This invention relates to an auto tape dispenser powered electronically with means to dispense and cut tape at a desired speed.
The current tape dispensers being used today are descendants of the prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,540A which consists of taping device including a rotatable member supported on a frame for supporting a tape, a rotatable roller supported on the frame, a presser including a handle extended downward through a slot formed in the bottom of the frame and including a panel engageable with the roller, and a resilient element for biasing the panel of the presser toward the roller so as to retain the tape in place, the panel can be separated from the roller when the handle of the presser is pulled against the resilient element.
One of the main problem of current hand held tape dispenser is that it requires human strength to stretch and pull the tape into variable lengths prior to asserting the cutter manually. In present invention, the electronic tape dispenser utilizes electric motor to dispense the tape upon activation by the user. The user will simply place the electric hand held tape dispenser on the desire location and the moving roller powered by an electric motor will guide the tape dispenser into the direction guided by the hand of the user. It saves time and minimizes work strain injuries imposed on hand and wrist of workers, due to long hours of packing items at warehouses. It increases speed and efficiency of workers compared to using traditional hand held tape dispenser, thereby increases productivity of workers. Electronic cutting of the tape in combination with the speed adjustment of the tape dispensing can result in a more precise and accurate dispensing.
The present invention is to provide a power tape dispenser which capable to automatically dispense and cut packaging tape. The operations of the tape dispenser such as taping and cutting process are controlled by the engagement of surface triggering device and the main triggering device. The surface triggering device of present inventions includes but not limited to standby roller, lever, main roller, and proximity sensor. The main triggering device of present invention includes but not limited to push button. In one embodiment, the standby roller is the surface triggering device. During the taping process, the user places tape dispenser on the surface of an object such as a carton box. The pressure asserted on tape dispenser will result in the standby roller retracted and urged into a position against the spring and eventually its conductive plate comes into contact with the conductive plates of the switch and closes the first portion of tape dispenser's circuitry. The user then engages the main triggering device such as push button located on the shaft of the handle to further close the second portion of the tape dispenser circuitry forming a complete circuit. Powered by battery, the electric motor activates and rotates its gears at the gear component, which drives the main roller to pull the tape from the adapter roller. The adapter roller can be also be driven by motor to rotate and dispense tape. In this case, it can lessen the work needed to dispense the tape as the tension force is distributed between two rotating components. In another embodiment, lever is the surface triggering device. When the lever is in contact with the surface of an object, both lever and the conductive holder rotate and eventually its conductive plate comes into contact with the conductive plates of the switch, and close the first portion of tape dispenser's circuitry. In another embodiment, main roller is the surface triggering device. The primary means of the main roller is to guide and press the tape on to a surface as it is dispensing. During the taping process, the user places tape dispenser on the surface of an object. The pressure asserted on tape dispenser will load tension on the spring and result in the main roller to be retracted and urged into a position against the spring. Eventually its conductive plate comes into contact with the conductive plates of the switch, closing the first portion of tape dispenser's circuitry. In another embodiment, proximity sensor is the surface triggering device. When the sensor of tape dispenser is in within specific range to target object, a detection of object surface by the proximity sensor will activate the electrical switch into “ON” position and close the first portion of tape dispenser's electric circuitry. It is to be noted that the surface triggering device and the main triggering device can be part of the electrical switch as one entity.
It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description and illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
The present invention is an electric hand held tape dispenser 1 (see
The adapter roller 35 is mounted on a shaft 34 and rotates about the shaft 34 while supporting a roll of tape 31 thereon. The adapter roller 35 is driven by its motor 33 to rotate and thus, dispenses the tape 31. In this case, it can lessen the work needed to dispense the tape as the tension force is distributed between two rotating components. The speed of adapter roller 35 and main roller 30 is preferred to be in synchronized and the rotation speed is optionally adjusted by the speed controller 20. Alternatively, the motion of tape dispenser 1 may vary slightly such that the main roller 30 is slightly faster than the adapter roller 35 to create a constant tension of tape. In this case, it will prevent the tape from sagging in between the tape adapter and the main roller. Optionally, the tape dispenser 1 can be equipped with a simple mechanical adapter roller without being driven by a motor. In this case, the adapter roller rotates passively since the work of pulling the tape 31 falls solely on the main roller 30. The speed controller 20 is a circuit device that controls the speed of motors. The main roller motor 18 and adapter roller motor 33 are connected to the speed controller 20 with means to run the dispenser at a desired speed. The speed controller 20 depicted in
The circuit of tape dispenser 1 is controlled by electrical switches. The first portion of circuitry composes of a surface triggering device and its related switch component 88. In this embodiment, the standby roller 32 is the surface triggering device. The second portion of circuitry composes of main triggering device and its related switch component 89. In this embodiment, the push button 16 is the main triggering device. In order to activate the motors of the tape dispenser 1, both switch 88 and switch 89 must be turned “ON” to form a complete circuit.
The standby roller 32 is a tension loaded wheel component connected to the switch component 88 by the axle 56. One end of standby roller 32 has a conductive plate that further interacts with an electrical switch 88. The switch 88 takes part in controlling the flow of power from battery 14 (power supply) to all respected motors. During the taping process, the user places tape dispenser 1 on the surface of an object such as a carton box. The pressure asserted on tape dispenser 1 will result in the roller 32 retracted and urged into a position against the spring and eventually its conductive plate comes into contact with the conductive plates of the switch 88, it closes the first portion of circuitry (switch 88 is in “ON” position). In this case, the tape dispenser 1 is in standby mode. The user then engages the push button 16 located on the shaft of the handle. This, in turn, activates the switch 89 to form a complete circuit. When both switches (switch 88 and switch 89) of the are set to “ON” position, powered by battery 14, electric motor 18 activates and rotates its gears at the gear component 19, which drives the main roller 30 to pull the tape from the adapter roller 35. While the push button 16 remains depressed, if the standby roller 32 is no longer in contact with the surface of an object, the spring automatically returns the standby roller 32 to its initial “unpressed” position (switch 88 is in “OFF” position) forming an open circuit and causes the motion of the motor 18 to stop. Conversely, if the user releases the push button 16 while the standby roller 32 is still in contact with the surface of an object, the motor 18 will stop as well. The said dual-switch circuit ensures the electric components such as motor 18 will not turn on unexpectedly when the user accidentally triggers the switch of either standby roller 32 or push button 16. The push button 16 is optimally place along the shaft of the handle so that it is at a position where it can be easily activated and deactivated by the finger of the hand of the user gripping the handle. The standby roller 32 or push button 16 can be of various designs, sizes and shapes (such as knob, tab, stub, lever, disk or button) as long as it causes the switch to turn on and off. It is to be noted that the standby roller 32 or push button 16 can also be part of the electrical switch as one entity. It is to be noted that the spring mentioned throughout the invention can be replaced with any form of tension-loaded device with means toggle between loaded and offloaded pressures.
When the desired length of tape is dispensed, the tape 31 can be cut off by a powered cutter 40 with blade 49. When cutter circuit controller 41 is set to “ON” position, electric motor 46 is activated to rotate its gears at the gear component 47, which activates the cutter 40. The operation of cutter 40 is managed by cutter circuit controller 41. The inputs of cutter circuit controller 41 are connected to contact 43a, contact 43b and contact 43t respectively. Contact 43a is further connected to switch 88 of the standby roller 32. Contact 43b is connected to the switch 89 of the push button 16. Contact 43t is connected to timer 45, a digital counter which counts down from a specified time. The output of the circuit controller 41 is connected to the motor 46 of cutter 40.
The cutter 40 is activated under one of the following conditions: a) When the tape dispenser 1 is lifted away from the target object while push button 16 remains depressed by the user, switch 88 is in “OFF” position and switch 89 is in “ON” position. b) When the tape dispenser 1 remains in contact with the target and push button 16 is released by the user, switch 88 is in “ON” position and switch 89 is in “OFF” position.
The above scenario can be illustrated by the cutter circuit controller state diagram (see
The cutter 40 and its related components can be located at any location of the tape dispenser 1 with means to cut the tape to be included in to all the embodiments. It is noted that, the components of cutter 40 can be of various designs, sizes and shape. The motor 46 of cutter 40 can also connect directly to a push button switch. In this case, the user can activate the cutter 40 by depress the push button or deactivate the cutter 40 by releasing the push button. Alternatively, the tape dispenser 1 can be equipped with a simple mechanical cutter without being driven by motor. The process can be accomplished using non-motorized systems such as, but not limited to the spring mechanism. The above features of cutter 40 can be included into all embodiments of the present invention.
In another embodiment, lever 11 is the surface triggering device (see
When the desired length of tape has been achieved, tape 31 can be cut off by a powered cutter 40 with blade 49. The operation of cutter 40 is managed by cutter circuit controller 41 as discussed above. The inputs of cutter circuit controller 41 are connected to contact 43a, contact 43b and contact 43t respectively. Contact 43a is further connected to switch 90 of the lever 11. Contact 43b is connected to the switch 89 of the push button 16. Contact 43t is connected to timer 45, a digital counter which counts down from a specified time.
It is to be noted that the conductive holder 60 can be part of the lever 11 as one entity. It is to be noted that surface triggering device such as lever 11 can be of various designs, sizes and shapes (such as knob, tab, stub, lever, disk or button) as long as it causes the switch to turn on and off. Note that the lever 11 can also be part of the electrical switch as one entity.
In another embodiment, the electrical switching device now is integrated into the component of main roller 30b of tape dispenser 1 (See
When the desired length of the tape 31 has been dispensed, tape 31 can be cut off by a powered cutter 40 with blade 49. The operation of cutter 40 is managed by cutter circuit controller 41 as discussed above. The inputs of cutter circuit controller 41 are connected to contact 43a, contact 43b and contact 43t respectively. Contact 43a is further connected to switch 72 of the main roller 30b. Contact 43b is connected to the switch 89 of the push button 16. Contact 43t is connected to timer 45, a digital counter which counts down from a specified time.
The main roller 30b or push button 16 can be of various designs, sizes and shapes (such as knob, tab, stub, lever, disk or button) as long as it causes the switch to turn on and off. Note that, main roller 30b or push button 16 can also be part of the electrical switch as one entity.
In another embodiment, the surface triggering device can be a proximity sensor 100 (See
It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description and illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15297046 | Oct 2016 | US |
Child | 16702256 | US |