US 2006/0040085 A1 · Adhesive segment applicator method and apparatus and roll of adhesive segments for use therewith

Abstract

An automated system and method for applying thermoplastic adhesives to work pieces from a roll of adhesive segments applied to an adhesive segment-laden carrier release tape. The adhesive segment is applied from the adhesive segment-laden carrier release tape onto a work piece by the use of an automatically actuated applicator head that contacts the surface of the adhesive segment-laden carrier release tape opposite the adhesive segment thereon to push the adhesive segment against the work piece to apply the adhesive segment to the work piece. The applicator head may include one or more sharp projections thereon that pierce through the carrier release tape, but not through the adhesive segment thereon, as the head presses the carrier release tape and adhesive segment against the work piece to facilitate assured release of the adhesive segment from the carrier release tape and application of the adhesive segment to a work piece by the applicator head. Alternatively the adhesive segment carrier release tape may be pre-perforated underneath each adhesive segment thereon.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A method for applying adhesive segments from an adhesive segment-laden carrier release tape onto a work piece, comprising:

(a) providing an adhesive segment dispensing tape, including:
(i) a flexible carrier release tape extending longitudinally and having a transverse width, said flexible carrier release tape also having opposed first and second release surfaces;
and
(ii) a plurality of adhesive segments arrayed non-contiguously in a longitudinally spaced-apart progression along the first release surface of the carrier release tape, consecutive ones of the adhesive segments being spaced longitudinally apart by a predetermined and substantially uniform distance on the first release surface of the carrier release tape;
(b) providing the adhesive segment dispensing tape to an adhesive segment dispensing apparatus, the adhesive segment dispensing apparatus having a dispensing location wherefrom adhesive segments are applied from the dispensing tape onto the work piece;
(c) applying an adhesive segment at the dispensing location onto a work piece;
and
(d) perforating the carrier release tape in a location thereon corresponding to the adhesive segment being applied to the work piece.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Adhesive segment applicator method and apparatus and roll of adhesive segments for use therewith

Life of this patent

Adhesive segment applicator method and apparatus and roll of adhesive segments for use therewith

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17