Adhesive tape dispenser

Abstract

A tape dispenser includes a main body, a cutter, and an adhesive backing portion having a pressure sensitive adhesive on a surface thereof. The adhesive backing portion is fixedly attached to the cutter and protrudes from the main body. The adhesive backing portion contacts and adheres to the back of the tape head after the tape is cut by the cutter to prevent the tape head from flying or sticking back. The adhesive backing portion presses the tape head against an object to be taped when the tape dispenser is used again.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a handheld tool, and more particularly to a tape dispenser. Background Technology

[0002] In the packaging industry, handheld tape dispensers are widely used for sealing corrugated boxes and other objects. The tape is a roll of single-sided adhesive tape, mounted on the dispenser. The adhesive side of the tape is called the front, and the unadhesive side is called the back. To use it, a section of tape is pulled out and pressed firmly against the object to be glued. The operator holds the dispenser with one hand and pulls it back, forcing the tape roll to rotate and slowly releasing the tape. After each application, the tape is cut using a cutter at the front of the dispenser. However, existing technology has the following problems: After the tape is cut, due to the internal stress of the tape itself, the complex external environment, and the complex movement of the dispenser during operation, the tape head may drift or stick back, with the adhesive side adhering to other parts or the tape itself. In subsequent applications, considerable effort is required to find the tape head again and reattach it to the object to be glued.

[0003] Some existing solutions claim to use electrostatic adsorption components on tape dispensers to hold the back of the tape, preventing the tape end from drifting and sticking back. However, in reality, products claiming this electrostatic adsorption function almost entirely fail to deliver on their advertised effects. The reasons are twofold: First, the simple structure of tape dispensers makes it difficult to generate sufficient static electricity. Second, even if a weak static charge is generated, it is easily neutralized. Static electricity is formed by the accumulation of single charges due to charge transfer; if one part of the tape dispenser carries a positive charge, another part will inevitably carry a negative charge, and they easily neutralize each other. Furthermore, during operation, the tape dispenser comes into contact with the object being glued and with people, both of which can neutralize the charge, making it difficult to form a stable charge accumulation. Even if a short-term charge accumulation is maintained, the static electricity will certainly disappear after a few hours or days, requiring manual effort to straighten the tape end the next time it is used. Since tape dispenser use is often intermittent, there is an urgent need for a method that can reliably prevent the tape end from drifting and sticking back over a longer period. Furthermore, even if a weak static electricity is generated, it is difficult to achieve sufficient strength to hold the tape head, because the tape head has gravity and internal stress due to deformation. In addition, the usage environment is complex, with the tape dispenser swinging back and forth and being thrown around randomly during operation. Various interferences make it very easy for the tape head to drift and stick back.

[0004] Many existing technologies revolve around the aforementioned "electrostatic weak adsorption" solution and have not broken out of this circle. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the shortcomings of the prior art, the inventors of this patent, through meticulous observation and extensive testing, proposed a solution that uses the adhesive properties of pressure-sensitive adhesive (hereinafter referred to as pressure-sensitive adhesive) to directly adhere to the back of the tape head. Compared to the "weak electrostatic adsorption" solution mentioned above, this invention can be called a "strong adhesion" solution. This invention comprises a main body and a cutting blade. The main body has a tape mounting portion for accommodating a roll of tape, which can rotate to release the tape. The cutting blade is located on the main body and is used to press the tape after dispensing to cut it. The difference between this invention and the prior art is that this invention also includes an adhesive backing portion with pressure-sensitive adhesive on its surface. This adhesive backing portion is fixed below the cutting blade and protrudes from the main body. After the tape is cut by the cutting blade, the adhesive backing portion can contact and adhere to the back of the tape head to prevent it from drifting or sticking back. During the next use, the adhesive backing portion can press the tape head onto the object to be glued.

[0006] The back of the tape is smooth. The pressure-sensitive adhesive sticks to the back of the tape head and then peels off when the tape is applied again. Even after many cycles of continuous operation over a long period of time, it can still maintain a certain degree of adhesion. This invention utilizes this characteristic of pressure-sensitive adhesive and improves the structure of the tape dispenser.

[0007] The advantages of this invention are: the pressure-sensitive adhesive can stably and persistently adhere to the tape end, preventing it from drifting or sticking back together. Even after several hours or days, this adhesive state is maintained. During the next application, the tape end remains in the same position as when it was cut, with the adhesive side facing out. Holding the tape dispenser, the operator can directly press the tape end onto the object to be coated, eliminating the need for the operator to search for or pull out the tape end. The tape dispenser has a simpler structure and is more convenient to use, especially during continuous operation. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 This is a front view of a basic embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of a basic embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the usage state of a basic embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the usage state of a basic embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 5 This is an exploded view of the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 6 This is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 7 This is a front view of the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the usage state of the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 9 This is a front view of the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 10 This is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 11 This is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the usage state of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 13 This is a front view of the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 14 This is a front view of the sixth embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The structural examples of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of a basic embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 This is a front view (showing the effect after attaching the tape roll 4). The tape dispenser in this embodiment includes a main body 1, a cutting blade 2, and an adhesive backing portion 3. The main body 1 also has a tape mounting portion 11, which is an annular hollow boss used to accommodate a tape roll 4. The tape roll 4 can rotate on it to release the tape. The main body 1 also includes a grip portion 12, which covers the outer edge of the tape roll 4 to prevent it from falling off. The grip portion 12 is typically hinged to other parts of the main body 1 to allow relative rotation (the hinge structure is not shown in the figure), thus supporting tape rolls of different sizes. The cutting blade 2 is located on the main body 1 and is typically a serrated blade. The adhesive backing portion 3 has pressure-sensitive adhesive on its surface, is fixed below the cutting blade 2 (described vertically in the front view direction), and protrudes from the main body 1. The operating procedure is as follows: First, pull out the tape and stick it to the object to be glued (usually a corrugated cardboard box). Then, hold the tape dispenser and pull it backward. The tape roll will rotate passively, releasing the tape. After one application, adjust the angle of the tape dispenser by hand (see...). Figure 3 As shown (where 6 is the object to be glued), the cutter 2 presses against the back of the tape 41. At this time, the tape 41 will inevitably be stretched and wrapped around the adhesive backing 3, thus generating pressure on the adhesive backing 3. The surface of the adhesive backing 3 has pressure-sensitive adhesive, which will stick to the back of the tape. When pressed... Figure 3 As indicated by the middle arrow, further torsional force is applied, and the tape 41 is further tightened. The pressure-sensitive adhesive on the surface of the adhesive backing 3 makes more full contact with the back of the tape, resulting in a tighter bond. The cutter 2 penetrates deeper into the tape 41 until it is completely cut. After the tape is cut, the back of the tape head is firmly adhered to the adhesive backing 3, preventing it from shifting or sticking back, and the adhesive side of the tape remains facing outwards. The next time adhesive is applied, if... Figure 4 As shown, there is no need to spend time finding the tape end or pulling it out by hand. Simply align the adhesive side of the tape end directly with the object 6 to be glued, press the tape end onto the object 6 through the adhesive backing part 3 of the tape dispenser, and then slightly lift the tape dispenser to separate the adhesive backing part 3 from the back of the tape end, so that the tape end is firmly stuck to the object 6. After performing the above-mentioned "lifting the tape dispenser operation", the tape head may separate from the object to be glued 6 and remain on the adhesive backing 3. To avoid this situation as much as possible, a pressure-sensitive adhesive with a suitable initial tack can be selected as the adhesive backing for the surface of the adhesive backing 3. Those skilled in the art can balance the magnitude of the initial tack based on the following two points: First, after the tape is cut by the cutter, the adhesive backing 3 should be able to continuously and stably adhere to the tape head, making it difficult for it to fall off from the adhesive backing 3; second, after performing the above-mentioned "lifting the tape dispenser operation", the adhesion between the adhesive surface of the tape head and the object to be glued 6 (usually a corrugated cardboard box) should be greater than the adhesion between the back of the tape head and the adhesive backing 3. Since the corrugated cardboard box of the object to be glued has a rough paper surface, its adhesion to the tape is very strong, while the back of the tape is very smooth, and it is relatively easy to peel off after it is stuck to the adhesive backing 3. Therefore, it is relatively easy to achieve the above two points at the same time. In addition, the inventors discovered a small trick during repeated experiments: before performing the "lifting the tape dispenser operation" described above, pressing the tape head onto the surface of the object to be glued 6, and gently squeezing or rotating the tape dispenser (repeatedly lifting and pressing slightly) helps the tape head adhere firmly to the object to be glued 6 and detach from the adhesive backing 3. If, after taking all the above measures, the tape head still cannot detach from the adhesive backing 3, the fingers of the other hand can be used to assist in pressing the free part 42 at the very tip of the tape head onto the object to be glued 6, such as... Figure 4 As shown, there is a certain gap between the blade tip and the object 6 to be glued. If the gap is too small, the tape dispenser can be slightly rotated to raise the blade tip, allowing a finger to be inserted to press down the free part 42 at the very front of the tape head. This will ensure that the tape head detaches from the adhesive backing 3 and adheres to the object 6. Once the tape head is adhered to the object 6 and the tape dispenser is lifted, pull the tape dispenser to the right to continuously release the tape. At this time, the other hand can be used to press the released tape firmly onto the object 6. During continuous operation, because the tape head always keeps the adhesive side facing outward and can be directly pressed onto the object 6 each time, the entire operation is very smooth. Even if the other hand is occasionally needed for assistance, it is only a simple auxiliary operation that does not require attention, making it very convenient and easy.

[0024] Regarding the relative positions of the cutting blade 2, the adhesive backing 3, and the main body 1:

[0025] The cutter 2 is generally fixed to the main body 1, and is usually a toothed blade. The area around the blade teeth should be designed to allow for clearance. Figure 4 (Number 9) means that there are no objects obstructing the way within a certain range, so that the blades can fully penetrate the tape to cut it (see [reference]). Figure 3 The cutter 2 can also be made retractable, sliding relative to the main body 1. Normally, the cutter 2 is retracted into the main body 1 due to the elastic mechanism. At this time, the clearance design around the blade teeth is not required. When cutting tape, in... Figure 3 The indicated operating state can be achieved by manually pushing out the cutter. Regardless of the design of the cutter 2, the positional relationship between the cutter 2 and the adhesive backing 3 must satisfy the following condition: when the tape is cut by the cutter 2, the adhesive backing 3 can contact and adhere to the back of the tape head. In the basic embodiment of the present invention, see... Figure 4 The cutter 2 has a clearance design below its blade teeth, namely, a gap 9 between the cutter 2 and the adhesive backing 3. The width of the gap 9, i.e., the distance D between the blade tip and the edge of the pressure-sensitive adhesive on the adhesive backing 3, is generally suitable at 5-15mm, preferably 10mm. This distance D is approximately equal to the length of the free portion 42 at the very front of the tape head after it is cut. The free portion 42 at the very front of the tape head will not be stuck to the adhesive backing 3. Under the hardness and thickness of commonly used tapes on the market, when its length is within approximately 15mm, it will not scatter or stick back. The clearance design for the free portion 42 at the very front of the tape head also has the following advantages: such as Figure 4 As shown, after pressing the tape head onto the object 6 to be glued, the very tip of the tape head easily adheres to the object 6 along with the entire tape head. However, the adhesive backing 3 does not stick to the back of the free portion 42 at the very tip of the tape head. Therefore, when it is lifted, it is easier to peel off from the tape head, and the fingertips of the other hand can be used to help hold the free portion 42 at the very tip of the tape head (as described above).

[0026] The adhesive backing 3 is fixed below the cutter 2 and protrudes from the main body 1. What exactly is the degree of protrusion referred to as "protrusion" in this invention? It should be understood as: [The text abruptly ends here, so the translation stops as well.] Figure 4 In the operating position shown, when the adhesive backing 3 is pressed against the object 6 to be glued (with the tape head sandwiched in the middle), all other parts of the tape dispenser (including the cutter 2 and the main body 1) and the tape roll 4 are all above the object 6 to be glued without contacting it. This ensures that "the adhesive backing 3 can press the tape head onto the object 6 to be glued".

[0027] Those skilled in the art, following the above teachings and referring to the specific structures of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, can understand how to design the relative positions and sizes of the cutter 2, the adhesive backing 3, and the main body 1. Any design modifications made by those skilled in the art that conform to the principles of this invention are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0028] Pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) are a class of viscous compounds, essentially viscoelastic materials possessing both liquid viscosity and solid elasticity. They are widely used in various easy-tear adhesives, label backings, display screen glass backings, and packaging sealing tapes. PSAs do not readily cure in air, are easy to apply and remove, and do not require curing after bonding. The bonding process is highly sensitive to pressure; even a light press or slight contact is sufficient for the adhesive to adhere to the surface of the adhered object, hence the name "pressure-sensitive adhesive." Rubber-based and acrylic-based PSAs are the most widely used in industry, both of which can be used in this invention. Acrylic-based PSAs are preferred because they are used in the manufacture of packaging tapes. Commonly used packaging tapes use BOPP (biaxially oriented polypropylene film) as the base material, uniformly coated with an acrylic emulsion, and then heated and dried to form the tape. Acrylic emulsions are emulsions polymerized under certain conditions, primarily composed of acrylic acid and acrylates, with the addition of other auxiliary components. This invention uses an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive to adhere to the back of the tape head, resulting in excellent adhesion. Even after multiple peeling and sticking cycles, it still provides durable, stable, and suitable adhesive strength. Pressure-sensitive adhesives are mature industrial products with various formulations and processes to achieve different effects. Those skilled in the art can choose according to their needs, preferably with an initial tack of around 12 (steel ball strength). Many commercially available double-sided tapes made from pressure-sensitive adhesives can be directly used in this invention. Simply cut the pressure-sensitive double-sided tape to a suitable size and attach it tightly to the adhesive backing 3, preferably with a thickness of 0.1-0.2 mm. When using the tape dispenser of this invention for application, after each application, the adhesive backing 3 adheres to the back of the tape head, and peels off upon the next application. Therefore, the adhesive backing 3 repeatedly adheres to and peels off the back of the tape head. After prolonged cycles, the double-sided adhesive on the adhesive backing 3 will eventually lose its stickiness. At this point, a new layer of double-sided adhesive can be applied over the original adhesive to restore stickiness. Pressure-sensitive double-sided tape can be cut into suitable sizes to make consumables for users to apply themselves, which is very convenient and inexpensive. If too much double-sided tape is applied to the adhesive backing part 3, affecting the application effect, it can be completely scraped off with a knife before reapplying. In addition to using ready-made pressure-sensitive double-sided tape, pressure-sensitive adhesive can also be directly coated onto the surface of the adhesive backing part 3. The adhesive backing part 3 is generally made of plastic or metal. An acrylic emulsion can be applied to the surface of the adhesive backing part 3, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer can be formed after drying.

[0029] The adhesive backing 3 and the main body 1 can be integrally molded, or they can be separate parts fixed to the main body 1. As a further improvement, the adhesive backing 3 and the main body 1 can be made detachably connected. Figure 5 — Figure 8 A second embodiment of the present invention is shown, in which the adhesive backing 3 and the main body 1 are detachably connected by a snap-fit ​​mechanism. (See attached diagram) Figure 5 As shown, a mounting base 13 is fixed on the main body 1, which has two circular blind holes and one square through hole. The adhesive backing 3 has two protruding cylinders and a cantilever hook 31. The two protruding cylinders on the adhesive backing 3 can be inserted into the two circular blind holes on the mounting base 13; the cantilever hook 31 on the adhesive backing 3 can be inserted into the square through hole on the mounting base 13 and passes through the through hole to engage with the inner surface of the mounting base 13 to achieve a fastening effect. For disassembly, see... Figure 6 Simply push the hook 31 from the inside of the tape dispenser to tilt its cantilever backward to remove the hook, and the adhesive backing part 3 can be pulled out. This detachable adhesive backing part 3 allows for quick replacement after the pressure-sensitive adhesive on the backing part loses its stickiness. The adhesive backing part can be supplied as a consumable, pre-adhesive at the factory. Replaced adhesive backing parts can be collected and returned to the factory for re-adhesive treatment to restore stickiness, achieving recycling. Of course, the detachable connection in this example can also use other conventional methods, such as magnetic attraction.

[0030] The basic embodiment of the present invention has a drawback: when using a tape dispenser to press the tape head onto the object to be glued, and then lifting the tape dispenser, the tape head may separate from the object and remain on the adhesive backing 3. To improve this problem, the tape dispenser of the present invention also includes an adhesive-free section 5, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 9 and Figure 10 This is the third embodiment of the present invention. The adhesive-free portion 5 is located below the adhesive-backed portion 3. The adhesive-free portion 5 and the adhesive-backed portion 3 are integrally formed parts with coplanar outer surfaces, and both protrude from the main body 1. For example... Figure 10As shown, the adhesive-backed part 3 has adhesive on its surface (indicated by dotted shading), while the non-adhesive part 5 has no adhesive on its surface. The lower edge of the non-adhesive part 5 also guides and flattens the dispensed tape, and presses down the dispensed tape during application to bring it closer to the object to be glued, thus facilitating adhesion. The lower part of the non-adhesive part 5 may have rounded corners to reduce scratches and make the dispensed tape pass over it more smoothly. After the tape is cut by the cutter 2, the non-adhesive part 5 contacts the back of the tape head, and the tape head is only adhered to the adhesive-backed part 3. In the next use, the non-adhesive part 5 and the adhesive-backed part 3 can work together to press the tape head onto the object to be glued. The front of the tape in this entire area will adhere to the object, but the back of the tape will only adhere to the area of ​​the adhesive-backed part 3. The area where the front of the tape adheres to the object to be glued is much larger than the area where the back of the tape adheres to the adhesive portion 3. Therefore, the adhesive force on the front of the tape is much greater than that on the back. When the tape dispenser is lifted, it ensures that the tape head detaches from the adhesive portion 3 and remains firmly attached to the object to be glued. Then, the tape dispenser is held and pulled back to continue dispensing tape. This embodiment allows for continuous one-handed operation without the need for a second hand to press the front of the tape head each time glue is applied.

[0031] Figure 11 and Figure 12 The fourth embodiment of the invention is shown, which differs from the third embodiment in that the surfaces of the adhesive-backed portion 3 and the non-adhesive portion 5 are not coplanar, and their intersecting ridges protrude slightly outward. It should still satisfy the condition that both the adhesive-backed portion 3 and the non-adhesive portion 5 protrude beyond the main body 1, that is: in Figure 12 In the operating state shown, both the non-adhesive part 5 and the adhesive-backed part 3 can press the tape head onto the object 6 to be glued. This can be achieved by slightly rotating the tape dispenser back and forth in the direction shown by arrow 7. The entire tape head area will be fully adhered to the object 6. Then, lift the tape dispenser with a blade tip first, and the adhesive-backed part 3 will inevitably peel off from the back of the tape head. The entire tape head remains firmly adhered to the object 6. Then, hold the tape dispenser and move it backward to continue dispensing tape. This embodiment can also realize continuous operation with one hand.

[0032] exist Figure 5 — Figure 8 The second embodiment of the present invention also includes a non-adhesive portion 5. The non-adhesive portion 5 is a rotatable roller, mounted on the main body 1 via a rotating shaft (not shown). Both the adhesive-backed portion 3 and the non-adhesive portion 5 protrude from the main body 1, that is: in Figure 8In the operating state shown, both the adhesive-free section 5 and the adhesive-backed section 3 can press the tape head onto the object 6 to be glued. The entire area between the adhesive-free section 5 and the adhesive-backed section 3 will be fully adhered to the object 6, but the back of the tape head will only be adhered to the adhesive-backed section 3. Then, by lifting the tape dispenser with a blade tip-first rotation, the adhesive-backed section 3 will inevitably peel off from the back of the tape head, leaving the entire tape head firmly adhered to the object. Then, by holding the tape dispenser and moving it backward, the tape can be dispensed again. At this time, the roller-shaped adhesive-free section 5 can continue to roll against the object 6 to flatten and press the dispensed tape onto the object 6. To achieve this operation, the size of the roller 5 needs to be designed so that when it rolls the tape onto the object, other parts of the tape dispenser and the tape roll should not touch the object 6. This embodiment can also realize continuous operation with one hand.

[0033] Figure 13 The fifth embodiment of the present invention is shown, which differs from the basic embodiment in that the surface of the adhesive backing portion 3 is arc-shaped. The adhesive backing portion 3 can be a complete cylinder fixed to the main body 1, with adhesive treatment applied to appropriate protruding areas on the surface. The advantage is that when the tape dispenser angle is adjusted to cut the tape with the cutter 2, the back of the tape gradually wraps around the arc-shaped adhesive backing portion 3 in a line contact manner until it is guided to the cutter. This makes the operation and use smoother, provides a better feel, and reduces the occurrence of tape head wrinkles.

[0034] Those skilled in the art, guided by the teachings of this invention, can make some changes to the specific embodiments of this invention, for example... Figure 14 The sixth embodiment shown has changed the shape and structure of the main body 1 compared to the second embodiment, changed the structure and position of the tape mounting part, and added a grip handle 8, but still uses the principle of the present invention and is still within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A tape dispenser, comprising: A main body (1) is provided with a tape mounting part (11) for accommodating a tape roll, the tape roll being rotatable to release the tape; A cutting blade (2) is provided on the main body (1) for cutting the tape by pressing it after the tape is dispensed; A backing part (3) has pressure-sensitive adhesive on its surface, the backing part (3) is fixed below the cutter (2) and protrudes from the main body (1); and A non-adhesive part (5), the surface of which is free of adhesive and flat, is located below the adhesive-backed part (3) and protrudes from the main body (1). in, The total surface area of ​​the adhesive part (3) and the non-adhesive part (5) is much larger than the surface area of ​​the adhesive part (3) alone. This allows both the adhesive part (3) and the non-adhesive part (5) to come into contact with the back of the tape head after the tape is cut by the cutter (2). Only the surface of the adhesive part (3) sticks to the back of the tape head. When used next time, the non-adhesive part (5) and the adhesive part (3) together press the tape head onto the object to be glued (6). This allows the tape head to peel off from the adhesive part (3) and remain firmly attached to the object to be glued (6) when the user lifts the tape dispenser.

2. The tape dispenser as described in claim 1, wherein the adhesive backing part (3) is provided with a cantilever hook (31) for detachable connection with the main body (1), the cantilever hook (31) can be inserted into a square through hole fixed on the mounting base (13) on the main body (1) and pass through the through hole to engage with the inner surface of the mounting base (13) to achieve fastening, and during disassembly, it is only necessary to push the hook (31) from the inside of the tape dispenser to tilt its cantilever back to remove it.

3. The tape dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cutter (2) is a toothed blade fixed on the main body (1), and there is a gap of 5-15mm between the cutter (2) and the adhesive backing (3).

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