Apparatus and method for automated tape closure

Abstract

A tape closure device is configured to secure the neck of a bag with an adhesive film and a non-adhesive backing. The device preferably includes a closure application assembly that has a guide rail, a contact member and a cutting member. The guide rail preferably includes a contact section, a gathering section and a staging section. The contact member preferably includes a contact surface adjacent the contact section of the guide rail. The tape closure device also preferably includes a tape feed assembly, a paper feed assembly and a bag feed assembly.

1 . A tape closure device for securing the neck of a bag with an adhesive film and a non-adhesive backing, the device comprising:
 a closure application assembly having a guide rail that includes a contact section, a gathering section and a staging section; and   a tape feed assembly, wherein the tape feed assembly includes a tape guide pulley above the staging section of the guide rail and wherein the tape guide pulley is configured to feed tape onto both the gathering section and the contact section of the guide rail; and   a paper feed assembly, wherein the paper feed assembly includes a paper feed pulley below the contact section of the guide rail and wherein the paper feed pulley is configured to feed paper onto the contact section of the guide rail.   
   
   
       2 . The tape closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the closure application further comprises a contact member having a contact surface adjacent the contact section of the guide rail. 
   
   
       3 . The tape closure device of  claim 2 , wherein the contact member comprises a bag stop adjacent the gathering section of the guide rail. 
   
   
       4 . The tape closure device of  claim 3 , wherein contact member further includes a pivot arm. 
   
   
       5 . The tape closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the closure application assembly further comprises a cutting member that includes a lever arm and a blade. 
   
   
       6 . The tape closure device of  claim 1 , further comprising a bag feed assembly, wherein the bag feed assembly comprises:
 a plurality of brushes configured to rotate on horizontal axes;   a plurality of auxiliary brushes;   an upper drive roller; and   a lower drive roller.   
   
   
       7 . The tape closure device of  claim 6 , wherein the upper drive roller is free to translate in a vertical direction and the lower drive roller is fixed in its vertical position. 
   
   
       8 . The tape closure device of  claim 6 , wherein the bag feed assembly further comprises a sensor having a trigger and a counterweight. 
   
   
       9 . The tape closure device of  claim 1 , further comprising a bag feed assembly, wherein the bag feed assembly comprises:
 an upper gathering belt;   a lower gathering belt; and   wherein the upper gathering belt is driven by its contact with the lower gathering belt.   
   
   
       10 . A tape closure device configured to apply a tape closure to the open end of a bag during a tape closure cycle, the tape closure device comprising:
 a closure application assembly, wherein the closure application assembly includes a guide rail having a contact section and a gathering section;   a paper feed assembly, wherein the paper feed assembly is configured to deliver an unsevered length of paper to the guide rail such that a paper leading portion is in contact with the contact section at the beginning of the tape closure cycle; and   a tape feed assembly, wherein the tape feed assembly is configured to deliver an unsevered length of tape to the guide rail such that a tape leading portion is in contact with the paper leading portion at the beginning of the tape closure cycle.   
   
   
       11 . The tape closure device of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a bag feed assembly, wherein the bag feed assembly is configured to move the open end of the bag into the closure application assembly; and   a plunger assembly, wherein the plunger assembly is configured to push the open end of the bag through the closure application assembly.   
   
   
       12 . The tape closure device of  claim 11 , wherein the closure application assembly comprises:
 a guide rail having a contact section, a gathering section and a staging section;   a contact member having a contact surface adjacent the contact section; and   a cutting member.   
   
   
       13 . The tape closure device of  claim 12 , wherein the paper feed assembly further comprises a paper feed pulley configured to direct paper through the guide rail to the surface of the contact section and wherein the tape feed assembly further comprises a tape guide pulley configured to direct tape to the gathering section and the contact section of the guide rail and wherein the portion of the tape attached to the paper forms a first leg of the tape closure. 
   
   
       14 . The tape closure device of  claim 13 , wherein during a first stage of the closure cycle, the bag feed assembly is configured to deliver the open end of the bag into the gathering section of the guide rail and wherein during a second stage of the closure cycle, the bag feed assembly is configured to gather the open end of the bag into a neck in the gathering section of the guide rail under the tape. 
   
   
       15 . The tape closure device of  claim 14 , wherein during a third stage of the closure cycle, the plunger assembly is configured to push the neck of the bag into the contact member, thereby causing the contact member to lift and the tape to form an open loop around the neck of the bag to form a stem of the tape closure. 
   
   
       16 . The tape closure device of  claim 15 , wherein during a fourth stage of the closure cycle, the plunger assembly is configured to push the neck of the bag beyond the contact member, thereby allowing the contact member to fall against the contact section thereby closing the open loop around the neck of the bag and pressing a trailing portion of the tape against a trailing portion of the paper. 
   
   
       17 . The tape closure device of  claim 16 , wherein during a fifth stage of the closure cycle, the plunger assembly is configured to push the neck of the bag into the cutting member, thereby causing the cutting member to sever the trailing portion of the tape and the trailing portion of the paper to form a second leg of the tape closure. 
   
   
       18 . The tape closure device of  claim 17 , wherein during a sixth stage of operation, the plunger assembly is configured to return to its starting position in preparation for a subsequent cycle of operation.