US 4,278,488 AGranted

Tape delivery system

AssigneeKimberly-Clark Corporation

InventorsThomas J. Kopacz, Charles J. Jacoby

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Abstract

A tape delivery system useful for applying a plastic tape to a sheet of scrim reinforced tube stock is disclosed. Tape forming techniques are employed to shape a length of plastic tape and to apply that tape to a bottom margin region of the tube stock material to form a scrim reinforced open-mouth container bag.

Claims4

Dependent claims

A tape delivery system for use in forming a plurality of extremely flexible and somewhat flimsy plastic bags from sequentially provided lengths of plastic tube stock and plastic tape;

wherein a tube stock source supplies a predetermined length of tube stock systematically and in consecutive order to said tape delivery system;
and wherein an initial length of tape is threaded through said tape delivery system to initiate the bag forming operation, said system comprising:
(a) a tape supply source;
(b) a tape accumulator for accumulating sequentially a predetermined length of tape from said supply source, said accumulator including tension control means for controlling the tension of the tape so as to prevent tape stretching and tape overrun;
(c) vertical guide means disposed to receive each length of tape from said accumulator during the advancement of the tape, said vertical guide means providing means for the removal of particles and/or debris collected on the tape;
(d) a first electric eye unit disposed to sense tape movement between said tape accumulator and said vertical guide means for generating an electrical signal to said tape supply source to cause another length of tape to be supplied to said accumulator;
(e) tape forming means for shaping the tape in an inverted U-shape and for aligning a bottom edge of the tube stock along a longitudinal axis of the shaped tape, the shaping and aligning being performed in a manner as to smooth out creases and folds in the tape during advancement of the tube stock, the tape and tube stock being kept spatially separated during the alignment;
said tape forming means including, (1) an adjustable tape guide spool disposed between said vertical guide means and said tape forming means for guiding the tape from said vertical guide means to said tape forming means and for adjusting the tension of the tape being advanced;
(2) a first L-shaped tape guide plate;
(3) a second L-shaped tape guide plate having a leg extending parallel to a leg of said first guide plate and a base extending parallel but opposed to a base of said first guide plate, said second guide plate being spatially separated from said first guide plate providing a guide passage for the bottom margin region of the tube stock as each length of tube stock is advanced through said tape forming mean;
(4) a half-round, primary tape forming rod disposed upon a top surface of said first and second tape guide plates, said rod having one end bent to extend vertical and in-line with the path of the tape advancing from said tape guide spool, said rod being used to form the curvature of the tape and to oppose undesirable creasing and folding of the tape during tape transfer;
(5) a tape forming wire disposed about said half-round rod for guiding the tape over the rod and against the base and leg of said first and second guide plates;
and (6) a tape forming block disposed adjacent to another end of said half-round and about said first and second L-shaped tape guide plates to further shape the tape before the tape is applied to the bottom region of the tube stock;
and
(f) means for applying the tape around the edge of the advancing tube stock which is in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the tape.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A tape delivery system for use in forming a plurality of extremely flexible and somewhat flimsy plastic bags from sequentially provided lengths of plastic tube stock and plastic tape;

wherein a tube stock source supplies a predetermined length of tube stock systematically and in consecutive order to said tape delivery system;
and wherein an initial length of tape is threaded through said tape delivery system to initiate the bag forming operation, said system comprising:
(a) a tape supply source;
(b) a tape accumulator for accumulating sequentially a predetermined length of tape from said supply source, said accumulator including tension control means for controlling the tension of the tape so as to prevent tape stretching and tape overrun;
(c) vertical guide means disposed to receive each length of tape from said accumulator during the advancement of the tape, said vertical guide means providing means for the removal of particles and/or debris collected on the tape;
(d) a first electric eye unit disposed to sense tape movement between said tape accumulator and said vertical guide means for generating an electrical signal to said tape supply source to cause another length of tape to be supplied to said accumulator;
(e) tape forming means for shaping the tape in an inverted U-shape and for aligning a bottom edge of the tube stock along a longitudinal axis of the shaped tape, the shaping and aligning being performed in a manner as to smooth out creases and folds in the tape during advancement of the tube stock, the tape and tube stock being kept spatially separated during the alignment;
said tape forming means including, (1) an adjustable tape guide spool disposed between said vertical guide means and said tape forming means for guiding the tape from said vertical guide means to said tape forming means and for adjusting the tension of the tape being advanced;
(2) a first L-shaped tape guide plate;
(3) a second L-shaped tape guide plate having a leg extending parallel to a leg of said first guide plate and a base extending parallel but opposed to a base of said first guide plate, said second guide plate being spatially separated from said first guide plate providing a guide passage for the bottom margin region of the tube stock as each length of tube stock is advanced through said tape forming mean;
(4) a half-round, primary tape forming rod disposed upon a top surface of said first and second tape guide plates, said rod having one end bent to extend vertical and in-line with the path of the tape advancing from said tape guide spool, said rod being used to form the curvature of the tape and to oppose undesirable creasing and folding of the tape during tape transfer;
(5) a tape forming wire disposed about said half-round rod for guiding the tape over the rod and against the base and leg of said first and second guide plates;
and (6) a tape forming block disposed adjacent to another end of said half-round and about said first and second L-shaped tape guide plates to further shape the tape before the tape is applied to the bottom region of the tube stock;
and
(f) means for applying the tape around the edge of the advancing tube stock which is in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the tape.

12 more elements