Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02261549 1999-02-09
ADHESIVE TRANSFER DEVICE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to adhesive transfer
devices and, more specifically, which permit the user to
transfer adhesive while watching the end of a transfer
member from above with its case in a laid-down state, so
that the adhesive can be accurately located and transferred
to a desired position. Also, the present invention
concerns an adhesive transfer device, which is particularly
useful and permits smoothly paying off and transferring
adhesive with low adhesion, such as correction tape for
correcting letters or the lie, marking tape constituted by
a colored thin film for emphasizing letters or the like,
and further adhesive permitting paper or the like to be
repeatedly applied to and separated from a transfer surface.
PRIOR ART
Recently, adhesive transfer devices are provided,
which can transfer white correction tape applied to a
separable paper sheet or transparent colored marking tape
to a transfer surface while the tape is paid off one end
of a case. These adhesive transfer devices, unlike
conventional correction liquid or marking pens, do not
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require any drying operation. In addition, these devices
permit coating to a uniform thickness. Furthermore, the
adhesive once transferred to the transfer surface, can be
readily removed without use of any rubber eraser or the
like so that is will not contaminate the transfer surface.
Such device for transferring correction tape or
marking tape has a commonly called closed loop structure,
in which a roll of correction tape or marking tape is
accommodated in a case and also separable paper sheet,
remaining after transfer of sheet, is taken up on a roller
provided in the case and interlocked to the tape roll.
Pulling them along a transfer surface with their case held
upright thereon uses some transfer devices. Other
transfer devices are used by pulling them to the left or
right with their case in a laid-down state, so that the
user can watch the end of a transfer member from above and
accurately locate and transfer adhesive to a desired
position.
In the above device for transferring correction tape
or marking tape accommodated in a case, however, once the
separable paper sheet is broken apart, the tape can no
longer be paid off the tape roll, thus disabling the
transfer. In addition, when the separable paper sheet is
excessively paid off, it is difficult to restore a proper
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tension state of tape. Furthermore, once the closed loop
structure is complicated, it is impossible to renew tape
roll after the tape has been used up. Therefore, the
device is inevitable consumable, which is undesired in
view of the recently increasing resources saving trend.
In the transfer device, which is used by pulling it
to the left or right with its case held laid down, the
tape guide surface of the transfer member is substantially
parallel with a side surface of the case facing the
transfer surface, which is a 90 degrees orientation change
of a transfer member transfer surface of the transfer
device which is used with the case held upright. This
means that the adhesive transfer tape paid off the tape
roll which is mounted such as to be parallel to the side
surfaces of the case, has its tape surface re-orientated
by 90 degrees in contact with two guide pins, which are
provided at an inlet and an outlet of the transfer member,
respectively.. This structure provides a great load on the
tape, and inevitably makes it difficult to feed and lead
the adhesive transfer tape and the separable paper sheet.
More specifically, in the transfer device the force
necessary for paying off the tape depends on the force of
friction between the adhesive to the end of the transfer
member and the transfer surface. Such adhesive as
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correction tape and marking tape has low adhesion and
provides low frictional force, so that it is difficult to
pay off the tape from the tape roll compared to high
adhesion adhesive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has an object of providing an
adhesive transfer device, which can be used repeatedly by
replacing the adhesive tape instead of discarding it, and
permits the user to transfer adhesive while watching the
end of a transfer member from above with its in a laid-down
state.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a first embodiment of
an adhesive transfer device according to the present
invention;
Fig. 2 is a side view showing a first embodiment of
an adhesive transfer device according to the present
invention;
Fig. 3 is a view showing a feed roller and a pinch
roller in a first embodiment of the adhesive transfer
device according to the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a view showing the feed roller and the
pinch roller in a first embodiment of the adhesive
transfer device according to the present invention;
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Fig. 5 is a view showing a transfer member and the
neighborhood thereof in a first embodiment of the adhesive
transfer device according to the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the
transfer member in a first embodiment of the adhesive
transfer device according to the present invention;
Fig. 7 is a plan view showing a second embodiment of
the adhesive transfer device according to the present
invention;
Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in
Fig. 7;
Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along line B-B in
Fig. 7;
Fig. 10 is a plan view shoeing the second embodiment
of the adhesive transfer device after taking out a
cassette;
Fig. 11 is an exploded perspective view for
describing friction means in the second embodiment of the
adhesive transfer device; and
Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view for
describing the friction means in the second embodiment of
the adhesive transfer device.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figs. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of an adhesive
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transfer device according to the present invention,
particularly the internal structure of the device inside a
case thereof. Referring to the Figure, reference numeral
1 designates the adhesive transfer device and reference
numeral 2 designates a synthetic resin case thereof, which
can be held with user's fingers. Reference numeral 3
designates a roll of adhesive transfer tape 5, which
includes an adhesive with low adhesion (such as correction
tape or marking tape) applied to an elongate separable
paper sheet 4 such as to be capable of being transferred.
Reference numeral 6 designates a tape roll support, which
is rotatably disposed in the case 2 and supports a tape
roll 3 detachably secured to it. The tape roll support 6
has a first bevel gear 7 formed on the outer periphery of
its lower portion when the case 2 is laid down in use.
Reference numeral 8 designates a feed roller having a
second bevel gear 9, which meshes with the first bevel
gear 7 such that its axis crosses the axis of the first
bevel gear 7. Reference numeral 10 designates a beak-like
transfer member, through which the adhesive transfer tape
paid off the tape roll 3 is led with the adhesive
surface outside to the outside of the case 2. With the
adhesive surface held pushed against transfer surface of a
paper sheet or the like, the adhesive is transferred to
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the transfer surface by pulling the case 2 in an adhesive
transfer direction, i.e., to the right in Fig. 1 in this
embodiment. Reference numeral 11 designates a pinch
roller provided on the lid of the case 2. In the closed
state of the case 2, the pinch roller 11 pinches the
separable paper sheet 4 against the feed roller 8 for
feeding out the separable paper sheet 4. Reference
numeral 12 designates an outlet formed in the case 2 at a
position thereof right behind the feed roller 8 and the
pinch roller 11. Through the outlet 12, the separable
paper sheet 4 after transfer of adhesive is led out to the
outside. Reference numeral 13 designates a guide pin that
is disposed between the tape roll 3 in the case 2 and the
transfer member 10. The guide pin 13 guides the adhesive
transfer tape 5 paid off the tape roll 3 to the transfer
member 10 by changing the orientation of the adhesive
transfer tape 5 by 90 degrees with respect to the tape
running direction. The guide pin 13 also guides the
separable paper sheet 4 after transfer of adhesive in
contact with one edge of the separable paper sheet 4.
The tape roll support 6 and the first bevel gear 7
formed on the outer periphery of the lower portion of the
tape roll support 6, are parallel to the bottom of the
case 2, i.e., the surface of the case facing the transfer
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surface. With this structure, the adhesive transfer
device 1 can be formed such that it has a shape suitable
for transfer operation by pulling it to the right in Fig.
1 with the case 2 laid down, i.e., a thin shape so that it
can be held with the thumb and the index finger of the
right hand of the user.
The tape roll 3 is a roll of the adhesive transfer
tape 5, which includes an adhesive with low adhesion
applied to the separable paper sheet 4, which is separable
on both sides of it. The tape roll 3 is detachably
engaged with a center pin 6a of the tape roll support 6
having a support surface parallel to the bottom of the
case 2. The case 2 has a hinge 14, and when the entire
tape roll 3 has been paid off, the user can make renewal
with a new tape roll by opening the case 2.
The transfer member 10, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6,
serves to lead the adhesive transfer tape 5, paid off the
tape roll 3, to the outside of the case 2 for transfer of
the adhesive to the transfer surface. The transfer member
has guide walls provided on the opposite sides of its
end portion, which has substantially the same width as the
adhesive transfer tape 5. The transfer member 10 also has
a tape guide surface, which is parallel with the bottom of
the case 2. As shown in Fig. 5, the adhesive transfer
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tape 5 paid off the tape roll 3 is guided and positioned
by on the lower surface of a guide portion of the transfer
member 10, and by pulling the case 2 held with the user's
fingers toward the user while pushing the adhesive surface
of the adhesive transfer tape 5, led past the end of the
transfer member 10, against the transfer surface, the
adhesive is transferred thereto, while the separable paper
sheet 4 after transfer of adhesive is led round the end of
the transfer member 10 and guided along the upper surface
of the guide portion of the transfer member 10 into the
case 2 again.
As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the feed roller 8 has
flanges provided on the opposite sides of its outer
periphery, which flanges serve as guide to prevent the
separable paper sheet from being detached. In order to be
able to reliably lead out the separable paper sheet, which
the feed roller 8 readily slips against, in this
embodiment the roller outer periphery, which the separable
paper. sheet is in contact with, should have high
coefficient of friction. In this embodiment, a rubber
belt is wound on the roller outer periphery, or the roller
outer periphery is formed with a rough surface or roulette
like that of a paper file. The pinch roller 11 pinches
and pulls the separable paper sheet 4 in cooperation with
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the pinch roller 11. In the closed state of the case 2,
the pinch roller 11 which is provided on the lid of the
case 2, pinches the separable paper sheet 4 in cooperation
with the feed roller 8, and by opening the case 2 the
separable paper sheet 4 is released from the pinched state.
The first bevel gear 7 of the tape roll support 6
and the second bevel gear 9 of the feed roller 8 mesh with
each other such that their axes cross each other as shown
in Fig. 1. In this embodiment, the teeth ratio between
the feed roller 8 and the tape roll support 6 is set such
that the rotational speed of the feed roller 8 is higher
than that of the tape roll support 6. For example, the
feed roller 8 completes about two rotations with one
rotation of the tape roll support 6. Of curse, the teeth
ratio is not limited to 2 . 1, but can be appropriately
set.
A series of adhesive transfer operations of the
adhesive transfer device 1 having the above construction
according to the first embodiment of the present invention
will now be described. First, the end of the transfer
member 10 of the adhesive transfer device 1 is held in
contact with the transfer surface of a paper sheet or the
like at a suitable angle thereto. Then, the adhesive
transfer device 1 is pulled in the adhesive transfer
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direction, i.e., to the right in Fig. l, while applying an
adequate pushing force to it. As a result, the adhesive
at the end of the transfer member 10 is pushed against and
transferred to the transfer surface, while the adhesive
transfer tape 5 between the tape roll support 6 and the
transfer member 10 is pulled and paid off. The tape roll
support 6 is thus rotated in the counterclockwise
direction in Fig. 1, and drives the feed roller 8 for
rotation in the clockwise direction in Fig. 2.
The separable paper sheet 4 after transfer of
adhesive is pinched between the feed roller 8 and the
pinch roller 11, and led out to the outlet 12 provided
rearward of these rollers with the rotation of the feed
roller 8. As shown in Fig. 2, in its path from the
transfer member 10 to the outlet 12, the separable paper
sheet 4 proceeds substantially straight without being bent
upwardly, downwardly, to the left or to the right or being
twisted. The separable paper sheet 4 is merely in contact
on one side of it with the guide pin 13, and can be led
out smoothly without constituting substantial load with
respect to its pulling by the feed roller 8.
The adhesive transfer tape 5 paid off the tape roll
3 and the separable paper sheet 4 led out by the feed
roller 8 are of course equal in length. However, owing to
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the teeth ratio noted above the feed roller 8 is rotated
at double the rotational speed of the tape roll support 6,
so that the separable paper sheet 4 is given adequate
tension around the transfer member 10 while undergoing a
slip between the feed roller 8 and the pinch roller 11.
Thus, the user transferring the adhesive (i.e.,
correcting tape in this embodiment) to the transfer
surface, can watch the front end of the transfer member,
through which the adhesive to be transferred to the
transfer surface is led out, from above with the laid-down
case 2. The adhesive thus can be transferred by
accurately locating it at the position, at which the
transfer is to be done. The separable paper sheet 4 after
transfer of adhesive is out in its progress direction with
respect to the user's fingers holding the case 2 of the
adhesive transfer device 1. Although not shown, an
adequate cutter member may be formed at the outlet 12 of
the case 2 so that the separable paper sheet may be
readily cut apart.
Fig. 7 to 9 show a second embodiment of the adhesive
transfer device according to the present invention. This
adhesive transfer device 15, unlike the preceding first
embodiment, has a construction that the separable paper
sheet left after the transfer of the of the adhesive is
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taken up into the case and that it can be used again by
simply replacing the tape cassette with a replacement tape
cassette 16 containing a tape roll, as shown in Fig. 10,
instead of discarding it.
Fig. 10 shows the device with the replacement tape
cassette 16 removed from the case 17. A frame member 18,
which is a base of the replacement tape cassette 16
extends a flange 19 horizontally, which rotatably supports
a tape roll 3. The adhesive transfer tape 5 paid off the
tape roll 3 is guided to a transfer member 10 by changing
the tape running direction by 90 degrees. The transfer
member 10 has the same structure as in the first
embodiment. The adhesive transfer tape 5 is led out of
the case 17 with its adhesive surface as the outer surface,
and the adhesive is transferred to the transfer surface of
paper of the like by pulling the case 17 in the adhesive
transfer direction with the adhesive surface held pushed
against the transfer surface. The separable paper sheet 4
left after the transfer of adhesive, is taken up on a
take-up roller 22 having a second bevel gear 21, which is
meshed with a first bevel gear 20 with its axis at right
angles to the axis of the first bevel gear 20.
The first bevel gear 20 is rotatably disposed in the
case 17, which is hinged by a hinge 23, on the side of the
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case facing the transfer surface. The top of the first
bevel gear 20 is engaged by a friction means 24. With the
provision of the friction means 24, the first bevel gear
20 is rotated in unison with the tape roll 3 when the
difference between the torque acting on the tape roll 3
and it is below a predetermined value, and it slips and
idles when the torque difference exceeds the predetermined
value.
As shown in Fig. 11 and 12, the friction means 24
has an engagement shaft 24a extending upward and having
raised and recessed surfaces in engagement with raised and
recessed surfaces of the inner periphery of the tape roll
3, and also has a cylinder 24c extending downward and
having a gear 24b with fine teeth formed in the inner
periphery. The first bevel gear 20 has its top surface
provided with five circumferentially spaced-apart pawl
members 20a. The pawl members 20a are formed on the tip
of an arched spring member. The gear 24b and pawl members
20a mesh with one another, and form a friction means,
which has a structure resembling a ratchet mechanism and
can be relatively rotated in opposite directions. Of
course it is possible to adopt a different structure of
the friction means.
While the same length of the adhesive transfer tape
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is paid off the tape roll 3 as the length of the
separable paper sheet 4 taken up on the take-up roller 22,
with the tooth number ratio between the first and second
bevel gears 20 and 21 set to about 2 . 1 as in the first
embodiment, the take-up roller 22 is rotated at double the
speed of the tape roll 3 as in the first embodiment. The
transfer of adhesive to the transfer surface causes the
adhesive transfer tape 5 to be paid off, thus applying a
torque to the tape roll 3. This torque is transmitted via
the first and second bevel gears 20 and 21 to the take-up
roller 22.
However, with the rotation of the take-up side (i.e.,
take-up roller 22) at a higher speed than on the pay-off
side (i.e., tape roll 3), the tension exerted to the
separable paper sheet 4 is gradually increased. This
tension is transmitted via the take-up roller 22 and the
second and first bevel gears 21 and 20 in the mentioned
order, thus increasing the torque as the drive force for
causing rotation of the first bevel gear 20. When this
torque is excessively increased, it may be such as to
cause reverse rotation of the tape roll 3, which the
adhesive transfer tape 5 is being paid off from, thus
eventually causing the separable paper sheet 4 to be
broken apart. To evade this situation, in this embodiment
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with an increase of the torque applied to the first bevel
gear 20, the pawl members 20a of the first bevel gear 20
are detached from the gear 24b of the friction means 24,
thus causing the first bevel gear 20 to idle relative to
the tape roll 3 and adjusting the tension.
In the actual operation, by continuously paying off
the adhesive transfer tape 5 from the tape roll 3, the
take-up roller 22 turns to repeatedly start and stop the
take-up of the separable paper sheet at a high frequency
while providing an adequate tension to a portion of the
adhesive transfer tape 5 around the transfer member 10.
In each embodiment described above the adhesive
transfer tape was described such that it used adhesive
having low viscosity such as those used for correction
tapes and marking tapes. However, adhesive having higher
viscosity usually can be transferred more easily than
adhesive having lower viscosity. Naturally, the adhesive
transfer device according to the invention can be used not
only low viscosity adhesive but also with high viscosity
adhesive.
As has been described in the foregoing, in the
adhesive transfer device according to the present
invention, a first bevel gear is rotatably disposed in the
case and coaxially engaged the tape roll, and a second
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bevel gear is in mesh with the first bevel gear such that
the axes of the two gears are at right angles to each
other, the second bevel gear having a smaller number of
teeth than the number of the first bevel gear and being
formed on one side of a roller disposed on the extension
of the separable paper sheet left adhesive transfer of
adhesive and returned from the transfer member into the
case, the roller being capable of pulling the separable
paper sheet left after the adhesive transfer. Thus, the
user can transfer adhesive by watching the end portion of
the transfer member from above with the case held in the
laid-down state. Also, even when the adhesive is weakly
adhesive and provides little frictional force such as
correction tape and marking tape, the adhesive transfer
tape and the separable paper sheet can be fed out smoothly.
Furthermore, the device can be used repeatedly by
replacing the roll tape instead of discarding it.
In addition, the separable paper sheet that is left
after the adhesive transfer is pulled by the roller and a
guide in contact with the roller surface and discharged to
the outside of the case through an outlet provided in its
extension behind a feed roller disposed in the case. The
separable paper sheet thus can be discharged to the
outside of the case without being collected in the case.
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Also, the device is relatively simple in construction and
can be repeatedly used by replacing the tape roll.
Furthermore, the case further accommodates a take-up
roller for pulling and taking up the separable paper sheet
left after the adhesive transfer, and a friction means
disposed between the tape roller and the first bevel gear
coaxial and rotatable therewith and causing the first
bevel gear to be rotated in unison with the tape roll when
the torque supplied to the first bevel gear is below a
predetermined level while causing the first bevel gear to
slip and slide when the applied torque exceeds the
predetermined level, thereby making up for the rotation of
the take-up roller at a rotational speed higher than the
rotational speed of the tape roller paying off the
adhesive transfer tape to the teeth member difference
between the first bevel gear and the second bevel gear
having a smaller number of teeth than the first bevel gear.
Thus, the adhesive transfer tape is given an adequate
tension around the transfer member, and the separable
paper sheet can be taken up reliably in the case without
being broken apart.
Still further, the tape roll, the transfer member
and the roller having the second bevel gear formed thereon
are detachably mounted in the case. Thus, when the roll
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tape is used up, the device can be repeatedly used by
doing a simple operation of merely replacing the cassette
with a replacement one, which has the tape roll, the
transfer member and the roller having the second bevel
gear.
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