Patent US3878979A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3878979A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for forming reserves of a tape
Assignee: AMF Inc
•
Filing: 1974-02-19
•
Granted: 1975-04-22
•
Expires: 1994-02-19
Abstract
Abstract Mechanical tension regulator means together with a temporary storage means having a vacuum type feed-in and feed-out control means for providing a continuous feed of a flexible material tape maintained under controlled tension to a continuous demand machine from a supply source where the tape is wound on bobbins, and tape feed and splicing means are provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Athos Cristiani
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:39
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H19/00; B65H19/10; B65H19/18; B65H19/1842; B65H19/1852; B65H19/14; B65H2406/00; B65H2406/30; B65H2406/31; B65H2406/311; B65H2406/33; B65H2408/00; B65H2408/20; B65H2408/21; B65H2408/215
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
361 words
Apparatus for maintaining uninterrupted the feed of flexible material tape advancing longitudinally, pulled by a controlled tractive force along a feed path from a main tape feed source where the tape is unwound from a bobbin as it is fed to a machine which requests a continuous and regulated tape feed, comprising tape pulling means for withdrawing the tape from the main feed source, a variable loop forming mechanical tension regulator engaging the tape and forming a loop thereof in said feed path downstream of a tape pulling means, the size of the loop being automatically changed by the mechanical tension regulator in response to fluctuations of the actual rate of feed requested by the machine compared to a predetermined rate of feed by said tape pulling means to keep a constant tractive force in the tape, a storage means suitable for accommodating a tape reserve in the shape of a continuous tortuous and loose tape, said storage means having a tape lead-in and lead-out opening with the periphery of a rotary pneumatic drum driven at a controlled speed to move the tape from the pulling means to the storage area and suction port means for holding the tape on the side of the path leading to the machine and downstream of said mechanical tension regulator, the retaining force exerted on the tape by pneumatic suction through said port means permitting the tape to slide forward on said port and providing a forward motion frictional resistance substantially equal to the predetermined rate of tractive force controlled by said mechanical tension regulator, said tension regulator and said storage means being operatively associated with each other so that said mechanical regulator moves the loop to a position where said pneumatic drum and said pneumatic port means removes said tape from said mechanical regulator, sequence coordinating means for rotating said pneumatic drum at a perIpheral speed which is higher than the maximum speed of said tape pulling means to form a temporary tape reserve in said storage means while the suction from said port means maintains the tractive force on the tape which continues to be fed from said storage means to the machine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
361 words
Apparatus for maintaining uninterrupted the feed of flexible material tape advancing longitudinally, pulled by a controlled tractive force along a feed path from a main tape feed source where the tape is unwound from a bobbin as it is fed to a machine which requests a continuous and regulated tape feed, comprising tape pulling means for withdrawing the tape from the main feed source, a variable loop forming mechanical tension regulator engaging the tape and forming a loop thereof in said feed path downstream of a tape pulling means, the size of the loop being automatically changed by the mechanical tension regulator in response to fluctuations of the actual rate of feed requested by the machine compared to a predetermined rate of feed by said tape pulling means to keep a constant tractive force in the tape, a storage means suitable for accommodating a tape reserve in the shape of a continuous tortuous and loose tape, said storage means having a tape lead-in and lead-out opening with the periphery of a rotary pneumatic drum driven at a controlled speed to move the tape from the pulling means to the storage area and suction port means for holding the tape on the side of the path leading to the machine and downstream of said mechanical tension regulator, the retaining force exerted on the tape by pneumatic suction through said port means permitting the tape to slide forward on said port and providing a forward motion frictional resistance substantially equal to the predetermined rate of tractive force controlled by said mechanical tension regulator, said tension regulator and said storage means being operatively associated with each other so that said mechanical regulator moves the loop to a position where said pneumatic drum and said pneumatic port means removes said tape from said mechanical regulator, sequence coordinating means for rotating said pneumatic drum at a perIpheral speed which is higher than the maximum speed of said tape pulling means to form a temporary tape reserve in said storage means while the suction from said port means maintains the tractive force on the tape which continues to be fed from said storage means to the machine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
361 words
Apparatus for maintaining uninterrupted the feed of flexible material tape advancing longitudinally, pulled by a controlled tractive force along a feed path from a main tape feed source where the tape is unwound from a bobbin as it is fed to a machine which requests a continuous and regulated tape feed, comprising tape pulling means for withdrawing the tape from the main feed source, a variable loop forming mechanical tension regulator engaging the tape and forming a loop thereof in said feed path downstream of a tape pulling means, the size of the loop being automatically changed by the mechanical tension regulator in response to fluctuations of the actual rate of feed requested by the machine compared to a predetermined rate of feed by said tape pulling means to keep a constant tractive force in the tape, a storage means suitable for accommodating a tape reserve in the shape of a continuous tortuous and loose tape, said storage means having a tape lead-in and lead-out opening with the periphery of a rotary pneumatic drum driven at a controlled speed to move the tape from the pulling means to the storage area and suction port means for holding the tape on the side of the path leading to the machine and downstream of said mechanical tension regulator, the retaining force exerted on the tape by pneumatic suction through said port means permitting the tape to slide forward on said port and providing a forward motion frictional resistance substantially equal to the predetermined rate of tractive force controlled by said mechanical tension regulator, said tension regulator and said storage means being operatively associated with each other so that said mechanical regulator moves the loop to a position where said pneumatic drum and said pneumatic port means removes said tape from said mechanical regulator, sequence coordinating means for rotating said pneumatic drum at a perIpheral speed which is higher than the maximum speed of said tape pulling means to form a temporary tape reserve in said storage means while the suction from said port means maintains the tractive force on the tape which continues to be fed from said storage means to the machine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
361 words
Apparatus for maintaining uninterrupted the feed of flexible material tape advancing longitudinally, pulled by a controlled tractive force along a feed path from a main tape feed source where the tape is unwound from a bobbin as it is fed to a machine which requests a continuous and regulated tape feed, comprising tape pulling means for withdrawing the tape from the main feed source, a variable loop forming mechanical tension regulator engaging the tape and forming a loop thereof in said feed path downstream of a tape pulling means, the size of the loop being automatically changed by the mechanical tension regulator in response to fluctuations of the actual rate of feed requested by the machine compared to a predetermined rate of feed by said tape pulling means to keep a constant tractive force in the tape, a storage means suitable for accommodating a tape reserve in the shape of a continuous tortuous and loose tape, said storage means having a tape lead-in and lead-out opening with the periphery of a rotary pneumatic drum driven at a controlled speed to move the tape from the pulling means to the storage area and suction port means for holding the tape on the side of the path leading to the machine and downstream of said mechanical tension regulator, the retaining force exerted on the tape by pneumatic suction through said port means permitting the tape to slide forward on said port and providing a forward motion frictional resistance substantially equal to the predetermined rate of tractive force controlled by said mechanical tension regulator, said tension regulator and said storage means being operatively associated with each other so that said mechanical regulator moves the loop to a position where said pneumatic drum and said pneumatic port means removes said tape from said mechanical regulator, sequence coordinating means for rotating said pneumatic drum at a perIpheral speed which is higher than the maximum speed of said tape pulling means to form a temporary tape reserve in said storage means while the suction from said port means maintains the tractive force on the tape which continues to be fed from said storage means to the machine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, and said mechanical traction regulator being separated from said storage means and being operated to form a loop and to guide said loop towards the tape lead-in and lead-out opening of said storage means when required to allow the loop tape to be taken by suction by the pneumatic drum and by the pneumatic port means which define the said opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
193 words
In apparatus for providing a continuous feed path for a flexible material between a main tape source including pulling means for unwinding the tape from a bobbin and a machine having a continuous demand for such tape, comprising mechanical regulator means engaging and forming a loop in the tape between the tape source and the machine, said regulator means being operable in response to fluctuations in demand of the machine to maintain the tape under a substantially constant tension, storage means for a temporary reserve of tape having a feed-in and feed-out opening with a rotatable suction drum at the feed-in side of the opening with a peripheral speed at least equal to the maximum speed of the pulling means and a suction surface at the feed-out side of the opening holding the tape in contact therewith and permitting the tape to slide thereon as it is fed to the machine, said mechanical regulator means being movable to a position drawing the loop into the opening of said storage means, and said vacuum drum and surface removing the tape loop from said regulator means to provide a temporary reserve in said storage means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
193 words
In apparatus for providing a continuous feed path for a flexible material between a main tape source including pulling means for unwinding the tape from a bobbin and a machine having a continuous demand for such tape, comprising mechanical regulator means engaging and forming a loop in the tape between the tape source and the machine, said regulator means being operable in response to fluctuations in demand of the machine to maintain the tape under a substantially constant tension, storage means for a temporary reserve of tape having a feed-in and feed-out opening with a rotatable suction drum at the feed-in side of the opening with a peripheral speed at least equal to the maximum speed of the pulling means and a suction surface at the feed-out side of the opening holding the tape in contact therewith and permitting the tape to slide thereon as it is fed to the machine, said mechanical regulator means being movable to a position drawing the loop into the opening of said storage means, and said vacuum drum and surface removing the tape loop from said regulator means to provide a temporary reserve in said storage means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 and said suction drum feeding said tape from the pulling means into said storage means, and said suction surface controlling the feed of the temporary tape reserve to the machine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 and said suction surface subjecting the tape to tension substantially equal to the tension from the mechanical regulator means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3123268A
Cited
US3279717A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-21 | 1978-10-21 | 1979-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-21 | 1982-10-21 | 1983-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-21 | 1986-10-21 | 1987-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |