Splicing apparatus and process

A novel process and apparatus are provided for splicing together adjacent paper materials, in mid-air which includes placing adjacent paper materials together in an aligned position, pressing the papers together, applying tape by utilizing an apparatus which includes a tape spool on an axle, and roller, an inverted V channel, wheels and cant wheels for guiding and maintaining paper or plastic materials in a fixed position, and a cutter for severing tape, moving the apparatus along the adjacent paper materials and severing the tape.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to the art of dispensing and, more 
particularly, to the art of dispensing a tape in such a way as to splice 
paper materials such as track-driven paper, rolls of paper, or other loose 
or cut sheets of paper. 
Several prior patents have been directed to the splicing of track-driven 
paper products for the feeding thereof into processing equipment such as 
printers and the like. One such device is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 
4,289,556 and 4,239,582. Other relevant patents are U.S. Pat. Nos. 
4,564,187; 4,525,399; 2,161,415; 2,834,557; and 3,036,751. 
There has to date, however, been no completely satisfactory apparatus or 
method for quickly, simply and in mid-air splice together paper materials 
such as track-driven paper, rolls of paper, or other loose or cut sheets 
of paper. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is thus an object of this invention to provide a novel process and 
apparatus for dispensing tape and joining together adjacent paper 
materials such as track-driven paper, rolls of paper, or other loose or 
cut sheet of paper, and in mid-air without the use of any type of 
stationary holder for said invention. 
These as well as other objects are accomplished by placing adjacent paper 
materials together in an aligned position, pressing the papers together, 
applying tape using the tape applicator of the present invention, and 
severing the tape. The tape applicator according to this invention 
comprises a tape spool on an axle, a roller for guiding the tape, an 
uniquely designed inverted V channel for merging splicing tape and papers 
together, pressure plates as means for pressing splicing tape to papers or 
plastic films. 
Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention will become 
apparent from the following description given with reference to the 
various figures of drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
In accordance with this invention it has been found that adjacent paper 
materials such as track-driven paper, rolls of paper, or other loose or 
cut sheets of paper may be effectively and easily spliced together in a 
single operation. Various other advantages and features will become 
apparent from a reading of the following description given with reference 
to the figures of drawing. 
As seen in FIG. 1, the apparatus according to this invention is shown as 
applicator 10. Applicator 10 is shown being used to apply perforated tape 
12 to join together adjacent paper materials, shown as sheets of 
track-driven paper. Although track-driven paper is illustrated, it is 
contemplated and within the scope of this invention that various paper 
materials such as rolls of paper or loose or cut sheets of paper may be 
spliced together according to this invention. As such, the use of 
track-driven paper herein is for illustrative purposes only. 
This process of joining together adjacent paper materials 14 comprises 
placing adjacent paper materials 14 together in an aligned position and 
pressing the paper materials 14 together to fixedly position them. Tape 12 
from the applicator 10 is then applied at a corner, such as shown in 
phantom under the left hand 18 in FIG. 1. While left hand 18 pinches the 
tape 12 and paper materials 14 together, the right hand 20 holds the 
applicator 10 and moves it across the paper materials 14 thereby adhering 
the sheets of paper 14 together while simultaneously maintaining the paper 
materials 14 in a fixed position and guiding the paper materials 14 and 
applicator 10. Once tape 12 has been applied to the paper materials 14, 
the tape 12 is then severed, leaving the paper materials 14 spliced 
together by the applied tape 22 as shown in FIG. 2. 
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2 
illustrating the applied tape 22 wrapped over multiple sheets of paper 
materials 14. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the sheets of paper materials 14 
are shingled in position so that each sheet is adhesively bonded to the 
tape. 
Some of the working interior of applicator 10 is illustrated in FIG. 4. 
Applicator 10, as seen in phantom, comprises an axle 24 which holds a tape 
spool 26. The tape 28 from tape spool 26 is shown perforated down its 
center, but tape 28 winds around a roller 30 which is to guide it for 
application to the paper materials 14. As the tape 28 is applied, knurled 
wheels 32 guide the applicator 10 as the applicator 10 moves across the 
paper materials 14. Spring-loaded cant wheels 34, shown in FIG. 5, are 
positioned opposite from and press against the knurled wheels 32 so that 
when the tape 28 (FIG. 4) is applied, the paper materials 14 pass between 
the cant wheels 34 and the knurled wheels 32, thereby being simultaneously 
pressed together and guided providing a slight and continuous upward drive 
on paper materials 14 into the channel 52 (FIG. 6) for merging tape 28 and 
paper materials 14 together. 
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view along the line 5--5 of FIG. 4 illustrating 
a spring-loaded cant wheel 34 positioned oppositely from and pressing 
against the knurled wheel 32. Also shown in FIG. 5 is a belt clip 36 which 
can optionally be attached to the applicator 10. 
FIG. 6 is an assembly view of the applicator 10 illustrating the applicator 
10 in greater detail. Tape spool 26 is held by axle 24. The axle 24 
slidably mounts into axle groove 38. The grooved roller 30 is positioned 
slightly below the tape spool 26. The applicator 10 is shown as comprising 
two separate, mating halves 40 that house the inner components. Each half 
40 defines a slot or window 42 through which the tape spool 26 can be 
viewed when applicator 10 is fully assembled. The halves 40 snap together 
as indicated by snap provisions 44 and snap fingers 45 and are held 
securely together by means such as screws 46. Pressure plates 50 and 51 
are shown as attaching to each half 40 to press tape 26 into adhesion with 
paper materials 14. 
Further illustrated in FIG. 6 are a pair of spring-loaded cant wheels 34 
and 35 and a pair of knurled wheels 32 and 33. The cant wheels 34 and 35 
press against the knurled wheels 32 and 33 when applicator 10 is assembled 
so that as the tape 26 is applied, the paper materials 14 (in FIG. 4) pass 
between the cant wheels 34 and 35 and the knurled wheels 32 and 33, while 
simultaneously being guided and held in a fixed position. Once the tape 26 
has been applied, cutting blade 48 is used to sever the tape 26. 
FIG. 7 is a cross section taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 6 showing an 
enlarged illustration of the snap provisions 44 that hold the housing 
halves 40 together. 
It is thus seen that the invention provides a novel process and apparatus 
for dispensing tape and joining together adjacent paper materials such as 
sheets of track-driven paper, rolls of paper, or other loose or cut sheets 
of paper has been provided. Many variations are apparent to those of skill 
in the art, and such variations are embodied within the spirit and scope 
of the present invention as measured by the following appended claims.