US 4,090,914 A · Apparatus for applying tape and adhesive to wallboard joints

Abstract

A joint-taping tool for wallboard (drywall), wherein there is almost no possibility that the cable will break after the piston reaches the top of its stroke, and wherein the operator is immediately and unquestionably informed when adhesive flow ceases. Furthermore, mechanism is provided by which--with minimized action on the part of the operator--the rollers are prevented from spinning and "throwing" adhesive (cement) during filling of the barrel. The tool will not only apply tape and adhesive simultaneously, but is rapidly convertible to deposit adhesive over previously-applied tape. This same conversion spacing option makes it possible to eliminate tape jams quickly and easily. In addition, means are provided for thoroughly cleaning the tool at the end of each day.

Claims39

Dependent claims

A tool for supplying adhesive at a predetermined rate determined by the rate of traverse of the tool along an element of a building under construction, said tool comprising:

(a) means to define a reservoir chamber adapted to contain adhesive,
(b) means to effect progressive expelling of adhesive from said chamber for application to an element of a building under construction,
(c) drive means adapted to engage said building element for driving in response to traverse of the tool therealong,
(d) means to connect said drive means to said adhesive-expelling means to thus effect expelling of adhesive from said chamber at a rate determined by the rate of traverse of said tool, and
(e) force-limiting means interposed in said connector means to prevent more than a predetermined amount of force from being transmitted from said drive means to said adhesive-expelling means,
said force-limiting means being so constructed as to transmit to said adhesive-expelling means sufficient force to effect said expelling of adhesive when there is adequate adhesive in said chamber,
said force-limiting means also being so constructed as to transmit insufficient force to damage any part of said connector means in response to continued movement of the tool after said chamber is substantially empty.

4 more elements

A tool for use in the formation of joints between adjacent sections of wallboard, said joints comprising joint tape having adhesive on at least one surface thereof, said tool comprising:

(a) an elongated hollow barrel adapted to contain a mass of adhesive,
(b) head means provided at one end of said barrel to direct adhesive therefrom to a predetermined location,
(c) a piston mounted in said barrel remote from said head means and adapted to shift toward said head means to thus expel adhesive from said chamber through an outlet opening,
(d) cable and drum means including a rotatable drum and also including a cable connected to said piston and wound on said drum,
(e) drive roller means mounted rotatably on said head means and adapted to roll along the wallboard, in response to movement of the tool, whereby said drive roller means is driven, and
(f) means, including torque-limiting means, to connect said drive roller means to said drum for driving of said drum to wind said cable thereon and thus shift said piston to achieve metered discharge of said adhesive,
said torque-limiting means being capable of transmitting from said drive roller means to said drum sufficient torque to shift said piston and thus expel adhesive,
said torque-limiting means being incapable of transmitting from said drive roller means to said drum sufficient torque to break said cable after said piston has reached the top of its stroke or has jammed,
whereby it is assured that said cable will not be broken.

6 more elements

A tool for the application of adhesive over joints between wallboard sections, said tool comprising:

(a) wall means to define a reservoir chamber,
(b) outlet means through which adhesive may discharge from said chamber,
(c) valve means to prevent said discharge of adhesive during filling of said chamber,
(d) drive roller means adapted to roll along the wallboard when the tool is shifted longitudinally of the wallboard joint,
(e) movable means associated with aid reservoir chamber to progressively expel adhesive therefrom through said outlet means when said valve means is in open condition,
(f) means to connect said drive roller means to said movable means whereby the latter is driven, and
(g) combination force-limiting and drive-disengaging means interposed in said connecting means (f) for limiting the transmitted force during said shifting of the tool along the joint, and for reducing the transmitted force to substantially zero during said filling of said chamber,
said means comprising a force limiter adapted to transmit a force which is sufficiently great to effect said expulsion of adhesive but is insufficiently great to damage said connecting means when said movable means reaches the end of its stroke,
said means further comprising means to disengage the drive from said drive roller means to said movable means so that said drive roller means will not spin and throw adhesive during said filling of said chamber.

6 more elements

A tool for applying joint tape and adhesive to joint regions between adjacent sections of wallboard, said tool comprising:

(a) an elongated barrel adapted to contain a charge of adhesive,
(b) a head body mounted at one end of said barrel,
(c) a piston movably mounted in said barrel remote from said head body,
(d) drive roller means mounted adjacent said head body and adapted to roll along the wallboard for driving thereby,
(e) means to connect said drive roller means to said piston to cause said piston to move toward said head body,
(f) passage means provided in said head body and communicating with the interior of said barrel whereby adhesive may flow through said passage means in response to said piston movement,
(g) means to pass joint tape adjacent said head body and thence to said drive roller means,
(h) means, including a movable knife element, to effect cutting-off of said tape,
said cutting means being disposed in the vicinity of that end of said passage means which is remote from said barrel,
(i) a nozzle having a passage therethrough, and
(j) means to removably mount said nozzle on said head body with the inner end of said nozzle passage communicating with said end of said passage means,
said nozzle being so disposed when in mounted position on said head body, so as to obstruct access to said cutting means, said means (g), said head body and said cutting means being so related that when said nozzle is removed the operator may have easy access to said cutting means for elimination of tape jams thereat.

9 more elements

A tool for applying joint tape to wallboard, which comprises:

(a) an elongated barrel adapted to contain a charge of adhesive,
(b) a head mounted at one end of said barrel,
said head including a head body in which is formed a cavity for a rotatable valve element,
(c) a rotatable valve element mounted in said cavity,
said valve element having passage means therethrough adapted to conduct adhesive out of said barrel when, and only when, said valve element is in a predetermined range of rotated positions,
(d) a cable drum rotatably mounted in said head body and being connected by a cable to a piston in said barrel,
(e) drive roller means provided on said head and being adapted to engage and be driven by the walboard as said head is manually traversed therealong,
(f) means to drivingly connect said drive roller means to said drum for operation thereof,
(g) means to effect disengagement of said connector means,
(h) means, responsive to rotation of said valve element to a position blocking flow of said adhesive, to operate said disengaging means (g) to a position disengaging the drive from said drive roller means to said cable drum, and
(i) means to inject adhesive into said barrel for refilling thereof,
said means (h) cooperating with said valve element (c) to prevent throwing and spillage of adhesive during said refilling, in that said drive roller means is disengaged from said cable drum, and in that said valve element prevents leakage out of said barrel.

9 more elements

The combination with an adhesive applicator tool for use in covering the joint regions between adjacent sections of wallboard, said tool including an elongated barrel for holding adhesive and which also contains a piston adapted to force said adhesive out of said barrel, said tool further including drive roller means disposed to roll along the wallboard and adapted to be connected to a cable drum on which is wound a cable connected to said piston, of an improvement which comprises:

(a) driving connection means between said drive roller means and said cable drum and which includes a device to transmit therethrough torque sufficient to cause said drum to turn in response to rotation of said drive roller means when there is adequate adhesive in said barrel, but insufficient to cause said drum to turn when said piston has reached the end of its stroke, and
(b) means adapted to disengage the driving connection through said device when said barrel is being recharged with adhesive, so that said drive roller means will not then spin and throw adhesive in response to movement of said piston caused by injection of adhesive.

The combination of an adhesive applicator tool for use in covering the joint regions between adjacent sections of wallboard, said tool including an elongated barrel for holding adhesive and which also contains a piston adapted to force said adhesive out of said barrel, said tool further including drive roller means disposed to roll along the wallboard and adapted to be connected to a cable drum on which is wound a cable connected to said piston, of an improvement which comprises means to create a driving connection between said drive roller means and said cable drum and which includes a device adapted to transmit therethrough torque sufficient to cause said drum to turn in response to rotation of said drive roller means when there is adequate adhesive in said barrel, but insufficient to cause said drum to turn when said piston has reached the end of its stroke or has jammed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for applying tape and adhesive to wallboard joints

Life of this patent

Apparatus for applying tape and adhesive to wallboard joints

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims39