Apparatus and method for automatically adhering tapes

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for automatically adhering tapes, more particularly, to an apparatus and a method capable of automatically adhering a double-faced adhesive tape for splicing papers and a fixing adhesive tape for fixing a tip portion of a stock paper to a side of a stock paper roll to the tip portion of the stock paper in a stock paper wound roll.

2. Description of the Related Art

A stock paper roll including a hollow core around which a continuous stock paper such as a long continuous paper, film, or metal foil or a composite sheet such as a laminated film, etc. is wound has been widely used in various kinds of applications in many industries. For instance, in off-set and rotary letterpress printing machines, a roll body (referred to as a stock paper roll hereinafter) around which a web (referred to as a stock paper hereinafter) to be printed is wound in a rolled manner is loaded on a stock paper feeding device from which the stock paper is fed.

Apart from the stock paper roll currently being fed, the stock paper roll of the same or another kind is loaded on the stock paper feeding device to stand by. When the diameter of the current stock paper roll becomes small, or when the stock paper roll is to be replaced with the stock paper roll of another standard due to an order change, the terminal end of the current stock paper roll and the tip portion of the standby stock paper roll are spliced by a splicer provided on the stock paper feeding device. When paper is spliced by the splicer, double-faced adhesive tape has to be adhered in advance to the tip portion of the stock paper of a new stock paper roll to be spliced. For this reason, a length of double-faced adhesive tape is adhered to the tip portion of the stock paper at the operation site before the stock paper roll is loaded on the stock paper feeding device.

Since the operation for adhering the double-faced adhesive tape to the tip portion of the stock paper roll has been manually conducted up to now, no labor saving has been possible. In addition, when the stock paper roll is transported for loading on the stock paper feeding device, the stock paper may accidentally be drawn out of the stock paper roll unless the tip portion of the stock paper is fixed on the stock paper roll. Therefore, apart from the double-faced adhesive tape for splicing, fixing adhesive tape for fixing the tip portion of the stock paper roll to the side of the stock paper roll is manually adhered to a plurality of positions on the stock paper roll widthwisely spaced apart from each other. Such being the case, the manual operation for adhering the double-faced adhesive tape and the fixing adhesive tape is time-consuming and can interfere with labor saving and automation of the entire production line.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention was accomplished to eliminate the disadvantages caused by the foregoing problems. The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for automatically adhering tapes capable of automating adherence of a double-faced adhesive tape and a fixing adhesive tape to a tip portion of a stock paper of a stock paper wound roll, thereby saving time and labor.

This object is achieved according to the present invention in one aspect thereof by providing an apparatus for automatically adhering tapes, which adheres a double-faced adhesive tape (

10

) to a tip portion (

11

a

) of a stock paper roll (

11

) around which a stock paper is wound and adheres at least one fixing adhesive tape (

12

) so as to bridge the tip portion and the stock paper roll, the apparatus comprising means (A) for transporting the double-faced adhesive tape which includes an endless belt (

15

) transporting the double-faced adhesive tape while at the same time holding the double-faced adhesive tape on its transporting surface, means (B) for feeding the double-faced adhesive tape which feeds the double-faced adhesive tape to the transporting surface of the endless belt while simultaneously stripping a strip paper (

21

) adhered to one face of the double-faced adhesive tape, means (D) for feeding the fixing adhesive tape which cuts a continuous fixing adhesive tape to a predetermined length and adheres the cut fixing adhesive tape by an adhering surface thereof to the double-faced adhesive tape held on the endless belt with a portion of the fixing adhesive tape extending beyond the double-faced adhesive tape, means (C) for cutting the double-faced adhesive tape to a predetermined length, and means (E) for adhering the double-faced adhesive tape and the fixing adhesive tape including posture changeable means (

56

,

67

) which takes a first posture in which the double-faced adhesive tape and the fixing adhesive tape both held on the endless belt are received and a second posture in which the double-faced adhesive tape and the fixing adhesive tape are adhered, the posture changeable means receiving the double-faced adhesive tape and the fixing adhesive tape at the first posture is shifted to take the second posture, whereby the posture changeable means and said stock paper roll are brought close in order for the double-faced adhesive tape to be adhered to the tip portion of the stock paper and in order for the fixing adhesive tape to be adhered to the tip portion of the stock paper and the stock paper roll in a bridging manner.

This object is achieved according to the present invention in another aspect thereof by providing a method for automatically adhering tapes, which adheres a double-faced adhesive tape to a tip portion of a stock paper roll around which a stock paper is wound and adheres at least one fixing adhesive tape to bridge the tip portion and the stock paper roll, the method comprising the steps of conducting and halting the transportation of the double-faced adhesive tape intermittently while sucking and thus holding the double-faced adhesive tape on a transporting surface of an endless belt, cutting the fixing adhesive tape to a predetermined length during a halt of the transportation of the endless belt while facing an adhesive surface of the fixing adhesive tape toward the double-faced adhesive tape held on the endless belt to adhere the fixing adhesive tape to the double-faced adhesive tape in such a way that the fixing adhesive tape extends beyond the double-faced adhesive tape, cutting the double-faced adhesive tape to a predetermined length; and adhering the double-faced adhesive tape to the tip portion of the stock paper while adhering the fixing adhesive tape to the tip portion of the stock paper and the stock paper roll in a bridging manner by receiving and holding the double-faced adhesive tape held on the endless belt and the fixing adhesive tape by a posture changeable means and then changing the posture of the posture changeable means which receives both adhesive tapes while bringing a tape holding surface of the posture changeable means and the stock paper roll close relative to each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of this invention that are believed to be novel are set forth specifically in the appended claims. The invention, together with the objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1

shows a schematic plan view of the apparatus for automatically adhering tapes of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 2

shows a plan view of the first feeding device of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3

shows a sectional side view of the cutting device of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4

shows a side view of the second feeding device of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5

shows a side view of the tape transporting device of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 6

shows a front view of the mechanism for reversing the transporting member of the tape transporting device of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 7

shows a main sectional view of the tape transporting device of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 8

shows an illustration of the situation in which the tip portion of the fixing adhesive tape is gripped by the second feeding device of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 9

shows an illustration of the situation in which the fixing adhesive tape is drawn out by the second feeding device of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 10

shows an illustration of the situation in which the fixing adhesive tape is adhered to the double-faced adhesive tape by the second feeding device of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 11

shows an illustration of the situation in which the fixing adhesive tape is adhered to the double-faced adhesive tape held on the endless belt by suction;

FIG. 12

shows an illustration of the situation in which the fixing adhesive tape and the double-faced adhesive tape are received from the endless belt by the tape transporting device of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 13

shows an illustration of the situation in which the fixing adhesive tape and the double-faced adhesive tape received by the tape transporting device of the preferred embodiment are oriented toward the stock paper roll;

FIG. 14

shows an illustration of the situation in which the fixing adhesive tape and the double-faced adhesive tape are adhered to the stock paper roll by the tape transporting device of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 15

shows an illustration of the situation in which the double-faced adhesive tape is securely transferred to the stock paper roll by the suck tube of the tape transporting device of the preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 16

shows a perspective view of the stock paper roll to the tip portion of which the fixing adhesive tape and the double-faced adhesive tape are adhered by the apparatus for automatically adhering tapes of the preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the apparatus and method for automatically adhering tapes according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1

schematically shows the overall structure of the apparatus for automatically adhering tapes according to a first embodiment of the invention. The apparatus M is basically comprised of a tape transporting device A which transports a double-faced adhesive tape cut to a predetermined length to a position facing the stock paper roll (the stock paper wound roll)

11

located at a standby position, a first feeding device B for the double-faced adhesive tape which feeds the double-faced adhesive tape to the tape transporting device A, a cutting device C which cuts the double-faced adhesive tape, a second tape feeding device D which adheres a fixing adhesive tape to the double-faced adhesive tape transported by the tape transporting device A, and a tape transferring device E which adheres the fixing adhesive tape

12

to the stock paper roll

11

. The stock paper roll

11

at the standby position is oriented with its stock paper tip portion

11

a

held downward to face the tape transferring device E.

The Tape Transporting Device

As shown

FIG. 1

, a pair of pulleys

14

are rotatably provided on an upper surface of the frame

13

of the apparatus. The pulleys are spaced apart in the widthwise direction of the stock paper roll

11

, which is held in the standby position by conventional means (not shown) such as a lifter, a fork lift, or the like. An endless belt

15

is wound around the pair of pulleys

14

with its transporting surface extending vertically. A transporting motor

16

is connected to one of the pulleys

14

to rotate in a predetermined direction so as to run the endless belt

15

in a predetermined direction (that indicated by an arrow in FIG.

1

). In the tape transporting device A, a negative pressure box

17

which communicates with a vacuum suction source (not shown) is provided at a transporting section between the upstream and downstream portions of the endless belt

15

. In addition, as shown in

FIG. 3

, the double-faced adhesive tape

10

is adapted to be sucked onto, and thus held on, the transporting surface at the front side of the endless belt

15

(that is directed toward the stock paper roll

11

at the standby position) by developing a negative pressure within the negative pressure box

17

due to the communication of an opening

17

a

of the negative box

17

formed on the front face which faces the stock paper roll

11

with a plurality of perforated holes

15

a

formed on the endless belt

15

. Since the endless belt

15

is in contact with the adhering surfaces of the double-faced adhesive tape

10

and the fixing adhesive tape

12

, and is contacted by a heated cutting member

30

described later, the endless belt

15

is made of a material to which the adhesive tapes

10

,

12

does not easily adhere and which has heat resistance. Such materials include silicon, nylon, etc.

The First Feeding Device for the Double-faced Adhesive Tape

The first feeding device B is provided on the frame

13

of the apparatus upstream in the transporting direction from the position where the endless belt

15

is provided to feed toward the endless belt

15

the double-faced adhesive tape

10

for splicing papers to the stock paper tip portion

11

a

of the stock paper roll

11

. Namely, as shown in

FIG. 2

, a vertical holder

18

including a flange

18

a

is rotatably provided on the upper surface of the frame

13

of the apparatus, and a tape roll

19

as a feed source on which the double-faced adhesive tape

10

is wound to a certain diameter is detachably loaded on the vertical holder

18

to rest on the upper surface of the flange

18

a

. The double-faced adhesive tape

10

of the tape roll

19

loaded on the holder

18

is fed toward the endless belt

15

of the tape transporting device A via an appropriately located guide roller

20

. The double-faced adhesive tape

10

has a strip paper

21

adhered to its one surface. A stripping plate

22

is disposed between the guide roller

20

and the endless belt

15

and is configured in such a way that the strip paper

21

guided along the stripping plate

22

to face the side of the stripping plate

22

of the adhesive tape

10

is folded at an open end portion of the stripping plate facing the endless belt

15

to be stripped from the double-faced adhesive tape

10

. In addition, a feed roller

23

, which cooperates with the endless belt

15

to sandwich the double-faced adhesive tape

10

from which the strip paper

21

has been stripped off, is rotatably provided near the open end of the stripping plate

22

. The double-faced adhesive tape

10

is drawn out from the tape roll

19

by rotating the roller

23

during travel of the endless belt

15

.

Two stripping rollers

24

and a winding roller

25

are rotatably provided on the upper surface of the frame

13

of the apparatus. The strip paper

21

stripped off the double-faced adhesive tape

10

is wound by the winding roller

25

via the stripping rollers

24

. The feed roller

23

, the stripping rollers

24

, and the winding roller

25

are intermittently rotated by a common drive motor

26

.

The Cutting Device of the Double-faced Adhesive Tape

The cutting device C is provided downstream in the transporting direction from the feeding position where the double-face adhesive tape is fed and at a position facing the transporting surface of the endless belt

15

by which the double-faced adhesive tape

10

on the endless belt

15

is sucked and thus held. In the cutting device, as shown in

FIG. 3

, a holder

28

is provided on a stationary frame

27

mounted on the frame

13

of the apparatus. The holder

28

is movable to and fro and can be moved toward or away from the endless belt

15

by forwardly and reversely energizing a cutting cylinder

29

provided on the stationary frame

27

. The electrically heatable cutting member

30

(for instance, an electrical heater) is mounted on the holder

28

to face the endless belt

15

and extend vertically. More specifically, the double-faced adhesive tape

10

held on the endless belt

15

by suction is melted and thus cut by energizing the cutting cylinder

29

to bring the holder

28

close to the endless belt

15

, whereby the cutting member

30

abuts against the double-faced adhesive tape

10

.

The Second Feeding Device for the Fixing Adhesive Tape

The second feeding device D, which adheres the fixing adhesive tape

12

for fixing the tip portion of the stock paper roll

11

to the stock paper roll to the double-faced adhesive tape

10

held on the endless belt

15

by suction, is provided downstream in the transporting direction of the endless belt

15

from the position where the cutting device is provided and at a position facing the endless belt

15

. Namely, as shown in

FIG. 4

, a base plate

31

of the second feeding device D is disposed perpendicular to the frame

13

of the apparatus. A holder

32

protruding horizontally from a side face of the base plate

31

is rotatably provided near an upper rear end thereof (the end adjacent to the endless belt

15

). A tape roll

33

around which the single-faced fixing adhesive tape

12

is wound is removably loaded on the holder

32

. A pair of upper and lower guide rollers

34

are rotatably provided on the portion of the base plate

31

below the holder

32

. The fixing adhesive tape

12

drawn out from the tape roll

33

is sandwiched and wound between the pair of guide rollers

34

. The tip portion of the fixing adhesive tape

12

wound around the rollers

34

is suspended from the lower roller

34

to a predetermined length, with its adhesive face facing the endless belt

15

.

A pair of horizontal guide rods

35

(only one is shown) extending from the front to the rear are provided on the base plate

31

. The guide rods

35

are parallel and vertically spaced apart from each other. A first carriage

36

is slidably provided on the guide rods

35

. A piston rod

37

a

of a cylinder

37

provided on the front portion of the base plate

31

is connected to the first carriage

36

. By forwardly and reversely energizing the cylinder

37

, the first carriage

36

can be moved between a standby position (

FIG. 9

) where it is away from the endless belt

15

and an adhering position (

FIG. 10

) where it is close to the endless belt

15

. In addition, a pair of vertical guide rods

38

are provided on the first carriage

36

. The vertical guide rods

38

are parallely spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction, and a second carriage

39

is slidably mounted on the guide rods

38

. A piston rod

40

a

of a cylinder

40

provided on the upper portion of the first carriage

36

is connected to the second carriage

39

. By forwardly and reversely energizing the cylinder

40

, the second carriage

39

can be moved between a grip position (

FIG. 8

) where the fixing adhesive tape

12

is gripped and a draw position (

FIG. 9

) where it is drawn.

An adhering member

41

is pivotably mounted near the rear portion of the second carriage

39

. A piston rod

42

a

of a cylinder

42

provided on the second carriage

39

is connected to the adhering member

41

. In addition, a gripping member

43

connected to the adhering member

41

by a suitable mechanism is rotatably provided below the adhering member

41

and on the second carriage

39

. The gripping member

43

abuts against the lower end of a press surface

41

a

of the adhering member

41

. The press surface

41

a

faces the endless belt

15

. The adhering member

41

and the gripping member

43

are moved toward and away from each other (see

FIGS. 8 and 9

) by forwardly and reversely energizing the gripping cylinder

42

, and when they are moved toward each other, they grip the tip portion of the fixing adhesive tape

12

suspended from the lower guide roller

34

.

A knife holder

44

is swingably provided on the base plate

31

, and a piston rod

45

a

of a cylinder

45

provided on the base plate

31

is connected to the knife holder

44

. A knife

46

is provided on the portion of the knife holder

44

behind the fixing adhesive tape

12

suspended from the lower guide roller

34

. The fixing adhesive tape

12

the tip portion of which is gripped by the adhering member

41

and the gripping member

43

is cut at a position below the lower guide roller

34

by forwardly and reversely energizing the cylinder

45

to swing the knife holder

44

. The length of the fixing adhesive tape

12

cut by the knife

46

is set in such a way that its longitudinal opposite ends vertically extend to a certain length beyond the double-faced adhesive tape

10

held on the endless belt

15

by suction, and that, as described later, the fixing adhesive tape

12

bridges between the tip portion

11

a

of the stock paper roll

11

and the stock paper roll when the double-faced adhesive tape

10

is adhered to the tip portion

11

a

of the stock paper roll

11

(see FIG.

16

).

The Tape Transferring Device

The tape transferring device E adheres the double-faced adhesive tape

10

and the fixing adhesive tape

12

, which are held on the endless belt

15

by suction, to the tip portion

11

a

of the stock paper roll

11

. It is provided between the tape transporting device A and the stock paper roll

11

which is positioned at the standby position. In the tape transferring device E, as shown in

FIG. 1

, a pair of guide members

48

are provided on the upper surface of a C-shaped frame

47

opening downwardly. The guide members

48

are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction (the widthwise direction of the stock paper roll

11

) and are sidable in the front-rear direction relative to a pair of guide rails

49

, each of which is provided on the frame

13

of the apparatus. A support guide

50

is provided on the frame

13

of the apparatus between the guide rails

49

, and a retaining frame

51

is provided on the support guide

50

to be sidable in the front-rear direction.

As shown in

FIG. 5

, a piston rod

52

a

of a first cylinder

52

provided on the upper surface of the retaining frame

51

is connected to the C-shaped frame

47

, so that the C-shaped frame

47

can be moved to and fro relative to the retaining frame

51

by forwardly and reversely energizing the cylinder

52

. In addition, a piston rod

53

a

of a second cylinder

53

provided on the lower surface of the retaining frame

51

is connected to the frame

13

of the apparatus, so that the retaining frame

51

and the C-shaped frame

47

can be integrally moved to and fro relative to the frame

13

by reversely energizing the cylinder

53

. The first cylinder

52

selves as means for moving main- and sub-transferling members

56

,

67

, described later, relative to the stock paper roll

11

, while the second cylinder

53

serves as means for moving these transferring members

56

,

67

relative to the endless belt

15

.

A hollow shaft

54

is rotatably provided between vertical portions

47

a

facing the longitudinal direction of the C-shaped frame

47

. A plurality of fixing members

55

are provided on the outer periphery of the hollow shaft

54

. The fixing members

55

are longitudinally spaced apart from each other at regular intervals. The main-transferring member

56

, which extends in the widthwise direction of the stock paper roll

11

, is fixed to open ends of the fixing members

55

. As shown in

FIG. 7

, a main-cushion plate

57

, which is made from a material resisting adherence to the double-faced adhesive tape

10

and having a predetermined elasticity, is provided on the front surface spaced apart from the fixing members

55

of the main-transferring member

56

. In addition, as shown in

FIG. 6

, a reversible motor

58

provided on the C-shaped frame

47

is connected to one end portion of the hollow shaft

54

via gears

59

, so that the main-cushion member

57

is reciprocated between a receiving posture where it faces the endless belt

15

of the tape transporting device A and an adhering posture where it faces the stock paper roll

11

situated at the standby position by forwardly and reversely rotating the hollow shaft

54

by means of the motor

58

(see FIG.

5

).

A suck hose

60

connected to a vacuum sucking source (not shown) communicates with the other end of the hollow shaft

54

to develop a negative pressure within the hollow shaft

54

. In addition, as shown in

FIG. 7

, a suck tubes

61

, constituting pushing members, extend through the hollow shaft

54

in the radial direction to be slidable at positions corresponding to the fixing members

55

that retain the hollow shaft

54

. A control portion

61

a

of a large diameter is provided on the rear end of each suck tube

61

protruding from the hollow shaft

54

. Furthermore, an open end

61

b

at the front end of each of the suck tube

61

opens into a perforated hole

57

a

drilled in the main-cushion member

57

via a perforated hole

56

a

drilled in the main-transferring member

56

. A perforated hole

61

c

is drilled in the portion of the suck tube

61

opening into the interior of the hollow shaft

54

to communicate the interior of the suck tube

61

with that of the hollow shaft

54

through the hole

61

in order to develop a negative pressure within the hollow shaft

54

and each of the suck tubes

61

due to a sucking action by the vacuum suction source. Namely, the double-faced adhesive tape

10

is sucked and thus held on the front face (a sucking and holding face) of the main-cushion plate

57

a

by each of the suck tubes

61

whose the open ends

61

b

open into the perforated hole

57

of the main-cushion plate

57

.

In addition, in the tape transferring device E, when the main-transferring member

56

takes the receiving posture, the double-faced adhesive tape

10

and the fixing adhesive tape

12

both of which are held on the endless belt

15

by suction are received and sucked, and thus held on the main-cushion plate

57

due to the fact that the second cylinder

53

is energized to bring the main-transferring member

56

close to the endless belt

15

(see FIG.

12

). In addition, when the main-transferring member

56

takes the adhering posture, the double-faced adhesive tape

10

and the fixing adhesive tape

12

held on the main-cushion plate

57

by suction is adhered to the tip portion

11

a

of the stock paper roll

11

due to the fact that the first cylinder

52

is energized to bring the main-transferring member

56

close to the stock paper roll

11

(see FIG.

14

). A torque limitter (not shown) is connected to the first cylinder

52

to control the first cylinder

52

so as to halt energization of the first cylinder

52

when it detects that a load of more than predetermined valve is applied to the first cylinder

52

owing to the abutment of the main-cushion plate

57

against the stock paper roll

11

. In addition, the actions for sucking the double-face adhesive tape

10

by the tape transporting device A and by the tape transferring device E are switched on and off at appropriate times by controlling the opening and closing of valve bodies (not shown) provided in suction paths from respective vacuum sources.

As shown in

FIG. 7

, a plurality of auxiliary cylinders

69

are provided on the upper surface of the main-transferring member

56

taking the receiving posture. The auxiliary cylinders

69

are longitudinally spaced apart at regular intervals with their piston rods

69

a

facing the endless belt

15

. The sub-transferring member

67

is provided on the piston rods

69

a

of the auxiliary cylinders

69

in a parallel relationship with the main-transferring member

56

. A sub-cushion plate

68

made from the same material as the main-cushion plate

57

is provided on the front surface of the sub-transferring member

67

. When the sub-cushion plate

68

takes the receiving posture facing the endless belt

15

, it supports the portion of the fixing adhesive tape

12

which extends beyond the upper edge of the double-faced adhesive tape

10

sucked and thus held on the main-cushion plate

57

, and as described later, it serves to push the supported portion (the extended end portion) of the fixing adhesive tape

12

against the tip portion

11

a

of the stock paper roll

11

and the stock paper roll in a bridging manner. In addition, the front surface of the sub-cushion plate

68

is set so as to be constantly flush with that of the main-cushion plate

57

and to be protruded therefrom by energizing the auxiliary cylinder

69

in the direction in which the piston rod

69

a

extends (see FIG.

15

).

A plurality of brackets

62

are provided on the hollow shaft

54

and an actuation shaft

63

is rotatably provided on the brackets

62

. The actuation shaft

63

is situated on the opposite side of the hollow shaft

54

from the main-transferring member

56

and is parallel to the hollow shaft

54

. This actuation shaft

63

is rotated by a pushing motor

64

provided on the outermost one of the brackets

62

. Eccentric cams

65

are fixed to the actuation shaft

63

at positions corresponding to those of the suck tubes

61

. The control portions

61

a

of the suck tubes

61

abut against the outer peripheral surfaces of the respective eccentric cams

65

. A compressive spring

66

is disposed between the hollow shaft

54

and the control portion

61

a

to bias the suck tube

61

in such a way that the control member

61

a

constantly abuts against the eccentric cam

65

. In addition, when each of the eccentric cams

65

is rotated by the actuation shaft

63

, the suck tube

61

is moved to and fro relative to the hollow shaft

54

and the main-transferring member

56

to make its open end

61

b

protrude from the main-cushion member

57

(see FIG.

15

).

The minimum outer peripheral positions of the eccentric cams

65

which are the most adjacent to the center of the actuation shaft

63

are set in common, while the maximum outer peripheral positions thereof which are the farthest from the center are set in such a way that they are different from each other. Namely, each of the suck tubes

61

, which is moved to and fro while abutting against the outer peripheral surface of the corresponding eccentric cam

65

due to the rotation of the actuation shaft

63

, is moved separately at predetermined time intervals. This ensures transfer of the double-faced adhesive tape

10

to the side of the stock paper roll

11

from the main-cushion plate

57

. The open ends

61

b

of the suck tubes

61

open into the perforated holes

57

a

of the main-cushion plate

57

with the control portions

61

a

of the suck tubes

61

constantly abutting against the minimum outer peripheral portion of the eccentric cams

65

. In addition, the auxiliary cylinders

69

are controlled so as to be energized in a synchronized manner with the rotation of the actuation shaft

63

, whereby one extending end portion of the fixing adhesive tape

12

is reliably adhered to the stock paper roll of the stock paper roll

11

.

The operation of the apparatus for automatically adhering tapes according to the above-described embodiment will now be described. Firstly, the strip paper

21

stripped by the stripping plate

22

from the double-faced adhesive tape

10

drawn out from the tape roll

19

is threaded through the pair of stripping rollers

24

and attached to the winding roller

25

. At the same time, the tip portion of the double-faced adhesive tape

10

is set between the feed roller

23

and the endless belt

15

. The stock paper roll

11

is positioned at the standby position with its tip portion

11

a

facing the endless belt

15

.

Then, when the apparatus M is started, the feed roller

23

, the stripping rollers

24

, the winding roller

25

and the endless belt

15

are respectively driven intermittently. Next, the double-faced adhesive tape

10

is intermittently drawn out from the tape roll

19

by a predetermined length, while at the same time the strip paper

21

is wound around the winding roller

25

. The double-faced adhesive tape

10

stripped of the strip paper

21

is transported downstream with its one side being held on the transporting surface of the endless belt

15

by the suck action of the negative pressure box

17

. The second feeding device D for the fixing adhesive tape is operated to draw the fixing adhesive tape

12

from the tape roll

33

loaded on the holder

32

. Namely, under the condition that the adhering member

41

and the gripping member

43

are spaced apart from each other by energizing the gripping cylinder

42

, as shown in

FIG. 8

, the second carriage

39

is moved upward to the gripping position by energizing the lifting and lowering cylinder

40

. At this point, the tip portion of the fixing adhesive tape

12

suspended from the lower guide roller

34

is positioned between the adhering member

41

and the gripping member

43

. Then, the adhering member

41

and the gripping member

43

are brought close to each other to grip the tip portion of the fixing adhesive tape

12

between the members

41

,

43

by reversely energizing the gripping cylinder

42

. When the lifting and lowering cylinder

40

is energized to lower the second carriage

39

to the drawing position, as shown in

FIG. 9

, a predetermined length of the fixing adhesive tape

12

is drawn out from the tape roll

33

. The adhering surface of the drawn-out fixing adhesive tape

12

faces the endless belt

15

.

The cylinder

37

of the second feeding device D is energized while the double-faced adhesive tape

10

is being drawn out and the transportation thereof is halted intermittently, and, as shown in

FIG. 10

, the first carriage

36

is moved forward to the adhering position. This causes the adhering member

41

to move toward the endless belt

15

, thereby causing the fixing adhesive tape

12

held on the push surface

41

a

to be adhered to the front surface of the double-faced adhesive tape

10

held on the endless belt

15

by suction. In addition, the cylinder

45

for the knife is forwardly and reversely energized at an appropriate time to cut the fixing adhesive tape

12

at a position below the lower guide roller

34

. This causes the fixing adhesive tape

12

to be adhered to the double-faced adhesive tape

10

with each of its longitudinal opposite ends extending beyond the double-faced adhesive tape

10

.

After the fixing adhesive tape

12

has been adhered to the double-faced adhesive tape

10

, the gripping cylinder

42

is reversely energized to space the stripping member

41

and the gripping member

43

apart from each other to release the fixing adhesive tape

12

, while the cylinder

37

is reversely energized to return the carriage

36

to the standby position. Thereafter, the second feeding device D repeats the same action as described above to draw out the next fixing adhesive tape

12

to be adhered.

Every time the endless belt

15

is halted, as described above, the operation wherein the fixing adhesive tape

12

is adhered lengthwise to the double-faced adhesive tape

10

is repeated, so that a plurality of the fixing adhesive tapes

12

are adhered as spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction. The cutting cylinder

29

of the cutting device C positioned to face the endless belt

15

is energized at the time when the transportation of the double-faced adhesive tape

10

is halted after it has been drawn out to a length equal to the widthwise length of the stock paper roll

11

. Then, the electrically heated cutting member

30

is pushed against the double-faced adhesive tape

10

by bringing the holder

28

close to the endless belt

15

, thereby melting and thus cutting the tape

10

. As the mechanism for cutting the double-faced adhesive tape

10

, the cutting device C is better able to constantly accomplish reliable cutting than a serrated knife, whose cutting quality degrades over time.

After the double-faced adhesive tape

10

has been cut by melting, it is transported by continuous travel of the endless belt

15

to the position where it faces the stock paper roll

11

at the standby position. At this point, since the main- and sub-transferring members

56

,

67

of the tape transferring device E take the receiving posture facing the endless belt

15

, the energizing of the second cylinder

53

makes the transferring members

56

,

67

close to the endless belt

15

. Further, as shown in

FIG. 12

, when the main-cushion plate

57

abuts against the double-faced adhesive tape

10

held on the endless belt

15

by suction, the suck action of the tape transporting device A is switched off, and the suck action of the tape transferring device E is simultaneously switched on. As a result, the double-faced adhesive tape

10

is received by the main-cushion plate

57

from the endless belt

15

to be sucked and held on the front surface of the cushion member

57

. The double-faced adhesive tape

10

and the fixing adhesive tape

12

are transferred to the main-transferring member

56

by reversely energizing the second cylinder

53

to space the main and the sub-transferring members

56

,

67

apart from the endless belt

15

. At this point, one end portion of each fixing adhesive tape

12

which extends upwardly from the double-faced adhesive tape

10

is supported by the front surface of the sub-cushion plate

68

.

When the energizing of the second cylinder

53

is halted, the reversible motor

58

is operated to reverse the main- and sub-transferning members

56

,

67

in such a way that the members

56

,

67

take the adhering posture at which they face the stock paper roll

11

at the standby position, as shown in FIG.

13

. In this adhering posture, one end portion of the fixing adhesive tape

12

which extends downwardly from the double-faced adhesive tape

10

is supported by the front surface of the sub-cushion plate

68

. Then, when the first cylinder

52

is energized, as shown in

FIG. 14

, the main and sub-transferring members

56

,

67

are integrally moved to a position close to the stock paper roll

11

, and then the main-and sub-transferring cushion plates

57

,

68

come into abutment against the outer peripheral surface of the stock paper roll

11

. This causes the double-faced adhesive tape

10

held on the main-cushion plate

57

by suction to be pushed against and thus adhered to the tip portion

11

a

of the stock paper roll

11

. The portion of each of the plurality of the fixing adhesive tapes protruding vertically from the double-faced adhesive tape

10

and adhered to the double-faced adhesive tape is pushed and thus adhered in a bridging manner between the tip portion

11

a

and the stock paper roll by the main-and sub-cushion plates

57

,

68

(see FIGS.

15

and

16

). If a load of more than a predetermined value is applied to the first cylinder

52

owing to the abutment of the main-cushion plate

57

against the outer peripheral surface of the stock paper roll

11

, the limit switch detects this load to halt energizing of the first cylinder

52

. The suck action by the tape transferring device E is also stopped.

Then, the first cylinder

52

is reversely energized to space the main-transferring member

56

apart from the stock paper roll

11

, while the push motor

64

is activated to rotate the actuation shaft

63

. The rotation of the actuation shaft

63

causes the suck tubes

61

abutting against the outer peripheral surfaces of the respective eccentric cams

65

to be moved relative to the main-transferring member

56

in response to the rotation of the corresponding cams

65

, and thereby causing the open end

61

b

to protrude forwardly from the main-cushion plate

57

, as shown in FIG.

15

. Namely, since the main-cushion plate

57

is moved away from the paper roll

11

with the double-faced adhesive tape being pushed against the stock paper roll

11

by the front end

61

b

of the suck tube

61

having a small area, the tape

10

is assuredly prevented from being stripped from the stock paper roll

11

due to the fact that the tape

10

is adhered to the side of the cushion plate

57

. Since the times at which each of the suck tubes

61

protrudes is not the same, the double-faced adhesive tape

10

is reliably transferred from the main-cushion plate

57

to the stock paper roll

11

.

In addition, the auxiliary cylinder

69

is energized in the direction in which its piston rod

69

a

extends in accordance with the timing of the rotation of the actuation shaft

63

. Namely, as shown in

FIG. 15

, the main-transferring member

56

is spaced apart from the stock paper roll

11

, while, on the other hand, the sub-cushion plate

68

of the sub-transferring member

67

keeps on pushing the fixing adhesive tape

12

against the peripheral surface of the stock paper roll

11

. This causes the main-cushion plate

57

to be spaced apart from the stock paper roll

11

while one extending end portion of the fixing adhesive tape

12

is pushed against the position between the tip portion

11

a

of the stock paper roll

11

and the side of the stock paper roll. Therefore, when the main-cushion plate

57

is spaced apart from the stock paper roll

11

, the extending end portion of the fixing adhesive tape can be prevented from being stripped from the side of the stock paper roll

11

.

Namely, according to this embodiment of the apparatus M for automatically adhering tapes, since the double-faced adhesive tape

10

for splicing papers and the fixing adhesive tape

12

which prevents the tip portion

11

a

from being detached from the stock paper roll are automatically adhered to the tip portion

11

a

of the stock paper roll

11

, labor can be saved. Furthermore, since the tapes

10

,

12

are adhered to the stock paper roll

11

at one time, the time required for this operation can be shortened.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment and other configurations can be adopted. For instance, a single cylinder can be adopted as the transferring member of the tape transferring device in order to effect the movement relative to the endless belt as well as the movement relative to the stock paper roll. In addition, while in the embodiment, the transferring member is moved toward or away from the stock paper roll positioned, the stock paper roll may be moved toward or away from the transferring member which received the double-faced adhesive tape. Further, in place of the motor, the combination of a fluid pressure cylinder with a rack-pinion may be adopted as means for reversing the transferring member. Still further, although in the embodiment, the transferring member is divided into the main-and sub-transferring members and the sub-transferring member is independently moved by the auxiliary cylinder, the main-and sub-members can be united and the auxiliary cylinder can be omitted.

In addition, while in the embodiment the suck tube for sucking and thus holding the double-faced adhesive tape on the transferring member serves as a pushing member, a pushing member may be provided, apart from the suck tube. Besides, a knife or a cutter can be used as means for cutting the double-faced adhesive tape, depending on the material of the tape.

According to the apparatus and method for automatically adhering tapes of the present invention, since the double-faced adhesive tape and the fixing adhesive tape can be automatically adhered to the tip portion of the stock paper of the stock paper wound roll, labor can be saved and the automation can be accomplished as well. In addition, sine both tapes can be adhered at one time, advantages effects such as the shortening of labor time, the lightening of workload, or the like can be attained.

Since the double-faced adhesive tape is melted and cut by the electrically heated cutting member, unlike the serrated knife whose cutting quality degrades due to the adherence of grounds of the adhesive to the knife, it can reliably be melt and cut all the time and the maintenance of the cutting member can readily be conducted. Further, since the double-faced adhesive tape is pushed against the side of the stock paper wound roll when the transferring member and the roll are relatively moved apart form each other after the double-faced adhesive tape is adhered to the stock paper wound roll, the double-faced adhesive tape can be reliably transferred from the transferring member to the stock paper wound roll.

The present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof which are intended to be illustrative rather than limiting. Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the sprit and scope of the present invention in the following claims.

Number	Name	Date
4543152	Nozaka	Sep 1985
4685392	Watanabe	Aug 1987
4812198	Fuke et al.	Mar 1989
5658420	Rossini	Aug 1997
5783029	Stettner et al.	Jul 1998

Number	Date	Country
0 487 107	May 1992	EP
0 692 445	Jan 1996	EP

Apparatus and method for automatically adhering tapes

Information

Patent Number

Date Filed

Date Issued

Inventors

Original Assignees

Examiners

Agents

CPC

US Classifications

Field of Search

US

International Classifications

Abstract

Description

Claims

Priority Claims (1)

US Referenced Citations (5)

Foreign Referenced Citations (2)