US2849067A - Feed control for strip dispenser - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 26, 1958 T. H. KRUEGER FEED CONTROL FOR STRIP DISPENSER Filed April 1. '1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 JNVENTOR.

T. H. Krueger Fig. l.

JTTORNEY-S' 8- 1958 1'. H.- KRUEGER 2,849,067

FEED CONTROL FOR STRIP DISPENSER 5 Sheets- Sheet 2 Filed April 1, 1955 Fig. 2.

Fig; 3.

INVENTOR. I

T. H. Krueger %ww4 fiat ATTORNEYS Aug. 26, 1958 T. H. KRUEGE'R 2,849,067

FEED comer. FOR STRIP DISPENSER Filed April 1, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVLVIOR T. H. Krueger ATTORNEYS Aug. 26, 1958 T. H. KRUEGER FEED CONTROL FOR STRIP DISPENSER Filed April 1, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. T. H. Krueger Mr? W JTTORNE Y5 United States Patent Ofiiice 2,849,067 FEED CONTROL FOR STRIP DISPENSER Theodore H. Krueger, Stratford, Conn., assignor to Better Packages Incorporated, a corporation of New York Application April 1, 1955, Serial No. 498,697

7 Claims. (Cl. 164-49) of the machine, a device is tripped, which starts the machine and causes it to feed a second piece of tape ofthe same length as the first. This remains suspended in the machine until it is withdrawn, which again causes the machine to cycle. This type of machine is very usefulwhere numerous identical packages are being sealed which require the same length piece of tape. No time is Wasted' as the machine is started automatically as soon as the operator removes the already severed piece for application to the box. At the same time or a piece of tape being delivered before the previous piece has been used as might occur if a continuously cycling machine were employed.

Another advantage of this type of machine is that the tape after being fed and moistened and suspended has a slight period of time for the gum to become conditioned While the operator is applying the previously severed strip, so that the gum on each strip is in a more tacky condition and may be more easily and firmly applied than if used directly as served by the machine. This conditioning period coincides with the period during which the operator is applying the previous strip of tape so that there is no loss of time. The machine of said patent can be adjusted so that it will deliver a chosen length within the limits of the machine, but this adjustment operation is a relatively slow manual operation performed when the machine is stopped. The machine is intended to be set for a given length and such length delivered for many cycles.

In sealing most cartons it is desirable to use more than one piece of tape, the different pieces being of different lengths to fit the diflierent joints being sealed. For example, the most customary arrangement, and in fact that required for standard cartons by rules of the Interstate Commerce Commission requires the two cross seams at the top ends of the box to be sealed by two pieces of tape of equal length, a third and longer piece of tape being applied lengthwise of the box to seal the joint between the two box flaps. The type of machine shown in Patent No. 2,405,790 is not well adapted for serving tape for this kind of a sealing operation, because it can feed rapidly only one length of tape for a particular setting. In accordance with the present invention control devices are provided by which tape pieces of different lengths are successively fed in proper rotation, the removal of each piece causing the machine to cycle to serve a piece of the proper length for the next operation. For example, the machine can be arranged to feed two short pieces of there is no danger 2,849,067 Patented Aug. 26, 1 958 tape for the transverse corners of the box, and then feed a long piece for the longitudinal joint of the box, the sequence being automatically repeated.

The control means of the present invention may be utilized with any kind of a feed mechanism either mechanically or electrically operated, which can be so arranged as to feed successive pieces of tape'of diflFerent lengths. For example, the control device may be used with a machine capable of delivering various lengths of tape by closing of different switches, as disclosed in patent to Beckman and Dodds, No. 2,408,363. The control device can very satisfactorily be applied to an improved form of the machine shown in said patent known commercially as Tape-O-Matic No. 2, manufactured by Better Packages, Inc., of Shelton, Connecticut. The construction and operation of such machine is fully disclosed in an application for patent, filed March 30, 1955 by T. LeBaron and E. B. Dodds, Serial No. 497,884, for Electrically Controlled Strip Serving Machine, and the invention has been illustrated as applied to such machine.

In the accompanying drawings which show one preferred embodiment of the invention:

Figure l is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of a Tape-O-Matic No. 2 machine with one form of the improved control unit applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a front view of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a part of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the control unit taken on line 44 of Fig. 2;

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Figure 6 is an elevation of the control ratchet sleeve removed from the machine;

Figure 7 is a side elevation taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Figure 8 is a vertical section taken on line 88 of Fig. 6;

Figure 9 is a vertical section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 6;

Figure 10 is a front elevation of the 2-key control unit;

Figure 11 isa schematic wiring diagram of the control circuits associated with the control unit; and

Fig. 12 is a complete wiring diagram the type described in said patent application, Serial No. 497,884, as modified to embody the present invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, No. 2 machine as described in the LeBaronand Dodds patent application, Serial No. 497,884, comprises a tape dispensing unit 20 adapted to be mounted on a bench or table. At the top of the unit is a receptacle in which is placed a roll of gummed tape 23. The tape strip 24 coming from the roll 23 passes downwardly and forwardly between guide plates and between feed rolls 25 and 25a. One, or both of these rolls, is driven from electric motor 26. The roll 25a is journaled on a shaft 27 in a yoke 28 which is pivoted on a pintle 29. The yoke is arranged to be swung downwardly so as to grip the tape between rolls and cause it to be fed, by means of a solenoid 30 connected to the yoke 28 by a pull-rod 31. When the solenoid is de-energized the yoke is held in a raised position with the roll 25a out of gripping engagement with the tape on roll 25 by a spring 32. The tape strip after being fed forward by the rolls is cut by a cutting blade 33 adapted to be drawn down by means of a cutter solenoid 34 and urged upwardly when the solenoid is de-energized by a spring 35.

After passing the cutter the a moistening brush (or plurality of brushes) 36 against which it is held by a weighted pressure plate 37. Preferably the tape on the way to the brush passes over the surface of a guide plate 38the ends of which are bent upwardly to form clips 39 by which it is supported tape strip 24 passes over of a machine of the Tape-O-Matic 3 below the pressure plate. The moistening brushes 36 are mounted in a water tank 40.

Electrical or electronic means are provided for controlling the length of tape to be delivered at each cycle of the machine, such control means being actuated in the Tape-O Matic No. 2 machine by means of key s or push buttons, each key being arrangedto cause delivery of a specificor adjustedlength of-tape. One forrn ot mechanism for this purpose is disclosed in the Beclit r riarr button 44, 46. One dial may beset for one length of;

tape," say a foot long, which may be used for sealing the shorterjoints on the box, while the other dial may besetfor 'say two feet for sealing the longitudinal seam. The operator presses 'one key or the other to get the tape length which he 'needs. i

The control unit of the present invention is particularly applicable 'to' a two length control of the character above described; It providescycling means by which pieces of tape'of proper length are delivered in correct sequence. In the particular exampl of the invention illustrated the machineisset upto deliver two short pieces, one long piece, two short pieces, one long piece, and so forth. Other "arrangements of the control unit may, however, be employedso as to give a diflerent sequence of strip lengths.

Control unit The switch mechanism for causing the delivery ofshort and long .pieces of tape in propersequence' is mounted in ,a box 50 .which is open atthebottom and which is' adjusta'bly mounted on a standard 52 supportedin a socket 54 attached to the side of the main casing of the machine. Depending from the box is a trigger 56,

which extends across the,pathof the tape issuingfrom between the moistening brushes and pressure plate, The

front'of the pressure, platqimay be notched .at, 58 .to.

receive thistrigger, The standard is rotatablymounted in the sock et 54 and is normally. held, against rotation by a pin ,60 fitting inanotch 62 at the top of the socket.

It ,mayfbe locked in thegsocket by a thumb screw, 64.

when threading, the machine or cleaning the brushes, it is s'irnply ,necssarytoloosenthe scre w.,64,; lift up the standardenough-toclear thepin from the notch 62 and swing the box to one side. Thesides 65 ot the box .50

are held together by spacing bolts 66; near the top corners and bolts 68 part way down the sides. The. front, back and top ofthe box are made in the form of a.U-shaped and supportedon the bolts 66;, Rivet heads.70 project.

from the insides of the frontand backwalls and .snap. 68.; thereby removably retaining. the

under the bolts U-shaped cover in place.

Pivoted .so .as to turnfreelyin holes. in the side walls 65 is a pindle 72 .upon which is mounted for. free. rotation.

trigger 56 and'lever are swung to the dottedlineposition shown in Fig. 4 by the advance of the strip of tape. and remainin that position. supportedby. thetapeas long as i the strip of tape is held between the brush-and..pressure.

a lever 74 to which is fastened. the trigger .56; The.

plate, When the severed V strip of tape is removed, the lever and trigger are returned to the position shown in full lines by a (201i spring 76 ,connected at one end to thek trigger and at the other .to one, of the bolts 68. Pivoted onthe, upperend of the lever f74 is a pawl member. 78,. the'lower'corner' of which engages successivelythe teeth cover 69-whichis dropped down .betweerrthebox sides If it is desired to rnove the box out of the way as 82 of a ratchet wheel 84. The pawl swings past a tooth when the trigger is pushed'to the dotted line position, and engages the tooth and moves the ratchet wheel one notch when the strip of tape is withdrawn permitting the trigger to return to full line position. The ratchet wheel 84 is mounted on a sleeve 86 which also carries toothed wheels 88 and 90. These wheels have different numbers and arrangements of teeth, depending upon the sequence of the long and short stripsrto be delivered. The teeth on the wheel 88 engage a clapper 92 which is pivoted on the pintle 94 and normally rests bygravity against a stop rod 96. On the clapper is a lug 98 which is adapted to engage thespring blade 100 of a microswitch 102 which is attached to a plate 104, pivoted on a pintle 106. The position of the micro-switch may be adjusted about the pintle by means of an adjusting screw 108 against which the plate 104 is held by a coil spring 110. The position of the switch is adjusted so that it will be closed at the proper time by engagement of the lug 98. Anotherclapper 1l2 engages the teeth on the wheel and operates a second micro-switch 114. To prevent possibility of the ratchet wheels being accidentally turned in the wrong. direction a pivoted pawl 118 may be used for engagement with a ratchet wheel 119, fixed .onthe pintle 72 to which the sleeve 86 is fixed.

In the particular construction shown two short lengths of tape are to be served followed by a long length. To accomplish this result, the first micro-switch-IOZ is connected in circuit with the short length delivery switch in the twolength control unit of the kind used in Tape- O-Matic No. 2 machine and described in application, SeriahNo. 497,884; while the second micro-switch 114 is connected to the long length control switch of the tape dispensing unit. The wheel 88'has every third tooth omitted so thatit -presents' two teeth 89 followed by a space, then two morevteeth followed by a space and so on. In the exampleshownthe wheel 88 has six teeth while the driving ratchet wheel 84 .has nine teeth. The wheel 90thas teeth-91 separated by two blank spaces. In the example shown it hasa total of three teeth, and is so fixed;to the sleeve 86 that the teeth 91 on it are located oppositethe spaces between the pairs of teeth 89 on .wheel88. Withthis arrangement it will be seen that as the ,sleeve isrotated step by step by the trigger ;operated ratchet, the clapper 92 will be operated twice in succession, thereby delivering successively two short lengths of tape. One of the teeth 91 on the wheel 90 will nowbe in position to actuateclapper 112 so that the next time the driving ratchet is operated the microswitch 114 will be closed, thereby delivering a long length of tape. This sequence oftwo short lengths and one long length of tapewill continue indefinitely, each length of tapebeing delivered. as soon as the previously delivered length is removedfor application to the box.

The wiring diagrams, Figs. 11 and 12, show one way in which the micro-switches 102 and 114 may be connected to the two key units of the dispenser. As shown in the diagram the two key units each contains four contacts a, -b, c, and-d, and acontact operating relay 120. The micro-switch 102 is, connected to the circuit of the short length switch relay shown in the wiring diagram, while .the micro-switch 114 is connected to the circuit of the-long length switch relay. The closing of the switch 102 will-therefore close contacts c and d of the short length circuit, while switch 114 will close the corresponding contacts of the long length'circuit. These circuits and thefeed and measuring instrumentalitiescontrolled thereby arelike those. .used on the Tape-O-Matic No. 2'machine, and fullydescribed in the LeBaron and Dodds application,,Serial No.- 497',884;. Briefly the connections shown in thewiring diagram include in the short length circuit a variab le resistor 122 operated by the pointer 44 and a compensating resistor 124 having a screw driver adjustment In the long ,lengthcircuit is a variable .re- SlSI OTf IZ G operated by the pointer 46.1and a compenget-9,067

sating resistor 128. Also in the long length circuit is a manual switch 130 by which an additional resistance 132 may be introduced by which a definite increment may be added to the length of tape delivered when the long length circuit is closed. For example the resistance 132 may represent an added length of thirty inches, so that when the manual switch 130 is opened this resistance is cut in and each piece delivered by the long length circuit will be thirty inches longer than it would with the resistance cut out. The connections from the two-length unit are connected to the main timing circuits including a timing thyratron 134, all as described in said patent application, Serial No. 497,884.

Measurement of the tape depends upon the length of time that the feed rolls are held pressed together by the feed solenoid 30, the motor 26 by which the feed rolls are driven being of constant speed type. When one of the switches 102 or 114 is closed the circuit through a feed solenoid 30 is closed, thereby initiating the feed of the tape, and at the same time electrical devices are prepared in such a way that after the passage of the necessary interval to permit the desired length of tape to be fed, the circuit through the solenoid 30 is broken, whereupon the feed will immediately cease, and thereafter the cutter solenoid is actuated to cut off the piece of tape. The measuring system illustrated utilizes a tube 134, in the form of a three element miniature gas triode or thyratron preferably of the cold cathode type. Connected to this is a capacitor 218. Each key and switch has associated with it a resistance (122, 126) corresponding with the appropriate time interval to feed the desired short or long length of tape, and when the switch is closed the circuit is closed through this resistance and the capacitor 218. The amount of resistance determines the length of time it will take the capacitor to build up a suflicient voltage. This voltage ionizes the gas and breaks-down the resistance between the anode and cathode of the thyratron, so as to cause the latter to fire.

In the typical schematic wiring diagram shown in Fig. 12, the leads 220 may be plugged into any ordinary AC. power circuit, such as the usual 117 volt lighting circuit. These leads are connected to the main switch 182 from which wires 222 lead to the driving motor 26, while branch wires 224 lead to the feed solenoid 30 and cutter solenoid 34. Other wires 226 lead from the main switch to the primary winding 228 of a transformer which has a secondary winding 232, which is a high voltage winding, and provides rectified current for the control circuits through a suitable arrangement of resistors 234 and rectifiers 236. Filter condensers 238 and 240 are also provided as needed, and the rectified current is divided at the output of the last filter condenser 240 into two portions, one following the conductor 242 to relay battery for the control relays, the other part of the current passing through conductor 244 to the measuring circuits through the voltage regulating tube 246.

The thyratron is shown as having the usual cathode 25ft, anode 252 and control electrode 254, A protective resistor 256 in series with the control electrode limits the current flow through this element to a safe value. A calibrating resistor 258 is also provided in connection with the tube by which slight changes or adjustments in the overall timing values may be made to compensate for variables such as aging of various circuit elements and extremes of ambient temperature. By means of a conductor 268 a low value current is applied to the control element 254, as soon as the main switch of the apparatus is closed. The current flow from the control element to the cathode amounting only to a few micro amperes, does not afiect the main gap of the tube. There is also no voltage applied to the anode at this time. This circuit path between the control electrode and the cathode, which is closed whenever the machine is turned on but standing idle, causes a cloud of ions in the tube to be available whenever the machine is called on to measure tape. It greatly reduces the inherent instability of the thyratron and causes the machine to deliver the same length of tape on the first operation after an extended idling period, as on succeeding operations.

in order to prevent interference by the premature operation of a key during a feeding cycle, and thereby prevent the feeding of a second piece of tape until the feed of a first piece of tape has been completed, a protective circuit and relay are provided to which all of the a contacts of the key relays are connected. If the condition of the circuit is such that the machine is ready for initiation of a feeding cycle, this is determined upon the closing of the a contact, whereupon the cycle continues. If the machine is not ready for operation, the closure of that contact will not permit the cycle to proceed.

Movement of the key necessary to close the a contact need be very slight. A slight further movement of the key will close the b contact of the key. If the protective circuit is clear this closes the circuit of the relay battery supply through the winding of the relay 120, which closes the 0 contact and finally the d contact.

Protective circuit The protective circuit includes relay 270 which is energized through a wire 272 and contact 274 with power from the rectified voltage wire 242. The contact 274 is normally open when no tape feeding operation is taking place, but after the initiation of a feeding operation, it will be closed, as will be described below, and will remain closed until a particular feeding cycle is completed, whereupon it will open again. The protective relay is also provided with a locking circuit including a conductor 2755 which is connected to all of the a contacts and also to a contact 276. The contact 276 is normally open but if the relay has been energized due to the fact that the contact 274 has been closed, then, when an a contact is closed, the circuit will be established from the a contact through the conductor 275 and the contact 276, which will keep the relay 27d) energized so long as the a contact is closed, even though the contact 274 may, in the meantime, have opened.

The normal condition of the protective circuit when the apparatus is ready to receive the impulse necessary to deliver a piece of tape is shown in Fig. 12. Closing of an a contact will in this condition of the protective circuit be without effect as contacts 274 and 276 are open. The corresponding [2 contact will next be closed by further pressure on the key. This will close the circuit through the coil of relay which receives power from the rectified voltage conductor 242 by way of the wire 28%, and normally closed contact 282 of the protective relay to ground. The protective relay also has a contact 28.4 which is connected to the rectified voltage source 242. This contact 284 is normally closed when the protective relay is not energized as shown. The closing of.

the circuit through the relay 120 closes the contacts 0 and d as previously described. If at the time of the first pressing of the key, however, the protective relay 270 happens to be energized, then the contacts 282 and 284 are open, the circuit through the relay 120 is not closed and power is not supplied due to the open contact 284. Assuming, however, the start of a normal operation when the protective relay is de-energized, the contact 0 is next closed, and this prepares a path from the regulated voltage source 244, and conductor 290 through the resistance appropriate to the key being actuated and through conductor 294 leading to the thyratron.

Feeding and measuring cycle Closing of the d contact, through a conductor 296, closes a circuit through the winding of a relay 298 which may be termed the start relay. The start relay operates a contact member 300 which in its up position closes a circuit from the A. -C. supply lead 224 through the winding of the feed solenoid 30, thereby initiating 7 the feed Thestart'relay also opens the.- contacts 302' and :304land closes --the contacts 306 and 307. The closingofthewontact 307 supplies regulated voltage from conductor 244': to the conductor- 290, above described, and also initiates-:the;-application=of voltage of the anode 25"L0f the thyratron through the:.c0nductor 308. The opening of -the 'contact' 304' cutsout: the high-resistance 30-9 which is limiting-current flow to-the control electrode 254:: The opening of contact -302 2opens.the short circuit which has completely discharged thecapacitor-218. Glosingof contact 306-connects the capacitor 218 with therthyratron; The capacitor voltage-now starts to'build up and -after theinterval of time determinedhy the value' ofrtheresistance (122' or- 126) the-main-gap of thethyratron will-break down and current-will flow through the: conductor 320 connected to the cathode 250. The conductor320 is=connectedto-the winding of a second relay 322 whichmaybe termed the stop relay. This relay is arranged to close-contacts 324, 274' in the protective circuit, and 326; andto-open'contact 327. Closing the contact 274 energizesthe protective relay 270 and opens contacts 282.-and.284.. Opening of contact 282 breaks the circuit through any relay 120 which has been energized thereby releasing such relay, and the opening of the contact284'alsobreaks the circuit through 2 the d contact ofthe previously closed switch and thus through the-relays-298and' 332. Breaking of the circuit through-relay -298releases the contact member 300 which returns'to'itslower position and prepares the circuit, so n far-as -this contact isconcerned, from the cutter solenoid 34. Opening'of the contact 327 breaks the circuit through'the'feedsolenoid 30 andthereby stops the'feed. At thesame-time-closing of the contact 324 prepares the circuit-throughconductor-328 leading-to the cutter solenoid 34. This'tircuit; however, is at this time broken by the contact'330'of a delayed action relay 332. The latter isin series--with-the start relay 298-. Uponbreaking-of the' circuit through'the relays -298'and332 as described; and 'afterslightdelay-caused by theslow release of the delayed action-relay 332, the contact 330 will close, thereby completing the circuit through the cutter solenoid-'34=and causing the latter'to actuate the cutter to severthetape. The delayed action-relay '332 prevents anypossibility of the cutting operation occurring until the -tapehas -had'-a chance to-come to a complete rest.

The momentary' discharge from-the thyratrorrenergizes the stop-relay-322 and causes the latter to-close the contact 326 and thereby establish a holding circuit through-theconductor-340 and the normally closed micro-switch 138 so thatthestoprelay and cutter relay remain energized until the cutting-of the tape is completed whereupon the micro-switch is opened by the cam 128actuatedby the armature'of the cutter solenoid 34 at somepoint in-its travel as described above. Until this occurs the c0ntact-274'is held'closed so that the protective relay 270 is energized and the protective circuit is effective as above described. The opening of the micro-switch'by'the-cam 128marks the end of the cycle, de-energizing the stop and protective relays and placing the circuits in condition for the next operation.

It will be-seen that'the protective relay 270 becomes energized theinstant'that the stop relay 322 is actuated by; thefiring'ofthe-thyratron. Relay 270 will remain energized in any case until the opening of the microswitch by the cam at the completion of the cutting stroke. It'willremain energized-after the opening of the microswitch due to the closure ofthelocking contact 276 if any key is beingpreslsed. While the contact 274 is closed.

In order to insure that each key or switch will deliver the -lengthoftape designated for it, calibrating means are desirableas theelements of each-timing circuit may differ somewhat-from: the-intended characteristics.

It-will be obvious that other arrangements of the toothed-wheels may; be used. A single wheel with no teeth-removed -Would -obviously deliver'the same length- (as'predeterminedrby: the-dial 1 setting) at each operation. Ifm'orethan-two-1engths= were=required additional wheels withwdiflerent numbers of-teeth-could be used provided the additional 1 micro-switches zoperated thereby are con- I nectedtoswitches imth'emachineset for delivering the difierent lengths ofatapearequ'ired.

Ifill'LLlSJdfiSlTfid tmdeliver but a.sin gle length of tape repeatedly; arsimplea switchlsuch as-the mercury switch shownrin Patent No:.2,405,790 may beused, instead of i the toothed wheeliconstructionz This may be connected 5 struction illustrated butrto cover the invention broadly in whatever formvits principles -may be utilized.

I claim;

1; In a tape serving machine having tape feeding means, tape cutting means, a feed circuit energizing of which actuates said tape. feeding meansto feed tape, a timing circuit operable to stop the feed of tape and to actuatethe tape cutting means after a given interval of time, a:'series -of1electrical devices adapted to be selectively included insaid timing circuit to vary the time interval at'whichsaid .timing circuit will function, a plurality'of switchesoperatiomof which starts the tape feeding means, and completesthe timing circuit to start a timedinterval, each ofsaid switches inserting a different electricaldevice=into saiditiming circuitto vary the time interval beforesaidcircuit operates tostop the feed of tape and actuate-the cutter, a control device for actuating said switcheszin predetermined=sequence so as to cause the delivery: of strips of tape of different lengths in; such sequence and means :toactuate said controldevice'by removal of the-previously'fed strip of tape.

2. A tape serving-machine as claimed in claim 1 in which-the control device includes a plurality of Wheels havingdifferentnumbers of teeth, and switch operating: devices actuated insequenceby engagement with the teeth on the respective =wheels:

3. A tape serving-machine-as claimed in claim-2 in which' means: are providedfor rotating said toothedwheels step-bystep; saidmeans including an element hav-- ing a-trigger constructed andarrangedtobe tripped upon removal of apreviously feddength of tape from the-machine.

4. A-tape-serving-machine-as claimed in claim 3 inwhich the machine is :provided with means to hold the rear end of 'a previously fed strip in the-machine until manually removed'and in-which the trigger is mounted in the'path of thetape; strip as it issues from the machine so as to contact the strip-and be moved by such contact out'of active: position bysaid issuing strip and to' beheld in-inactive position-by contact with the rear end ofthe strip remaining inthe machine prior to manual removal of the-strip.

5. Inapparatus forfeedingmeasured strips of tape includingan intermittently-operable feed-device to feed thetape,-means 'to -actuate-' said device to feed the tape, tapecutting means, a' plurality of timing circuits, any one-of which is selectively energizable coordinately with said actuating-means, instrumentalities actuated by whichever of said timing circuits is energized to stop the feed oftapeafter*a timedinterval and actuate said tape cutting'means; dial and pointer means for'adjusting the condition of-eaclrof said timing circuits so as to vary the time of actuation'thereof-and thereby vary the length of the stripfed; and control means for controlling the actuation-of the tape feeding device and. timing circuits,

said-control means including a switch' -associated with.

each timing circuit, trigger means for actuating said switches mounted in the path of the tape strip as it issues from the machine and to be held in inactive position by contact with a part of the strip remaining in the machine prior to manual removal of the strip, and instrumentalities for connecting said trigger with said switches in a predetermined sequence so as, to cause the issuance of strips of tape of different lengths in said sequence.

6. In a tape dispenser, in combination, means to feed out a measured length of tape, tape cutting means positioned forwardly of the feed means, means spaced forwardly of the cutting means cooperating with a fed and severed length of tape and responsive to the removal of a severed length of tape to feed out and sever a new length of tape, and control means for the feed means constructed and arranged to cause tape strips of difierent lengths to be delivered in a regular predetermined sequence.

7. In a tape dispenser, in combination, means to feed out a measured length of tape, tape cutting means positioned forwardly of the feed means, means spaced forwardly of the cutting means cooperating with a fed and severed length of tape and responsive to the removal of a severed length of tape to feed out and sever a new length of tape, comprising a contact member adapted to engage a previously fed strip before its removal from when the strip upon which the contact member is resting is removed from the machine whereby removal of said strip will cause said pawl to advance the ratchet wheel a step, a plurality of toothed wheels mounted for move-' ment by said ratchet wheel each time the latter is advanced, said toothed wheels having different numbers of teeth, an electrical switch associated with each of said toothed wheels, means associated with said switches for closing the same each time a tooth on the respective toothed wheel engages the same, and means operated by each of said switches for causing the delivery of a difierent specific length of tape, whereby different tape lengths will be delivered in sequence depending u on the number and position of the teeth on said toothe wheels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,293,974 Sullivan Feb. 11, 1919 1,919,652 Helsel July 25, 1933 2,219,650 Helsel Oct. 29, 1940 2,405,790- Krueger Aug. 13, 1946 2,408,363 Beckman et a1. Oct. 1, 1946 2,748,861 Von Stoeser June 5, 1956

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