Tape applicator pressure control

Abstract

A tape head or tape applicator applies low impact to the leading face of the incoming carton and low pressure to the top of the carton and a higher pressure to wipe down the tape onto the rear or trailing face of the case by increasing the tension in the spring driving the wipe down and a high cutting force to the cut-off mechanism for fast response of the cut-off mechanism by increasing the tension in the spring driving the cut-off mechanism.

1 . A tape applicator, comprising a frame, a source of tape mounted on said frame, a front applicator assembly including a front applicator to apply a leading end of a tape from said source to a leading face of a carton moving relative to said tape applicator pivotably mounted on said frame on a first pivotal axis, a rear wipe down assembly including a rear wipe down roll to wipe a tape applied to said carton along a trailing face of said carton remote from said leading face pivotably mounted on said frame on a second pivotal axis parallel to said first pivotal axis, a push bar link interconnecting said applicator assembly and said wipe down assembly for movement together to form a tape applicator assembly, a cut-off mechanism mounted on said frame on a third pivotal axis parallel to said first and second pivotal axes and positioned between said first and second axes, a nonlinear helical coil applicator spring connected at one end to said applicator assembly and a nonlinear helical coil cut-off spring connected at a first end to said cut-off mechanism, a spring pressure adjuster mechanism connected directly to an opposite end of said applicator spring remote from said one end and directly to a second end of said cut-off spring remote from said first end to adjust the extension of said applicator and cut-off springs, said spring pressure adjuster mechanism including an actuator and a controller controlling the delivery of power to said actuator to have low tension in said applicator spring and said cut-off spring and to increase tensions in the applicator and said cut off springs before said wipe down and cut-off mechanism are activated. 
     
     
         2 . The tape applicator as defined in  claim 1  wherein said controller comprises a sensor to sense location of said carton to control power to said actuator. 
     
     
         3 . The tape applicator as defined in  claim 2  said sensor is a sensor sensing said carton. 
     
     
         4 . The tape applicator as defined in  claim 3  said sensor includes two sensors in series. 
     
     
         5 . The tape applicator as defined in  claim 1  wherein, said spring pressure adjuster mechanism comprises a pressure lever pivotably mounted on said frame on a lever axis and said actuator is connected to said opposite and said second end of said applicator and cut-off springs via said pressure lever. 
     
     
         6 . The tape applicator as defined in  claim 5  wherein said opposite and said second end are connected to said pressure lever on the same side of said lever axis. 
     
     
         7 . The tape applicator as defined in  claim 5  wherein said opposite and said second end are connected to said pressure lever on opposite sides of said lever axis. 
     
     
         8 . The tape applicator as defined in  claim 1  wherein said spring pressure adjuster mechanism comprises a pressure bar connected to said opposite and said second end and to said actuator. 
     
     
         9 . The tape applicator as defined in  claim 1  wherein said spring pressure adjuster mechanism comprises two actuators connected one between said frame and said opposite and another between said frame and said second end. 
     
     
         10 . The tape applicator as defined in  claim 2  wherein said sensor includes a control cam mounted on said frame and positioned to engage said carton and control said activator. 
     
     
         11 . The tape applicator as defined in  claim 3  wherein said sensor includes a control cam mounted on said frame and positioned to engage said carton and control said activator. 
     
     
         12 . The tape applicator as defined in  claim 4  wherein said sensor includes a control cam mounted on said frame and positioned to engage said carton and control said activator. 
     
     
         13 . The tape applicator as defined in  claim 5  wherein said sensor includes a control cam mounted on said frame and positioned to engage said carton and control said activator. 
     
     
         14 . The tape applicator as defined in  claim 6  wherein said sensor includes a control cam mounted on said frame and positioned to engage said carton and control said activator. 
     
     
         15 . The tape applicator as defined in  claim 7  wherein said sensor includes a control cam mounted on said frame and positioned to engage said carton and control said activator. 
     
     
         16 . The tape applicator as defined in  claim 8  wherein said sensor includes a control cam mounted on said frame and positioned to engage said carton and control said activator. 
     
     
         17 . The tape applicator as defined in  claim 9  wherein said sensor includes a control cam mounted on said frame and positioned to engage said carton and control said activator.