Abstract:
A package of cutting tape for use in cutting a swiftly moving web of paper being spooled into a roll, and transferring the cut web to a new roll. The package includes a plurality of thin discs of wound cutting tape with each disc having one width of tape wrapped upon itself to form a large diameter disc of tape. The discs are separated from each other by spacers. The package is enclosed by a container having an opening to permit unrolling of the tape without imparting any twist thereto.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a method for cutting and spooling a travelling web of paper; and more particularly, it relates to the packaging of a cutting tape which is used to cut the web of paper when a roll has been filled and is transferring the travelling web to an empty spool. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     It is a general practice in the paper industry to produce a continuous sheet or web of paper which is wound onto large spools. The web is cut when one spool is full and the web is then wound onto an empty spool. Because the process is continuous, the cutting process needs to be quick and reliable. 
     The cutting of the web is usually accomplished by the use of a cutting paperband or tape made up of several strands of repulpable paper. The strands are laid together side-by-side in a lengthwise parallel abutting relationship and adhered to each other by a water soluble adhesive to create a tape  1  strand thick and perhaps 10-20 strands wide. One method of creating a cutting tape is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,126,312. Applicant discloses one use of a tape cutting device and method in U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,029. 
     The cutting tape supplied to the industry is wound on a spool in a spiral approximately 6″ wide×16″ diameter. The principal problem with this method of winding is that the paperband will retain a curvature introduced by the spiral winding over the core. After winding the tape will have right and left-hand curvature. This curvature can cause twisting of the tape and the doubling over itself in the nip during turnup. The tape closest to the core will have the greatest curvature. The curvature of the tape also makes it difficult to feed the tape through the guideways often used for the cutting and turn up operation. It is therefore desirable that the curvature be eliminated and to do so in a way that further improves the cutting operation. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevation of one roll of cutting tape to be used in the dispenser according the to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the tape of FIG. 1 as contained in a retaining folder of the dispenser according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective of several retaining folders grouped together according to the present invention carrying several rolls of tape; 
     FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of the retaining folder of FIG. 3 shown in relationship to a carrier carton of the dispenser in accord with the present invention; 
     FIG. 5A is a front elevation view of a removable metal divider used in one embodiment of the dispenser in accord with the present invention; 
     FIG. 5B is a side elevation view of the divider of FIG. 5A; 
     FIG. 6A is a front elevation view of a plurality of individual tape spools separated by paper dividers; 
     FIG. 6B is a front elevation of a plurality of individual boxes holding the tape spools of FIG. 6A; 
     FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of a cardboard shipping box used in the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a front elevation of an optional stainless steel box used in the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a top view of a lid used with the box of FIG. 8; 
     FIG.  10 . is a top diagrammatic view of the arrangement of two of a plurality of tape rolls on a common axis in one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 11 is a side elevation diagram of another embodiment of the dispenser according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 12 is an enlarged pictorial diagram of a separator rod of FIG. 11; and 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective pictorial diagram of the separator and container of FIG.  11 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to the drawings, a single roll of cutting tape is depicted at numeral  20  in FIG.  1 . The tape  21  is wound around a hollow fiber core  22  and attached thereto by conventional adhesive (not shown). The tape  21  is generally less than 1.0 inch wide. The roll  20  will generally have a diameter of 20-24 inches. In FIG. 2 a retaining folder  23  is formed as a tray which has a near wall  25  that extends to slightly above the axis of the core  22 . A cardboard box  24  will contain several rolls  21  each in a separate folder (FIG.  3 ). The box  24  has walls  26  shown in outline that extend above the diameter of a roll  21 , thus providing protection of the rolls  21  during handling as well as in usage for dispensing the band in paper cutting. 
     The arrangement of tape rolls  21  shown in FIGS. 1-3 has several advantages. First, the tape  21  is wound as a ribbon thus eliminating the curvatures found in spiral-wound arrangements. Second, the folder  23  contains a given tape roll  21  in a manner to keep it from becoming loose or falling apart. Walls  23  extend above the axis of the core  22 . Third, it is possible to eliminate core  22  entirely or to greatly reduce its diameter to increase the amount of paperband in a roll  20 . It is not possible to eliminate the core in prior art rolls due to the very nature of the spiral winding. Fourth, less torque is required to unwind the tape  21  from a given roll  20 . There is less internal drag or friction in the carrying of the roll  20  in folder  23 . This feature is important because the present invention contemplates automatic machine control of the tape  21  handling and loading. The less friction in movement the faster and more reliable the control of the tape  21 . Fifth, the use of the folders  23  in box  24  reduces the handling of the tape by the end user thus reducing the possibility of mishandling and contamination of the tape  21  and the like. The arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 constitutes a dispenser  28 . Any number of roll/folder combinations can be used in a single dispenser  28 . Preferably, the actual number of rolls per box  24  will be between  7  and  10 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the cutting tape dispenser according to the present invention. A plurality of tape rolls  29 , otherwise identical to rolls  20 , are placed in a cardboard or metal box or tray  30 . A removable metal divider  31  (FIGS. 4 and 5) having base  32  and a plurality of divider vanes  33  hold each roll  29  separately. Divider  31  is placed in box  30 . Roll  34  may be filled with a fiber core (not shown) for each roll  29  if desired. The height of a vane  33  should be greater than the radius of a roll  29  to provide lateral support a roll  29 . 
     FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate another embodiment of a retaining folder/separator  35 . Two end walls  36  with finger holes  37  are used to mount a plurality of spaced separator vanes  38 . Separator  35  fits into a box  39  (FIG. 7) having lid flaps  40 . For ease of tape withdrawal one end flap  40  may be removed. FIG. 6 A illustrates a variation on the separator  35  wherein a plurality of tape rolls  41  are separated by paper dividers  42 . Each roll has center hole  43  which may be empty or include a fiber core. If separator  35  is used with rolls  41  the paper separators  42  are not used. The box  39  is then inserted into metal container  44  for shipping. Container  44  is best used also as a tape dispenser at its destination. Container lid  45  is shown in FIG.  9  and terminates short of the top opening of container  44  to define via fingers  47  space  46  wherefrom the tape can be pulled from a roll  41 . 
     The tape rolls  41  may each be inserted into an individual box  48  (FIG. 6B) that is quite narrow and resembles a “pizza box” with one box  48  for each roll of tape  41 . Dividers would not be needed. Each box  48  has an outlet slot  49 . The tape  41  can be partially withdrawn through the outlet slot  49  and secured to the outside of the box  48  at location  49 ′ for ease of handling. The principal objectives to be met are the protection of the tape rolls, such as  41 , and the preventing of the unwinding of an adjacent roll when one roll is being unwound. Accordingly, container  44  and lid  45  are optional depending upon the circumstances. Box  44  may also be undercut along one upper lid to cooperate with space  46  if so desired. 
     FIGS. 10-13 illustrate another embodiment of the tape dispensing means in accord with the present invention. Cardboard box  50  has two planar sides  51  in which are cut two holes  52  having an axis shown at dotted line  53 . Each tape roll  54  utilizes a fiber core  55  into which fits an elongate second fiber core  56  fitted with end caps  57  that are secured to box  50  to keep the core  56  positioned centrally in the box  50  and to provide clearance for the edge of a full tape roll  54  and the bottom floor  58  of box  50  for low friction tape withdrawal. 
     FIG. 12 illustrates in enlarged detail the separator means used. A U-shaped elongated metal clamp assembly  61  is mounted along the upper edge  62  of box rear wall  59 . The assembly includes a U-shaped spring element  63  having punched out prongs  63 ′ impaled into wall  59  that can be removed from wall  59  by squeezing together arm member  64  and bracket member  65 . Bracket member  65  carries a plurality of stiff metal rods  66  threaded into nuts  67  and having a sharp pointed end  68 . As shown in FIG. 11, rods  66  are angled downwardly but spring-loaded upwardly to pass over the core  56  and drive point  68  against front wall  60 . Each rod  66  functions as a separator which can be raised or lowered via assembly  61 . The top  69  of box  50  may employ a dispensing space  70  similar to the space defined at  46  in FIG. 9 to provide for unwinding of a strip of tape  71 . The tape  71  may be secured to the front wall  60  via adhesive (not shown) for shipping if so desired. 
     FIG. 13 illustrates an alternative clamp assembly  72  employing a pair of spring metal brackets  73 . Spring members  74  having punched out prongs  74 ′ impaled in rear wall  59  are used to squeeze the clamp  72  to secure it to top edge  62  of box  50 . The elongate bracket plate  75  carries a plurality of spaced rods such as  66  which are threaded into nuts  76 . It is to be understood that the precise shape and construction of clamp elements such as  63  and  73  can vary widely. What is important is the support and angling of the rods  66  to provide separation and the spring biased upward action to secure the rods  66  against front wall  60 . A lid of appropriate construction may be used with the box  50  if desired in the circumstances. 
     While the invention has been described with respect to certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.