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  Assembling packagingUSPTO Application #: 20060157187Title: Assembling packaging Abstract: A tape dispensing unit (10), feeding tear tapes (12, 13), to a continuous portion of packaging material (14). The tear tape is applied to the packaging portions so that consumers may easily open the assembled packages. Tape is applied to packaging from a reel. A reserve reel also holding tape is provided. When the end of the tape on the reel in use is reached the tape dispensing unit splices together the end of the tape in use with the beginning of the reserve reel, so that tape is fed continuously to the packaging material. (end of abstract) Agent: Seyfarth Shaw LLP - Chicago, IL, US Inventors: Gary Brooks, Michael Booth USPTO Applicaton #: 20060157187 - Class: 156157000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Adhesive Bonding And Miscellaneous Chemical Manufacture, Methods, Surface Bonding And/or Assembly Therefor, Joining Indefinite Length Laminae End-to-end The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060157187. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] The present invention relates to improvements in assembling packaging, especially packaging which incorporates a tape, such as a tear tape, to assist in the opening of a package. [0002] In known systems, a sheet of packaging material which will form a plurality of packages is printed, before being cut into the requisite sized packages. If a tear tape is to be included in the finished package, this is usually applied after the printing step, but before the sheet is cut. Tear tape is usually supplied on self-wound reels, wherein one side of the tape is coated with pressure-sensitive adhesive, and the other side is coated with a release agent, such as silicon. Such a tape is disclosed in the applicant's own EP 0 121 371. Alternatively, if the tape is not self-wound, a release paper may be provided to prevent the tape from adhering to itself too strongly. Alternatively, an adhesive, such as hot melt adhesive, can be applied to one side of the tape, by a hot shoe, or similar device as a step of the application process. [0003] The present invention is mainly concerned with the application of self-wound tear tape to packaging, where one side of the tape is coated with release agent and the other is coated with pressure-sensitive adhesive. This type of tape has advantages over the hot melt adhesive type in that: the tape can be applied more quickly, there is less likelihood of the adhesive contaminating other parts of the machinery, and no adhesive seeps out from under the tape after its application. Such seepage could, for example, cause problems when different packaging portions to which tapes are applied are stacked on top of each other, especially when the adhesive is still warm. [0004] In known systems where tear tape is applied to packaging, tape is fed into the printing machine from a tape reel which may be motorised, depending upon the size and type of reel. The tape is then applied to the packaging as the packaging passes through the machine. When the reel of tape is empty, the machine must be stopped temporarily so that the reel can be changed. Obviously, this decreases productivity, not only because the printing has temporarily ceased, but also because upon restarting of the machine the distinct printing stages must again be brought into precise registration before the printing may be continued at normal speed. [0005] EP 0358 477 discloses a toggle for attaching the trailing edge of a tape currently in use to the leading end of a reserve tape. The tape in use is supplied with a pin, which is disposed transversely to the axial extent of the tape. The reserve tape is provided with a loop, through which the tape in use (i.e. current tape) passes. When the pin attached to the tape in use contacts the loop, the reserve tape will be drawn into the machine. The portion of packaging incorporating this toggle will subsequently have to be located manually and discarded. This document discusses the fact that this toggle may cause the reserve tape to be fed into the machine upside down and that this could be a problem for tapes with one adhesive side. To address this problem the document discusses including a tail segment, where the portion of the tape in use that is attached to the reel is loosely attached (for example, with masking tape) to the portion of the in use tape having the pin. However, this arrangement involves complicated preparation of the tapes and is therefore undesirable. [0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,460 discloses a similar system in which the tape in use is provided with an aperture, and the reserve tape is supplied with a "mushroom-like" tab. There is no mention of any modification that would make this apparatus suitable for use with adhesive tape. [0007] It would be advantageous to be able to supply tape continuously from a plurality of rolls of tape sequentially, without having to prepare the tapes, or having to attach anything thereto as with the prior art. [0008] One aspect of the present invention provides a method of splicing tapes, having an adhesive coating, the method comprising the steps of: [0009] driving a first tape supplied from a first tape supply reel past a splicing area, the splicing area including at least two rollers movable between a closed position in which contact is made with tape in the splicing area, and an open position in which contact is not made with any tape in the splicing area; [0010] introducing a second tape from a second tape supply reel into the splicing area when the rollers are in the open position; and [0011] pressing the first and second tapes together with the rollers, to cause the first and second tapes to adhere together, one on top of the other. [0012] Preferably the method includes the steps of monitoring the amount of tape remaining on the first reel and moving the rollers in the splicing area into the closed position when the amount of tape remaining on the first reel falls to a predetermined level. [0013] At least one of the first or second tapes should be coated with adhesive on one side. [0014] Preferably the method further includes the step of cutting the first tape after the tapes have been joined. [0015] Preferably the method further includes the step of moving the rollers to the open position. [0016] The step of monitoring the amount of tape remaining on the first reel may be automated. [0017] The step of moving the rollers to the closed position when the amount of tape remaining on the first reel falls to a predetermined level may be automated, and may be based on the automatic monitoring of the amount of tape remaining on the first reel. [0018] The step of cutting the first tape may be automatic, and may be performed when a predetermined time has elapsed with the rollers in the closed position. [0019] The step of monitoring the amount of tape on the first reel may comprise the steps of: [0020] resting circumferentially on the reel an arm, one end of which is pivotally mounted on a rotary potentiometer, so that as tape is dispensed from the reel, and its diameter reduces, the arm is displaced pivotally; [0021] monitoring the change in potential difference across the potentiometer; [0022] using the said change in potential difference across the potentiometer to determine the amount of tape remaining on the reel. [0023] Alternatively, the step of monitoring the amount of tape on the first reel may comprise the steps of: [0024] resting circumferentially on the reel an arm, provided with a metal target, so that as tape is dispensed from the reel, and its diameter reduces, the arm is displaced; Continue reading... Full patent description for Assembling packaging Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Assembling packaging patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Assembling packaging or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Methods for producing windows having multiple polymer layers Next Patent Application: Method for the manufacture of a disposable undergarment with a gathered crotch member Industry Class: Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Assembling packaging patent info. 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