US2294670A - Tape-serving mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Sept.7 l, 1942. A, P KRUEGER Y 2,294,670

TAPE-SERVING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 4, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 1, 1942 TAPE-SERVING MECHANISM I Alfred P. Krueger, Stratford, Conn., assignor to Derby Sealers, Incorporated, Derby, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application August 4, 1939, Serial No. 288,286

14 Claims.

This invention relates to tape-serving mechanisms, and more particularly to a device for delivering a gummed tape or paper strip from a source of supply such as a roll or the like, in moistened condition ready for application to a parcel or package. y

Devices of this character consist, generally speaking, of means for mounting and supporting the tape supply, which usually is in the form of a roll, a moistening element designed to be kept in moistened condition from a source of liquid supply, and guiding means for guiding the strip of tape from the roll to the moistening element.

Also there is provided in the present instanceA a knife edge or severing device by means of which, when a predetermined length of `tape has been drawn from the machine, it may be conveniently severed for application to the package.

When rolls of gummed tape are furnished, the tape in some instances is rolled up with the gummecl surface inside, and in other instances it is furnished with the gummed surface on the outside of each coil. It is, therefore, advantageous to provide a device suitable for use with rolls of either character, such that a roll having wherein a roll of tape may be placed thereon and the mounting means thereafter returned to operative position. In addition it is usually desirable tc apply some tension to the roll of tape to prevent too free rotation of the roll when a strip is being drawn therefrom. This tension is not usually `necessary when the roll has been freshly put on and is of large size, but as lthe roll becomes smaller and lighter it tends to rotate more freely, and some tension is usually desirable.

One object of the present invention is to provide a tape-serving mechanism having a rollsupporting spindle such that it is movable to an elevated position of rest so that a new roll of tape may be conveniently located thereon.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tape-serving device with a swingable arm carrying a roll-supporting spindle, and-also carrying a guide roller disposed below this arm when the latter is in operative position, whereby the tape is caused to wrap litself around this roller when the arm is swung downwardly to operative position.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a tape-serving mechanism having a swingable roll spindle and also having means below said spindle to support the roll of tape from below, such that the force of gravity acting upon the roll will tend to tension the roll to some extent against turning.

A still further object of the invention is the provision in a device of the character described of a roll-tensioning means which becomes operative only when the roll has been diminished to a predetermined size at which the tension is needed, and which tension becomes greater as the size of the roll is further diminished.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a tape-serving mechanism wherein may be employed a roll of tape with the gummed surface either at the inside or the outside of the coils without any alteration of the mechanism.

To these vand other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a tape-serving mechanism embodying my invention Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, with the roll-supporting spindle and roll thereon shown in dotted lines in the loading position; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a modified form of my device showing a'mechanism for supporting and serving a plurality of rolls of tape which may be of different widths;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modified form of the mechanism disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2;V and Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the liquid receptacle and moistening device shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

.To illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention I have shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings a tape-serving mechanism comprising a supporting standard or frame having side plates I0 andII, which plates may be connected by suitable Webs I2, I3 and I4. Rotatably mounted in the side plates I0 and II is a spindle I5, and if desired these side plates may be provided `with bosses I6 to provide extended bearing surfaces for the spindle. Secured upon one end of this spindle by a nut I'I is a roll-supporting arm I 8,'the arm preferably beingrigid lwith the spindle so as to turn therewith, although 'this is not necesveniently cleaned.

sary, for, as will be obvious, the arm I8 may be rotatable upon the spindle I if desired.' A cotter pin I9 may be passed through the spindle in order. to hold it in place.

At the free end of the arm I8 is secured a rollsupporting spindle 20 upon which the roll 2l of gurnmed tape or paper may be rotatably mounted, so that the roll is free to rotate as the strip of tape is ldelivered therefrom. It may also be noted that the arm I8 has an offset portion adjacent its forward end providing a shoulder 22, which-shoulder, when the arm is in raised position for loading, as shown ,in dotted lines in Fig. 2, will strike against a part of the mechanism and support the arm in this position. It may also be noted that the arm will be beyond dead center position, or on the opposite side of the spindle I5 from the position the arm assumes in operation, so that it will, when supported by the shoulder 22, be at rest and have no tendency to return to its operative position.

Below `the spindle 20 a roller 23 is rotatably mounted between the frame members I0 and II, which roller, as shown in Fig. 2, is adapted to support the roll of tape 2I from below; that is, when the roll of tape is loaded upon the spindle 20 and the arrn I8 returned from the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 to the full line position,

vthe roll of tape 2l will rest upon the roller 23 under the force of gravity, and thus some ten-v sion will be placed upon the roll to restrict its tendency to rotate.

' Upon the web I3 is provided a leaf spring lIl), l

of resilient material, this spring being secured at its rear end to the web I3 and being left free at its forward end.v As has been previously stated,1

it has been found unnecessary to provide tensioning means lwhen the roll of tape 2I is of large size. This is particularly true in the pres- `ent instance, when some tension will be provided on this roll by vthe force of gravity urging the roll against the roller 23, and therefore in the present arrangement the tensioning spring 40 does not become effective until the size ofy the roll 2| has been considerably diminished. When, however, the diameter of the roll 2I is sumciently small and the arm vI8 has been allowed to descend under the force of gravity, the

roller will rest upon the free end of the spring The arm I8 is provided with a`downward1y extending portion 24 upon which is rotatably mounted a roller 25 designed to guide'the strip of tape as it is delivered from the roll 2|. From this roller the strip of tape passes to a second guide roller 26 rotatably mounted upon the spindle I5 andit may here be noted that the roller 26 is provided with reduced end portions 21, shownl more particularly in Fig. 1, and a relatively enlarged central portion 28.

Supported upon the frame bythe web I4 forwardlyfof the roller 26 is a liquid receptacle 28 having a cover 3l) so'designed as toprovide a slot 3l at the top of the receptacle, through which slot projects a brush or other moistening device v32, which may be supported upon the receptacle bottom.

At the rear edge the receptacle is provided with an integrally formed guide lip 33 extending rearwardly from the receptacle to bridge the space between the latterand the guide roller` 26, This guide lip is cut away at its central portion to allow for the enlarged portion 28 of the roller 26 and to provide vrearwardly extending tongues 34 to project over the reduced end portions 21 of the roller 26. It will be apparent that with this arrangement of the lip 33 and guide roller 26, lip 33 eiectively bridges the space between the receptacle and the upper portion of the roller so that the tape will be properly guided over the lip to the moistening element 32, and will have no tendency to `pass around the roller 26 and between it and the receptacle. It may-also be noted at this pointv that the receptacle 29j as shown in Fig. 2, rests removably upon the web I I, being confined at its lower portion between shoulders 35 and 36 on this web. The receptacle may,`therefore, be readily removed in order that it and the parts associated therewithrnay be con- Resting upon and secured to the`side`plates I0 and II is a plate 31 having a forward-severing edge or knife edge 38 by means of which the 40, with the strip of tape therebetween, so that tension will be placed upon the strip. It will also be obvious that as the arm I8 is permitted to occupy a still lower position due to the further decrease in size of the tape roll 2I, the'spring '40 will be depressed and the 'tension upon the strip of tape against the roller 25 will be increased. Thus, as the roll of tape becomes smaller and the necessity for -additional tension arises, such additional tension is automatically provided.

Inl the operation of this form of my device, the arm I8 is swung to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2, which position, it will be noted,

is beyond dead center, with the shoulder 22 contacting in this instance with the upper surface of the cut-01T Yplate;31 so that the arm will be at rest and will need no further attention while the roll of tape 2| is being mounted upon the spindle 20. The end of thetape is drawn from vthe roll and passed. below the roller 25 and tion in that figure, so that the bottom portion of the roll of tape rests upon the roller 23. It Vwill be noted that during this operation the tape is caused to wrap itself about the guide roller 25 due to the fact that this roller is positioned below the armv I8. The device is then ready for use, and as the roller 25 is also below the roller 26, it will be seen that there is abundant room for the operator to place'v the' fingers of one hand uponV the kupper surface of the tape above the roller 26, so as to move the tape forwardly in order that the end mayprotrude beyond the edge of the cut-otr 'plate 31 and be grasped by the fingers, tobe drawnA from the device. l V

It will also be observed that a rollof tape having the gummedsurface upon the, inside or outf sidel of the coils may be employed in the present device. Whenthe gummedsurfaceis at the inv-` side, the rolly 2l is placed uponthe spindle so that the strip of tape' is rtaken from the upper side In Fig. 3 of the drawings I have shown a top plan view of a device for supporting a multiplicity of rolls of tape. In this instance the supporting frame of the device is provided with side plates 45 and 46. and also an intermediate partition 41. The spindle 48 projects from the plates 45 and 46 at both ends, and upon each end is secured a swinging arm designated by the reference numerals 49 and 49B. Two rollers 59 and 5I are provided upon the spindle 48, these rollers corresponding to the roller 26 in form and operation. Each of the arms 49 and 49 is provided wit a roll-supporting spindle, which spindles are designated by the reference characters 52 and 53. Each of the arms 49 and 49Il also carries a guide roller designated by the numerals 54 and 55, these rollers being supported below the arms` 49, 4 9, as is the case with the roller 25 shown in 2.

Below the rollers 54 and 55 are provided tensioning springs 56 and 51, corresponding in form and operation to the spring 49 shown in Fig. 2. Also supporting rollers 58 and 59 are provided to support the rolls of tape 69 and 6I from below, as

does the roller 23, shown in Fig. 2. It willpbe understood that the rollers 58 and 59 are separate, and individually rotatable, so that the rotation of one of the rolls 69 or 6I will not have a tendency to rotate the other.

- exerted onthe strip of tape by the latter. As will be observed, the tape roll 2| is still supported supported on v.thev frame tofl contact the surface spindle to carry a roll of tape, means on Vthe A cut-off knife 63 is provided extending across both rollers 59 and 5I, as does also the moistening element 64 and the liquid receptacle 65. It will be appreciated that the arms 49 and 498 are individually raisable to loading position, as has already been described in connection with that form of my device shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the arm 49L being pivoted upon the spindle 48 so that A it is free to swing relatively to this spindle,

whereby either of the arms may be raised independently to place a roll of tape thereon. As

shown, the spindle 53 is shorter than the spindle 52, so that it will accommodate a roll of narrow tape, and accordingly the rollers 5I and 55 are shorter than the rollers 59 and 54, as is also the case with thev springs 51 and 56. It may be observed that not only can two rolls of differentwidths be employed at the same time with this mechanism and used independently of each other, but also one roll may have its gummed surface inside and the other its gummed surface outside, regardless of which may be the narrow and which the wider roll.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings I have shown a somewhat modied form of the device shown in Figs. l and 2, wherein the liquid supply receptacle 19 is formed integrally with the supporting frame. In this instance the severing knife 1I may be removably secured to the frame by means of screws 12, so that the knife may be readily removed to effect convenient cleaning of the associated parts. It will, of course, be understood that the knife may be removably secured in place in the device shown in Fig. 2, but it is usually not necessary V for pivotally supporting said'SIiindle, v

' which projects 'over the 'surface of the roller 26 at the ends thereof, and otherwise the device shown in Fig. 4 is like that shown in Fig. 2. in Fig. 4 the-device is shownv in the position occupied by the parts when the roll of tape has been so diminished in diameter that the roller 25 is resting upon the spring 49 so that tension is upon the roller 23.

While I have shown and described some preferred embodiments of-my invention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited to all of the details shown, but is capableof modification and variation within the spirit of the inventionand within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: f y

` 1. A tape-serving device comprising a frame. a

spindle-to carry a roll of tape, means on the frame for pivotallyl supporting said spindle, said means comprising an arm pivoted to the frame 'to'whioh the spindle is secured ata point remote from the pivot, a guide roller carried by said arm about which the tape is trained, and atensioning'member on the frame against which the tape is pressed by said roller. l

2. A tape-serving device comprising a frame, l a spindle to carry a roll of tape, means on the frame for pivotally. supporting said spindle,` said means comprising an arm pivoted to the frame to which the spindle is secured at'a point remote from the pivot',` a guide roller carried by said arm about which the tape 1s trained, and a spring 1 i of the tape opposite said roller. y i

3. A tape-serving device comprisinga frame, a

frame for pivotally supporting said spindle, said means comprising an arm pivotedv tothe frame to which the spindle is secured 'at `a point` remoteA about which the tape is trained, and atensioning I device adjacent, saidroller to contact the'- strip of tape passing thereover. 4. A tape-serving devicecomprising af frame;-i2 a spindle to carry :a rollfof tape, means 4on'tl'ie i frame for pivotally supporting-said spindle, said .l means comprising anarm pivoted to the' on which the spindle is mountedata point ref- A mote from `the pivot, a roller-onthe'Heinemann` y which said tape roll rests underv tlnefaetiim-of.;V gravity, tensioning means engaging -saidff tape"4 forwardly of said rollen-andi means ons'aidfarm to press the tape against the-tensioning' means 5. A tape-serving device comprising afiramef, a .n spindle to carry a, roll of tape', means 011: the-'frame 1 comprising an arm pivoted to'th'effl'ilnfl to which the spindle is secured at a point'remote;troni'the-yl pivot, a guide roller carried by said arm andV ing its axis disposed belowsaidf'armwhenthe latter is in operative position, andatensioning member against which the tape is pressed by, "id" roller. l 6. A tape-serving device comprisingl al frame, an arm, pivotally mounted on the 'frame@tape'v E roll carrying 'means supported by said arm-,1 af* tensioning device. carried by the frameand en-` -f gaging the tape after the latter leaves the roll, and means on said arm to press said tape against the tensioning device. v f '1. A tape-serving device comprising a frame, an arm pivoted to the frame, a roll of 'tapecar- Y' ried by saidA arm, supporting means carried by Y the frame upon which the roll is adapted torest, I

a spring-pressed tensioning element disposed forwardly of said supporting means, and means on said arm to press the tape against the tensioning element.

8. A tape-serving device comprisingv a frame, an arm pivoted tothe frame, a roll of tape carried by said arm, supporting means carried by the frame upon which the roll is adapted to rest, a spring-pressed tensioning element, and means on said arm to press the tape against the tensioning element, said means increasing the tension on the tape as the size of the roll oi' tape is diminished.

9. A tape-serving device comprising a frame, a tape-roll-carrying arm pivoted thereto, tensioning means between which the tape is gripped as it is delivered from the roll, said means comprising a member on the frame and a cooperating member on said pivoted arm.

10. A tape-serving device comprising a frame. a tape-roli-carrying arm pivoted thereto, tensioning means between which the tape passes as it is delivered from the roll, said means comprising a member on the frame and a cooperating member on said pivoted arm, and one of said members being spring pressed toward the other.

11. A tape-serving device comprisinga frame, a tape-roll-carrying arm pivoted thereto, tensioning means between which the tape passes as i it is delivered from the roll, said means comprising a member on the frame and a cooperating 12. A tape-serving device comprising a frame. an arm pivoted to the frame adjacent one of its ends and carrying a tape-roii-supporting spindle adjacent the other end whereby said last-named end is supported from the frame by the roll of tape, an element on said arm against which the tape passes, and means on the frame to press said tape against said member and apply tension to the tape.

13. A tape-serving device comprising a frame, an arm pivoted to the trame adjacent one oi.' its ends and carrying a tape-roll-supporting spindle adjacent the other end whereby said last-named end is supported from the frame by the roll of tape. an element on said arm against which the tape passes, and means on the frame to press said tape against said member and apply tension to the tape, one of said cooperating tensioning elements being spring pressed whereby the tension is increased as the size lo! the roll of tape decreases.

14. A tape-serving device comprising a frame, a spindle to carry a roll of tape, guiding means `through which the tape passes, means on the frame for pivotally supporting said spindle, said means comprising an arm pivoted to the frame on which the spindle is mounted at a point remote from the pivot, means on the frame upon which the tape roll restsvunder the action' of gravity, tensioning means engaging the tape between said rest means and said guiding means, and means on said arm to press the tape agains said tensioning means.

. ALFRED P. KRUEGER.

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