CA2043784A1 - Low impact tape applying device - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A device for applying tape to a box driven past the device in which the initial impact force of the device on the leading surface of the box is attenuated.

Description

Fl~ A~i4A

LOW IMPACT TAPE APPLYING DEVIC~5 s Field of the Invention Thi~ inv~ntion relate~ to devices for applying length~ of prcs~ure ~en~itive adhe~lve coated tape to rectangul~r objecte ~uch a~ a box driven along a 1~ pre~ter~ined path past the device.

Back~round of the Invention The art i~ replete with such device~ for applying length~ of pres~ure ~en~itive adhe~ive tape, U.8. P~tent No6. 3,915,786 and 3,954,550 being illu8trative example~. Such devlce~ are commonly u~ed to ~eal rectangular boxe~ filled with merchandi~ driven past th~ device by a conveyer. Typically, such device~
include an ~pplication member ~uch a~ a roll~r for 8upporting an end of tape adhe~ive ~ide out in a contact po~ition at which tape end will be contacted by a box.
Upon 8uch contact, tape end adhere~ to the box. Further movement of the box then pulls tape frcm th2 device betwe~n the box and the application m~mber which pre6~e~
t~pe again~t the contour of the box. Subsequently, the applied lQngth of tape 16 ~evered from the ~upply length o~ tape and mea~6 on the devlce engage tap~ ~djacent the newly ~evered end and move~ it with the appllcation me~b~r b~k to its contact po~ition for ~ontact by the next box on the conveyer.
Typically, the application member i~ mounted at one ~nd of an arm which ha~ it% other end pivotably mounted ~t one edge o the path for th~ boxe~ 60 that after th~ l~ading surfac~ of the box contacts the tape on the member, the member will revolve about the plvot point of th2 arm to follow the contour of the box and 2 ~3 ~ ?, ~

pre~s tape s~quentlally against th~ leading sur~ace o~
the box, around a leading edge o the box de1ned by ad~acent edge portlons of two butted cover ~lap~ of the box, and then over adjacent portion~ of the cover flapg longitudinally of the box to seal the cov2r flap~
together. Because o~ the lncrease in angle between the leading surface of the box and a line between the pivot point for the arm and the application member a~ the box moves along the path, however, the force applied by the leading ~urface of the box to move the application member across it~ leading ~urface will increa~e signi icantly a~ the application member approache~ the edge of ~he box and can become ~ufficiently large just before the edge of the box pas~e~ the application memb~r to push ~n the leading wall of the box under it~ two cover flap~, p~rticularly for lightly constructed boxe~.
Thi~ c~n ~am the tape applying apparatus or damage merchandise in the box, and even if it doe~ not, ~t will produce ~ taped box in which tape bridges several centlm2ter~ betwe~n ~he cover flap~ of She box and a portion of the front 6urface of the box, which bridging 1B un~ightly and potentially insecure. Further, folding back o~ the ~orner~ of flap6 on the box may occur.
U.S. PAtent No. 4,238,269, entitled i'Tape B3lF
Applying D~vic~" and i~6ued to Deering, Jr., the ~3~ ja~
content~ o~ which are incorporated herein by reference, di~closes one approach to overcome thi~ problem ln conv~ntional tape applying device~ having p~vot~lly mount~d applicatlon member6. The application member in the '269 patent i~ mounted for movem~nt along a generally l~n~ar path from a contact po~ition at which it w$11 b~ contacted by the leadlng surfa~e o~ a box to a ~cond po~ition at which it will be against the one side of th~ box a~ the box movefi pa~t the applloation m~mbar. Preferably, th~ lin~ar path i~ di~posed at an ang~e ln the range of about 35 to 55 degr~e~ (preferably 45 degree~) with re~pect to the path or th~ box ~o that one component of movement o~ the application member rom it~ contack po~ition to it~ eecond po~ition i~ in the direction of movement of the box. With thi~ arrangement the force appli~d to the leading surface of the box to move the application member to lts second po~ltion is es~entially uniform a~ the application member traver~e~
the leading ~urface of the box and can b~ ad~usted via mean~ bi~lng the application member to it~ contact .
po~ition so that firm engagement of tape again~t the ~ntire ~ront ~urface of the box will be provided.
Th~ approach improved on prior de~ign~ in th~t the uniform force applled against the box attenuated damage to boxe~ as tape wa~ applied. ~owever, although the force exerted against the box was reduced (i.e. the orce wa6 kept relatively uni~vrm and d~d not inorea~e) a~ the application member approaGhes the leading ed~e of the box, it has been di~covered that the initial force o impact of the application member again~ the leading ~urface of the box 80metime~ reached undesirably high levels, dzpending on the ~ize and 6trength of the box, the content~ of khe box, the v~locity of the box, and the lnertia of tape applylng devi~e, amony other factor6. Thu~, under ome circumstance~, the tape applyins device of ~he '269 patent would damage a box or it~ contents upon the initial impact between the box and the tape applying device, or the speed of boxes moving past the device had to be r~duced.

Summarv of the Invention . ~
The pre~ent invention provide~ a device adapted for applying lengths of pre~ur~ ~ensitive adhe6ive coated tape from a supply length o tape ~eri~tim on ~paced rectangular object~ driven along a predet~r~in~d path in a fir~t direction pa~t the device.
The d~vic~ in~ludes: a frame; an applicAtion member J ~

having an arcuate periphery; means adapted ~or de~lning a tape route for a ~aid supply length of tape to the arcuate periphery of said application member with the adhesive coating dispo6ed away from said application 5 member7 mean~ for moun~ing ~aid application member on said frame to afford movement thereo~ from a contact po6~tlon with ~aid tape route in the path of the rectangular object to afford contact between an end of the tape disposed along ~aid tape route and a leading ~urface of the rectangular ob~ect driven along the path in the fir~t direction to adhere tape to the leading surface of the rectangular object, to a ~econd po~ition whlle pres~ng ~he tape again~t the leading ~urface of the re~tangular object, at whlch ~econd position ~aid appllcation mæmber will pre6s tape belng applied again~t a long~tudinal ~urface of the object, and back to 6aid contact position, sald mounting mean~ including mean~
~or attenuating the impact force of the application member on the leading ~urface of the rectangular object;
and mean~ mounted on ~aid frame and adapted to be activated by movement o~ the re~tangul~r object pa6t a predetermined po~ition along the path for 6evering an applled length o~ tape from ~aid ~upply length. Further, ln one ~mbodiment of the lnvention the device may includa me~n~ for buf~ing the tape applied to the rect~ngul~r object.

De6cri~tion of the Drawing The pre8ent invention will be further d~scrlbed with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral~ refer to like part~ throughout the several view6 and wherein:
Figure 1 i~ a ~lde view of a machine in~orporating two tape-applying device~ according to the pre~ent invention.
Figure 2 i~ an end view o~ the machins 6hown in Figu~

:

Flgure 3 i~ an enlarged ragmentary vlew o~
the two device~ included ln the machlne ~hown in Figure 1. , F~ure 4 i~ a longitudinal cros~ ~ectional 5 view of the upper tape applying device of Figure 3.
Figure 5 i8 a front end vlew of the upper tape applying device of Figure 3.
Figure 5A is a partial fron~ end vlew of an altern~te embodiment of the upper tape applying device 10 f Figure 3.
~ igure 6 16 tran6ver~e cros~ ~ect~onal view along plane 6-6 o the tape applying devlce of Figure 4.
Figure 7 i~ a back end view o~ the uppèr tape applying device of Figure 3.
Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11 are enlarged fragmentary views ~equen~ially illu~tratlng the applic~tion of tape to a box by sne o the d~vice~
incorporated in ~he machine ~hown in Figure 1~
Figure 12 i~ a graphical representation of ths route o~ th~ application member betwe@n it~ contact po~ltion ~and it~ ~econd po~ition.
Flg~re 13 i6 ~ graphical r~pre~entatlon of the for~ ~pplied by the ~pplication memb~r o~ the '269 t~pe applying device on a box as the box move6 pa~t th~
device.
Figure 14 i~ a graphical r~pre6entation of the ~orc~ applied by the application member of the tape applying device o~ th~ 6 inv~ntion on ~ box a~ the box mov~ pa~t the device.

~escription of the Preferred ~mbod ment Refeering now to the drawing, there i~
~llustrat~d a machine 10 incorporating two tape-applying devices 12 and 14 according to the present lnvention di~posed to ~pply langthæ of pre~ure ~en~itive adhe~ive . ; . --6~
coated tape from 8upply length~ o~ tape 16 ser~atlm around the peripherie~ o~ ~paced rectangular ob~ect~ or boxe~ 18 driven along a predetermined path through machine 10.
A8 i~ seen in Figure~ 1 and 2, ~achine 10 compri~e~ ba~e portion 20 ~upporting tape~applying device 14 and including ~paced conveyer~ 22 adapted to grip the ~ide~ of a box placed along the path and to propel the box pa~t devlces 12 and 14; and vertically movable upper frame portion ~4 on which is ~upported the other tape applyinq deYice 12 and which i6 adapted to ~ove vert~c~lly to bring uppermo~t ~ape applying device 12 into contact with the uppermo6t portion~ of ~ box propelled through machine 10, The machine 10 m~y be con6tructed 80 that the upper frame portion may be manually posltioned at a desired helght for boxs~ havlng the 6ame dimensions, or the ma~hine may in~lude m~chAnl~m~ activated when a box i~ encounter~d to automatically position the upper frame portion to the cor~ct height for boxes having varying dimensio~s.
Machine lO also include6 means for moving conv~y~r~ 22 toward each other from an lnitlal ~paced apart po6ition to position~ at which they will engage the ide ~urace6 of boxes of dif~erent widths to propel th~ box~s along the path. Machine 10 is al~o provided with mean~, ~uoh a~ machine activating lever 30, that activ~te op~ration of the machine and t~pe applying devices 12, 14, when a box pa~se~ through the machine.
Such mean~ are not de6cribed in detall herein ~ince they ar~ well known 1n the art, ~ riefly, as ig be~t ~een in Figure~ 3 through 11, the devlce 12 includes frame 40; application memb~r 42; mean~ adapted for defining a tape route for ~ ~upply length of tape 16 to the application member with the adh~ive ~oat~ng di~po6ed away from the application memb~; mean~ for mounting th~ applic~tion member on the frama to dfford movement thereo~ ~rom a contact position (Flgure 8) wlth th~ tape in the predeterm~ned path of a box moving in direction 44 to afford contact between the leng~h of tape di~po~ed ~lony ~aid ~ape route and the leadlng 6urface 46 of a box 18 driven along it~
predetermined path to adhere tape to the leading surface of the box, to a 6econd position (Figures 8 and 9) while pressing tape against the leading ~urface o the box, at which second po~ition ~aid application member will pre~
the t~pe being applied again6t longitudinal Burface 48 of the box ( Figure 10 ) ~ and back to said contact position (Flgure 11); mean~ for attenuating the impact force o~ the application member on the leading ~ur~ace of the rectan~ular ob~ect; and means ~ounted on the ~ra~e and adapted to be activated by movement of the box pact a predetermined po~ition along the pred~termined path or ~evering an applied length of tape Prom the ~upply length. Further, the device may include means for buffing the tape against the longltudinal ~urface 48 and th~ tr~iling ~urface 50 after the t~pe i~ applied th~r~tO.
Frame 40 include~ parallel fra~e 6ide plate~
60 and 62 6ecured together by tran~ver~e poets 64, 6~, 68 and 70.
~ pplication member 42 include6 parallel 6paced s~de plates 72 and 74 secured together by post~ 76, 78, 80. The application member has a width that ie les~ than the ~paclng between frame side plate~ 60 and 62. The ~pplication member 42 which includes appl~cation roller 82 rota~iv~ly supported on side plates 72 and 74 of th~
application member 42. The application roller 82 provides an arcuate periphery for the application of tape ~o a box, as wlll be discus~ed hereinafter.
However, it i~ racognized that a non-rot~ting member having an arcuate p~riphery may be mounted on the application member in place of the application roller 82, if d~Rired.

~ -- ~ f J 1 , 7 ~ t The mean~ ad~pted ~or de~ining a tape ~out0 i~cludes a hub M4 mounted on ~rame 40 ~or any other convenient ~tructure), about whlch hub 84 a ~upply roll 86 of tape 16 may be releasably engaged. Idler roller 88 i~ rotatably mounted on ~rame slde plate 60 and the tension roller 90 having a ~ur~ace adapted for releasabl~ ~rictional contact (~uch a~ by knurling the ~urface in contact with the tape) with the adhe~lve ~ur~ce of tape, which ten~ion roller 90 i~ rotatably mounted to frame side plate 60 via an ad~u6table ~riotion clutch tnot shown) to provide ~ de8ired tension in tape 16 along the tape path subseguent to the ten6ion roller 90. Also included are a second knurled ten~on roller 92 ~or guiding the adhe~ive coated ~urface of tap~ ~nd a second idler roller 94, both mounted on and betwe~n appllcation member side plate~ 72 and 74. In the lllu~trat~d embodiment o~ the invention, fr~m~ ~ide platQ 60 i~ prov~ded with ~lot 96, which enables the po8ition of ten~ion roller 90 to be ad~u~ted relative to the tap~ pakh, and therefore to adjust the leading tape l~g length of the tape 16 as it pa6~e8 through the device 12.
Al~o provided iæ tape guide member 98 mounted between application member side plate~ 72 and 74 between roll~r~ 92 and 94.and the application roller B2. The tape guid~ member 98 includes tape ~upporti ng surface 100 ror ~liding engagement and ~upport of th~
non-adhe6ive ~ide of the tape 16 aæ it move~ tGwards the applic~tion roller 82. A pair of tapered guide flanges 102 con~train la'ceral and orthogonal movement of the tape a6 the tape passe~ through the tape guide member 98~ The tape 16 i8 thu~ guided from supply roll 86 around roller~ 88, 90, 92, and 94, though tape guide member 98 to application roller 82.
Figure 5A illuætrate~ an alternate embodiment of the tape ~uide member 98 that includss means to maint~in the po6ition of the tape relative to the tape g ~ ,3 ~
applying devlce, particularly on the lower tape applying device 14 where gravity will tend to di~plAc~ the t~pe.
Thi~ problem i~ exasperated by th~ pre~ence of high humidity or ~imilar conditions. In the illustrated embodiment, the means for maintaining the tape in po~ltion includes finger 100A projecting from tape guiding ~urface 100, although any other ~uitable arrangement may be employed. The finger 100A ensures that the tape will not bind or 6tlek to the ~ape guide member 98 a~ i~ pas~efi therethrough.
The mean~ for mounting the application member 42 on the rame 40 comprises parallel ~paced guide member~ 110 and 112, each mounted on facing side~ of the frame s~de plate~ 60 and 62. Each guide member 110 and 112 i~cludes a tra~k 114 and 116. Each track hae a fir~t track portion 114', 116' and a second track portion 114'', 116''. Two palr o~ wheels or rollers 118 and 120 are mounted in aligned positions on each of the application member ~ide plate~ 72 and 74 to engage the tracks 114 and 116. In the illustrated embodiment, rollers 118 are rotatively connected to eaGh end of post 76 and roller~ 120 are rotatlvely connected to each end o~ po~t 7~. Thu~, the appl~cation member 42 may ~lide r~ciprocælly between a fir~t, or contact position ~hown in Flgur~ 8, and a ~scond po6ition ~t the oppo~lte end o~ the track~ 114 and 116, ~hown in Flgure6 9 and 10, relatlv~ to the ~rame 40.
The meanB for severing an applied length of tape 16 from the supply length, after tap~ ha~ been appl~ed to a box 18 moving along a pr~determined path ln direction 44 in the machine 10 compri6e~ a ~hoe 130.
Shoe 130 include~ parallel ~ide plate~ 132 and 134 connected ad~acent it~ front end by post 136 and ad~acent the back end by po~t 138. Th~ ~hoe ~ide plate6 132 and 134 are pivotally mounted on each ~ide to frame 8id8 plate~ 60 and 62 at point 139~ ~ pair of ~pring~
142 ax~ conneeted at one end to po6t 136 and at the -10- 2~ r''.~.
other by poæt 64 connecting the frame ~ide plate~ 60 and 62 together. The 6pri.ng~ 142 bia~ the ~hoe 130 to a normal po~ition with an edge surface~ 144 of the shoe 130 projecting into the path for the box through the machine 10, and a ~et po~ition with the edge ~ur~ace 144 of th~ shoe 130 re~ting aga~nst the longitudlnal ~urface 48 of a box rnoving along ths path . A pai r o~ re~ilient bumper8 146 are mounted on the end6 o~ the ~hoe ~ide pla~ 132 and 134 adjacent po~t 136 and contact shoulder~ 148 of frame side plate~ 60, 62 to cushion any impact when the ~hoe rapidly returns to its normal position.
The shoe side plate~ 132 and 134 are ~paced to receive tape 16 therebetween after the tape a~ been appl~ed by the applieation roller 82 to a box moving p~st the tap~ applying device 12. Bracket lS0 is mounted on elther end to ~hoe side plate~ 132, 134. ~nife 152 is mount~d to bracket 150, ~uch a~ by ~crew~ 154, between the 8id~ plate~ 132, 134 oE the ~hoe 130~ Po~t 156 i~
mounted on either end to 6ho~ ~ide plate~ 132, 134 ad~acent knife 152, but oppo~ite application roller B2.
Xnlfe guard 158 ls pivotably mounted on post 156 along a ~ide ~urf~ce of the knife to a~ford movement of the knife gu~rd î58 from a ~aPety po~ition ad~acent a serrated tap~red edge 160 of the knife 152 (to which ~fety po~ition the guard 158 1~ bia#ed by a ~pring, not shown, at itB pivot point) and a position spaced from th~ edge 160 of the knife 152 (Figure~ 9 and 10) upon contact of a distal portion o~ the guard ~ized to extend past the ~urface~ 144 o the shoe 130 to engage the ~urface of a box moving along the path.
As ~ be~t 6een in F$gure 10, the guard 158 also ha6 sufficient length to extend beyond the distal ~nd of the ~hoe 130 BO that the guard 158 will remain in contact with a box moving along the path after the 8urface 144 of the shoe has lost contact th~rewith. A~
such contact l~ lost, the shoe 130 will return to it~

' ' ~ 2 ~ " ! 1 normal po~ltion under the influence of ~pring~ 142 while th~ guard 158 remain~ retrac~ed ~rom the edge 160 o~ ths blade 152 via contact with the box ~o that the edge 160 o~ the blade 152 w~ll engage and sever a length o~ tape 16 extending from the trailing ~ur~ace S0 o the box 18 to the application roller 82 (Figure 11). Thig will produce a length o tape ext~nding ~rom the tralling edge of the box which wlll be applied to the trailing ~urface 50 of the box by a buf~ing rollerl as ~7ill later b~ explained-Although not shown, the tape applying device o thi~ lnvention may also include a ~trip o material mounted on knife guard 158 ~o a~ to come into contact wlth the knife 152 adjace~t edge 160 when the knife guard as6ume~ its 6afety po~ition. The strip of materlal i~ ab orbent and may be constructed of a felt like fabric to absorb an oil or lubricant. Thufi, when the knife guard 158 rapidly returns to its ~afety position, the ~trip of material contact6 or "wipes" edge 160 of the kni~e 152 each time the kn~f~ cuts through the tape 16. The coating of the knife ~dge 160 with the lubricant prev~nts or r~duces build up o~ the pre66ure sensltive adh~iv~ on the knie that might inter~ere wlth the op~ration of the knife.
The mean6 for flrmly buf~ing an applied length of tape againEt a box driven along the path include~ a pair of laterally spaced buffing arm~ 162, 164 rotatably ~upporting bufing roller 166 at one end and connected at on oppo~ite end by po~t 168. The buffing arms 162, 164 are pivotally mounted on post 70 connecting the ~rame side plate~ 60 and 62, int~rmediat~ post 168 and buffing roller 166. A pair o linkage arm~ 170 and 172 are pivotally connected at one end to post 168 and at the oth~r end to post 80 connecting application member sid~ p~t~s 72 and 74, to connect buffing arm~ 162, 164 to the spplication m~mber 42.

.

.
, .

3 ~

In its st~rt po~Jition the buf~ing arms 162, 164 po6ition the bu~ing roller 166 in the path o~ a box 18 moving pa~t the device 12~ After ~uch contact ~ Fi~ure 9), the buffing arm~ 162, 164 will rotate to move with the box pressing buffing roller 166 into contaet with the tape 16 applied on the longltudinal surPace 48 of ~he box. The buffing roller 166 will ~hen ~*quentially movs along that ~urface and the trailing ~urPace 50 of the box to pre~ the applied tape 16 into firm engagement therewith. When th¢ buffing roller 166 lose~
contact with the box and the applica~ion member 42 refurns to it6 contact po~ition, buffing roll~r 166 ~imultaneously return~ to it~ ~tart po6ition.
In the lllustrated embodim~nt, the mean6 for bu~lng the tape al~o include~ a brush or ~he l~ke 174 mounted on po~t 175 of the frame above the buffing roller. Bru~h 174 assist~ in ~uffing the tape along the longitudinal surface 48 and the trailing ~urface 50 of the box 18.
Means are provided to bia~ the application - roller and the buffing roller to extended po~itlons r~latlv~ ~o rame 40. In the illu~trated embodimen~, th~
bia~ng mean~ ~nclud~s ~pr~ng 176 connected at one end to po~t 177 mounted between bu~fing arm~ 162, 164 and at the other end to post 6~ connecting application member side plate~ 72 and 74. The force of the spring 176 urge~
the application roller 82 and the buf~ing roller 166 to extended position6 (as ~hown in Figura 8) relative to the device~ 12,14 when not in contact with a box.
Device 14 on machine 10 functions in the 6ame manner a6 device 12 and ha6 e~6entially the ~ame part~
which are ldentif~ed with the ~ame reference numeral~
u6ed in the de~cription of parts for device 12. The parts of devic~ 14, however, are di~po#ed in mirror imag~ position~ wlth re~pect to corre~ponding parts of devlc~ 12.

2 $~ ,,1,. C ~, r~) ~? /1 In regard to device lZ, it may be po~sible in ~ome ~ituation~ to omi~ the ~prlng 176 and to rely entlrely on gravity to bias the application roller and the bufflng rollers to extended posit~on6. Similarly, it may b~ po~ible to provide a w0aker spring 176 in rçgard to the devlce 12, as compared to the corre~ponding ~pring provided for device 14, and to ~upplement the force o~ ~he ~pring with gravity.
In either of the devices 12, 14, the buffing force may be adju~ted by inclu~ion of ~racket 178 connecting one end of ~pring 176 to post 68 by hook 180.
Bracket 178 includes an arcuate array oF holes 182 for connection to the ~pring 176. Depend1ng on th~ hole 182 that the ~pring 176 is connected to, the ~pring may be 1~ pre-stretched to a predetermined degree, ~o that the re6i~t~nc~ to further movem~nt of tha bufflng roller can be ~elected.
Of course, other 6uitable bufflng arrangements may b¢ employed, such a~ is ~hown in the De~ring, Jr.
'269 patent, in whlch case, the buffing roller i8 not linked to the ~pplication member, in contraæt to the illustrated embodiment.
The operation of device 12 in applying a length o tape will now be explained. Prior to movement of a box 18 pa~t device 12, applica~ion roller 82 is in it6 contact po~ition in the path for the box. An end portion of the ~upply length of tape 16 is po~itioned ad~acent application roller 82 with the adhesive surface on t~p~ facing the direction from which the box 18 wlll 3~ approach the device. Upon contact with the leading ~urface 46 of the box 18 driven along the path, the end portion of tape 16 will adhere to the leading surface.
Subsequently, movement of the box 18 will fir6t cau~e movement of the application roller 82 from it6 35 appllcation positlon against mean~ tPreviouæly de6cribed ~.
herein) for biaæing the application roller 82 to it~
contact po~ition, which will pre~ a portion of tape 16 .: , '' , '; ` ' ~ .

into engagement wlth the box 18. l~he ~pplicatlon member will trav~r~e the ~ir~t path portion ta~ pro~cribed by fir~t route portion~ 114~ and 116~) generally aligned with the movement o~ the box 18. Thi~ 6ub6tantially r~duces the force of the impact of the appllcation roller 82 on the box, since le~ force i~ required to overcom~ th~ inertia of the application xoller and bring it up to the ~peed of the box in direction 44.
Sub6equsntly, th~ application member enters the ~econd path portion when the roller~ 118 enter the second routa portion6 114" and 116". The application member 42 then travels upwardly in a generally li~ear path ~a~ herein defined~ inclined with re~pect to the predetermined path of the box in direction 44 until the ~pplication roller ~2 reache6 itfi ~econd po~ition. For the purpo~e~ of thi~ invention, the term "generally linear" includes not only straight line~, but also all uninterrupt~d path~ that connect two defined point~ 80 that the ~otion of the application member derlve~ ~he 2~ unlform force applied to a box ~ in the '~69 patent in the 6econd route portion o the present invention.
Preferably, the 6econd route portion i8 inclined at ~n angle in a range of between 35 degree~ and 55 degree6 with r~p~ct to the path oF the ~arton, and most pre~rably, the second route portion is inclined at an ~ngl~ of about 45. Thu~ during the ~cond rou~e portion, the tapc applying device of this invention i8 provlded with all of the benefit~ deficribed In the '269 patent of ~ low, unifor~ force as the tap~ i~ applied to the leading sur~ace.
After application roller 82 reache~ it~ ~econd po6itlon, movement of the box 18 will pull the tape from roll 86 for application along longitudinal fiur~ace 48 of the box 18. Mov~ment of application roller 82 rom its cont~ct to it~ fi~cond po~ition is con~trained by ~ngagem~nt o~ the track~ 114, 116 by the wheel~ 118, 120 -lS~ r~ ~ ,J
80 that the Porae la unlorm as the applic~tlon ~oller 82 travel~ tran~ver~ely acro~s the longitudlnal surface 4 8 0 f the box 18.
~ box 18 move6 application roller 8~ from its con~act to its second po~ition, it will al~o engage edge ~urface 144 on shoe 130 to move it to it~ set position, and contact guard 158 for knife 152 to pivot guard 158 away from knife' edge 160 (Flgure6 9 and 10)~
After the trailing edge of box 1~ sub~equently moves past application roller 82 and the distal end of zhoe 130, ~hoe 130 will return to it~ normal posltion cau~ing k~ife 152 (the guard for which i~ 6till pivoted away from it~ ~dge by contaet with box 18) to sever tape 16 th~ ~xt~nding between application roller 82 and box 18 (Figure 7).
During such movement the application roller 82 will advanc~ along the longitudinal ~urface of the box untll application roller 82 i5 adjacent the di6tal end of th~ box. Movement of the box along the path will al~o cause the ~ox to engage buffing roller 166 which will buff the applied tape firmly again~t the ~ur~aces 48 and 50 of box 18 in the manner described above. Sub~equen~
to the ~evering o the tape by knife 152 and the buffing of th~ trailing end of tape 16 along trailing surface 50 of th~ box, applicatton roller 82 will return to it~
contact po6ition in preparation for another box simultaneou~ly with the return of the bufflng roller to its extended po~ltion. .
' Figure 12 illustrate~ the movement of the application roller 82 a~ the application member move~
from the contact position to the 6econd po~ition. The first portion (A) o~ the route traveled by the application roller 82 i~ generally aligned with the dlrection of movement of the box along it~ predetermined path (which i~ repre8ented by the X axis in Figure 12).
In the illu~trated embodiment, the first route portion (A) i~ ar~u~t~, but for the purpo~e~ of thl~ invent~on -16- ~J !~" ~
i~ fitlll generally ln allgnment with the 1r~t direction of mov~ment of the box 1~ along it~ predetermined path through machine 10. The ~econd routa portion ~s) is generally linear and i~ inclined with respect to the fir~t direction o~ the box.
W~th thi~ arrangement, the impact ~orce of the application member on a box i~ reduced during the ~ir6t route portion o~ the application m0mber 42. Since the movement of the applicatlon member 42 i~ generally in line with the movement of the box at the contact po~ition and during the first route portion (A), ~he box does not have to overcome the force required to push the appllcation member upwa~d~ along the ~e~ond track portion ~ until the inertia o~ the ~pplication member lS ha6 been overcome and the application member i~
traveling at e6~entially the same ~peed a~ the box 1n the firAt direction of travel o~ the box.
The reductlon in the impact force provided by the tape applying device of the present invention i~
2~ shown in the force mea~urement~ o~ Table 1~ Column A
rspre6ent~ the result6 o~ ten mea~urements utilizlng an Accuglid~ br~nd tape applying devicc ~vall~ble ~rom Mlnnc~ota Minlng and Manufacturing Company of St. Paul, Minne~ot~, and constructed accord~ng to the '269 patent.
Column B repre~ent~ a tape applying device con~tructed according to the pre~ent lnvention. The Table display~
the ~aximum impact force measured for ten run6 through each d~vice without tape. As is ~hown, the av~erage maximum impact force i~ approx~mately 70% lower for the tap~ applylng device con~tructed according to the pre~nt invQntio~.

TAB~E 1 A B C
PRESENT PRESENT

5' 269 PATENTINVENTION INVENTION
MAX. INITIALMAX. INITIA~ MAX~ INITI~L
~MPACT FORCEIMPACT FORCE IMPACT FORCE_ (Minimlzed) ~Optimized) RUN # mv lb~. mv lb~. mv 1bs.
1 91.20 36.4~ 27.80 11.12123.00 12.30 2 93, 30 37 . 32 2~ . 90 10 . 76 139 . 00 13 . 90 3 91 . 30 36 . 5~ 28 . 00 11 . 20 123 . 00 12 . 30 4 92 . 50 37 . ~ 25 . 70 10 O 28 117 . 00 11 . 70 91.~0 36.68 29.00 1~.60113.50 11.35 6 89 . 90 35 . 96 2g . 90 11 . 96 135 . 00 13 . 50 7 89 . 10 35 . 64 28 . 10 11 . 24 130 . 50 13 . 05 8 91.70 36.~8 25.~0 10.04133.00 13.30 9 92 . ~0 36 . 96 27 . 10 10 . ~4 88.~0 35.52 29.10 11.64 -- --AVERAGE 36 . 48 AVEE~AG~ 11. 07AVERAGE 12 . 68 The attenuation of the impact force of the tape applying device of the preeent invention i8 al~o lllu6tr~ted in Figures 13 and 14. Figure 13 graphically repeesent~ the measured force of impact of an Aacuglidet~ brand tapa applying device available from Minne~ota Mining and Manufacturing Company of St. Paul, Minneeot~, and con~tructed accordlng to the '269 patent.
Figure 14 ls a corrs~ponding graph for a tape applying device ~onstructed according to the preeent lnvention.
Point A in sach graph is the maximum force of impact of the re#pectlve devices. Point B 16 the approximate edge o~ the box between the leading surface and the longltudln~l ~urface and the force mea~ured i6 the resi~t~nre encountered by the box du~ to epring ten~ion .

- ~, ~',' , '-:
' and the knife guard. A~ hown, the maximum impact force i~ dramatically attenuated by the con~truction o~
the present invention.
Further att~nuation of the impact ~orce o the tape applying device of thl6 invent~on may ba achleved by con~tructing the device in a manner that reduces the lnertia of the device in moving from its contact position to lt~ second position. For in~tance, u6e of lightweight material~ ~uch ag aluminum ln place of rel~tively heavy ~teel will tend to reduce the inertia, ~s well a~ design~ that minimize the 8iZ~, thickne~ and weight of component~ of the t~pe ~pplying d~vice in a manner known in the art.
Yet, another ~actor a~fecting the level of the impact force of the application member on th~ leading surface of th@ box i~ the configuration of the llnkage betwc~n the appli~ation member and the buffing m~chanism. Th~ mo~t efficient arrangement of the application member for minimlzing the lmp~ct force i~
where the ~ngle a ~ ~hown in Figure 4) between the application ~ide pate6 72, 74 and the llnk~g~ arm~ 170, 174 i~ ~bout 90 and the angle ~ o shown in Figure 4) between the llnkage arms 170, 172 and the bufing arms 162 and 164 is al80 90. The anyle ~ i~ determined between a line extending through llnkage arm~ 172 and 174 and a line, a6 ~hown, extending from the pivotal connection b~tween the linkage arm and the application member 72 and 74, upwardly to the intersection between a fir~t and 6econd lines ext~nding from the rotative axie of t~e wh~el6 118 and 120 perpendicular to the incl~nation of the tracks 114 and 116 when the application mem~er i6 in it~ first or contact position.
The angle ~ i~ measuxed between the aforementioned line extending through the linkage arms 172 and 174 and a lin~ ~xt~nding through the pivotal linkage~ at 168 and 70 of th~ buf~ing arm 164.

l~hi~ con~truction provide~ the mo~t eficient mechanic~l advantage ~or contactlny the leading ~ur~ace o the box and accelerating the appllcation member from it~ contact po~itionO How~ver, in ~uch ca~e~ the buffing of the tr~iling leg of the tape may be inadequate. That i~, the buffing arm~ can not keep up with the box and lose contact with the box re~ulting ln a loop of tape not pre~6ed again~t the box. It thu~ becomes de~irable to optimize the angular arrangement betwe~n the application member and the buE~ing arm~ and roller to reduce the impact force of the applicatlon member to the lowest po~ible point and while ensurlng effective bufing of the tape once it is applled to the box.
For the illustrated embodiment, angle~ a in the range of 70 to 90 in combination with angle~ b in the range of 90 to 160 have been found to be sati~factory, depending on the exact location, ~hape and size of the application member and the buffing mechanism. Mo~ pr~ferably, an angle ~ of 80 and an angle ~ o~ 140 have besn found to balanc~ the lowe~t po~ibl~ impact ~orce with effectlve bufing of the trailing ~dge of the tape to the box. The re6ult6 of tests conducted of a tape applylng device according to the pr2~ent invention and having a~ angle ~ of 80 and an angle ~ of 140 1~ shown in Column C of Table 1. In cont~a~t, the Accuglidet~ brand tape applying device market~d by the Minnesota Mining and Manufaeturing Company, ~orresponding to the '269 patent ~hown in Column A of ~able 1~ include~ an angle a of 110 and ~n angle ~ o~ 65. ~s 1~ evident ~rom thi~ Table, the optimiz~d arrangement wherein the angle a is in the rdnga of 70 to 90 in combination with angles b in the range of 90 to 160, and most ~peci~ically, an angle a o~ 80 and an angle ~ of 140 ~lightly increa~e~ the impact force on a box relative to the a ~ 90, ~90~
design, but still exhibit~ a ~ub~tantial improvement over prev~ou tape applying device~.

.. .. . .

3~r) ~

The pre~ent inv~ntion has now been de~cribed with referance to ~e~eral embodlment~ thereo~. It will be app~rent to tho~e ~killed in the art that many ch~nges can be made in the ~mbodiment~ de~cribed without departing ~rom the ~cope of th~ present invention. Thu~, the 6cope of the pre6ent invention should not be limited to th~ structure6 de~cribed in this application, but only by ~truc~ure~ de~crlbed by the language of the ~lalm8 and th~ equivalent~ of those structure8.

Claims (12)

1. In a device adapted for applying lengths of pressure sensitive adhesive coated tape from a supply length of tape seriatim on spaced rectangular objects driven along a predetermined path in a first direction past the device, said device comprising:
a frame;

an application member having an arcuate periphery;

means adapted for defining a tape route for a said supply length of tape to the arcuate periphery of said application member with the adhesive coating disposed away from said application member;

means for mounting said application member on said frame to afford movement thereof from a contact position with said tape route in the path of the rectangular object to afford contact between an end of the tape disposed along said arcuate tape route and a leading surface of the rectangular object driven along the path in the first direction to adhere tape to the leading surface of the rectangular object, to a second position while pressing the tape against the leading surface of the rectangular object, at which second position said application member will press tape being applied against a longitudinal surface of the object, and back to said contact position, said mounting means including means for attenuating the impact force of the application member on the leading surface of the rectangular object; and means mounted on said frame and adapted to be activated by movement of the rectangular object past a predetermined position along the path for severing an applied length of tape from said supply length.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said means for mounting said application member comprises a pair of aligned laterally spaced guide members mounted on said frame, each of said guide members having a track, with said application member having a plurality of rollers engaging said tracks, said attenuating means including first track portions of said tracks for locating said application member at said contact position and adapted to provide movement of said application member along said first portion of movement generally aligned with the first direction of movement of the object so as to attenuate the impact force of the application member on the leading surface of the rectangular object, and a second track portion adapted to provide generally linear movement of said application member to said second position along said second portion of movement with a component of movement for the application member along said second portion being in the first direction of movement of the rectangular object.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said second portion of movement of said application member is disposed at an angle in the range of about 35 to 55 degrees with respect to the predetermined path for the rectangular objects.

4. A device according to claim 1, further including means for buffing the tape against the rectangular object.

5. A device according to claim 1, further including means for resiliently biasing said application member to said contact position,

6. In a device adapted for applying lengths of pressure sensitive adhesive coated tape from a supply length of tape seriatim on spaced rectangular objects driven along a predetermined path in a first direction past the device, said device comprising:

a frame having a pair of laterally spaced frame side plates secured together be a plurality of posts;

an application member having a pair of laterally spaced application side plates secured together by a plurality of posts, and including an application roller having an arcuate periphery, said application roller rotatively mounted on said application side plates;

means adapted for defining a tape route for a said supply length of tape to the arcuate periphery of said application member with the adhesive coating disposed away from said application member;

means for mounting said application member on said frame comprising a pair of aligned laterally spaced guide members, each mounted on facing surfaces of one of said frame side plates, each of said guide members having a track, with said application member having a plurality of rollers engaging said tracks, with each of said tracks having first track portions for locating said application member at said contact position and adapted to provide movement of said application member along said first portion of movement generally aligned with the first direction of movement of the object to attenuate the impact force of the application member on the leading surface of the rectangular object, and a second track portion adapted to provide generally linear movement of said application member to said second position along said second portion of movement with a component of movement for the application member along said second portion being in the first direction of movement of the rectangular object;

means mounted on said frame and adapted to be activated by movement of the rectangular object past a predetermined position along the path for severing an applied length of tape from said supply length; and means for buffing the tape against the rectangular object.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein said second portion of movement of said application member is disposed at an angle in the range of about 35 to 55 degrees with respect to the predetermined path for the rectangular objects.

8. A device according to claim 6, wherein said buffing means includes a buffing roller mounted on at least one buffing arm pivotally connected to said frame side plates.

9. A device according to claim 8, further including at least one linkage arm connected to said application member and to said at least one buffing arm adapted to extend or retract said buffing roller responsive to movement of said application member between said contact position and said second position as the rectangular object moves past the device.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein the included angle between said application member and said at least one linkage arm is in the range of 70° to 90°
and the included angle between said at least one linkage arm and said at least one buffing arm is in the range of 90° to 160°.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein the included angle between said application member and said at least one linkage arm is 80° and the included angle between said at least one linkage arm and said at least one buffing arm is 140°.

12. A device according to claim 6, further including means for resiliently biasing said application member to said contact position.