Abstract:
This invention relates to a tape dispenser, and in particular to a tape dispenser for use in binding horticultural produce and the like. According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a tape dispenser having a housing adapted to locate a spool of tape, the housing having an opening through which the tape can pass and blade means for cutting the tape, the housing being formed from separable housing parts which are retained together by a removable handle. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a tape dispenser having a housing adapted to locate a spool of tape, and a handle connected to the housing, the housing having an opening through which tape can pass and blade means for cutting the tape, the housing being substantially waterproof.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority, under 35 U.S.C. 119, of GB Patent Application 0006804.9, filed Mar. 22, 2000.  
         FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to a tape dispenser, and in particular to a tape dispenser for use in binding horticultural produce and the like, and/or in binding the packaging sacks containing such produce.  
         BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Horticultural produce such as onions, carrots and the like, and other articles such as flowers, are usually harvested individually in the field and yet are sold in bunches, bundles or packs. The articles may be bound together in such a way that they are maintained together until sold to the eventual customer; alternatively, the articles may be packed into bags or sacks.  
           [0004]    Often, produce will be bundled in the field, and it is particularly desirable to do this whenever possible as the produce can then be taken to market promptly, ensuring that the produce is a fresh as possible. Sometimes however, and in particular for certain produce which requires washing or other preparation prior to bundling, it will be bundled in a pack house located away from the field. For example, onions which are in prime state can be bundled in the field, yet onions which have passed their prime state will require the removal of some of the external leaves, which procedure can best be carried out in the pack house. Produce which requires washing will also typically be bundled in a pack house.  
           [0005]    Produce such as potatoes can be loaded into sacks in the field, and the sacks closed in the field.  
         DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART  
         [0006]    Several means of maintaining produce in bundles are known, one of the most common being the use of elastic bands of rubber or the like. Such elastic bands can be used both in the field and in the pack house. However, it is a known problem with the use of such bands that large numbers become discarded as they are dropped by the user, e.g. a user seeking to take one band from a box might inadvertently take more than one, the surplus band or bands being dropped onto the ground or floor from where they are seldom if ever retrieved. When the bands are used in a field, there can be a particular concern for a farmer if he subsequently has animals grazing on a field in which elastic bands have been dropped, as it is known that in muddy conditions the bands can become forced over the foot of a sheep or deer for example, the band subsequently restricting the blood flow to the animal&#39;s foot; despite the low probability of this occurring it is neverthless a recognised problem in view of the large number of bands which are dropped.  
           [0007]    In addition, the large wastage involved increases the effective cost of the use of such bands.  
           [0008]    As an alternative to elastic bands it is known to use wire clips, the ends of which are squeezed or wound together. However, such devices also suffer from unnecessary wastage, and are relatively expensive.  
           [0009]    Wire clips are also often used to bind together the neck of a sack (e.g. of potatoes) after the neck has been closed, the ends of the clip being wound together to maintain the neck closed.  
           [0010]    Tape dispensers are also known which can be used to dispense a required length of adhesive tape. Many of the varieties of such dispensers are designed to be static, e.g. they are located at a shop checkout of the like for the banding of the neck of a plastic bag. Other dispensers are designed to be portable, as for example are the tape dispensers adapted to dispense tape to connect together and seal the flaps on a cardboard box.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    It is an aim of the present invention to provide a tape dispenser which can be used to dispense tape for the securing together of numbers of produce, so as to replace the above-mentioned elastic bands. In addition, it is desired that the dispenser offer advantages of unit cost and ease and speed of use over the known wire clips and bands.  
           [0012]    According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a tape dispenser having a housing adapted to locate a spool of tape, the housing having an opening through which the tape can pass and a blade against which the tape can be pressed so as to be severed, the housing being formed from two housing parts which are retained together by a removable handle.  
           [0013]    According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a tape dispenser having a housing adapted to locate a spool of tape, and a handle connected to the housing, the housing having an opening through which the tape can pass and a blade against which the tape can be pressed so as to be severed, characterised in that the housing is substantially waterproof.  
           [0014]    The provision of a substantially waterproof housing will permit the dispenser to be used outdoors, for example in the field, without the tape becoming wet, and will also allow the dispenser to be used to bind produce which might itself be wet (having been washed in the pack house for example) without the tape becoming wet inadvertently.  
           [0015]    By “substantially waterproof” is meant the ability to prevent the ingress of significant quantities of water. Thus, it is not intended that the housing can prevent the ingress of water if it is totally submerged since it necessarily has an opening for the tape to pass through; however, the tape located within the housing will be maintained dry provided the user takes certain limited precautions during use of the dispenser.  
           [0016]    Preferably, the handle projects from the housing substantially parallel to the axis of the tape spool. The provision of such a handle position allows the dispenser to be used to bind articles without either the need for the user to remove his hand from the handle or to pass his hand around the end of the articles, i.e. the user can bind long articles in one movement by manipulating the handle and his wrist and by permitting the handle to twist in his hand.  
           [0017]    Preferably also the handle is substantially co-axial with the axis of the spool.  
           [0018]    Desirably the housing is of cam formation, with a substantially circular section and an elongated nose section. Preferably the nose section carries the blade.  
           [0019]    Usefully there is a number of openings for the tape, the user selecting the opening most suited to binding his articles and the prevailing conditions. Thus, if the produce is wet it may be necessary for the opening to be some distance from the blade so as to provide a longer free tape length so that the tape can for example be gripped by the thumb of the user and held in contact with the produce. When the produce is dry it will be possible for the opening to be closer to the blade so that the free tape length is shorter. Notwithstanding the above considerations, however, the free tape length should not be so great as to encourage entanglement of the free tape.  
           [0020]    Preferably the housing comprises two separable parts, the parts being separable to permit replacement of the tape spool. Usefully the parts are identical and so can be manufactured on a common moulding tool.  
           [0021]    Desirably, the two parts of the housing are held together by a part of the handle, and the handle is removable to permit separation of the housing parts.  
           [0022]    When using the dispenser, the free length of tape will be brought into contact with the produce so as to adhere thereto and the dispenser will be manipulated by the user so as to pass around the produce as further tape is pulled from the dispenser and passed through the opening. When the tape has been wound around the produce a newly exposed length of tape can be adhered to the existing tape. Thus, it is recognised that the tape should be adhered to itself rather than to the produce, which will lead to greater control of the binding process, particularly if the produce is wet. If the produce is so wet that the free run of tape will not initially adhere thereto, the free end of the tape can be gripped by a finger or thumb of the user whilst the tape is bound around the produce and the newly exposed length of tape can be adhered to the existing tape.  
           [0023]    Desirably the tape is of PVC or vinyl and has adhesive pre-applied to one side thereof, since if used as intended the tape will be brought into contact with the produce, if the produce is for human consumption it will be necessary for the tape and adhesive to meet the applicable food hygiene standards. A tape which is understood to be suitable is that presently used for the binding of bags of mass-produced bread.  
           [0024]    Preferably the housing can locate a printer or marker which can print or otherwise mark a date or other identifying material onto the tape as it is dispensed.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]    The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of tape dispenser according to the invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 is a partial view of the blade area of the housing of the dispenser of FIG. 1;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the dispenser as in FIG. 1, with the handle removed;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 4 is an end view of the handle of the dispenser;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 5 is a side view of the handle;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 6 is a view of one housing part of a second embodiment of tape dispenser according to the invention; and  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of an opening in the housing of the tape dispenser of FIG. 6. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0033]    The tape dispenser  10  comprises a housing  12  and a handle  14 . The housing  12  is made up of two similar parts  16  and  18 , which clip together to provide a substantially water-tight seal at the joint  20 . The housing parts  16  and  18  are of plastic material, and as is well-known with plastics housings the mouldings can be identical and produced on the same tool, the housing parts having complementary lips and recesses (not shown) adjacent to the joint  20 .  
         [0034]    The housing parts  16 ,  18  mount a blade  22 ; as is better seen in FIG. 2 the blade is located between walls  24  of the respective housing parts  16 ,  18 , which walls  24  provide protection for the blade, i.e. the walls  24  effectively prevent the inadvertent contact of the user&#39;s fingers with the blade  22 .  
         [0035]    The housing has an opening  26  (FIG. 3) through which the tape,  30  can pass. Between uses of the dispenser to bind successive bundles of produce there is a free length of tape  30  outside of the housing as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the free length of tape substantially equalling the distance from the opening  26  to the blade  22 .  
         [0036]    The surface  32  of the tape  30  has adhesive applied thereto, so that in use it is the surface  32  which is brought into contact with the produce. Notwithstanding that the surface.  34  of the tape  30  does not have adhesive applied thereto, in practice the free length of tape  30  will likely self-adhere to the housing  12 , with the surface  34  in contact with the surface  36  of the housing. This self-adherence is believed, to arise from electrostatic activity of the tape, and can be enhanced by adhering another length of tape to the surface  36 . Thus, in use, the free length of tape  30  is not likely to lie away from the housing (as is shown for clarity in FIGS. 1 and 3) but is likely to be in contact with the surface  36 ; whilst in contact with the surface  36  it is not likely to become entanged, and is suitably located for adherence to a subsequent bundle of produce.  
         [0037]    The handle  14  projects from the side of the housing  12 , and as shown in FIG. 3 is substantially coaxial with the tape spool  40 . As shown in FIG. 3, the tape spool  40  is of slightly larger internal diameter than the outer diameter of a boss  42  which surrounds aperture  44  in the housing  16  (a corresponding boss  42  and aperture  44  is provided in the housing  18 ). Accordingly, the spool  40  is free to move laterally a small distance relative to the boss  42 . In alternative embodiments the internal diameter of the spool  40  is substantally identical to the outer diameter of the boss so that the spool is substantially located against relative lateral movement.  
         [0038]    As also shown in FIG. 3, the housing  12  has two openings  26  through which the tape  30  can pass, the two openings being present because of the identical nature of the housing parts  16 ,  18 . In other embodiments only one opening  26  is provided, i.e. the housings  16 ,  18  are not identical.  
         [0039]    A second pair of openings  28  are also provided, which openings  28  are further from the blade  22  than the respective openings  26 . The provision of second openings  28  is so that the free length of tape can be varied to suit the prevailing conditions and the produce being bound, as necessary, e.g. a longer free length of tape can be provided if the produce is wet.  
         [0040]    As described above the housing parts  16 ,  18  each have a central boss  42  within which is located an aperture  44  for receiving a part of the handle  14 , specifically the part  46 . The part  46  carries three lugs  48  which can be passed through correspondingly shaped cut-outs  50  in the housing parts  16 ,  18 . In this embodiment the three lugs  48  are spaced at approximately 120° apart around the handle part  46 . The handle  14  also has a raised ring  52 , the ring  52  and lugs  46  being spaced apart by a distance d which corresponds to the thickness of the housing  12 . Thus, the two housing parts  16  and  18  when assembled a be held together between the ring  52  and the lugs  48  of the handle part  46 .  
         [0041]    To assemble the handle  14  to the housing  12  the housing parts  16 ,  18  are first brought together (with the apertures  44  and the cut-outs  50  aligned. (The housing parts  16  and  18  can have complementary clip formations allowing them to be held semi-securely together before insertion of the handle if desired). The handle part  46  is then passed through the apertures  44  with the lugs  48  passing through the respective cut-outs  50 . When the ring  52  abuts the housing part  16  or  18  (as the case may be) the lugs  48  will have passed through the cut-outs  50  in both of the housing parts, and the handle  14  can be rotated so as to move the lugs  48  out of alignment with the cut-outs  50  and so secure the handle  14  to the housing  12 .  
         [0042]    The lugs  48  have shaped lead-ins  54  which faciliate ease of rotation of the handle  14  relative to the housing  12 . The housing parts  16 ,  18  carry a raised stop (not shown) so as to limit the rotation of the handle relative to the housing to around 40° or so, and define a “locked” position of the handle.  
         [0043]    It will be understood that because the housing parts  16  and  18  are identically formed the handle  14  can project to either side thereof. In addition, the form of the handle part  40  allows the handle to be rotated either clockwise or anticlockwise into its locked position. In this way, the device may be used by either a left or right handed person without the risk of the handle becoming inadvertently released from the housing, i.e the user may choose the direction of relative rotation of the handle  14  and housing  12  into the locked position so as to ensure that in use the handle  14  seeks to rotate further in said direction, i.e. against the stop, rather than seeking to return the lugs  48  towards the cut-outs  50 .  
         [0044]    In use, when a bundle of produce has been bound, the tape dispensed should exceed the perimeter of the bundle, i.e. the ends of the tape can overlap and preferably engage. It is preferred that the surface  32  of the tape engages (and is adhered to) part of the surface  34 , rather than to another part of the surface  32 . Thus, whilst “front to front” adherence (i.e. surface  32  to another part of surface  32 ) could be used it has been found that such adherence is relatively easy to overcome, i.e. if the produce shifts the tape can become loose due to the adherence gradually being broken. With “front to rear” adherence (i.e. surface  32  to surface  34 ) the whole section of adhered tape contributes to the securement and the adherence of the tape cannot gradually be broken down.  
         [0045]    It has been found that an experienced user of the tape dispenser can reduce the time taken to bind produce by a considerable amount, perhaps even halving the binding time for some produce. Since the binding procedure is often the slowest operation in the process of harvesting and bundling the produce for delivery to market, it will be recognized that the tape dispenser offers a considerable advantage in such a procedure. One clear advantage is that since the produce is harvested and bundled more rapidly, less of the produce will mature in the field, i.e. more of the produce can be taken to market in its optimum condition.  
         [0046]    A second embodiment of tape dispenser  110  is shown in FIG. 6. In common with the first embodiment of tape dispenser  10  shown in FIGS.  1 - 5  the tape dispenser  110  comprises a housing and a handle. The housing is made up of two non-similar parts, only one of which parts  116  is shown in FIG. 6. The housing parts together provide a substantially water-tight volume therebetween. The housing parts mount a blade  122  located between protective walls  124  of the respective housing parts. The housing has two openings  126 ,  128  through which the tape (not shown) can pass.  
         [0047]    In this embodiment, the housing parts have four cut-outs  150  to receive a handle (not shown) having four lugs; it will be understood that the arrangements for connecting the handle to the housing shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 are interchangeable, and more or fewer cut-outs and lugs could be used, as desired.  
         [0048]    When it is desired to bind produce, a spool of tape can be placed into the housing part  116 , and its free end passed through one of the openings  126  or  128 . The housing part  118  (FIG. 7) is subsequently fitted, and the handle inserted and rotated to retain the housing parts  116 ,  118  together. The tape dispenser  110  can subsequently be used as described in relation to the first embodiment above. The tape dispenser can be made suitable for use by a right- or left-handed person as desired by selecting the side of the housing to which the handle is secured.  
         [0049]    The tape dispenser  110  also includes a projection  60  upon which is mounted a second blade  62  (between protective walls  64 ), the purpose of which is explained below.  
         [0050]    Whilst the first embodiment of tape dispenser  10  is suitable for binding together bundles of a large variety of articles, it is believed that it would not always be suitable for more “heavy duty” binding, such as the binding of the neck of a potato sack or the like. With such binding, it is necessary to apply sufficient force to close the neck of the sack prior to and/or during binding. The tape dispenser  110  has been designed for such “heavy duty” binding.  
         [0051]    The tape dispenser  110  has a projection  60  which creates a throat  66 , with the sides of the throat  66  converging. One side of the throat  66  carries a number of nibs  70 , the purpose of which is to increase the “grip” of the dispenser upon the material of the sack, during the binding process.  
         [0052]    To use the tape dispenser  110  to bind a potato sack or the like, the housing parts are separated and a spool of tape inserted thereinto so that the tape passes through the opening  72 , and lies over the nibs  70  and adjacent the blade  62  (with the adhesive side facing away from the nibs  70  and blade  62 ); the tape dispenser  110  is subsequently re-assembled. The neck of the sack to be bound is grasped by the free hand of the user and partially compressed. The throat  66  of the tape dispenser  110  is passed around a part of the neck, and rotated clockwise (as drawn) around the neck. As the tape dispenser is so rotated, tape is applied to the neck and at the same time the neck is further compressed into the throat (additional material of the neck entering the left-hand side of the throat (as drawn) whilst the existing material is retained within the throat by the nibs  70 ). It is expected that by rotating the tape dispenser two or three times around the neck of the sack that the neck of the sack will become fully compressed. A suitably strong tape can be used to ensure that the compressed neck remains compressed (and therefore closed) after it has been released from the throat  66 .  
         [0053]    It is of course not necessary that all of the neck of the sack be located within the throat at one time, but it is desired that the throat be large enough to locate sufficient of the neck to act to compress the neck during binding. It is therefore expected that a tape dispenser intended to bind the necks of large and/or thick sacks would require a larger throat that a tape dispenser intended to bind the necks of smaller and/or thinner sacks.  
         [0054]    When the binding operation has been completed, the tape dispenser can be manipulated to release the throat from around the bound neck, and to place the blade against the free length of tape to sever the tape ready for the next binding operation.  
         [0055]    The position of the opening  72  (and of the openings  126  and  128 ) can of course be varied within suitable limits to suit the particular application, and the precise location is a matter of some design choice. In addition, the position and arrangement of the nibs  70  is open to some design choice, and the rounded nibs  70  could be replaced by a suitable number of sharp teeth, or a roughened surface, as desired to provide the enhanced grip upon the sack material.  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 7 shows a detailed view of an opening  126 ,  128 ,  72  (and would also be suitable for an opening  26 ,  28  of the first embodiment). The housing part  116  includes a peg  74  adjacent each opening, which peg extends beyond the edge  76  of the housing part  116  (which edge lies against the cooperating edge of the other housing part  118  to define the split line in the assembled housing).  
         [0057]    The peg  74  spans the opening  126  (etc.) and ensures that the tape does not enter the split line between the two housing parts when in use. The other housing part  118  has a recess to accommodate the peg(s)  74 . In another embodiment, one (or more) of the pegs  74  is carried by the housing part  118 , and enters a corresponding recess in the housing part  116 .  
         [0058]    It will be understood that the tape dispenser  10 ,  110  can be manufactured to accommodate the widest suitable tape (such as a vinyl tape of 12 mm width), and yet will also accommodate narrower tapes. In addition, the thickness (guage) of the tape can be varied to suit the application. It is likely that the dispenser  110  would normally utilise a wider and thicker tape since such tape will usually be required for “heavy duty” binding, whilst the dispenser  10  would normally utilise narrower and thinner tapes.  
         [0059]    Clearly, it would be possible to provide a third embodiment of tape dispenser having only a blade  62  (i.e. not having a blade  122 —and not requiring openings  126 ,  128 ); such a design would be primarily suitable for binding sacks but might also be useful for binding more robust produce.  
         [0060]    A major advantage of the tape dispensers is that they produce little or no waste, i.e. an experienced user is unlikely to discard any tape on the floor or ground, and will minimise the length of tape used to bind the produce or the sack.