Tape take-up roller

Abstract

The present invention relates in general to spool assemblies, and more specifically, to a tape take-up roller for collecting carrier strips, or tape, that attach a chain of bags for packaging food in a food production facility. A purpose of the invention is to provide an improved spool assembly that conveniently and safely allows an operator to collect and remove tape therefrom. In an exemplary embodiment, the spool assembly may comprise a series of cantilevered, elongated prongs having a closed first end secured to a base and an opposite open second end. The base may be rotatably coupled to a bearing housing that permits the base and series of prongs to rotate together around a longitudinal axis for collecting tape around the series of prongs. The spool assembly permits tape to be safely removed from the series of prongs by sliding the tape off the open second end without requiring the use of cutting tools.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A spool assembly, comprising: 
 a cantilevered series of prongs;   the series of prongs having a closed first end secured to a base and an opposite open second end;   the series of prongs arranged equidistant from one another around a longitudinal axis;   each prong of the series of prongs sloping inwardly from the closed first end towards the open second end;   a support column;   the support column positioned internally to the series of prongs;   the support column having a first end and an opposite second end;   the first end of the support column secured to an internal side of the base;   the second end of the support column secured to an interior side of each prong;   an axle coupling the base to a bearing housing; and   the spool assembly configured to take up tape thereon.   
     
     
         2 . The spool assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the series of prongs designed to allow tape to slide off the open second ends to remove tape from the spool assembly;   wherein the tape is removed from the spool assembly without cutting the tape.   
     
     
         3 . The spool assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each prong is tapered from the closed first end towards the open second end. 
     
     
         4 . The spool assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 the axle rotatably coupling the base to the bearing housing;   the bearing housing including: 
 a) an internal bearing that permits the base and series of prongs to rotate together around a longitudinal axis via the axle; and 
 b) the internal bearing is configured to assist with winding tape around the series of prongs for collection. 
   
     
     
         5 . The spool assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 the bearing housing including an internal ratchet; and   the internal rachet configured to provide continuous rotary motion in only one direction around the longitudinal axis while preventing motion in the opposite direction.   
     
     
         6 . The spool assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 the second end of the support column including a bracket secured to an interior side of each prong;   wherein the support column is designed to reinforce and maintain the series of prongs in a fixed position.   
     
     
         7 . The spool assembly of  claim 6 , the bracket of the second end of the support column comprising a bearing to assist in the rotation of the series of prongs and base around the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         8 . The spool assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the series of prongs comprises at least three prongs secured to the base. 
     
     
         9 . The spool assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an arm for securing the bearing housing to a frame; and   wherein the frame is designed to facilitate attachment of the spool assembly to existing mechanical equipment of a food processing facility for incorporation into a food processing process.   
     
     
         10 . The spool assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the open second end of each prong is not attached to any object. 
     
     
         11 . A spool assembly, comprising: 
 a cantilevered series of prongs;   the series of prongs having a closed first end secured to a base and an opposite open second end;   an axle coupling the base to a bearing housing; and   the spool assembly configured to take up tape thereon.   
     
     
         12 . The spool assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 the series of prongs designed to allow tape to slide off the open second ends to remove tape from the spool assembly;   wherein the tape is removed from the spool assembly without cutting the tape.   
     
     
         13 . The spool assembly of  claim 11 , wherein each prong is tapered from the closed first end towards the open second end. 
     
     
         14 . The spool assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 the axle rotatably coupling the base to the bearing housing;   the bearing housing including: 
 c) an internal bearing that permits the base and series of prongs to rotate together around a longitudinal axis via the axle; and 
 d) the internal bearing is configured to assist with winding tape around the series of prongs for collection. 
   
     
     
         15 . The spool assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 the bearing housing including an internal ratchet; and   the internal rachet configured to provide continuous rotary motion in only one direction around the longitudinal axis while preventing motion in the opposite direction.   
     
     
         16 . The spool assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a support column;   the support column positioned internally to the series of prongs;   the support column having a first end and an opposite second end;   the first end of the support column secured to an internal side of the base; and   the second end of the support column including a bracket secured to an interior side of each prong;   wherein the support column is designed to reinforce and maintain the series of prongs in a fixed position.   
     
     
         17 . The spool assembly of  claim 16 , the bracket of the second end of the support column comprising a bearing to assist in the rotation of the series of prongs and base around the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         18 . A method of collecting and disposing of tape, comprising: 
 providing a spool assembly, comprising: 
 a) a series of prongs positioned coaxially from one another; 
 b) the series of prongs having a closed first end and an opposite open second end; 
 c) each prong of the series of prongs sloping inwardly from the closed first end towards the open second end; 
 d) the series of prongs cantilevered on one side wherein the closed first end is secured to a base; 
 e) a support column; 
 f) the support column positioned internally to the series of prongs; 
 g) the support column having a first end and an opposite second end; 
 h) the first end of the support column secured to an internal side of the base; 
 i) the second end of the support column secured to an interior side of each prong; 
 j) an axle coupling the base to a bearing housing; 
 k) an arm for securing the bearing housing to a frame; and 
 l) the spool assembly configured to take up tape thereon; 
   incorporating the spool assembly into a food processing process by attaching the frame to existing mechanical equipment of a food processing facility;   providing tape used to attach individual, plastic bags together when packaging food at the food production facility;   winding the tape around the series of prongs of the spool assembly for collection;   removing the tape from the spool assembly by sliding the tape off the open second ends of prongs; and   disposing or recycling the tape that has been removed from the spool assembly.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein winding the tape around the series of prongs of the spool assembly for collection includes rotating the base and series of prongs together around a longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 rotatably coupling the base to the bearing housing via the axle;   providing the bearing housing with the following: 
 a) an internal bearing that permits the base and series of prongs to rotate together around a longitudinal axis via the axle; 
 b) the internal bearing configured to assist with winding tape around the series of prongs for collection; 
 c) the bearing housing including an internal ratchet; and 
 d) the internal rachet configured to provide continuous rotary motion in only one direction around the longitudinal axis while preventing motion in the opposite direction.