CA1171393A - Method and apparatus for forming words of printed characters - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for forming words of printed charactersInfo
- Publication number
- CA1171393A CA1171393A CA000403960A CA403960A CA1171393A CA 1171393 A CA1171393 A CA 1171393A CA 000403960 A CA000403960 A CA 000403960A CA 403960 A CA403960 A CA 403960A CA 1171393 A CA1171393 A CA 1171393A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- tape
- frame
- sheet
- characters
- printed
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B44—DECORATIVE ARTS
- B44C—PRODUCING DECORATIVE EFFECTS; MOSAICS; TARSIA WORK; PAPERHANGING
- B44C1/00—Processes, not specifically provided for elsewhere, for producing decorative surface effects
- B44C1/16—Processes, not specifically provided for elsewhere, for producing decorative surface effects for applying transfer pictures or the like
- B44C1/162—Decalcomanias with a transfer layer comprising indicia with definite outlines such as letters and with means facilitating the desired fitting to the permanent base
Landscapes
- Labeling Devices (AREA)
- Dot-Matrix Printers And Others (AREA)
- Adhesive Tape Dispensing Devices (AREA)
- Printers Or Recording Devices Using Electromagnetic And Radiation Means (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A method and apparatus are disclosed for use in forming words on tape, useful e.g. as labels, from sheets bearing printed, transferable characters, e.g a set of printed alphabets.
A tape dispenser containing a roll of a transparent adhesive tape includes a frame defining a rectangular window which can be positioned horizontally and vertically at any place over the character sheet.
When it is desired to transfer a selected letter to the tape, the user presses the selected area of the tape against the letter Because of the tacky adhesive on the tape, when pressure is removed, the selected letter is lifted from the indicia sheet and transferred to the tape. The process is repeated as often as necessary to form the desired word. The strip on which the word has been formed is then severed from the roll and adhered to any desired receiving surface by means of the tacky adhesive on the tape.
Accurate base-line adjustment of the characters forming the word is provided by means of an indexing mechanism which enables the tape dispensing to move vertically within a slide to fixed positions exactly correlating to the rows of printed characters on the sheet.
.
A method and apparatus are disclosed for use in forming words on tape, useful e.g. as labels, from sheets bearing printed, transferable characters, e.g a set of printed alphabets.
A tape dispenser containing a roll of a transparent adhesive tape includes a frame defining a rectangular window which can be positioned horizontally and vertically at any place over the character sheet.
When it is desired to transfer a selected letter to the tape, the user presses the selected area of the tape against the letter Because of the tacky adhesive on the tape, when pressure is removed, the selected letter is lifted from the indicia sheet and transferred to the tape. The process is repeated as often as necessary to form the desired word. The strip on which the word has been formed is then severed from the roll and adhered to any desired receiving surface by means of the tacky adhesive on the tape.
Accurate base-line adjustment of the characters forming the word is provided by means of an indexing mechanism which enables the tape dispensing to move vertically within a slide to fixed positions exactly correlating to the rows of printed characters on the sheet.
.
Description
~7~3~3 Method and apparatus for ~orming words of printed characters This invention reiates to a method and apparatus for ~orming words of printed characters on strips of tape, The invention of the dry transfer lettering sheet in the late 1950's provided an inexpensive way to obtain high quality printing for virtually any purpose.
Typically, a dry transfer sheet comprises a light-transmitting carrier sheet on which a font o~ lettersis printed (e.g. by screen printing). The carrier sheet has high release qualities and the printed surface is coated with a low-tack adhesive. When it is desired to use the sheet, the adhesive surface is placed on a receiving surface and its position adjusted until a selected letter overlies a desired area of the receiving sur~ace. The back of the sheet at the selected letter is then burnished with a stylus or the like. The burnishing action ~unctions to release the letter from the carrier sheet and simultaneously activate the low-tack adhesive, causing the letter to adhere to the receiving surface. The letter is printed in reverse on the carrier sheet and, therefore, is viewed directly on the receiving surface. (See Mackenzie U.S. Patent Specifications Nos. 3,131,106 and 3,21?,913).
Formal training is not required to achieve excellent results using dry transfer lettering sheets.
~L7139 However, some degree o~ judgement is necessary to ensure proper spacing and base-line alignment of the letters.
In an effort to minimise even this relatively modest level of skill, Kroy Industries, Inc. has introduced a lettering machine which enables the user to form a word on the non-adhesive surface of a transparent adhesive tape which can then be adhered in its entirety to a receiving surface, for example, an advertising layout, blueprint, or the like. (~ machine of this general type is shown in ~.S. Patent Specifica-tion No. 3,834,507.) The baseline alignment and spacing between letters is controlled automatically.
The Kroy machine is relatively expensive and somewhat cumbersome (about the size of a small type- -write~3but is very easy to use, requiring virtually noskill, However, although automatic base-line alignment is desirable,better results are generally obtained if the user has some control over letter spacing. Moreover, the machine provides only a relatively limited number of typefaces and type sizes, and the definition of the typed letters is inferior to that of dry transfer lettering. In addition, because the Kroy machine ~ involves a carbon paper type transfer which appears on the exposed (upper) surface of the tape/ the images ~5 tend ~o smudge when the tapes are handled.
French Patent Specification No.1,214,051 discloses a transfer system including a transparent or translucent adhesive coated receptor sheet which can be used to pick letters sequentially from a release-surfaced sheet on which those letters are printed. The system there described, however, is cumbersomeand has never been commercialised. No apparatus for use with such a system is disclosed in Specification No. 1,214,051, British Patent Specification No. 906,935 discloses such apparatus, but it is cumbersome to use and has never been commercially available.
~13~3 The problem underlying the invention is to provide a device for use in forming words or other legends on tape which is inexpensive and easy to operate, and wherein the definition of the individual letters is comparable to that of a printed image. A further object of the invention is to provide a device which overcomes or at least ~essens the above-mentioned drawbacks of the Kroy machine and the apparatus o~
Specification No. 906,935 and which is no more difficult or time-consuming to operate, and which can be used easily and quickly to form transferred legends on labels which can then be applied w~ere desired.
In accordance with the invention, a novel tape dispensing device is used in conjunction with a character sheet containing letters or other characters printed on a carrier sheet having high release characteristics. The dispenser contains a roll of a pellucid adhesive tape (e.g.*'lScotch" brand tape) which can be dispensed e.g. through an opening in the dispenser, and brought to lie on a frame extending from the dispenser adjacent the opening. The frame includes an elongated window, the width o~ which is less than the width o~ the tape. In use, a strip of tape is pulled from the dispenser and a~hered to the frame overlying the window The user then places a selected area of the strip of tape overlying the window above a selected character on the carrier sheet and applies pressure to the back of the tape. This forces the tacky (adhesive) surface b~ the tape into contact with the selected character only so that when pressure is removed, return - of the tape to its original position lifts the selected character from the carrier sheet, thus causing the printed character to be transferred ~rom the character sheet to a selected area o~ the tape. The procedure ; 35 is repeated until the desired word is formed on the strip of tape within the window. The piece of tape Trad~mark ' .
.. ,;~" . .
~7~393 bearing the word can then be severed from the roll to form a label which can then be adhered to a receiving surface with the transparent tape overlying the word as a protective ~ilm.
Typically, the method of the invention is used to form the labels with words, the letters being sequentially transferred from sheets of printed letters.
However, the process is not limited to lettering, and as used herein7 the term "character" is intended to include any type of indicia such as letters, numerals or symbols. The term "word" as used herein thus means any assemblage of characters. - - -In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the tape dispenser may be part of an apparatus which provides base-line alignment of the transferred letters. In this respect, a base is provided on which the character sheet is secured. A
slide is mounted on the base for horizontal movement relative to the sheet and the tape dispenser is mounted on the slide so that the tape dispenser can move vertically. Hence, any portion of the tape overlying - the window can be positioned over any selected letter to effect transfer of that letter, The letters are printed on the indicia sheet in rows with a preselected dis-tance between adjacent rows, and the tape dispenser and slide include cooperating indexing means so that the window is indexed to the same base~line position relative to each o~ the rows.
The invention is illustrated in more detail and by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of apparatus embodying -the invention;
Figure 2 is a front view showing the apparatus of Figure 1;
Figure 2A is a magni~ied cross~sectional view of `` 1~7~3~3 5 ~
- the character sheet and adhesive tape which can be used with the invention;
Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the tape dispenser device and movable slide;
Figure 4 is a top view of the slide showing the indexing mechanism;
Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-5 of Figure 3; and Figure 6 shows how application of pressure flexes the frame defining the window.
Figures 1 to 6 show features of apparatus constitu~ing a preferred embodiment of the invention.
The apparatus includes a rectangular base 10 having parallel elongated tracks 14 in its two long sides. A
slide 18 ~ormed as shown in Figure 3 bridges the base 10 and slidffi horizontally (for example) within tracks 14. A character sheet 20 is accurately aligned on the top surface of base 10 by means of alignment pins 22 which pass through precisely located alignment holes (not numbered) within the sheet 20~
The character sheet 20 in the illustrated embodi-ment includes rows of letters of a selected size and typeface. Structurallyl as shown in Figure 2A, the character sheet 20 comprises a carrier sheet 26 (not Z5 necessarily light-txansmitting) having at least one surface of high release properties on which letters 28 are printed, The opposite (rear) surface of the carrier sheet 26 may be coated with an adhesive 30 so that the sheet will adhere tightly to the upper surface , 30 of the base 10 for reasons which will becGme apparent.
i Conversely, the base may be coated wi~h an adhesive, or j mechanical means may be used to hold the charactèr sheet against the base 10 so that the individual letters may be pulled from character sheet 20 as explained below.
Any of many different known materials may be used 3~3 in conventional fashion to make the character sheet 20.
As one example, the carrier sheet 26 may be polyethylene, the characters 28 may be screen printed using a nitrocellulose based ink, and the adhesive 30 may be an acrylic adhesi~e coated (e.g. by screen printing an area of adhesive) on the back of the polyethylene carrier.
A tape dispenser 32 con-tains a roll of pellucid, adhesive tape 34. Tape 34 preferably comprises a transparent plastic backing 35 coated with an agressively tacky adhesive 37 (Figure 2A). Numerous - types of commercially available transparent or translucent adhesive tape may be used as tape 34.
The roll of tape 34 is rotatably mounted within ~5 dispenser 32 in conventional fashion. The tape (viewed in Figure 2) rotates in a clockwise direction so that the tape may be pulled through an opening 36 a-t the base of dispenser 32. In accordance with the invention, an elongated rectangular frame 40 extends from the dis-20 penser 32 adjacent the opening 36. The frame 40 includesa similarly shaped window 4Z, the short dimension o~
which is less than the width of the tape 34 so that the edges of the tape can be adhered to the upper surface of the frame defining the window 42. A cutting edge 46 25 is provided at the end of frame 40 opposite opening 35 to sever strips of tape from the roll 34.
As shown in Figure 5, -the ~rame 40 is channel shaped in cross section with two short downwardly depending rims 50 supporting the surface which defines window 42 slightly above the printed character sheet 20.
The distance between the rims 50 is such that the frame -straddles a row o~ letters on character sheet 20 when the frame 40 is aligned for transfer.
The slide 18 includes a central generally rectangu-lar Gpening 60 having a series of detents 62 along oneedge. These detents are spaced apart a distance equal ~13~3 to the distance X (Figure 1), which is the distance between the base-lines of adjacent rows of printed letters on'the character sheet 20.
The tape dispenser 32 and the attached frame 40 are mounted on a dispenser carriage which comprises an upper generally U-shaped bracket 64 and a stepped block 66 secured together by screws 68, The stepped block 66 includes an upper portion 70 and a lower portion 72 so that when the bracket 64'and block 66 are secured together, the upper portion 70 slides within the opening 60, with the lower portion 72 and the carriage 64 preventing removal of the carriage from the opening.
An indexing mechanism includes two steel balls 76 - and coil springs 78 in channels (not numbered) within the upper portion 70 of bl'ock 66. The balls 76 can be biased by springs 78 into pairs of detents 62 to en~ble the user to position the carriage (and thus the tape dispenser mechanism) in exact alignment with any of the printed rows of letters on the indicia sheet 20.
Figure 4 illustrates the manner in which the steel balls 76 nest within detents 62 to index carriage 64 so that the window 42 will be positioned in the same - relative position with the letters of each row. This provides automatic base-line alignment of the letters transferred to the tape.
As shown in Figure 3, the bracket 64 is shaped to form a channel that can receive,a complementary T-shaped mounting block 80 secured to the bottom of the tape dispenser ~2.
,The apparatus is used by pulling a length of the tape from dispenser 37 across the frame 40 and applying light pressure to the tape causing it to adhere to the - top surface of frame 40 with a sub~tantial part of the tape overlying the window 42. The tape dispenser is then moved vertically and horîzontaily until a selected letter appears in the window at the desired location.
~ ~t~ 39 Pressure is then applied to the rear surface of the tape strip 34 direc-tly above the selected letter. This may be done as shown in Figure 6 by means of a blunt instrument 90 having a rubber tip 92 which will cause only the area of the tape strip ad~,acent the selected letter to contact only the selected letter.
A beneficial feature of the inven-tion resides in the flexibility of the frame 40. Thus, as shown in Figure 6, when pressure is applied to the rear surface of the tape strip within the window 42, the upper edges of the frame 40 tend to flex downwardly, enabling the tape to contact the selected letter 28. When pressure ; is released, the elasticity of the frame causes the tape to lift off of the surface of the indicia sheet 20.
15 Because the tape includes relatively tacky adhesive and since the carrier sheet 26 has high release properties, ; the effect is to transfer the letter or other character 28 from thé carrier sheet 26 to the adhesive tape 34.
- 20 In the same ~ashion the entire word is composed by transferring successive letters, with the tape dispenser being moved appropriately to select and transfer the desired letters with proper spacing therebetween~ Because of the detent mechanism, the base-lines of the letters ~ ~ 25 will be automatically aligned; however, the user can ; adjust the spacing between adjacent letters by moving the slide 18.
After the desired word has been formed on the tape, the tape is lifted from the frame 40 and pulled from the dispenser. The tape strip bearing the formed word can then be severed from the tape roll by means of the knife edge 46 leaving a second blank strip of tape in position over the window 42. The severed tape strip containing the desired word may then be adhered to any desired receiving surface using the tacky adhesive.
Since the letters a7e on the same side of the ta~e as ~, . .
,: -. . ' .
3~3 g the adhesive, -the clear backing serves as a protective ~ilm after the tape has been adhered -to a receiving surface.
It is contempla-ted that character sheets containing characters of different sizes will be used. For large differences in size, it may be desirable to have interchangeable dispensers (and frames) of different widths.
.
.
Typically, a dry transfer sheet comprises a light-transmitting carrier sheet on which a font o~ lettersis printed (e.g. by screen printing). The carrier sheet has high release qualities and the printed surface is coated with a low-tack adhesive. When it is desired to use the sheet, the adhesive surface is placed on a receiving surface and its position adjusted until a selected letter overlies a desired area of the receiving sur~ace. The back of the sheet at the selected letter is then burnished with a stylus or the like. The burnishing action ~unctions to release the letter from the carrier sheet and simultaneously activate the low-tack adhesive, causing the letter to adhere to the receiving surface. The letter is printed in reverse on the carrier sheet and, therefore, is viewed directly on the receiving surface. (See Mackenzie U.S. Patent Specifications Nos. 3,131,106 and 3,21?,913).
Formal training is not required to achieve excellent results using dry transfer lettering sheets.
~L7139 However, some degree o~ judgement is necessary to ensure proper spacing and base-line alignment of the letters.
In an effort to minimise even this relatively modest level of skill, Kroy Industries, Inc. has introduced a lettering machine which enables the user to form a word on the non-adhesive surface of a transparent adhesive tape which can then be adhered in its entirety to a receiving surface, for example, an advertising layout, blueprint, or the like. (~ machine of this general type is shown in ~.S. Patent Specifica-tion No. 3,834,507.) The baseline alignment and spacing between letters is controlled automatically.
The Kroy machine is relatively expensive and somewhat cumbersome (about the size of a small type- -write~3but is very easy to use, requiring virtually noskill, However, although automatic base-line alignment is desirable,better results are generally obtained if the user has some control over letter spacing. Moreover, the machine provides only a relatively limited number of typefaces and type sizes, and the definition of the typed letters is inferior to that of dry transfer lettering. In addition, because the Kroy machine ~ involves a carbon paper type transfer which appears on the exposed (upper) surface of the tape/ the images ~5 tend ~o smudge when the tapes are handled.
French Patent Specification No.1,214,051 discloses a transfer system including a transparent or translucent adhesive coated receptor sheet which can be used to pick letters sequentially from a release-surfaced sheet on which those letters are printed. The system there described, however, is cumbersomeand has never been commercialised. No apparatus for use with such a system is disclosed in Specification No. 1,214,051, British Patent Specification No. 906,935 discloses such apparatus, but it is cumbersome to use and has never been commercially available.
~13~3 The problem underlying the invention is to provide a device for use in forming words or other legends on tape which is inexpensive and easy to operate, and wherein the definition of the individual letters is comparable to that of a printed image. A further object of the invention is to provide a device which overcomes or at least ~essens the above-mentioned drawbacks of the Kroy machine and the apparatus o~
Specification No. 906,935 and which is no more difficult or time-consuming to operate, and which can be used easily and quickly to form transferred legends on labels which can then be applied w~ere desired.
In accordance with the invention, a novel tape dispensing device is used in conjunction with a character sheet containing letters or other characters printed on a carrier sheet having high release characteristics. The dispenser contains a roll of a pellucid adhesive tape (e.g.*'lScotch" brand tape) which can be dispensed e.g. through an opening in the dispenser, and brought to lie on a frame extending from the dispenser adjacent the opening. The frame includes an elongated window, the width o~ which is less than the width o~ the tape. In use, a strip of tape is pulled from the dispenser and a~hered to the frame overlying the window The user then places a selected area of the strip of tape overlying the window above a selected character on the carrier sheet and applies pressure to the back of the tape. This forces the tacky (adhesive) surface b~ the tape into contact with the selected character only so that when pressure is removed, return - of the tape to its original position lifts the selected character from the carrier sheet, thus causing the printed character to be transferred ~rom the character sheet to a selected area o~ the tape. The procedure ; 35 is repeated until the desired word is formed on the strip of tape within the window. The piece of tape Trad~mark ' .
.. ,;~" . .
~7~393 bearing the word can then be severed from the roll to form a label which can then be adhered to a receiving surface with the transparent tape overlying the word as a protective ~ilm.
Typically, the method of the invention is used to form the labels with words, the letters being sequentially transferred from sheets of printed letters.
However, the process is not limited to lettering, and as used herein7 the term "character" is intended to include any type of indicia such as letters, numerals or symbols. The term "word" as used herein thus means any assemblage of characters. - - -In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the tape dispenser may be part of an apparatus which provides base-line alignment of the transferred letters. In this respect, a base is provided on which the character sheet is secured. A
slide is mounted on the base for horizontal movement relative to the sheet and the tape dispenser is mounted on the slide so that the tape dispenser can move vertically. Hence, any portion of the tape overlying - the window can be positioned over any selected letter to effect transfer of that letter, The letters are printed on the indicia sheet in rows with a preselected dis-tance between adjacent rows, and the tape dispenser and slide include cooperating indexing means so that the window is indexed to the same base~line position relative to each o~ the rows.
The invention is illustrated in more detail and by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of apparatus embodying -the invention;
Figure 2 is a front view showing the apparatus of Figure 1;
Figure 2A is a magni~ied cross~sectional view of `` 1~7~3~3 5 ~
- the character sheet and adhesive tape which can be used with the invention;
Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the tape dispenser device and movable slide;
Figure 4 is a top view of the slide showing the indexing mechanism;
Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-5 of Figure 3; and Figure 6 shows how application of pressure flexes the frame defining the window.
Figures 1 to 6 show features of apparatus constitu~ing a preferred embodiment of the invention.
The apparatus includes a rectangular base 10 having parallel elongated tracks 14 in its two long sides. A
slide 18 ~ormed as shown in Figure 3 bridges the base 10 and slidffi horizontally (for example) within tracks 14. A character sheet 20 is accurately aligned on the top surface of base 10 by means of alignment pins 22 which pass through precisely located alignment holes (not numbered) within the sheet 20~
The character sheet 20 in the illustrated embodi-ment includes rows of letters of a selected size and typeface. Structurallyl as shown in Figure 2A, the character sheet 20 comprises a carrier sheet 26 (not Z5 necessarily light-txansmitting) having at least one surface of high release properties on which letters 28 are printed, The opposite (rear) surface of the carrier sheet 26 may be coated with an adhesive 30 so that the sheet will adhere tightly to the upper surface , 30 of the base 10 for reasons which will becGme apparent.
i Conversely, the base may be coated wi~h an adhesive, or j mechanical means may be used to hold the charactèr sheet against the base 10 so that the individual letters may be pulled from character sheet 20 as explained below.
Any of many different known materials may be used 3~3 in conventional fashion to make the character sheet 20.
As one example, the carrier sheet 26 may be polyethylene, the characters 28 may be screen printed using a nitrocellulose based ink, and the adhesive 30 may be an acrylic adhesi~e coated (e.g. by screen printing an area of adhesive) on the back of the polyethylene carrier.
A tape dispenser 32 con-tains a roll of pellucid, adhesive tape 34. Tape 34 preferably comprises a transparent plastic backing 35 coated with an agressively tacky adhesive 37 (Figure 2A). Numerous - types of commercially available transparent or translucent adhesive tape may be used as tape 34.
The roll of tape 34 is rotatably mounted within ~5 dispenser 32 in conventional fashion. The tape (viewed in Figure 2) rotates in a clockwise direction so that the tape may be pulled through an opening 36 a-t the base of dispenser 32. In accordance with the invention, an elongated rectangular frame 40 extends from the dis-20 penser 32 adjacent the opening 36. The frame 40 includesa similarly shaped window 4Z, the short dimension o~
which is less than the width of the tape 34 so that the edges of the tape can be adhered to the upper surface of the frame defining the window 42. A cutting edge 46 25 is provided at the end of frame 40 opposite opening 35 to sever strips of tape from the roll 34.
As shown in Figure 5, -the ~rame 40 is channel shaped in cross section with two short downwardly depending rims 50 supporting the surface which defines window 42 slightly above the printed character sheet 20.
The distance between the rims 50 is such that the frame -straddles a row o~ letters on character sheet 20 when the frame 40 is aligned for transfer.
The slide 18 includes a central generally rectangu-lar Gpening 60 having a series of detents 62 along oneedge. These detents are spaced apart a distance equal ~13~3 to the distance X (Figure 1), which is the distance between the base-lines of adjacent rows of printed letters on'the character sheet 20.
The tape dispenser 32 and the attached frame 40 are mounted on a dispenser carriage which comprises an upper generally U-shaped bracket 64 and a stepped block 66 secured together by screws 68, The stepped block 66 includes an upper portion 70 and a lower portion 72 so that when the bracket 64'and block 66 are secured together, the upper portion 70 slides within the opening 60, with the lower portion 72 and the carriage 64 preventing removal of the carriage from the opening.
An indexing mechanism includes two steel balls 76 - and coil springs 78 in channels (not numbered) within the upper portion 70 of bl'ock 66. The balls 76 can be biased by springs 78 into pairs of detents 62 to en~ble the user to position the carriage (and thus the tape dispenser mechanism) in exact alignment with any of the printed rows of letters on the indicia sheet 20.
Figure 4 illustrates the manner in which the steel balls 76 nest within detents 62 to index carriage 64 so that the window 42 will be positioned in the same - relative position with the letters of each row. This provides automatic base-line alignment of the letters transferred to the tape.
As shown in Figure 3, the bracket 64 is shaped to form a channel that can receive,a complementary T-shaped mounting block 80 secured to the bottom of the tape dispenser ~2.
,The apparatus is used by pulling a length of the tape from dispenser 37 across the frame 40 and applying light pressure to the tape causing it to adhere to the - top surface of frame 40 with a sub~tantial part of the tape overlying the window 42. The tape dispenser is then moved vertically and horîzontaily until a selected letter appears in the window at the desired location.
~ ~t~ 39 Pressure is then applied to the rear surface of the tape strip 34 direc-tly above the selected letter. This may be done as shown in Figure 6 by means of a blunt instrument 90 having a rubber tip 92 which will cause only the area of the tape strip ad~,acent the selected letter to contact only the selected letter.
A beneficial feature of the inven-tion resides in the flexibility of the frame 40. Thus, as shown in Figure 6, when pressure is applied to the rear surface of the tape strip within the window 42, the upper edges of the frame 40 tend to flex downwardly, enabling the tape to contact the selected letter 28. When pressure ; is released, the elasticity of the frame causes the tape to lift off of the surface of the indicia sheet 20.
15 Because the tape includes relatively tacky adhesive and since the carrier sheet 26 has high release properties, ; the effect is to transfer the letter or other character 28 from thé carrier sheet 26 to the adhesive tape 34.
- 20 In the same ~ashion the entire word is composed by transferring successive letters, with the tape dispenser being moved appropriately to select and transfer the desired letters with proper spacing therebetween~ Because of the detent mechanism, the base-lines of the letters ~ ~ 25 will be automatically aligned; however, the user can ; adjust the spacing between adjacent letters by moving the slide 18.
After the desired word has been formed on the tape, the tape is lifted from the frame 40 and pulled from the dispenser. The tape strip bearing the formed word can then be severed from the tape roll by means of the knife edge 46 leaving a second blank strip of tape in position over the window 42. The severed tape strip containing the desired word may then be adhered to any desired receiving surface using the tacky adhesive.
Since the letters a7e on the same side of the ta~e as ~, . .
,: -. . ' .
3~3 g the adhesive, -the clear backing serves as a protective ~ilm after the tape has been adhered -to a receiving surface.
It is contempla-ted that character sheets containing characters of different sizes will be used. For large differences in size, it may be desirable to have interchangeable dispensers (and frames) of different widths.
.
.
Claims (6)
1. Apparatus for use in assembling preselected words from sheets bearing printed, transferable characters, comprising a base having means for supporting at least one such sheet with the characters facing up, a slide mounted on the base for movement in a first direction relative to the sheet, and tape dispenser means mounted on the slide for movement in a second direction transverse to the first direction, the tape dispenser means having a roll of adhesive pellucid tape rotatably supported therein, and an elongated frame extending from the tape dispenser, the frame including an elongated window the width of which is less than the width of the tape, whereby a portion of the tape can be supported on top of the frame overlying the window so that selected areas of the tape can be sequentially pushed through the window into contact with selected characters on the sheet supported on the base.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame includes a cutting edge at its end remote from the dispenser means.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the characters are printed on the sheets in rows uniformly spaced apart, and wherein the slide and tape dispenser means include indexing means for adjusting the position of the window relative to each of the rows-
4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the characters are printed on the sheets in rows uniformly spaced apart, and wherein the slide and tape dispenser means include indexing means for adjusting the position of the window relative to each of the rows.
g. Apparatus according to an-y one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the frame is flexible and U-shaped in cross-section, whereby applicatiorl of pressure to the tape flexes the edges of the frame.
6. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the frame is flexible and U-shaped in cross-section, whereby application of pressure to the tape flexes the edges of the frame.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US26816381A | 1981-05-29 | 1981-05-29 | |
| US268,163 | 1981-05-29 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1171393A true CA1171393A (en) | 1984-07-24 |
Family
ID=23021755
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000403960A Expired CA1171393A (en) | 1981-05-29 | 1982-05-28 | Method and apparatus for forming words of printed characters |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0066460B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS5829672A (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE9563T1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1171393A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3260828D1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2579524B1 (en) * | 1985-04-01 | 1987-05-07 | Wolff Michel | DEVICE FOR IMPLEMENTING METHODS OF PERFORMING ARTISTIC, WRITING OR THE LIKE, BY TRANSFER |
| US4759037A (en) * | 1986-04-28 | 1988-07-19 | American Telephone And Telegraph Company | Passband equalization of modulated quadrature-related carrier signals |
| JPH01132253A (en) * | 1987-11-18 | 1989-05-24 | Hitachi Ltd | Phase controller |
| AU7442391A (en) * | 1990-03-08 | 1991-10-10 | Michael John Franklin | Adhesive tape dispensing and printing device |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB906935A (en) * | 1958-01-28 | 1962-09-26 | Letraset International Ltd | Improvements in or relating to means for the production of designs |
| GB1039850A (en) * | 1964-11-27 | 1966-08-24 | Chart Pak Inc | Method of providing a design using individual characters |
| DE2345657A1 (en) * | 1973-09-11 | 1975-03-20 | Hans Firnges | Transfer letter transmission aid - with the transfer paper fitted into a frame connected drawing machine providing horizontal and vertical adjustment |
| GB2007154B (en) * | 1977-10-04 | 1982-11-10 | Letraset International Ltd | Apparatus for applying indicia to a receptor |
| EP0005915A1 (en) * | 1978-05-15 | 1979-12-12 | Scott Machine Development Corporation | Sign-making method and apparatus, character carrier sheets therefor |
-
1982
- 1982-05-27 EP EP82302738A patent/EP0066460B1/en not_active Expired
- 1982-05-27 AT AT82302738T patent/ATE9563T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1982-05-27 DE DE8282302738T patent/DE3260828D1/en not_active Expired
- 1982-05-28 CA CA000403960A patent/CA1171393A/en not_active Expired
- 1982-05-28 JP JP57090023A patent/JPS5829672A/en active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE3260828D1 (en) | 1984-10-31 |
| EP0066460A2 (en) | 1982-12-08 |
| ATE9563T1 (en) | 1984-10-15 |
| JPS5829672A (en) | 1983-02-21 |
| EP0066460B1 (en) | 1984-09-26 |
| EP0066460A3 (en) | 1983-04-13 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEC | Expiry (correction) | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |