This invention relates to tape dispensers and, in particular, to a dispenser for joining two single adhesive tapes to form and dispense an offset, double-sided adhesive tape.
Single surface adhesive tape, such as masking tape, is well known. For some painting operations, such as spray painting, it is frequently necessary to protect or mask an area that is wider than the width of conventional masking tape. When such a requirement exists, it is common to position a sheet of paper, card board, foil, plastic, or the like over the area to be protected, and to position strips of masking tape about the edges of the sheet, such that the masking tape borders the areas to be painted and secures the sheet. Proper positioning of the sheet and masking tape strips can be a comparatively time-consuming process, particularly if the area to be protected is large.
Double sides adhesive tape has been proposed to facilitate such operations. Double sided adhesive tape is tape that includes adhesive on both sides. The double sided adhesive tape is stuck with one of its adhesive sides in the customary manner to a surface to be covered, while the still free adhesive surface on the other side of the double adhesive tape may be used for holding coverup material, such as, for example, foil, paper, cardboard, etc. This material can be adhered by an easy pressure on the free adhesive side. Historically, double sides adhesive tape has not achieved widespread use, principally because double sided adhesive tape cannot be formed into a roll without the use of a release liner between adjacent tape layers.
The prior art has attempted to overcome this problem, by using a dispenser which forms a double sided adhesive tape from two single surface adhesive tapes as the double sided adhesive tape is dispensed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,415,400 discloses such a dispenser which is comprised of two separate spindles each holding a supply of rolled up single adhesive tape. The spindles are mounted within a frame. Means for joining the single surfaced adhesive tapes are provided prior to the joined tapes being dispensed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,737 discloses an apparatus for making a double surfaced adhesive tape comprised of two separate rollers, each roller having a roll of single surfaced tape. A third roller is provided for combining the single surfaced tapes into a roll of double sided tape. U.S. Pat. No. 7,028,736 discloses a frame structure with two spindles for supporting first and second rolls of tape. First and second guide members are also attached to the frame for guiding the tape strips to overlap one another with respective adhesive sides opposite one another.
The present invention provides an offset, double-sided tape dispenser. The present invention dispenser mounts two independent rolls of single surface adhesive tape on a common spindle. One of the rolls is inverted resulting in one roll wound clockwise and the other roll wound counter clockwise. The tapes are simultaneously drawn from the two rolls through a guide, across a roller and then a cutter. The clockwise wound roll tape has its adhesive surface facing upward as the tape crosses the roller. The counter clockwise wound roll tape has its adhesive surface facing downward as the tape crosses the roller. The clockwise wound roll tape is positioned beneath the counter clockwise wound tape as the tape passes through the guide. This results in the counter clockwise tape being joined to the clockwise tape as both tapes pass over the roller. The resulting double sided adhesive tape is then formed into desired lengths by the cutter. The degree of single tape overlap, resulting offset and resulting width of the resulting double sided adhesive tape is determined by the width of the guide.
The present invention is simpler, less expensive and easier to use than prior art double surfaced adhesive dispensers. Prior art devices have preset overlaps and resulting double sided adhesive tape widths. The present invention has an adjustable guide which provides overlap variability.
These, together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, there is shown a dispenser 20 constructed according to the principles of the invention.
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Referring more particularly to
The dispenser 20 is further comprised of a forward aperture 31 formed in each dispenser side 23, near to the dispenser front 24 and dispenser top 22. A roller 32 having two ends 33 is mounted laterally within the dispenser interior 26 with the roller ends 33 extending through the forward apertures 31. A forward fastener 34 is attached to each roller end 33.
The dispenser 20 is further comprised of two vertical guides 35 within the dispenser interior 26, each guide being positioned adjacent a dispenser side 23 directly opposite the other guide. The guides 35 are longitudinally positioned between the roller 32 and the tape spindle 28. The guides may be fixed or adjustable. The purpose of the guides 35 is to force the tape 11 being drawn from the tape spools 18, 18′ to overlap. The distance between the guides 35 determines the overall width of the offset, double sided tape 15. In a first embodiment shown in
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In operation, each tape roll 10 is mounted on a spool 18. Two tape roll spools 18 are mounted on the spindle 28. To provide tape roll counter rotation, one spool 18′ is inverted, resulting in one tape roll 10′ wound clockwise and the other tape roll 10 wound counter clockwise. As tape 11, 11′ is simultaneously drawn from each roll 10, 10′ toward the dispenser front 24, the clockwise wound roll tape 11′ has its adhesive surface 12′ facing upward and the counter clockwise wound roll tape 11 has its adhesive surface 12 facing downward. The guides, 35 or 40, bring the tapes together thereby determining the offset between tapes 11, 11′, and the resulting width of the double sided tape 15. The tapes 11, 11′ are joined on the roller 32 as the tapes are pulled toward the dispenser front 24 thereby forming a offset, double sided tape 15. The double sided tape 15 is then drawn over the cutter 50 a desired distance and then pulled down cutting the double sided tape 15. The lateral axis of the roller 32 is vertically higher than the lateral axis of the cutter 50.
It is understood that the above-described embodiment is merely illustrative of the application. Other embodiments may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.
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