Tape applying device
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsSteven A. Bern, James R. Pahssen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for automatically applying a length of tape to a cardboard box includes a cut off arm that has a cutting disposition and a safety disposition. When an active cylinder included in the device is not active, the cut off arm is in a safety disposition. When the cylinder is active, the cut off arm is in a cutting disposition, and may swing to cut off a length of tape.
Claims18
A cartridge for use in a tape application device that applies a length of pressure sensitive adhesive-backed tape to a box moving along a path transverse an operational plane of the cartridge, the cartridge comprising:
- a body;
- a tape cut off arm pivotably attached to the body and having a distal end;
- a knife mounted toward the distal end of the tape cut off arm;
- a first biasing mechanism coupled between the body and the tape cut off arm that holds the knife in a first position;
- an active element coupled between the body and the tape cut off arm, that upon activation, applies a force to the cut off arm that counters the first biasing mechanism;
- and,
- a second biasing mechanism that, upon application of the force, biases the cut off arm towards a second position.
A cartridge for application of a length of tape to a box and having an operational plane, comprising:
- a body;
- a cut off arm having a first state and a second state;
- a cylinder coupled between the body and the cut off arm;
- and
- wherein the cylinder, upon activation, moves the cut off arm between a first state and a second state, and wherein the first state holds the cut off arm within of the operational plane, and wherein the second state biases the cut off arm to extend beyond the operational plane;
- and,
- and wherein, in the second state, a spring is used to bias the cut off arm to beyond the operational plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.