Abstract:
In a machine for applying tape to the bottom of a case or carton the tape head is pivotable mounted for movement between a taping position and an access position where the tape or tape head may easily be changed mounting and a lever accessibly positioned to one side of said frame is connected to the tape head so that movement of said leaver in one direction pivots said tape head an accessible recharging position wherein said tape head is readily accessed.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relate to a simplified and more effective system for changing the tape of a bottom tape head for a case erector or the like, more particularly to lever system for moving the tape head.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
       [0002]     Attention is directed to U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,954 issued Nov. 19, 1985 Sewell et al. which shows one form of machine, in this example, an erector to which the present invention may be applied.  
         [0003]     One of the recurring actions that must be preformed in any tape applying operation is to replace the tape (or tape head) during the forming or erection of a case or box and/or tape sealing of the filed box or case. The problem is more pronounced in the taping of the bottom of the box as the tape head is positioned below the path of travel of the box as it is being made and thus the tape head is located in a place where it is not easily accessed. Many unsuccessful attempts have been made to permit easy changing of the tape head or recharging of the tape head have been suggested.  
         [0004]     With respect to a top head which is readily available in that it is mounted above the box and after the packing station it has been suggested and/or tried to use magazines from which full tape heads are dispensed to replace the one from which all the tape has been dispensed and or replace the tape per se.  
         [0005]     For bottom tape heads the procedure for years has been to reach into and lift the empty tape head and retrieve it from its operative position and then either apply a fresh roll to the retrieved tape head or insert a new recharged tape head back into the machine and then the erecting operation continued to process more boxes.  
         [0006]     It is believed that in some machines the mounting system for the tape head has been pivotably mounted in the machine so that the operator could reach in and pivot the head out to a position where it could be accessed to change the tape, however this system is not significantly quicker or easier to use than the system where the operator simply reached in and lifted out the tape head.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
       [0007]     It is the main object of the present invention to provide a relatively simple, easily used system for quick and easy recharging or replacement of a bottom tape head.  
         [0008]     Broadly the present invention relates to a machine for applying tape comprising a tape head, mounting means for mounting said tape head in a frame of said machine in an operative taping position for a case to pass there over and said tape head apply tape a bottom of said case as said case is moved there over, said mounting means being pivotably mounted in said frame for rotation about a rotational axis, a lever, means connecting said lever to said mounting means, said lever being accessibly positioned to one side of said frame so that movement of said leaver in one direction pivots said mounting means and said tape head on said rotational axis from said taping position to an accessible position wherein said tape head is readily accessed.  
         [0009]     Preferably, said means connecting said lever comprises a shaft having its longitudinal axis aligned with said rotational axis.  
         [0010]     Preferably, said mounting means comprises an arm connected to said shaft and a quick disconnect coupling releasably connecting said tape head to said arm.  
         [0011]     Preferably, said rotational axis is adjacent to a front of said machine in the direction of movement of a case through said machine for taping and said accessible position is above and toward the front of said machine. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     Further features, objects and advantages will be evident from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which;  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view with parts omitted showing the frame of the machine and the tape head in operative position to tape the bottom of a case in a tape applying station.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view with parts omitted similar to  FIG. 1  but showing the tape head in accessible position to permit easy replacement of the tape or whole tape head.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the tape head in accessible (tilted out) position on a specific machine with the guarding in position.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a view with parts omitted showing the tilt out system in isolation with a tape head mounted in position.  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  showing an exploded view with a tape head disconnected from its mounting arm.  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view with parts omitted taken through the coupling on the line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     Referring to  FIG. 1  the taper  10  of the present invention includes a frame  12  that supports a bottom tape applying station  14 . The frame  12  is preferably mounted on suitable legs  16  and is constructed to provide room as indicated  18  to the rear of the taping station  14  in the direction of movement of a case through the machine as indicated by the arrow  20 . Generally the space  18  will mount an erecting and bottom folding station (see for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,954).  
         [0020]     The station  14  as illustrated includes a pair of side rails  22  and  24  which generally are used to mount hold down devices and the like and mounted so that the width of spacing between the two rails measured perpendicular to the direction  20  of movement of a case adjustable in known manner via the hand wheel  26  to accommodate different with cases.  
         [0021]     A tape head  28  for applying tape to the bottom of a case as it is moved through the station  14  in the direction as indicated by the arrow  20  is mounted generally in a centered position between the rails  22  and  24  and in position to apply tape to the bottom of the case. The tape head  28  is mounted on a suitable mounting means which in the illustrated arrangement is an arm  30  to which the taping head  28  is attached (easily releasably attached if the whole head is to be changed). The arm  30  in turn is mounted for pivotal movement about a pivotal axis  32  substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement  20 . In the illustrated arrangement the pivotal axis  32  is aligned with the longitudinal axis of a shaft  34  mounted in suitable bearings  36  (only one shown) adjacent to the front cross member  38  of the frame  12  for rotation relative to the frame  12 .  
         [0022]     The arm  30  is fixed to the shaft  34  so that rotation of the shaft  34  causes the arm  30  and the tape head  28  carried thereby to rotate about the axis  32 .  
         [0023]     The shaft  34  extends out through the side of the frame  12  and is attached to a lever  40  that is positioned adjacent to the side of the machine  10  i.e. outside the longitudinal side rail  42  in a position to be easily accessible to an operator.  
         [0024]     The lever  40  is very important as it makes it easy for an operator to move the tape head  28  between the operative position as shown in  FIG. 1  with the tape head  28  between the rails  22  and  24  and underlying the path of travel of a case and an exposed easily accessed position  44  as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0025]     In the accessible position  44  the operate may easily replace the tape in a tape head mounted on the arm  30 , or assuming a suitable easily disconnect coupling as schematically indicated at  46  between the arm  30  and the head  28  is provided the used tape head may be disconnect and replaced with a different tape head that earlier had been recharged with tape and is ready to go.  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  shows the invention applied to a specific machine and with at least some of the required guarding in position. In this system the individual knocked down case or box blanks  50  are removed from a magazine  52  are squared in squaring station  54  and the lowered and their bottom flaps fold in the bottom flap folding station  56  and then are moved substantially horizontally to and through the bottom taping station  58 . It will be noted that guarding  60  obstructs access to the taping station  58  making it more difficult to access the tape head  28  and replace the tape. It is apparent that the present invention wherein the tape head is easily tilted from the machine into accessible position as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  greatly facilitates the changing of the tape.  
         [0027]      FIGS. 4, 5  and  6  show the quick disconnect coupling  46  schematically and in more detail. In these Figures the position of the handle or lever  40  has been moved to the opposite side of the machine. As shown in  FIG. 5  and  6  the coupling  46  is formed by a positioning and guiding pin  60  and a latching pin  62  that project from the tape head  28  which are received in their respective holes  64  (see  FIG. 5 ) and  66  (see  FIG. 6 ) through the plate  68  which forms the end of the arm  30 . The latching pin  62  has a notch  70  into which a release pin  72  is biased as schematically represented by the arrow  74 . The release pin  72  has a hand grip  76  at it exposed end. It will be apparent that when a tape head  28  is to be changed it is first tipped to the position shown in FIGS.  2  or  3  and the operator then grasps the grip  76  and pulls the pin  72  against the bias  74  to move the pin  72  out of the notch  70  and release the tape head  28  in the machine. The operator then removes the used tape head  28  from the machine and mounts a replacement tape head with its pins  60  and  62  in their respective holes into the holes out  64  and  66  and releases the pin  72  so that the bias force  74  forces the pin  72  into the notch  70  in the pin  66  to lock the new head in position.  
         [0028]     It will be evident that the tilt out mechanism using the lever  40  which facilitates manual movement of the tape head could be modified to provide a mechanical or pneumatic assist for turning the shaft  34 .  
         [0029]     Having described the invention, modifications will be evident to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.