Patent Grant
10160616
The present disclosure relates to an adhesive tape dispenser and to an adhesive tape roll.
Adhesive tape dispensers are in use for a long time. It can be differentiated between adhesive tape dispensers to be used as stationary or for household purposes and adhesive tape dispensers used for packaging of large articles. In the latter case conventional adhesive tape dispensers are usually equipped with a handle or a grip. An example of such adhesive tape dispenser can be found in DE 20 2010 017 005 U1. Here, the handle or grip member is radially aligned with respect to the core element of the adhesive tape roll.
Even for commercial packaging purposes adhesive tape dispensers are regularly operated manually. Packaging by use of conventional adhesive tape dispensers can be rather laborious and tedious and due to tiring may result in incomplete or insufficient packaging causing the risk that the packaged product will be prematurely unfastened.
It would thus be desirable to be able to make use of improved adhesive tape dispensers. Accordingly, it has been an object of the present disclosure to make available adhesive tape dispensers which have improved ergonomic properties and which allow for a more reliable packaging even after longer periods of continuous use.
The problem underlying the present disclosure has been solved by an adhesive tape dispenser, for an adhesive tape roll having a core element, said dispenser essentially consisting of or comprising
Accordingly, it has been found to be advantageous to arrange the first bearing member, in particular the first bearing shaft, or the second bearing shaft, in particular the receiving member, and/or the center of gravity of the dispenser between the grip member and the applicator unit, in particular, with regard to a hypothetic axis or plane to be formed between the grip member, in particular that portion to be regularly held by the hand during operation, and the applicator unit and running through the first or second bearing member and/or through the center of gravity of the dispensing unit. In an advantageous embodiment said hypothetical axis or plane is in particular essentially in parallel to the longitudinal orientation, i.e. longitudinal axis of the grip member, in particular that portion of the grip member which is held by the hand during regular operation of the adhesive tape dispenser, and in particular also orthogonal with regard to the shortest distance between the longitudinal axis of the grip member and the first or second bearing member and/or of the center of gravity of the dispenser. In one preferred embodiment said shortest distance is meant to be the shortest distance between the longitudinal axis of the grip member and the first or second bearing member and/or of the center of gravity of the dispenser when this line determining the shortest distance is orthogonal to both said hypothetical plane or axis and the longitudinal axis of the grip member, in particular that portion being held by the hand during operation.
Accordingly, it is preferred that the applicator unit is essentially opposite the grip member, in particular opposite that portion of the grip member which is held by the hand during regular operation of the adhesive tape dispenser, with regard to the above-described hypothetical axis, in particular plane. In one embodiment it is sufficient that the applicator unit is lying on that side of the above-mentioned hypothetical axis or plane which is opposite the grip member, in particular that portion being held by the hand during operation. By having the grip member and the applicator unit arranged on opposite sides with regard to the first or second bearing member and/or of the center of gravity of the dispenser or with regard to the hypothetical axis or plane as described above, it is possible to align the longitudinal axis of the grip member, in particular that portion being held by the hand during operation, essentially in parallel to the plane that portion of the adhesive tape is lying in which is released from the applicator unit when being applied to a surface. Or in other words, the dispenser of the present disclosure allows to align the longitudinal axis of the grip member, in particular that portion being held by the hand during operation, essentially in parallel to the surface of the object to which the adhesive tape shall be applied. This allows for a very ergonomic handling.
With the applicator unit the adhesive tape is regularly applied to an object. The applicator unit may also be called a dispenser unit.
The fastening means for the cutting blade can comprise, for example, screws or pins which are placed through respective holes in the cutting blade, or can comprise a clamp or a holder which fixes the cutting blade, preferably in a releasable manner so that it can be easily replaced.
The applicator unit advantageously comprises a rotatably mounted roll. Such roll is particularly suited for safely and reliably attaching the adhesive tape to objects.
According to a preferred embodiment the longitudinal axis of the grip member which has a longitudinal orientation is aligned essentially in parallel and spaced apart from a tangent which is alignable to the outer circular contour of an adhesive tape roll supportable or supported on said receiving member or on said first bearing shaft and/or to the bearing shaft of the first or second bearing member. Moreover, said longitudinal axis, including any extension of said axis beyond the opposite ends of the grip member, is preferably spaced apart from the outer contour of an adhesive tape roll supportable or supported on said receiving member or on said first bearing shaft. Such construction usually allows to arrive at a highly ergonomic adhesive tape dispenser.
Moreover, it has been surprisingly found out that when the longitudinal axis of the grip member having a longitudinal orientation is aligned essentially in parallel to the plate-shaped or rod-shaped release device for the cutting blade the severing process can be conducted in a very reliable manner and that essentially any premature cutting can be prevented.
According to another embodiment of the adhesive tape dispenser of the present disclosure the longitudinal orientation of the grip member is aligned essentially in parallel to a tangent which is alignable to the outer contour of an adhesive tape roll supportable or supported on said receiving member or on said first bearing shaft.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure the adhesive tape dispenser further comprises an, in particular plate-shaped, arc-shaped or angled, spacer having a spacer surface facing away from the first or second bearing member and having a first segment which is turned towards the dispensing unit, in particular the rotatably mounted roll, and a second segment which is facing away from said dispensing unit, in particular from the rotatably mounted roll. The spacer is mounted to the carrier unit or is integral with said carrier unit and is arranged adjacent to the rotatably mounted roll of the dispensing unit. And, the spacer is also arranged, with regard to the holder or fastening means of the cutting blade on the other side of said roll.
Said spacer can be fixedly attached to the carrier unit. Alternatively, said spacer can be movably fastened to said carrier unit, e.g. to the housing, in particular rotatably or pivotably attached. Said spacer on the one hand protects both the housing/carrier unit as well as the adhesive tape which is unwound from the adhesive tape roll and guided towards and over the dispensing unit to objects. Furthermore by arranging said spacer adjacent to the dispensing unit the operationally active region of the tape dispenser is limited to the most favored site of the carrier unit. In case the spacer is rotatably or pivotably mounted to the carrier unit, it can be moved towards the dispensing unit during operation and thereby push against an adhesive tape being guided on the rotatably mounted roll.
Accordingly, in one embodiment the spacer is pivotably or rotatably mounted about an axis on the carrier unit and is arranged and adjusted in such a manner that the first segment of the spacer which is turned towards the dispensing unit, in particular towards the rotatably mounted roll, is pressed against said roll or against the adhesive tape being guided on said roll when the adhesive tape dispenser is in operation.
It has been found to be beneficial that the first segment which is turned towards the dispensing unit, in particular towards the rotatably mounted roll, is angled with regard to the spacer surface. This allows the spacer to properly function as a spacer even when tilted towards the dispensing unit. The spacer surface in this embodiment can still be placed in parallel to the surface of the object.
With the adhesive tape dispenser according to the present disclosure it has been found to be advantageous to make use of a connecting member which aids in bridging the gap between the grip member, i.e. the grip or handle portion which is held by the user during regular operation of the adhesive tape dispenser, and the carrier unit, in particular housing. By use of the connecting member the gap between on the one hand the grip member and on the other hand the carrier unit or the housing or the adhesive tape roll fixed to the carrier unit or the housing can be adjusted so that the fingers can be safely and easily placed in this gap thereby allowing to firmly hold the grip member. The distance between the grip member and the carrier unit, housing or tape roll can for example be in the range from 2 cm to 6 cm or from 2.5 cm to 4.5 cm. In a preferred embodiment the connecting member comprises a first and an opposite second end and a longitudinal orientation between said first and second end. In this embodiment said first end is joined or combinable with the carrier unit and said second end is joined or combinable with the grip member. Here the longitudinal orientation of the connecting member and the longitudinal orientation of the grip member at its second end of said connecting member and facing towards the carrier unit are forming an obtuse angle, a right angle or a pointed angle, in particular an obtuse angle.
It is preferred that the longitudinal orientation of the connecting member is aligned essentially in parallel and optionally spaced apart from a tangent which is alignable to the outer contour of an adhesive tape roll supportable or supported on said receiving member or on said first bearing shaft.
It has been found to be of particular advantage when the connecting member is arranged and adapted in such a manner that the grip member is laterally spaced apart from the carrier unit, in particular from the housing, and/or spaced apart from an adhesive tape roll supportable or supported on said receiving member or on said first bearing shaft. In such a manner the handling of the adhesive tape dispenser can be greatly facilitated.
With the adhesive tape dispenser of the present disclosure also those embodiments are included in which at least component of the grip member and a component of the carrier unit, in particular the housing, are made in one piece. For example, the housing of such adhesive tape dispenser can be made of two halves, which in particular act as image and mirror-image, and which halves also include part of the grip member.
According to another preferred embodiment the adhesive tape dispenser further comprises a swivel arm, in particular comprising or made of metal, pivotably mounted about a rotational axis to the carrier unit comprising a first and an opposite second end comprising at or adjacent to said first end said first bearing member, in particular said first rotatably mounted bearing shaft, or said second bearing member, in particular said receiving member, and adjacent to said second end a pivotable connecting means, in particular comprising or made of metal, with the carrier unit, and further comprising an elastic element or a spring element, in particular a yoke spring, adapted and arranged in a manner that it exerts a spring load onto the swivel arm, in particular located at the connecting means. The swivel arm including the connecting means, and in particular also the second bearing member, are preferably made of metal, most preferable in one piece.
In a preferred embodiment at or adjacent to the first end of the swivel arm there is provided a first guiding means, which in particular is an extension of the swivel arm, and an, in particular arc-shaped, second guiding means, in particular a guiding groove or guiding rail, e.g. a stop landing location for the swivel arm. Said first guiding means engages with said second guiding means in order to safely and reliably guide any movement of the swivel arm. Accordingly, said swivel arm is pivotably mounted about a rotational axis comprising a first end and an opposite second end. At or adjacent to said first end said swivel arm comprises said first bearing member, in particular said first rotatably mounted bearing shaft, or said second bearing member, in particular said rotatably mounted receiving member for receiving the core element of an adhesive tape roll, and at or adjacent to said second end a rotatable connecting means with the carrier unit. By use of a swivel arm it can be taken care of the fact that the diameter of the adhesive tape roll changes significantly during use. This can advantageously be accomplished by such adhesive tape dispenser which further comprises an elastic element or a spring element, in particular a yoke spring, which exerts a spring load onto the swivel arm, in particular located at the connecting means.
In a very pragmatic embodiment it is provided that at or adjacent to the second end of the swivel arm there is, with regard to said first end of said swivel arm, on the other side of the first or second bearing member a first guiding means which is facing towards the adjacent carrier unit, in particular a protrusion, or which is an extension of the swivel arm. In addition with this embodiment there is provided in or on said adjacent part of the carrier unit an, in particular arc-shaped, second guiding means, in particular a guiding groove or guiding rail. Said first guiding means is arranged and adapted that it engages with said second guiding means. By use of corresponding first and second guiding means even very heavy, i.e. large adhesive tape rolls can be operated without any problems. Moreover, by use of said guiding means the swivel arm does not wear out or is not impaired even when the adhesive tape dispenser is permanently in use.
Moreover, with the circumferential extension of said second guiding means the extent of pivoting of the swivel arm can be accurately determined thereby omitting any unnecessary clearance. In such a manner care can even be taken as to the maximum size of adhesive tape rolls to be used with a specific tape dispenser.
Those adhesive tape dispensers have been found to be advantageous which further comprise a support member, in particular having a cylindrical shape, which is connected to the carrier unit and which in particular is rotatable about its axis. Said support member can for example be a fixed support arm, and may also act as a limit stopper. Said fixed support member, e.g. limit stopper, is arranged and adjusted to support the adhesive tape roll by pressing against said support member via the swivel arm being impacted by said spring element, i.e. by spring force. By use of said support member, e.g. in the form of a fixed arm, not only the housing but also the tape being guided from the adhesive tape roll to the dispensing unit can be protected. It furthermore allows for smoothly unwinding adhesive tape from the tape roll irrespective of the (remaining) size of said roll. Moreover, by use of said support member, in particular a fixed support arm, any noise generated in connection with unwinding and applying adhesive tape to an object can be significantly reduced.
Preferred embodiments of the adhesive tape dispenser according to the present disclosure have been found to be most suitable which further comprise an, in particular plate-shaped or rod-shaped, release device for the cutting blade (152 in
Another preferred embodiment of the adhesive tape dispenser according to the present disclosure further comprises at least one guide element, in particular guide lug, adapted and arranged in such a manner that adhesive tape is guided between said at least one guide element and the support member, in particular the fixed arm, towards the applicator unit. By use of said guide element premature adhesion of an adhesive tape to an object can be prevented.
According to another preferred embodiment the grip member of the adhesive tape dispenser of the present disclosure comprises a recess, in particular a recess for a thumb, at one of its endings and/or at the transition to the connecting member. In this manner a very safe handling of the adhesive tape dispenser can be accomplished.
The grip member preferably has a longitudinal orientation. Moreover, said longitudinal orientation is advantageously aligned essentially in parallel to and spaced apart from a tangent applied to the outer contour of an adhesive tape roll supportable or supported on said receiving member or on said first bearing shaft. Different from prior art adhesive tape dispensers, with the present disclosure the grip member or the longitudinal orientation of the grip member is preferably not aligned radially in relation to the bearing shaft of the first or second bearing member and/or is not aligned radially in relation to an adhesive tape roll supportable or supported on said receiving member or on said first bearing shaft.
It is also preferred that the grip member comprises at least one recess, in particular a multitude of recesses, in particular in the form of holes, on its surface. By use of said recesses the hand by which the grip is used can experience some ventilation during use. In addition, the amount of sweating in the palm of a hand can be reduced. This allows to reduce accidents on the job and also a more reliable operation during the packaging process.
It is also possible to make use of a grip member which is hollow at least in sections. Such grip member contributes to reducing the weight of the adhesive tape dispenser of the disclosure even further.
The adhesive tape dispenser of the present disclosure can be provided with any conventional adhesive tape roll or preferably with an adhesive tape roll according to the present disclosure as outlined below. Suitable adhesive tape rolls have a core element, which is rotatably mounted on the bearing shaft of the first bearing member or on the receiving member, wherein the adhesive tape is wound onto the core element.
It is most preferred to make use of a core element which comprises a receiving opening extending through the core element in the longitudinal direction which receiving opening has a polygonal cross-section. Those adhesive tape dispenser allow for a very facile and accurate operation in which the receiving opening of the core element comprises at least one stop at or adjacent to an end of the receiving opening.
In order to allow for a reliable release of the adhesive tape roll the first bearing shaft or the receiving member should comprise at least one engaging element for engaging interaction with the core element of the adhesive tape roll. Moreover, the core element should also comprise at least one release mechanism for releasing the engaging interaction in order to allow removal of the adhesive tape roll.
Accordingly, in a very pragmatic embodiment the first bearing shaft or the receiving member comprises at least one, in particular spring loaded, engaging element for engaging interaction with the core element of the adhesive tape roll. Moreover, it has been found to be particularly advantageous that said first or second bearing member comprises at least one release mechanism for disengaging the engaging interaction, e.g. by pressing the release mechanism button, in order to allow removal of the adhesive tape roll.
Those adhesive tape dispenser according to the present disclosure have been found to be of advantage, in particular in terms of ergonomics in which the center of gravity of the adhesive tape dispenser is located at or adjacent to the first bearing member, the second bearing member or the receiving member.
Accordingly, the adhesive tape dispenser of the present disclosure is preferably equipped with a core element which comprises a receiving opening extending through the core element in the longitudinal direction from a first end to an opposed second end and having a polygonal cross-section which cross-section essentially corresponds in form and shape with the polygonal cross-section of the bearing shaft of the first bearing member or with that of the receiving member so that said first bearing shaft or said receiving member is insertable, essentially in a perfectly fitting manner, into the receiving opening.
The walls forming the receiving opening preferably comprise sections having a circular shape, wherein these circular-shaped sections are disposed on the circumference of a circle the center of which essentially corresponds to the center of the adhesive tape roll.
By use of a core element which beyond the receiving opening and the walls forming the receiving opening comprises a multitude of ribs the weight of an adhesive tape dispenser according to the disclosure can be significantly reduced without sacrificing on the side of mechanic stability.
In another embodiment those sections of the walls forming the receiving opening which have a circular-shaped cross-section can also comprise a bulge, in particular centrally located within said section having a circular-shaped cross-section. Said bulge interrupts the circular-shaped cross-section and projects into the receiving opening. Said bulge preferably has a semi-circular cross-section. It preferably does not extend into the receiving opening such that it may interfere with the polygonal cross-section.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure an adhesive tape roll is provided consisting of or comprising a core which comprises a receiving opening extending through the core in the longitudinal direction and an adhesive tape which is wound onto the core, wherein the core consists of or comprises a plastic material or a metal material, preferably a plastic material, that the receiving opening which extends through the core has a polygonal cross-section, and that at least one stop is provided at an end of the receiving opening. By use of polygonal cross-section not only the life-time of the product can be prolonged, it also is possible to apply force more accurately onto the adhesive tape roll.
The adhesive tape roll of this aspect of the present disclosure is preferably provided with a core which consists of or comprises, on the one hand, an outer sleeve that receives the adhesive tape on its outer side and, on the other hand, an inner sleeve extending at a spacing from, and coaxially with the outer sleeve and which comprises the receiving opening, and wherein furthermore multiple connection bridges are distributed around the circumference of the inner hole of the outer sleeve and of the outer side of the inner sleeve, respectively, between the outer sleeve and the inner sleeve.
According to another advantageous embodiment of the adhesive tape roll of this aspect of the present disclosure the core is formed integrally from the outer sleeve, inner sleeve and connection bridges.
According to another advantageous embodiment of the adhesive tape roll of this aspect of the present disclosure molded-in elements having the shape of segments of a circle, which jointly form the cylindrical receiving opening, are provided in the walls of the inner sleeve that are formed by the polygonal cross-section of the receiving opening.
According to another advantageous embodiment of the adhesive tape roll of this aspect of the present disclosure an inner circumferential groove is molded in on the inner side of the inner sleeve or molded into the receiving opening.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure a device for unwinding an adhesive tape roll is provided, essentially consisting of or comprising at least a grip element for handling the device, a bearing element for receiving the core of the adhesive tape roll and rotatably supporting said roll, and a dispensing element for attaching the adhesive tape to objects, wherein the bearing element consists of a bearing shaft which is fixedly arranged on the device and on which a receiving element for the adhesive tape roll is rotatably supported, wherein the outer contour of the receiving element has a polygonal cross-section.
With said device for unwinding an adhesive tape roll it is preferred that at least one latching element is radially movably guided in the receiving element, which latching element engages in an inner circumferential groove in a receiving opening of the core of the adhesive tape roll after the adhesive tape roll has been mounted. Here, the latching element advantageously is a ball or said latching elements are balls. Those devices are also preferred in which the latching element(s) is/are held in a locked position by a spring load.
According to another advantageous embodiment of the device for unwinding an adhesive tape roll the latching element(s) is/are switched from its/their locked position into an unlocked position by operating an unlocking element for removing the adhesive tape roll from the receiving element.
According to another advantageous embodiment of the device for unwinding an adhesive tape roll the unlocking element is guided and can move in axial direction between the bearing shaft and the receiving element. And, the latching element(s) protrude(s) from the outer circumference of the receiving element in the locked position, and the latching element(s) is/are moved into, and held in, a recess in the unlocking element after the unlocking element is axially moved into the unlocked position. Said recess in the unlocking element is preferably formed by an outer circumferential groove molded in on its outer circumference. Moreover, in a pragmatic embodiment the unlocking element is held in the locked position under a spring load.
In the following description, the patented disclosure is explained in more detail by means of preferred embodiments of an adhesive tape dispenser wherein
In
In the embodiment depicted in
Details of the swivel arm 132 can also be derived from
The embodiment of an adhesive tape dispenser 100 as shown in
Details of how to operate the adhesive tape dispenser 100 of the present disclosure can also be visualized based on
In
In
In
Another preferred embodiment of an adhesive tape dispenser 100 of the present disclosure is depicted in
The core 2 preferably consists of a plastic. As shown in
The core 2 may consist, on the one hand, of an outer sleeve 9 that receives the adhesive tape 4 on its outer side 8 and, on the other hand, of an inner sleeve 10 extending at a spacing from, and coaxially with, the outer sleeve 9 and comprising the receiving opening 3. Multiple connection bridges 14 may be distributed on the circumference 11 of the inner hole 12 of the outer sleeve 9 and on the outer side 13 of the inner sleeve 10, respectively, between the outer sleeve 9 and the inner sleeve 10. The core 2 may be formed integrally from the outer sleeve 9, inner sleeve 10, and connection bridges 14.
Molded-in elements 16 having the shape of segments of a circle when seen in cross-section, which jointly form a cylindrical receiving hole 17, may be provided in the walls 15 of the inner sleeve 10 that are formed by the polygonal cross-section of the receiving opening 3. This ensures the use of the adhesive tape roll 1 in devices for unwinding adhesive tape rolls which comprise a cylindrical receiving element.
An inner circumferential groove 19 in which at least one latching element can engage may be molded in on the inner side 18 of the inner sleeve 10 or molded into the receiving opening 3.
The bearing element 23 may consist of a bearing shaft 27 which is fixedly arranged on the device 20 and on which a receiving element 28 for the adhesive tape roll 21 may be rotatably supported. The outer contour of the receiving element 28 may have a polygonal cross-section, which enables a positive-locking connection with the adhesive tape roll 21.
As shown in a simplified manner in the embodiment according to
The latching element(s) 29 may be held in the locked position by a spring load (not shown).
For removing the adhesive tape roll 21 from the receiving element 28, the latching element(s) 29 is/are switched from its/their locked position into an unlocked position by operating an unlocking element 32.
The unlocking element 32 can be guided and can move in the axial direction in the receiving element 28 between the bearing shaft 27 and the receiving element 28, wherein the latching element(s) 29 protrude(s) from the outer circumference 33 of the receiving element 28 in the locked position. After axially moving the unlocking element 32 into the unlocked position, the latching element(s) 29 can enter a recess 34 in the unlocking element 32 and be held in said recess.
The recess 34 in the unlocking element 32 may be formed by an outer circumferential groove 36 molded in on its outer circumference 35. The unlocking element 32 may be held in the locked position under a spring load.
The device 20 may also be used for unwinding the adhesive tape roll 1.
Although modifications and changes may be suggested by those skilled in the art, it is the intention of the applicant to embody within the patent warranted hereon all changes and modifications as reasonably and probably come within the scope of this contribution to the art. The features of the present disclosure which are believed to be novel are set forth in detail in the appended claims. The features disclosed in the description, the figures as well as the claims could be essential alone or in every combination for the realization of the disclosure in its different embodiments.
Priority patent filing document DE 10 2014 209 834.3 filed May 23, 2014 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2014 209 834 | May 2014 | DE | national |
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| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 20004301 | Jun 2000 | DE |
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| Entry |
|---|
| European Search Report issued in connection with European application No. EP 15169000; dated Feb. 29, 2016. |
| Written Opinion issued in connection with European application No. EP 15169000; dated Feb. 29, 2016. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20150336761 A1 | Nov 2015 | US |
