Applicator for pressure-sensitive adhesive fasteners

Claim 2

An applicator for cutting lengths of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape and applying the same to an article moving along a first path, said applicator comprising: means for feeding a length of said tape along a second path, a cutting edge disposed on one side of said second path, vacuum pad means for supporting a severed length of tape, said vacuum pad means comprising a generally rectangular pad, cutting means movable with said pad means and cooperating with said cutting edge to sever a length of said tape, mounting means for supporting said vacuum pad means and said cutting means for movement relative to said cutting edge and for moving said pad means along a third orbital path around an axis past said cutting edge to place the severed lengths of said tape on said pad means and for orienting said pad means to a position generally parallel to and along said first path to apply said severed length of tape to a said article, said mounting means comprising a rotating arm movably supporting said pad means, means for rotating said arm about said axis, and cam means for orientating said pad means during rotation of said arm and for defining said third orbital path, and wherein said cutting means is mounted on said arm to move with said pad means and to cooperate with said cutting edge to cut sections from said tape.

Claim 3

An applicator according to claim 1 wherein said arm supports a pair of vacuum pad means, one on generally diametrically opposite sides of said axis from the other.

Claim 4

An applicator for cutting lengths of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape and applying the same to an article moving along a first path, said applicator comprising: means for feeding a length of said tape along a second path, a cutting edge disposed on one side of said second path, vacuum pad means for supporting a severed length of tape, said vacuum pad means comprising a plurality of perforated plate members supported in circumferentially spaced positions on a rotating member, cutting means movable with said pad means and cooperating with said cutting edge to sever a length of said tape, mounting means for supporting said vacuum pad means and said cutting means for movement relative to said cutting edge and for moving said pad means along a third orbital path around an axis past said cutting edge to place the severed lengths of said tape on said pad and for orienting said pad means to a position generally parallel to and along said first path to apply said severed length of tape to a said article, said mounting means comprising a cam track followed by a cam fixed to each of said plate members to move said plate members in relation to said rotating member to orient said plate members.

Claim 5

An applicator for cutting lengths of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape and applying the same to an article moving along a first path, said applicator comprising: means for feeding a length of said tape along a second path, a cutting edge disposed on one side of said second path, vacuum pad means for supporting a severed length of tape, said vacuum pad means comprising a plurality of perforated plate members supported in circumferentially spaced positions on a rotating member, cutting means movable with said pad means and cooperating with said cutting edge to sever a length of said tape, mounting means for supporting said vacuum pad means and said cutting means for movement relative to said cutting edge and for moving said pad means along a third orbital path around an axis past said cutting edge to place the severed lengths of said tape on said pad and for orienting said pad means to a position generally parallel to and along said first path to apply said severed length of tape to a said article, said mounting means comprising a cam track followed by a cam fixed to each of said plate members to move said plate members in relation to said rotating member to orient said plate members.

Claim 6

An applicator for cutting lengths of folded pressure-sensitive adhesive tape to one surface of which has been applied a release liner and applying the exposed adhesive surface of the cut lengths of tape to an article moving along a first path, said applicator comprising: means for feeding a length of said tape along a second path, means for folding said length of tape upon itself with the adhesive coated surface exposed, means for laminating a release liner to the adhesive on one side of the folded tape, feed means for advancing said laminated tape and liner along a third path, a resiliently biased cutting blade disposed along said third path, vacuum pad means for supporting a severed length of said laminated tape and liner, said vacuum pad means comprising a generally rectangular pad having a support surface, cutting means cooperating with said resiliently biased blade to sever a length of said laminated tape and liner, mounting means for supporting said vacuum pad means and said cutting means for orbital movement along a fourth path around an axis past said blade to place the successive severed lengths of said laminated tape and liner on said support surface of said pad means and for orienting said pad means along said first path with said support surface positioned to apply said severed lengths of laminated tape and liner successively to a said article, said mounting means comprising a rotating arm movably supporting said pad means, means for rotating said arm about said axis, and cam means for orientating said pad means during rotation of said arm and for defining said fourth orbital path, and wherein said cutting means is mounted on said arm to move with said pad means and to cooperate with said cutting edge to cut lengths from said laminated tape and liner.

Claim 7

An applicator for cutting lengths of folded pressure-sensitive adhesive tape to one surface of which has been applied a release liner and applying the exposed adhesive surface of the cut lengths of tape to an article moving along a first path, said applicator comprising: means for feeding a length of said tape along a second path, means for folding said length of tape upon itself with the adhesive coated surface exposed, means for laminating a release liner to the adhesive on one side of the folded tape, feed means for advancing said laminated tape and liner along a third path, a resiliently biased cutting blade disposed along said third path, vacuum pad means for supporting a severed length of said laminated tape and liner, said vacuum pad means comprising a generally rectangular pad having a support surface, cutting means cooperating with said resiliently biased blade to sever a length of said laminated tape and liner, mounting means for supporting said vacuum pad means and said cutting means for orbital movement along a fourth path around an axis past said blade to place the successive severed lengths of said laminated tape and liner on said support surface of said pad means and for orienting said pad means along said first path with said support surface positioned to apply said severed lengths of laminated tape and liner successively to a said article, said mounting means comprising a rotating arm movably supporting said pad means, means for rotating said arm about said axis, and cam means for orientating said pad means during rotation of said arm and for defining said fourth orbital path, and wherein said cutting means is mounted on said arm to move with said pad means and to cooperate with said cutting edge to cut lengths from said laminated tape and liner.

Claim 8

An applicator according to claim 4 wherein said arm supports a pair of vacuum pad means, one on generally diametrically opposite sides of said axis from the other.