US1896317A - Moistening device - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 7, 1933.

T. H. KRUEGER ET AL I MOISTENING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 15 1929 INVENTORS THEODORE H. KRUEGER ALFRED P. KRUEGEI? Feb. 7, 1933. 'r. H. KRUEGER ET AL MOI STENING DEVICE 1929 2 Sheets-She et 2 Filed March 15 INVENTORS THEODORE H. KPUEGER ALFRED R KRU 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I Patented Feb. 1, 1933 i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THEODORE H. KRUEGER AND ALFRED I. KRUEGER, OF DERBY, CONNECTICUT, AS-

SIGNORS TO BETTER PACKAGES INC., 0]? NEW YORK, N. Y.,'A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK HOISTENING DEVICE Application filed larch 15, 1929. Serial No. 347,251.

This invention relates to improvements in moistening devices for gummed tape, of paper or the like, such as is commonly used for securing wrapping paper and coverings 5 upon bundles and packages.

An object of our invention is to provide a device for moistening gummed tape as it is supplied by mechanism for dispensing the tape; of such construction and design that the device can be maintained in efliclent operative condition independent of the relative quantity of moistening agentwhich may be present.

In our copending application, Serial No. 40,495, filed June 30, 1925, we have disclosed an appliance which dispenses a strip or tape consisting of paper having a surface bearing a layer of glue or other adhesive, and comprismg a cutting element to cause the strlp to be severed to give the length desired. That appliance includes a moistening device, such as a brush made damp with water; and a wick of absorbent material which is partly immersed in the water and witha considerable portion thereof in continuous contact with the brush to keep the latter in a fully moistened state. The principle of the moistening device of our said copending application is embodied in the invention of this application and forms the basis hereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide a moistening device comprising a source of moistening agent and a moistenlng member such as a brush, to apply the moistening agent to the tape, and so related to the source of the moistening agent that the brush can always be supplied with a sufiicient.

quantity of the moistening agent, even though the source thereof and the brush occupy different and spaced apart positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a moistening device comprising a source,

of moistening material, a molstenlng member, such as a brush, and an absorbent element to transfer the moistening material to the brush, so that the brush may-be mounted either in proximity to the source; or be separated from the latter, and still enabled to function as required.

An additional object of the invention here- 'ed to be moistened.

A device which has these characteristics and which actually can be kept in continuous service and made to function perfectly over long periods of time; and can be mounted upon a tape dispensing machine; will answer very well the'requirements of establishments in which packages and bundles in large quantities must be wrapped for delivery.

The nature and advantages of the invention are more fully set forth in the following detailed description taken with the drawings, which show several forms in which our invention is embodied.

On the drawings Figure 1 shows a vertical longitudinal section of a portion of a tape dispensing apparatus with one form of our dispensing device attached thereto.

Figure 2* is a top plan of the part of said tape dispensing mechanism, and moistening device shown at the right of Figure 1, and

Figures 3, 4, and 5 are vertical sections of other forms or embodiments of our invention.

The tape dispensing apparatus with which a moistening device according to this invention is to be employed, is shown in part ure 1,. and rotatably supported in the casing 1; so that the tape can be'drawn out and cut oil in suitable lengths when it is needed.

To deliver the tape the dispensing mechanism comprises a feed roll 3 which works in cooperation with another feed roll 4, anda cutting blade 5 for severing the strip 2. The/moistening member is shown at 6 in the form of abrush; and the moistening agent such as water, is supported'in suitable reser-" within the reservoir and projects upward and out of the same; the tape being fed with its gummed side lowermost over the bristles of the brush 6, to be moistened throughout.

In the machine shown in Figures '1 and 2, we employ in addition to the brush 6, an absorbent element or wick 8 with a portion immersed in the water, and another portion in contact with the brush to transfer the water from the reservoir to the brush by capillary attraction. Hence, the brush 6 does not have to be either wholly or partly immersed in the water and need not be mounted in the reservoir 7 at all; it can be disposed in any suitable positionoutside of the reservoir 7 and still give the desired result.

- The tape 2, as it. comes from the casing 1, may be drawn over a transverse bar 9 having a curved edge to engage the tape, and acting to keep it under tension and to smooth out and remove any creases or wrinkles before it reaches the feed rolls 3 and 4. To keep the tape in firm engagement with this bar 9, a presser is utilized as shown at 10. This presser may be made of a plate or strip of metal doubled and shaped at one end to provide a bearing 11, through which passes a supporting journal 12. The lower part of the plate 10 is turned downward as at 13 and provided with perforated lugs in which is rotatably mounted a guide roll 14. In the corner of the lower bent portion of the easing 10 is disposed a pad 15 of felt or other suitable material; and the upper portion of the presser carries a'weight 16, which acts to force the presser down and hold the pad 15 against the tape as it passes over the bar 9. Thus as the tape passes the bar 9, it is both smoothed out and straightened and the coil therein, due to the curvature of the roll is removed; so that when the tape comes out of the apparatus, it is always in the form of a straight piece.

After passing the bar 9, the tape enters a guide comprising the lower plate 17, supported at the top of the casing and having an opening 18, thru which a portion of the circumference of the feed roller 3 pro]ects. The other roller 4, is mounted in a member 19, which is pivoted in a journal 20; and a spring 21 is wrapped around this journal having one end engaging the lower sideof member 19, and the other end attached to a fixed a shaft 26 having a gear indicated at 27, to-

mesh with the gear 28' on the roller 3 and this gear 28 meshes with another gear 29 on the roller 4. The shaft 26 and gear 27 may be driven from any suitable source of power. As long as the rod 25 is-not pulled downward, the feed roll 4 will be raised, and be out of engagement with strip 2. Hence although, the roller 3 may rotate, the friction thereof against the tape 2 will not be sufiicient to move the tape. The teeth on the gears 28 and 29 may be relatively deep; so that even when the roll 4 is raised to some extent, the gears 28 and 29 remain in mesh and the feed roll 4 turns with the feed roll 3. When, however, the rod 25 is pulled down so as to make both rolls 3 and 4 contact with the tape 2,

the moisabove mentioned. The plate 31 is attached to a plate 32 which is made fast with a top of the block 30; and one or more screws 33 may be employed to hold plates 31and 32 in engagement. The block 30 rests at its opposite ends on the sides of the casing 1 and termi-' nates at the cutter 5.

Between the block and cutter is another flattened tubular guide-way comprising a top 34 which overlaps the block 30 and covers the cutter 5; and a bottom 35 which terminates short of the cutter and may have its end adjacent to the cutter bent downward to provide with the corresponding end of the top 34, a widened mouth into which the end of the tape 2 can be slipped as it moves past the cutter 5. This cutter has the form of a blade, disposed transversely, with an outturned part 36 having an opening through which passes a rod 37 with a head thereon above the part 36. This rod is attached to a transverse lever 38, pivoted at one end on a journal 39 in the casing 1; and connected at any suitable point with a spring 40, secured to a fixed point within the casing 1 and normally acting to pull the lever 38 and rod 37 upward. The rod 37 must, of course be fixed to the part 36 of the cutter so that when the rod 37 moves up, the cutter 5 is forced'up to sever the strip. Connected to the free end of the lever 38 is a link 41, which unit-es at its lower extremity with a foot lever which can be depressed to pull down the cutter 5. An arm 42 is mounted in the casingl on the pivot 43 and pivotally connected to the lower end of the rod 25, projects to a position beneath the lever 38 adjacent the link 41.

In operation, the rod 37 of cutter 5, will be pulled up by the spring 40 ;and the spring 21 will raise the member 19 as far as it is permitted by the stop 24, to lift the roller 4 out of contact with the tape 2. Though the shaft 26 and the gear 27 may now rotate and revolve the rolls 3 and 4 through the gears 28 and 29 the tape now will not be moved forward because the friction of the lower roll 3 as it runs in contact with the bottom face of the gummed tape is not sufiicient, and furthermore the cutter 5 acts as a stop for the end of the tape. But when, the foot pedal at the lower end of the link 41 is depressed, the cutter 5 is lowered and the lever 38 engages the arm 40 to pull down on the rod 25. Hence the member 19 is depressed also to make both feed rolls 3 and 4 grip the tape and feed it forward past the cutter 5 and into the guide way beyond the cutter, and under the wet bristles of the brush 6. When a suitable length of the tape has been moistened the foot pedal is releasednwhereupon the spring 40 causes the cutter 5th sever the tape. Simultaneously the lever 38 rises, the arm 42 is no longer held down, the roller 4 is lifted to its first position; and further feeding movement of the tape stops. The cut-ofi' len h of the tape is then pulled free of the gui e between the cutter 5 and brush, and it comes out in a long strip; so that it can easily be attached to the package or bundle which is being wrapped. v

The construction and operation of this type of tape dispensing apparatus is fully described in our copendlng application, above mentioned and constitutes no part of the present invention which is directed to the moistening device.

We attach to the reservoir 7 in Figures 1 and 2 a pair of supporting arms 45 having slots 46. In these slots "are received the extremities of a bar 47. The ends of this bar may be threaded to carry suitable nuts which, when tightened, will hold the bar in adjusted position in the arms 46; there being two nuts on each end of the bar 47 with the adjacent arm 45 between them. The bristles of the brush 6 are secured in a socket 48, and the brush has a guard 49, one side of which may be convex, so that a part of the wick 8 can also lie within this guard. This guard may be in the form of a clamp afiixed to the socket 48 and rigidly to the bar 47. It is open at the two sides to allow the wick 8 to be passed through it, and the lower edge of the convex or bulging side of this guard will rest upon the end of the brush and prevent the bristles from spreading out too much. The wick may be folded into several piles beneath the guard 49 and the ends roject therefrom; passing into the reservoir through suitable openings 50. Preferably the brush is maintained in slanting position and the front side of the guide 49 is a little longer than the opposite or flat side, to keep the trailing bristles of the brush from being pushed out too far as successive pieces of tape are fed along the top of the reservoir or beneath the brush 6. The lower part 35 of the guide way on the top of the reservoir 7 is longer, and the top of this guide way terminates just beneath the flat or rear part of the guard 49. The bristles of the brush thus pro ect from the guard in light contact with. the lower part 35 of theguide way and the tape can easily be pushed beneath the brush when the feed rollers 3 and 4 act upon it.

The brush 6 and the wick 8 both being capillary mediums, the moisture is fed upward in sufiicient but not excessive amounts to moisten the gum of the tape 2 and during periods of non-use no excess moisture is deposited on the lower guide 35. The location of the reservoir 7 below the line of the tape 2 makes possible this operation.

This form of moistening device is also set forth and fully disclosedin our copending application above mentioned. It gives excellent service over a long period of use.

In Figure 3 we show a reservoir 51 mounted upon a base 52 and within the reservoir is a lever 53 on a knife edge hearing or fulvoir, and in this reservoir is also an absorbent element or wick 56 which'has the ends immersed in the water, and which makes contact between its ends with the brush 6 to keep the bristles moist, even though the water may be below the top of the socket-or ferrule 48. The tape passes thru the guideway comprising a lower part 57 mounted upon a support 58, which may consist of two uprights at each side of the reservoir 51; and the top of the guideway shown at 59 is also attached to the supports 58. The upper part of 59 of the top 59 in the guide-way and keep the brush in operative position as the bristles wear short. The wick 56 will keep the brush wet as long as there is water in the reservoir, even when the level of the water sinks below the top of the socket 48.

- the brush is held in slightly inclined position In Figure 4 the reservoir 61 is mounted upon the ,base 52, and the socket 48 of the brush is held fast in a clamp or retaining device 62; which is secured to the bottom of reservoir 61. Above the reservoir is the lower part of the uideway 57 supported by posts 58;'and witii in the reservoir is a wick 56 which makes contact with the brush 6 as before. The reservoir is partlyclosed as shown in 65 at the top and the brush projects between the edge of this top 65, and the end of the bottom 57 of the guideway. The top 63 of the guideway terminates in a knife edge so that the tape can be torn off by means of this knife edge when the required length has been fed past the brush 6. In the operation of this form of the invention, the tape 2 is preferably grasped by the fingers and pulled horizontally outward from the end of the guide 57, and the location of the top plate-63 of the guide below the top of the brush bristles causes the tape to bear upon the brush bristles with suflicient pressure to cause proper moisteningthereof.

In Figure 5 we show another embodiment of the invention similar to that in Figure 4 in all respects, except that the lower part of the guideway57 a adjacent the brush 6 may be slightly inclined upward and bearings 66 are provided to receive a rod 67,- which pivotally mounts in bearings 66 a-plate 68 having a weighted end 69. The weighted end rests upon the end of the brush and insures proper engagement between the brush and the tape when the tape is fed throughthe guide way. This weighted end also takes up wear as the hairs of the brushbeconle shorter, and by initially inclining the same upwardly, the gradual bending of the ends of the brush bristles does not permit the pressure plate 68 to assume a material declination below the ,horizontal so that the resistance to the passage of the tape 2 through the moistening couple is not greatly increased by wear or bending of the brush bristles.

In the forms shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5,

so that the tape as it passes the brush tends to bend the bristles slightly away from the guideway. Hence, the tape can always pass the brush easily and there is no tendency for the tape to fold, asthere would be if the brush 6 offered any obstructions to the passage of the tape over the end thereof.

From the foregoing description, it will be observed that our improvedmoistening device necessarily includes a brush, which preferably comprises a bunch of bristles held together by a socket or ferrule 48. In the form shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5, the brush is put intothe moistening liquid with the socket 48in lowermost position and the bristles projecting upward. With these forms of our invention, if the wick 56 were omitted,fthe moistening liquid would not be taken up by the bristles unless the liquid were deep enough for its upper level to be above the socket 48 and in contact with the bristles although it is possible to construct the ferrule as a capillary tube, the ends of the brush do not have to be immersed in the water. However, we

- provide the wick 56, and this wick will keep the brush moistened, even though the level of the moistening liquid sinks down below the top of the socket 48. Thus the device can be used even though a relatively small quantity of moistening liquid is present.

. The invention, therefore, necessarily includes no absorbent medium, such as the wick 56, to soak up the moistening liquid from the bottom of the tank at points below where the bristles themselves can otherwise take up the liquid without the wick. The wick transfers the moistening liquid to the bristles, which apply it to the tape. The important idea, therefore is to carry the liquid to the bristles from levels below the point where the bristles themselves could take up the liquid. directly.

. In Figure 1', the ferrule or socket holds the bristles together, but the brush. is entirely outside of the reservoir 7 and is arranged in a different position, with the ferrule or socket above and the bristles pointed outward; The wick 8 raises the moistening liquid up to the brush, and it is the upper-face of the gummed tape that is treated instead of the lower-face as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

While we have described certain arrangements of parts for the sake of illustration the constructions disclosed may be modified in many respects without departing from the spirit of the invention, as the same is defined in the appended claims.

What we claim is as follows:

1. A moistening device for gummed tape comprising a moistening brush for the tape, and an absorbent wick having a portion to be immersed in the moistening agent and a portion to make contact with the brush to transfer the mois'tening agent to the latter.

2. A moistening device for gummed tape comprising a brush to engage and moisten the tape, means for-providing a supply of liquid moistening agent, and an absorbent wick havmoistening agent,'a brush for the tape on the exterior of the reservoir, a guard for said brush, and an absorbent moistening element having a portion immersed in said agent and a portion in contact with the brush beneath the guard to transfer the moistening agent to the brush.

4. A moistening device for gummed tape voir, slotted arms rigid with the ends of the reservoir, a rod secured to the brush and adj ustably held by said slotted arms, and an absorbent moistening element having a art immersed in said'agent and a part pro ecting out of the reservoir, and in contact with the brush to transfer the moistening agent to the latter.

5. A moistening device for gummed. tape comprising a reservoir for a liquid moistening agent, a brush exterior to the reservoir, a guard in the form of a clip receiving the brush, one side ofvsaid guard being convex and spaced from the a jacent side of the brush, arms rigidly attached to the sides of the reservoir and having slots therein, a rod rigid with the brush and its ends secured in thesai slots, a guideway adjacent to the brush for the passage of the tape, and an absorbent moistening element having a portion immersed in the moistening agent and a portion in contact with the brush and disposed beneath the convexed side of said guard to transfer said agent to said brush.

6. A moistening device for gummed tape comprising a reservoir for containing a molecent t side of said guideway a brush to engage the teninglagent, a guideway for the tape adja- 0 top of the reservoir, a plate on one tape as it passes thru the guideway on the other side of the guideway and normally tensioned against said plate, and a moistening element in the reservoir having a portion in contact with the brush.

7. A moistening device for gummed tape comprising a reservoir for a liquid moistenmg agent, a guideway above the top of the reservoir, a brush mounted to en ge the tape as it leaves the guideway, a p ate reacting -against said brush to tension the brush against the tape and a wick in said reservoir having a portion immersed in the moistening agent and a portion in contact with the brush.

8. A moistening device for gummed tape comprising a reservoir for a supply of liquid moistening agent, a brush mounted to enga e the ta a plate on the opposite side of the tape om said brush and a wick for the reservoir in contact with the brush, one end of said guidewa'y having a knife edge to enable the tape to be severed and means to urge the brush against the plate.

9. A moistening device for gummed tape comprising a reservoir to contain a supply of liquid moistening agent, a brush adapted to spread the moistening agent on the tape and means mounted in position in the reservoir and projecting upward and out of the reservoir to convey the moisture to the brush, a guideway for the tape above the reservoir, said guideway comprising a plate adaptedt'o rest normally against the end of the brush,

ard, and having upward from said reservoir, a horizontal tape guide below the" top of the brush bristles whereby when the ta e is drawn horizontally outward from sai guide it will bear with pressure upon said brush bristles, said tape adapted to be dispensed from the device, gum

side up.

11. n a tape moistener of the type described, a container, a brush, brush moistening means projecting upwardly from said container, means to tension the brush bristles against the tape and ahorizontal tape guide below the top of said brush bristles whereby when the tape is drawn horizontall outward from said guide it will be moistened gum side 12. In a gummed tape serving machine, a moistening unit, means to feed the med tape through said moistenin unit rom the rear, and means to sever said fed tape, said moistening unit comprising a brush on one side ofthe ta e, a pressure plate normally contacting wit the brush tips, means to give a yieldin pressure between said plate and S81d'bll1S tips, a reservoir for water, and means to convey said moisture upwardly from said reservoir to said brush tips.

13. In a moistening unit for gummed ta serving machines, a reservoir, a brush moistener and a pressure latenormally contacting with the tips of said rush to maintain a constant film of water on said brush tips, means to normally maintain said brush tips and said pressure plate in contact except when tape is being passed therebetween and means to convey the moisture upwardly from said reservoir to said brush whereby the brush is not excessively moistened. I

14. In a moistening unit for gummed tape serving machines, a reservoir, a brush moistoner and a pressure plate normally contacting with the tips of said brush to maintain a constant film of water on said brush tips,

means to normally maintain said brush tips and said pressure plate in contact. except when tape is being passed therebetween and capillary means to convey the moisture upwardly from said reservoir to said brush whereby the brush is not excessively moistened.

In testimony whereof we have aiiixed out signatures to this specification.

\ THEODORE H. -KRUEGER.

ALFRED P. KRUEGER.

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