Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02560718 2003-03-24
Procedure and device for sticking objects
This application is a divisional of Canadian Patent Application Serial No.
2,423,164 which was filed
on March 28, 2003.
The invention relates to the mounting of objects, such as for example drinking
straws which are
packed into pockets, onto containers, such as for example film drinks pouches.
From the state of the art a method is known for applying drinking straws to
film pouches, as explained
in the following based on Fig. 10. Drinking straws 11 are packed into film
pockets 2, which are
already joined and form a pocket tape 1. On the pocket tape there is an
adhesive film layer, which is
covered by a carrier tape 4 (also termed cover tape or liner). The carrier
tape 4 is pulled off at a
diversion roller 10 so that the adhesive location is exposed. The individual
straw pockets 2 are cut off
singly from the incoming pocket tape 1 further along in the process by a
cutting stage with a knife 5.
The knife can here move to and fro and/or also rotate. With appropriate
devices, e.g. a vacuum
opening in the diversion pulley 9, the pockets 2 are held on the diversion
pulley 9. A pressure device
7, which in Fig. 10 is equipped as a lever, presses the pocket 2 with the
drinking straw 11 against
the drinks pouch 3 which is transported past the device for mounting the
drinking straws. In this way
the drinks pouches 3 are fitted with drinking straws 11 packed in pockets 2 by
sticking them to the
pockets 2.
The object of the invention is to suggest further improvements for fast and
fault-free mounting, in
particular providing methods, devices and objects which enable an improvement
to this method and
an improvement to the products manufactured by the method.
[1] In a further aspect, the present invention provides the method for
sticking at least one pocket, in
particular a film pocket, onto the outside of a container, in particular a
drinks pouch, with the following
steps: a carrier tape, which covers adhesive between pocket tape and the
carrier tape, is removed
from the pocket tape, whereby the adhesive remains on the pocket tape, then at
least one pocket is
cut off the pocket tape with a cutting process, and the pocket is stuck to the
container with the
adhesive, characterised in that, the adhesive between the pocket tape and the
carrier tape is provided
in adhesive zones spaced from one another along the carrier tape by non-
adhesive zones, the cutting
process is carried out such that the cut occurs in a non-adhesive zone, and
non-adhesive sections are
provided along the carrier tape.
[2] In a still further aspect, the present invention provides the method
according to [1], characterised
in that the adhesive zones and the non-adhesive zones are provided in
predetermined sections
relative to the pockets of the pocket tape.
[3] In a further aspect, the present invention provides the method according
to [1] or [2], characterised
in that carrier tape of plastic, paper, foil, textile, composite material,
metal, rubber, synthetic rubber, V-
belt material, toothed-belt material or film material is used.
[4] In a still further aspect, the present invention provides the method
according to any one of the [1]
to[ 3], characterised in that the carrier tape is used which, at least on one
side, has poor adhesion
properties.
[5] In a further aspect, the present invention provides the method according
to [4] where the poor
adhesive properties are due to coating or siliconising on the one side is
provided with TefIonT"" or an
anti-adhesion coating.
[6] In a still further aspect, the present invention provides the method
according to any one of the [1]
to [5], characterised in that an adhesive with a high initial adhesive force
is used, for example a soft
adhesive, preferably a hot-melt adhesive.
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[7] In a further aspect, the present invention provides the method according
to [6] wherein the
adhesive is a soft adhesive.
[8] In a still further aspect, the present invention provides the method
according to [7] wherein the
soft adhesive is a hot-melt adhesive.
[9] In a further aspect, the present invention provides the method according
to any one of [1] to[ 8],
characterised in that the cutting process takes place with a blade and /or a
knife Which moves to and
fro and/or rotates.
[10] In a still further aspect, the present invention provides the method
according to any one of [1] to
[9], characterised in that the non-adhesive zones extend laterally with
respect to the carrier tape.
[11] In a further aspect, the present invention provides the method according
to any one of [1] to [10],
characterised in that the non-adhesive zones are formed by omitting the
adhesive, rendering it
ineffective or covering it.
[12] In a still further aspect, the present invention provides the method
according to any one of [1J to
[11], characterised in that the cutting process occurs between pocket
contents.
[13] In a further aspect, the present invention provides the method according
to any one of [1] to [12],
characterised in that the pocket is stuck to the container with at least one
adhesive zone and/or at
least one carrier tape is used.
[14] In a still further aspect, the present invention provides the method
according to any one of [1] to
[13], characterised in that the pocket tape with the carrier tape and the
adhesive is produced
immediately before the removal of the carrier tape.
[15] In a further aspect, the present invention provides the method according
to [14], characterised in
that the carrier tape is a closed circulating tape.
[16] In a still further aspect, the present invention provides the method
according to any one of [1] to
[15J, characterised in that the pockets of the applied pocket tape enclose a
drinking straw and/or an
item of cutlery and/or a stirring tool and/or an accessory part and/or a small
gift.
[17J In a further aspect, the present invention provides the method according
to any one of [1] to [16],
characterised in that a pocket tape is used wherein the adhesive zones are
provided in the direction
longitudinal to the pocket tape, mainly centrally in relation to the pockets.
[18] In a still further aspect, the present invention provides the method
according to any one of [1J to
[17], characterised in that the container is a drinking vessel, a container
for liquid or a package.
[19] In a further aspect, the present invention provides the pocket tape, with
adhesive and a carrier
tape, which covers the adhesive, characterised in that adhesive zones are
spaced in the direction
along the carrier tape by non-adhesive zones, and non-adhesive sections are
provided along the
carrier tape.
[20] In a still further aspect, the present invention provides the pocket tape
according to [19],
characterised in that adhesive zones and non-adhesive zones are provided in
predetermined
sections relative to the pockets of the pocket tape.
[21] In a further aspect, the present invention provides the pocket tape
according to [19] or [20],
characterised in that that carrier tape is produced from plastic, paper, foil,
textile or film material.
[22] In a still further aspect, the present invention provides the pocket tape
according to one of [19] to
[21], characterised in that the carrier tape has poor adhesion properties at
least on one side, e.g. is
coated, in particular siliconised or coated or provided with Teflon.
[23] In a further aspect, the present invention provides the pocket tape
according to one of [19] to
[22], characterised in that the adhesive is an adhesive with a high initial
adhesion force, e.g. a soft
CA 02560718 2003-03-24
1b
adhesive, preferably a hot-melt adhesive.
[24] In a still further aspect, the present invention provides the pocket tape
according to one of [19] to
[23], characterised in that the non-adhesive zones are provided by omitting
the adhesive, rendering
it ineffective or covering it.
[25] In a further aspect, the present invention provides the pocket tape
according to one of [19] to
[24], characterised in that the non-adhesive zones extend laterally to the
carrier tape.
[26] In a still further aspect, the present invention provides the pocket tape
according to one of [19] to
[25], characterised in that non-adhesive sections are provided along the
carrier tape, in particular at
the edge of the carrier tape.
[27] In a further aspect, the present invention provides the pocket tape
according to one of [19] to
[26], characterised in that several carrier tapes are provided.
[28] In a still further aspect, the present invention provides the pocket tape
according to one of [19] to
[27], characterised in that a drinking straw and/or an item of cutlery and/or
a stirring tool and/or an
accessory part and/or a small gift is enclosed in the pocket.
[29j In a further aspect, the present invention provides the pocket tape
according to one of [19] to
[28], characterised in that the non-adhesive zones are provided in the
direction longitudinal to the
pocket tape, mainly centrally in relation to the relevant pocket.
[30] In a still further aspect, the present invention provides the method for
producing a pocket tape
with adhesive and a carrier tape, which covers the adhesive, with the steps:
the adhesive is applied
to the carrier tape, and the pocket tape is joined to the carrier tape,
characterised in that the
adhesive is applied intermittently to the carrier tape in the adhesive zones
which are spaced by non-
adhesive zones in the direction along the carrier tape, the pocket tape is
joined to the carrier tape
such that the adhesive zones are located in a predetermined position relative
to the pockets of the
pocket tape, and non-adhesive sections are provided along the carrier tape.
[31] In a further aspect, the present invention provides the method for the
production of a pocket tape
with adhesive and a carrier tape, which covers the adhesive, with the steps:
the adhesive is applied to
the pocket tape, and the pocket tape is joined to the carrier tape,
characterised in that the adhesive is
applied intermittently to the pocket tape in the adhesive zones which are
spaced by non-adhesive
zones in the direction along the pocket tape, the adhesive zones are located
in a predetermined
position relative to the pockets of the pocket tape, and non-adhesive sections
are provided along the
carrier tape.
(32] In a still further aspect, the present invention provides the method
according to [33] or [34],
characterised in that a pocket of the pocket tape triggers a signal which
controls the application of
the adhesive onto the carrier tape and/or the pocket tape.
[33j In a further aspect, the present invention provides the method according
to one of [30] to [32],
characterised in that adhesive is applied for predetermined times and/or zones
on the carrier tape
and/or pocket tape and/or amounts of adhesive.
[34] In a still further aspect, the present invention provides the method
according to one of [30] to [33],
characterised in that the adhesive zones are applied mainly periodically
repetitively on the carrier
tape and/or pocket tape.
[35] In a further aspect, the present invention provides the method according
to one of [30j to [34],
characterised in that the adhesive zones are provided in the direction
longitudinal to the pocket
tape, mainly centrally in relation pocket.
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[36] In a still further aspect, the present invention provides the device for
producing a pocket tape with
adhesive and a carrier tape, which covers the adhesive, with: a device for
supplying a carrier tape, a
device for feeding a pocket tape, whereby the pocket tape and/or the carrier
tape can be provided with
adhesive, a device for joining the pocket tape and the carrier tape together
so that the adhesive is
provided between the pocket tape and the carrier tape, characterised in that
the device includes a
control device with which adhesive zones, spaced by non-adhesive zones can be
applied in the
direction along the pocket tape at predetermined sections of the pockets of
the pocket tape, and non-
adhesive sections are provided along the carrier tape.
[37] In a further aspect, the present invention provides the device according
to [36], characterised in
that a signal transducer is provided which acquires a certain position of a
pocket of the pocket tape
and can thereupon give a signal to the control device.
[38] in a still further aspect, the present invention provides the method for
the production of an
adhesive tape with which at least one side of the carrier tape is provided
with adhesive,
characterised in that the adhesive is intermittently applied to the carrier
tape in adhesive zones
spaced from one another by non-adhesive zones along the carrier tape, non-
adhesive sections are
provided along the carrier tape.
[39] In a further aspect, the present invention provides the Adhesive tape
with a carrier tape and an
adhesive, characterised in that the adhesive is provided on the carrier tape
in adhesive zones
spaced from one another by non-adhesive zones along the carrier tape, and non-
adhesive sections
are provided along the carrier tape.
[40] In a still further aspect, the present invention provides the device for
the production of adhesive
tape with a carrier tape and adhesive with: a feeding device for feeding the
carrier tape an application
device for applying adhesive to the carrier tape, characterised in that the
application device is
provided to intermittently apply the adhesive to the carrier tape in adhesive
zones spaced from one
another by non-adhesive zones along the carrier tape, and non-adhesive
sections are provided
along the carrier tape.
[41] In a further aspect, the present invention provides the method according
to any one of [1] to [18J,
[30] to [35] and [38] wherein the non-adhesive sections are provided at the
edge of the carrier tape.
[42] In a still further aspect, the present invention provides the device
according to any one of [36],
[37] and [40] wherein the non-adhesive sections are provided at the edge of
the carrier tape.
[43] In a further aspect, the present invention provides the pocket tape
according to any one of [19]
to [29] wherein the non-adhesive sections are provided at the edge of the
carrier tape.
[44] In a still further aspect, the present invention provides the adhesive
tape according to [39]
wherein the non-adhesive sections are provided at the edge of the corner tape.
With the aid of the adhesive tape according to the invention, which
incorporates adhesive zones,
which are spaced out by non-adhesive zones in the direction along the adhesive
tape, it is possible to
produce a pocket tape according to the invention with which non-adhesive zones
are formed in the
sections between the centres of two adjacent pockets. With a pocket tape of
this type according to
the invention, it is possible to carry out a method according to the
invention, with which pockets are
stuck to containers and during which a knife, which cuts off pockets from the
pocket tape, does not
come into contact with the adhesive. Consequently, clogging of the knife with
adhesive, which
would impair the service life of the blade, is prevented.
For the invention it is advantageous if an adhesive with high initial adhesive
force is used. The
adhesive tape according to the invention, the pocket tape according to the
invention and the container
according to the invention all have the advantage that the process can be
implemented with a soft
adhesive which can exhibit this sort of high initial adhesive force. Due to
the fact that a cover of
CA 02560718 2003-03-24
1d
the adhesive (e.g. a pocket or a carrier tape) with the container according to
the invention and also
with the embodiments of the pocket tape and adhesive tape according to the
invention protrudes
over the original adhesive zone, a certain flow of the adhesive can be
accepted without the
adhesive escaping to the outside.
With the adhesive tape according to the invention it is possible to apply
single adhesive locations to
any objects. This occurs due to the fact that the adhesive of one adhesive
zone is applied to the
object together with the carrier tape. Due to the covering carrier tape, it is
possible to apply pressure.
Then, the carrier tape can be easily removed. This takes place due to the fact
that the carrier tape,
from which the adhesive has already been transferred to an object, can be
pulled off, releasing the
carrier tape from the last stuck adhesive zone. Also when the carrier tape has
been parted, it is
easily possible to grip the carrier tape and pull it off, because there are
sections at which the carrier
tape does not adhere to the object. The tedious search for a comer on which
the carrier tape can
be gripped and pulled off, which is familiar with commercially available
double-sided adhesive
tapes, is not needed. After removal of the carrier tape, the adhesive remains
on the object. The
adhesive tape according to the invention can therefore be realized as double-
sided adhesive tape
or also as transfer adhesive tape.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method for sticking at
least one pocket, in
particular a film pocket, onto the outside of a container, in particular a
drinks pouch, with the
following steps: an adhesive is provided on a pocket tape in adhesive zones
spaced from one
another along the pocket tape by non-adhesive zones, then at least one pocket
is cut off from the
pocket tape with a cutting process, and the pocket is stuck to the container
with the adhesive.
In a still further aspect, the present invention provides a device for
sticking at least one pocket, in
particular a film pocket, to the outside of a container, in particular a
drinks pouch, with: a cutting
device for cutting a pocket from a pocket tape, a pressure device for sticking
the pocket to the
container, characterized in that a device for applying adhesive to the pocket
tape is provided with
which the adhesive can be applied to the pocket tape in adhesive zones spaced
by non-adhesive
zones.
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2
Particularly advantageous embodiments of the devices, methods and objects are
explained based on the
enclosed figures. Here,
Fig. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a pocket tape according to the
invention,
Fig. 2 shows various schematic illustrations of the embodiments of adhesive
zones according to the
invention,
Fig. 3 shows a schematic illustration of an adhesive tape according to the
invention,
Fig. 4 shows a schematic illustration of various states of a device during the
realisation of a method
according to the invention,
Fig. 5 shows a schematic illustration of a container according to the
invention,
Fig. 6 shows a schematic illustration of a device according to the invention
for the production of an
adhesive tape according to the invention,
Fig. 7 shows a schematic illustration of a device according to the invention
for the production of a
pocket tape according to the invention,
Fig. 8 shows a schematic illustration of a device according to the invention
for the production of a
pocket tape according to the invention,
Fig. 9 shows a schematic illustration of a device according to the invention
for sticking a pocket tape,
Fig. 10 shows a device according to the state of the art.
In Fig. 1 a pocket tape 1 is illustrated. The pocket tape consists of a film
material and exhibits pockets 2
aligned parallel to one another. The pockets 2 on the pocket tape 1 could also
be arranged longitudinally
behind one another.
Each of the pockets 2 contains one or more drinking straws 11. Instead of
drinking straws, pieces of
cutlery, for example made of plastic, stirring tools, accessory parts or small
gifts could be contained in the
pockets, whereby, also here, one or more of these sorts of objects can be
accommodated in a pocket.
For the foodstuffs field the pockets 2 have the advantage that an hygienically
clean packaging of the
straws 11 or other objects is possible in the pockets 2.
The pockets 2 arise due to the fad that in Fig. 1 a thin film band is provided
in front of and behind the
drawing plane, between which the drinking straw 11 is situated. The films in
front of and behind the
drawing plane are welded together in the sections 13 to separate the drinking
straws 11 from one
another. Furthermore, the sections 13 have the function that when a single
pocket 2 on the pocket tape 1
is cut off in the sections 13, no external air can access the drinking straw
11 so that it remains
hygienically clean even after the pocket 2 is cut off.
Adhesive zones 12 are provided along the pocket tape 1. The adhesive zones 12
are located in the
longitudinal direction of the pocket tape 1, mainly in the centre of each
pocket 2. As illustrated in Fig. 1,
slight deviations from the exact position of the adhesive zones 12 are however
possible in relation to the
pocket 2.
It is also possible according to the invention that, as shown in the centre of
Fig. 1, the adhesive zone 12
extends up to the section 13 to the left of the centre pocket 2.
As shown in Fig. 1, an adhesive zone 12 is provided for each pocket 2.
However, a number of adhesive
zones 12 can also be provided for each pocket 2. Also, a number of carrier
tapes 4 can be provided.
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3
The adhesive zones 12 are repeated, mainly periodically, along the pocket tape
1. Also, the formation of
the pockets 2 and the sections 13 in the pocket tape 1 is repeated
periodically. Ideally, the periodicity of
the adhesive zones 12 and the periodicity of the pockets 2 are the same.
The material enveloping the drinking straws 11 may be of any suitable plastic
or also paper, textile, foil or
film material.
The adhesive which is applied in the adhesive zones 12 can be any suitable
adhesive. Adhesives with a
high initial adhesive force are advantageous. Adhesives can even be applied
which exhibit a certain flow
property, so that a good adhesive force is produced. Such adhesives are also
termed soft adhesives. An
example of an applicable sort of adhesive is "hot-melt" adhesive.
The sections 13 in Fig. 1 can also extend according to the invention right up
to each drinking straw 11, so
that the main part of the pocket tape 1 consists of sections 13. The adhesive
zone 12 can also extend
from one section 13 over the drinking straw up to the adjacent section 13.
For cutting the pocket tape 1 up into individual pockets 2, it is advantageous
if the sections 13 are large,
because then a larger area arises in which the cutting process for parting a
pocket 2 from the pocket tape
1 can take place.
In Fig. 2 embodiments of the adhesive zone 12 according to the invention are
illustrated. Possible forms
of the adhesive zone 12 are square, rectangular, circular, triangular or any
other regular or irregular
shape. It is also possible to divide up the adhesive zone 12 into a number of
individual adhesive zones,
each with the previously mentioned shapes. Then the adhesive zone 12 can be
subdivided into two,
three, four or more adhesive zones.
In Fig. 3 an embodiment of an adhesive tape 14 according to the invention is
illustrated. This type of
adhesive tape 14 can be advantageously provided in the pocket tape 1, as shown
in Fig. 1. Adhesive
zones 12 are provided on a carrier tape 4. The various adhesive zones 12 are
separated from one
another by non-adhesive zones. In the embodiment illustrated, the non-adhesive
zones 15 extend
laterally from the upper edge to the Lower edge of the carrier tape 4. The
adhesive zones 12 along the
carrier tape 4 are spaced from one another by the non-adhesive zones 15. The
non-adhesive zones 15
can be formed by the omission of adhesive 20. Also, it is possible according
to the invention to form the
non-adhesive zones 15 by rendering the adhesive ineffective, for example, by
irradiation or subjecting the
adhesive to certain chemicals, vapours, gases, dusts, etc. Also, the adhesive
20 can be covered by a
layer to create non-adhesive zones 15.
On the upper and lower edges of the carrier tape 4 non-adhesive areas 16 are
provided which extend
along the carrier tape 4. Consequently, the carrier tape 4 protrudes in all
directions over the areas of the
adhesive zone 12, whereby the adhesive can flow a little without it escaping
to the outside.
As illustrated in Fig. 3, the sizes of the adhesive zone 12 and the non-
adhesive zone 15 need not always
be identical, but they should be substantially similar.
Based on Figs. 4 and 10, an embodiment of the method according to the
invention for sticking a pocket 2
on a container is explained. A pocket tape 1 according to the invention, for
example the pocket tape 1
described in Fig. 1, is passed to a device, as shown in Fig. 10, for sticking
pockets onto drinks pouches.
The carrier tape 4 is removed at a deviation roller 10 due to the fad that it
is pulled off and transported
away. The deviation roller 9, as shown in Fig. 10, is schematically
illustrated in a plan view in Figs. 4a and
4b. In Figs. 4a and 4b the pocket tape 1 fed in from the right in each case is
illustrated close to the
deviation roller 9. The pocket tape 1 is composed of consecutively arranged
pockets 2, each of which
contains a drinking straw 11. On the outside of the pocket tape 1 adhesive
zones 12 are illustrated in
which adhesive 20 is located on the pocket tape 1. At a point in time, as
illustrated in Fig. 4a, at which an
adhesive zone 12 with adhesive is located in front of the knife 5, a cutting
process is not carried out. With
the state as in Fig. 4b where the knife 5 has no adhesive zone 12 in front of
it, the knife can move onto
the deviation roller 9 so that a pocket 2 is cut off from the pocket tape 1 by
the sharp front blade edge.
The cutting movement of the knife is controlled in the method by a suitable
controller, so that the cut
occurs between the pocket centres. The cut takes place advantageously in the
sections 13 of the pocket
tape 1. The control device receives the information mechanically,
electrically, optically or in some other
form, of when the cutting process is to be carried out in dependence of the
position of a pocket 2 and / or
CA 02560718 2003-03-24
4
an adhesive zone 12. The deviation roller 9, as shown in Fig. 4, can also be
formed as a deviation
pulley, as illustrated schematically in Fig. 10. The individual pockets are
then placed in the indentations
in the deviation pulley 9. The control of the cutting process can also be
triggered or controlled by the
rotational position of the deviation pulley or the deviation roller 9.
The pockets 2 present to the left of the knife 5 are then all singled out and
can be held on the deviation
roller 9 by appropriate devices, such as for example, a vacuum opening or
other clamping devices.
Due to the fact that the knife 5 separates a pocket 2 from the pocket tape 1
at a location at which no
adhesive of an adhesive zone 12 is present, the knife 5 does not make contact
with the adhesive of the
adhesive zones 12. Consequently, clogging of the knife by adhesive can be
largely eliminated. This type
of clogging can disadvantageously shorten the service life of the knife 5 or
lead to operational faults. With
the method according to the invention, using a pocket tape 1 according to the
invention with an adhesive
tape 14 according to the invention, the service life of the knife, i.e. the
time during which a knife cuts
without problems, can be significantly increased.
Once the pockets 2 have been singled out, the pockets 2 are pressed against
drinks pouches 3 with a
pressure device 7, as illustrated in Fig. 10.
A further embodiment of a method according to the invention for sticking a
pocket 2 to a container 3
consists of applying the adhesive 20 with a head, as illustrated for example
in Fig. 6, on the pocket tape 1
and then cutting a pocket 2 from the pocket tape 1, as described above and
sticking the pockets 2. A
carrier tape 4 may then be omitted. A roller 31 can also be employed on which
the adhesive 20 is applied
and with which the adhesive is then applied to the pocket tape, for example,
by applying pressure. The
surface of the roller is here advantageously at least partially poorly
adhesive. For this, the roller can, for
example, exhibit a surface coated or provided with silicone, TefIonT"", rubber
or an anti-adhesion layer,
e.g. anti-adhesion paint coating. The roller ads as a transfer roller.
The adhesive is advantageously immediately applied to the roller 31 in
adhesive zones 12 spaced out by
non-adhesive zones 15 and these zones are transferred to the pocket tape 1.
The adhesive zones 12 are
here positioned on the pockets 2 on the pocket tape 1 such that the pockets 2
can be cut off from the
pocket tape 1 in the section 13 in the section of the non-adhesive zones 15.
With this method a
circulating carrier tape 4 can, so to say, be replaced by a roller, whereby
the reliability can be improved.
The embodiments of the previously described method or the embodiments given in
the paragraphs [2],
[6], [7], [8], [9], [11], [12], [13], and [16] to [18] are also advantageous
embodiments of the method
described here.
A device for realising the method is illustrated in Fig. 9. A head 17 is
arranged adjacent to a roller 31 and
can apply adhesive 20 intermittently to the roller 31. A pocket tape 1 can be
fed past the roller 31 so that
the adhesive 20 is transferred from the roller 31 to the pocket tape 1.
Furthermore, downstream the roller
31 a cutting device 5 is provided to separate the pockets 2. The pockets 2 can
be stuck to the containers
3 with a pressure device 7. The head 17 can be controlled such that the
adhesive 20 is positioned on the
pocket tape 1 such that adhesive zones 12 are formed which are placed
approximately in the centre of a
pocket 2. Consequently, the pockets 2 can be cut off in the region of the non-
adhesive zones 15 from the
pocket tape 1 in the section 13. The adhesive zones 12 are spaced out by non-
adhesive zones 15. For
the control of the head 17 control devices 21 and signal or pulse transducers
23, 24, 25, as illustrated
in Figs. 7 and 8 and as described below, are provided advantageously. Also an
inspection camera as
shown in Fig. 8 can be employed advantageously.
The container according to the invention is shown enlarged in Fig. 5. Here,
reference is made to a
drinks pouch as an example of a drinks vessel, fluids container or other
package. On the drinks pouch
3 is located a pocket 2 in which a straw 11 is enclosed. Furthermore, an
adhesive zone 12 is illustrated
which extends centrally in relation to the direction lateral to the pocket,
i.e. in the direction of the double
arrow 22. In relation to the longitudinal direction of the pocket 2, the
adhesive zone 12 can be provided
at any location. The preferred position can depend on the container onto which
the pocket is to be
stuck. With film pouches filled with liquid, a position in the lower section
may be preferred.
To the right and left of the drinking straw 22 parts 13' and 13" of zones 13
on the pocket tape 1 can be
seen. Parts 13' and 13" have arisen through the cutting off of pockets 2 from
the pocket tape 1.
CA 02560718 2003-03-24
Due to the fact that the non-adhesive sections 15, as shown in Fig. 3, were
used with the adhesive tape
14 of the pocket tape 1, the adhesive zone 12 in the direction of the double
arrow 22 does not e~dend to
the edge of the pocket 2. As a result and due to the fact that the pocket 2 is
longer in its longitudinal
direction than the width of the carrier tape 4, the pocket 2 protrudes beyond
the adhesive zone 12 in each
of the directions 22 and 23. Without the non-adhesive zone 15 the adhesive
zone 12 would extend to the
edges of the pocket 2 in the direction of the double arrow 22, as in the state
of the art.
Due to the fact that the pocket 2 protrudes beyond the adhesive zone 12 in
each of the directions 22 and
23, a soft adhesive can also be used which can also flow slightly without the
adhesive escaping from
between the pocket 2 and the film pouch. Consequently, an adhesive can be used
with which a
substantially higher tack value, i.e. a higher initial adhesive force is
achieved.
A device according to the invention for the production of an adhesive tape 14
according to the invention is
illustrated in Fig. 6. A head 17 is provided to transfer adhesive 20 in
portions to a carrier tape 4. The
device according to the invention for the production of an adhesive tape 14
according to the invention
also incorporates a device which feeds the carrier tape 4. This can be, for
example, a take-off spooling
device. Furthermore, the device according to the invention includes means for
transporting the carrier
tape 4 away under the head 17. These means are not illustrated in Fig. 6.
Through rollers or other deviation devices advantages can be obtained in that
the carrier tape 4 has
contact with the head 17. The contact may be very slight.
Also it is possible according to the invention that the carrier tape 4 is
separated from the head 17 and the
adhesive is applied, e.g. sprayed on, over a certain distance.
A method according to the invention for the production of the adhesive tape 14
according to the invention
is explained based on Fig. 6. A device, which is not shown, for feeding the
carrier tape 4 supplies the
incoming carrier tape 4 from the left in Fig. 6. The carrier tape 4 can for
example be wound off a roll.
While the carrier tape 4 runs past the head 17, adhesive 20 is intermittently
output by the head 17 and
applied to the carrier tape 4. This produces adhesive zones 12 and non-
adhesive zones 15.
After applying the adhesive 20 in the adhesive zones 12 on the carrier tape 4,
the adhesive tape 14 so
produced then runs to the right out of Fig. 6. It can then be directly used
further, for example, in the
production of a pocket tape 1 according to the invention or it can be rolled
up. If the adhesive tape 14
according to the invention is rolled up, then it is advantageous if a carrier
tape 4 is used which has poor
adhesion on both sides. It is also advantageous if one side has clearly worse
adhesion properties than
the other so that when winding off the rolled up adhesive tape 14 according to
the invention, the adhesive
20 always remains in the adhesive zones 12 on one side of the carrier tape 4.
If the adhesive tape 14 according to the invention, which is produced
according to the invention, is used
immediately, then it is sufficient if the carrier tape 4 has poor adhesion
properties on only one side.
The~required poor adhesion can for example be obtained by a coated carrier
tape material. Especially
advantageous are siliconised carrier tapes 4. Also Teflon or other anti-
adhesion coatings can be used,
e.g. anti-adhesion paints. Also, carrier tapes can be used which consist
completely of a low-adhesion
material.
During the production of the adhesive tape 14 according to the invention it is
possible to apply adhesive
to adhesive zones 12 with a number of heads or with a number of adhesive
application elements in
parallel adjacent to one another on a carrier tape material running off a
master roll. Thereafter, the carrier
tape material is cut up into single carrier tapes 4. It is also possible
according to the invention to make
individual carrier tapes 4 from a master roll and to then provide them with
the adhesive 20 in the adhesive
zones 12.
A device according to the invention for producing a pocket tape 1 according to
the invention is illustrated
in Fig. 7. Rollers 18 and 19, which may be of the same or different size, are
provided to accommodate a
pocket tape 1 and a carrier tape 4 running in between them and to press them
together. Furthermore, a
device 17 similar to that in Fig. 6 is provided to apply adhesive 20 to the
carrier tape 4 in the adhesive
zones 12. The device according to the invention for producing a pocket tape 1
according to the invention
CA 02560718 2003-03-24
6
must be so equipped that the adhesive zones 12 mainly meet on a pocket 2 in
the centre of the direction
along the pocket tape 1. In particular it is advantageous if the non-adhesive
zones 15 meet between the
adhesive zones 12 on those parts of the pocket 2 which belong to the sections
13 (see Fig. 1) in which
the pockets 2 can be later cut off from the pocket tape 1.
With the device schematically illustrated in Fig. 7 this is achieved in that a
control device 21 is provided
which is connected to a signal transducer 24 and ahe head 17. The signal
transducer 24 can acquire a
certain position of a pocket 2. The signal transducer 24 may be equipped
mechanically, electronically,
optically or in some other manner. A grooved wheel, in which the drinking
straws 11 lie, may be
advantageous for the formation resp. arrangement of the signal transducer. The
signal transducer 24
signals to the control device 21, for example, the start, centre or end of a
pocket 2 or of a drinking straw
11 in the pocket 2. The control device 21 can then signal the head 17 to apply
the adhesive 20.
Consequently, it is possible to match the adhesive zones 12 and the non-
adhesive zones 15 exactly to
the relevant pocket 2 of the pocket tape 1.
According to the invention it is however possible to synchronise the
application of the adhesive 20 by the
head 17 to a timed cycle whereby the cycle can be made dependent on the speed
of the carrier tape 4 or
of the pocket tape 1.
The amount of adhesive 20 applied per adhesive zone 12 is advantageously
preset.
Instead of using two deviation rollers 18 and 19 to join the carrier tape 4
and the pocket tape 1, it is also
possible to use only one roller for the deviation of either the carrier tape 4
or the pocket tape 1 or even to
use no roller and the feeding together of the pocket tape 1 and the carrier
tape 4 is then achieved in that
a constriction point is provided through which the two tapes 1 and 4 are
pulled.
A further embodiment of the device according to the invention for the
production of a pocket tape 1
according to the invention arises due to the fad that the head 17 does not
apply the adhesive to the
carrier tape 4, but is instead arranged such that the adhesive 20 is applied
to the pocket tape 1. The
covering of the adhesive zones 12 with the carrier tape 4 occurs however
analogous to the device
described above. Also here, the adhesive application by the head 17 can be
triggered by the passage of
single pockets or pocket contents or it can also be synchronised to a timed
cycle whereby the cycle
depends on the speed of the can-ier tape or the pocket tape 1.
Fig. 8 also illustrates a device according to the invention for the production
of a pocket tape 1 according
to the invention. A head 17 is provided to transfer adhesive 20 to a cartier
tape 4. The carrier tape 4 is
guided or transported through diversion rollers 28. Devices for clamping the
carrier tape 4 can also be
provided. The device also incorporates one or more diversion rollers 27 for
guiding a pocket tape 1.
Rollers 18 and 19 are provided to bring the carrier tape 4 and the pocket tape
1 together and so to stick
them together with the adhesive. The two tapes are pressed together by the
rollers 18 and 19.
Furthermore, a grooved wheel 25 is provided whereby the drinking straws 11 of
the pocket tape 1 can be
accommodated in the grooves. Consequently, a feed of drinking straws is
possible in which the distance
between adjacent drinking straws and/or the rate or cycle with which the
drinking straws 11 or the pockets
2 are fed can be adjusted. Also, it is alternatively or additionally possible
that the grooved wheel 25
functions as a pulse transducer, whereby a passing drinking straw 11 triggers
a pulse.
A checking device 30 for checking the carrier tape is provided downstream from
the head 17. The
checking device 30 can, for example, be provided to just check for the
presence and/or the lateral
position of the carrier tape 4 or the adhesive tape 14. Also it can check the
properties of the adhesive
tape 14, such as for example the size and/or quality or the presence of
adhesive zones 12 on the carrier
tape 4. The checking device 30 can advantageously also be connected to the
control device 21 and when
faults are found and depending on the fault it can initiate suitable measures,
such as switching off,
warning, adjusting rollers on a clamping device or make adjustments to other
rollers or the head 17 or
similar.
Furthermore, a control device 21 is provided which is connected to one or more
pulse transducers and
the head 17. The control device 21 can control the head such that it applies
adhesive 20 targeted on the
carrier tape 4. Devices 29 for guiding the pocket tape 1 are provided at
suitable positions.
CA 02560718 2003-03-24
7
A pulse transducer 24 is provided at the roller 18 and formed such that it
detects passing drinking straws.
To detect a drinking straw the pulse transducer 24 may for example be equipped
optically, mechanically,
electronically or in some other way. It is connected to the controller 21 and
can pass on these control
pulses.
An inspection camera 26 which is connected to the control device 21 is
provided to take pictures of the
finished pocket tape 1. From the pictures various p$rameters can be determined
in the control device 21
using suitable image processing and image evaluation software. These include
advantageously the size
of the non-adhesive zone 15, the size of the adhesive zone 12, the correct
position of the adhesive zone
12 in relation to the drinking straw 11 and a correct distance between the
adhesive zones 12.
The inspection camera 26 can be used for monitoring and control purposes. For
example, using the
inspection camera 26, it is possible to check the relative position of the
adhesive zone 12 in relation to a
pocket 2 on the pocket tape 1 during the operation and then to possibly
readjust the adhesive application
by the head 17 with respect to time, i.e. to delay or speed up in comparison
to the previous rate.
Wth the device in Fig. 8 it is also possible according to the invention that
the head 17 applies the
adhesive 20 in the adhesive zones 12 on the pocket tape 1.
In the following methods according to the invention for producing a pocket
tape 1 according to the
invention are explained. With both methods a carrier tape 4 and a pocket tape
1 are fed in. The pocket
tape 1 can, for example, be pulled from a storage container or be wound from a
roller. The carrier tape 4
can similarly, for example, be wound off a reel. With both methods the carrier
tape 4 and the pocket tape
1 are also brought into contact with one another by appropriate devices 18 and
19. A signal transducer
23, 24, 25 signals the passing of a certain part of the pocket tape 1 to the
controller 21. The control
device 21 then controls the head 17 such that it transfers adhesive 20 to the
adhesive zones 12. With a
method according to the invention the adhesive can be output onto the carrier
tape 4 and with another
method according to the invention the adhesive can be output to the pocket
tape 1. If the adhesive is
applied to the pocket tape 1, then it is applied through the control device 21
such that it is applied in the
direction longitudinal to the pocket tape 1 mainly in the centre of each
pocket 2. The adhesive-free zones
15 lie mainly in the section which is labelled with 13 in Fig. 1, i.e. in the
section in which a pocket 2 can be
cut off from the pocket tape 1.
If the adhesive is applied by the head 17 onto the carrier tape 4, then the
adhesive application takes
place in the adhesive zones 12 so that when the carrier tape 4 and the pocket
tape 1 are brought
together, the adhesive zones 12 mainly lie in the longitudinal direction of
the pocket tape 1 centrally with
reference to the relevant pocket 2. The non-adhesive zones 15 are mainly
positioned in the sections 13 of
the pocket tape 1. The control of the head 17 for the application of the
adhesive 20 in the adhesive zones
12 can also occur through the setting of a timed cycle, whereby the cycle
depends on the speed of the
carrier tape 4 or the pocket tape 1.
The pocket tape 1 according to the invention so produced can then be inspected
by an inspection camera
26 as described above.
The pocket tape 1 according to the invention so produced can then be rolled up
or placed loosely in a
package. It is also possible that the pocket tape 1 so produced is used
immediately with a device as
illustrated in Fig. 4 and Fig. 10. In this case it is possible to feed the
carrier tape 4, illustrated in Fig. 10
and removed, i.e. pulled off via the diversion roller 10, to the device to the
left as it is illustrated in Fig. 7
and thereby achieve an enclosed circuit for the carrier tape 4. It is also
possible to wind up the pulled-off
carrier tape 4 and to use it again for the production of adhesive tape 14 or
pocket tape 1 according to the
invention.
