Ribbon marking tool

• US 6,217,253 B1
• Filed: 06/29/1999
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huffman, John Sinclair, Eslambolchi, Hossein
• Primary Examiner(s): NEUDER, WILLIAM P
• Application Number:
  US09/342,448
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 404/93, 404/94, 116/209, 116/DIG.14, 116/211, 221/30, 221/32
• US Class Current: 404/93
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/185 Tape- or sheet-shape markers or carriers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 116/14 Tapes as carriers

Abstract

A ribbon marking tool (10) for dispensing a length of warning tape (14) along the ground above a buried conveyance tool includes a housing (20) within which a roll of warning tape (36) is mounted for rotation. A mechanism (32) within the housing serves to feeds the tape out through the housing and to staple the tape to the ground and to sever the tape once a sufficient length of tape is dispensed.

Claims

1. A tool for dispensing a length of warning tape along the ground above the path of a buried conveyance, comprising:

a housing for rotatably mounting a roll of tape containing warning indicia;

means within the housing for feeding a length of warning tape past a window in the housing in communication with the ground;

means within the housing opposite the window for driving a staple through the to secure the tape to the ground;

means adjacent to the feeding means for cutting the warning tape; and

actuating means for actuating the feeding means, the staple driving means and the cutting means.

2. The tool according to claim 1 wherein the feeding means comprises:

first and second conveyor belts situated on a first side of the window for engaging first and second major surfaces, respectively, of the warning tape;

a motor for driving the first and second conveyor belts in opposite directions to displace the tape; and

third and fourth conveyor belts which are free-spinning and are situated on a second side of the window opposite the first and second conveyor belts for engaging a free end of the warning tape displaced by the first and second conveyor belts.

3. The tool according to claim 1 wherein the feeding means comprises:

first and second sprocket wheels situated on a first side of the window for engaging first and second sprocket apertures in the warning tape, respectively;

a motor for driving the first and second sprocket wheels in unison;

third and fourth sprocket wheels which are free-spinning and are situated on a second side of the window opposite the first and second conveyor belts for engaging a free end of the warning tape displaced by the first and second sprocket wheels.

4. The tool according to claim 1 wherein the staple driving means comprises a motor-driven hammer.

5. The tool according to claim 1 wherein the cutting means comprises a resistance heater bar.

6. The tool according to claim 1 wherein the actuating means comprises a trigger switch carried by the housing for individually coupling the feeding means, the stapling means, and the cutting means to a source of electrical power.

7. The tool according to claim 1 wherein the housing is fabricated substantially from plastic.

8. The tool according to claim 1 wherein the housing is fabricated substantially from aluminum.

9. The tool according to claim 1 wherein the housing includes a hinged door through which access is gained into the housing interior.

10. The tool according to claim 1 wherein the door has an opening therethrough for receiving a roll of warning tape.

11. A method for warning of the existence of a utility conveyance buried below ground, comprising the steps of:

positioning a portion of a warning tape in proximity with the ground below which the conveyance is buried;

securing said tape portion to the ground by driving a first staple through the ground;

dispensing a length of tape along the path of the conveyance;

driving at least one additional staple through the tape; and

cutting the tape proximate the additional staple.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein the step of dispensing the length of warning tape comprises the step of contacting first and second major surfaces of the tape with first and second conveyor belts driven in opposite directions.

13. The method according to claim 11 wherein the step of dispensing the length of warning tape comprises the step contacting the tape with a pair of sprocket wheels driven in unison to engage sprocket apertures in the tape.

14. The method according to claim 11 wherein the step of cutting the tape includes the step of contacting the tape with a resistance heater to melt the tape.