US1967578A - Gum tape serving device - Google Patents

Description

y 1934- v T. H. KRUEGE R 1,967,578

GUM TA PE SERVING DEVICE Filed Oct. 1. 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Theodore h. firuege/r BY W ATTORNEYS M 24, 1934. T, KRUEGER L97578 GUM TAPE SERVING DEVICE Filed Oct. 1, 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 459 figi IN VENT OR Z57 illeadare h! firueyer.

I M WW% ATTORNEYS T. H. KRUEGER GUM TAPE SERVING DEVICE Filed Oct. 1, 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Theodore/i lfrueger A TI'ORNE Y5 July 24, 1934. KRUEGER 1,967,578

GUM TAPE SERVING DEVICE 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed 001;. l, 1929 5/ I INVENTOR Meadare/i lfmeqez" A TI'ORNEYS IN VENT OR T. H. KRUEGER GUM TAPE SERVING DEVICE Filed Oct. 1. 1929 July 24, 1934.

/7 A 7 BY T/readare fi/fn/eqer I n y 1934- 'r. H. KRUEGER 1,967,578

GUM TAPE SERVING DEVICE Filed Oct. 3-. 1929 v 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 3 fiq/[ 7A6 l2? l0! LWJ mmva'oze ffleodoreri/rmeqer AITORNEYJ y 3934- 'r. H. KRUEGER 1,967,578

GUM TAPE SERVING DEVICE Filed Oct. 1929' 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR fileaiare/inrzlayer A TTORNEYS July 24, 1934.

T. H. KRUEGER GUM TAPE SERVING DEVICE Filed Oct. 1, 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 i 1 J i N- I m 1% J Q I INVENTOR flremore/i/fmeqer BY %/9% =1 ATTORNEYS Jufiy 24, 1934, "r. H. KRUEGER 199673573 GUM TAPE SERVING DEVICE Filed Oct. 1. 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 A TTORJVEYS Patented July 24, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,967,578 I GUM TAPE SERVING DEVICE Application October 1,

9 Claims.

This invention relates to means for serving strips of moistened gummed tape in a vertical or substantially vertical plane and, while susceptible of other uses, is particularly adapted to use in connection with means to apply gummed tape around the sides of large heavy boxes such as boxes of the type containing one or more reams of paper and I have described my invention as it is embodied in this form. The invention is illustrated as incorporated in a unitary machine in which the following operations are performed:

1. Receiving the boxes, around which the gummed tape is to be wrapped, upon a turntable device; 2. Gripping the sides of the box when the box is received by said turntable; 3. Presenting in proximity to the sides of said box a strip of moistened gummed tape whereby when the turntable is manually rotated after the end portion of the tape has been applied to the box the tape will my be applied the entire way around the box; 4.

I Releasing the box from the turntable after the taping operation has been finished; 5. Feeding the box ofi the turntable onto a stacking device and automatically lowering a platform of said device so that the level of the stack is depressed by an amount equal to the he ght of the received box whereby another box may be received.

While the invention is illustrated and described in association with a complete carton sealing and stacking unit it will be understood that it may be utilized in any relation where it is desired to serve a strip of moistened gummed tape in the manner described. The general organization of the machine herein described and illustrated including the box carrying turntable, box gripping means and associated conveying means are not claimed in this case as they form the subject matter of a divisional application for patent, filed by me on July 28, 1933, Serial No. 682,602.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a carton sealing machine in which the invention is embodied; Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the same;

Figure 3 is a detail view partly in vertical section showing means for adjusting the height of the tape feed table;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view looking from the left of Figure 1, parts being omitted;

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the turn- 0 table and various of the parts carried thereby; Figure 6 is an enlarged view in section taken centrally through Figure 5 on a vertical plane parallel with the paper; Figure 7 is a detail of the end box-gripping fingers and means for raising and lowering the same;

1929, Serial No. 396,446

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the turntable and associated parts;

Figure 9 is an enlarged top plan view partly in section of one of the side box-gripping elements seen in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is an enlarged view as would be seen along section 10-10 of Figure 9 when the plungers are in extended position, Figure 9 showing said plungers in retracted position;

Figure 11 is a view of the valve control unit for the two sides and one end box-grippin devices;

Figure 12 is a view taken along section 12--12 of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a detail of the end gripper support showing means for holding same for adjustment in both vertical and horizontal positions;

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of the tape feeding and moistening devices;

Figure 15 is an enlarged view taken on section 1515 of Figure 14;

Figures 16 and 17 are elevational views seen at right angles to one another of the box stacking device and showing mechanism for the automatic control of same;

Figure 18 is an elevational view of the feeler or paddle employed for controlling the operation of the stacking device in accordance with the height of the boxes fed thereto;

Figure 19 is a plan view of the feeler mechas5 nism seen in Figure 18; and

. Figure 20 is a view partly in section of a taped box.

Receiving and wrapping turntable.-Prior to reaching this mechanism, the box 8 (Figure 20) 'to be wrapped by the tape has been filled and the cover 9 put on at a station not shown in the drawings and is conveyed therefrom upside down on the roller conveyor 10, which is slightlyinclined, and rolls therefrom onto the turntable 11 which is in the position shown in Figure 1 to receive said box, the box rolling thereon and being brought snugly against the end gripping element 13. In addition to the element 13 there are provided side gripping elements 15 and 17, and front gripping elements 19 and 20, the latter being raised at the proper time from a lower retracted position by means to be described. The purpose of elements 13 to 20 mentioned is (1) to obtain a thorough hold upon the box whereby it may be rotated with the table, and (2) to compress the sides of the cover firmly against those of the box proper prior to the application of the gummed tape 22. This tape is applied to the box at the lower edge thereof (the box being inverted) as shown in Figure 20, a part of the width of the tape projecting above the box as shown in dotted lines so as to provide a portion of the tape .for folding over on the bottom of the box as is also clearly shown in this figure. The mechanism accomplishing this gripping of the box may now be described.

Fingers 19 and 20.The mechanism involving these elements is best shown in Figures 2, 5, 7, 8 and 17. As mentioned, these fingers are to be raised after the box has moved thereover and are to be lowered when the box is to be released from the turntable. Mechanism for raising the fingers 19 and 20 comprises a rock shaft 23 supported in brackets 24 and 25, said rock shaft being provided at one end with a handle 26 by which .it may be manipulated. At the other end of the rock shaft are two arms 26 and 27 having connected thereto a rod 28 forming a bale-like element indicated generally by numeral 29. Rod 28 of said bale extends through an elongated slot 30 of a block 31 to which the gripping fingers 19 and 20 are adjustably secured by screws 32 which may extend through apertures 33 in the fingers. Thus it will be understood that by rocking the shaft 23 by means of the handle 26 the fingers 19 and 20 may be raised or lowered through the medium of the bale 29 which engages the block 31. Adjustment of fingers 19 and 20 in the plane of the turntable for varying lengths of boxes is accomplished by means of a feed screw 35 whose movement is controlled by a knob 37 to be described; said screw being threaded through a block 36 in which the fingers 19 and 20 are guided. To accommodate the adjustedmovement of fingers 19 and 20 the table is provided with slots 39 as shown in Figure 8.

Gripping elements 13, 15 and 17. These elements are of substantially identical construction except that element 13 is shorter than the other two so that the following description of element 17 will serve for all of them. The gripping function of these elements is accomplished preferably by means of a plurality of plungers (Figures 9 and 10) pneumatically operated against the action of springs 47. In the construction shown, each plunger 45 comprises a head or piston including a, packing 49 of flexible material which moves in a cylindrical bore 51. Reference to Figure 9 will indicate that bores 51 communicate with one another through a duct 53 fed by air under pressure through a pipe 55.

Mechanism for feeding air to gripping devices-Air is compressed in a compressor 61 (Figures 1 and 2) driven by an electric motor 63 and belt 65. Air from the compressor is conveyed through a. pipe 67 to a tank 69. Air from saidtank 69- is fed through a pipe 71 to the base 73 of the turntable and shown best in Figure 6. It will be obvious that special means must be provided for conveying the air to the rotatable turntable from the stationary tank and piping. This is accomplished by means including a hearing member 75 for the turntable which member is secured to base 73 by bolts 77. Member 75 preferably comprisesa separable section 81 secured by means of bolts 83 and receiving air pipe 71. Member 81 also includes a stufling box comprising a perforated annular retaining member 85 holding in place a series of-packing rings 87. Retaining member 85 rests against a. bottom plate 89 secured to member 81. Between members 75 and 81' I preferably interpose a ring 91 which extends inwardly so as to afford an abutment for the packing 87 which is thus held in place between said abutment and said retaining member 85. Air then passes through pipe 71, to a chamber formed by member 81 through the hollow spindle 93 of said turntable and thence to an outlet pipe 95. It will be noted in passing that the turntable 10 is provided with a central sleeve 97 which contains said spindle 93 and which bears upon member 75, suitable bearing means (not shown) being interposed between said elements 97 and 75 if desired. It will be noted that pipe is threaded directly into the hollow spindle 93 passing through an opening in the sleeve 97. Said pipe 95 leads to an air valve and distributing mechanism denoted generally by 99 (Figs. 8, 11 and 12) controlled by a handle 101 within reach of the operator.

Air valve 99 and air connections with gripping elements 13, 15 and 17.The air passes from the pipe 95 through a branch 103 (Figure 8) to a valve 105 (Figure 11), the valve being provided with a stem 107 which may be depressed by a cam 109 secured to a cam shaft 110 rotatable by the handle 101. Upon the depression of the stem 107 to open the valve 105 air passestherethrough from the I branch 103 through a pipe 113 which may be connected by a flexible tube 115 with a pipe 117 extending upwardly through a slot 119 in the table, said pipe 117 being connected with the. gripping device 13, thus causing the plungers of I the gripping device 13 to be thrust against the end of the box, the box now being held against fingers 19 and 20 which at this time are in raised position. Upon a further rotation of the cam shaft 110 by the handle 101, the valve 105 is permitted 1 to close and an adjacent valve 121 is similarly opened by a cam 123 also secured to the cam shaft 110. Thus the air passes from the pipe 95 through a branch 125 (Figure 8) through the valve 121 to a pipe 127 which connects to two hose 1 sections 129 and 131, the tube or hose section .129 being connected to the pipe 55 which extends upwardly through a slot in the table 10 and which is connected to the gripping section 17. The other hose section 131 is similarly connected 1 through a pipe 137 with the gripping device 15, said pipe extending upwardly through a slot 139. Thus it will be understood that by opening the valve 121 the plungers of the gripping sections 15 and 17 are operated simultaneously to grip the l opposite sides of the box. It will also be seen that by the arrangement of the cams on shaft 110 the end gripping device 13 is'operated prior to those of side gripping devices 15 and 17 thus enabling the box to have its endwise movement be- 1 fore the pressure is applied to the sides of the box.

The release of the box which would occcur after the taping operation is brought about as follows: A cam 145, secured to the shaft 110, upon a furl ther actuation of the handle 101 acts on a plunger 147 of a valve 149 to open the latter against the action of a spring 151 (Figure .12) thus releasing the air from the gripper sections 13, 15 and 17 through-a duct 143 and vent 153. l

The check valve 141 is provided in the connection between ducts127 and 143 for the following reasons: as stated, it is desirable that the endgrippers 13 operate before the side- grippers 15 and 17. If it were not for the check valve 141, 1 when the valve in duct 113 was operated to feed air to the end-grippers 13, such air also would flow through'the duct 127 and hence the pipe 131 by passing through the exhaust duct 143. However, when the valve 149 is operated to release 1 the air in the grippers, that from the side-grippers is allowed to pass through the exhaust duct 143 in the reverse direction through the valve 141. It will be understood that the handle 101 may be held in any position to which it is moved, by suitable means, not shown.

Adjustment of grippers 13, 15 and 17.-For the purpose of accommodating different sized boxes the position of the grippers is made adjustable. It will be apparent that adjustment should be provided not only for boxes of varying length and width but also for those of different heights. These various adjustments are accomplished as follows: Referring to Figures 5 and 13, gripper 13 is mounted upon a pair of bracket members 155, 157. The latter which extends vertically downward as shown in Figure 2 are connected at the bottom ends by spacing member 159 and are adjustably secured to block 161 by a removable pin 162 passing through said bracket members 155, 157 and said block 161, (Figures 5 and 13). Block 161 is carried by feed screw 163 connected to han-- dle 37. Due to the fact that said bracket members 155, 157 are provided with a series of such pin accommodating apertures throughout the length thereof, the height of said brackets and hence of said gripping member may be varied. It will also be apparent that by means of feed screw 163 the position of said gripper laterally of the table may also be varied. Feed screw, however, is not directly connected to knob 37 but has interposed therebetween a pair of gears 167 and 169 which provide for the knob to be turned clockwise for example, for the purpose of feeding the gripping elements together. By means of gears 171 and 173, respectively, attached to feed screw 163 and feed screw 35, by turning knob 37 both fingers 19 and 20 and gripper 13 are moved toward and away from each other simultaneously. Grippers 15 and 17 are similarly mounted on brackets 155' and 157 (Figure 5) and by means of a knob 175, feed screw 177 and mechanism similar to that described with reference to gripper 13, grippers 15 and 17 are adjusted toward and away from one another.

'Gummed tape feeding and moistening device.- This is seen best in Figures 1, 2, 14 and 15. At this portion of the machine the feed of the gummed tape is initiated by manual means, the tape is moistened and the end of the tapeis fed into positionto be applied to the box. Means are also provided for severing the strip of tape after the operation of applying the tape to the box. In this portion of the machine, I preferably utilize certain elements of the tape feeding device described andclaimed in my prior Patent No.

1,638,816, dated August 9, 1927, to which reference may be had.

Referring particularly to Figure 14,201 indicates the roll of gummed tape having a core 203 accommodating a spindle 205 secured to a frame 207. Tape 202 is fed from said roll and passes over a guide pulley 209 and thence through a guideway 211 similar in construction to that shown in my prior Patent No. 1,638,816, aforesaid. To initiate the feed of the tape a gripping device 213 A is provided which is provided pivoted at 215, and

has a gripping surface 216. Said device also includes a backing plate 219 carrying ears forming bearings for pivots 215 and against which plate the gummed tape is pressed by the gripping surface 216, when the handle 217 is operated. A suitable spring, not shown, is provided for returning handle 217 to its non-gripping position.

The operation of this feed device, while more clearly shown in said prior patent, may, nevertheless, be understood from the following: Carriage 213 is formed so as to travel along guideways 2130, Fig. 2, at the top and bottom thereof. The outer guides 211 between which the tape travels are provided with a slot 2140 which accommodates the gripper 216.- Thus, when the handle 217 is pushed inwardly, the surface 216 grips the tape against'the backing 219 so that when the carriage as a whole is pulled to the left in Fig. 14 the tape is constrained to follow it. When the end of the travel of the feed device is reached, it is returned manually to its initial position as seen in Figure 14. For severing the tape a knife 221 is provided which is pivoted at 223. Knife 221 cooperates with a stationary shearing edge. 225 behind the tape.

Moisture applicator.-The tape during its travel is moistened preferably by means of a brush 227, seen best in Figures 14 and 15. Brush 227 is held in place by means of a supporting bracket 229 which is movable on a pivot 231. A

spring 233 attached to a member 235 of said bracket urges the brush against the tape which is supported by means of a vertically extending plate 237. Also attached 'to bracket 229 is a drip faucet 239 placed immediately above the brush and communicating with a valve 241 and also supported on said bracket 229. Valve 241 has a handle 243 and cooperating therewith is preferably an adjustable stop 245 by means of which the position of the valve handle may be accurately maintained. To turn the water off the handle 243 is moved parallel with the faucet 239 but upon being turned on is moved against the stop 245 thereby opening the valve to the predetermined degree fixed by the adjustment of the stop. Communicating with the valve 241 is a flexible hose 247 connected to a reservoir 249.

This manner of applying moisture to the brush has the advantage that such moisture is applied practically as evenat the top as at the bottom of the brush. Where wicks, for example, are employed for this purpose, this evenness of application, particularly at high speeds of the tape, cannot be had.

To provide for adjustment ofthe tape feeding and moistening device to accommodate different heights and flat areas of boxes, the unit is adjustable as a whole vertically with respect to the table 11 through a screw 251 upon which the unit is supported, as seen best in Figures 1, 2 and 3. To facilitate this adjustment, a hand wheel 253 is provided having a chain and sprocket connection with a nut 255, rotation. of which thus alters the height of the unit. The supporting pedestal for the tape feeding and moistening unit is shown in these figures. and is indicated by reference character 257. It will be noted that pedestal 257 also includes a supporting sleeve 259 which, although not in threaded relation with the .feed screw 251, serves to maintain the same in verticalalignment. I

The moistening unit is also adjustable angularly about the axis of the screw 251. As seen in Figure 2, a pair of depending brackets 261 are provided which contain a set screw 263 operable by a knob 264; the set screw cooperating with a corrugated plate 265 of sector shape (see Fig. 1) attached to the pedestal257. When the screw 2.53 is entered into one of the corrugations, the unit is thus locked against rotation. When screw 253 is withdrawn from such corrugations, the

unit may be rotated and thus vary the position.

of the feeding element with reference to the box on the turntable.

In use, the operator by means of the device 213 feeds out a length of tape for a portion of the length or width of the box, the tape being moistened as it passes the brush 227, and applies the same to the box. He then spins or rotates the table for one revolution which causes the tape to be fed out from the roll and to be applied around the box, the operator pressing the tape firmly against the box with his hands during or following its application. It will be noted that due to the fact that the tape is fed out in a vertical plane and in a horizontal'direction, the tape once applied to a portion of the box will be fed out thereupon with the parallel edges of the tape in strict parallelism with the edges of the box. After the tape has been applied the top edge thereof is folded over by hand, the finished article being shown in Figure 20. It will be noted that due tothe action of the box gripping device, the sides of the box will be firmly pressed in an inward direction so that when the tape is applied while the box is under this tension a very tight sealing action is thereby effected.

Stacking mama-The box now having been sealed and released from the gripping elements, the next operation is to present it to a stacking device. To facilitate the feeding of the boxes from the table on to the stack, it is desirable that the same level of the stack of boxes be maintained, such level being the same as that of the table or slightly below the same.

Referring now to Figures 1, 4, 16 and 17, I have shown a device comprising a receiving platform 301 which is automatically lowered in position, to be described.

Referring to Figures 16 and 17, platform 301 is slidably mounted in vertical supports 303, 305 and. is held in position in said supports by means of a cable and pulley mechanism comprising a by means of a brake mechanism denoted generally by 315 and comprises adrum 317 and a brake band 319. The ends of the brake band 319 are attached respectively to a fixed point in the mechanism 315 and to a dog 323 secured to a lever 325 pivoted at 327. By means of the construction indicated, raising of lever 325 actsto throw the upper end of dog 323 to the left of Figure 17 against the tension of a spring 329 and to thereby release the brake.

Within Windlass 313 I have provided a governor mechanism of known construction which prevents the brake drum from rotating too fast and preventing the load from descending at a too rapid rate. This mechanism which per se forms no part of the present invention, comprises a pair of pivoted weights which are acted upon by centrifugal force to apply a brake, not shown, when the speed of rotation of the drum 317'exceeds a predetermined value.

Means f0! feeding boxes 017 the turntable-The boxes are fed from the turntable preferably by means of a continuously rotating roller 331, said roller being driven by means of an electric motor 333 and appropriate gearing shown (Figs. 1 and 4).

Feeler mechanism.-The travel of the box beyond the feed roller 331 causes the leading edge thereof to encounter and to raise feeler 335. This raising of the feeler rotates a shaft 337. Rotation of shaft 337 raises an L-shaped arm 339 to which is attached a link 341 attached to the brake lever 325. In this manner the raising of the feeler releases the brake and causes the platform to descend by its own weight, such descent continuing until the feeler 335 which, following the box by the action of gravity, has descended to its original position, whereupon the brake is applied and the level of the stack restored to its original position. As seen in Figure 18, means are provided for accurately adjusting the throw of the feeler 335, the same consisting of a telescoping construction represented by a pipe-like element 343 clamped to an arm 345 and having a set screw 347 holding the feeler in adjusted position. The descent of the feeler is regulated by means of an adjusting screw 349 which is carried by an arm 351 secured to shaft 337, screw349 contacting with a horizontal bracing member 353. Further adjustment of the feeler is provided by making the arm 345 adjustable on the shaft 337, means for this comprising a disk 355 attached to said shaft having holes therein accommodating a pair of screws 357. For the purpose of guiding the boxes onto the stacker, a pair of longitudinal guides 359 are provided (Figures 1 and 4). These guides, which are of approximate L-shape, are slidably supported on a rod 361 (Figure 4) carried by a pair of brackets 363. To provide for varying the distance apart for these guide members 359 to accommodate different widths of boxes, said guide members are provided with ears 365 having a threaded connection with a shaft 367 (disposed beneathroller 331) provided with right and left hand threads. Rotation of said shaft to effect adjustment of guide members 359 is brought 1 about by means of a knob 369 within reach of the operator and attached to a shaft 370 provided with a beveled gear connection 373 with said shaft 367.

To arrest the movement of the boxes as they 125 are fed out upon the stack, a stop 375 is provided held by means of a spring support 377 (Fig. 1). Stop 375 is held in position by means of a continuation 379 of spring support 377, the same having notches 381 (Figure 17) by means of which its position with respect to the frame may be varied, member 379 terminating in a handle 383 Within reach of the operator.

The operation of the device is thought-to be clear from the foregoing description but for the sake of clearness may be briefly recapitulated as follows:

The articles to be wrapped, as for example, reams of paper, have previously been placed on an electric elevator, not shown, which preferably always keeps the top of the ream pile at a height convenient for the operator to reach. The operator then places the reams in a box and then puts on the lid, the operation being such that the filled box falls upside down on the roller table 10, Fig. 1, and rolls onto the turntable 11 of the taping machine. The operator makes sure that the box corners are fully extended into the cover by manually wrapping the bottom of the box, whereupon he turns the handle 26, Fig. 8, 150

which raises the fingers 19 and 20, whereupon he then turns handle 101, Fig. 8, to admit air first to the end gripping device 13 and then to the side gripping devices 15 and 1'7. The action of the gripping devices is to force the four sides of the cover tightly against the box. Tape is now fed from the roller 201, Figs. 14 and 1, by the operator pulling the handle 217 inwardly and to-the left, the tape being moistened as it is fed past the brush 227. A suitable length of tape having been fed out, the operator applies same along a portion of the length of the box. He then spins the table around which thus causes the tape to unwind from the roll and be applied around the box, the operator wiping same with his hand as the tape is applied. The tape is then severed by means of the knife 221,. Figs. 14 and 1.' The tape which has been applied so as to project above the hollow of the box as shown by the dot and dash lines of Fig. 20 is then folded down flat upon the hollow of the box as seen in the full lines of this figure. The turntable is now presented to the stacking device by bringing the gripping members 19 and -20 opposite said device. The operator then releases the air in the gripping devices by giving the handle 101 a further turn whereupon the wrapped box is released from the air operated grippers. He then removes the lever handle 26 to lower the fingers 19 and 20 carried by bellcrank 27 and gives the box a slight shove so as to bring it upon the continuously rotating roller 331 which causes it to feed from off the table onto the stacking device which, as has been stated, always maintains the level of the stack the same as the table 11. The stop member 375, as has been stated, serves to arrest the movement of the box at the proper time. The table is now ready to receive another package and the operation of wrapping is repeated.

While I have illustrated and described in detail certain preferred forms of my invention, it is to be understood that changes may be made therein and the invention embodied in other structures. I do not, therefore, desire to limit myself to the specific constructions illustrated, but intend to cover my invention broadly in whatever form its principle may be utilized;

I claim:

1. In combination with means for feeding a strip of gummed tape horizontally in a substantially vertical plane, means for applying moisture to the tape comprising a non-rotating brushlike member, means for maintaining a yielding contact between said brush-like member and the gummed face of the tape and means for dripping water on top of said brush-like member so as to maintain a uniform gravity feed of moisture through said brush-like member.

2. In combination with means for feeding a strip of gummed tape horizontally in a substantially vertical plane, means for applying moisture to the tape comprising a non-rotating brushlike member, means for maintaining a yielding contact between said brush-like member and the gummed face of the tape and means for maintaining a regulated flow of moisture through said brush-like member from the top downward.

3. In combination with means for feeding a strip of gummed tape horizontally in a substantially vertical plane, means for applying moisture to the tape comprising a non-rotating brush-like member, having its bristles arranged substantially horizontal, means for maintaining a yielding contact between said brush-like member and the gummed face of the tape, and means for supplying a regulated flow of moisture downward through said'bristles, said bristles serving to divert a portion of said moisture horizontally and to apply the same to the tape.

4. In combination withmeans for feeding a strip of gummed tape, means for applying moisture to the tape comprising a non-rotating brushlike member, means for maintaining a yielding contact between said tape and said brush-like member and means for maintaining a constant uniform flow of moisture over said brush like member in excess of the amount of moisture applied by. said brush-like member to the tape, the direction of flow of moisture over said brushlike member being at right angles to the direction of the bristles.

5. A device for applying moisture to gummed tape, comprising a substantially vertical backing plate for supporting the tape, and a substantially vertically mounted flat brush having its bristles extending in horizontal direction, yielding means for holding the end of said brush and said backing plate in juxtaposition with the gummed tape passed between them, and means for discharging a regulated flow of water upon the upper edge of said brush at a point between the ends of the bristles thereof.

6. In combination with means for feeding a strip of gummed tape horizontally in a substantially vertical plane, means for applying moisture to the tape comprising a backing plate, a substantially fiat brush arranged vertically with its bristles extending in horizontal direction, a movable carrier for said brush, yielding means for moving 110 said carrier to maintain said brush in contact with the tape, a water supply pipe and a control valve therefor mounted on said movable brush carrier,

a micrometer means for determining adjustment of said valve also mounted on said brush carrier, 115 said water supply pipe being arranged to discharge water upon the upper edge of said brush at a point between the ends of the bristles thereof.

'7. In combination with means for feeding a strip of gummed tape horizontally in a substan- 120 tially vertical plane, means for applying moisture to said tape comprising a backing plate, a substantially flat brush arranged vertically with its bristles extending in horizontal direction, a carrier for said brush, a water supply pipe arranged to discharge water upon the upper edge of said brush at a substantial distance from the tip thereof, a control valve in said water supply pipe, and a micrometer stop for determining the adjustment of said valve so as to regulate the supply of water discharged upon said brush, said valve being movable to a position to cut off the flow of water entirely without disturbing the adjustment of said stop.

8. In combination with means for feeding a strip of gummed tape horizontally in a substantially vertical plane, means for applying moisture to the tape comprising a non-rotating absorbent member, a vertically disposed presser plate opposed to the absorbent member substantially in the feeding plane of the tape, means yieldingly urging said absorbent member and plate to, ether with predetermined force, and means' for supplying moisture to the absorbent member at the upper side thereof for maintain- 145 ing said absorbent member moistened to 'a substantially uniform degree across the tape engaging face thereof.

9. In combination with means for feeding a. strip of gummed tape horizontally in a substan- 150 plate together with predetermined force, and

means for supplying moisture to the bristles at I the upper side of the brush for maintaining said brush moistened to a substantially uniform degree across the tape engaging face thereof.

THEODORE H.

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