US2878777A - Tape coating and dispensing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

March 24, 1959 H. c. PAULSEN TAPE comma AND DISPENSING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 1, 1956 [n venzow Hans C. Paulsen March 24, 1959 H. c. EAULSEN TAPE COATING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March l, 1956 lnvenzm Hans C Fau/sen B )u' xii? M h 1959 H. c. PAULSEN 2,878,777

TAPE COATING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed March 1, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 I 'Hans C. Pau/sen By hi ey 2,878,777 TAPE COATING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS Hans C. Paulsen, Medford,-Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 1, 1956, Serial No. 568,914

1 Claim. (Cl. 118-43) This invention relates to tape coating and dispensing devices and is described and illustrated herein as embodied in an apparatus for applying to one side of an extent of uncoated, tapea uniform coat of a pressuresensitive heated adhesive, the apparatus including means for cooling and drying the tape and the adhesive applied thereto as well as means for severing and dispensing various lengths of the coated tape, as required.

It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of the type referred to which will be simple and compact in structure. and thus will be capable of being easily moved from place to. place.

To that end and in accordance with a feature of the invention, the illustrated apparatus is provided with tape cooling and drying means comprising a single roll or reel adapted to support a single-convolution of coated tape between. an adhesive applying device and a tape severing and dispensing device.

In accordance with another feature of the invention the adhesive applying device and the tape supporting reel (cooling and drying means) are closely associated with a supply of uncoated tape. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the adhesive applying device and the tape drying means are located in vertical alinement with the tape supply, the arrangement being such that the adhesive applying device is located vertically below and the tape drying means vertically above the tape supply.

These and other features. of the invention will now be described in detail in conjunction with the appended drawings.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a view in side elevation of a tape coating and dispensing apparatus constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the upper portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail view in front elevation of a tape severing and dispensing device associated with the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view in front elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, except that the upper portion of the apparatus has been omitted;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, the section being taken along the line VV of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of adhesive storing and adhesive applying devices associated with the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is an elevation, in section, of the adhesive storing device, the section being taken along line VII--VII of Fig. 6.

The illustrated tape coating and dispensing apparatus is manually operated to prepare and make available extents of adhesive coated tape 2 of varying lengths which are manually pulled off in the desired lengths and severed.

To that-end the apparatus is provided with a support 10 (Fig. 1) for a supply of uncoated tape made of'suitable material such as paper, a tape coating or adhesive tates Patent applying device 12, a support,14 for a single convolution of coated tape which. permits the, coated tape to become somewhat dry and, in caseof theapplication ofa heated adhesive, to, permit the coat of adhesive on the tape to cool, a tape dispensing and; severing device 16 and finally tape guiding rolls 18, 20 and22 for conducting the tape from one device to the other.

With reference to. Fig, 1 ofthe drawings, it will be noted that the support 10 for. the supply of uncoated tape, the adhesive applying device 12 and the support 14 for a single convolution of coated tape are arranged in vertical alinement which makes, for a compact structure. As shown, the tape supply, is in the form of a coil mounted on a reel from which, the tape extends downwardly to the adhesive applying device 12. The. tape passes through the device 12 to become uniformly coated with adhesive on one side thereof, thenceto the tape guiding roll 18 andfrom there over the support 14 which also is in the form of areel, thence downwardly over the tape guiding rolls 20, 22 to the tape dispensing'and severing device16.

The various devicesor instrumentalities of the illustrated apparatus are supported on a base plate 24 which is secured to supporting membersl26 asshown in Figs. 1 and4.

The adhesive to be applied to the tape isstored in a pot 28 (Figs. 4, 6 and 7) of rectangular cross section with a rounded hollow interior and a slanting bottom shown in Fig. 7. Since-the adhesive contained in the pot 28 preferably is heated and applied while hot, it will be necessary to heatthe pot 28. To avoid undue heating of the base plate-24, by contact with the pot 28, the latter is secured to the base plate 24 in spaced relation thereto. More specifically,fourscrews 30 (one shown in Fig- 4) spaced equally apart extend upwardly from the base plate24 in which they are secured, into tapped holes provided in the bottom wall of the pct 28. The four screws 30 are surrounded by sleeves or bushings 32 contactingwith their opposite ends the base plate-24 and the outer bottom face of the pot 28.

As illustrated best in Figs. 4 and 5, the pot 28 is provided at its right-hand side (as seen in these figures) with a lower lateral extension 34.

Since, as mentioned above, itis desirable that the adhesive in the pot as well as in the adhesive applying device, of which-the justv mentioned lateral extension 34 is a part, be heated,there are provided two heating cartridges 36 located in horizontalbores extendingthrough the bottom portion of the pot 28 as well as through the lateral extension 34. Secured to the left-hand side face of the pot 28 (as seen in Fig. 4) is a thermostat 38 to regulate and keep uniform the temperature to which the pct 28 is heated. Connected in the circuit ofthe thermostat and cartridges 36 is a pilot lamp 40 mounted in a housing, the entire electrical installation being connectable to a source of electric current.v

Provided in the interior bottom of the pot 28 is a circular conduit or passageway 42 (Figs. 5, 6 and 7) which extends to the rightlof Fig. 6 through the entire lateral extension 34 of the pot. This passageway serves to conduct fluid adhesive into the lateral extension 34 whence it is applied to the tape as will be presently described. As shown best in Fig. 5, this passageway 42 is in communication with av vertical opening 44 which actually is a rectangular hole provided in the upper portion of the lateral extension34 above the passageway 42. In accordance with the principles of barometric feedthe fluid adhesive flows into the lateral extension 34 and upwardly through the opening 44.

To control thefiow of adhesiveinto the opening 44, even to the extent of completely shutting off this fiow 46 (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) mounted in the circular passageway 42 in the lateral extension 34 and extending somewhat outwardly, beyond the right-hand side of the extension 34 to facilitate its rotation by the operator. The left-hand portion of the valve member 46, as shown in Fig. 5, is hollow and is provided with a cut-out 48 in the form of an open-ended slot extending axially from the left-hand end of the valve member. As will be seen, in the adjusted position of the rotary valve member 46 in which the cut-out 48 is in register with the opening 44, the adhesive may flow from the pot 28 through the passageway 42 and the valve member 46 into the opening 44 to be applied to the tape. To shut off the flow of adhesive the valve member 46 is rotated to close the lower end of the opening 44, and to that end there is provided in the end face of the outwardly extending portion of the valve member 46 a slot (see Fig. 1) into which may be inserted a screw driver for the purpose of rotating the valve member 46. To hold the valve member 46 in place, there is threaded into the upper portion of the lateral extension 34 a screw 50 (Fig. 5) having a reduced lower end which engages a circumferential groove 52 machined into the valve member 46 at right angles to the latters longitudinal axis.

As shown best in Fig. 5, there are provided on top of the lateral extension 34 at opposite sides of the opening 44 small blocks 54, 56 attached to the extension 34 by screws and providing between them a passage, which in fact is a vertical extension of the opening 44 and into which the adhesive may flow from the opening 44 so long as the valve member 46 is adjusted in its open position. The opposite inner faces of the blocks 54, 56' are provided with small shoulder portions 55, 57 for supporting the tape which is passed horizontally along these shoulder portions by the application of manual pull to the tape by the operator at the dispensing device 16. The two blocks 54, 56 have rearward extensions 58 (Fig. 6) which carry in lugs 59 (Fig. 1) provided at their rear ends a hinge pin 60 on which is rotatably mounted a tape holddown member 62. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the uncoated tape t is guided around the lower surfaces of the lugs 59 toward the shoulder portions 55, 57 of the blocks 54, 56. A portion of the member 62 fits into the passage provided between the blocks 54, 56, resting on the tape and serving the purpose not only of holding the tape down in its adhesive applying position over the opening 44 and in contact with the adhesive coming up out of the opening 44 into the passage between the blocks 54, 56 but also controlling the thickness of the coat of adhesive applied to the tape and insuring the uniformity of this coat across the entire width of the tape. The operative position of the hinged holddown member 62 is adjustable by means of a set screw 64 (Figs. 5 and 6) carried by a lateral extension of the holddown member 62 and seated upon the rearward extension 58 of the small block 56. Supported in the forked front end of the holddown member 62, in front of the front ends of the blocks 54 and 56', is a small roll 66 over which the coated tape runs as it emerges out of the adhesive applying device, the tape passing into the adhesive applying device beneath the rear end of the holddown member 62 which is spaced from the top face of the lateral extension 34. The holddown member 62 is locked in its adjusted operative position by a. small binding screw 68 threaded through the block 56- and engaging the right-hand side face of the holddown member 62 as shown in Fig. 5.

To cover up the bore holes provided in the lateral extension 34 which bore holes house the two cartridges 36 as well as valve member 46, there'is provided a face plate 70 secured to the right-hand end portion (Fig. 6) of the lateral extension 34v by screws.

To support the above-mentioned tape guiding rolls 18 and 22 there is provided an angle. iron 72. (Figs. 1

, relatively large diameter.

. 4 and 4) which is screw-attached to the base plate 24 and supports the rolls 18 and 20 on pivot screws. Likewise, there is provided an angle iron 74, also screw-attached to the base plate 24, for pivotally supporting the roll 20 as shown in Fig. 1.

Moreover, there is provided an upright elongated member 76 (Figs. 1, 2, 4 to 6) for carrying the support 10 for the supply of uncoated tape as well as the support 14 for one convolution of coated tape. This upright supporting member 76 is integral with a rectangular foot plate 78 (Figs. 1, 4 to 6) which is secured to the top of the lateral extension 34, between the pot 28 and the adhesive applying device 12, by two screws 80 as shown best in Fig. 6.

The support 10 for the coiled supply of uncoated tape is rotatably mounted on the upright 76 by a screw 82 (Fig. 4) carrying a reel 84 upon which the coiled supply of uncoated tape is wound. A hub portion 86 of the reel is held in spaced relation to the upright 76 by a spacing collar 88 and the right-hand end portion of the screw 82 carries a circular retaining plate 90 and a collar 92 which is held against rotation by a binding thumb screw 94 engaging the screw 82. It will be readily seen that by releasing the thumb screw 94 and slipping the collar 92 and plate 90 off the screw 82, the empty reel 84 may be easily removed and a new supply reel may be put in its place.

The above-mentioned support 14 for one convolution of coated tape, which permits the tape, after it has been coated, to dry out somewhat and cool off before it is dispensed, is mounted on the upper end of the upright 76 and comprises in essence a reel 96 (Figs. 1 and 2) of In fact, the reel is of such diameter that one convolution of coated tape may be supported by it substantially between the adhesive applying means 12 and the tape dispensing means 16 or, more specifically, between the tape guiding roll 18 which, as shown in Fig.1, is located adjacent to that portion of the adhesive applying device 12 whence the coated tape emerges therefrom and the rolls 20 and 22 which guide or direct the coated tape to the tape dispensing device 16. As shown in Fig. 2, the reel 96 is supported on a screw 98 extending through the upper end of the upright 76 and held in place by a lock nut. A spacer 100 surrounding the screw between the upright 76 and the reel 96 provides sufficient clearance for the unimpeded rota tion of the reel 96.

The above-mentioned tape dispensing and severing device 16 is supported on an angle iron 102 (Fig. 1) secured on top of the base plate 24 by screws 104 and extending outwardly toward the left of Fig. l. The top end face of the vertical portion of the angle iron 102 and an adjacent backing plate 106 serve to hold the end of the coated tape in readiness to be grasped by the operator, Who by pulling on it, will reel off an extent of tape of the desired length which then is severed by applying a downward pull to the tape while resting across the serrated top edge of a cutting plate 108 (Figs. 1 and 3), which plate as well as the backing plate 106 are held in place by a front plate 110 and two attaching screws 112 securing these parts as well as an intermediate spacer plate to the angle iron 102. As shown in Fig. 3, the front plate 110 has provided in its top portion a recess to expose the serrated top edge of the cutting plate 108 and to permit the tape to be readily pulled off and severed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United I mounted on said base for a supply of adhesive, electric heating elements for heating the adhesive in said container, means having therein a passageway having an upwardly directed opening into which adhesive may flow from said container for applying adhesive to a tape, a valve for controlling the flow of adhesive into said passageway, a support for a supply of uncoated tape located directly above said container, blocks located at opposite sides of said passageway and having shoulder portions for supporting a length of uncoated tape in substantially parallel relation to the top of said opening as the tape is drawn over the adhesive therein, an adjustable holddown operating between said blocks to maintain the under surface of the tape in contact with the adhesive in said opening and control the thickness of the adhesive coating applied to the tape, means for guiding the uncoated tape from said support toward the shoulder portions of said blocks, a guide reel for the coated tape mounted above and in vertical alinement with said support, means for guiding the coated tape from said shoulder portions of said blocks toward said guide reel, means for severing and dispensing a length of coated tape, and means for guiding the coated tape from said guide reel to said severing and dispensing means, whereby the adhesive applied to the tape is permitted to cool and dry during the travel of the tape from the adhesive container to the severing and dispensing means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,391,281 Snyder Sept. 20, 1921 2,144,263 Lane Jan. 17, 1939 2,192,453 Rentsch Mar. 5, 1940 2,710,590 Gerard June 14, 1955 2,772,653 Williamson et a1. Dec. 4, 1956

Images