Device for transferring a material in the form of a film that is applied to a carrier strip onto a substrate

#The invention relates to a device for transferring a material in the form of a film applied to a carrier strip onto a substrate, such as a sheet of writing or drawing paper, comprising a housing in which a supply reel for the film-coated carrier strip and an empty reel for receiving the de-coated carrier strip are arranged, wherein the film-coated carrier strip is guided over an applicator foot provided at least in the region which is looped around by the carrier strip with a clip-type slide element of a friction-reducing material secured to the applicator foot.

#Hand devices of that kind for transferring a film (for example, adhesive strip, concealing substance, marking ink, etc.) are known. In that case, in order to achieve a smooth motion and good capability of transfer of the film onto the substrate various embodiments for the shapes of the applicator foot are known. Thus, the applicator foot can be equipped with, for example, an applicator roller which preferably has a rubber-elastic running surface. However, as the external diameter of a functionally effective applicator roller cannot be kept as small as desired, because a good adaptation to the substrate requires a minimum thickness for the elastic running ring and the rotational mobility presupposes a sufficient difference between axle stub and external diameter, such an applicator roller has disadvantages. Accordingly, in most solutions the applicator foot usually has an applicator strip which has advantages relative to an applicator roller, as a sharper angling of the carrier strip is possible in the transfer phase, whereby the torn-off piece has less tendency to formation of a wavy edge after completion of the transfer. Thereagainst it is disadvantageous relative to the applicator roller solution that in the case of the applicator strip the carrier strip is guided thereover with a friction couple which, in dependence on the respective carrier strip quality, can lead to undesired heavygoing.

#In principle, synthetic materials which have a good sliding property are known, for example polytetrafluorethylenes (PTFE), but which are higher in cost by a multiple than the standard materials usually used for the components of a device of the kind in question. Accordingly, the use of an applicator foot of polytetrafluorethylene is excluded on cost grounds.

#The invention is hereinafter described in more detail by way of example with reference to the drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of an applicator foot of a device according to the state of the art, without slide element,

#FIG. 2 is a side view partly in section of the applicator foot of a device according to the invention, without slide element,

#A conventional device according to the state of the art for transferring a material in the form of a film applied to a carrier strip onto a substrate is illustrated, without slide element, in FIG. 1, although only with the parts significant for the invention, namely an applicator foot which is denoted generally by 1. This applicator foot 1 is equipped with an applicator strip 2, around which a coated carrier strip 3, coming from a supply reel, which is not illustrated, of the device is guided. After the transfer of the coating 4 onto a substrate it is passed on as an empty strip 5 to a winding-up reel, which is not illustrated. It has emerged that such an applicator foot 1 is not satisfactory with respect to easy motion of the device and faultless transfer of the film onto the substrate.

#According to the invention another design of the applicator foot is therefore provided, this being illustrated in FIG. 2 et seq.

#An applicator foot according to the invention of a device in accordance with the invention is denoted generally by 6 in the figures. This applicator foot 6 comprises strip guide ears 7 between which the carrier strip is guided. The applicator foot 6 is provided with an extension arm 9 pivotably hinged to the applicator foot 6 by way of a film hinge 8. This extension arm 9 is formed at its end as a receiving profile member (end portion 10) for a clip-type slide element 15. Grooves 13 are cut out of the applicator foot 6 and serve the purpose of achieving a detent latching of the extension arm 9 to the applicator foot 6 in the pivoted-in position of the extension arm 9, for which purpose detent dogs 12 are provided on the extension arm 9 at both outer sides.