GB1584192A - Tape applying device - Google Patents

Description

(54) TAPE APPLYING DEVICE (71) We, METROMETHODS LIMITED, a British Company, of Shortmead Street, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 OBB, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following state ment :- The present invention relates to a device for applying a loop of self-adhesive tape to a closed end of a bag.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for applying a loop of selfadhesive tape to a closed end of a bag comprising a co-operating rotatable wheel having a peripheral recess to receive a closed end of a bag and a shoe biassed to engage the wheel periphery, the wheel being rotatable to move the recess from a position on one side of the shoe to receive a closed end of a bag past the shoe to a position on the other side of the shoe to release the closed end in which movement, in use, a length of tape extending over the wheel and the recess therein is formed into a loop around the closed end of the bag, spring means being provided for rotating the wheel to return the recess to said one side of the shoe, a fixed knife and a movable anvil being located adjacent said other side of the shoe, the anvil having means for operation by the closed end of the bag released from the wheel to move the anvil towards the knife, and the anvil being arranged to engage the shoe in said movement to trap a tail of tape from the closed end against the shoe, to move the shoe away from the wheel periphery to permit the wheel to return the recess to the end receiving position and also to sever the tail on the knife between the trap portion of the tail and the bag.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a device for applying a loop of self-adhesive tape to a closed end of a bag comprising means for applying a loop of self-adhesive tape to a closed end of a bag passed therethrough a fixed knife for cutting a tail of the tape extending from the closed end of the bag, the knife being mounted downstream of the tape applying means and anvil means for pushing the tail gainst the cutting edge of the knife and for trapping the tail upstream of the knife against an abutment prior to the cutting of the tail.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accom- panying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a view from above of a tape applying device with its top plate removed; and Figure 2 is an end view of the apparatus of Figure 1 along the arrow A.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings a tape applying device is generally shown at 10.

The device has a pair of spaced parallel horizontally extending generally rectangular plates 12 and 13, the lower plate 12 projecting beyond the upper plate 13 along one side 14. The plates 12 and 13 are formed with respective ones of a pair of aligned elongate slots 15 which extend generally parallel to side 14 from one edge of their respective plates to a respective enlarged closed end 16.

A flange tape storage wheel 17 is rotatably mounted to one side of the slot 15 on the projecting part 14 of the lower plate 12.

A tape applying wheel or head 18 is rotatably mounted plates 12 and 13 adjacent the open ends of slots 15, such that a part of the head 18 lies between the slots 15. The head 18 has a part circular bag receiving recess 19 formed in the periphery of said part of the wheel which lies between the slots.

The head 18 is formed with two further recesses 20 and 21, which are both bounded by chords on the inner edges. The first recess 20 lies adjacent to the bag receiving recess 19 and constitutes a tape guide, whilst the second recess 21 lies generally opposite to the bag receiving recess 19.

The head 18 is biassed into a first or bag receiving position shown in solid line in Figure 1, in which the bag receiving recess 19 generally faces the open ends of slots 15 by a tension spring 22 and an elongate member 23. One end of the elongate member 23 is pivotally mounted in the second recess 21 such that on anticlockwise rotation of the head 18 the member tends to lie within the second recess 21. The other end of the member 23 is connected to one end of spring 22, the other end of which is mounted on plate 12. The spring 22 and member 23 are mounted to extend generally tangentially to the head 18 and act in a sense to cause clockwise rotation of the head 18, the extent of clockwise rotation being limited by a fixed pin 24 which slidingly engages in an elongate detent 23a formed along the slot side edge of the member 23.

The position of the pin 24 corresponds to the bag receiving position of the head 18.

A part of the periphery of said part of the head 18 is frictionally engaged by a brake shoe 25, which is pivotally mounted between plates 12 and 13 and which is urged into contact with the head 18 by a compression spring 26. The compression spring 26 acts between a cylindrical recess formed in the shoe 25 and an adjustable abutment generally indicated at 27. The adjustable abutment 27 is constituted by a threaded pin 28 which is mounted in a spacer element 29, a nut 30 and a washer 31. One end of spring 26 engages washer 31 which is axially movable by means of nut 30.

The spacer element 29 is part of a spacer 32 which generally surrounds the slots 15 and spaces the plates 12 and 13.

In use the position of washer 31 is adjusted such that the brake shoe 25 allows anticlockwise rotation of the head 18, against the action of spring 22, by an external force but resists clockwise rotation of the head 18 under the action of spring 22 when the external force has been removed.

A knife 33 is located downstream of the brake shoe 25, between the shoe 25 and the closed ends 16 of the slots 15. The knife 33 is mounted by an angle member 34 on spacer element 29 such that its cutting edge lies between plates 12 and 13 adjacent the other side of the slots 15 and is directed slightly upstream.

An anvil 35 is pivotally mounted on the one side of slots 15 adjacent the head 18, for movement between a first position wherein the anvil 35 generally lies on one side of the slots 15 and a second position in which the anvil engages the knife 33.

The anvil 35 is constituted by a generally rectangular cross-section block 36 and a leg 37, which is mounted on the block 36 downstream of its axis of rotation and which extends between the slots 15 such that deflection of the leg 37 towards the one side of the slots 15 causes the anvil 35 to move towards its second position. The free end 37a of the leg is bent backwards with respect to the rest of the leg 37; The anvil 35 is formed with an elongate slot 38, which extends across that face of the anvil which faces the cutting edge of the knife 33 and which is disposed to receive that edge.

The anvil 35 is further formed with a cam surface 39 for engaging the shoe 25 to deflect the shoe 25 against compression spring 26 and hence for causing the release of the head 18.

The anvil 35 is biassed into its first position by a tension spring 40 which is mounted on plate 12 at one end and at its other end to the anvil 35 by means of a pin 41. The first position is defined by an abutment peg 42 which is disposed on the other side of slots 15 and which engages the leg 37 in a sense to stop clockwise rotation of the anvil 35, whilst the second position is defined by an adjustable abutment 43 which is disposed on the one side of the slots 15 and which engages the leg 37 in a sense to stop anticlockwise rotation of the anvil 35.

A guide roller 44 is disposed between the tape storage wheel 17.

Prior to use the end of a tape stored ori wheel 17 is drawn off, pulled around the guide roller 44, with its adhesive face outwards, through tape guide recess 20 and bag receiving recess 19 and finally inserted between the tape applying head 18 and shoe 25.

The closed end of a bag is introduced into the open end of slots 15 and then pulled along the slots 15 by known apparatus, such as that described and claimed in our copending United Kingdom Patent Application No. 25530/77, Serial No. 1584191. As the closed end of the bag travels along the slots it engages in the bag receiving recess 19 causing the tape applying head 18 to rotate against the action of the spring 22.

Rotation of the head 18 against the shoe 25 causes a loop of tape to be applied around the closed end of the bag.

When the head 18 reaches the position indicated by the most downstream of broken line recess positions shown in Figure 1 the closed end of the bag is released from recess 19 and it passes down the slots 15 trailing a tail of tape behind.

The tail of tape is kept under tension by being gripped between the head 18 and shoe 25 as the head 18 is maintained in its most anticlockwise rotated position by the shoe 25. The closed end of the bag then engages leg 37 deflecting it in an anticlockwise direction against the action of spring 40.

Anticlockwise deflection of the leg 37 causes the anvil 35 to move towards its second position. During this movement the anvil 35 first engages the tail tape and traps the length of tape between the anvil 35 and the shoe 25.

The anvil 35 then engages the shoe 25 deflecting it into its broken line position and hence freeing the tape-applying head 18 which returns to its solid line position under the action of spring 22.

As the anvil 35 rotates a part of the tail of tape is held bridged across slot 38 until the knife 33 enters the slot 38 cutting the tape.

The angled free end 37a ensures that the final deflection of the leg 37 by the bag accelerates the anvil 35 to provide the anvil with sufficient movement to achieve cutting the tape even if the bag fails to fully deflect the leg 37.

The secured closed end of the bag then passes into the enlarged closed end 16 of the slots 15 where it is released.

As soon as the closed end of the bag passes the trailing end of leg 37, the anvil 35 rotates to its solid line position, allowing the shoe 25 to return to its solid position. It wffl be appreciated that from prior to the deflection of the shoe 25 until after the re-engagement of the head 18 by the shoe 25 the tape is held trapped between the anvil 35 and shoe 25 so that the return of tape applying head 18 does not cause any backward whip on that part of the tape which is to be cut.

On the return of the anvil 35 to its solid line position the apparatus is reset ready to apply a loop to the next bag.

Referring to Figure 2 the apparatus 10 is frequently located inside part of bag handling apparatus, e.g. the structure generally indicated at 45. Such apparatus should preferably include tapering guide slots 46 for guiding bags to slots 15.

The compression on compression spring 26 can be adjusted by nut 30 to vary the braking pressure on the head 18. Adjustment of the abutment 43 determines the penetration of knife into slot 38.

It will be appreciated that the plate 13 could be replaced by a number of cantilevered pivots for each of the pivotable or rotatable members, the pivots being mounted on the plate 12. Such an arrangement allows the tape width to be maximised without requiring an increase in the dimensions of the operative members of the apparatus and hence without requiring an increase in bag length.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A device for applying a loop of self-adhesive tape to a closed end of a bag comprising a co-operating rotatable wheel having a peripheral recess to receive a closed end of a bag and a shoe biassed to engage the wheel periphery, the wheel being rotatable to move the recess from a position on one side of the shoe to receive a closed end of a bag past the shoe to a position on the other side of the shoe to release the closed end in which movement, in use, a length of tape extending over the wheel and the recess therein is formed into a loop around the closed end of bag, spring means being provided for rotating the wheel to return the recess to said one side of the shoe, a fixed knife and a movable anvil being located adjacent said other side of the shoe, the anvil having means for operation by the closed end of the bag released from the wheel to move the anvil towards the knife, and the anvil towards the knife, and the anvil being arranged to engage the shoe in said movement to trap a tail of tape from the closed end against the shoe, to move the shoe away from the wheel periphery to permit the wheel to return the recess to the end receiving position and also to sever the tail on the knife between the trap portion of the tail and the bag.

2. A device for applying a loop of self-adhesive tape to a closed end of a bag comprising means for applying a loop of self-adhesive tape to a closed end of a bag passed there through, a fixed knife for cutting a tail of the tape extending from the closed end of the bag, the knife being mounted downstream of the tape applying means and anvil means for pushing the tail against the cutting edge of the knife and for trapping the tail upstream of the knife against an abutment prior to the cutting of the tail.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the anvil means is pivotally mounted for movement across the path of travel of the bag in response to the movement of the bag.

4. A tape applying device as claimed in any one of the claims 2 or 3, wherein the tape applying means includes a tape applying head having a recess for receiving the closed end of the bag, the tape applying head being mounted for rotation between a bag receiving position and a bag releasing position, means for biassing the tape applying head into its bag receiving position and means for guiding a length of adhesive tape across the recess.

5. Tape applying device as claimed in claim 4 further comprising brake means for frictionally engaging the tape applying head in a sense to resist rotation of the head against the action of its bias means.

6. A tape applying device as claimed in claim 5 further including means for biassing the brake means into engagement with the tape applying head and wherein the anvil means moves the brake means against its biassing means, during its tape gripping movement, to temporarily release the tape applying head.

7. A tape applying device as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein a part of the brake means consitutes the abutment.

8. A device for applying a loop of self-adhesive tape to a closed end of a bag substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. head 18 by the shoe 25 the tape is held trapped between the anvil 35 and shoe 25 so that the return of tape applying head 18 does not cause any backward whip on that part of the tape which is to be cut. On the return of the anvil 35 to its solid line position the apparatus is reset ready to apply a loop to the next bag. Referring to Figure 2 the apparatus 10 is frequently located inside part of bag handling apparatus, e.g. the structure generally indicated at 45. Such apparatus should preferably include tapering guide slots 46 for guiding bags to slots 15. The compression on compression spring 26 can be adjusted by nut 30 to vary the braking pressure on the head 18. Adjustment of the abutment 43 determines the penetration of knife into slot 38. It will be appreciated that the plate 13 could be replaced by a number of cantilevered pivots for each of the pivotable or rotatable members, the pivots being mounted on the plate 12. Such an arrangement allows the tape width to be maximised without requiring an increase in the dimensions of the operative members of the apparatus and hence without requiring an increase in bag length. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A device for applying a loop of self-adhesive tape to a closed end of a bag comprising a co-operating rotatable wheel having a peripheral recess to receive a closed end of a bag and a shoe biassed to engage the wheel periphery, the wheel being rotatable to move the recess from a position on one side of the shoe to receive a closed end of a bag past the shoe to a position on the other side of the shoe to release the closed end in which movement, in use, a length of tape extending over the wheel and the recess therein is formed into a loop around the closed end of bag, spring means being provided for rotating the wheel to return the recess to said one side of the shoe, a fixed knife and a movable anvil being located adjacent said other side of the shoe, the anvil having means for operation by the closed end of the bag released from the wheel to move the anvil towards the knife, and the anvil towards the knife, and the anvil being arranged to engage the shoe in said movement to trap a tail of tape from the closed end against the shoe, to move the shoe away from the wheel periphery to permit the wheel to return the recess to the end receiving position and also to sever the tail on the knife between the trap portion of the tail and the bag.

2. A device for applying a loop of self-adhesive tape to a closed end of a bag comprising means for applying a loop of self-adhesive tape to a closed end of a bag passed there through, a fixed knife for cutting a tail of the tape extending from the closed end of the bag, the knife being mounted downstream of the tape applying means and anvil means for pushing the tail against the cutting edge of the knife and for trapping the tail upstream of the knife against an abutment prior to the cutting of the tail.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the anvil means is pivotally mounted for movement across the path of travel of the bag in response to the movement of the bag.

4. A tape applying device as claimed in any one of the claims 2 or 3, wherein the tape applying means includes a tape applying head having a recess for receiving the closed end of the bag, the tape applying head being mounted for rotation between a bag receiving position and a bag releasing position, means for biassing the tape applying head into its bag receiving position and means for guiding a length of adhesive tape across the recess.

5. Tape applying device as claimed in claim 4 further comprising brake means for frictionally engaging the tape applying head in a sense to resist rotation of the head against the action of its bias means.

6. A tape applying device as claimed in claim 5 further including means for biassing the brake means into engagement with the tape applying head and wherein the anvil means moves the brake means against its biassing means, during its tape gripping movement, to temporarily release the tape applying head.

7. A tape applying device as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein a part of the brake means consitutes the abutment.

8. A device for applying a loop of self-adhesive tape to a closed end of a bag substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.