US3043365A - Adhesive transfer machine - Google Patents

Description

July 10,-1962 E. w. GUSTAFSON 3,043,365 I ADHESIVE TRANSFER MACHINE Filed July 5, 1957 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

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ADHESIVE TRANSFER MACHINE Filed July 5, 1957 v SheetsSheet 5 63/ 65 W 'T/ 0 62 .11, j a2, 56 y a 1] INVENTOR.

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ADHESIVE TRANSFER MACHINE Filed July 5, 1957 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 July 10, 1962 E. w. GUSTAFSON ADHESIVE TRANSFER MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed July 5, 195'? m m d x a United States Patent Ofilice 3,943,365 Patented Juiy 1%, 1962 3,043,365 ADHESEVE TRANSFER MACHINE Eric W. Gustafson, Chicago, iii assignor to Kleemstik Products, Inc., Chicago, Iii., a corporation of Illinois Filed July 5, 1957, Sier. No. 670,325 8 Claims. ((51. 156540) This invention relates to a machine for transferring an adhesive layer relatively loosely carried by a backing strip to another wider, but otherwise similar, backing strip, so that a non-tacky finger-grip border portion will be present on the latter backing strip. The backing strip and its adhesive layer, which are often referred to as an adhesive transfer tape, are used frequently in the graphic arts and advertising fields to transfer a clearly defined area of adhesive material to a surface to be adhered to another surface. For example, adhesive transfer tapes are often applied to the margins of advertising posters prior to distribution thereof by applying strips of such tape material with their adhesive sides face down against the posters. Since only the non-tacky sides of the strips of adhesive transfer tape are exposed, the adhesive-carrying posters can be stacked and efficiently stored, transported and handled. When the user desires to apply such a poster to a wall or window surface, he grips the margin of a section of the adhesive transfer tape thereon and peels it from the poster, leaving the adhesive layer of the tape on the poster, to which the latter adheres more tenaciously than to the backing strip. The adhesive side of the poster is then pressed against the wall or window surface.

The type of adhesive transfer tapes used in recent years have left much to be desired, primarily because the transfer of the adhesive from the backing strip to the surface to which the adhesive is to be applied was often an imperfect transfer, wherein irregular and patchy, rather than continuous clearly defined areas of adhesive material, are transferred to the transfer surface involved. Recently, a substantial improvement in transfer tapes has been made enabling a substantially perfect transfer of the adhesive layers thereof to the transfer surface. This improvement includes the use of a new and improved adhesive layer comprising a strong porous membranous body impregnated throughout with adhesive material. The adhesive material permeates the porous membranous body throughout and acts to secure the membranous body to the backing strip and also to the surface upon which the transfer is to be made. The membranous body lends toughness, tensile strength and body to the adhesive layer so that the entire adhesive layer may be readily substantially completely transferred from the backing strip to the transfer surface involved.

In fabricating this substantially improved adhesive transfer tape, a layer of adhesive in liquid or semi-liquid form is applied evenly over the smooth surface of a large sheet of backing strip material, after which a tough, por ous membranous sheet is applied thereover. The still wet adhesive permeates the porous, membranous body and impregnates the then outermost surface of the membranous body. The product is completed by drying the adhesive, cutting the laminate product into strips of appropriate width and then coiling the respective strips into rolls. The resulting adhesive transfer tapes comprise backing strips with adhesive layers extending across the complete widths of the backing strips. Due to the expense inherent in fabricating this type of article, and for other reasons, it is not feasible initially to form the adhesive laminate product in strip rather than sheet form, so that a non-tacky fingergrip edge can be formed thereon by applying an adhesive layer only part way across the backing strip. An adhesive transfer tape without a non-tacky finger grip edge is, of course, diflicult to use because of the difiiculty of finding an unsecured edge preparatory to peeling the backing strip from the transfer surface to which the tape has been applied.

It is, accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention to provide an adhesive layer transfer machine whereby the adhesive layer on a backing strip having adhesive material extending across the entire width thereof may be simply and efficiently transferred to a wider backing strip, leaving one or more non-tacking finger-grip edges extending along the entire length of the wider backing strip. A related object of the invention is to provide an adhesive transfer machine of the kind just described for use with adhesive transfer tapes in roll form, as is now provided by the manufacturer of the above-mentioned new and improved adhesive transfer tape, wherein the machine simultaneously transfers the adhesive layer from the so-called master transfer roll obtained from the latter manufacturer to a roll of wider backing strip material, to be referred to as an adhesive layer or strip-receiving roll. A still further related object of the present invention is to provide an adhesive transfer machine for transferring the adhesive layer from the master transfer roll to the adhesive-strip-receiving roll so that the adhesive layer is smoothly and evenly transferred at high speeds and without breakage thereof, and even though the backing strip of the latter roll has no substantially greater adherence qualities for the adhesive layer than does the backing strip of the master transfer roll.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an adhesive transfer machine of the kind above described which feeds the adhesive layer to the adhesive-layer-receiving backing strip at a constant speed and under substantially constant tension.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an adhesive transfer machine of the type above described which is simple and reliable in operation and which can be fabricated, if desired, from standard or easily obtainable parts.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the transfer machine preferably includes a first feed spindie and a first driven take-up spindle for respectively receiving the feed and take-up sections of a master transfer roll of adhesive laminate strip material, as above described. A second feed spindle and a second driven take-up spindle are provided for respectively receiving feed and take-up sections of the adhesive layer-receiving roll of backing strip material having a greater width than the backing strip or layer of the master transfer roll. Most preferably, means are provided for feeding the unwound portion of the master roll against the take-up section of the other roll wound about the driven second take-up spindle, so that contiguous portions of the two rolls are offset by an amount equal to one half the difference in the widths of the backing strips of the rolls. In this way, the adhesive layer of the master transfer rolls will be centered with respect to the backing strip of the adhesive-layerreceiving roll, so that, upon transfer of the adhesive layer of the master transfer roll, continuous non-tacking fingergrip edges will be provided along both sides of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll.

The adhesive side of the master roll is pressed against the take-up section of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll by a pair of closely spaced pressure members or rollers located on opposite sides of the pivot axis of a frame carrying the pressure rollers and pivotally secured to a pivoted controller arm spring-urged against the take-up section of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll. As the diameter of the take-up section of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll increases, the controller arm is gradually moved outwardly, and the pivotal mounting of the roller carrying frame enables the two pressure rollers to maintain continuous and substantially even pressure against the non-tacky side of the backing strip of the master transfer roll, even though the angle between the pivoted controller arm and a line extending from the pivot axis of the latter and the axis of the take-up section of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll varies. The controller arm, in turn, prefer-ably contacts a follower member which controls the speed of a motor or other suitable driving means which drives the second take-up spindle around which the take-up section of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll is wound. As the controller arm is moved outwardly away from the second take-up spindle as the diameter of the take-up section of the latter roll builds up, the follower member is moved in a direction to reduce the speed of rotation of the second take-up spindle, so that the linear feeding speed of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll is normally maintained constant. Before the start of an adhesive transfer operation, the follower member can be moved away from the controller arm by a foot pedal or the like, so that the peripheral speed of the second take. up spindle can be progressively increased from zero to start an adhesive layer transfer operation by means of the pressure applied by the pressure members of the controller arm.

To insure a clean and complete transfer of the adhesive layer smoothly to the adhesive-strip-receiving roll, the pressure member or roller on the receding sides of the unwound portions of the master transfer and the adhesive-layer-receiving rolls is provided with a sharply curving surface around which the backing strip of the transfer roll can be sharply bent at the point of separation of the backing strips of the two rolls. The curvature of the section of the adhesive-strip-receiving roll upon which the adhesive-layer is transferred is small, so that the adhesive layer on the transfer roll favors the backing strip of the adhesively-layer-receiving roll at said point of separation, and the adhesive layer thereby is cleanly and evenly transferred to the latter roll.

Means to be described are provided for maintaining the feeding speed of the master transfer roll substantially constant and equal to the feeding speed of the adhesivelayer-receiving roll, to insure a clean and even transfer of the adhesive layer.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent upon making reference to the specification to follow, the claims and the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational View of the adhesive transfer machine of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view through the adhesive transfer tape of the master transfer roll;

FIG. 4 shows fragmentary elevational views of the adhesive transfer tape of the master transfer roll and of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll after receiving the adhesive layer of the transfer roll;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the adhesive transfer machine, taken along section line 55 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view, taken along section line 66 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view, taken along section line 7-7 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the apparatus which controls the speed of rotation of the take-up spindle assembly for the adhesive-layer-receiving roll;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a counter mechanism for indicating the length of the backing strip material wound on the take-up section of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll;

FIG. 10 is a vertical fragmentary section through the machine, taken along section line 10- 10 in FIG. 1, and shows the take-up spindle assembly for the master transfer roll and associated drive mechanism therefor;

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 10, taken along section line 1=1- l1,therein;

FIG. 12. is a perspective view of the associated apparatus shown in FIGS. 10 and 11;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 12, taken along section line 13-13 therein;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the feed-spindle assembly for the adhesive-layer-receiving roll and associated tape tension control apparatus;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view of the friction disc assembly forming part of the feed spindle assembly for the master transfer roll, taken along section line 15-15 in FIG. 16;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the feed spindle as sembly for the master transfer roll and associated tape tension control apparatus;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary plan view of one of the spindle assemblies;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the spindle assembly of FIG. 17, taken along section lines 18-48 therein;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the pressure applying apparatus of the invention which transfers the adhesive layer from the master transfer roll to the adhesive-layerreceiving roll and the associated controller arm which controls the speed of the take-up spindle assembly for the take-up section of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll;

FIG. 20 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the apparatus in FIG. 19, taken along section lines 21l20 thereof;

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of a portion of the apparatus in FIG. 20, taken along sec,- tion lines 2121 therein, and shows the manner in which the adhesive strip is transferred to the adhesive-layer-receiving roll; and

FIG. 22 is enlarged fragmentary view of the pressure members shown in FIG. 21, which press the adhesive layer against the backing strip of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll.

General Description For the most part, this portion of the specification will deal with a brief description of the basic components of the adhesive transfer machine, and other sections of the specification will treat the details of these' components.

- The adhesive transfer machine of the invention has a main support frame structure 12 formed of upright angle leg members 14 between which are secured, as by riveting or bolting, an upper tier of rails 1616 formed of angle member stock which supports a horizontal platform '18 secured to the upper flange of the rails, and a lower tier of rails 2222 made of angle member stock. The rails 2222 support various driving apparatus to be described.

Supported above the platform 18 is a feed spindle assembly 24 and a take-up spindle assembly 26 upon which are respectively supported the feed and take-up sections 28 and 30 of a roll of adhesive transfer tape 32, to he sometimes referred to as the transfer roll. The adhesive transfer tape is a laminate body comprising (FIG. 3) a backing strip 34 of glazed paper or other suitable backing material and a front, exposed, adhesive-absorbent membranous strip or layer 36 of sheet material impregnated with an adhesive. The adhesive layer 36 is lightly bonded to the backing strip so that the latter may be readily peeled from the adhesive layer when applied against a surface to which transfer of the adhesive layer is to be ultimately made. Then adhesive transfer tape when manufactured is wound upon a support tube 28.

Also supported above the platform 18 is a feed spindle assembly 38 and take-up spindle assembly 40 respectively supporting the feed and take-up sections 42 and 44 of an adhesive-layer-receiving roll 46 formed of backing strip material similar to the backing strip 34 of the transfer roll, but which is somewhat wider than the latter backing strip so that upon transfer of the adhesive layer 36 thereto, non-tacky finger-grip border or edge portions 4 and 44 (see FIG. 4) will be left thereon.

Initially, the master transfer roll 32 is supported upon the feed spindle assembly 24, and a portion of the end thereof is unwound to pass around a grooved idler wheel or roller unit 48 carried upon a pivoted arm 49, a grooved guide wheel or roller 56 and pressure rollers 52 and 54 supported upon a controller arm 56, which is urged by a spring 58 toward the take-up section 44 of the adhesivelayer-receiving roil 46 supported upon the take-up spindle assembly 40. The unwound portion of the transfer roll 32 bends sharply around the pressure roller 54 whereupon it passes around a spindle 6t} and a grooved idler wheel or roller unit 62, the latter being supported on a pivoted arm 63.

The end of the unwound portion of the transfer roll 32 is initially wound around a support tube 61 supported upon the take-up spindle assembly 26, the latter being rotated in a direction to feed the adhesive transfer tape of the transfer roll 32 from the feed spindle assembly 24 to the take-up spindle assembly 26.

The adhesive-layer-receiving roll 46 comes from the manufacturer wound around a support tube 46'. The roll and its support tube are initially supported upon the feed spindle assembly 38, and the end portion thereof is unwound and passed around a spindle 65, a grooved idler wheel or roller unit 66 carried on the end of a pivoted arm 67, and then around a support tube 68 carried upon the take-up spindle assembly 49 to form the take-up section 44. The take-up spindle assembly 4%) is driven in a direction which will feed the backing strip 44 from the feed-section 42 of the roll 46 to the take-up section 44 supported upon the take-up spindle assembly 40.

The grooved idler wheel or roller units 48, 62 and 66, are preferably constructed to provide a variable width groove in the manner shown most clearly in FIG. 2, which shows the grooved wheel 62 unit, it being understood that the other wheel units 48 and 66 are similarly constructed, The grooved wheel unit 62 has a cylindrical body portion 62a around which the backing strip 34 extends. The bottom edge of the backing strip rests upon a disc 62b. The adjustable width groove 62c of the wheel is formed by an arcuate plate 62d having a circular segmental inner edge 62a of the same size and shape as the cylindrical body portion 62a. The arcuate plate 62d is supported for sliding engagement with the cylindrical body portion 62a from the bottom of an adjusting pin 62 slidably disposed in a hole in a bar 62g secured to a stationary pivot post 6211 around which the cylindrical body portion 62:: is rotatably supported. A locking screw 62: is provided which locks the adjusting pin 62] into any of its adjusted positions, wherein the bottom of the arcuate plate 62d will define a groove having a width corresponding to the width of the associated backing strip.

Spindle assemblies 38 and 46 and the various grooved wheels associated with the adhesive-layer-receiving roll 46 support the bottom face of the latter roll slightly below the elevation at which the spindle assembly 24 and 26 support the transfer roll 32, the difference in elevations preferably being one half the difference in the widths of the backing strips 44 and 34 of the rolls 46 and 32, so that upon transfer of the adhesive layer 36 from the backing strip 34 to the backing strip 44, the above mentioned non-tacky edge portions 44 and 44 will be left on the backing strip 44 of the roll 46.

The pressure rollers 52 and 54, under the force of a spring 58 applied to the controller arm 56, contact the outside of the backing strip 34 of the unwound portion of the transfer roll .24 and press the adhesive layer 36 into adhering relation with the outside of the outermost turn of the take-up section 44 of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll 46. The pressure roller 52 is located behind the pressure roller 54 and it receives the advancing portion of the adhesive transfer tape of the transfer roll 32. The other pressure roller 54 is substantially smaller in diameter than the pressure roller 52 and provides a sharply curving body portion around which the adhesive transfer tape 42 may be sharply bent away from the take-up section 44 of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll 46. The sharp bend formed in the adhesive transfer tape 42 relative to the gradual curvature of the take-up section 44 of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll 46 causes the adhesive layer 34 to favor the backing strip 44 of the roll 46 and hence causes separation of the other backing strip 34 from the adhesive layer 36. The small pressure roller 54 additionally serves the function of providing a stretching and smoothing force against the backing strips 34 and 44 in the limited area of the mutual contact of the latter strips and thus insures a smooth, even transfer of the adhesive layer 36 to the backing strip 44.

To further insure a smooth and even transfer of the adhesive layer 36, optimum tension and feeding speed are maintained in the rolls 32 and 46. To this end, the controller arm 56 operates to control the speed of rotation of the take-up spindle assembly 40. To maintain the feeding speed of the backing strip 44 of the adhesivelayer-receiving roll 46 at an optimum constant value, the speed of rotation of the take-up spindle assembly 40 should be reduced in proportion to the diameter of the take-up portion 44 of the roll 46 wound upon the takeup spindle assembly 40. As the diameter of this portion of the roll increases, the controller arm 56 moves outwardly accordingly. The arm 56 is associated with a follower member 64 which, in turn, by suitable variable speed driving means, generally indicated by reference numeral 66 (FIG. 5), decreases the speed of rotation of the take-up spindle assembly 40 (and also the take-up spindle assembly 26) in response to the increasing diameter of the take-up section 44 of the adhesive-layer-reoeiving roll 46. The follower menrber 64 is adapted to be moved away from the controller arm 56 without disturbing the position of the latter by means of a suitable foot pedal 69 and linkage mechanism 70 (FIG. 5). By operating the foot pedal 69, the variable speed driving means 66 can be adjusted to operate the take-up spindle assemblies slowly while the pressure rollers on the controller arm 56 are in pressure contact with the backing strip 34, to provide an initially slow and careful transfer of the adhesive layer 36 of the backing strip 44 to the wide backing strip 44.

In the preferred form of the invention illustrated in the drawing, the speed of rotation of the take-up spindle assembly 26 associated with transfer roll 24 is indirectly controlled by the speed of rotation of the take-up spindle assembly 40, by means responsive to the tension in the unwound portion of the transfer roll 34. To this end, the pivoted arm 63 carrying the wheel 62 is resiliently supported by a spring 71 anchored to the platform 18, so that any variation in the tension of the unwound portion of the transfer roll will cause a corresponding change in the angular position of the arm 63. In a manner to be explained, movement of the arm 63 imparts rotation to a control shaft 73 which operates link mechanism 75 (FIG. 12) to be described which, in turn, controls variable speed driving means generally indicated by reference numeral 77 (FIG. 12) controlling the speed of rotation of the spindle assembly 26.

To maintain proper tension in the unwound portion of the transfer roll 32, means is provided including the arm 49 carrying the idler wheel 48. The arm 49 is resiliently supported by a spring 78 anchored to the platform 18. Any variation in the tension of the portion of the transfer roll between the feed spindle assembly 24 and the pressure roller 52 will result in corresponding movement of the arm 49. The arm 49 controls the angular position of a control shaft 80 which, through linkage mechanism 82 (FIG. 16), controls friction disc brake mechanism 83 which varies the force of opposition to the rotation of the feed spindle assembly 24.

In a similar way, the tension in the unwound portion of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll 46 between the feed A spindle assembly 3.8 and the take-up spindle assembly 40 88 (FIG. 14). The linkage mechanism 83, in turn, controls friction disc brake mechanism 8? which varies the force of opposition to rotation of the feed spindle assembly 38.

Now that the basic components and general mode of operation of the machine has been described, the detailed construction of the various components thereof will now be described.

Construction of the Adhesive Transfer Tape Refer now to FIG. 3, which shows a sectional view of the adhesive transfer tape making up the master transfer roll 32. As above explained, the tape generally includes a bacldng strip 34 and an adhesive layer 36. The backing strip is prepared so that it has a relatively slight attraction for the adhesive compound to be used in the adhesive layer 36, so that, when the tacky face of the adhesive layer is pressed firmly against the surface of an article made, for example,.of cardboard, felt, glass, or metal, the backing strip 34 may be readily peeled from the adhesive layer leaving the latter secured to the article in question. The backing strip 34 may have a main body 34a of thin flexible paper or the like, having outer coatings 34b and 34c forming glazed outer surfaces having a low adherence to the adhesive layer 36. Alternatively, the backing strip 34 may comprise glassine, cellophane, or holland cloth suitably treated so that the outer surfaces may be lightly bonded to the adhesive layer 36. A poor adhering outer surface is provided on both sides of the main'body 34a of the backing strip to enable the adhesive transfer tape to be fabricated in roll form where the normally tacky side of each turn of the roll is loosely secured to the backing strip of the adjacent turn of the roll. The adhesive layer will adhere more tightly to the backing strip to which it was originally applied during the manu: facture of the adhesive transfer tape than to the backing strip of the adjacent turn in the roll, so that the roll may be unwound without disturbing the adhesive layer.

The adhesive layer comprises a main body of high tensile strength, porous, adhesive-absorbent, membranous material 36a, which may, for example, be unwoven rope tissue, tobacco cloth or rice paper, spun glass fabric or the like. The membranous body 36a is impregnated with an adhesive material which extends to the outside of the body to form exposed films or coatings 36b and 360 of adhesive material. The innermost adhesive film 36b adheres the membranous body 36a to the backing strip 34- and the outermost adhesive film 36c provides a tacky surface for adhering the body to the wide backing strip 44 of the adhesive-layer-receivingroll 46. When the adhesive layer 36 is transferred to the backing strip 44, then the originally innermost adhesive film 36b becomes an exposed film by means of which the new adhesive transfer tape can be secured to the ultimate surface to be applied with adhesive.

The adhesive material impregnating the membranous adhesive carrier body 36a may be, most preferably, a pressure-sensitive adhesive material, or it may be a heat or solvent-softenable material. One especially satisfactory composition for the adhesive is as follows:

While the adhesive is still liquid or semi-liquid, a sheet of the membranous material 36a is spread uniformly and smoothly over the still liquid adhesive layer. The liquidity of the adhesive material enables it to permeate the porous membranous sheet 36a, resulting in an adhesive film on both sides of the membranous sheet. The product is completed by drying the adhesive in any suitable way. After the adhesive has been dried, the completed laminate prodnet is then cut into strips of the desired widths and then wound into rolls upon a support tube 28 of cardboard or similar rigid material. The adhesive transfer tape formed by cutting the basic laminate sheet into strips will be a product wherein the adhesive layer 36 extends across the complete width of the backing strip or layer 34.

The backing stri of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll 46 is preferably of the same material as the above-mentioned backing strip 34, but is cut to a wider width. It may comprise, for example, a main body of paper or other material having opposite glazed surfaces. It the backing strip 34 of the adhesive transfer tape of the transfer roll is three quarters of an inch wide, the backing strip 44 of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll 46 may be, for example, one-inch wide.

Take-Up Spindle Assembly for the Adhesive-Layer-Receiving Roll and Speed Control Means T herefor Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 5 through 8, and 17 through 22, the take-up assembly 40 includes a spindle or shaft lba-journaled in bearings and 92 secured respectively to vertically spaced angle member cross pieces 94 and 96 (FIG. 5) forming part of the support frame structure 12.. The spindle assembly further includes a circular support plate 40b secured as by screws to a circular base plate 400 (FIGS. 17-18) resting upon a collar fiiid fixed to the spindle 40a and located within an openmg 97 (FIG. 5) in the platform 18. The support plate 40b has an upstanding cylindrical hub portion 4% (FIG. 18), around which extends the support tube 68. The tube 68 1s fixed securely in place upon the support plate 40b by four, spaced, sharply tipped anchor pieces 40e each made of sheet metal or other similar material which is beveled at its outer edge to provide a sharp point 40a. The anchor pieces 40s are pivotally supported on the top of the hub portion 46b of the support plate 40b by shouldered pivot-forming screws 40 threading into the hub 46th. The anchor pieces 40c are resiliently urged into their support tube piercing positions by a circular metal band 40g fitting into circular segmental recesses 40e" formed on the inner edges of the anchor pieces 40e.

The inner diameter of the support tube is slightly smaller than the diameter of the circle around which the points we of the anchor pieces We normally fall. To pos1t1on the support tube 68 upon the spindle assembly 4!), the tube 68 is placed upon the tips of the anchor pieces 40b and is pushed down and turned in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 17, so as to cam or rotate the anchor pieces 4% about the pivot pins 40) against the restraining force of the metal band 40g. This will enable the tube to be slipped around the outside of the anchor pieces 4%. When the tube 68 rests firmly upon the support plate 401) it is released, whereupon the anchor pieces 40s will rotate in a counter-clockwise direction under the force of the strained metal band 40g, to bring the sharp points 40s thereof into biting engagement with the support tube 68.

Referring now most particularly to FIGS. 5 to 8, a V-belt pulley wheel 98 is fixed to an intermediate portion of spindle 40a beneath the platform and a V-belt 100 extends within the groove ofthe pulley wheel 98 and also within the V-groOve 101 formed between a vertically movable, upwardly resiliently urged, doubletapered intermediate disc 102 and a bottom tapered disc 104 forming a well-known type of variable speed drive. The discs 102 and 104 are rotatably supported upon the pin 196, the disc 102 being also vertically slidable on the pin. The bottom end of the pin 106 is carried by an upper elongated arm 168 of a parallelogram link assembly 110, including parallel link arms 11 2112 pivotally secured at their upper ends to the elongated arm 108, and at their bottom ends to a bracket 114 anchored to the support frame cross piece 96. The upper end of the pin 106 fits into an opening in a link arm 116 pivotally secured to a pivot arm 118 pivotally supported about a stationary pivot point formed by a pin 120 (FIG. 8) depending from a stationary bracket 122 (FIG. secured to the support frame cross piece 94. The pin 166, in addition to the tapered discs 102 and 104, carries an upper tapered disc 123fixed to the shaft 166. The double-tapered intermediate disc 102 together with the upper and lower discs 123 and 104 form adjacent variable width, tapered V-beltereceiving sections in a well known manner supported for vertical movement upon the shaft. The V-belt 100 fits within the lower of these sections and a V-belt 124 fits within the upper of these sections, the other end of the belt 124 passing within a V-groove formed-between the bottom of a tapered disc 126 and a double-tapered, upwardly resiliently urged intermediate disc 123, the latter being supported for vertical movement with respect to disc 126 in the same well known manner as the above-mentioned double-tapered disc 102. Discs 126 and 128 are rotatably supported around a pin 130 supported on the end of the above-mentioned elongated upper arm 188 of the parallelogram link assembly 110. The upper end of the pin 130 is secured to a link arm 132 connected to the end of the other aforementioned link arm 116. A V-belt 134 extends in a correspondingly shaped groove formed between the intermediate disc 128 and an upper disc 135 rotatably supported around the pin 130. The other end of the belt 134 extends around a drive pulley 137 fixed to a main drive shaft 139 rotatably supported in upper and lower bearings 141 and 143 carried by the support frame structure 12.

The entire assembly of the various pulley-groove-forming discs 102, 164-, 123, 126, 128 and 135, together With the link arms 116 and 132 form an assembly bodily movable with respect to the drive shaft 139. Means are provided for bodily moving this assembly about the pivot points of the parallel link arm 112-112, this means including the arm 118 which is adjustably secured to a connecting lever 146. The pivot arm 118 is secured to the connecting arm 146 on the same side of the pivot pin 129 as the link arm 116, the connection between the pivot arm 118 and lever 146 being a lost motion connection formed by a longitudinal slot 148 (FIG. 8) which slidably receives a slide pin 149 depending from the arm 118. Connecting arm 146 is pivotally secured to the end of an operating or crank arm 158 fixed to a vertical control shaft 152 journaled in upper and lower bearings 154 and 156 (FIG. 5). secured to the frame structure cross pieces 94 and 96. A coil spring 157 (FIG. 8) extends between the end of the operating arm 150 and arm 118 and operates resiliently to couple the arms 118 and 150 when the operating arm 150 is moved in a direction which moves the slide pin 149 away from the left end of the slot 148.

A crank arm 158 is secured to the bottom of the contr-ol shaft 152 (FIG. 8) and a crank rod 160 is pivotally secured at one end to the crank arm 158 and at the other end to a lever 161. The lever 161 is guided in a slot defined between a U-shaped piece 162 (FIG. 5) and a bracket plate 163 secured to cross piece 96 of the frame structure. The bottom end of the lever 161 carries the foot pedal 69. Control shaft 152 is urged in a clockwise direction, as viewed from above, by a spring 164 secured at one end to the end of the crank arm 158 and at the other end to the support frame structure 12.

It can be seen that the spindle 40a receives its driving force via the V- belts 100, 124 and 134, which, through the pulley-forming discs above-mentioned, connect the drive shaft 139 with the spindle 40a. The drive shaft 139, in turn, receives power via a pulley 169 secured thereto and around which extends a V-belt 171 (see 10 FIGS. 1, 2 and 5) driven from a pulley 173 secured directly to the depending shaft 174 of an electric motor 176 (FIG. 1). The electric motor 176 is supported by brackets (not shown) to cross angle pieces 178-178 carried by the bottom side rails 2222 of the frame structure 12.

In a mannner to be explained, the pulley-forming disc assembly above mentioned is arranged toslow down the speed of rotation of the spindle 40a in response to the counter-clockwise movement of control shaft 152 against the restraining force of the above-mentioned compression spring 164. The control shaft 152 extends above the platform 18 and, as most clearly shown in FIGS. 5, 8, l9, and 20, carries the follower member 64. The follower member 64 may have an elongated rectangular shape and a depending pin 64a which cooperates with the controller arm 56 in the manner to be explained.

The controller arm 56 includes the main elongated rectangular body portion 56a and an inverted T-shaped depending rear portion 56b which has a sleeve portion 560 which loosely surrounds the control shaft 152 for relative turning movement with respect thereto. The bottom of the inverted T-shaped portion 56b is slidably supported upon a collar 182 fixed to the control shaft 152.

Pivotally supported to the front end of the'controller arm 56 is a support frame, generally indicated by the reference number 184. The support frame 184 includes a rectangular support bar 186 secured by a screw 187 to a vertical rock shaft 188. The rock shaft 188 carries a thrust ball bearing 190, the outer race of which is supported upon a shoulder 1 91 fixed to the inner Walls of a cylindrical handle-forming member 192 threaded int an opening in the top of the controller arm. The rock shaft 188 passes through a bearing 193 press fitted Within the member 192. In this manner, the frame assembly 184 is free to pivot about a vertical axis.

The frame assembly 184 suspendingly rotatively supports the above-mentioned guide wheel 50, pressure roller 52, and pressure roller 54. The forwardmost pressure roller 54, which is made of metal and is of substantially smaller diameter than the other pressure roller 52, carries a ball bearing 52a which is supported in a recess 56d formed in the top of the controller arm body 56a. The roller 54 is preferably backed by a support piece 189 (FIG. 19) screwed to the bar 186 and having a laterally projecting portion 194 having a segmental cylindrical end bearing surface 195 against which bears the correspondingly shaped cylinder surface of the smaller pressure roller 54.

The larger pressure roller 52 preferably has a rubber outer portion 52a secured to a cylindrical metal roller body 52b rotatably supported upon a pin 52c threaded into the bar 186. The roller body 52b is held in place on the pin 520 by the head of a screw 52d threaded into the bottom end of the pin 520.

The guide wheel 50 has a central rotatably mounted body portion 58a and stationary end members 5tlb50b' forming a groove 50c sized to receive the adhesive transfer tape of the tape of the transfer roll 32. The wheel 50 is removably secured to a pin.196 threaded into the bar 186 by a lock screw 50d to permit the ready changing of the guide wheel 50 to accommodate different sized tape. The top of the bottom end member Silb defining the bottom of the wheel groove 560 is spaced above the surface of the support plate 401') of the takeup spindle assembly 50 by an amount equal to one half of the difference in the widths of the adhesive transfer tape of the transfer roll 32 and that of the wider backing strip 44 of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll 46. In this way, the adhesive layer transferred to the backing strip 44 leaves the above mentioned non-tacky border or edge portion 44 and 44 thereon.

The spring 58, which is connected to the controller arm 56, is anchored by a bracket 197 to the platform 18, and urges the controller arm and the parts carried thereby, such as the pressure rollers 52 and 54, toward the take-up section 44 of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll 46 supported upon the spindle assembly 40. It can be seen that due to the pivotal mounting of the frame assembly 1S4 carrying the pressure rollers 52 and 54, the rollers will be in constant pressure engagement with the backing strip 34 of the transfer roll 32, independently of the diameter of the take-up section 44 and of the position of the controller arm 56 with respect to the spindle assembly 40.

When setting the machine up for operation, it is desirable to hold the controller arm 56 out of the way. To this end, a notched dog bar 200 is rotatively supported on the top of the main body portion 56a of the controller arm 56, and the dog bar is normally urged in a counterclockwise direction by a spring 202 extending between the dog bar 200 and a lateral pin 264 extending from the controller arm portion 56a. The dog bar is notched at 2116 so as to engage with a latch rod 268 extending upwardly from the platform 18. When the controller arm is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction to a point where the notch 2436 may engage the latch rod 268, the controller arm is held in this latched position, enabling the operator to wind the end of the adhesive strip-receiving roll 46 around the support tube 68 which is positioned upon the spindle assembly 41). The controller arm can be moved to its latched position readily by means of the handleforming member 192.

Once the machine is set into operation and the adhesive transfer operation initiated, the transfer operation can be carried on at high speed. However, in order to get the transfer operation started smoothly and effectively, it is often desirable to start the feeding of the unwound portions of the transfer roll and the adhesive-layer-receiving roll slowly. To this end, the above-mentioned foot pedal 69 is provided so that the control shaft 152 may be rotated in a direction to slow down the operation of the spindle assembly 40. Since the pressure rollers 52 and 54 form a very important function in the tape transfer operation, the controller arm must remain in its normal position while the spindle assembly is slowed down. The construction of the follower member 64 and the manner in which the controller arm 56 is mounted around the control shaft 152 permits this kind of operation of the machine. Thus, when the above-mentioned foot pedal is depressed, the follower member is rotated in a counterclockwise direction by the control shaft 152 and, since the depending pin 64a of the follower member 64'is not attached to the controller arm but merely normally bears against it, it can be seen that the spindle assembly 40 can be slowed without disturbing the position of the controller arm 56 and the pressure rollers 52 and 54 carried thereby.

In order to keep track of the length of backing strip material in the take-up section 44 of the adhesive-layerreceiving roll, counter mechanism, generally indicated by reference numeral 211 in FIGS. 2 and 9, is provided. This counter mechanism 211 includes a rubber rimmed counting roller- 213 connected to a shaft 215 extending from any suitable type of revolution counter 216 which may be calibrated in inches or feet, depending upon the units desired. The revolution counter 215 is carried by support arm 217 pivotally mounted upon a pivot post 219 supported upon the platform 18 of the frame structure 12. The pivot post 219 may include a spring, not shown, which urges the arm 217 toward the take-up section 44 supported upon the support plate 4% of the spindle assembly .40. The arm 217 is free to move in a plane slightly above the top of the support plate 45 so that the rubber rimmed wheel 213 may engage the outermost turn of the take-up section 44 of the adhesive stripreceiving roll 46 supported upon the spindle assembly 40. The movement of the backing strip 44 of this roll imparts rotation to the wheel 213 which, in turn, operates the revolution counter 215.

If the operation of the counter is not desired, the support arm 217 of the counter apparatus may be pivoted out of the way and locked in a non-use position by means including a nib or button 222 projecting from the forward end of the arm 217. The button 217 is movable into unlatching engagement with a recess 224 in an upstanding leaf spring 226 supported on the platform 18 (see FIG. 2).

The manner in which the movement of the controller arm 56 operates the speed-varying mechanism 66 (FIG. 5) previously described will now be explained.

The spring 164 urges the pin 64a of the follower member 64 against the inverted T-shaped portion 56b of the controller arm. As the diameter of the take-up section 44 of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll 46 increases, the controller arm 56 will be moved in a counter-cloclwise direction or outwardly, and the inverted T-shaped portion 56b of the controller arm will move the depending pin 64a ofthe follower member 64 with it, thereby rotating the control shaft 152 in a counter-clockwise direction. This will slow down the speed of rotation of spindle assembly 40 so that the linear feeding speed of the backing strip 44 of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll 46 will be maintained constant.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 8, when the control shaft 152 is moved in a counter-clockwise direction, this moves the operating arm 15% secured thereto in a clockwise direction. This motion is transmitted to the pivot arm 118 through the slow-acting spring 157 rather than the connecting arm 146 due to the lost motion connection formed by the longitudinal slot 148 and the pin 149 of the arm 118 slidably disposed therein. The slot 148 permits the sudden movement of the arm 146 to the left without a sudden corresponding movement of the arm 118 which would suddenly slow down the speed of the take-up spindle assembly 40 and possibly break and damage the adhesive tape being formed on the take-up spindle assembly 40 due to the sudden force applied thereto. This problem could exist, for example, when the foot pedal 69 is suddenly depressed. As the pivot arm moves in this direction, the link arms 116 and 132 which receive the upper ends of the support rods 1116 and for the tapered pulley-forming discs 102, 104, 123, 126, 128 and 135, move to the left, as viewed in these figures, as permitted by the parallel link arms 112-112 of the parallelogram link assembly 111 This results in a slackening in the tension of the V-belt 134 extending between the pulley 137 fixed to the drive shaft 139 and the pulley formed by the discs 128 and 135. The disc 128 is normally resiliently urged in an upward direction so that a release of the tension in the belt 134 results in a narrowing of the distance between the discs 128 and 135. The V-belt 134 will, therefore, pull closer to the periphery of the discs 12% and which will reduce the speed of rotation of the discs 128 and 135. This, in turn, reduces the speed of the V-belt 124. As a result of the above-mentioned movement of the pulley-forming disc assembly, the discs 102 and 104 are moved further away from the fixed pulley 98 around which the V-be'lt extends. This increases the tension in the pulley belt 100 at which results in the raising up of the intermediate disc 102 which is also normally upwardly resiliently urged, thereby increasing the distance between the discs 152 and 104 and decreasing the distance between the discs 1112 and 123. (This effects a further speed reduction in the rotational movement imparted to the spindle 46a by changing the effective diameters of the V-belt pulley wheels formed by the tapered discs.

Take-Up Spindle Assembly 26 for the Transfer Roll and Speed Control Means Therefor In order to effect a smooth and efficient transfer of the adhesive layer 36 from the backing strip 34 of the transfer roll, the adhesive transfer tape constituting the transfer roll should be fed to the backing strip of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll 46 at the same speed as the latter is fed to the take-up spindle assembly 40. As previously indicated, the speed of rotation of the spindle assembly 26 is controlled indirectly by the speed of the spindle assembly 40 by means which is responsive to the tension in the unwound portion of the transfer roll. This means includes the pivoted and resiliently mounted support arm 63 carrying the grooved wheel unit 62 and connected to control shaft 73. Any decrease in speed of the take-up spindle assembly 46) associated with the adhesive-strip-receiving roll 46 will result in a decrease in the tension of the unwound portion of the transfer roll 32 because, in the area of contact of the transfer roll 32 and the adhesive-layer-receiving roll 46, the former cannot move any faster than the latter. Whenthis occurs, a portion of the backing strip 34 of the transfer roll passing around the grooved wheel 62 exerts a force tending to' rotate the support arm 63 therefor in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, which will operate the mechanism controlled by the shaft 73 to which the arm 63 is connected, so as to slow down the speed of the spindle assembly 26.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. -12 control shaft 73 extends down through an opening in the platform 18 and is journalled in vertically spaced bearings 229 and 231 supported upon a mounting bracket plate 233 secured to an angle member cross piece 235 suitably secured to the bottom of the platform 18. An

operating arm 237 is secured to an intermediate portion of the control shaft 73 and the arm 237 pivotally supports a link rod 239. The link rod 239 is pivotally supported at its opposite end upon an operating arm 241 which is secured to a shaft 243 journaled in a bar 244 secured by screws 246 to the upper side rail 16 of the frame structure 12.

The shaft 243 is further journaled in another bar 248 (FIG. 1) secured to the cross rail 16, and the end thereof projects through the bar 248 where it terminates in an operating arm 250. The operating arm 25% pivotally supports a vertical link 252 which carries on the bottom end thereof an operating lever 254 pivotally supported about a pivot pin 256 extending between spaced angle member cross pieces 258258 supported upon the lower side rails ZZZ-22. The operating lever 254 fits within a channel member 264) which is also pivotally supported upon the pivot pin 256. Lever 254- is provided with a recess 262 (FIG. 13) formed in its bottom edge which receives a spring 264 pressed between the bottom of the lever 254 and the web of the channel member 260. The

.link 252 and the right hand end of the lever 254 are normally urged downwardly by means of a spring 255 anchored at its upper end to lever 254 and its bottom end to the vertical support bar 257 supported from the bottom side rail 22 of the support frame structure.

When the lever 254 pivots in a counter-clockwise direction about the pivot pin 256, as viewed in FIG. 13, the distal end of the lever 254 will bear down upon the bottom of the channel 26% and thereby pivot the same about the pivot pin 256, which will lower the left hand end of the channel member 269. This counter-clockwise movement of the lever 254 will tend to slow down the movement of the take-up spindle assembly 26 in a manner to'be explained. If the lever should be suddenly operated in a direction to increase the speed thereof, that is, if the lever 254 should pivot in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 13, then the spring 264 will slow down the transfer of force to the channel member so that the speed of rotation of the take-up spindle assembly 26 will not suddenly increase. Such sudden increase in speed may place undue stress on the unwound portions of the transfer roll 32 which would break or damage the same.

The left hand end of the channel member 260 supports variable speed driving means 77, generally referred to in the earlier part of the specification. This means is associated with a spindle 26.: forming part of the takeup spindle assembly 26. Spindle 26a is journaled in an upper bearing 267 secured to the cross piece 235 and in a lower bearing 269 secured to the cross pieces 258-253. The other parts of the spindle assembly 26 located above the upper platform 18 are, except perhaps for dimensions, identical to the previously described takeup spindle assembly 40. Sufiice it to say, spindle assembly 26 includes a circular support plate 26b having a hub portion, not shown, around which the abovementioned support tube 61 is mounted by anchoring means 26e similar to anchoring means 462 etc. previously described in connection with the spindle assembly The top of the support plates 26b is at the same elevation as the bottom of the groove 5G0 of the grooved wheel 5t associated with the controller arm, which wheel guides the adhesive transfer tape of the transfer roll at the proper elevation with respect to the take-up section 44 of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll. Accordingly, the upper surface of this support plate 26b is positioned above the upper surface of the support plate 4% of the spindle assembly 40 by an amount equal to one half the difference in the width of the transfer roll and adhesivelayer-receiving roll.

The above-mentioned variable speed driving means 77 include a friction disc assembly 272 including an upper circular metal disc 274 having an upstanding central collar 276 fixedly secured to the spindle 26a. The friction disc assembly further includes an intermediate disc or ring 278 made of a suitable friction material, which disc is fitted around a hub portion 279 of a bottom circular metal disc 280, which loosely fits around the spindle 26a. The bottom disc 280 has a collar 282 depending therefrom which loosely surrounds the spindle 26a and the collar 282, in turn, is fixedly secured to a pulley wheel 234, which receives a V-belt 286 driven by a drive pulley 283 (see FIGS. 2 and 5) secured upon the abovementioned drive shaft 139. Pulley 284, which is also loosely fitted around the spindle 26a, rests upon suitable spacing collar means 290 which rests upon the left hand end of the channel member 260.

The operation of the speed control means for the takeup spindle assembly 26 is as follows: When the control shaft 73 is rotated in a clockwise direction in response to an increase in tension of the unwound portion of the transfer roll 32, this results in the movement of the various aforementioned parts interconnecting the link 252 and the control shaft 73, shown by the direction of the various arrows in FIG. 12. This results in the upward movement of the link 252, in a manner above explained, and also the left hand end of the channel member 260 which carries spacer collar means 290, pulley wheel 284, the bottom disc 280 and the intermediate friction discs 78 of the friction disc assembly 272. This will decrease the friction developed between the upper disc 274 and the intermediate disc 273, resulting in increase in slippage therebetween and the consequent reduction in the speed of rotation of the spindle 26a. If the tension in the unwound portion of the transfer roll 32 is suddenly decreased, this results in the downward movement of the link 252 and the right hand end of the lever 254. Because of the spring 264, a delayed transfer of force to the channel member 260 is provided to prevent sudden speed changes in the spindle assembly. When the chmnel memher 260 pivots to raise its left hand end, this moves the friction disc 278 in to greater frictional contact with the upper disc 274 and increases the speed of rotation of the spindle 26a.

Thus, it has been shown how a variation in the speed of the take-up spindle assembly 40' results in a similar variation in speed of the take-up spindle assembly 26 through the medium of the tension responsive apparatus just described.

To insure an even and smooth transfer of the adhesive layer 36, in addition to the requirement that the feeding speeds of the transfer roll 32 and the adhesive-layerreceiving roll 46 be the same, it is desirable that the feed spindle assemblies 24 and 38 offer a certain resistance to the unwinding of the rolls so that the unwound portions of the rolls are under tension at all times. As previously indicated, the tension in the portion of the transfer roll unwinding from the feed spindle assembly 24 is maintained by apparatus including the wheel unit 48, the arm 49 upon which the wheel unit 48 is carried, and the control shaft 30 upon which the arm 49 is mounted. Shaft 8-3, through linkage mechanism 82 and brake mechanism 83 (FIG. 16), controls the braking force applied to the feed spindle assembly 24. The construction of the linkage and braking mechanism 82 and 83 will now be described.

Feed Spindle Assembly 24 and T ape-Tension Control Means Associated T herewith Referring now more particularly to FIGS. and 16, the control shaft 88 passes through a hole in the platform 18 and is rotatably supported to the support frame structure 12 in a manner, not shown, which is similar to the manner in which the above-mentioned control shaft 73 is rotatively supported. Shaft 80 carries an operating arm 332 which rotatively supports one end of a link rod 384. The other end of the rod 304 is similarly rotatively supported from another operating arm 306 fixed to a pivot shaft 308 which is suitably journaled to a stationary portion of the frame structure 12 or an appendage thereof, in the same manner as above-mentioned shaft 243 is rotativel'y supported thereto. The stationary shaft 308 carries a control arm 310 to which an end of a generally vertical link rod 312 is pivotally connected. Link rod 312 is similar in function to the above-mentioned link arm 252 associated with the take-up spindle assembly 26. The bottom of the link rod 312 is connected to a lever 314 which extends into a channel member 315. Both the channel member 315 and the lever 314 are pivotally mounted upon a pivot pin 317 supported in any suitable manner, for example, in the same manner as pivot pin 256 above described is supported. Lever 314 is normally urged downwardly by a tension spring 318 anchored at one end to the lever 314 and the other end to a portion of the support frame structure 12. A lost-motion connection is provided between the lever 314 and the channel member 315 by means including a spring 318 (FIG. 15) extending between the web of the channel member 315 and the defining walls of a slot formed in the bottom edge of the lever 314, so as to operate similarly to the corresponding parts 262 and 264 associated with the take-up spindle assembly 26.

The left hand end of the channel member 315 supports the friction brake assembly 83, which includes an upper metal disc 320 having a central hub 321 (FIG. 15) which is fixed to spindle 24a forming part of the spindle assembly 24. The assembly 83 further includes a friction ring 323 made of a friction material which is positioned around the hub 321 of a non-rotatable disc 325. Both the friction ring 322 and the disc 325 are fitted loosely around the spindle 24a and may thus be vertically movable with respect thereto. The bottom disc 325 has a depending hub portion 327 which rests upon the left hand end of the channel member 315. The disc 325 also carries a depending guide member 329 which is slidably disposed between the confronting flanges of the channel member cross pieces 258258 (FIGS. 1, l5 and 16) supported upon the lower side rails 22-22. It can thus be seen that the spring 318 urges the left hand end of the channel member 315 upwardly to raise the bottom disc 325 and the friction ring 323 upwardly so that the latter makes good frictional engagement with the upper rotating disc 328. If the tension in the unwound portion of the transfer roll unwinding from the feed spindle assembly 24 should be greater than the desired amount, this will tend to rotate the arm 43 counter-clockwise, as viewed from above, and move the various parts interconnecting the shaft 80 with the link rod 312 in the direction shown by the arrows in FIG. 16. As shown, the condition being described results in the raising of the link rod 312 and the right hand end of the lever 314, which drops the left hand end of the channel 315, resulting in a dropping of the friction ring 322 which decreases the frictional resistance between the ring 322 and the rotating upper disc 320. The guide member 329 and the confronting flanges of the angle member cross pieces 258-258 between which the member 329 slides prevent the bottom disc 325 from rotating.

If the friction in the portion of the transfer roll unwinding from the spindle assembly 24 decreases, the various parts of the link mechanism 82 move in the opposite direction from that shown by the arrows in FIG. 16, and the left hand end of the channel 315 moves upwardly to force the friction ring 322 into closer relationship with the disc 320, thereby increasing the braking action from the rotation of the spindle 24a and showing down the Spindle assembly "24.

The spindle assembly 24 includes the various components of the spindle assemblies 26 and 40 above described. Suffice it to say at this point, the spindle assembly 24 includes a support plate 24b carried upon the spindle 24a. The top of the support plate 24b is at the same elevation as the support plate 26b of the spindle assembly 26, which, as above explained, is above the support plate 40b of the take-up spindle assembly 40 by an amount equal to one half the difference in the width of the transfer roll and the adhesive-layer-receiving roll. The spindle 24b further includes various pointed anchoring means 24e in a hub portion of the support plate 24b corresponding to the anchoring means 4(le previously described in connection with the spindle assembly 40, for holding the support tube 28 of the transfer roll 32 upon the feed spindle assembly 24.

The above-mentioned lost motion connection between the lever 314 and the channel member 315 including the springs 318 and receiving slot therefor prevent the sudden increase or decrease of the tension of the portion of the transfer roll unwinding from the spindle assembly 24, which might tend to snap or otherwise damage the adhesive transfer tape of the transfer roll.

Feed Spindle Assembly 38 and the Tape-Tensioning Control means Associated T herewith Ta'pe tensioning means is provided to control the tension of the backing strip material unwinding from the feed spindle assembly 38 for reasons now apparent, and this means is similar to the means just described in connection with the feed spindle assembly 24. As previously indicated, the tape tensioning control means associated with the feed spindle assembly 38 includes the resiliently and pivotally supported arm 67 carrying the wheel unit 66 and the control shaft 87 to which the control arm 67 is connected. When the tension in the backing strip unwinding from the feed spindle assembly 38 increases or decreases, this varies the pull .of the backing strip material on the arm 67 and results in the turning of the control shaft 87. The movement of the control shaft 87 through suitable linkage mechanism 88 (FIG. 14) controls friction brake mechanism 89 to vary the drag on the spindle assembly 38.

The control shaft 87 passes through an opening in the upper platform 18 and is journaled for rotation to the support frame structure in any suitable manner, such as the manner in which the above-mentioned control shaft 73 is rotatively supported thereto. Shaft 87 carries a control arm 340 to which is pivotally connected one end of a link rod 342. The other end of the rod 342 is pivotally connected to crank plate 344 which pivots about a pivot pin 346 supported from the support frame structure 12 in any suitable way, not shown. One end of a rod 348 is also pivotally connected to the crank plate 344, and the other end of the rod is pivotally connected to a lever 350 fitting into a channel member 352. Lever 350 and the channel member 352 correspond to the above-described lever 314 and the channel member 315 associated with the spindle assembly 24, and are therefore both pivotally connected about a pivot pin 354 supported between the angle member cross pieces 178-178 (FIG. 1 and FIG. 14). For reasons apparent from the description given above, a lost motion connection is provided between lever 350 and the web of the channel 352 in the form of a spring not shown. Also, a spring 356 urges the right hand end of the lever 350 downwardly, the spring being connected between the lever 350 and any suitable connecting point on the support frame structure 12.

The friction brake assembly 89 is identical to the friction brake assembly 83 previously discussed. Friction brake assembly 89 thus includes an upper disc 358 fixedly secured to the spindle 38a forming part of the spindle assembly 38. The spindle 38a is suitably journaled to the support frame structure, and may be journaled in the same manner as spindle 40a was rotatively supported thereto. The friction brake further includes the friction ring 360 and the bottom disc 362 loosely fitted around the spindle 38a for vertical movement with respect there- The bottom disc 362 has a depending hub portion 364 which rests upon the left hand end of the channel member 315. Disc 362 also carries a slide member 366 which is slidably disposed between the confronting flanges of the angle member cross pieces 178-178 supported between the side rails 2222. Since the operation of the link mechanism 88 and the friction brake mechanism 89 is substantially idential to the operation of the link mechanism 82 and the brake assembly 83 associated with the spindle assembly 24, a further description of the method of operation of the link mechanism 88 and the friction brake assembly 89 will not be given As in the other spindle assemblies, spindle assembly 38 has a circular support plate 38b fixed to a spindle 38a, the upper surface of the support plate 38b being at the same elevation as the upper surface of the support plate 481) of the spindle assembly 40. Support plate 38b also has a hub portion around which the backing strip support tube 46' of the adhesive strip-receiving roll 46 is supported by anchoring means 382 similar to the other corresponding anchoring means associated with the other spindle assemblies.

Review of Operation of the Machine The adhesive transfer machine just described enables the transfer at relatively high feeding speeds, of an adhesive layer 38 from the backing strip 34 of the master transfer roll 24 to the wider backing strip 44 of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll 46. The effectiveness of the machine is due to many factors. One of these factors is the construction and mounting of the pressure rollers 52 and 54. These rollers, as above described, are supported upon a frame assembly 184, which is freely pivotally supported from the controller arm 56. The fact that the controller arm 56 is resiliently urged toward the take-up spindle assembly 40 assures the firm contact be-- tween the pressure rollers 52 and 54 and the backing strip 34. Due to the pivoting of the frame 184 to the controller arm, these pressure rollers maintain this desired contact pressure with the backing layer 34 of the transfer roll independently of the angular position of the controller arm 56 relative to the spindle assembly 48, which varies with the diameter of the take-up section of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll supported upon the takeup spindle assembly 40. Since the adhesive transfer tape of the transfer roll 32 is positioned so that it is centered with respect to the wider backing strip 44 of the adhesive strip-receiving roll 46, non-tacky border or edge portions 44 and 44 are left on the backing strip 44 of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll 46. The transfer of the adhesive layer 36 to the backing strip 44 is assured by the sharp bending of the adhesive transfer tape of the transfer roll around the sharply curving body portion of the pressure roller 54 at the point where the backing strip 1'8 34 of the transfer roll recedes from the take-up section 44 of the adhesive strip-receiving roll 46. The take-up section 44 offers a convenient place for the adhesive transfer operation to be carried out. This sharp bending of the backing layer around the pressure roller 54 ensures the transfer of the backing layer to the adhesive stripreceiving roll because this sharp bending action provides a peeling action force which separates the adhesive layer 36 from the backing strip 34 which is not present between the adhesive layer 36 and the backing strip 44 of the adhesive-layer-receiv'ing roll, since the latter has the same gradual curvature as the take-up section 44 of the adhesive-l'ayer-receiving roll around which it is being wound. The various speed control and tension control means above described further contribute to the smooth and efficient transfer of the adhesive layer 36 to the backing strip 44 of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll.

Other features of the invention make it convenient to set the machine up for operation and for starting it into operation so that the proper transfer of the adhesive layer is initiated. Thereafter, the machine can operate at high speeds without difficulty.

it should be understood that numerous modifications may be made of the most preferred form of the invention illustrated in the drawings and described above, without deviating from the broader aspects of the invention.

1 claim as my invention:

1. An adhesive transfer machine comprising:. a first feed spindle and a first takeup spindle for respectively holding the feed and take-up sections of a transfer roll of adhesive transfer tape comprising a backing strip and a front exposed adhesive layer, said adhesive layer being separable intact from said backing strip and extendng the full width of said backing strip, a second feed spindle and a second take-up spindle for respectively holding the feed and take-up sections of an adhesive-layer-receiving roll of backing strip material having a greater width than said backing strip of said transfer roll so that, upon transfer of said adhesive layer to said backing strip of said adhesive-layer-receiving roll, a non-tacky finger-grip border portion will be left thereon, means for positioning a section of the unwound portion of one of said rolls adjacent a section of the other roll with the adhesive side of said transfer roll confronting the backing strip of the other roll, driving means for rotating said take-up spindles for transferring said rolls from the associated feed spindles to the associated take-up spindles, and pressureapplying means for forcing said adjacent sections of said rolls together to bring together the adhesive side ofsaid transfer roll and the backing strip of said adhesive-layerreceiving roll, said pressure-applying means including a support arm mounted for movement toward and away from said second take-up spindle, spring means urging said arrn toward the latter spindle, a frame pivotally supported from said arm about an axis extending generally parallel to said latter spindle, a pair of pressure members carrried by the frame and located on opposite sides of said latter axis and adapted to contact closely spaced points on said backing layer of said transfer roll, the pressure member to be located at the point of separation of said adjacent sections of rolls having a sharply curving body portion around which the backing strip of the transfer roll may be bent to effect the separation of said adhesive layer therefrom.

2. An adhesive transfer machine comprising: a first feed spindle and a first take-up spindle for receiving the feed and take-up sections respectively of a transfer roll of adhesive laminate strip material having a backing layer and a front layer of an adhesive material extending substantially the full width of said backing layer and being readily separable therefrom, a second feed spindle and a second take-up spindle for receiving the feed and takeup sections respectively of an adhesive-layer receiving roll of backing strip material having a greater width than said backing and adhesive layers of said transfer roll so that,

upon transfer of said adhesive layer to said backing strip of adhesive-layer-receiving roll, a non-tacky finger-grip border portion will be left thereon, means for relatively spacing a side of the take-up section of the adhesivelayer-receiving roll from the corresponding side of the section of the transfer roll to be fed thereto, driving means for said second take-up spindle of said adhesivelayer-receiving roll, speed control means responsive to the diameter of the take-up section of the latter roll upon said second take-up spindle for varying the speed of said second driving means to keep the feeding speed of said adhesive-layer-receiving roll constant, the latter speed control means including pivotally mounted controller arm means carrying means spring-urged against the takeup section of the latter roll wound around said second take-up spindle, follower means in the path of movement of said controller arm means for controlling the speed of said driving means in response to the movement of said controller arm means, said follower means being movable independently of said controller arm means, operator controlled means for moving said follower means relative to said controller arm means in a direction to slow down the driving means without pulling the controller arm means away from said second take-up spindle, whereby the speed of the take-up spindle can be slowed without disturbing the controller arm means, and pressure-applying means on said controller arm means adapted to make contact with the outside of said backing layer of the transfer roll and press the adhesive layer thereof into adhering relation with said take-up section of said adhesive-layerreceiving roll wound around said second take-up spindle, said pressure-applying means including a sharply curving body portion around which the backing layer of the transfer roll may be sharply bent to enable the adhesive layer thereof to separate from the latter backing layer and remain with the backing strip of the adhesive-layerreceiving roll.

3. An adhesive transfer machine comprising: a first feed spindle and a first take-up spindle for receiving the feed and take-up sections respectively of a transfer roll of adhesive laminate strip material having a backing layer and a front layer of an adhesive material extending substantially the full width of said backing layer and being readily separable therefrom, a second feed spindle and a second take-up spindle for receiving the feed and take-up sections respectively of an adhesive-layer-receiving roll of backing strip material having a greater Width than said backing and adhesive layers of said transfer roll so that, upon transfer of said adhesive layer to said backing strip of adhesive-layer-receiving roll, a non-tacky finger-grip border portion will be left thereon, means for relatively spacing a side of the take-up section of the adhesive-l-ayer-receiving roll from the corresponding side of the section of the transfer roll to be fed thereto, driving means for said second take-up spindle of said adhesivelayer-receiving roll, speed control means responsive to the diameter of the take-up section of the latter roll upon said second take-up spindle for varying the speed of said second driving means to keep the feeding speed of said adhesive-layer-receiving roll constant, said speed control means including pivotally mounted controller arm means spring-urged against the take-up section of the latter roll wound around said second take-up spindle and pressureapplying means on said controller means adapted to make contact with the outside of said backing layer of the transfer roll and press the adhesive layer thereof into adhering relation with said take-up section of said adhesive-layerreceiving roll wound around said second take-up spindle, said pressure means having a sharply curving body portion around which the backing layer of the transfer roll may be sharply bent to enable the adhesive layer thereof to separate from the latter backing layer and remain with the backing strip of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll.

4. An adhesive transfer machine comprising: a first feed spindle for receiving the feed section of a transfer 20 roll of adhesive laminate strip material having a backing layer and a front layer of an adhesive material extending substantially the [full width of said backing layer and being readily separable therefrom, a second feed spindle and a second take-up spindle for receiving the feed and take-up sections respectively of an adhesive-layer-receiving roll of backing strip material having a greater width than said backing and adhesive layers of said transfer roll so that, upon transfer of said adhesive layer to said backing strip of adhesive-layer-receiving roll, a non-tacky finger-grip border portion will be left thereon, means for relatively spacing a side of the take-up section of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll from the corresponding side of the section of the transfer roll to be fed thereto, first driving means for said first take-up spindle, first speed control means responsive to the tension in an unwound section of said transfer roll approaching said first take-up spindle for varying the speed of said first driving means in inverse relationship to the tension in the latter roll section for keeping the feeding speed thereof constant, driving means for said take-up spindle of said adhesivelayer-receiving roll, second speed control means for varying the speed of said driving means to keep the feeding speed of said adhesive-layer-receiving roll constant, the latter speed control means including controller means spring-urged toward the take-up section of the latter roll wound around said take-up spindle, a frame pivotally supported upon the end of said controller means adjacent said take-up spindle about an axis parallel to the latter spindle, and pressure members carried by said frame and located on opposite sides of said frame pivot axis and adapted to make contact with the outside of said backing layer of the transfer roll and press the adhesive layer thereof into adhering relation with said take-up section of said adhesive-layer-receiving roll wound around said take-up spindle, the pressure member at the point of separation of the contacting portions of said rolls having a sharply curving body portion around which the backing layer of the transfer roll may be sharply bent to enable the adhesive layer thereof to separate from the latter backing layer and remain with the backing strip of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll.

5. An adhesive transfer machine comprising: a first feed spindle for receiving the feed section of a transfer roll of adhesive laminate strip material having a backing layer and a front layer of an adhesive material extending substantially the full Width of said backing layer and being readily separable therefrom, a second feed spindle and a take-up spindle for receiving the feed and takeup sections respectively of an adhesive-layer-receiving roll of backing strip material having a greater width than said backing and adhesive layers of said transfer roll so that, upon transfer of said adhesive layer to said backing,

strip of adhesive-layer-r'eceiving roll, a non-tacky fingergrip border portion will be left thereon, means for relatively spacing a side of the take-up section of the adhesivelayer-receiving roll from the corresponding side of the section of the transfer roll to be fed thereto, driving means for said take-up spindle of said adhesive-layer-receiving roll, speed control means responsive to the diameter of the take-up section of the latter roll upon said take-up spindle for varying the speed of said driving means to keep the feeding speed of said adhesive-layer-receiving roll constant, the latter speed control means including pivotally mounted controller arm means spring-urged toward the take-up section of the latter roll wound around said take-up spindle, a frame pivotally supported upon the end of said controller arm means adjacent said take-up spindle about an axis parallel to the latter spindle, and a pair of pressure members carried by the frame and located on opposite sides of said frame pivot axis and adapted to make contact with closely spaced points on the outside of said backing layer of the transfer roll and press the adhesive layer thereof into adhering relation with said section of the backing strip of said adhesive- 21 layer-receiving roll wound around said take-up spindle, the pressure member nearest the receding portion of the unwound portion of said transfer roll having a sharply curving body portion around which the backing layer of the transfer roll may be sharply bent to enable the adhesive layer thereof to separate from the latter backing layer and remain with the backing strip of the adhesivelayer-receiving roll.

6. An adhesive transfer machine comprising: a first feed spindle and a first take-up spindle for receiving the feed and take-up sections respectively of a transfer roll of adhesive laminate strip material having a backing layer and a front layer of an adhesive material extending substantially the full width of said backing layer and being readily separable therefrom, a second feed spindle and a second take-up spindle for receiving the feed and takeup sections respectively of an adhesive-layer-receiving roll of backing strip material having a greater width than said backing and adhesive layers of said transfer roll so that, upon transfer of said adhesive layer to said backing strip of adhesive-layer-receiving roll, a non-tacky fingergrip border portion will be left thereon, means for relatively spacing a side of the take-up section of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll from the corresponding side of the section of the transfer roll to be fed thereto, first driving means for said first take-up spindle, first speed control means responsive to the tension in the unwound portion of said transfer roll approaching said first take-up spindle for varying the speed of said first driving means in inverse relationship to the tension in the latter roll section for keeping the feeding speed thereof constant, second driving means for said second take-up spindle of said adhesive-layer-receiving roll, second speed control means responsive to the diameter of the take-up section of the latter roll upon said second take-up spindle for varying the speed of said second driving means to keep the feeding speed of said adhesive-layer-receiving roll constant, the latter speed control means including pivotally mounted controller arm means spring-urged toward the take-up section of the latter roll wound around said second take-up spindle, a pressure member carrying frame pivotally supported upon the end of said controller arm means adjacent said second take-up spindle and about an axis parallel to the latter spindle, a pair of pressure members carried by the frame and located on opposite sides of said frame pivot axis and adapted to make contact with closely spaced points on the outside of said backing layer of the transfer roll and press the adhesive layer thereof into adhering relation with said section of the backing strip of said adhesive-layer-receiving roll wound around said second take-up spindle, the pressure member nearest the receding portion of the unwound portion of said transfer roll having a sharply curving body portion around which the backing layer of the transfer roll may be sharply bent to enable the adhesive layer thereof to separate from the latter backing layer and remain With the backing strip of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll, first and second braking means for providing respective braking forces to said first and second feed spindles, and first and second tension-responsive means responsive to the tension in the unwound portions of said transfer and adhesive-layer-receiving rolls for varying the braking force applied by said first and second braking means in inverse relationship to the tension in the respective unwound portions thereof. v

7. An adhesive transfer machine comprising: a first feed spindle and a first take-up spindle for receiving the feed and take-up sections respectively of a transfer roll of adhesive laminate strip material having a backing layer and a front layer of an adhesive material extending substantially the full width of said backing layer and being readily separable therefrom, a second feed spindle and a second take-up spindle for receiving the feed and take-up sections respectively of an adhesive-layerreceiving roll of backing strip material having a greater Width aoaaaas than said backing and adhesive layers of said transfer roll so that, upon transfer of said adhesive layer to said backing strip of adhesivedayer-receiving roll, a non-tacky finger-grip border portion will be left thereon, means for relatively spacing a side of the take-up section of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll from the corresponding side of the section of the transfer roll to be fed thereto by an amount equal to one half the difference in the widths of said backing layer of said transfer roll and the backing strip of said adhesive-layer-receiving roll, first driving means for said first take-up spindle, first speed control means responsive to the tension in the unwound portion of said transfer roll approaching said first take-up spindle for varying the speed of said first driving means in inverse relationship to the tension in the latter roll section for keeping the feeding speed thereof constant, second driving means for said second take-up spindle of said adhesive-layer-receiving roll, second speed control means responsive to the diameter of the take-up section of the latter roll upon said second take-up spindle for varying the speed of said second driving means to keep the feeding speed of said adhesive-layer-receiving roll constant, the latter speed control means includingpivotally mounted controller arm means spring-urged toward the take-up section of the latter roll wound around said second takeup spindle, follower means in the path of movement of said controller arm means for controlling the speed of said second driving means in response to the movement of said controller arm means, said follower means being movable independently of said controller arm means, operator controlled means for moving said follower means relative to said controller arm means in a direction to slow down the driving means without pulling the controller arm means away from said second take-up spindle, whereby the speed of the take-up spindle can be slowed without disturbing the controller arm means, a pressure member carrying frame pivotally supported upon the end of said controller arm means adjacent said second take-up spindle and about an axis parallel to the latter spindle, a pair of pressure members carried by the frame and located on opposite sides of said frame pivot axis and adapted to make contact with closely spaced points on the outside of said backing layer of the transfer roll and press the adhesive layer thereof into adhering relation with said section of the backing strip of said adhesivelayer-receiving roll wound around said second take-up spindle, the pressure member nearest the receding portion of the unwound portion of said transfer roll said pressure means having a sharply curving body portion around which the backing layer of the transfer roll may be sharply bent to enable the adhesive layer thereof to separate from the latter backing layer and remain with the backing strip of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll, first and second braking means for providing respective braking forces to said first and second feed spindles, and first and second tension-responsive means responsive to the tension in the unwound portions of said transfer and adhesive-layer-receiving rolls for varying the braking force applied by said first and second braking means in inverse relationship to the tension in respective unwound portions thereof.

8. An adhesive transfer machine comprising: a first feed spindle for receiving the feed section of a transfer roll of adhesive laminate strip material having a backing layer and a front adhesive layer of an adhesive material, said tacky adhesive material extending substantially the full width of said backing layers and being readily separable therefrom, a second feed spindle and a take-up spindle for receiving the feed and take-up sections, respectively, of an adhesive-layer-recei-ving roll of backing strip material having a greater width than said backing and adhesive layers of said transfer roll so that, upon transfer of said adhesive layer to said backing strip of adhesive-layer-receiving roll, a non-tacky finger-grip border portion Will be left thereon, means for relatively spacing a side of the take-up section of the adhesivelayer-receiving roll from the corresponding side of the section of the transfer roll to be fed thereto, so that upon transfer of said adhesive layer to said backing strip of said adhesive-layer-receiving roll at least one non-tacky finger-grip border strip will be left thereon, pivotallymounted controller arm means spring-urged toward the take-up section of the latter roll Wound around said take-up spindle, a pressure roller-carrying frame pivotally supported upon the end of said controller arm means adjacent said take-up spindle about an axis parallel to the latter spindle, and a pair of pressure rollers carried by the frame and located on the opposite sides of said frame pivot axis and adapted to make contact with closely spaced points on the outside of said backing layer of the transfer roll and press the adhesive layer thereof into adhering relation with said section of the backing strip of said adhesive-layer-receiving roll Wound around said take-up spindle, the pressure roller nearest the receding portions of the unwound portion of said transfer roll having a sharply curving body portion around which the backing layer of the transfer roll may be sharply bent to enable the adhesive layer thereof to separate from the latter backing layer and remain with the backing strip of the adhesive-layer-receiving roll,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,992,706 Lira Feb. 26, 1935 2,487,061 Ptasnik Nov. 8, 1949 2,559,649 Little et a1 July 10, 1951 2,583,286 Albini-Colombo Jan. 22, 1952 2,594,290 Chavannes Apr. 29, 1952 2,634,064 Carroll Apr. 7, 1953 2,768,922 Klein Oct. 30, 1956 Man

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