Hand operable tape dispenser and applicator

Claim 2

A portable hand dispenser and applicator for pressuresensitive tape comprising a housing having a handle, means for rotatably supporting a supply roll of tape and a forward head portion, said head portion having a cutter blade mounted at the front end thereof and an applicator roller supported below said head portion in a position below and to the rear of said cutter blade, means mounting said cutter blade and applicator roller on said portion for relative shifting movement into a position wherein the bottom of said roller and cutting edge of said blade are substantially at the same level permitting tape to be drawn across the bottom of said roller at substantially right angles to said blade, means for latching said blade and applicator roller in operative position permitting tape to be rolled onto a surface without said blade contacting the surface, and a trigger movably mounted on said head portion and coupled to said latching and mounting means for releasing said latching means and then shifting said mounting means in the sequence named responsive to a depression of said trigger in a single mode.

Claim 3

The hand dispenser set forth in claim 1 including a plunger rotatably supporting said applicator roller and slidably mounted in said head portion for retracting movement of said roller to enable the tape to be drawn across said roller at right angles to said blade, means for latching said plunger in operative position responsive to a pivotal movement of said plunger about an axis through the lower portion thereof, and means coupling said trigger to said plunger for first tilting the plunger to unlatch the same and for then shifting the plunger to retract said applicator roller responsive to a depression of said trigger.

Claim 4

The hand dispenser set forth in claim 2 wherein said trigger is pivoted independently of said plunger and operable against the plunger with a cam action to first tilt the plunger responsive to an initial depression of the trigger, including a lost-motion coupling between the trigger and plunger for lifting the plunger to retract the roller responsive to a further depression of the trigger.

Claim 5

The hand dispenser set forth in claim 2 wherein the trigger is rigidly connected to said plunger and displaced from the line of movement thereof for leverage to impart an initial tilting movement to the plunger to unlatch the same as the trigger is initially depressed, including guide means for limiting said plunger to a rectilinear movement responsive to a further depression of the trigger.

Claim 6

A portable hand dispenser and applicator for pressure-sensitive strapping tape comprising a holder having a first portion for rotatably supporting a supply roll of said tape, said portion being adapted to be grapsed by the hand with the fingers passing through the supply roll, said holder having a forward head portion, a cutter blade mounted on the front part of said head portion, an applicator roller having an operative position at the under side of said head portion positioned below and to the rear of said cutter blade whereby when tape is pulled from said supply roll the same can be progressively applied to a surface without the blade contacting said surface by moving the dispenser with said roller in rolling contact with said surface, a plunger rotatably carrying said applicator roller, means mounting said plunger in said head portion for movement of said applicator roller into a retracted position to permit the tape to be drawn against the cutting edge of said blade and to be cut, and for return movement of said applicator roller to its operative position, means for latching said plunger to retain said applicator roller in operative position, means biasing said plunger into said operative position, and a manual control member pivoted to said head portion having an actuating member in lost motion coupling with said plunger for raising the plunger and having a cam portion slidably engaging the plunger for tilting the plunger out of latching position during said lost-motion coupling whereby upon actuating said control member said plunger is unlatched and then raised to retract said applicator roller in the sequence named.

Claim 7

A portable hand dispenser and applicator for pressure-sensitive strapping tape comprising a holder having a first portion for rotatably supporting a supply roll of said tape, said portion being adapted to be grapsed by the hand with the fingers passing through the supply roll, said holder having a forward head portion, a cutter blade mounted on the front part of said head portion, an applicator roller having an operative position at the under side of said head portion positioned below and to the rear of said cutter blade whereby when tape is pulled from said supply roll the same can be progressively applied to a surface without the blade contacting said surface by moving the dispenser with said roller in rolling contact with said surface, a plunger rotatably carrying said applicator roller, means mounting said plunger in said head portion for movement of said applicator roller into a retracted position to permit the tape to be drawn against the cutting edge of said blade and to be cut, and for return movement of said applicator roller to its operative position, means for latching said plunger to retain said applicator roller in operative position, means biasing said plunger into said operative position, and a manual control member pivoted to said head portion having an actuating member in lost motion coupling with said plunger for raising the plunger and having a cam portion slidably engaging the plunger for tilting the plunger out of latching position during said lost-motion coupling whereby upon actuating said control member said plunger is unlatched and then raised to retract said applicator roller in the sequence named.

Claim 8

The hand dispenser set forth in claim 5 wherein said plunger has trunnions at the sides and said side walls have guide grooves engaged by said trunnions affording the plunger both a rectilinear and tilting movement, spring means biasing said plunger in a downwardly and in a backward tilting direction, and a stop member in said head portion below which said plunger is moved to latch said roller in operative position as the plunger is tilted backwardly while in its downward position.

Claim 9

The dispenser set forth in claim 6 wherein said manual control member is a bell crank lever pivoted at its axis to said head portion, including a finger piece on said lever extending upwardly through the top wall of said head portion of the holder to be operated by a digit of the hand, an arm on said lever engaging a slot in said plunger to provide a lost-motion coupling between the arm and plunger for raising the plunger, and side cam members on said arm slidably engaging the plunger to tilt the plunger out of latching position during said lost-motion movement of said arm relative to the plunger.