Aligning means for tape splicer
AssigneeAmerican Multimedia, Inc.
InventorsRobert I. Farrow, Richard L. Clark
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An integrally formed ratchet (90) and star wheel (95) is disclosed which rotates in unison with a tape applicator wheel (85). Eccentrically formed fingers (96a-d) cooperate with a downwardly facing wall to align and position applicator wheel (85) into correct position after each reciprocation of the splicer (30). Correct alignment is essential because a cutter blade 127 cuts the tape on the applicator wheel into pre-determined lengths by passing through a notch (104) in applicator wheel (85). Misalignment of the applicator wheel (85) may cause blade (127) to impact the applicator wheel (85) itself, damaging or destroying it.
Claims12
An apparatus for feeding and applying splicing tape to two adjacent tape ends positioned on a planar splice bed, comprising:
- (a) a splicing tape applicator wheel mounted for rotation about a central axis and having a plurality of planar peripheral faces, each face defining a splicing tape carrying surface;
- (b) a source of splicing tape for being applied to successive tape carrying surfaces;
- (c) reciprocating means for moving a tape carrying surface of said applicator wheel perpendicularly into and out of contact with the two tape ends to be spliced and applying a length of splicing tape thereto;
- (d) motion converting means cooperating with said reciprocating means and said applicator wheel for converting perpendicular movement of said applicator wheel into unison rotation of said applicator wheel thereby moving a next successive tape carrying surface into position for application of the splicing tape during the next reciprocation;
- (e) aligning means cooperating with said applicator wheel and said motion converting means for aligning successive planar surfaces of said applicator wheel in proper alignment with the planar splice bed after each application of splicing tape and before the next, said alignment means including stop means cooperating with said motion converting means to stop the unison perpendicular and rotational movement of said applicator wheel out of contact with the two tape ends to be spliced, and a stop means engagement member mounted for unison perpendicular and rotational movement with said applicator wheel and positioned to engage said stop means at the termination of each upward reciprocation of said applicator wheel to reposition successive planar sides of said applicator wheel in preparation of the next downward movement thereof into tape-applying position, and wherein said stop means engagement member comprises a star wheel having a plurality of outwardly projecting fingers, at least some of said fingers adapted to engage said stop means and thereby align said applicator wheel.
A method for feeding and applying splicing tape to two adjacent tape ends, said method comprising:
- (a) providing a splicing tape applicator wheel having a plurlaity of planar peripheral faces, each face defining a splicing tape carrying surface;
- (b) mounting said applicator wheel for rotation about a central axis;
- (c) providing a source of splicing tape for being applied to successive tape carrying surfaces;
- (d) reciprocating said applicator wheel perpendicularly into and out of contact with the two tape ends to be spliced on a planar splice bed for applying a length of splicing tape from said tape carrying surface thereto;
- (e) converting the perpendicular movement of said applicator wheel into unison rotation of said applicator wheel thereby moving a next successive tape carrying surface into position for application of the splicing tape to two adjoining tape ends;
- and,
- (f) aligning said applicator wheel during each reciprocation thereof into exact alignment with said splice bed by means of a stop means engagement member comprising a star wheel having a plurality of outwardly projecting fingers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.