WO1993009048A1

WO1993009048A1 - Self-splicing tape and tape dispensing and splicing device

Info

Publication number: WO1993009048A1
Application number: PCT/CA1992/000470
Authority: WO
Inventors: Scott C. Barnes; Luc J. Champagne; Jiri Zelinka; Warren K. Turnbull
Original assignee: Fabrene Inc
Current assignee: Fabrene Inc
Priority date: 1991-10-29
Filing date: 1992-10-28
Publication date: 1993-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 1994-04-29
Also published as: CA2081713A1; MX9206242A; AU2794192A

Abstract

A self-splicing spool of tape is provided having a pressure sensitive adhesive close to but recessed from one end. A splicing device is also provided having a guide which defines a gap through which a standby tape and a running tape are aligned with the leading end of the standby tape at least partially on the exit side of the guide, and also having a movable means for contacting both tapes with an adhesive when the running tape is depleted.

Description

SELF-SPLICING TAPE AND TAPE DISPENSING AND SPLICING DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to tape, and more specifically to the dispensing and splicing of tape.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

High speed production lines often require dispensing of tape from spools. For example, production lines for corrugated packaging may include the dispensing of reinforcing tape from spools. To minimize interruption of the production line, it is desirable to be able to splice a standby tape to a running tape at or close to full production speed.

It is known to provide rolls of such tape having on their trailing ends a pin or similar obstacle extending transversely across and beyond the width of the tape, and having on their leading ends a length of string. In use, the string on the leading end of a standby tape is looped and tied around a running tape such that upon depletion of the running tape, the pin extending across the trailing end of the running tape catches the loop on the leading end of the standby tape so that the standby tape is spliced to the running tape.

Such rolls have been found in practice to suffer from a number of disadvantages. Tying the string to form a loop around the running tape can be awkward, and the success of the splice depends on the skill of the operator. The pin may fail to engage the loop if the loop is tied too loosely. Furthermore, the standby tape can become misaligned or twisted, particularly if the loop is tied too tightly. In addition, in some applications the spliced section must be culled out in the downstream production line because it is unacceptable in the end product or can damage downstream production equipment. it is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate these and other disadvantages.

According to the present invention, a spool of tape is provided from which a tape may be dispensed and spliced to a similar tape. The tape spool comprises a rolled length of tape having pressure sensitive adhesive means along a small portion of the length of tape recessed from the leading end thereof for adhering the tape to a similar tape while one of the tapes is moving. Preferably, the pressure sensitive adhesive means is proximal to the leading end of the rolled length of tape. Most preferably, the pressure sensitive adhesive means comprises pieces of two sided adhesive tape mounted to both sides of the rolled length of tape and covered with release paper until the tape spool is to be dispensed and spliced.

There is also provided a device for dispensing tape and splicing a standby tape to a running tape with pressure sensitive adhesive means. This device comprises guide means having opposing surfaces defining a gap to receive both of the tapes in spaced alignment and having an entry side and an exit side, and releasabie holding means for holding the standby tape within the gap at least partially on the exit side until the standby tape is spliced to the running tape, and splicing means which is movable from a first position in which the pressure sensitive adhesive means does not contact both of the tapes to a second position in which the pressure sensitive adhesive means does contact both tapes and is squeezed therebetween and adhered thereto, thereby splicing the standby tape to .the running tape. Preferably, the pressure sensitive adhesive means is mounted to the standby tape proximal to the leading end thereof at least on the side facing the running tape, and the splicing means comprises means for moving the guide means in a manner to reduce the gap. Most preferably, the guide means comprises a pair of rollers, at least one of which is resiliently compressible, and the device further comprises means for detecting and signalling depletion of the running tape, and means for moving the splicing means from the first position to the second position which is responsive to this signalling means.

It has been found that such spools of tape, particularly when used in such dispensing and splicing devices, can provide reliable, untwisted, high speed splices, requiring only moderate skill and effort from the operator. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a side view of the leading end of a length of tape of the present tape spool, showing the preferred pressure sensitive adhesive means;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of one side of the tape end of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present tape dispensing and splicing device;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the device of Fig. 3, shown with the spool of running tape at depletion; Fig. 5 is a side view of the portion of the device shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a schematic side view of second embodiments, of the present tape spool and tape dispensing and splicing device; Fig. 7 is a schematic side view of third embodiments of the present tape spool and tape dispensing and splicing device;

Fig. 8 .is a schematic side view of fourth embodiments respectively of the present tape spool and tape dispensing and splicing device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, a length of tape 15 is rolled into a spool (not shown) with a free leading end 22. Proximal to but recessed from the leading end 22, the tape 15 has mounted to each side in opposing locations a piece of two-sided adhesive tape 14, covered with release paper 13. The two-sided adhesive tape 14 is suitable for adhering the tape 15 to a moving length of similar tape. It has been found that AR-516 two-sided adhesive tape from Adhesives Research, Inc. of Glenrock, Pennsylvania, which has a polyester carrier and an aggressive, high hold, rubber based adhesive, is effective for woven polyethylene coated reinforcing tape.

When the release paper 13 is removed from the two-sided adhesive tape 14 on either side of the tape 15, the tape 15 may be spliced to a similar moving tape by contacting the exposed two-sided adhesive tape 14 with the side of the similar moving tape and squeezing the two tapes together.

The tape 15 is shown having a hole 17 proximal its leading end 22. The hole 17 facilitates holding the end 22 of the tape 15 on a pin or similar member in a device for dispensing and splicing such tape.

Turning to Fig. 3, the tape dispensing and splicing device comprises a frame 21 to which are rotatably mounted a pair of spools 9, comprising rolled lengths of similar tape on cores 24.

Proximal and parallel to the pair of spools 9 are a pair of spindles 7 which are of substantially the same width as the spools 9. Above the spools 7 a bracket 11 is positioned on the frame 21. Two pairs of reels 6 extend outwardly in opposing directions from the bracket 11. A pair of pulleys 5 extend outwardly from the frame 21 above the bracket 11 and reels 6.

Above the pulleys 5 are a pair of rubber rollers 1, 2. The first rubber roller 1 is mounted on a fixed axis. The second rubber roller 2 is mounted to an arm 3 which is pivotally mounted to the frame 21. A linkage 8 connects the arm 3 to a pneumatic cylinder 4 which has an air supply 19. Above the rubber rollers 1, 2 are a pair of ledges 10 from each of which extends a pin 16. Further above is mounted a wheel 25.

Running tape 20 extends from one of the tape spools 9 around the corresponding spindle 7 and upwardly twisting through 90 degrees and between one of the two pairs of reels 6. The running tape 20 thereafter is twisted back through 90 degrees, around pulley 5, upwardly through rubber rollers 1, 2, around wheel 25 and onwards to the production line. The standby tape 15 similarly extends from one of the spools 9, around the corresponding spindle 7, between the other pair of reels 6, around the corresponding pulley 5, and upwardly between rubber rollers 1, 2. The leading end 22 of the standby tape 15 is held in position on the corresponding ledge 10 with the pin 16 extending through the hole 17 of the standby tape 15.

The spindles 7 are as wide as the tape spools 9 to accommodate oscillation of the tape from the spools, and the pairs of reels 6 are mounted perpendicularly to the spools 7 and pulleys 5 to isolate such tape oscillation.

Proximal to the leading end 22 of the standby tape 15, but on the entry side of the rubber rollers 1, 2 are mounted on opposing sides pieces of two-sided adhesive tape. The adhesive tape 14 on the side facing away from the running tape 20 is covered with release paper 13. On the side facing the running tape 20, the corresponding piece of release paper has been removed to expose the outer adhesive side of the two-sided adhesive tape 14.

The trailing end of the tape on the core is adapted to facilitate breaking away, such as by perforating. The device also includes a pair of trigger switches 18, one of which is positioned between each spool 9 and corresponding spindle 7. Each of the trigger switches 18 has a sensing arm 23 which extends between a spool 9 and spindle 7. As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, when the spool becomes depleted, and specifically as it completes its last quarter turn, the position of the tape changes from alignment with the outside of the core 24 to alignment with the centre of the core. The sensing arm 23 is positioned so that the tape contacts and moves the sensing arm 23 as the tape changes its position when the spool is in its last quarter turn. The movement of the sensing arm 23 activates the trigger switch 18, which in turn activates the pneumatic cylinder 4 to extend the linkage 8, and thereby pivot moving rubber roller 2 into contact with fixed rubber roller 1. The standby tape 15 is thus pressed into close contact with running tape 20.

As standby tape 15 begins to move, being pinched between the rotating rollers 1, 2, the exposed adhesive of the two-sided adhesive tape 14 facing the running tape 20 becomes caught in the nip of the rubber rollers 1, 2 and becomes pressed into close contact with the running tape 20, thereby adhering thereto. Standby tape 15 is thus spliced to running tape 20. Trigger switch 18 includes a variable timer to delay the actuation of the pneumatic cylinder 4 following Deletion of the running tape from the tape spool such that the overlap or dangling trailing portion of the running tape 20 can be minimized at different tape speeds. The depleted tape spool is subsequently replaced with a new spool of tape which is lead out around the corresponding spindle, pair of reels, pulley, and held in place on the corresponding anchor pin 16. The new standby tape is then prepared for splicing by removing the release paper from the side facing the new running tape (previously standby tape 15).

In the embodiments shown in Fig. 6, similar parts are given - like reference numbers and their description will not be repeated. In these embodiments, a resiliently compressible pad 26 is detachably mounted to a holder 27 positioned between the standby tape 15 and the running tape 20 on the entry side of the gap between the fixed rubber rollers 1. The pad 26 is dimensioned slightly thicker than the gap between the rubber rollers 1, and has two-sided adhesive tape 14 on opposing sides facing both the standby tape 15 and the running tape 20. Upon depletion of the spool of the running tape 20, a trigger actuates the holder 27 to move toward the rubber rollers 1, such that the pad 26 is inserted into the nip. The two strips of adhesive tape 14 on the pad 26 become pressed into close contact with the standby tape 15 and the running tape 20, thereby adhering thereto. Standby tape 15 is thus spliced to running tape 20 with the pad 26 sandwiched between them.

In the embodiments shown in Fig. 7 similar parts are again given like reference numbers and their description will not be repeated. In these embodiments, the leading end 22 of each tape spool has mounted to each side in opposing locations a resiliently compressible pad 26 and two-sided adhesive tape 14. The combined width of the two pads 26 is slightly thicker than the gap between the fixed rubber rollers 1. The ledge 10 and pin 16 which holds the leading end 22 of standby tape 15 pivots on an arc concentric with the closer rubber roller 1 and is actuated to draw the standby tape 15 into the nip upon depletion of the spool of the running tape 20. The adhesive tape 14 facing the running tape 20 becomes pressed into close contact with the running tape 20, and thereby adheres thereto, and thus splices standby tape 15 to running tape 20.

In the embodiments shown in Fig. 8, similar parts are again given like reference numbers and their description will not be repeated. In this embodiment, each spool of tape is provided proximal its trailing end 30 with resiliently compressible pads 26 in opposing locations and two-sided adhesive tape 14 thereupon, covered with extended release paper 28. The thickness of the two pads 26 is slightly thicker than the gap between the pair of fixed rubber rollers 1. Two pairs of mini-nip rolls 29 are mounted between the running tape 20 and the standby tape 15, one positioned proximal each of the running tape 20 and the standby tape 15. Each of the pair of mini-nip rolls 29 has a diverter plate 31 projecting toward the proximal tape 15, 20. When the running tape 20 is at depletion and its trailing end 30 approaches the rubber rollers 1, the leading end of the extended release paper 28 on the side facing the standby tape 15 is directed by the proximal diverter plate 31 into the corresponding pair of mini-nip rolls 29 to strip the extended release paper 28 and expose the adhesive surface of the two-sided adhesive tape 14. As the pads 26 on the trailing end 30 of the running tape 20 become caught in the nip of the rubber rollers 1, the exposed two-sided adhesive tape 14 becomes pressed into close contact with the standby tape 15, thereby adhering thereto. Standby tape 15 is thus spliced to running tape 20.

It will of course be appreciated that many variations of the specific illustrated embodiments are possible. For example, means other than the pneumatic cylinder acting to move one of the two rollers, or alternative guide means, could be used to bring the adhesive into close contact with both the standby tape and the running tape. Furthermore, many other means known in the art could be used to signal depletion of the running tape spool.

Claims

WE CLAIM:

1. A spool of tape from which a tape may be dispensed and spliced to a similar tape, said spool comprising a rolled length of tape having pressure sensitive adhesive means along a small portion of said length of tape recessed from the leading end thereof for adhering said tape to said similar tape while one of said tapes is moving.

2. The tape spool of claim 1, wherein said pressure sensitive adhesive means is proximal to the leading end of said rolled length of tape.

3. The tape spool of claim 1, wherein said pressure sensitive adhesive means is proximal to the trailing end of said rolled length of tape.

4. The tape spool of claim 2, wherein said pressure sensitive adhesive means comprises two-sided adhesive tape mounted to said rolled length of tape.

5. The tape spool of claim 4, wherein said pressure sensitive adhesive means further comprises release paper to cover said two-sided adhesive tape until said tape spool is to be dispensed and spliced.

6. The tape spool of claim 1, 4 or 5, wherein said pressure sensitive adhesive means is on both sides of said rolled length of tape.

7. A device for dispensing tape and splicing a standby tape to a running tape with pressure sensitive adhesive means, comprising:

guide means having opposing surfaces defining a gap to receive both of said tapes in spaced alignment and having an entry side and an exit side;

releasabie holding means for holding said standby tape within said gap at least partially on said exit side until said standby tape is spliced to said running tape;

splicing means movable from a first position in which said pressure sensitive adhesive means does not contact both of said tapes to a second position in which said pressure sensitive adhesive means contacts both tapes and is squeezed therebetween and adhered thereto, thereby splicing said standby tape to said running tape.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said pressure sensitive adhesive means is on said standby tape proximal to the leading end thereof and on the side facing said running tape, and wherein said splicing means comprises means for moving said guide means to reduce said gap.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said guide means comprises a pair of rollers, at least one of which is resiliently compressible.

10. The device of claim 7, 8 or 9 further comprising:

means for detecting and signalling depletion of said running tape; and

means, responsive to said signalling means, for moving said splicing means from said first position to said second position.

11. The device of claim 7, wherein said splicing means comprises a member having a dimension similar to said gap and being movable from a first position remote from said gap to a second position within said gap, said member co-operating with said adhesive means such that upon entering said gap, said member squeezes said tapes with said adhesive means, thereby splicing said tapes together.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said member is affixed to the leading end of said standby tape.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein said member is affixed to the trailing end of said running tape.