Claims
- 1. A tape supply for supplying tape under constant tension comprising:
- means for mounting a reel of tape for rotation of said reel about an axis thereof as tape is withdrawn therefrom;
- a lever mounted to pivot about said axis;
- a surface mounted to an end of said lever so that tape withdrawn from said reel passes over said surface;
- said lever being pivoted to move said surface in opposite directions transverse to said axis;
- a torsion spring having a first end fixed against movement and a second end;
- means coupling said second end of said spring to said lever such that:
- (a) said spring urges said lever in a first of said opposite directions to apply tension to tape passing over said surface,
- (b) said lever moves in a second of said opposite directions in response to an increase in tension on said tape, thereby torsioning said spring, and
- (c) said lever moves in said first direction in response to a decrease in tension on said tape, thereby relieving said torsioning of said spring,
- said coupling means, in a range of torsioning of said spring, compensating for the increase in torque produced by the torsioning of said spring, whereby said surface applies a constant tension to said tape in a given range of pivoted positions of said lever.
- 2. The tape supply of claim 1, wherein said coupling means comprises two pivotally mounted gear sections, said gear sections including meshing teeth and being mounted so that pivoting of one of said gear sections in a clockwise direction is accompanied by pivoting of the other of said gear sections in a counterclockwise direction.
- 3. The tape supply of claim 2, wherein said gear sections are a non-circular gear pair.
- 4. The tape supply of claim 2, wherein said gear sections are eccentrically pivoted circular gears.
- 5. The tape supply of claim 1, further comprising means for locking said reel against rotation when tension on said tape is below a predetermined tension.
- 6. The tape supply of claim 5, wherein said movement of said lever in said first direction in response to said decrease in tension causes said tape to be retracted when said reel is locked.
- 7. The tape supply of claim 6, wherein said locking means comprises an engaging structure rotatable with said reel, a member pivotally supported adjacent said engaging structure to engage said engaging structure upon pivoting of said member in a first direction and thereby lock said reel, and to disengage said engaging structure upon pivoting of said member in an opposite direction, and means coupled to said lever to cause pivoting of said pivotably supported member.
- 8. The tape supply of claim 7, wherein said engaging structure comprises a cogged wheel fixed to rotate with said reel, and wherein said pivotably supported member comprises a pawl.
- 9. The tape supply of claim 8, including a roller rotatably mounted to said end of said lever, said surface being an outer surface of said roller.
- 10. The tape supply of claim 1, including a roller rotatably mounted to said end of said lever, said surface being an outer surface of said roller.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The following U.S. patent applications disclose the tape apparatus disclosed herein: Ser. No. 291,469, titled "TAPE DRIVE"; Ser. No. 291,468, titled "TAPE TAKE-AWAY AND MOISTENING SYSTEM"; Ser. No. 291,466, titled "TAPE CUTTER"; Ser. No. 291470, titled "SPRING CLUTCH DEVICE"; Ser. No. 291,481, titled "ROLLED SHEET OR STRIP MATERIAL SUPPLY SYSTEM"; and Ser. No. 291,482, titled TORQUE OR FORCE LINEARIZING DEVICE"; all filed on the same date as this application, and all assigned to the assignee of this application.
The following U.S. patent applications relate to an inking apparatus which may be used with the tape apparatus disclosed herein: Ser. No. 291,096, titled "INK TRAY DRIVE"; Ser. No. 291,096, titled "INK PUMP"; and Ser. No. 291,478, titled "INK TRAY"; all filed on the same date as this application, and all assigned to the assignee of this application.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 291,483, titled "HIGH THROUGHPUT MAILING MACHINE TIMING", filed on the same date as this application and assigned to the assignee of this application, discloses a timing and control system for a mailing machine in which the tape apparatus disclosed herein may be utilized.
A modular mailing machine, tape apparatus and inking apparatus are disclosed in the following U.S. patent applications which are assigned to the assignee of this application: Ser. No. 134,625, filed Dec. 17, 1987, titled "MODULAR MAILING MACHINE"; Ser. No. 134,626, filed Dec. 17, 1987, titled "TAPE MODULE FOR A MODULAR MAILING MACHINE"; Ser. No. 135,107 filed Dec. 18, 1987, titled "CUTTER MODULE FOR A MODULAR MAILING MACHINE"; Ser. No. 134,624, filed Dec. 17, 1987, titled "INKING MODULE FOR A MODULAR MAILING MACHINE"; and Ser. No. 138,428, filed Dec. 18, 1987, titled "PLATEN MODULE FOR A MODULAR MAILING MACHINE".
The disclosures of all of the foregoing applications are incorporated herein by reference.
US Referenced Citations (25)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Pitney Bowes four-page Brochure for Model 5712 Register and 5840 Tape Stamp Machine (PB Form 8822 5-71). |