TAPE FEEDING DEVICE AND TAPE APPLICATOR

• US 20120279664A1
• Filed: 06/19/2012
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eizo Sakamoto
• Original Assignee: Eizo Sakamoto
• Inventors: Sakamoto, Eizo
• Granted Patent: US 8,579,001 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/530
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2402/442 with openings for introducing material to be handled, e.g. for inserting web rolls
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 35/0033 and affixing it to a surface B65H35/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 35/0086 using movable cutting elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1378 Cutter actuated by or secured to bonding element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/17 Surface bonding means and/or assemblymeans with work feeding or handling means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1795 Implement carried web supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/18 Surface bonding means and/or assembly means with handle or handgrip
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 225/211 Manually operated feed-out mechanism

Abstract

A tape applicator uses a tape feeding device that holds a tape and performs a series of operations of feeding, applying, and cutting the tape with one hand. The tape applicator includes the tape feeding device including a drawing roller rotated together with a tape, a releasing roller feeding the tape in the forward direction while releasing the tape together with rotation of the drawing roller, and a belt coupling the drawing roller and the releasing roller, as well as a tape holding body holding the tape and supporting the tape feeding device, an application unit supported by the tape holding body and that causes the tape to contact with an application target surface, a cutting blade supported by the tape holding body and that cuts the tape, and a case accommodating the tape holding body, wherein the leading end of the tape is reserved in the released state.

Claims

1. A tape feeding device for feeding a tape wound around a shaft core in a forward direction, the tape feeding device comprising:

(a) a substantially cylindrical drawing roller rotatable together with the tape;

(b) a releasing roller feeding the tape in a forward direction while the releasing roller releases a leading end of the tape by rotating together with the rotation of the drawing roller; and

(c) a belt that couples the drawing roller and the releasing roller.

2. The tape feeding device according to claim 1, wherein a belt groove for winding the belt on an outer circumference of the drawing roller, or on the releasing roller, or on the outer circumference of the drawing roller and the releasing roller, and a shape of a cross section of the belt groove, are a substantially V-shape.

3. The tape feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the releasing roller has a shape provided with unevenness on a surface thereof.

4. A tape applicator comprising:

the tape feeding device according to claim 1;

a tape holding body that rotationally holds the tape and supports the tape feeding device;

an application unit that is supported by the tape holding body and that has an application roller for pressingly contacting the tape onto an application target surface and a cutting blade; and

a case that accommodates the tape holding body, wherein the leading end of the tape is reserved in a released state.

5. The tape applicator according to claim 4, wherein

the drawing roller includes a ratchet wheel rotated in the forward direction together with the drawing roller, and

the case includes a driving unit including a driving transmission member having an operating pawl engaged with teeth of the ratchet wheel and a returning spring that biases the driving transmission member to promote engagement of the ratchet wheel and the operating pawl, and

the driving transmission member is arranged sidewise in an axial direction of the ratchet wheel.

6. The tape applicator according to claim 5, wherein

the cutting blade is arranged so as to be swingably moveable between the application roller and the drawing roller, and

a driving claw for driving the cutting blade is provided in the driving unit so that the cutting blade cuts the tape when the driving unit is returned.

7. The tape applicator according to claim 6, wherein

the driving unit comprises the driving claw, and

the application unit comprises a cutting portion for cutting the tape, wherein

the cutting portion comprises:

i. a swinging shaft that is swingably supported by the application unit;

ii. the cutting blade for cutting the tape; and

iii. arms for holding the cutting blade, wherein one

arm has an arm claw engaged with the driving claw, and

the cutting blade is arranged so as to be moveable between the application roller and the tape feeding device by swinging about the swinging shaft,

wherein the cutting portion engages the driving claw with the arm claw when the driving unit is returned after driving of the tape feeding device, and

a driving force for cutting the tape is obtained by the cutting blade.

8. The tape applicator according to claim 7, wherein the arm claw comprises:

a plate spring arm that is flexed and biased in a direction of the swinging shaft; and

a cam that flexes the plate spring arm, wherein the driving claw flexes the plate spring arm and is slid and moved on the cam upon driving of the tape feeding device, and the driving claw is engaged with the arm claw after driving of the tape feeding device.

9. The tape applicator according to claim 7, wherein

the arms support the cutting blade by both sides to form a space between the arms, and

the cutting portion is disposed so as to be capable of passing the tape feeding device through the space and of swinging outside the tape feeding device.

10. The tape applicator according to claim 7, wherein

the cutting portion further comprises:

iv. a spring body that performs biasing in a direction of the application roller; and

v. a pressing plate that is abutted onto the tape before the cutting blade at an end of the spring body,

wherein the spring body is disposed rearward of the arms as seen from the direction of the application roller, and

the cutting blade is arranged above the pressing plate by directing a direction of an edge of the cutting blade in the direction of the application roller, and the cutting portion is arranged so that the pressing plate is abutted onto an outer circumference of the application roller by swinging about the swinging shaft.

11. The tape applicator according to claim 4, wherein

the cutting blade is formed in a triangular shape having a center symmetrical axis and projected in a cutting direction of the cutting blade at a center of the edge thereof.

12. The tape applicator according to claim 5, further comprising an operating spring mutually repelling any one of the application unit, and a chassis, and the driving unit, and the operating spring biases the driving unit in a direction of an original position.

13. The tape applicator according to claim 4, wherein an upper surface of the drawing roller and the releasing roller conveying the tape, and an upper surface of the tape holding body that removes a roll of the tape, are exposably openable and closable.

14. The tape applicator according to claim 4, wherein

a feeding amount of the tape fed from the tape feeding device is a total length of a distance from the leading end of the tape immediately after the tape exits the tape feeding device to a contact point of the application roller and the application target surface, and a length of the tape having an adhesive force in which the tape applied onto the application target surface draws the tape from the tape holding body.

15. The tape feeding device according to claim 2, wherein the releasing roller has a shape provided with unevenness on a surface thereof.

16. A tape applicator comprising:

the tape feeding device according to claim 2;

a tape holding body that rotationally holds the tape and supports the tape feeding device;

an application unit that is supported by the tape holding body and that has an application roller for pressingly contacting the tape onto an application target surface and a cutting blade; and

a case that accommodates the tape holding body, wherein the leading end of the tape is reserved in a released state.

17. The tape applicator according to claim 16, wherein the drawing roller includes a ratchet wheel rotated in the forward direction together with the drawing roller, and

the case includes a driving unit including a driving transmission member having an operating pawl engaged with teeth of the ratchet wheel and a returning spring that biases the driving transmission member to promote engagement of the ratchet wheel and the operating pawl, and

the driving transmission member is arranged sidewise in an axial direction of the ratchet wheel.

18. A tape applicator comprising:

the tape feeding device according to claim 3;

a tape holding body that rotationally holds the tape and supports the tape feeding device;

an application unit that is supported by the tape holding body and that has an application roller for pressingly contacting the tape onto an application target surface and a cutting blade; and

a case that accommodates the tape holding body, wherein the leading end of the tape is reserved in a released state.

19. The tape applicator according to claim 18, wherein the drawing roller includes a ratchet wheel rotated in the forward direction together with the drawing roller, and

the case includes a driving unit including a driving transmission member having an operating pawl engaged with teeth of the ratchet wheel and a returning spring that biases the driving transmission member to promote engagement of the ratchet wheel and the operating pawl, and

the driving transmission member is arranged sidewise in an axial direction of the ratchet wheel.