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US-12623881-B2 - Tape applicator apparatus

US12623881B2US 12623881 B2US12623881 B2US 12623881B2US-12623881-B2

Abstract

A tape applicator apparatus is disclosed and includes a tape cutter mechanism and a (tape) puller mechanism. The tape cutter mechanism includes a first frame, a product tension mechanism coupled to the first frame, and a hot wire assembly coupled to the first frame. The hot wire assembly includes a first mount, a second mount, and a wire between the first mount and the second mount. The puller mechanism includes a puller frame, a grabber coupled to the puller frame, and a grab actuator coupled to the grabber. The grab actuator may activate a grab operation of the grabber. The puller mechanism includes a reach actuator coupled to the puller frame and the grabber. The tape applicator apparatus may be configured to receive a package between the tape cutter mechanism and the puller mechanism.

Inventors

  • David J. Benes

Assignees

  • David J. Benes

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20240103

Claims (19)

  1. 1 . A tape applicator apparatus comprising: a tape cutter mechanism comprising: a first frame; a product tension mechanism coupled to the first frame and configured to support a tape roll including tape; a device to position the tape in proximity with a hot wire assembly; the hot wire assembly coupled to the first frame, wherein the hot wire assembly comprises: a first mount, a second mount, and a wire between the first amount and the second mount, an electrical power source coupled to the wire and configured to heat the wire; and a moving assembly configured to raise and lower the hot wire assembly, wherein the first frame is configured to route the tape to a cutting position, wherein the wire is configured to perform a cut of the tape in the cutting position via the moving assembly; and a puller mechanism comprising: a puller frame; a grabber coupled to the puller frame and comprising: a first grabber element and a second grabber element; a grab actuator coupled to the grabber and configured to activate a grab operation of the grabber, wherein the grab operation is configured to grab the tape between the first grabber element and the second grabber element; and a reach actuator coupled to the puller frame and the grabber, wherein the reach actuator is configured to extend the grabber towards the tape in the cutting position of the tape cutter mechanism and retract the grabber and the tape, wherein a package is configured to be received between the tape cutter mechanism and the puller mechanism such that the package lands on the tape and falls between the tape cutter mechanism and the puller mechanism.
  2. 2 . The tape applicator apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrical power source supplies a 2-9 volt voltage input to the wire.
  3. 3 . The tape applicator apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the voltage input to the wire is pulsed.
  4. 4 . The tape applicator apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the moving assembly comprises at least one of an air cylinder, or a hydraulic cylinder.
  5. 5 . The tape applicator apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the device to position the tape in proximity with the hot wire assembly comprises a vacuum block.
  6. 6 . The tape applicator apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the device to position the tape in proximity with the hot wire assembly comprises an air block that supplies air toward the tape.
  7. 7 . The tape applicator apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tape is configured to be wiped onto the package as the package falls below the tape applicator apparatus via a first tape wiper of the tape cutter mechanism and via a second tape wiper of the puller mechanism.
  8. 8 . The tape applicator apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first tape wiper is coupled to the first frame and a first wiper actuator is configured to rotate the first tape wiper towards the second tape wiper.
  9. 9 . The tape applicator apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the second tape wiper is coupled to the puller frame and a second wiper actuator is configured to rotate the second tape wiper towards the first tape wiper.
  10. 10 . The tape applicator apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the tape cutter mechanism is located a package receiving distance from the puller mechanism.
  11. 11 . The tape applicator apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the package receiving distance is 6 inches or more.
  12. 12 . The tape applicator apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the package receiving distance is 24 inches or more.
  13. 13 . The tape applicator apparatus of claim 10 , wherein a range of sizes of the package receiving distance is 4 inches or more.
  14. 14 . The tape applicator apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first tape wiper is configured to rotate a non-zero wiper angle of the first tape wiper and the second tape wiper is configured to rotate a non-zero wiper angle of the second tape wiper, wherein both the non-zero wiper angle of the first tape wiper and the non-zero wiper angle of the second tape wiper are measured inwards from vertical, normal from the tape.
  15. 15 . The tape applicator apparatus of claim 14 , wherein both the non-zero wiper angle of the first tape wiper and the non-zero wiper angle of the second tape wiper are 3 degrees or more.
  16. 16 . The tape applicator apparatus of claim 14 , wherein both the non-zero wiper angle of the first tape wiper and the non-zero wiper angle of the second tape wiper are 10 degrees or more.
  17. 17 . The tape applicator apparatus of claim 14 , wherein both the non-zero wiper angle of the first tape wiper and the non-zero wiper angle of the second tape wiper are 20 degrees or more.
  18. 18 . The tape applicator apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reach actuator is configured for a reach distance of 12 inches or more.
  19. 19 . The tape applicator apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reach actuator is configured for a reach distance of 24 inches or more.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/939,319, filed on Sep. 7, 2022 entitled HOT WIRE CUTTER APPARATUS, naming David J. Benes, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/320,843, filed Mar. 17, 2022, entitled TAPE APPLICATOR APPARATUS, naming David Benes as inventor, all applications of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. FIELD The present disclosure is directed to industrial tools, and more specifically to a tape applicator apparatus. BACKGROUND In the manufacture of items and packaging of those items, it is common to apply one or more pieces of tape to secure a package. In a mass-production facility, the application of the tape may be automated. Conventional techniques and systems to apply a piece of tape are limited due to their complex nature, cost, and potential safety concerns which are exacerbated if the product is a food item. For example, conventional cutting devices may have breakage, whereby elements of a cutter may be inadvertently placed within a product, such as a food item. SUMMARY A tape applicator apparatus is disclosed in accordance with one or more illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure. In one illustrative embodiment, the tape applicator apparatus may include a tape cutter mechanism. In another illustrative embodiment, the tape cutter mechanism may include a first frame, a product tension mechanism coupled to the first frame configured to support a tape roll including tape, and a device to position the tape in proximity with a hot wire assembly. In another illustrative embodiment, the hot wire assembly may be coupled to the first frame and may include a first mount, a second mount, and a wire between the first mount and the second mount. In another illustrative embodiment, a moving assembly may be configured to raise and lower the hot wire assembly. In another illustrative embodiment, the first frame may be configured to route the tape to a cutting position, where the wire is configured to perform a cut of the tape in the cutting position via the moving assembly. In another illustrative embodiment, the tape applicator apparatus may include a puller mechanism. In another illustrative embodiment, the puller mechanism may include a puller frame, a grabber coupled to the puller frame comprising a first grabber element and a second grabber element, a grab actuator coupled to the grabber configured to activate a grab operation of the grabber, and a reach actuator coupled to the puller frame and the grabber. In another illustrative embodiment, the grab operation may be configured to grab the tape between the first grabber element and the second grabber element. In another illustrative embodiment, the reach actuator may be configured to extend the grabber towards the tape in the cutting position of the tape cutter mechanism and retract the grabber and the tape. In another illustrative embodiment, a package may be configured to be received between the tape cutter mechanism and the puller mechanism such that the package lands on the tape and falls between the tape cutter mechanism and the puller mechanism. In a further aspect, the tape applicator apparatus may further include an electrical power source coupled to the wire and configured to heat the wire. In another aspect, the electrical power source may supply a 2-9 volt voltage input to the wire. In another aspect, the voltage input to the wire may be pulsed. In another aspect, the moving assembly may comprise at least one of an air cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder. In another aspect, the device to position the tape in proximity with the hot wire assembly may comprise a vacuum block or an air block that supplies air toward the tape. In another aspect, the tape may be configured to be wiped onto the package as the package falls below the tape applicator apparatus via a first tape wiper of the tape cutter mechanism and via a second tape wiper of the puller mechanism. In another aspect, the first tape wiper may be coupled to the first frame and a first wiper actuator may be configured to rotate the first tape wiper towards the second tape wiper. In another aspect, the second tape wiper may be coupled to the puller frame and a second wiper actuator may be configured to rotate the second tape wiper towards the first tape wiper. In another aspect, the tape cutter mechanism may be located a package receiving distance from the puller mechanism, which may be 6 inches or more, 24 inches or more, or a range of sizes of 4 inches or more. In another aspect, the first tape wiper may be configured to rotate a non-zero wiper angle of the first tape wiper and the second tape wiper may be configured to rotate a non-zero wiper angle of the second tape wiper, where both non-zero wiper angles are measured inwards from vertical, normal from the tape, and may be 3 degrees or m