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EP 2 275 374 A1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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Date of publication: |
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19.01.2011 Bulletin 2011/03 |
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Date of filing: 16.07.2009 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC):
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO
PL PT RO SE SI SK SM TR |
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Designated Extension States: |
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AL BA RS |
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Applicant: SDI CORPORATION |
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Taiwan, R.O.C. (TW) |
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Inventor: |
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- Chen, Jau-Shyong
CHANG HUA, TAIWAN, R.O. C. (TW)
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Representative: Rystedt, Per Hampus |
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BRANN AB
P.O. Box 12246 102 26 Stockholm 102 26 Stockholm (SE) |
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Remarks: |
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Amended claims in accordance with Rule 137(2) EPC. |
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(54) |
Rotatable knob controlled adhesive tape dispenser |
(57) An adhesive tape dispenser has a body (10,10A,10B), an adhesive tap dispensing unit
(12,12A,12B), a knob (14,14A,14B), a pushing element (16) and a resilient element
(18,18A,18B). The knob (14,14A,14B) is mounted rotatably on the body (10,10A,10B)
and has a guiding structure (15,15A,15B) formed obliquely on the knob (14,14A,14B)
and having two ends each having a limiting capability to restrict a rotating range
of the knob (14,14A,14B) relative to the body (10,10A,10B) between the ends of the
guiding structure (15,15A,15B). The pushing element (16) is mounted slidably in the
body (10,10A,10B) and has a guided structure (162) connected slidably to slide along
the guiding structure (15,15A,15B) on the knob (14,14A,14B). The resilient element
(18,18A,18B) is mounted in the body (10,10A,10B) to provide a recoil force to the
adhesive tape dispensing unit (12,12A,12B).
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a dispenser, and more particularly to an adhesive
tape dispenser controlled by a rotatable knob.
2. Description of Related Art
[0002] An adhesive tape dispenser is used to dispense an adhesive tape, such as a correction
tape onto a paper or the like. Taiwan Utility Model No.
M345717 discloses a conventional adhesive tape dispenser comprising a body, an adhesive tape
dispensing unit and a driving unit. The driving unit comprises a knob and a pushing
rod. The knob is mounted rotatably on the body and has multiple oblique tracks formed
on the knob in alternative and connected with each other. The pushing rod has a block
formed on the pushing rod and attached slidably to the tracks on the knob. When the
knob is rotated, the block will be moved along the oblique tracks on the knob to push
the pushing rod to move relative to the body. Consequently, pushing rod will push
the adhesive tape dispensing unit to protrude out of the body to allow a user to dispense
the adhesive tape onto a paper.
[0003] The oblique tracks are formed continuously on the knob in alternative, so the knob
is rotated relative to the body in 360°. Therefore, the curvature of each track on
the knob of the conventional dispenser is less then 90°, such that a large force is
needed to rotate the knob for pushing the pushing rod and the dispensing unit to move
and the operation of the conventional dispenser is laborious. In addition, the oblique
tracks are connected continuously with each other in alternative, so the conjunction
between adjacent tracks does not have a limiting capability. Therefore, the knob is
easily rotated overly, and the dispensing unit cannot be well positioned at the extension
condition for use.
[0004] To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide an adhesive
tape dispenser to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The main objective of the invention is to provide an adhesive tap dispenser that
is well-positioned and convenient in use and has a labor-saving capability.
[0006] The adhesive tape dispenser has a body, an adhesive tap dispensing unit, a knob,
a pushing element and a resilient element. The adhesive tape dispensing unit is mounted
in the body. The knob is mounted rotatably on the body and has a guiding structure
formed obliquely on the knob and having two ends each having a limiting capability
to restrict a rotating range of the knob relative to the body between the ends of
the guiding structure. The pushing element is mounted slidably in the body, is connected
between the knob and the adhesive tape dispensing unit and has a guided structure
connected slidably to slide along the guiding structure on the knob when the knob
is rotated. The resilient element is mounted in the body to provide a recoil force
to the adhesive tape dispensing unit.
[0007] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent
from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
IN THE DRAWINGS
[0008]
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an adhesive tape dispenser in
accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the dispenser in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a side view in partial section of the dispenser in Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 shows operational perspective views in partial section of the knob and the
pushing element of the dispenser in Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 is an operational side view in partial section of the dispenser in Fig. 1;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an adhesive tape dispenser
in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the dispenser in Fig. 6;
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of an adhesive tape dispenser in
accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the dispenser in Fig. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0009] With reference to Figs. 1 to 3, a first embodiment of an adhesive tape dispenser
in accordance with the present invention comprises a body (10), an adhesive tape dispensing
unit (12), a knob (14), a pushing element (16)and a resilient element (18).
[0010] The body (10) is hollow and may be composed of two housings (11,112) combined detachably
with each other to define a chamber in the body (10) for holding the remaining elements
of the dispenser inside. In the first embodiment, the body (10) is composed of a front
housing (11) and a rear housing (112) detachably combined with the front housing (11)
with threads (116). Accordingly, the body (10) is detachable to replace the parts
held inside the body (10). In addition, a sleeve (17) is held in the body (10) and
may be formed integrally on the rear housing (112).
[0011] The adhesive tape dispensing unit (12) is mounted in the chamber of the body (10)
and comprises a bracket (122), a supplying wheel assembly (124) and an adhesive tape
(126). The bracket (122) is provided with a dispensing head (123) that can protrude
from one end of the body (10). The supplying wheel assembly (124) is mounted operationally
in the bracket (122). The adhesive tape (126) may be a correction tape, a stick tape
or the like and is mounted in the bracket (122) and around the dispensing head (123)
and the supplying wheel assembly (124). The structure and operation of the adhesive
tape dispensing unit (12) may be conventional, so detail description of the dispensing
unit (12) is omitted.
[0012] With further reference to Fig. 4, the knob (14) is hollow, is mounted rotatably on
the body (10) at one end opposite to the end from which the dispensing head (123)
protrudes and has an end, a cavity, a guiding structure (15) and an optional guiding
tube (142). The cavity is defined in the end of the knob (14) and has a bottom. The
guiding tube (142) is formed on and protrudes from the bottom of the cavity. The guiding
structure (15) is formed obliquely on the knob (14), may be formed on the guiding
tube (142) and may be a guiding cavity with an oblique inner side defined in the knob
(14). In an alternative embodiment, the guiding structure (15) may be formed on an
inner surface of cavity of the knob (14). The guiding structure (15) has two ends
each having a limiting capability to restrict a rotating range of the knob (14) relative
to the body (10) between the ends of the guiding structure (15). The ends of the guiding
structure (15) correspond respectively to a retracted position and an expanded position
of the dispensing unit (12). The guiding structure (15) obliquely extends 90° to 360°
in curvature. In a preferred embodiment, the guiding structure (15) extends 180° to
360° in curvature and may extend 180° in curvature. The guiding structure (15) may
further have two positioning recesses (152,154) defined respectively in the ends of
the guiding structure.
[0013] The pushing element (16) is mounted slidably in the body (10), may be a rod and mounted
slidably through the sleeve (17), is connected between the knob (14) and the adhesive
tape dispensing unit (12) and has a guided structure (162). The guided structure (162)
is connected slidably to the guiding structure (15) on the knob (14) to slide along
the guiding structure (15) when the knob (14) is rotated. The guided structure (162)
may be a protrusion, a rib or a block formed on the pushing element (16), abutting
slidably with the guiding structure (15) and may be held in one of the positioning
recesses (152,154) of the guiding structure (15) to hold the dispensing unit (12)
at the retracted or expended position.
[0014] The resilient element (18) is mounted in the body (10) to provide a recoil force
to the adhesive tape dispensing unit (12) and may be a spring. In the first embodiment,
the resilient element (18) is held in the body (10) and has an end mounted around
one end of the adhesive tape dispensing unit (12).
[0015] With reference to Figs. 3 and 4, when the guided structure (162) is held on the end
of the guiding structure (15) corresponding to the retracted positionor held in the
positioning recess (152) of the guiding structure (15), the dispensing unit (12) is
completely retracted into the body (10).
[0016] With further reference to Fig. 5, when the knob (14) is rotated, the guided structure
(162) is pushed to slide along the guiding structure (15) to make the pushing element
(16) moving relative to the body (10). Consequently, the pushing element (16) pushes
the dispensing unit (12) to make the dispensing head (123) protruding out of the body
(10), such that a user can dispense the adhesive tape (126) onto a paper or any desired
location. At this time, the guided structure (162) may be held in the positioning
recess (154) of the guiding structure (15) to provide a positioning effect to and
keep the dispensing unit (12) at the expanded position.
[0017] When the knob (14) is rotated in reverse, the dispensing unit (12) and the pushing
element (16) will be moved backward with the recoil force provided by the resilient
element (18). The guided structure (162) will move along the guiding structure (15)
to the end corresponding to the retracted position.
[0018] Because the guiding structure (15) on the knob (14) has a large curvature more than
90°, so the guiding structure (15) has a smoother slope than a conventional one such
that a small force is needed for pushing the dispensing unit (12) out of the body
(10). Therefore, the operation of the dispenser in accordance with the present invention
is laborsaving. In addition, because the ends of the guiding structure (15) have limiting
capabilities, the rotating range of the knob (14) is limited between the ends of the
guiding structure (15) to allow the knob (14) being rotated only in a limited angle
range. Accordingly, overly rotating the knob (14) can be completely prevented, and
the dispensing unit (12) is well positioned and the operation of the dispenser is
easily controllable and convenient.
[0019] With reference to Figs. 6 and 7, in a second embodiment in accordance with the present
invention, the body (10A) of the dispenser is composed of a front housing (11A) and
a rear housing (112A). The front housing (11A) has multiple connection slots (113)
defined in one end of the front housing (11A). The rear housing (112A) has multiple
connection hooks (114) formed on one end the rear housing (112A) and engaging respectively
the connection slots (113) in the front housing (11A) to detachably combine the front
and rear housings (11A,112A). Accordingly, when the adhesive tape of the dispensing
unit (12A) is exhausted, the body (10A) can be detached to replace a new dispensing
unit (12A) into the body (10A). In addition, the resilient element (18A) is held in
the bracket of the adhesive tape dispensing unit (12A), and a compressing tab is slidably
mounted in the bracket, abuts against one end of the resilient element (18A) and is
connected securely to the body (10A). When the dispensing unit (12A) is pushed to
move, the resilient element (18A) is compressed by the compressing tab and provides
a recoil force to the dispensing unit (12A). Furthermore, the knob (14A) may be tubular
and has a wall, and the guiding structure (15A) may be a notch, a slot or a concavity
defined in the wall of the tubular knob (14A). Accordingly, when the knob (14A) is
rotated, the dispensing unit (12A) will be pushed to protrude out of the body (10A)
by the pushing element (16) with sliding movement between the guiding and guided structures
(15A,162) on the knob (14A) and the pushing element (16). When the knob (14A) is rotated
in reverse, the dispensing unit (12A) can be retracted into the body (10A) with the
recoil force provided by the resilient element (18A).
[0020] With reference to Figs. 8 and 9, in a third embodiment in accordance with the present
invention, the body (10B) of the dispenser is composed of two side housings (11B,112B).
The knob (14B) may have a guiding tube (142B) on which the guiding structure (15B)
is formed. The sleeve (17B) is a separate part from the side housings (11B,112B) of
the body (10B) and has a flange (172) clamped securely between the side housings (11B,112B).
The resilient element (18B) is held in the bracket of the dispensing unit (12B) to
provide a recoil force to the dispensing unit (12B). The operation of the third embodiment
of the dispenser is similar to that of the first or second embodiment and is omitted.
[0021] Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have
been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure
and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may
be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts
within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general
meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
1. An adhesive tape dispenser comprising:
a body (10,10A,10B);
an adhesive tape dispensing unit (12,12A,12B) mounted in the body (10,10A,10B);
a knob (14,14A,14B) mounted rotatably on the body (10,10A,10B) and having a guiding
structure (10,15A,15B) formed obliquely on the knob (14,14A,14B) and having two ends
each having a limiting capability to restrict a rotating range of the knob (14,14A,14B)
relative to the body (10,10A,10B) between the ends of the guiding structure (15,15A,15B);
a pushing element (16) mounted slidably in the body (10,10A,10B), connected between
the knob (14,14A,14B) and the adhesive tape dispensing unit (12,12A,12B) and having
a guided structure (162) connected slidably to slide along the guiding structure (15,15A,15B)
on the knob (14,14A,14B) when the knob (14,14A,14B) is rotated; and
a resilient element (18,18A,18B) mounted in the body (10,10A,10B) to provide a recoil
force to the adhesive tape dispensing unit (12,12A,12B).
2. The adhesive tape dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guiding structure (15,15A,15B)
on the knob (14,14A,14B) is a guiding cavity defined in the knob.
3. The adhesive tape dispenser as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the guiding structure
(15,15A,15B) on the knob (14,14A,14B) obliquely extends 90° to 360° in curvature.
4. The adhesive tape dispenser as claimed in claim 3, wherein the guiding structure (15,15A,15B)
on the knob (14,14A,14B) obliquely extends 180° to 360° in curvature.
5. The adhesive tape dispenser as claimed in claim 4, wherein the guiding structure (15,15A,15B)
on the knob (14,14A,14B) obliquely extends 180° in curvature.
6. The adhesive tape dispenser as claimed in claim 1 or 5, wherein the knob (14,14B)
is hollow and has
a cavity defined in an end of the knob (14,14B) and having a bottom; and a guiding
tube (142,142B) formed on and protruding from the bottom of the cavity; and
the guiding structure (15,15B) is formed on the guiding tube (142,142B).
7. The adhesive tape dispenser as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 6, wherein the guiding structure
(15,15A,15B) has two positioning recesses (152,154) defined respectively in the ends
of the guiding structure (15,15A,15B).
8. The adhesive tape dispenser as claimed in claim 1 or 7 further comprising a sleeve
(17,17B) held in the body (10,10A,10B), wherein the pushing element (16) is mounted
slidably through the sleeve (17,17B).
9. The adhesive tape dispenser as claimed in claim 1 or 8, wherein the body (10,10A,10B)
is composed of two housings (11,112,11A,112A,11B,112B) combined detachably with each
other.
10. The adhesive tape dispenser as claimed in claim 1 or 9, wherein the resilient element
(18) is a spring, is held in the body (10) and has an end mounted around one end of
the adhesive tape dispensing unit (12).
11. The adhesive tape dispenser as claimed in claim 1 or 9, wherein the resilient element
(10A,10B) is a spring and is held in the adhesive tape dispensing unit (12,12A,12B).
Amended claims in accordance with Rule 137(2) EPC.
1. An adhesive tape dispenser comprising:
abody (10,10A,10B);
an adhesive tape dispensing unit (12,12A,12B) mounted in the body (10,10A,10B);
a knob (14,14A,14B) mounted rotatably on the body (10,10A,10B);
a pushing element (16) mounted slidably in the body (10,10A,10B), connected between
the knob (14,14A,14B) and the adhesive tape dispensing unit (12,12A,12B); and
a resilient element (18,18A,18B) mounted in the body (10,10A,10B) to provide a recoil
force to the adhesive tape dispensing unit (12,12A,12B), characterized in that
the knob (14,14A,14B) having a guiding structure (10,15A,15B) formed obliquely on
the knob (14,14A,14B) and having two ends each having a limiting capability to restrict
a rotating range of the knob (14,14A,14B) relative to the body (10,10A,10B) between
the ends of the guiding structure (15,15A,15B); and
the pushing element (16) having a guided structure (162) connected slidably to slide
along the guiding structure (15,15A,15B) on the knob (14,14A,14B) when the knob (14,14A,14B)
is rotated.
2. The adhesive tape dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guiding structure
(15,15A,15B) on the knob (14,14A,14B) is a guiding cavity defined in the knob.
3. The adhesive tape dispenser as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the guiding structure
(15,15A,15B) on the knob (14,14A,14B) obliquely extends 90° to 360° in curvature.
4. The adhesive tape dispenser as claimed in claim 3, wherein the guiding structure
(15,15A,15B) on the knob (14,14A,14B) obliquely extends 180° to 360° in curvature.
5. The adhesive tape dispenser as claimed in claim 4, wherein the guiding structure
(15,15A,15B) on the knob (14,14A,14B) obliquely extends 180° in curvature.
6. The adhesive tape dispenser as claimed in claim 1 or 5, wherein the knob (14,14B)
is hollow and has
a cavity defined in an end of the knob (14,14B) and having a bottom; and
a guiding tube (142,142B) formed on and protruding from the bottom of the cavity;
and
the guiding structure (15,15B) is formed on the guiding tube (142,142B).
7. The adhesive tape dispenser as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 6, wherein the guiding structure
(15,15A,15B) has two positioning recesses (152,154) defined respectively in the ends
of the guiding structure (15,15A,15B).
8. The adhesive tape dispenser as claimed in claim 1 or 7 further comprising a sleeve
(17,17B) held in the body (10,10A,10B), wherein the pushing element (16) is mounted
slidably through the sleeve (17,17B).
9. The adhesive tape dispenser as claimed in claim 1 or 8, wherein the body (10,10A,10B)
is composed of two housings (11,112,11A,112A,11B,112B) combined detachably with each
other.
10. The adhesive tape dispenser as claimed in claim 1 or 9, wherein the resilient element
(18) is a spring, is held in the body (10) and has an end mounted around one end of
the adhesive tape dispensing unit (12).
11. The adhesive tape dispenser as claimed in claim 1 or 9, wherein the resilient element
(10A,10B) is a spring and is held in the adhesive tape dispensing unit (12,12A,12B).
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only.
It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has
been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and
the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description