The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 20, 1996
Filed:
Dec. 13, 1993
Craig S Donnelly, Hager City, WI (US);
Daniel G Michalski, Red Wing, MN (US);
David W Carroll, Northfield, MN (US);
Robert L Cahlander, Red Wing, MN (US);
Thomas E Jung, Red Wing, MN (US);
James D Ramacier, Hugo, MN (US);
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
A dispenser apparatus comprised of a stretchable adhesive tape which is detackified when stretched longitudinally. The tape is advanced through a stretching station to an array of articles to be unitized. Tension rollers are utilized on either side of the stretching station to ensure that the tape advances evenly and does not recoil. The dispenser apparatus also includes a first prime mover which advances the tape through the tension rollers and stretching station at a rate which ensures proper stretching (at predetermined intervals) and proper feeding of the tape to the array of boxed items. A controller simultaneously controls the z-axis motion (of the dispenser and rotation of the articles to be unitized. Therefore, both the number of wraps about the articles and the location of the wraps between the base of the articles and the top of the articles may be controlled.