US 5,312,015 A · Gated-loop packaging system and manipulating apparatus

Abstract

A tape-form packaging system is provided having an elongated carrier tape on which a plurality of elongated article-receiving loops are mounted on a face of the tape in transversely oriented relationship to the longitudinal axis of the tape with the axial ends of the loops spaced a distance inwardly from the longitudinal edges of the tape. Gating elements are affixed to the carrier tape with a gating element positioned between each axial end of a loop and the adjacent longitudinal edge of the carrier tape and operative to block axial movement of an article into or out of the respective loop. The carrier tape is flexible and upon flexing of the marginal edge portion of the tape, the gating element is displaced out of blocking relationship to the loop permitting axial displacement of an article into or out of a loop. A tape-manipulating apparatus is provided for flexing of a marginal longitudinal edge portion of a strip-form tape packaging system to temporarily remove a gating element from blocking relationship with respect to a respective article-receiving loop. Guide rails are provided to engage with the longitudinal edges of the tape as it passes through an article-transfer station to prevent displacement of the tape in its plane transversely to its longitudinal axis and to restrain the tape against displacement laterally with respect to its plane. A bending rail is positioned in the article-transfer station to bring an edge of the rail that is inclined to the path of movement of the tape into contacting engagement with the tape and effect flexing of a marginal edge portion of the tape a sufficient distance out of the plane of the tape as to displace the gating elements out of blocking relationship to an axial end of a respective loop. An elongated back-up rail is supported in contacting engagement with the face of the tape opposite the loops and at a position to maintain the loops in a planar path of movement through the article-transfer station.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A gated-loop tape packaging system for articles comprising

an elongated flexible carrier tape of planar strip-form having opposed faces and predetermined width having longitudinally extending edges,
a plurality of elongated article-receiving loops carried on said carrier tape on one of its faces in serially disposed, relatively spaced relationship along the longitudinal axis of said carrier tape, each of said loops being of elongated configuration oriented with its longitudinal axis extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of said carrier tape and being open at least at one end to permit passage of an article into or out of said loop through said open end, said loops being positioned on said carrier tape with the open ends thereof spaced a distance inwardly from a respective adjacent longitudinal edge of said carrier tape, and
a plurality of gating elements carried by said carrier tape with one of said gating elements disposed between an open end of each loop and the adjacent longitudinal edge of said carrier tape in blocking relationship to the open end of a respective loop to prevent axial displacement of an article with respect to that loop, said gating elements being located at a position intermediate the axial end of a respective loop and the adjacent longitudinal edge of said carrier tape and of a configuration to project a predetermined distance laterally from the face of said carrier tape whereby bending of the marginal edge portion of said carrier tape about a longitudinal axis with respect to the carrier tape and located intermediate said loop and longitudinal edge of said carrier tape to a predetermined extent of substantially less than at right angles out of its plane and in a direction away from the face of said carrier tape on which said loops are carried displaces the gating element out of blocking relationship with respect to the associated loop, thereby permitting axial displacement of an article into or out of said loop.

A tape-manipulating apparatus for a tape-form article packaging system having an elongated, flat strip carrier tape with longitudinally extending edges and provided with a plurality of elongated article-retaining loops carried on the tape and gating elements carried on the tape in cooperative relationship to the loops for displacement between a position blocking movement of articles into or out of a respective loop and a non-blocking position where they do not block movement of articles, the tape-manipulating apparatus being positioned at an article-transfer station where the packaging system is longitudinally advanced therethrough for enabling entrance or exit of an article with respect to a loop at an article-transfer point located within the article-transfer station and comprising

guide means for mechanically engaging the carrier tape at opposite longitudinal edges and restraining the tape against displacement in the plane of the carrier tape and transversely to the tape's longitudinal axis while the respective portion of the tape is in the article-transfer station,
tape bending means mechanically engageable with the carrier tape for laterally displacing a marginal edge portion of the carrier tape and to displace a gating element toward a position out of blocking relationship to a respective loop while the loop is at the article-transfer point.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Gated-loop packaging system and manipulating apparatus

Life of this patent

Gated-loop packaging system and manipulating apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31