VERFAHREN UND VORRICHTUNG ZUM AUFBRINGEN VON HITZEEMPFINDLICHEN KLEBESTREIFEN AUF EINE MIT HOHER GESCHWINDIGKEIT LAUFENDEN FOLIENBAHN.

摘要

Apparatus (10, 10A) and method for applying heat-sensitive adhesive tape (12), such as frontal diaper tape, of the type having a layer (13) of heat sensitive adhesive material to a web moving at high speed, such as a web (14) of water-resistant material designed for use as the outer layer of disposable diapers. The apparatus (10, 10A) comprises a tape-feed wheel (16, 16A) for preheating and feeding the tape (12) to the apparatus (10, 10A) from a supply (18, 18A) of generally continuous tape (12), and a tape-applying wheel (20, 20A) in rolling engagement with the web (14) for applying tape (12) fed to it from the tape-feed wheel (16, 16A) to the web (14). The tape-applying wheel (20, 20A) includes vacuum passageways (26, 26) for providing suction through a cylindrical surface (22, 22A) of the tape-applying wheel (20, 20A) to hold the tape (12) thereon, and a heating mechanism (46, 56, 58) for heating the tape (12) to an elevated temperature at which the heat-sensitive adhesive (13) is tacky and for maintaining the tape (12) at the elevated temperature until it is applied to the web (14). Successive end portions of the tape (12) are cut against the tape-applying wheel (20, 20A) into pieces (11) to be applied to the web (14), and each successive piece (11) of tape (12) cut from the tape (12) is accelerated by the tape-applying wheel (20, 20A) from the relatively slow velocity of the tape-feed wheel (16, 16A) to the relatively fast velocity of the web (14) and applied to the web (14).