Sheet stack and dispenser package therefor.

Technical field

The present invention relates generally to pre-cut lengths of pressure sensitive adhesive coated films for joining one surface to another surface, the invention also relates to dispensing packages for these films.

General state of the art

In the prior art, there are a variety of structures for adhesive-coated films for attaching one surface to another surface. Transparent tape # 810 MAGIC (registered trademark) manufactured by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota, is used for a variety of uses, and is conventionally dispensed from a roll of tape on a reel dispenser, such as a dispenser of the type disclosed in US Patent No. 4,928. 864 to Walker et al. And in US patent 116,599. Such a roll of tape must be cut off manually by a cutting device which is located on the output device. It is difficult for the user to manually cut precise, uniform lengths of adhesive tape from the roll because repeated accurate measurement of the lengths is difficult per se. This combination of tape and dispenser is not suitable for applications where quick and efficient dispensing of precisely even pre-cut adhesive tape lengths is required.

The release of the MAGIC (Registered Trade Mark) transparent tape from a block of tape strips is also known, as described in US Patent US-A-4,650,706 to Emmel. Emmel discloses a block of tape strips, the length of a tear tape formed at one end of each tape strip extending from one end to an opposite end being progressively greater from one side of the block to the other. Emmel teaches that detachment of the tape strip with the longest tear tape can be accomplished by gripping the tear tape and pulling the strip off the block without detaching the next adjacent strip. If a person wants to remove a sheet, the person must detach an edge of an upper film from the other films or sheets in the stack and this sheet or remove this film, which is particularly impractical when only one hand is available to remove the film. Such a stack is not suitable for applications in which the user needs both hands for other activities than for dispensing the tape, such as for example for wrapping gifts.

US Pat. No. 4,895,746 to Mertens discloses a stack of sheets or foils coated with adhesive, such as labels with a release agent and a fastener, which allows the top layer in the stack of sheets to be easily removed. The alternate positioning of the release agent on opposite edges of the films in the stack is not disclosed by Mertens. Thus, a person holding a sheet or want to remove a film, just as with Einmel, manually separate an edge of an upper film from the other films or sheets in the stack and remove this film, which is particularly impractical if only one hand is available for removing the film. Mertens also does not disclose a container for the films coated with adhesive that can surround and protect the films.

Up to now, it has been known to provide a stack of partially adhesive, adhesive-coated films which are stacked so that the adhesive coating is alternately provided on opposite sides of the stack, so that the films are releasably attached to one another. These foils or sheets can be easily dispensed from a container using only one hand. These types of sheets are often Post-it (registered trademark) notepads and Post-it tape flags (registered trademark) available from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota. US-A-4,770,320 to Miles et al. Discloses post-it (registered trademark) tape flags (registered trademark) and an associated output device. In the US U.S. Patents 4,562,938, 4,586,629 to Loder; U.S. 4,416,392 to Smith; and US-A-4,653,666 to Mertens and EP-A-0 399 830 disclose sheets or foils stacked in a Z-shape and associated dispensers. However, these sheets or films are not suitable for connecting a pair of surfaces to one another, since only relatively few of these sheets or films are coated with repositionable pressure-sensitive adhesive. These sheets or Furthermore, foils are not suitable for connecting a pair of surfaces, since the pressure sensitive adhesive is a relatively weak adhesive, since some of these sheets are made of paper and can therefore be easily damaged and because the sheets or foils are at least partially opaque, so that they cover more of the interconnected surfaces than is desirable.

Disclosure of the invention

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a stack of pre-cut foils coated with a relatively strong, aggressive adhesive that can be used to bond two surfaces together. The stack is defined in claims 1 to 14 below. In the case of the stack, a large section of each individual film is coated with a relatively aggressive adhesive, so that a relatively firm engagement is provided between the two interconnected surfaces, and these can be subjected to severe stress without damage and thereby provide an uppermost film, which can be easily removed from the top of the stack and whose surface adheres firmly to a substrate on all sides and edges and does not cover any essential part of the surfaces connected to one another. According to the present invention, a combination of a stack and a simple, inexpensive and effective output device for outputting the flexible films from the stack is also provided. This aspect is defined in claim 12.

In the stack, each film includes a backing having opposite first and second major side surfaces and first and second opposite ends, the first end of each film being axially aligned with the second end of an adjacent film in the stack and with an adhesive layer that is permanently attached adheres to the first side surface of the film carrier, wherein the adhesive layer of each film releasably adheres along the second surface of the adjacent (lower) film in the stack. Each of these films includes a release agent to provide a first level of adhesion along a first end portion of each of the films adjacent the first end of the backing between the adhesive layer and the second side surface of the adjacent (lower) film in the stack. The first adhesion value sees a sufficiently low release force (e.g. preferably less than 50 grams per inch; 1.97 grams / mm) between the adhesive coating and the adjacent (lower) film, so that slipping is possible between the side surfaces of the adjacent films along the first end piece. The fasteners serve to provide a second adhesive value along a second end piece of each film adjacent the second end of the carrier between the adhesive layer and the second side surface of the adjacent film in the stack to which the adhesive layer is releasably adhered. The second adhesion value sees a release force (preferably between 4 and 15 ounces per inch; or 5 to 17 grams / mm), which is higher than the low peeling force along the first end piece, so that the film firmly slides relative to the adjacent film along the first end piece against the adjacent (lower) film in during the sliding or sliding of the film the stack is glued, the film can be peeled off (for example manually) along the second end piece.

The release agent to provide the first adhesive value and the fastener may have a variety of structures, which may include one of the following combinations: (1) Provide a uniform coating of the same pressure sensitive adhesive on each film in conjunction with coating a layer of low adhesion on the portion of the top surface of each film only along the first end piece, or providing different layers of low adhesion on the top surface of each film along the first and second end pieces, the low adhesion layer having the greatest release factor in the first end piece; (2) creating a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive along each film that is discontinuous along the first end portion and discontinuous along the second end portion or that is interrupted along both end portions, the major discontinuities being provided along the first end portion; and / or (3) using different pressure sensitive adhesives along both end pieces. For example, a film stack may have an adhesive layer applied over an entire first major side surface of the backing of each film, the fastener comprising a low adhesion medium release layer (LAB) that extends over at least a portion of the second major side surface adjacent the second end the film has been applied, and wherein the release agent can comprise a premium release layer with low adhesion (LAB), which has been applied over a portion of the second major side surface adjacent the first end of the film. In this example, the films in the stack may have a length along the longitudinal axis and a width along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stack. The premium low adhesion release (LAB) layer is continuous and extends from the first end of the carrier along the length of the film and comprises ten (10) to eighty (80) percent of the area of ​​one side of the carrier of each film in the stack , Preferably, the low adhesion premium release layer (LAB) generally comprises about thirty-seven and a half percent of the area of ​​one side of the carrier of each film in the stack.

In general use in this text, the term "film material" refers to a generally flat, flexible structure and preferably to an acetate film, a lightened acetate film, an unlightened acetate film, a thermoset film, a thermoplastic film, a polyester or polypropylene -, vinyl, paper or metal foil or on combinations of the above materials. The film material is preferably transparent so that the underlying substrate is visible to the user.

The term layer with low adhesion refers to a material that can be easily detached from the pressure sensitive adhesive layer, which includes silicones, fluorocarbons, acrylates, urethanes, chromium complexes, graft or block siloxane hydrocarbons and mixtures of these materials. The following US patents provide examples of various layers with low adhesion: US-A-4,421,904 to Eckberg et al. U.S.-A-4,313,988 to Koshar et al .; and US-A-4,279,717 to Eckberg et al Other low adhesion layers useful in accordance with the present invention are described in the following US patents: US-A-2,607,711 to Hendricks; US-A-2,876,894 to Dahlquist and US-A-2,532,011 to Dahlquist and others

The term "low adhesion premium release layer" as used herein refers to an adhesive / layer interaction with a minimum release force of 3.9 grams / mm (100 grams per inch) or less, and the term "medium release layer" with low adhesion "refers to an adhesive / layer interaction with a peel force of at least 5.9 grams / mm (150 grams per inch) or more.

The pressure sensitive adhesive can be an acrylic, silicone or rubber resin or any other suitable composition. For example, the adhesive may include: Acrylic adhesive IOA (95%) / AA (4.5%) isooctyl acrylate / acrylic acid. Adhesives suitable for use in the present invention are described in the following US Patents: US-A-4,699,842 to Jorgensen et al .; US-A-3,578,622 to Brown et al .; US-A-3,331,729 to Danielson et al .; US-A-2,926,105 to Steinhauser et al .; and US-A-4,835,217 to Jorgensen et al. A relatively weak adhesive, such as acrylic microspheres (IOA ammonium acrylate), is also suitable for use in the present invention. The relatively weak adhesive can be made, for example, according to US Patent US-A-3,691,140 to Silver.

The dispenser includes walls with surfaces that form a recess for receiving the stack. The walls include: (1) a lower butt wall; (2) end walls that define end surfaces at opposite ends of the bottom surface and that have generally parallel outer ends; and (3) arcuate wall portions that are generally opposite the lower abutment wall and that generally extend from the outer ends to each other and include spaced distal ends, the arcuate wall portions defining arcuate friction surface portions. Opposing outlet surfaces are provided at the distal ends, defining an opening through the walls.

The arcuate friction surface portions and the bottom surface are shaped to allow the stack of films to reciprocate in the recess in response to the forces exerted on and around the stack to remove films through the opening and from the stack to position the top films of the stack next to the arcuate friction surface sections, the second end piece of the top film in the stack protruding through the opening, so that the top film of the stack can be pulled manually through the opening by gripping the second end piece, thereby pulling with it the second end piece of the film underneath in the stack, to which the top film adheres through the adhesive layer, the second end piece being attached to one Position is placed at which the film can also be gripped and pulled out of the stack;

The arcuate friction surface portions are further shaped such that the first end portion of the top sheet and the second end portion of the sheet located below the top sheet, which are bonded with adhesive, are slidably moved between the second side surface of a subsequent sheet in the stack and the adjacent friction surface section can, and so that there is sufficient frictional engagement with the second side surface of the film under the top film to limit the movement of the film below the top film between the rest of the stack and the adjacent friction surface portion so that the top film is peeled from the film below after the top film has been removed from the dispenser.

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention is further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the same parts in the different views. Show it:

Figure 1A is a side sectional view of a film in the first embodiment of a stack according to the invention;

FIG. 1B shows a sectional side view of a film in the first exemplary embodiment of a stack according to the invention, the film having a primary layer;

Figure 1C is a top view of the film of Figure 1B showing the first and second end pieces;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a film stack according to the invention;

FIG. 3A shows a sectional side view of the first exemplary embodiment of a stack according to the invention;

FIG. 3B shows a sectional side view of a second alternative exemplary embodiment of a stack according to the invention;

FIG. 3C shows a sectional side view of a third alternative exemplary embodiment of a stack according to the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a dispensing container according to the invention, which has a stack of films according to the invention, and with a solid base for the dispensing device being shown;

FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of the dispensing device according to the invention, the stack of films according to the invention and the base according to the invention from FIG. 4, the view taking approximately along lines 5-5 from FIG. 4;

Figures 6A-6D sequentially show the movement of the stack, a top sheet in the stack and a sheet under the top sheet in the stack relative to the dispenser, the top sheet being removed from the dispenser shown in Figure 4, the massive Base for showing details has been omitted;

FIG. 7 shows a top view of the first exemplary embodiment of a dispensing container according to the invention;

Figure 8 is a plan view of a second embodiment of an output device according to the invention;

FIG. 9 shows a sectional view of the second exemplary embodiment of the output device according to the invention approximately along lines 9-9 from FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a third alternative exemplary embodiment of an output container according to the invention which has a film stack according to the invention;

FIG. 11 shows a sectional view of the dispensing device and the film stack from FIG. 10 approximately along the line 11-11 from FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 shows a sectional view of the dispensing device and the film stack from FIG. 10 approximately along the line 12-12 from FIG. 10; and

FIG. 13 shows an illustration of an experiment carried out on the output device according to the invention and the stack.

Precise description

1A, 1B, 1C, 2, 3A and 6A to 6D of the drawings, a first exemplary embodiment of a stack 10 according to the invention (FIG. 3A) of films 11 is shown, each film 11 being a carrier B with a coating of a pressure sensitive adhesive 2 on a first main side surface 3, through which the film 11 can be glued to a film lying underneath in the stack 10, and with a second major side surface 5 and opposite first and second ends 4 and 6, the first end 4 of each film carrier being axially aligned with the second end 6 of each adjacent film to form the stack 10.

The release agents 8 provide a first adhesion value along a first end piece 15 of each film 11 next to the first end 4 of the carrier B between the adhesive layer 2 and the second side surface 5 of the adjacent (lower) film in the stack 10. The first adhesion value provides a sufficiently low release force between the adhesive layer 2 and the adjacent (lower) film (for example preferably less than 50 grams / inch; 1.97 grams / mm) around a sliding movement (see for example Figures 6A-6D) between the side surfaces 3, 5 of the adjacent foils (e.g. provide the film 14 under the top film and the film 16 under the film 14, FIG. 6C) along the first end piece 15. The fastening means 9 see along a second end piece 17 of each of the films next to the second end 6 of the carrier B between the adhesive layer 2 and the second side surface 5 of the adjacent (lower) film in the stack to which the adhesive layer 2 is releasably adhered, a second adhesion value. The second adhesive value provides a release force (preferably between 4 and 15 ounces per inch; 5 grams / mm and 17 grams / mm) that is greater than the low release force along the first end piece 15, the second adhesive value ensuring that the Film (eg 12) during the sliding movement of the film (eg 14) relative to the adjacent film (eg 16, see FIG. 6C)) along the first end piece 15 firmly against the adjacent film (eg 14) is glued in the stack, the film (for example 12) being able to be removed (manually) along the second end piece 17 (see FIG. 6D).

Preferably, the pressure sensitive adhesive layer is uniform and has the same adhesive composition and the layer has a glass adhesion of less than 15 ounces per inch (17 grams / millimeter). For example, the adhesive may include acrylic adhesive IOA (95%) / AA (4.5%) isooctyl acrylate / acrylic acid. Adhesives useful in the present invention are described in the following US Patents: US-A-4,699,842 to Jorgensen et al .; US-A-3,578,622 to Brown et al .; US-A-3,331,729 to Danielson et al .; US-A-2,926,105 to Steinhauser et al .; and US-A-4,835,217 to Jorgensen et al

FIG. 1B corresponds to FIG. 1A with the exception that a primary layer 7 has been added to the second main side surface 5 of the carrier B of the film 11. In addition, a primary layer (not shown) can be added to the first main side surface 3 of the carrier B of the film 11. The primary layers are optional and if the release agent 8 or the adhesive 2 does not adhere to the film 11 by itself, primary layers known in the art can be used without impairing the release properties of the release agent 8 or the adhesive 2.

FIG. 1C shows a generally rectangular film 11 with a longitudinal axis A, which defines a length L (preferably 2.0 inches; 5.08 centimeters) and a width W. The area of ​​the first end piece 15 of the film 11 from FIG. 1C is the length Y (preferably 0.75 inch; 1.90 centimeter) of the release agent 8 multiplied by the length Z (the width of the film, preferably 0.75 Inches; 1.90 centimeters). The area of ​​the second end piece 17 of the film 11 from FIG. 1C is the length X of the fastening means 9 multiplied by the length Z (the width of the film). In general, the first end 15 extends from the first edge 4 along the length of the film 11, the end covering between ten (10) and eighty (80) percent of the area of ​​one side of each film 11 in the stack 10.

Preferably, the first end 15 generally comprises about thirty-seven and a half percent of the area of ​​one side (e.g., 5) of the carrier B of each sheet 11 in the stack. Accordingly, the second end piece 17 extends from the second edge 6 along the length of the film 11, the second end piece comprising between twenty (20) and ninety (90) percent of the area of ​​one side of the carrier B of each film in the stack 10. Preferably, the second end piece 17 generally comprises about sixty-two and a half percent of the area of ​​one side of each sheet in the stack. It is hereby established that the film 11 from FIG. 1C is rectangular, although various shapes are possible within the scope of the invention, which include square, circular, triangular and polygonal shapes as well as combinations of these shapes.

For individually dispensing a single film 11 from the stack 10 of films, the release means 8 should have a release force along the first end piece 15 of less than about 50 grams per inch (1.97 grams / mm), and the fastener 9 along the second Tail 17 should have a peel force greater than about 4 ounces per inch (5 grams / mm) and less than about 15 ounces per inch (17 grams / mm). If the release force of the release agent 8 is too large (e.g. greater than about 1.97 grams / mm; 50 grams per inch), only one film is released from the top of the stack 10, since the large release force would prevent the two uppermost films 12, 14 in the stack 10 from sliding relative to the subsequent adjacent film 16 (see for example Figures 6A-6D). If the detaching force of the fastener 9 is too large (e.g. greater than 16.7 grams / mm; 15 ounces per inch), it becomes difficult to pull the top film 12 from the film 14 underneath, and there is an undesirable "chaining" with multiple films being dispensed simultaneously without separation. If the detaching force of the fastener 9 is too low (e.g. less than 5 grams / mm; 4 ounces per inch), there is no sliding movement of the two top films 12, 14 in the stack 10 relative to a subsequent adjacent film 16, since the top film 12 would separate from the film 14 below the top film before this sliding movement occurs could. Preferably, the release means 8 along the first end 15 has a release force of about 2 grams per inch (0.097 grams / mm), while the fastener 9 along the second end 17 has a release force of about 4 ounces per inch (5 grams / mm) should.

With reference to FIG. 3A of the drawings, an example of a first exemplary embodiment of a film stack according to the invention is shown, the stack being generally designated by the reference number 10. The stack 10 of films 11 comprises an adhesive layer 2 which is applied over the entire first main side surface 3 of the carrier B of each film 11. The stack further comprises a first medium release layer with low adhesion 1 (LAB), which is coated at least along the second end piece 17 next to the second edge 6 of the film 11, and with a second premium release layer with low adhesion 1 '(LAB) , which is applied along the first end piece 15 next to the first edge 4 of the film 11 on the second main side surface 5. Carrier B may include, for example, an acetate carrier such as that in the US U.S. Patent 2,927,868. The films 11 are stacked such that the low adhesion premium release layer 1 '(LAB) on each film is alternately arranged at opposite ends of the adjacent films 11 in the stack 10, with the first end 4 of a film axially with the second end 6 of the adjoining foils is aligned, and wherein the adhesive layer 2 of a foil removably sticks the one foil to the second main side surface 5 of a subsequent (lower) foil, so that the films are held in the stack 10. It is hereby established that the premium release layer with low adhesion 1 'in the illustration is applied to the top of the medium release layer with low adhesion 1, wherein the stack 10 can also be designed such that the premium release layer with low adhesion 1 'is applied directly to the second main side surface 5 of the carrier B of the film.

Referring to Figure 3B of the drawings, there is shown a second alternative embodiment of a stack of films according to the invention, the stack being generally designated by the reference numeral 10A, with many parts of this stack corresponding to the parts of the stack 10 of films 11, and these matching parts with the same reference number and the suffix "A". In Figure 3B, the release means 8A to provide the first adhesion value and the fastening means 9A to provide the second adhesion value comprise the production of a pressure sensitive adhesive cover 2A on the carrier B of each of the foils 11A, the coating being interrupted 18 along the first end piece 15A and along the second end piece 17A is continuously 18 '. This stack 10A can have only a single layer with low adhesion 1A along the second main surface 5A of the carrier B of the film 11A.

Alternatively, the release means 8A for providing the first adhesion value and the fastening means 9A for providing the second adhesion value can comprise the production of a pressure-sensitive adhesive coating 2A on the carrier B of each film 11A, which is interrupted in both end pieces (not shown), the larger interruptions in the first end piece 15A and not in the second end piece 17A.

Referring to Figure 3C of the drawings, there is shown a third alternative embodiment of a stack of films according to the invention, the stack being generally designated by reference numeral 10B, and the stack having many parts which substantially correspond to the parts of the stack 10 of films 11, and the corresponding parts being identified by the same reference numerals and the suffix "B". In FIG. 3C, the release means 8B for providing the first adhesion value and the fastening means 9B for providing the second adhesion value comprise a change in the composition of the pressure-sensitive adhesive coating 2B along the first 15B and the second end piece 17B. Like the stack 10A, the stack 10B can also have a single layer with low adhesion 1B along the second main surface 5B of the carrier B of the film 11B. In one example of the stack 10B, the adhesive 13 used along the first end portion 15B may be a relatively weak or low-aggressiveness adhesive, such as that described in Silver US Pat. No. 3,691,140 is. An adhesive particularly suitable for use along the first end piece 15B may include acrylic adhesive or acrylic microspheres. The adhesive 13B used in the second adhesion zone 17B can be a relatively aggressive or strong adhesive, such as, for example, acrylic adhesive, rubber resins or Kraton. Adhesives for use in the present invention can be made in accordance with U.S. Patents 4,699,842 and 4,835,217, both to Jorgensen et al.

The pre-cut lengths according to the invention are particularly suitable for tasks in which the use of both hands is generally required for tasks other than for dispensing the tape, such as, for example, for gift wrapping, line designation and highlighting.

With reference to FIGS. 4 to 7 of the drawings, a first exemplary embodiment of an output device according to the invention is shown, which is generally designated by the reference number 20. The output device 20 is used for the purpose of outputting flexible films from the stack according to the invention described above (for example.

The dispensing device 20 according to the invention comprises the walls 22 with surfaces which define a depression 23 in which the stack 10 can be received. These walls 22 include a lower abutment wall 24 which defines a bottom surface 24 ', the end walls 25 which define end surfaces 25' at opposite ends of the bottom surface 24 ', and with generally parallel outer ends 26 and with arcuate wall sections 28 which are generally opposite are positioned lower abutment wall 24 and generally extend from outer ends 26 to one another and have spaced distal ends 29. The arcuate portions 28 define arcuate friction surface portions 28 'that extend between the outer ends 26 and the distal ends 29.

At the distal ends 29 there are opposed outlet surfaces 32 which define an opening 34 through the walls 22. The arcuate friction surface portions 28 'and the bottom surface 24' may be shaped to cause the stack 10 to bend so that the top surface of the stack 10 conforms to the arcuate friction surface portion 28 'of the arcuate wall portions 28. As shown in Figure 6A, the arcuate wall portions 28 are cylindrically concave about a pair of spaced axes A1, A2 which are parallel to the outer ends 26 and which define distinct radii R1, R2 of generally equal length (preferably 2.54 inches; 6 , 54 centimeters to the arcuate friction surface section). The arcuate wall sections 28 preferably have an arc length of about 1.75 inches (4.45 centimeters). The lower abutment wall 24 may be arcuate, cylindrical concave about an axis A3 that is spaced from axes A1 and A2 and that has a radius R3 (preferably 2.28 inches; 5.59 centimeters to the bottom surface) with a lateral distance D. between axis A3 and axis A1 or A2 of preferably 0.141 inches (0.36 centimeters), so that the width W of the recess 23 from the opening 34 to the end walls 25 increases.

Alternatively, the arcuate wall sections 28 and the lower abutment wall 24 may be flat, planar elements formed by straight sections or by a combination of straight and curved sections, provided that the overall effect is so is to position the top films of the stack 10 near the arcuate friction surface portions 28 'of the arcuate wall portions 28, and wherein the function described below is provided when the films 11 are output from the output device 20.

The arcuate friction surface portions 28 'and bottom surface 24' are shaped to allow the stack of films 10 to reciprocate in the recess 23 in response to forces applied to the stack 10 so that films are sequentially removed from the stack through the opening 34 are removed and in order to position the uppermost films of the stack 10 adjacent to the friction surface sections 28 ', the second end piece 17 of the top film 12 in the stack protruding from the opening 34. By gripping this second end piece 17, the top film 12 in the stack can be pulled manually through the opening 34, the film carrying with it the second end piece 17 of the film 14 underneath in the stack, on which the top film 12 passes through the adhesive layer 2 adheres so that the second end piece 17 is placed at a position where this end piece can also be gripped and pulled through the opening to remove the film 14 from the stack 10.

The arcuate friction surface portions 28 'are also shaped so that there is a sliding movement of the adhesively bonded first end 15 of the top film 12 and the second end 17 of the film 14 below the top film between the second side surface 5 of a subsequent film 16 (Figure 6C) in the stack 10 and the adjacent arcuate friction surface section 28 'and allow for sufficient frictional engagement with the second side surface 5 of the film 14 below the top film between the rest of the stack 10 and the adjacent arcuate friction surface portion 28 'to thereby allow the top film 12 to be peeled from the underlying film 14 after the top film 12 is pulled out of the dispenser 20 (see Figure 6D).

The friction surface wall portions 28 and the lower abutment wall 24 are spaced apart so as to define therebetween the depression width W (Figure 6A) which results from the opening 34 of the dispenser towards the end walls as a result of the distance between axis 3 and axes A1 and A2 25 gets bigger. It has been found that this shape of the recess 23 is particularly suitable for the top two foils in the stack 10 to form the shape shown in FIG. 6C. It was found that this form provides an efficient output of the foils. The recess 23 also has an overall arc length, which is generally defined by the length along the lower abutment wall 24, which is greater than the length L of the stack 10, so that the film stack 10 can be moved back and forth in the recess 23. The recess width W increases from the opening 34 of the dispenser 20 towards the end walls 25 to provide additional space near the end walls 25 to avoid buckling of the stack 10 when the top sheet 12 is dispensed, particularly when the stack 10 is only still has the last few slides. Bumping of the stack 10 causes undesirable consequences, such as loss of the remaining films of the stack in the dispenser and damage to the films.

It has been found that the use of a lower film of the stack 10, which is stiffer than the other films 11 of the stack, ensures the movement of the last few films 11 of the stack at positions near the upper portion of the recess 23, so that these last few slides in a row and not all at once. No adhesive 2 should be provided on the bottom surface of the bottom film so that it can slide along the bottom surface 24 '.

The opposite outlet surfaces 32 at the spaced distal ends 29 of the arcuate friction surface portions 28 'define the opening 34. The opposite outlet surfaces 32 are spaced close to each other so that the top sheet 12 can be peeled from and under the top sheet 14 prevent these slides from not being output separately at the same time. As best seen in Figure 7, the outlet surfaces 32 may include a plurality of ribs 37 that extend from one distal end of a friction surface portion 28 'to the other end to prevent the adhesive 2 of the sheets 11 from adhering to the opposite outlet surfaces 32 "moistened". If the opposite outlet surfaces 32 are "moistened" with adhesive, this will clog the opening 34, making it difficult to dispense the films 11 because the adhesive 2 on the opposite outlet surfaces 32 will cause the top films of the stack 10 adhere to the output device 20. This blocks the path of the foils 11 through the opening 34.

The distance between a pair of ribs 37 located on the opposite outlet surfaces 32 should be at least 0.060 inches (0.15 centimeters) and not more than 0.25 inches (0.64 centimeters) and preferably 0.080 inches (0.20 centimeters) be. It has been found that the distance between a pair of ribs 37, which are arranged on opposite outlet surfaces 32, is important, the distance having to be large enough so that the top film 12 and the film 14 below the top film can pass through the opening 34 of the mold from FIG. 6C without touching a section of the adhesive-coated first main side 3 of the carrier B of the film 14 under the top film with another Section of the same side 3 of the film 14 to cause. Such contact between portions of the same adhesive-coated side 3 of the carrier B of the film 14 causes many undesirable results, such as pinching the film 14 and a "warping effect", whereby several preselected films are simultaneously output without separation. Furthermore, the distance between a pair of ribs 37 located on opposite outlet surfaces 32 must, on the other hand, be so small that the top film 12 can be pulled off from the film 14 below the top film after the top film 12 has been completely pulled out of the dispenser 20 (e.g. FIG 6D). If the distance between the ribs 37 arranged on opposite outlet surfaces 32 is too large, the entire film stack 10 can be pulled out of the recess 23 when the user wants to remove the top film 11, this is particularly the case if in the film stack 10 only the last few slides are left.

The walls 22 of the dispenser 20 may be of unitary construction (e.g., a polystyrene polymer mold or a metal casting, or an extruded length), and the arcuate wall sections 28 may include base sections 31 (FIG. 7) adjacent the outer ends 26 and flexible boom sections 33 extending from the base portions 31 to each other and towards the spaced distal ends 29. As shown in FIG. 6B (see FIG. 6A), the flexible boom sections 33 bend in response to forces exerted on the stack 10 so that the top film 12 is removed from the stack 10. The flexible design of the flexible cantilever sections 33 to enable this bend reduces the effort required to remove the top film 12 from the stack 10. It is believed that the provision of flexible boom sections provides a more desirable angle or alignment between the stack 10 and (1) the flexible boom sections 33 and (2) the opposite outlet surfaces 32 while the top sheet 12 of the stack 10 is being dispensed. The flexibility of the flexible boom sections 33 can be controlled by a number of factors, such as the length of the groove G that divides the arcuate wall sections 28 into the flexible boom sections 33 and the base sections 31, and the design of the dispenser 20 used material.

The end walls 25, the arcuate wall sections 28, the opposite outlet surfaces 32 and the lower abutment wall 24 extend transversely generally parallel to the axes A1, A2 and A3 through the dispenser 20 so that the recess 23 has the end opening 27 which extends through a Page 39 of the dispenser 20 opens, the stack 10 being able to be inserted into the recess 23 through this end opening 27. The dispensing device 20 can optionally include a removable protective device 44 next to the side 39, which covers the opening 27. The protective device 44 protects the stack 10 during its reciprocating movement in the recess 23. The protector 44 can be releasably attached to the dispenser 20 by a pair of cylindrical mounting pins (not shown) integrally formed with the protector 44, the pins snapping into a pair of cylindrical openings 45 which are formed by correspondingly shaped surfaces in the dispenser 20 are provided (see Figures 6A-6D). In use, the protector 44 can be removed to allow the exhausted stack to be replaced through the end opening 27, and the protector can then be reattached to the dispenser 20 to cover the end opening 27.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a solid base 50 for use in connection with the output device 20 according to the invention and the film stack 10 according to the invention. Means in the form of a close and precise frictional engagement between the outer surfaces 30 of the dispenser 20 and the surfaces delimiting a chamber 51 in the solid base 50 can be used to anchor the dispenser 20 to the solid base 50. The means for anchoring the dispensing device 20 to the solid base 50 are preferably detachable, so that removal of the dispensing device 20 from the solid base 50 is possible for exchanging an exhausted film stack 10. Alternatively, the means for anchoring the dispenser to the solid base 50 may include, in addition to a friction fit, one or more flanges (not shown) which are integral with the solid base and which extend laterally adjacent an upper portion of the dispenser when the dispenser is inserted into the massive base is loaded. The flanges may each include a lock that fits into the surfaces that define grooves (not shown) that are disposed along an upper portion of the dispenser so that the dispenser is releasably held in the solid base.

As shown in FIG. 5, the solid base 50 may further include walls that form a replacement stack feed chamber 52. The replacement stack supply chamber 52 can be used to store additional replacement stacks R prior to use.

The solid base 50 may comprise two separate parts, with a base portion 53 and with an upper portion 54 that has walls that define a cavity 55. The base section 53 can be detached from the upper section 54 so that the cavity 55 can be filled with ballast 56, such as sand, gravel or stones. The base section 53 can be attached to the upper section 54 by snapping, gluing, heat sealing or ultrasonic welding to provide the solid base 50.

The output device 20 according to the invention does not have to have a solid base 50. Instead, it can comprise a device in the form of rectangular foam pads (not shown) which adhere to the base surface 41 of the dispenser 20 and which have a pressure-sensitive adhesive coating on their surfaces opposite the base surface 41, which are covered by a release layer (not shown) before use can be used to attach the dispenser 20 to a substrate by adhesive. Alternatively, the dispenser 20 may have a magnet (not shown) that adheres to the base surface 41 to magnetically attach the dispenser 20 to a metal substrate.

Referring to Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings, a second alternative embodiment of an output device according to the invention is shown, the output device being generally designated by reference numeral 40, and with many parts of the output device essentially corresponding to the parts of the output device 20, these parts including the same reference number and the suffix "A". The dispenser 40 generally corresponds to the dispenser 20, except that the dispenser 40 further includes a device in the form of insertion guide members 42 located adjacent the end opening 27A to assist in loading a replacement stack of films 10 into the recess 23A when the existing film supply 11 is exhausted. The insertion guide elements 42 are located next to the side 39A of the dispenser 40, which has the end opening 27A. In the exemplary embodiment from FIGS. 8 and 9 there is no protective device.

A third alternative exemplary embodiment of an output device according to the invention is illustrated with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12 of the drawings, the output device being generally designated by the reference number 100. The output device 100 is used to output flexible foils from a stack (for example 10), which is also described above and according to the invention. The dispenser 100 is particularly suitable for applications in which both hands of the user are required for activities other than for dispensing the tape, such as, for example, for wrapping gifts, for the line designation and for highlighting.

Like the dispenser 20, the dispenser 100 includes the walls 122 that have surfaces that define a recess 123 in which the stack 10 can be received. These walls 122 include a lower abutment wall 124 which defines a bottom surface 124 ', the end walls 125 which delimit end surfaces 125' at opposite ends of the bottom surface 124 ', and with generally parallel outer ends 126 and with arcuate wall portions 128 which are generally opposite lower abutment wall 124 and which generally extend from outer ends 126 toward one another and have spaced distal ends 129. The arcuate wall portions 128 define arcuate friction surface portions 128 'that extend between the outer ends 126 and the distal ends 129.

The lower abutment wall 124 extends between the lower ends 121 of the end walls 125 which are located opposite and spaced from the outer ends 126. The walls 122 of the dispenser 100 can be of a light, unitary construction (e.g. a polymer form of polystyrene), the bottom wall 124 being attached to the rest of the dispenser 100 by an integral hinge 130, the bottom wall 124 being pivotally mountable relative to the friction wall portions 128, between an open position (FIG 12; dashed lines), which gives access to the recess 123 to replace an exhausted stack, and a closed position (FIG. 12; solid line) on which the film stack 10 is enclosed in the recess 123. This configuration is also referred to as a "bottom loading" dispenser. It is hereby noted that the first and second embodiments of the dispenser described above can be converted to "loadable" dispensers by having their lower wall portions pivotally attached to the rest of the dispenser.

On the opposite side of lower wall 124 from hinge 130, dispenser 100 may include one or more hooks 139 that can engage a flange 138 that extends laterally from dispenser 100 so that lower wall 124 is in a closed position is held.

An integral wristband 136 can be attached to the dispenser 100 adjacent to both end walls 125 to allow the dispenser 100 to be conveniently attached to a user's wrist. Means 131 can be provided in the form of cylindrical fastening ribs 133 which can be pressed into openings 135 in order to allow the bracelet 136 to be adapted to different wrist sizes. These devices 131 can be any suitable structure, such as hooks and eyes, a clip or a bracelet with a spring.

Opposing outlet surfaces 132 are provided at distal ends 129 which define an opening 134 through walls 122. the arcuate friction surface portions 128 'and the bottom surface 124' may be shaped to cause the stack 10 to curve, thereby generally matching the top surface of the stack 10 to the arcuate friction surface portion 128 'of the arcuate wall portions 128. As shown in Figure 11, the friction surface portions 128 and lower wall 124 are cylindrically concave about an axis A10 that is parallel to the upper ends 126 and radii R10 (preferably 1.25 inches; 3.17 centimeters inner diameter with an arc length of 3.5 inches; 8.5 centimeters) and R20 (preferably 1.47 inches; 3.7 centimeters inner diameter with an arc length of 3.66 inches; 9.3 centimeters).

Alternatively, the friction surface portions 128 and the lower abutment wall 124 may be flat, planar elements formed by straight portions or a combination of straight and curved portions, provided that the overall effect is positioning the top sheets in the stack 10 are near the friction surface wall portions 128, and wherein the mode of operation described below is provided during the output of the foils 11 from the output device 100.

In contrast to the dispenser 20, the friction surface portions 128 and the lower abutment wall 124 of the dispenser 100 are spaced apart so that they define a generally uniform depression width W therebetween (Figure 11).

As with the dispenser 20, the recess 123 has an overall surface length that is generally defined by the length along the lower abutment wall 124 that is greater than the length L of the stack 10, so that a back and forth movement of the film stack 10 in the Recess 123 is possible in response to forces exerted on the stack in order to remove the films 11 sequentially from the stack 10 through the opening 134. The arcuate friction surface portions 128 'and bottom surface 124' of dispenser 100 are shaped to allow the stack of films 10 to reciprocate in the recess 123 in response to forces applied to the stack 10 so that the films sequentially pass through the opening 134 can be removed from the stack and in order to position the uppermost foils of the stack 10 next to the arcuate friction surface sections 128 ', the second end portion 17 of the top sheet 12 in the stack protruding through the opening 134. By gripping this end piece 17, the uppermost film 12 in the stack can be pulled manually through the opening 134, this carrying the second end piece 17 of the underlying film 14 in the stack with which the top film 12 adheres through the adhesive layer 2, this second end piece 17 being placed at a position where it can be gripped and pulled to remove the film 14 from the stack 10.

The opposite outlet surfaces 132 at the spaced distal ends 129 of the friction surface portions 128 define the opening 134. The opposite outlet surfaces 132 are closely spaced apart to allow the top film 12 to peel away from the film 14 disposed in the stack below and to avoid that the top film and the film arranged under the top film are output simultaneously without separation. As best seen in Figure 12, the outlet surfaces 132 may include a plurality of ribs 137 extending from one distal end of one friction surface wall portion 128 to the other to prevent the adhesive 2 of the sheets 11 from facing the opposite outlet surfaces 32 "moistened". The distance between a pair of ribs 137 on opposite outlet surfaces 132 must be at least 0.060 inches (0.15 centimeters) and not more than 0.25 inches (0.64 centimeters), preferably 0.080 inches (0.20 centimeters) ,

EXAMPLES 1-4

A film stack of the type described with reference to Figure 3A was created as follows. Example (1) was generated by using a 2.0 mil, 6 inch (15.24 cm) lightened acetate sheet with a low adhesion medium release layer (LAB) of octyl decyl acrylate / methyl acrylate / Acrylic acid (known as a terpolymer) was coated with the following monomer ratios: (54/31/15) at 5% solids in toluene. The low adhesion medium release layer was applied with a 250 Ruling Mil by knurled rotogravure and dried at 150 degrees Fahrenheit (65 degrees Celsius). The matte (second) side of the acetate film was coated on the entire second side surface with the medium release layer with low adhesion (LAB). The acetate film was then strip coated with a premium, low adhesion, peel layer (LAB) GE-9300 epoxy silicone UV polymer available from GE Silicones, 260 Hudson River, Waterford, NY 12188. The premium release liner of the GE-9300 epoxy silicone was applied using a 3 UV roller coater. The applicator roller used was a 1-inch-wide raised-edge polyurethane rubber roller so that a 1-inch (2.54 centimeter) wide strip could be created. The strip was 0.25 inches (0.63 centimeters) from each edge of a 6 inch (15.24 centimeters) wide roll of acetate film. The acetate sheet was then coated over the first major side surface with a 5% solids in toluene primary acrylate layer. The primary layer was applied using a 120 pyramidal knurled rotogravure roller and dried at 150 degrees Fahrenheit (65 degrees Celsius). The premium, low adhesion release layer (epoxy silicone LAB) was applied to the medium, low adhesion release layer (LAB). This provided the desired differential stripping system for dispensing fully adhesive-coated films, as described above.

The adhesive comprises 95% isooctyl acrylate, 45% acrylic acid as a solution copolymer, 55% solids. The adhesive was applied to the first side surface at 260 mg / 102 mm x 152 mm (4 grain / 4 inch x 6 inch). For example, the adhesive has been described as described in U.S. Patent US-A-4,699,842 to Jorgensen et al. The pressure sensitive adhesive was applied using a liquid-carrying nozzle and dried at 150 degrees Fahrenheit (65 degrees Celsius). The acetate support was then cut into 3 inch (7.62 cm) rolls of material and stacked Z-shaped in a block of film. The blocks have 50 to 75 fully coated films, 0.75 inches (1.9 centimeters) wide and 2 inches (5.08 centimeters) long.

Resistance measurement. The film stack as described with reference to FIG. 3A was positioned in an output device of the type described with reference to FIGS. 4, 5, 6A to 6D and 7. Resistance measurements were made on the blocks using the following test method: The block was positioned in the dispenser as shown in Figure 6A, the dispenser being attached to a 1000 gram metal block using an adhesive material. The metal block is then positioned at the base of a (DFG-2) DIGITAL FORCE GRAM GAUGE, available from Servco 6100 Blue Circle Drive, Minnetonka, MN. The base is raised to a height of 3 to 4 inches (7.62 centimeters to 10.16 centimeters) with the top strip of tape attached to a clip protruding from the knife. Then the base can fall down in free fall due to the gravitational force. As the base falls down, a 0.75 inch x 2 inch (1.9 cm x 5.0 cm) piece of tape is ejected from the dispenser. The process is repeated until all of the foils in the block have been output. Each film has a medium peel length X (see Figure 1C) of 1.25 inches (3.2 centimeters) and a premium peel length Y (see Figure 1C) of 0.75 inches (1.90 centimeters). The results from Example 1 are listed in Table 1. The resulting measured force is the total resistance force or the peak resistance force for dispensing a film from the dispenser. It is believed that the resistive force actually measures two forces: (1) the force to eject the top film 12 from the dispenser 20 and (2) the force to pull the top film 12 from the underlying film 14 (see Figure 6D) , The entire block is output to determine how the peak drag changes through the block stack. This is shown in a graph of Examples 1-4 in Figure 13.

Example 2 was prepared in the same manner as Example 1, except that 2.0 mils of unlightened acetate were used and the composition of the medium adhesion layer with low adhesion was octyl decyl acrylate / methyl acrylate / Acrylic acid 50/45/5 traded. The test method from example 2 corresponds to the method from example 1, the results being shown in table 2.

Example 3 was also prepared in the same manner as Examples 1 and 2, except that the composition of the low adhesion medium release layer (LAB) was as follows: octyl decyl acrylate / methyl acrylate / acrylic acid with the following monomer ratios: 57 / 31/12. Resistance results are shown in Table 3.

The mean values, median values, minimum values ​​and maximum values ​​of the total resistance forces are provided for all examples. A minimum resistance of about 180 grams is required to dispense the blocks in the dispenser of Figures 6A-6D (Figure 13).

The preferred toughness is in the range of 300 to 500 grams. These resistive forces are critical to the function of the block in the output device. The function of the stack and the output device depend on the corresponding combination of medium release layers with low adhesion and premium release layers with low adhesion, as has been described above. In Example 1, the following resistance values ​​apply: an average of 304 grams, a median of 328 grams, a minimum of 253 grams, and a maximum of 403 grams. There are generally two types of failures. An error occurs if the next film is not output from the output device during the resistance test. A second error exists if several slides are output simultaneously without separation. TABLE 1 TOTAL RESISTANCE FORCE SAMPLE # FORCE (GRAM) AVERAGE VALUE MEDIAN VALUE MINIMUM VALUE MAXIMUM VALUE ERRORS STANDARD DEVIATION NUMBER OF SAMPLES NUMBER OF ERRORS NUMBER OF VARIETIES

SUMMARY OF EXAMPLE 1

BACK 355 micron (14 mil) POLYESTER

RACK 51 microns (2.0 mils) RISING acetate

PRIMARY LAYER PH-167 APPLIED WITH 120 PYRAMID.

MEDIUM REMOVAL LAB TERPOLYMER ODA / MA / AA 54/31/15

PREMIUM RELEASE LAB GE EPOXIDE SILICONE 9300 3% CATALYST

CATALYST GE 9310C 3%

ADHESIVE ISOOCTYL ACRYLATE / ACRYLIC ACID 95 / 4.5 @ 260 mg / (102 mm x 152 mm (15,500 mm²) (@ 4.0 GRAIN / 4 "x 6" (24 Inch²)) MEDIAN VALUE MINIMUM VALUE MAXIMUM VALUE DEFAULT DEVICE NUMBER OF SAMPLES NUMBER OF ERRORS NUMBER OF MANY

SUMMARY OF EXAMPLE 2

BACK 355 micron (14 mil) POLYESTER

RACK 51 microns (2.0 mils) RISING acetate

PRIMARY LAYER PH-167 APPLIED M. 120 PYRAMID.

MEDIUM REMOVAL LAB TERPOLYMER MC-886 ODA / MA / AA 50/45/5

PREMIUM RELEASE LAB GE EPOXIDE SILICONE 9300 3% CATALYST

CATALYST GE 9310C 3%

ADHESIVE ISOOCTYL ACRYLATE / ACRYLIC ACID 95 / 4.5 @ 260 mg / (102 mm x 152 mm (15,500 mm²) (@ 4.0 GRAIN / 4 "x 6" (24 Inch²)) TABLE 3 OVERALL RESISTANCE FORCE DATA SAMPLE # FORCE (GRAM) AVERAGE MEDIAN VALUE MINIMUM VALUE MAXIMUM VALUE DEFAULT DEVICE NUMBER OF SAMPLES NUMBER OF ERRORS NUMBER OF MANY

SUMMARY OF EXAMPLE 3

BACK 355 micron (14 mil) POLYESTER

RACK 51 microns (2.0 mils) RISING acetate

PRIMARY LAYER PH-167 APPLIED M. 120 PYRAMID.

MEDIUM REMOVAL LAB R1-8705 ODA / MA / AA 57/12/31 APPEARED. WITH 200 RULING MIL

PREMIUM RELEASE LAB GE EPOXY SILICONE 9300

CATALYST GE 9310C 3%

ADHESIVE ISOOCTYL ACRYLATE / ACRYLIC ACID 95 / 4.5 @ 260 mg / (102mm x 152 mm (15,500 mm²) (@ 4.0 GRAIN / 4 "x 6" (24 Inch²)) MINIMUM VALUE MAXIMUM VALUE DEFAULT NUMBER OF SAMPLES NUMBER OF ERRORS NUMBER OF MULTIPLE

SUMMARY OF EXAMPLE 4

BACK 355 micron (14 mil) POLYESTER

RACK 51 microns (2.0 mils) RISING acetate

PRIMARY LAYER PH-167 APPLIED M. 120 PYRAMID.

MEDIUM REMOVAL LAB TERPOLYMER ODA / MA / AA 54/34/12

PREMIUM RELEASE LAB GE EPOXIDE SILICONE 9300 3% CATALYST

CATALYST GE 9310C 3%

ADHESIVE ISOOCTYL ACRYLATE / ACRYLIC ACID 95 / 4.5 @ 260 mg / (102 mm x 152 mm (15,500 mm²) (@ 4.0 GRAIN / 4 "x 6" (24 Inch²))

Peeling force measurements of the differential peeling system: In this test method, the peeling force required was measured in order to remove the pressure-sensitive adhesive coating on a film from the surfaces which are coated with the medium peeling layer with low adhesion and the premium peeling layer with low adhesion. A 76 mm (3 inch) wide roll of material was used for each of Examples 1-4. A sample of each roll of material is glued to a platform of a stretching device at a constant speed. Next, a sample of one of the 25.4 mm x 76 mm (1 inch x 3 inch) rolls of material is adhered to the low adhesion medium release layer (LAB) and peeled from the top sheet at 180 degrees, with the platform attached with a Speed ​​of 229 cm / minute in a direction parallel to the surfaces of the attached films. The average force required to remove a sample from the low adhesion medium release layer (LAB) and the premium low adhesion release layer (LAB) is shown as the release force value of the film with respect to LAB. Table 5 shows the results for Examples 1-4. TABLE LE 5 Peel strength MEDIUM LAB PREMIUM LAB EXAMPLE gram / inch gram / cm

The present invention has been described above in terms of various embodiments. Many changes or additions to the described exemplary embodiments are obvious to the person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is described in the claims. A release liner can be used to create a differential peel block. Patterned, low adhesion layers and adhesives can also be used to achieve the desired results. Known silicone corona treatments can also be used to produce the desired release properties in the block. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the constructions and structures described herein, but only by the structures and constructions described in the claims and equivalents.