Patent Publication Number: US-8991674-B2

Title: Adhesive-tape cutting device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 101117774, filed on May 18, 2012. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a cutting device, and more particularly to an adhesive-tape cutting device. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a conventional adhesive-tape cutting device  6  is used widely to cut an adhesive tape roll  5 . Since the adhesive-tape cutting device  6  is bulky, and is made of metal, it is inconvenient to carry and store, and is made at a high cost. Furthermore, undesired adhesion of a peeled tape section  51  to the rolled section of the adhesive tape roll  5  may usually occur, thereby resulting in inconvenience during use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of this invention is to provide an adhesive-tape cutting device that can overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks associated with the prior art. 
     According to this invention, an adhesive tape cutting device includes a cutting member and a supporting unit. The supporting unit includes a shaft seat mounted to the outer surface of an adhesive tape roll, a first pressing member disposed on the shaft seat, and a first supporting member disposed on the shaft seat. The cutting member is disposed on the shaft seat. The first pressing member has a biasing rod section extending from the shaft seat, and a pressing portion pressing against an inner surface of the adhesive tape roller. The first supporting member has a biasing rod section extending from the shaft seat such that the biasing rod sections of the first pressing member and the first supporting member flank the adhesive top roll, and a retaining portion retaining removably the pressing portion thereon. 
     Since the pressing portion of the first pressing member is biased to press against the inner surface of the adhesive tape roll, relative movement between the adhesive tape cutting device and the adhesive roll can be prevented. 
     Preferably, the cutting unit further includes two return plates extending from the first pressing member and the first supporting member, respectively. When a force is applied to press downwardly the cutting member against the return plates and when the peeled tape section is cut off, free ends of the return plates are moved downwardly, and when the force is released, the free ends of the return plates return to their original positions to thereby pivot upwardly the cutting member and move upwardly a portion of the peeled tape section remaining on a rolled section of the adhesive tape roll, so that a free end of the portion of the peeled tape section adjacent to the blade is removed from the rolled section of the adhesive tape roll. As such, the peeled tape section cannot be adhered undesirably to the rolled section of the adhesive tape roll. 
     With the above structures, the adhesive-tape cutting device can be made of a plastic material, is compact, and is thus convenient to carry and store. Furthermore, the manufacturing cost of the adhesive-tape cutting device is reduced, as compared to the above-mentioned prior art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional adhesive-tape cutting device; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of an adhesive-tape cutting device according to this invention, illustrating that it is mounted to an adhesive tape roll; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment, viewed at a different angle; 
         FIGS. 4-6  are schematic views illustrating how the preferred embodiment is mounted to the adhesive tape roll; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic side view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating a non-cutting position of a cutting member; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic side view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating a cutting position of the cutting member; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic side view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating operation of the adhesive-tape cutting device after the cutting member is pressed and then released; and 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic side view of the preferred embodiment and the adhesive tape roll, which are assembled together to form a unit to be sold. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  5 , the preferred embodiment of an adhesive-tape cutting device according to this invention is usable with an adhesive tape roll  9 . The adhesive tape roll  9  has a first side surface  91 , a second side surface  92  opposite to the first side surface  91 , a peeled tape section  93 , an inner surface  94 , and an outer surface  95  opposite to the inner surface  94 . The adhesive-tape cutting device includes a supporting unit  3  and a cutting unit  4 . 
     The supporting unit  3  includes an elongated shaft seat  30  mounted to the outer surface  95  of the adhesive tape roll  9 , first and second pressing members  31 ,  32  disposed on an end of the shaft seat  30  and adjacent to the first side surface  91  of the adhesive tape roll  9 , and first and second supporting members  33 ,  34  disposed on an opposite end of the shaft seat  30  and adjacent to the second side surface  92  of the adhesive tape roll  9 . 
     The shaft seat  30  includes two pivot pins  301  extending respectively and outwardly from two opposite ends thereof away from each other. The first pressing member  31  and the first supporting member  33  are located at a side of the shaft seat  30 . The second pressing member  32  and the second supporting member  34  are located at an opposite side of the shaft seat  30 . Each of the first and second pressing members  31 ,  32  has a biasing rod section  311 ,  321  and a pressing portion  312 ,  322 . The biasing rod sections  311 ,  321  of the first and second pressing members  31 ,  32  extend from the shaft seat  30  away from each other. Each of the pressing portions  312 ,  322  is configured as a rod, and has an enlarged (i.e., diameter-increased) free end  313 ,  323 , and an engaging portion  314 ,  324  adjacent to the enlarged free end  313 ,  323 . The first pressing member  31 , the second pressing member  32 , the first supporting member  33 , and the second supporting member  34  are made of a flexible material. 
     Each of the first and second supporting members  33 ,  34  has a biasing rod section  331 ,  341  extending from the shaft seat  30 , and a retaining portion  332 ,  342  disposed on the biasing rod section  331 ,  341 . As such, the first pressing member  31  and the first supporting member  33  flank the adhesive tape roll  9 . Similarly, the second pressing member  32  and the second supporting member  34  flank the adhesive tape roll  9 . The engaging portions  314 ,  324  of the first and second pressing members  31 ,  32  are retained respectively and removably on the retaining portions  332 ,  342  of the first and second supporting members  33 ,  34 . 
     The cutting unit  4  includes a cutting member  41  connected pivotally to the pivot pins  301  of the shaft seat  30 , two return plates  42  extending respectively from the first pressing member  31  and the first supporting member  33  toward each other, a push block  43  extending outwardly from the cutting member  41 , a pressing plate  44  disposed on the cutting member  41 , and two pairs of positioning plates  45  disposed on the pressing plate  44 . In this embodiment, the cutting member  41  has two parallel pivot arms  410 , and two C-shaped retaining rings  410 ′ sleeved respectively and movably on the pivot pins  301  and connected respectively to ends of the pivot arms  410 , and a blade  411 . The cutting member  41  is rotatable relative to the return plates  42  between a non-cutting position shown in  FIG. 7  and a cutting position shown in  FIG. 8 . A tape passage space  421  is defined between the shaft seat  30  and the return plates  42  so as to allow the peeled tape section  93  to extend through the tape passage space  421  to thereby be adhered to the return plates  42 . A finger passage space  422  is defined between the return plates  42  so that the peeled tape section  93  can be taken out therethrough. The return plates  42  are flexible. Each pair of positioning plates  45  define a plate-receiving space  451  therebetween. The return plates  42  are engageable respectively with the plate-receiving spaces  451  defined by the positioning plates  45 . 
     In this embodiment, the blade  411  is made of a plastic material. The cutting member  41  is formed as one piece so as to reduce the manufacture and assembly costs and promote safety during use. 
     In this embodiment, each supporting portion  332 ,  342  is shaped as a hook. 
     With particular reference to  FIG. 3 , when it is desired to mount the adhesive-tape cutting device to the adhesive tape roll  9 , the engaging portions  314 ,  324  are first removed from the retaining portions  332 ,  342 , respectively, as shown in  FIG. 4 . Next, the pressing portions  312 ,  322  are flexed and inserted into the adhesive tape roll  9  such that the adhesive tape roll  9  is located between the shaft seat  30  and the first and second pressing portions  312 ,  322 , between the biasing rod sections  311 ,  321  of the first and second pressing members  31 ,  32 , and between the biasing rod sections  331 , 341  of the first and second supporting members  33 , 34 . 
     With particular reference to  FIG. 5 , when the fingers of the user are removed from the first and second pressing members  31 ,  32 , the pressing portions  312 ,  322  of the first and second pressing members  31 ,  32  are biased by the biasing rod sections  311 ,  321  to press against the inner surface  94  of the adhesive tape roll  9 . Afterwards, the pressing portions  312 ,  322  are flexed again, as shown in  FIG. 6 , so as to engage the engaging portions  314 ,  324  with the retaining portions  332 ,  342 , respectively, followed by removing the fingers of the user from the adhesive-tape cutting device, as shown in  FIG. 7 . Hence, the pressing portions  312 ,  322  are biased to press against the inner surface  94  of the adhesive tape roll  9 , such that the biasing rod sections  311 ,  321  are slightly flexed. As a consequence, the adhesive tape roll  9  is clamped resiliently by the adhesive-tape cutting device for preventing relative movement therebetween. At this time, the peeled tape section  93  can be pulled out through the tape passage space  421 , and can be used. Such a mounting process is efficient and cost-effective, and meets current environmental protection requirement. 
     With particular reference to  FIGS. 2 and 7 , to cut the peeled tape section  93 , a force is applied to the push block  43  to rotate the cutting member  41  to the non-cutting position. At this time, the cutting member  41  is far away from the return plates  42 , so that the fingers of the user can be extended through the finger passage space  422  for pulling out the peeled tape section  93  through the tape passage space  421  in an upward direction (Z) by an appropriate length. Subsequently, the cutting member  41  is rotated in a counterclockwise direction (X) from the non-cutting position to the cutting position. 
     With particular reference to  FIG. 8 , in the cutting position, the cutting member  41  can be pressed downwardly to move free ends of the return plates  42  downwardly, so that the blade  411  presses the peeled tape section  93  against the outer surface  95  of the adhesive tape roll  9 , thereby allowing the peeled tape section  93  to be cut off. 
     With particular reference to  FIGS. 3 and 9 , after the peeled tape section  93  is cut off, and when the cutting member  41  is released, the free ends of the return plates  42  return upwardly to their original positions to thereby pivot upwardly the cutting member  41  and move upwardly a portion of the peeled tape section  93  remaining on the rolled section of the adhesive tape roll  9 , so as to remove the blade  411  and the portion of the peeled tape section  93  from the rolled section of the adhesive tape roll  9 , thereby preventing an adhesive-coated side surface of the portion of the peeled tape section  93  from contact with the rolled section of the adhesive tape roll  9 . At this time, the return plates  42  are received respectively within the plate-receiving spaces  451  defined by the positioning plates  45 , and the pressing plate  44  cooperates with the return plates  42  and the positioning plates  45  so as to clamp the portion of the peeled tape section  93  thereamong, thus further preventing the adhesive-coated side surface of the portion of the peeled tape section  93  from contact with the rolled section of the adhesive tape roll  9 . 
     When continued use is desired, the push block  43  is rotated back to the non-cutting position in the direction (Y). Thereafter, the peeled tape section  93  can be further pulled out through the finger passage space  422  for continued use. 
     With particular reference to  FIG. 7 , when the cutting member  41  is at the non-cutting position, the adhesive-coated side surface of the peeled tape section  93  is adhered to the return plates  42  such that a free end of the peeled tape section  93  is curved upwardly, thereby allowing the peeled tape section  93  to be held conveniently. 
     It should be noted that, when the cutting member  41  is at the non-cutting position, a top end of the blade  411  is not higher than a top end of the shaft seat  30 . As such, when the peeled tape section  93  is taken out of the finger passage space  422 , it is more unlikely to contact the blade  411 . 
     It should be noted that, since all components of the adhesive-tape cutting device can be plastics, and since the number of the components is reduced, as compared to that of the components of the above-mentioned conventional adhesive-tape cutting device, the adhesive-tape cutting device can be made at a low cost. 
     It should be noted that, the adhesive-tape cutting device is not limited to cut the adhesive tape roll  9 . In other words, the adhesive-tape cutting device of this invention can be used to cut a roll of any plate-shaped elongate article. 
     With particular reference to  FIGS. 2 and 10 , if necessary, the adhesive-tape cutting device can be assembled to the adhesive tape roll  9  to form a unit to be sold. 
     To sum up, the adhesive-tape cutting device of this invention has the following advantages:
     1. Since the peeled tape section  93  is adhered to the return plates  42 , and since the return plates  42  cooperate with the pressing plate  44  and the positioning plates  45  to clamp the peeled tape section  93  thereamong during cutting, undesired adhesion of the peeled tape section  93  to the rolled section of the adhesive tape roll  9  can be prevented. This can promote the cutting efficiency.   2. Since the return plates  42  are flexible and resilient, after cutting, they can return to their original positions by virtue of self-resilience thereof to thereby remove the peeled tape section  93  from the rolled section of the adhesive tape roll  9 . Hence, the peeled tape section  93  is clamped among the return plates  42 , the pressing plate  44 , and the positioning plates  45 . As a result, even when in not use, undesired adhesion of the peeled tape section  93  to the rolled section of the adhesive tape roll  9  can be prevented.   3. Through cooperation of the first and second pressing members  31 ,  32  with the first and second supporting members  33 ,  34 , a portion of the adhesive tape roll  9  is clamped between the shaft seat  30  and the pressing portions  312 ,  322 . In this manner, when the portion of the adhesive tape roll  9  is used and thus thinned, it still can be clamped between the shaft seat  30  and the pressing portions  312 ,  322 . Furthermore, the clamping force can be easily overcome to allow for movement of the adhesive-tape cutting device on the adhesive tape roll  9  by pushing the adhesive-tape cutting device. Consequently, the adhesive-tape cutting device is convenient to use.   4. since the blade  411  can be made of a plastic material, the fingers of the user cannot be cut and hurt so as to promote effectively safety during use.   5. The adhesive-tape cutting device is compact, and all components of the adhesive-tape cutting device can be plastics, so as to reduce the manufacturing cost of the adhesive-tape cutting device. As such, it is more likely that the adhesive tape roll  9  and the adhesive-tape cutting device are sold simultaneously in such a manner that the portion of the adhesive tape roll  9  is clamped by the adhesive-tape cutting device. In this case, it is not necessary to assemble the adhesive-tape cutting device to the adhesive tape roll  9  by the user, thereby resulting in convenience during use.   

     With this invention thus explained, it is apparent that numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. It is therefore intended that this invention be limited only as indicated by the appended claims.