Method and device for the tape-sealing of panels of paper, cardboard, plastic, or wood, and adhesive tape therefor

A device for tape-sealing objects such as boxes, box blanks, or webs, made of paper, cardboard, plastic, wood, and the like, with a heat-activatable adhesive tape, the device comprising in combination:

• an adhesive activating station, including a heatable activating zone and a heat source capable of heating the activating zone to a temperature sufficient to activate the adhesive tape;
• a joining station at which moving strips of adhesive tape of predetermined length meet moving objects of the above-mentioned kind which serve as a substrate for said tape strips, when joined;
• the joining station being spaced a distance from said activating zone;
• means for paying out a succession of said adhesive tape strips from an adhesive tape supply;
• means associated with said tape payout means for conveying said tape strips through said activating station to said joining station;
• means for synchronously conveying a succession of said objects to the joining station;
• and
• means for applying a heat-activated adhesive tape strip to each of said objects in the joining station, thereby cooling and curing the adhesive upon contact;
• wherein said adhesive tape payout means includes a supply roll, an interruptable tape payout drive and tape cutting means;
• wherein the tape strip conveying means includes a tape strip carrying member moving toward the joining station and subjected to suction, so as to be capable of holding the tape strip against the carrying member with their adhesive layer facing away from the carrying member;
• wherein the heat sources faces the adhesive layer of the tape strips on the moving carrying member in said activating zone, so as to directly transmit heat to the adhesive layer across a gap between the tape strips and the heat source;
• wherein the heat source is a hot air blower projecting hot air against the adhesive layer of the tape strips on the carrying member;
• wherein the adhesive activating station further includes means for controlling the hot air flow;
• wherein the tape strip carrying member is a peripherally perforated drum connected to a vacuum source;
• wherein the hot air blower includes an air nozzle oriented for air discharge against the periphery of said drum;
• wherein the hot air flow controlling means includes an air clappet movable between an open position and a closed position in which the hot air flow to the drum periphery is at least partially interrupted;
• and
• wherein the air clappet of the hot air flow controlling means has a small aperture which, in the closed position of the clappet, admits a reduced flow of hot air against the drum periphery, thereby heating the latter for convective heat transfer to the back of tape strips which are conveyed by the drum.

A derice for tape-sealing objects such as boxes, box blanks, or webs made of paper, cardboard, plastic, wood and the like, with a heat-activatable adhesive tape;

• said device comprising in combination:
• means for synchronously conveying a succession of objects to be tape-sealed to a joining station at which moving strips of adhesive tape meet said objects;
• means for paying out a succession of adhesive tape strips from an adhesive tape supply;
• said tape payout means including a supply roll, an interruptable tape payout drive and tape cutting means;
• means associated with said tape payout means for conveying a succession of said tape strips through an activating station to said joining station in response to the conveying of said objects to the joining station;
• said activating station including a heatable activating zone spaced a distance from said joining station;
• said tape strip conveying means comprising a perforated tape carrying member moving toward the joining station and connected to a suction source so as to be capable of holding a tape strip against the carrying member with its adhesive layer facing away from the carrying member;
• means for applying a heat-activated adhesive tape strip to each of said objects in the adjoining station, thereby cooling and curing the adhesive upon contact with said objects;
• said activating station comprising a heat source capable of heating the activating zone to a temperature sufficient to activate said adhesive tape;
• said heat source comprising a hot air blower facing the adhesive layer of the tape strips on the moving carrying member in said activating zone and projecting hot air against the adhesive layer of the tape strips on the carrying member so as to directly transmit heat to the adhesive layer across a gap between the tape strips and the blower;
• and
• said adhesive activating station further comprising means for controlling the hot air flow including an air clappet movable between an open position and a closed position in which the hot air flow through the carrying member is at least partially interrupted and means for opening and closing said clappet successively in response to conveying of said succession of tape strips.