Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Surface bonding means and/or assembly means therefor – With work feeding or handling means
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-03
2001-04-03
Osele, Mark A. (Department: 1734)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Surface bonding means and/or assembly means therefor
With work feeding or handling means
57
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209609
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to dispensing apparatus and, more particularly, to improved methods and apparatus for dispensing sheet material.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Drywall installation is very labor intensive. In fact, more than half the cost of installing drywall is borne by labor. One of the most labor-intensive steps in drywall installation is the patching of the seams separating adjacent drywall panels. This process normally involves applying a layer of tape over the seams and then sealing the tape with a suitable drywall compound. The application of the tape over the seams proves especially difficult because the seams can prove challenging to reach, and workers find it difficult to cut the tape to desired lengths. Although various devices have been constructed to enhance the ease and efficiency of applying tape to the seams separating adjacent drywall panels, they are difficult to construct and workers find them messy, difficult to clean and cumbersome. These and other disadvantages with known devices therefore necessitate certain new and useful improvements.
Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide improved apparatus and methods for dispensing and applying sheet material to a surface and, more particularly, improved apparatus and methods for dispensing and applying tape to a surface.
It is a purpose of the present invention to provide new and improved apparatus for dispensing sheet material that is easy to construct.
It is another purpose of the present invention to provide new and improved apparatus for dispensing sheet material that is easy to use.
It is still another purpose of the present invention to provide new and improved apparatus for dispensing sheet material that is inexpensive.
It is a further purpose of the present invention to provide new and improved apparatus for dispensing sheet material constructed to allow a worker to install precisely measured courses of sheet material.
It is still a further provision of the present invention to enhance the ease and efficiency of patching the seams formed by adjacent drywall panels.
It is yet still a further provision of the present invention to reduce the labor costs associated with drywall installation,
It is another purpose of the present invention to provide new and improved apparatus for dispensing sheet material that is easy to clean and maintain.
It is still another purpose of the present invention to provide new and improved apparatus for dispensing sheet material that allows for quick and efficient installation.
It is yet still another provision of the present invention to substantially reduce the labor investment normally associated with patching the seams separating adjacent drywall panels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above problems and others are at least partially solved and the above purposes and others are realized in new and improved apparatus for dispensing and applying sheet material, especially tape, to a surface. In a particular embodiment, apparatus of the present invention is generally comprised of an elongate body with a head assembly supported at one end and a roll of tape supported by the elongate body adjacent the head assembly for rotation. The head assembly includes a chassis with an upstream end directed toward the elongate body and a downstream end directed away from the elongate body. The chassis supports a drive assembly engagable against a surface for receiving, dispensing and applying tape to the surface, a cutting assembly and a measuring assembly for allowing installation of precisely measured courses of tape.
Drive assembly includes an outfeed roller carried by the chassis for rotation and an infeed roller carried by the chassis for rotation spaced from the outfeed roller and drivenly coupled with the outfeed roller, the outfeed and infeed rollers for positively driving sheet material from the infeed roller to the outfeed roller in response to movement of the outfeed roller against a surface. A continuous belt couples the outfeed roller with the infeed roller in driving engagement. The continuous belt is normally supported by a drive pinion carried by the outfeed roller and a driven pinion carried by the infeed roller. A guide roller is also carried by the chassis for rotation against, and in response to rotation of, the infeed roller.
The drive assembly may further include an applicator head engagable for movement against a surface for positively driving sheet material through the drive assembly from the infeed roller to the outfeed roller and for applying the sheet material to a surface in a first position, and stowable in a second position different from the first position. The applicator head is carried for rotation by a framework mounted for movement between the first and second positions of the applicator head. A proximal pinion is supported by the chassis as part of the drive assembly, a distal pinion is carried by the applicator head and an intermediate pinion mounted with the framework in meshing engagement with the distal pinion. The intermediate pinion is engagable in meshing engagement with the proximal pinion in the first position of the applicator head for coupling the applicator head in driving engagement with the outfeed roller.
To sever tape after application to a surface, the present invention provides a cutting assembly including a cutting element carried by the chassis for movement along a cutting path for severing the sheet material and an assembly for moving the cutting element along the cutting path. The assembly comprises a support element or cam wheel carried by the chassis for movement between normal first and second positions for moving the cutting element along the cutting path. The cutting element is normally carried by the cam wheel. Lever apparatus is coupled with the cam wheel for moving it between the normal first and second positions. The lever apparatus comprises a handle mounted for movement in reciprocal directions and a cordage assembly interconnecting the handle with the cam wheel and movable in response to movement of the handle in reciprocal directions for moving the cam wheel between the normal first and second positions. A biasing element mounted with the chassis and the cam wheel normally bias the cam wheel in its normal first position.
To measure precise courses of tape, the invention further includes a measuring assembly. The measuring assembly includes an extension of the chassis movable between forward and normal rearward positions and having a distal end, wherein the tape may be severed to form a free end to terminate adjacent a point corresponding with the distal end of the extension in the forward position. The extension is normally mounted for movement in pivotal directions between its forward and normal rearward positions. A lever assembly may be actuated for moving the extension between the forward and normal rearward positions. The lever assembly includes a lever mounted for movement in pivotal directions and cordage interconnecting the lever with the extension and movable in response to movement of the lever for moving the extension between the forward and normal rearward positions. A biasing element mounted with the chassis and the extension normally bias the extension in its normal rearward position.
Consistent with the foregoing, associated methods may also be provided.
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Edwards Toby
Kreitzer David F.
Mowry Jeff
Pool Dan B.
Equity Earnings Corp
Goltry Michael W.
Osele Mark A.
Parsons Robert A.
Parsons & Goltry
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