Tape monitoring system

• US 20140094354A1
• Filed: 10/02/2012
• Published: 04/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lamus Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lamus Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Lam, Joe Augustine S.T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,102,493 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 493/37
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 51/067 to the closure flaps of boxes
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 57/04 and operating to control, or to stop, the feed of such material, containers, or packages
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2220/01 indicating an entity as a function of which control, adjustment or change is performed, i.e. input
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2220/02 indicating an entity which is controlled, adjusted or changed by a control process, i.e. output
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2403/92 Electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2511/52 Defective operating conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2515/70 Electrical or magnetic properties, e.g. electric power or current
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2551/20 Display means; Information output means
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 26/02 responsive to presence of irregularities in running webs
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 35/0013 and applying the article or the web by adhesive to a surface B65H35/002 takes precedence

Abstract

In general, the present invention comprises of a control unit with a tape applicator with operative members to selectively actuate sensors of a multiple sensor arrangement each of which is positioned to detect movement or position caused by a carton or the dispensing tape; specifically, the signal caused by the present of the carton; the movement caused by the dispensing tape as the carton being taped, and a further signal actuated based on the size (depletion) of the dispensing tape roll. The detected signals from the sensors are sent to a control unit with a multiple timing circuit or a preprogrammed micro processor with predetermined sequences and time values to generate and emit a correspond alarm signal based on the following control logics.

Claims

1. A tape monitoring system for use with a tape applicator forming part of a carton sealing machine having a machine frame and used to apply an adhesive tape ribbon to a carton to seal said carton, means for moving said carton past said tape applicator, at least a portion of said tape applicator being removable from said carton sealing machine for replacement of a depleted roll of tape, said tape monitoring system comprising, a control unit for generating output signals that produce output alarm signals to indicate the status of each taping cycle, multiple sensors including a tape roll depletion sensor that senses depletion of a tape roll, a tape feed sensor that senses miss-application of tape to a carton being taped by said tape applicator and a box feed sensor that senses when a box is present in the carton sealing machine, each said sensor being activated by a corresponding signal activator for each said sensor on said tape applicator, said sensors being connected to said control unit to communicate therewith so that said control unit may generate said output alarm signals, a power source for said control unit, said sensors, said control unit and its power source for operating said control unit being mounted on said tape applicator.

2. A tape monitoring system as defined in claim 1 wherein said power source is a battery.

3. A tape monitoring system as defined in claim 1 wherein said power source is a rechargeable battery and a power generator driven by movement of said tape generates electrical power to charge the rechargeable battery during the taping operation.

4. A tape monitoring system as defined in claim 3 wherein said signal activator for said miss-application sensor is said power generator.

5. A tape monitoring system as defined in claim 1 wherein said box feed sensor activates said control unit when said box feed sensor senses a carton to be taped in a tape applying position.

6. A tape monitoring system as defined in claim 1 wherein box feed sensor combines with said tape feed sensor through said control unit to detect box jamming of a carton in said tape applicator.

7. A tape monitoring system as defined in claim 1 wherein said control unit connects with an output alarm signal device.

8. A tape monitoring system as defined in claim 7 wherein said alarm signal device comprising a signal emitter remote from said tape applicator.

9. A tape monitoring system as defined in claim 1 wherein said control unit is programmed to stop and reset said control unit.

10. A tape monitoring system as defined in claim 1 wherein said miss-feed sensor is coupled to said alarm signal device via a time delay means requiring a selected time delay before said alarm signal device is activated.

11. A tape monitoring system for use with a tape applicator forming part of a carton sealing machine having a machine frame and used to apply an adhesive tape ribbon to a carton to seal said carton, means for moving said carton past said tape applicator, at least a portion of said tape applicator being removable from said carton sealing machine for replacement of a depleted roll of tape, said tape monitoring system comprising, a control unit for generating output alarm signals to indicate the status of each taping cycle, multiple sensors including a tape roll depletion sensor that senses depletion of a tape roll, a tape feed sensor that senses miss-application of tape to a carton being taped by said tape applicator and a box feed sensor that senses when a box is present in the carton sealing machine, each said sensor being activated by a corresponding signal activator for each said sensor mounted on said carton sealing machine, said sensors being connected to said control unit to communicate therewith to generate said output alarm signals and said control unit and said sensors being arranged in close proximity to each other in a sensing station mounted on a frame of said carton sealing machine said and a power source for said control unit.

12. A tape monitoring system as defined in claim 11 wherein said box feed sensor activates said control unit when said box feed sensor senses a carton to be taped in a tape applying position.

13. A tape monitoring system as defined in claim 11 wherein box feed sensor combines with said tape feed sensor through said control unit to detect box jamming of a carton in said tape applicator.

14. A tape monitoring system as defined in claim 11 wherein said control unit connects with an output alarm signal device.

15. A tape monitoring system as defined in claim 14 wherein said alarm signal device comprising a signal emitter remote from said tape applicator.

16. A tape monitoring system as defined in claim 11 wherein said control unit is programmed to stop and reset said control unit.

17. A tape monitoring system as defined in claim 11 wherein said miss-feed sensor is coupled to said alarm signal device via a time delay means requiring a selected time delay before said alarm signal device is activated.