Thermoplastic adhesive dispensing method and apparatus

• US 6,686,016 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2002
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Glue Dots International LLC
• Original Assignee: Glue Dots International LLC
• Inventors: Downs, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmad, Nasser
• Application Number:
  US10/125,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20020122911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 428/40.1, 428/41.3, 428/41.8, 428/42.1, 428/906, 428/42.2, 206/411, 427/208
• US Class Current: 428/42.2
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/19402 Glue dots, arranged individually or in patterns
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 37/002 Web delivery apparatus, the web serving as support for articles, material or another web
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 37/005 Hand-held apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/18 characterized by perforations in the adhesive tape
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/204 the adhesive coating being discontinuous
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 7/10 without carriers
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 7/403 characterised by the structure of the release feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/906 Roll or coil
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1705 Lamina transferred to base from adhered flexible web or sheet type carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1707 Discrete spaced laminae on adhered carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/171 Means serially presenting discrete base articles or separate portions of a single article
• 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 428/14 Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1462 Polymer derived from material having at least one acrylic or alkacrylic group or the nitrile or amide derivative thereof [e.g., acrylamide, acrylate ester, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1476 Release layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1486 Ornamental, decorative, pattern, or indicia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/149 Sectional layer removable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1495 Adhesive is on removable layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/21 Circular sheet or circular blank

Abstract

Hot melt thermoplastic adhesive is predeposited on a carrier strip having front and back release surfaces. The carrier strip is rolled into a coil compressing the thermoplastic hot melt into disks which may later be removed for use. The disks are spaced so that the carrier strip may be deformed to expose a single disk to a planar surface permitting simplified dispensing of the disks.

Claims

1. A thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape comprising:

a flexible carrier tape having a transverse width and a longitudinal length including a plurality of contiguous longitudinal segments extending along the entire longitudinal length of said carrier tape, each of said longitudinal segments extending the entire transverse width of said flexible carrier tape, said flexible carrier tape also having opposed first and second release surfaces; and

a plurality of thermoplastic hot melt adhesive segments arrayed non-contiguously on said first release surface of said carrier tape along the longitudinal length of said carrier tape;

wherein only a single one of said adhesive segments is disposed within each of said longitudinal segments on said first release surface of said carrier tape; and

wherein each of said adhesive segments is individually exposable to an abutting planar surface when said carrier tape is transversely flexed.

2. The thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 1, wherein said thermoplastic adhesive segments adhere less strongly to said second release surface than they do to said first release surface, whereby said carrier tape may be unwound from a coil with said thermoplastic adhesive segments being retained on said first release surface.

3. A thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said adhesive segments are disposed at a point that is centered along said transverse width of said first release surface of said carrier tape, wherein said adhesive segments form a single line in the longitudinal direction along said carrier tape.

4. A thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 1, wherein said adhesive segments are disk-shaped.

5. The thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 4, wherein said disk-shaped adhesive segments have a diameter measured along said first release surface and are separated in the longitudinal direction by a distance at least equal to their diameter.

6. The thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 4, wherein said disk-shaped adhesive segments have a diameter and are separated in the longitudinal direction by a margin at least three times the diameter of the disk-shaped adhesive segments.

7. A thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape comprising:

a flexible carrier tape, said carrier tape having a transverse width defined by first and second edges and a longitudinal length including a plurality of contiguous longitudinal segments extending along the entire longitudinal length of said carrier tape, each of said longitudinal segments extending from said first edge to said second edge of said transverse width of said carrier tape, said flexible carrier tape also having opposed first and second release surfaces; and

a plurality of thermoplastic hot melt adhesive segments non-contiguously arrayed on said first release surface of said carrier tape along the longitudinal length of said carrier tape;

wherein only a single one of said adhesive segments is arrayed within each of said longitudinal segments on said first release surface of said carrier tape;

wherein said thermoplastic adhesive segments adhere less strongly to said second release surface than they do to said first release surface, wherein said carrier tape may be unwound from a coil with said thermoplastic adhesive segments being retained on said first release surface; and

wherein each of said adhesive segments is individually exposable to an abutting planar surface when said carrier tape is transversely flexed.

8. The thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 7, wherein said thermoplastic adhesive segments are each disks having a generally circular configuration.

9. The thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 8, wherein said thermoplastic adhesive segments have a diameter and are separated in the longitudinal direction by a distance at least equal to their diameter.

10. A thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape comprising:

a flexible carrier tape, said carrier tape having a transverse width defined by first and second edges and a longitudinal length including a plurality of contiguous longitudinal segments extending along the entire length of said carrier tape, each of said longitudinal segments extending from the first edge to the second edge of the transverse width, said carrier tape also having opposed first and second release surfaces; and

a plurality of thermoplastic hot melt adhesive disks, each of said adhesive disks being non-contiguously located on said first release surface along the longitudinal length of said carrier tape between said first and said second edges of said transverse width;

wherein only a single one of said adhesive disks is disposed within each of said longitudinal segments on the first release surface of said carrier tape; and

wherein each of said adhesive disks is individually exposable to an abutting planar surface when said carrier tape is transversely flexed.

11. The thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 10 wherein:

said thermoplastic adhesive disks adhere less strongly to said second release surface than they do to said first release surface;

whereby said carrier tape may be unwound from a coil with said thermoplastic adhesive disks being retained on said first release surface.

12. A thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 10, wherein each of said adhesive disks is transversely centered between said first and second edges of said transverse width on said first release surface of said carrier tape, wherein said adhesive disks form a single line in the longitudinal direction along said carrier tape.

13. A thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 10, wherein each of said adhesive disks is non-contiguously placed on said first release surface along said transverse width, wherein said adhesive disks alternate between a first position nearer said first edge of said transverse width than said second edge of said transverse width and a second position near said second edge of said transverse width than said first edges of said transverse width, said plurality of adhesive disks extending non-contiguously in the longitudinal direction along said first release surface of said carrier tape.

14. A thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 10, wherein said adhesive disks are circular in configuration.

15. The thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 14, wherein said adhesive disks have a diameter measured along said first release surface and are separated in the longitudinal direction by a margin at least equal to the diameter.

16. The thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 15, wherein said adhesive disks have a diameter measured along said first release surface and are separated in the longitudinal direction by a margin at least three times the diameter of the circular disks.

17. A thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape, comprising:

a flexible carrier tape, said carrier tape having a transverse width and a longitudinal length including a plurality of longitudinal segments extending along the entire length of said carrier tape, each of said longitudinal segments extending the entire transverse width of said carrier tape, said carrier tape also having opposed first and second release surfaces, said second release surface of said flexible carrier tape tending to adhere less strongly to thermoplastic adhesive material than does said first release surface of said flexible carrier tape; and

a plurality of thermoplastic hot melt adhesive segments arrayed non-contiguously on said first release surface of said flexible carrier tape along the longitudinal length of said carrier tape;

wherein each of said adhesive segments is disposed within one of said longitudinal segments on said first release surface of said flexible carrier tape which is longitudinally spaced apart from other every other adhesive segment on said first release surface of said flexible carrier tape; and

wherein each of said adhesive segments is individually exposable to an abutting planar surface when said carrier tape is transversely flexed.

18. A thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 17, wherein said adhesive segments are each disposed on said flexible carrier tape at one of at least two transversely separated locations.

19. A thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape, comprising:

a flexible carrier tape, said carrier tape having a transverse width and a longitudinal length including a plurality of longitudinal segments extending along the entire length of said carrier tape, each of said longitudinal segments extending the entire transverse width of said carrier tape, said carrier tape also having opposed first and second release surfaces; and

a plurality of thermoplastic hot melt adhesive segments arrayed non-contiguously on said first release surface of said flexible carrier tape along the longitudinal length of said carrier tape;

wherein only a single one of said adhesive segments is disposed within each of said longitudinal segments on said first release surface of said carrier tape with longitudinally consecutive ones of said adhesive segments being spaced apart at uniform intervals;

wherein each of said adhesive segments are disposed on said flexible carrier tape within one of said longitudinal segments at one of at least two transversely separated locations; and

wherein each of said adhesive segments is individually exposable to an abutting planar surface when said carrier tape is transversely flexed.

20. A thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 19, wherein said second release surface of said flexible carrier tape tends to adhere less strongly to thermoplastic adhesive material than does said first release surface of said flexible carrier tape.

21. A thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 19, wherein said flexible carrier tape is longitudinally slit into at least two separate portions each having adhesive segments thereupon.

22. A thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape comprising:

a flexible carrier tape having a transverse width and a longitudinal length including a plurality of contiguous longitudinal segments extending along the entire longitudinal length of said carrier tape, each of said longitudinal segments extending the entire transverse width of said flexible carrier tape, said flexible carrier tape also having opposed first and second release surfaces; and

a plurality of pressure-sensitive adhesive segments arrayed non-contiguously on said first release surface of said carrier tape along the longitudinal length of said carrier tape;

wherein only a single one of said adhesive segments is disposed within each of said longitudinal segments on said first release surface of said carrier tape; and

wherein each of said adhesive segments is individually exposable to an abutting planar surface when said carrier tape is transversely flexed.

23. The thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 22, wherein said adhesive segments adhere less strongly to said second release surface than they do to said first release surface, whereby said carrier tape may be unwound from a coil with said adhesive segments being retained on said first release surface.

24. A thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 22, wherein each of said adhesive segments are disposed at a point that is centered along said transverse width of said first release surface of said carrier tape, wherein said adhesive segments form a single line in the longitudinal direction along said carrier tape.

25. A thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 22, wherein said adhesive segments are disk-shaped.

26. The thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 25, wherein said disk-shaped adhesive segments have a diameter measured along said first release surface and are separated in the longitudinal direction by a distance at least equal to their diameter.

27. The thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 25, wherein said disk-shaped adhesive segments have a diameter and are separated in the longitudinal direction by a margin at least three times the diameter of the disk-shaped adhesive segments.

28. A thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape comprising:

a flexible carrier tape, said carrier tape having a transverse width defined by first and second edges and a longitudinal length including a plurality of contiguous longitudinal segments extending along the entire longitudinal length of said carrier tape, each of said longitudinal segments extending from said first edge to said second edge of said transverse width of said carrier tape, said flexible carrier tape also having opposed first and second release surfaces; and

a plurality of pressure-sensitive adhesive segments non-contiguously arrayed on said first release surface of said carrier tape along the longitudinal length of said carrier tape;

wherein only a single one of said adhesive segments is arrayed within each of said longitudinal segments on said first release surface of said carrier tape;

wherein said adhesive segments adhere less strongly to said second release surface than they do to said first release surface, wherein said carrier tape may be unwound from a coil with said thermoplastic adhesive segments being retained on said first release surface; and

wherein each of said adhesive segments is individually exposable to an abutting planar surface when said carrier tape is transversely flexed.

29. The thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 28, wherein said adhesive segments are each disks having a generally circular configuration.

30. The thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 29, wherein said adhesive segments have a diameter and are separated in the longitudinal direction by a distance at least equal to their diameter.

31. A thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape comprising:

a flexible carrier tape, said carrier tape having a transverse width defined by first and second edges and a longitudinal length including a plurality of contiguous longitudinal segments extending along the entire length of said carrier tape, each of said longitudinal segments extending from the first edge to the second edge of the transverse width, said carrier tape also having opposed first and second release surfaces; and

a plurality of pressure-sensitive adhesive disks, each of said adhesive disks being non-contiguously located on said first release surface along the longitudinal length of said carrier tape between said first and said second edges of said transverse width;

wherein only a single one of said adhesive disks is disposed within each of said longitudinal segments on the first release surface of said carrier tape; and

wherein each of said adhesive disks is individually exposable to an abutting planar surface when said carrier tape is transversely flexed.

32. The thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 31 wherein:

said adhesive disks adhere less strongly to said second release surface than they do to said first release surface;

whereby said carrier tape may be unwound from a coil with said adhesive disks being retained on said first release surface.

33. A thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 31, wherein each of said adhesive disks is transversely centered between said first and second edges of said transverse width on said first release surface of said carrier tape, wherein said adhesive disks form a single line in the longitudinal direction along said carrier tape.

34. A thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 31, wherein each of said adhesive disks is non-contiguously placed on said first release surface along said transverse width, wherein said adhesive disks alternate between a first position nearer said first edge of said transverse width than said second edge of said transverse width and a second position near said second edge of said transverse width than said first edges of said transverse width, said plurality of adhesive disks extending non-contiguously in the longitudinal direction along said first release surface of said carrier tape.

35. A thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 31, wherein said adhesive disks are circular in configuration.

36. The thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 35, wherein said adhesive disks have a diameter measured along said first release surface and are separated in the longitudinal direction by a margin at least equal to the diameter.

37. The thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 36, wherein said adhesive disks have a diameter measured along said first release surface and are separated in the longitudinal direction by a margin at least three times the diameter of said circular adhesive disks.

38. A thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape, comprising:

a flexible carrier tape, said carrier tape having a transverse width and a longitudinal length including a plurality of longitudinal segments extending along the entire length of said carrier tape, each of said longitudinal segments extending the entire transverse width of said carrier tape, said carrier tape also having opposed first and second release surfaces, said second release surface of said flexible carrier tape tending to adhere less strongly to thermoplastic adhesive material than does said first release surface of said flexible carrier tape; and

a plurality of pressure-sensitive adhesive segments arrayed non-contiguously on said first release surface of said flexible carrier tape along the longitudinal length of said carrier tape;

wherein each of said adhesive segments is disposed within one of said longitudinal segments on said first release surface of said flexible carrier tape which is longitudinally spaced apart from other every other adhesive segment on said first release surface of said flexible carrier tape; and

wherein each of said adhesive segments is individually exposable to an abutting planar surface when said carrier tape is transversely flexed.

39. A thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 38, wherein said adhesive segments are each disposed on said flexible carrier tape at one of at least two transversely separated locations.

40. A thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape, comprising:

a flexible carrier tape, said carrier tape having a transverse width and a longitudinal length including a plurality of longitudinal segments extending along the entire length of said carrier tape, each of said longitudinal segments extending the entire transverse width of said carrier tape, said carrier tape also having opposed first and second release surfaces; and

a plurality of pressure-sensitive adhesive segments arrayed non-contiguously on said first release surface of said flexible carrier tape along the longitudinal length of said carrier tape;

wherein only a single one of said adhesive segments is disposed within each of said longitudinal segments on said first release surface of said carrier tape with longitudinally consecutive ones of said adhesive segments being spaced apart at uniform intervals;

wherein only a single one of said adhesive segments is disposed on said flexible carrier tape within each of said longitudinal segments at one of at least two transversely separated locations; and

wherein each of said adhesive segments is individually exposable to an abutting planar surface when said carrier tape is transversely flexed.

41. A thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 40, wherein said second release surface of said flexible carrier tape tends to adhere less strongly to said adhesive segments than does said first release surface of said flexible carrier tape.

42. A thermoplastic adhesive dispensing tape as defined in claim 40, wherein said flexible carrier tape is longitudinally slit into at least two separate portions each having adhesive segments thereupon.