Application of tape to moving objects

摘要

900,792. Applying adhesive tape. MINNESOTA MINING & MANUFACTURING CO. Sept. 26, 1958 [Sept. 26, 1957], No. 30837/58. Class 73. In a machine for applying a length 121 of adhesive tape 12 to a surface of an article 45 or 451 in motion the tape 12 is fed from a supply R on to the outer cylindrical surface of a continuously rotating tape applying roll 26 and is held thereon by a vacuum applied internally of the roll and which exerts its effect through evenly distributed apertures 32 around the circumference of the roll, the tape 12 being fed by means between the source R and the roll 26 which prevents the tape engaged on the roll from moving at the circumferential speed of the roll, and in which lengths of tape at the free end of the tape and which are engaged with the roll are successively severed from the remainder, thereby freeing them to travel on at the same speed as the roll and to be rolled on to the article 45 or 451 by the roll. As shown in Fig. 1, the severing means comprises a knife 35 movable at regular intervals from a retracted position to a severing position in contact with a metallic portion of the peripheral surface of the roll 26. Alternatively, the severing means may comprise a wheel 50 (Fig. 4) equipped with a series of blades 51. The wheel 50 is rotated periodically or continuously in timed relation with the article 45. The feed means shown in Fig. 1 comprises a power-driven drum 15 having a knurled peripheral surface disposed between the source R and the tape applying roll 26. The tape 12 is trained at least 90 degrees around the drum 15 with the adhesive side of the tape contacting the knurled surface which affords reduced area contact with the tape such that upon rotation of the drum the vacuum means in the roll 26 will draw the tape around the roll 26. The roll 26 rotates continuously but the drum 15 only makes a single revolution at a time. The advanced unsevered length of tape 12 that is trained around the roll 26 is normally motionless, the roll 26 slipping around inside the paper. However, when the length 121 of the tape is severed the vacuum in the roll 26 will act through the openings 32 to hold the length fixed to the peripheral surface of the roll so that it will be carried by the roll to the tape applying station. In a modification shown in Figs. 4 and 6, a tape pull-off roller 61 having a knurled surface feeds tape to a wheel 62 having a knurled groove 63. A thin wheel 65 extends into the groove 63 where it is held by a spring 66. The wheel 65 presses the tape into adhesive contact with the groove. This gives the tape a longitudinal ridge which stiffens it so that it will pull itself loose from the wheel 62 and will pass to the applying wheel 26. As shown in Fig. 8, a length 121 of tape may be applied to each of a series of cartons 451 moving on a conveyer belt 85 past the wheel 26.