A HAND-HELD DEVICE FOR TRANSFERRING A FILM ONTO A SUBSTRATE, COMPRISING A CONCEALABLE APPLICATION MEMBER

Abstract: The invention relates to a hand-held device (1) for transferring a film (4) of for example adhesive, covering or coloured material from a supply onto a substrate (5), comprising a base body (2), on which the supply and an application member (3) are disposed, a cover (14) being provided for the application member (3) which is moveable between a covering position covering the application member (3) and a release position releasing the application member (3). With a view to reducing the amount of space required by the hand-held device (1), the direction of movement (14a) substantially follows the outer contour of the base body (2).

Description: A hand-held device for transferring a film onto a substrate, comprising a concealable application member The invention relates to a hand-held device according to the preamble of claim 1 or 2. In this type of hand-held device, the film is transferred onto a substrate by the handheld device being manually gripped and pressed against the substrate with the film with an application member about which the film runs and which projects from the hand-held device at the same time as being moved along the substrate so that the film is automatically released from the supply and pressed onto the substrate by the application member. In the position in which the application member projects beyond the handheld device with the film, there is a danger that the sensitive film could be damaged during the period in which the hand-held device is not used. Such damage can lead to defects during application of the film onto the substrate, especially at the start of application, these defects of course not being desirable. In addition to this, when the film is coloured or adhesive, there is a danger that objects coming into contact with the application member whilst the hand-held device is not being used could be impaired and this is also undesirable. With a view to avoiding the drawbacks described above, DE 195 33 567 A discloses a hand-held device of the above-described type which is provided with a protective lid which is pivotally connected to a housing of the hand-held device by a joint and is pivotally mounted between a non-use position where the application member is covered and a use position where the application member is exposed. EP 0 313 720 Bl describes a hand-held device for transferring a film from a backing foil onto a substrate in which a supply reel and a take-up reel for the backing tape are arranged on a cassette unit which also bears the application member. An affiliated housing takes on the form of a housing lid, the cassette unit being swivellable by means of a swivel arm hinged onto the housing between a use position swivelled into the housing lid and a release position swivelled out of the housing lid in which the cassette can be exchanged. In the swivelled in use position, the application member projects from the housing lid so that it can be pressed onto the substrate to transfer the film onto the substrate. EP 0 575 790 B, too, describes a hand-held device having a cassette unit which bears the supply reel, the take-up reel and the application reel, an affiliated housing for the hand-held device having an oblong construction and the cassette unit being displaceable in the straight lengthways direction of the housing between a use position in which the application member projects outside through an opening in the housing and thus can be pressed against the substrate and a retracted non-use position in the housing. The cassette unit is pushed out into the use position by manual pressure being exerted on the rear end of the cassette unit which protrudes out of the rear end of the housing against a restoring spring which biases the cassette unit into its non-use position. The cassette unit is positioned in the pushed-out use position by latching in a lateral locking arm of the cassette unit which undercuts a latching edge on the housing and can be moved into a release position by means of manual finger pressure from outside. The known configurations produce an unsatisfactory use of space. This is caused by the cover needing a relatively large surrounding area to perform its movement. This is also the case in the hand-held device described in EP 0 575 790 Bl because the rear end of the base body projects out of the housing. If one were to dispose the base body of this hand-held device completely in the housing, the base body would need a relatively large interior free space in the housing. The invention is based on the object of improving a hand-held device of the type described in the introductory portion with a view to its spatial requirements. The handheld device is to require as little clearance of motion as possible and to have a small design. This object is achieved by the features of claim 1 or 2. Advantageous developments of the invention are described in the subclaims. The hand-held device according to claim 1 of the invention is formed such that the cover essentially follows the outer contour of the base body during its movement. The movement of the lid is therefore not directed transversely to the outer contour of the base body as is the case in the known embodiments but is directed along the outer contour of the housing. As a result of this, the gap between the cover and the outer contour of the base body remains substantially equal during movement of the cover, thus advantageously exploiting the room available. A particularly advantageous embodiment can be achieved when the cover is provided with a movement in the shape of a circular arc section, the outer contour of the base body preferably also being formed in a corresponding circular arc shape. In the hand-held device according to claim 2 of the invention, the cover at least partially covers the base body in its covering position. In doing so, the cover fulfils its covering function not only for the application member but also for the base body. It is therefore possible within the bounds of the invention for the cover to conceal the majority of the base body or to conceal the entire base body when in its covering position. In all the embodiments of the invention, it is beneficial for the outer contour of the base body to be formed in the shape of a circular section in at least the section in which it is covered by the cover and to mount the cover such that it can be swivelled. In doing so, it is advantageous for the centre of curvature of the outer contour of the base body and the swivel axis of the cover to lie on essentially the same axis. This allows the clearance of motion between the inner surface of the cover and the outer contour of the base body to be minimal and a small and compact construction to be achieved. A contribution to a small design is also made when the cover is formed so as to be relatively thin, e.g. by a sheet in the sense of a housing. It is particularly favourable to form the cover in the form of a section of a circle with the flattened part being beyond the centre of curvature in the sense of a secant. This design also improves handling when the size of the cover shaped as a section of a circle is adapted to the size of a using hand such that the operating hand can extend over the cover and the base body can be gripped and held between the thumb and at least one finger of the user's hand. With a view to improving the grip, it is advantageous to form the grippable side surfaces of the base body such that they are easy to grip, e.g. to make them rough or with furrows or gripping grooves. The base body can thereby have the shape of an essentially circular disc with the application member projecting radially from the base body. In this case, the clearance of motion between the base body and the cover is to be of such a size that the application member can be swung under the cover or the cover can be swung over the application member by effecting a relative movement between the base body and the cover. The invention and further advantages which can be gained therefrom shall now be described in more detail with the aid of preferred embodiments and a drawing. Figure 1 shows a side view of a hand-held device as per the invention in its use position; Figure 2 shows the hand-held device in a non-use position and in a particular covered position; Figure 3 shows a perspective illustration of the hand-held device. The hand-held device referred to as a whole with 1 has a base body 2 from which an application member 3 projects, this application member 3 serving to transfer a film 4 of for example adhesive, covering or coloured material onto a substrate 5, the film 4 being disposed on the base body 2 and transferred onto the substrate 5 by the application member 3 being manually pressed onto the substrate 5 at the same time as it is moved along the substrate 5. In doing so, the film is pulled off a supply located on the base body 2. In the present embodiment, the film 4 sticks to a backing tape 6 in the form of a foil strip running from the supply with an approach section 6a to the application member 3 and deflecting around the same. In the use position illustrated in Figure 1 , the approach section 6a is located below the application member 3 and the return section 6b is located above the application member 3. The application member 3 is a spatula-shaped component, the essentially straight tip 3a of which extends at a right angle to the deflection plane of the backing tape 6. Two through holes 7 are provided in the base body 2, one below the approach side of the application member 3 and one above the return side of the application 3. The backing tape 6 extends through these holes into the hollow base body 2 in which a supply reel 8 and a take-up reel 9 are mounted, each of them mounted so as to be freely rotatable in a rotational bearing. In the present embodiment, the base body 2 is disc-shaped with two opposing side walls 2a and a peripheral wall 2b connecting them to each other, the application member 3 being a few millimetres away from the peripheral wall 2b. The side walls 2a and the peripheral wall 2b form a housing in which the supply reel 8 and the take-up reel 9 are mounted so as to be freely rotatable on bearing axes 11, 12. Looking at the deflection plane from the side, the side of the base body 2 facing away from the application member 3 in the use position depicted in Figure 1 has the shape of a semi-circle, the tip 3a being disposed in the region of an imaginary extension of the curve of the semi-circular rear side 2c of the base body 2. On the front side of the base body 2, the peripheral wall sections 2d, 2e arranged above and below the application member run approximately flattened or secantial and possibly slightly convex in shape as a result of the peripheral wall secύons 2d, 2e beginning at a distance a behind the tip 3a and diverging rearwards, running out into the region of an axial transverse plane extending between the front side and the rear side on the circumference of the base body 2. The base body 2 therefore has the shape of a substantially round disc, a free space F being available at least between the lower flattened circumferential section 2d and the mathematical line of curvature K which guarantees a necessary open space between the substrate and the base body 2 in the use position. Between the supply reel 8 and the take-up reel 9 there is disposed a transmission gearing with an integrated sliding clutch (not illustrated). When moving the hand-held device in the direction of arrow 13 during transfer of the film F onto the substrate 5, the supply reel 8 is driven by the forwards moving approach section 6a, the take-up reel 9 being driven at such a circumferential speed as a result of the transmission in the respective reel winding variable that the take-up speed of the take-up reel 9 is greater than the unwinding speed of the supply reel 8 even with the smallest reel winding size of the supply reel 8 (empty supply reel 8) and the largest reel winding size of the take- up reel 9 (full take-up reel 9). In this respect, the provided sliding clutch is adjusted such that, although the take-up reel 9 exerts slight traction on the unwinding section 6b so that the backing tape 6 is always taut, the backing tape 6 does not rip. The base body 2 can be divided such that when the supply reel 8 is empty, the reels can be exchanged. It is also possible within the boundaries of the invention to arrange the reels 8, 9 and preferably also the application member 3 on an exchangeable cassette (not illustrated) which can for example be inserted into the base body 2 from behind and can be positioned by suitable positioning means. The hand-held device 1 comprises a cover denoted in its entirety with 14 which is pivotally connected to the base body 2 between a release position and a covering position by a joint such that the cover 14 covers the application member 3 and part of the section of the base body 2 adjacent to the application member 3 in its covering position and exposes these parts in the release position so that the application member 3 can be pressed against the substrate 5 and the film F can be transferred. The cover 14 comprises a cover wall 16 covering the peripheral wall 2b of the base body 2 with clearance of motion, this wall being movable in a guide running in the peripheral direction of the base body 2. It is preferable for side walls 17 to extend radially inwards from the side edges of the cover wall 16 which partially cover the base body 2 on both sides and thus give the cover 14 the shape of a cap. This produces an optimum covering which surrounds the application member 3 on three sides in the covered position. The guide 18 is preferably curved in the shape of an arc of a circle and can be formed by a circular arc like guide groove 18a in one of the component parts and a circular arc guide web 18b engaging in the guide groove 18a with clearance of motion on the other part. In the present embodiment, the guide groove 18a of the cover 14 is arranged outside on at least one side in the respective side wall 17 whilst the guide web 18b projects inwards from the respective side wall 17. In this embodiment, the cover wall 16 and/or its direction of movement 14a follows the outer or peripheral contour of the base body 2. The articulated axis 15 of the joint running through the centre of curvature of the guide 18 curved in a circular arc is preferably located in the axis of the circular line K. The guide 18 can be formed by an annular groove so that an endless relative rotational movement between the base body 2 and the cover 14 can be performed. In the present embodiment, the cover 14 stretches over approximately 180° of the curve in the peripheral direction. It can cover approximately half of the disc-shaped base body 2, wherein it covers about the front half of the base body 2 and exposes the application member 3 in the release position and covers the front half of the base body 2 and the application member 3 in the covering position. In the side view transverse to the deflection plane, the cover therefore roughly has the shape of a semi-circle, a preferably semi-circular free space 21 also being provided inside the guide member affiliated to the cover 14, here the guide web 18b, in which free space the side walls 2a of the base body 2 are not covered and are therefore open. In the region of the rear half, the cross-section of the peripheral surface of the base body 2 is rounded, especially semi-circular, along the articulating axis 15. The cover 14 is adapted to the cross-sectional shape of the base body 2 with a small amount of play so that there is just a small gap between these parts. In the region of the peripheral sections 2d, 2c, the peripheral surface can also be rounded or flat in its cross-section. The edges in the region of the flat or slightly bulging peripheral sections 2d, 2c can be curved or chamfered. In the use position, the base body 2 can be gripped in a user-friendly manner between a thumb and at least one finger of the user's hand with the user's hand reaching over the cover 14. In doing so, the user's hand can for example rest the palm of the hand on the cover wall 16 of the cover 14. With a view to improving gripping, the side walls 2a of the base body 2 can be rough or equipped with small grooves or one or more so-called gripping recesses 22 in which the fingers can engage and hold the base body 2 more firmly. The free spaces 21 increase the gripping surface available for the fingers thus further improving gripping. In the present embodiment, a cylindrical material shoulder 23 is disposed on the side walls 2a coxially to the articulating axis 15 which fills the respective free space 21 and can have axial measurements which enable it to seal the side walls 17 with the outer side surface. In the non-use or covered position, the application member 3 is protected on all open sides by the dome-shaped form of the cover 14. The movement between the base body 2 and the cover 14 is relative. This means that one of these parts can be moved relative to the other one which is kept in place. The base body 2, the cover 14 and the application member 3 are preferably made of plastic such that they can be produced as accurately shaped moulded plastic parts and at reasonable costs.

Claims: Patent Claims L A hand-held device (1) for transferring a film (4) of for example adhesive, covering or coloured material from a supply onto a substrate (5), comprising a base body (2) on which the supply and an application member (3) are arranged, a cover (14) being provided for the application member (3) which is oveable between a covering position covering the application member (3) and a release position (3) releasing the application member (3), characterised in that the direction of movement (14a) essentially follows the outer contour of the base body (2). 2. A hand-held device (1) for transferring a film (4) of for example adhesive, covering or coloured material from a supply onto a substrate (5), comprising a base body (2) on which the supply and an application member (3) are arranged, a cover (14) being provided for the application member (3) which is moveable between a covering position covering the application member (3) and a release position (3) releasing the application member (3), characterised in that, in its covering position, the cover (14) also covers at least part of the base body (2). 3. A hand-held device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the cover (14) can be moved in a guide (18) disposed between the cover and the base body (2). 4. A hand-held device according to claim 3, characterised in that the guide (18) is curved by 360° in the shape of an arc of a circle or a circular ring. 5. A hand-held device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cover (14) is formed by a cover wall (16) extending in the peripheral direction of the base body (2) and two side walls (17) which stretch U-shaped from the cover wall (16) and overlap the sides of the base body (2). 6. A hand-held device according to claim 5, characterised in that the guide is formed between at least one side wall (17) and the adjacent side wall of the base body (2). 7. A hand-held device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterised in that the guide (18) is formed by a guide groove (18a) and a guide web (18b) engaging in this groove with clearance of motion. 8. A hand-held device according to claim 7, characterised in that the guide groove (18a) is disposed in the side wall (2a) of the base body (2) and the guide web (18b) is disposed on the side wall (17) of the cover (14). 9. A hand-held device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the base body (2) has the shape of an essentially round disc and the centre of curvature of the guide (18) lies approximately on the middle axis of the disc form. 10. A hand-held device according to claim 9, characterised in that the rounding of the disc is flattened on at least the circumferential section (2d, 2e) at which the backing tape (6) runs to the application member (3) and/or runs back from the application member (3). 11. A hand-held device according to any one of claims 5 to 10, characterised in that the cover (14) has the shape of a semi -circular segment. 12. A hand-held device according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterised in that the guide groove (18a) is an annular groove.

Inventors: BOUVERESSE JEAN-ANTIDE, BOUVERESSE, JEAN-ANTIDE
Applicants: BIC DEUTSCHLAND GMBH & CO, BIC SOC, BOUVERESSE JEAN ANTIDE, BIC DEUTSCHLAND GMBH & CO., BOUVERESSE, JEAN-ANTIDE, SOCIETE BIC
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B65H37
IPC codes: B43L19, B65H37