US1792461A - Strip-roll tensioning means - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 10, 1931. T. R. GAUTIER STRIP ROLL TENSIONING MEANS Original Filed March 3. 1928 YIIIl/I/IIII/I/I/ Revorlillaaider byfl .Z Y W m law,

Patented Feb. 10, 1931 UNITED star NT OFFICE TREVOR R. GAUTIER, OF NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO NASHUA GUMMED & COATED PAPER COMPANY, OF NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS STRIP-ROLL TENSIONING MEANS 1929. Serial My present invention relates to package sealing, labelling and the like, and more particularly, aims to provide improved means for supporting and tensioning a strip or tape supply in roll form. This application is a ficient of the feeding and moistening means of said copending application shown in vertical longitudinal section to illustrate one manner of use of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section through said means of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a plan of the same.

While my invention is adapted for use with strip or tape rolls which are to be drawn up in any manner, either manually or me- 5 chanically, and it may be employed in connection with any suitable mechanism for that purpose, I have herein illustrated it in connection with a strip serving machine having a power-operated manually controllable feed,

".1 as in said copending application. This machine preferably includes a platform or base 1 upon which the mechanism as a whole is mounted. At the delivery end of the machine is a tape moistening device including a reservoir 5 from which projects an inverted brush moistener 6.

The strip or tape supply in roll form is adapted to be supported at any suitable point for delivery, being at the rear of the machine as illustrated, that is, at the end opposite the moistening and delivery end. For this pur pose there is provided an upright bracket 8 which is preferably secured to the base 1, or it may be positioned independently thereof. This bracket carries a laterally projecting stud 9 for supporting rotatably the roll of gummed paper or other tape or strip material T to be dispensed. Preferably, and as shown, the tape is rolled with its gummed surface inside, and the roll is so positioned Divided and. this application filed May 14, No. 363,083.

upon the stud that the tape is run off from the top of the roll, with the gummed side down, for moistening engagement with the upwardly extending brush moistener, and my invention has a special cooperation with tape so rolled and positioned. The stud 9 is located at a proper height freely to support a tape roll of the largest diameter which it may be desired to use.

The tape T coming from the roll passes beneath a guide roll 16 and across a platform or feed floor 3, being fed forwardly by and between upper and lower feed wheels or rolls 42 and 25 respectively, thence under a guide member 18 and between and past tape severing means including a fixed blade 19 and a movable blade 52, whence it is delivered across and in moistening relation with the moistener 6. The lower feed roll 25 is driven in any suitable manner, and the feeding operation may be controlled by means of the lever 44: of the control head 35, as more fully shown and described in said copending application.

In accordance with my invention, novel and improved means is provided for retaining the tape roll in the described feeding po sition and at the same time controlling the tension upon the tape in such manner as to prevent over-running of the latter with resultant undue slack, as well as to avoid backlash and possible retraction of the leading end 'of the tape from proper engagement with the feeding means.

For this purpose I have shown a device herein comprised in a single element including a weighted member 10 having its under surface properly concaved as indicated at 10, to conform generally to the periphery of the tape roll upon which it rests. To this weight is secured integrally or otherwise a depending arm or fork 11 provided with a vertical slot 12 of such length or open at its bottom to permit this fork to be engaged over the stud 9, and also adapting the weighted member for proper cooperation with the tape rolls of different diameters, as well as enabling it to follow down on the roll as the latter decreases in size during use.

At the opposite side of the weight 10 there projects laterally a plate or extension 13 having a series of parallel slots or openings 14 selectively engageable with the upper portion or finger 15 of the bracket 8. In accordance with one construction, andas illustrated, the plate 13 and the depending fork 11 may be formed as a single strip bent substantially at right angles and having, the weight 10 attached in the angle so formed. The fork 11 acts to retain the tape roll upon the stud, while by reason of the plurality of openings 1 the device as a whole is adapted for use with tape rolls of different widths.-

The concaved under surface of the weighted portion of the device alfords a retarding action or frictional brake upon the outer and ungummed surface of the tape thus avoiding objectionable scraping or cracking of the gummcd surface such as might result from the direct engagement of a frictional tensioning device therewith. t will be noted that with a tape roll of relatively large diameter, or with any roll before it has'been substantially reduced by draft of tape from it, the tensioning device engages a consider able surface length of the tape, and consequently the braking or tensioning effect is correspondingly great, as is desirable in such case. lVith small rolls, or inany case as the roll decreases in diameter in use, a proportionately less surface length is engaged, with a consequent proportionate reduction in the tensioning or braking effect. Thus with smaller rolls, for which less braking or tensioning force is desired, the latter is proportionately and automatically reduced.

It will further be noted that in accordance with my invention the tension control of the tape or strip is wholly automatic and also positive. IIeretofore so far as I am aware any strip tensioning device for'strip serving machines for package sealing, labeling and the like have either been of the spring variety or so arranged that some setting or adjustment was required, as by thumb screws or the like. Such setting was left to the discretion ,of the operator who frequently made the adjustment too loose or too tight. Following; my invention the proper weight for the tensioner is predetermined for any given machine or circumstances and the proper tension upon the feeding or drawn out strip is accordingly predetermined, with nothing left to the judgment of the operator. A better feeding and moistening action is thus assured with resultant improved operation of the machine as a whole.

My invention is not limited to the particular embodiment thereof herein shown and de scribed, its scope being pointed out in the fcllowing claims 1. In mechanism of the class described, in combination with an upright having a laterally projecting stud for the reception of rolls of strip material, a combined roll-retaining of strip material, a: combined rollrretaining and striptension-regulating element, including a weighted member adapted to seat upon the roll, a member depending therefronr and having a formation for engagement with said stud, and a lateral extension at the side of said weighted member opposite said depend ing member, said extension having a plurality of like formations selectively engageable with said upright to position said element for cooperation with rolls of various widths.

3. In mechanism of the-class described, in combination with an upright having a laterally projecting stud for rotatably supporting rolls of strip material, a combined roll-retaining and strip-tension-regulating element, including a weighted member havin concave undersurface adapting it to seat upon the roll and to engage a substantial portion of the periphery thereof, means at one side of said member engageable with the outrr side of the roll to retain it upon the stud, and means at the other side of said member for retaining engagement with said upright.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to-this specification.

TREVOR R. GAUTIEB.

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