US2126680A - Adhesive strip dispenser - Google Patents

Description

Aug.9, 1938. T. R. GAUTIER ADHESIVE STRIP DISPENSER Filed Jan. 2, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l a o. v 8 a o \.m ce. 5. W w m 6 2 T. a ,a Qa 8 smaak,u

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Aug. 9, 193s. T R GAUTIER 2,126,680

ADHES IVE STRIP DISPENSER '-Filed'Jan. 2, 1937 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Aug. 9, 1938 PATENT OFFICE ADHESIVE STRIP DISPENSER Trevor R. Gautier, Nashua, N. H., assignor `to Nashua Gummed and Coated Paper Company, Nashua, N. H., a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 2, 1937, Serial No. 118,722

6 Claims.

My present invention relates to so-called strip serving or gummed tape dispensing machines and devices, and more particularly to machines of that class wherein the tape, supplied in indenite length, is printed with a series of repeating units or designs presenting labels, advertising matter and the like. The invention aims to provide such machine with simplified means to dispense at Will p `one or more of the unit lengths of the tape for accurate severance between adjacent units.

In the drawings illustrating by way of example certain embodiments of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of a hand-operated strip "serving device;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, on a larger scale, of the tape guiding and controlling means of the machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3, 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is aview similar to Fig. 1 illustrating another embodiment-of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a plan view, on a larger scale, of the device of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5. i

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and rst to Figs. 1 to 3, the tape dispensing apparatus as there shown comprises a cast metal housing indicated as a whole by the numeral 'I and having side walls 8 and end walls 9. A partition I defines, with the side walls and rear end Wall a well for the reception of the tape supply or roll R. The portion of the housing forwardly "of the partition I0 provides a reservoir II for the liquid supply. A capillary moistener shown as .a brush I2 is received in and projects upwardly from the reservoir in which it is removably held j `in position as by a further partition I3 apertured `at its lower part as at I4 for the passage of the moistening liquid, and by lateral ribs I on the opposite side walls.

Over the top of the reservoir there is provided a combined cover and tape guiding means, including the main or lower guide plateV I6. illustrated as a substantially at member having horizontal side portions. Said lower plate is shaped and proportioned for supporting reception on lateral ribs 8a at the inner faces of the housing side walls 8, see Fig. 3, and which may be continuous for the length of the plate I5, or otherwise. The supporting ribs Ba are spaced sufficiently below the tops of. the side walls to ,u permit the plate to set between the latter and "Y positioned thereby, substantially flush with them.

This lower guide plate I6 may additionally be retained as by means of the ears IIa depending from its under face inboard of the ribs 8a. Said lears are slotted as at Ib, Fig. 1 to receive a cross pin I6c held in bosses II)n on the housing. The guide plate I 6 and associated parts to be described are thus adapted to be swung up as a unit about the pin I6c as a pivot, and may readily bedetached bodily when desired, by reason of the open slot formations IlD of the ears Ilia. The rear portion of the guide plate I6 desirably is turned as at I8 to receive the advancing portion of the tape, and its front` end may be inclined as at I9 to guide the tape to and across the adjacent projecting end of the moistener I2.

The tape or label strip T is adapted to be fed from the roll R forwardly along the guide plate I6 for delivery across and in moistening relation with the moistener. It is additionally guided and aligned by an upper plate or guide 20 having down-turned side portions 2| spacing this upper guide 20 from the lower guide I6 as well as guiding the tape laterally. The two plates or guide members which together provide an enclosing channel or feed passage for the tape, may be secured to each other as by means of ears or the like projections 22 on the one member and received in corresponding apertures in the other.

The upper guide 20 has a longitudinal opening 24 which exposes the upper face of the underlying tape, so that an operators finger may be pressed on the tape and drawn forwardly with the latter, to advance it from the supply. The portion oi' the strip or tape thus advanced beyond the guide means and across the moistener may be severed against the front edge 25 of the upper plate which serves as a cutter.

The gummed strip or tape T as illustrated in Fig. 2 has on its upper face a series of repeat units or designs t, indicated by the dotted outlines. In the use of such material it is desirable that it be severed accurately between such units in lengths of one or more of them, instead of being cut or torn across the body of a unit. With this end in view I have provided means for terminating the tape movement automatically and in such manner that a juncture Zone intermediate two adjacent units t comes opposite the line of severance as herein dened by the cutting edge 25. Accordingly each such intermediate zone is formed with one or more through apertures 21, illustrated in this instance as rectangular slots of substantial extent crosswise of the tape. For cooperation with these slots in the tape I provide a detent or stop 28 shaped and arranged to enter l on the spring arm 29 has by then been released,

Vpi'edeterminately disposed withl relation vto the any one of the apertures 21 which comes opposite it.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3 this detent 28 is in the form of a lip at the fore end of a spring arm 29 which is secured as by riveting at its rear end as at 30 against the under face of the lower guide plate IB, the latter being apertured or recessed as at 28a for passage of the detent. Said spring arm has an intermediate elevated operating portion 3| of a length substantially corresponding to that of the feed opening 24 in the top guide plate 20 and located vertically opposite said opening. The lower guide plate I6 is apertured as at 32, Figs. 1 and 3, for the upward passage of said elevated portion 3|, which normally stands at the level of or slightly above said lower plate I6 but without blocking or hindering passage of the tape.

Thus it will be seen that the elevated portion 3| of the spring arm 29 is so located that it may readily be depressed by the operator in pressing his finger on the tape exposed at any portion of the feed opening 24, whereupon the stop or detent 28 carried by said spring arm is released or depressed into the dotted line position as shown in Fig. 1. Forward movement of the operators finger while still pressed on the tape will then cause the leading edge of the latter to be advanced beyond the cutter 25, Where it may be grasped and further Withdrawn. Down pressure and as the next perforation or aperture 21 in the tape comes opposite the stop 28 the latter snaps up through the tape and positively arrests its further advance. Since the perfoiations are units t, herein at'the intermediate zones, and the stop 28 is herein adjacent the severance line 25, accurate severing of the tape between adjacent units is insured. If one or more additional labels or units of tape are required the operatorV has merely to depress the spring arm momentarily, suniciently to release the stop 28, whereupon the tape may be further withdrawn.

It will be noted that the entire guiding and length controlling assembly may readily be removed from the housing as a unit, without disturbing the calculated relation of the feed stop and the severing means.

In the modification as illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6, the housing may be the same as in the preceding figures, the same reference numerals indicating corresponding parts. The main elementsof the tape feed and length controlling assembly may also in general be the same as in the previous figures, including the lower guide plate I6 and the upper plate or guide 20 spaced above and secured to the under member similarly as in the first gures. The upper plate as shown is formed with a feed slot 24 as previously but the under plate I6 in this instance is not longitudinally slotted below the tape. As in the previous figures the entire guide assembly may be supported and positioned on inside flanges 8a on the walls tions 21 of the tape T located at the desired line of severance at the juncture zones between two adjacent label units or designs t. In this instance the stop 4U is arranged to be released t0 permit advance of the tape independently of the feeding action of the operators finger at the feed slot 24. Accordingly it is mounted at the front end of a lever 4| pivotally carried on a pin 42 in ears 43 depending from the under plate I6.

The lever 4| is extended rearwardly beyond the pivot 42 and rests upon the front portion of a second or operating lever 44 pivotally supported as by a pin 45 held similarly as the pin 42, between ears 46 depending from the plate I6. A suitable leaf or other spring 41 carried by the under plate I6 presses downwardly on the rear portion of the front lever 4|, thereby normally elevating the stop into tape-arresting position, and also raising the rear portion of the rear or operating lever 44. The latter is provided with a lateral arm 48, Fig. 5, projecting outwardly through a curved slot 49 in the adjacent side wall of the housing, see Fig. 4, and carrying an operating member, finger piece or button 55. The finger piece 50 desirably is located, substantially as shown, adjacent the rear end of the feed slot 24 so that the operator may use one finger to push down the operating piece or button D, to release the stop 40, and another finger of the same hand substantially simultaneously to advance the tape by pressing on the latter at the opening 24 and drawing it forwardly.

As in the form of Figs. 1 to 3, the tape may be severed against the front edge 25 of the upper plate 20 as a cutter. In certain cases, however, a movable blade for severing the tape is desirable, and in Figs, 4 to 6 I have illustrated such movable blade or knife which is specially constructed and arranged for cooperation with the described tape feeding and length-controlling assembly. As best seen in Figs. 4 and 6 said means comprises a vertically movable blade 5| carried at the front end of a pair of cutter arms 52 pivotally supported at their rear portions upon upwardly projecting lugs 53 on the housing. A coil spring 54 associated with the pivot member 55 for oneV of the cutter arms 52 normally holds the cutter element as a whole in a raised position, such for example as represented by the dotted lines in Fig. 4, upward and rearward movement of the cutter being limited in any suitable manner. yA grip or finger piece 56 may be provided at the front of the cutter whereby it may quickly be depressed to sever the tape.

The movable blade or knife 5| of the cutter element is so located with respect to the path of the tape as to sever the tape transversely in line' with the perforations 21 therein, and hence accurately between adjacent repeat units or designs t. Thus it is necessary to sever only those portions of the tape at each side of the perforations 21. Accordingly the blade 5| comprises spaced cutting edges 5|a, 5|a, desirably somewhat inclined in one or the opposite direction so as to have a gradual or shear cutting action upon the corresponding portions of the tape. These cutting edges o1' cutter members proper 5|a are spaced laterally by a recess 5|b proportioned to straddle the stop 40, so as not to interfere with the latter but permitting it to stand in elevated, tape-arresting position throughout a cutting operation. Downward movement of the cutter is limited by the guide plate I6, or by other suitable stop means, and the recess 5|b is of adequa vertical extent so that its top wall stops short of the stop member 40 in the lowest position of the cutter element. formed with a transverse slot |65, inline with the stop 40, for the downward passage of the knife 5l.

While in the illustrated examples I have shown single stop elements for the tape and corresponding single perforations in the tape, it will be understood that a plurality of such members and corresponding formations or perforations in the tape may be employed, in various arrangements or groupings both transversely and lengthwise of the tape. The stop element or elements and the corresponding perforations may be variously shaped, otherwise than as shown.

My invention is not limited to the particular embodiments thereof illustrated and described herein, and I set forth its scope in my following claims.

I claim:

1. Tape dispensing apparatus comprising, in combination, a housing including longitudinal side members providing between them a support for a tape supply at their rear portion and a tape delivery station at their front portion, a tape guide assembly on the housing, said assembly including lower and upper guide plates providing a channel for passage of the tape from the supply to the delivery station, a feed slot in the upper plate, the tape having perforations distributed along it, a movable stop adapted to enter a perforation of the tape which comes opposite it, thereby to halt movement of the tape, and a spring arm mounted on the lower plate and supporting said stop, said lower plate having a recess centrally in line with the feed slot of the upper plate but of substantially less width than said slot and said spring arm having a portion normally extending into said recess so as to be depressed to withdraw the stop from the tape by pressure of the operators finger through the feed slot of the upper plate in initiating a feeding action, the lower plate having portions laterally of the recess therein adapted to underlie and support the operators finger pressed upon the tape to feed it.

2. In a strip serving apparatus, in combination, a frame, a support thereon for a strip supply, severing means for the strip, guide means providing a path for the strip from the supply to the severing means, said strip having perforations predeterminedly distributed along it, a strip stop engageable in any perforation which comes opposite it thereby to halt the tape, a pivoted lever supported by and extending lengthwise of said guide means, said lever lying below the tape path and carrying said stop at one end portion, means yieldably urging said lever into stop presenting position, and means to move said lever to withdraw the stop, said means including an operating button disposed conveniently to the hand of the operator.

3. In a strip serving apparatus, in combination, a frame, a support thereon for a strip supply, severing means for the strip, guide means providing a path for the strip from the supply to the severing'means, said strip having perforations predeterminedly distributed along it, a strip stop engageable in any perforation which Said under guide plate I6 is v comes opposite it thereby to halt the tape, a pivoted lever on said guide means, said lever underlying the tape path and carrying said stop at one end portion, means yieldably urging said lever into stop presenting position, a movable member supported on said guide means separately from said lever and engageable with it to move the lever to withdraw the stop, and an exposed finger-piece connected to said movable member for operating it.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination with a housing including a support for a tape supply and providing a tape delivery station, tape guide means intermediate the supply support and the delivery station, the tape being provided with perforations, a stop member yieldably positoned for reception in a perforation of the tape which comes opposite it, and a movable cutter element adapted to cut the tape transversely along the line of a perforation engaged by said stop member, said element including spaced cutter portions for cooperation with the tape at the opposite sides of the perforation and stop member.

5. In a device of the class described, in combination with a housing including a support for a tape supply and providing a tape delivery station, tape guide means intermediate the supply support and the delivery station, the tape being provided with perforations, a stop member yieldably positioned for reception in a perforation, of the tape which comes opposite it, and severing means for`the tape including a blade element movable across the path of the tape in transverse line with the stop and with a perforation of the tape engaged thereby, said blade element having a cutting portion constructed and arranged to straddle the stop.

6. Tape dispensing apparatus comprising, in combination, a housing including longitudinal side members providing between them a support for a tape supply at their rear portion and a tape delivery station at their front portion, a plate providing a substantially uninterrupted feed platform for the tape, adapted to oppose the pressure of the operators finger on the upper face of the tape for advancing the latter along the platform, means removably positioning said plate on the upper edge portions of the side members of the housing, overlying guide means carried by the plate and forming with it a feed channel having a longitudinal open portion affording access to the upper face of the tape for said pressing engagement of the operators nger thereon to advance it through the feed channel, said platform-providing plate having a portion to underlie and support the operators linger pressed upon the tape to feed it, the tape having perforations distributed along it, a movable stop having a released position below the tape path, and means carried by and depending from said platform-providing plate for yieldably presenting said stop so as automatically to enter it into a perforation of the tape which comes opposite it, said means arranged for manual release to withdraw the stop when a length of tape is to be fed.

TREVOR R. GAUTIER.

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