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US 5,294,282 AGranted
Tape handling apparatus
AssigneeHerd Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsReinhold Rock, Josef Schuessler
Life of this patent
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AssigneeHerd Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsReinhold Rock, Josef Schuessler
Estimating the term…
A gripper assembly grips a double layered end portion of a tape with a tacky side of the tape facing downwardly and a backing side of the tape facing upwardly. A tape feed assembly feeds the tape, with the tacky side down, from a tape storage reel to the gripper assembly at the speed at which the gripper assembly moves along a tape support to tend to minimize tension in the portion of the tape disposed between the tape feed assembly and the gripper assembly. When the desired length of tape has been fed, the tacky side of the tape is moved into engagement with the upper side of the tape support. Suction is applied to the tacky side of the tape to hold the tape in position on the tape support. While the tape is disposed on the tape support, opposite ends of the tape are cut. A tape transfer manifold applies suction to the upwardly facing backing side of the cut tape to grip the tape. Air pressure is applied against the tacky downwardly facing side of the tape to positively release the tape from the tape support. The tape transfer manifold is then moved to a use location where an article receives the tape.
An apparatus for use in handling tape having a backing side and a tacky side, said apparatus comprising first gripper means for gripping an end portion of the tape, a longitudinally extending tape support having an upwardly facing side, first gripper drive means for moving said first gripper means along said longitudinally extending tape support to withdraw at least a predetermined length of tape from a source of tape with the tacky side of the tape facing downwardly toward the upwardly facing side of said longitudinally extending tape support and with the backing side of the tape facing upwardly, cutter means for cutting the tape to separate at least the predetermined length of tape from tape at the source of tape, said cutter means being operable to cut the tape with the tacky side of the tape facing downwardly toward and engaging the upwardly facing side of said longitudinally extending tape support and with the backing side of the tape facing upwardly, second gripper means for gripping the predetermined length of tape while the tacky side of the predetermined length of tape is facing downwardly toward and engaging the upwardly facing side of said longitudinally extending tape support and while the backing side of the predetermined length of the tape is facing upwardly, and second gripper drive means for moving said second gripper means and the predetermined length of the tape away from said upwardly facing side of said longitudinally extending tape support.
An apparatus for use in handling tape having a backing side and a tacky side, said apparatus comprising tape feed means disposed adjacent to a first end portion of a path for feeding tape from a source of tape toward a second end portion of the path, tape engaging means for engaging an end portion of the tape adjacent to said tape feed means, and drive means for moving said tape engaging means away from said tape feed means toward the second end portion of the path at a speed which is the same as the speed at which tape is fed by said tape feed means to tend to minimize tension in the portion of the tape disposed between said tape feed means and said tape engaging means.
An apparatus for use in handling tape having a backing side and a tacky side, said apparatus comprising a longitudinally extending tape support, means for withdrawing a predetermined length of tape from a source of tape and for positioning the predetermined length of tape on said tape support, cutter means for cutting the tape to separate the predetermined length of tape from the source of tape while the predetermined length of tape is on said tape support, and means for engaging the predetermined length of tape while the predetermined length of tape is on said tape support and for moving the predetermined length of tape away from said tape support to a use location.
An apparatus for use in handling tape having a backing side and a tacky side, said apparatus comprising a longitudinally extending tape support, means for withdrawing a predetermined length of tape from a source of tape with the tacky side of the tape facing downwardly and for positioning the predetermined length of tape on said tape support with the tacky side of the tape facing downwardly, cutter means for cutting the tape to separate the predetermined length of tape from the source of tape while the predetermined length of tape is on said tape support with the tacky side of the tape facing downwardly toward and engaging said tape support, and means for applying fluid pressure against the tacky side of the tape after cutting of the tape by said cutter means to facilitate disengagement of the tape from said tape support.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.