11. A method for cutting a tape, particularly an adhesive tape for packaging, comprising the steps of: - preparing a tape cutting appendage (1) according to any of the preceding claims;

- stably applying said appendage (1) to a finger of a user, preferably to a thumb;

- pressing said cutting end (3) of the appendage (1) against said tape in such a way as to apply a localised pressure on the tape, so as to make a tear in the tape.