New improvements of FTD-1 Tape applicator

The Paperfox FTD-1 Tape applicator is a very popular new development from Paperfox.
This device is very versatile so we received several customer ideas to make the machine even more capable of doing more tasks.

Summay of improvements:

1. Gear motor

The old round belt transmission injured sometimes during delivery so we changed it to a more comact geared motor transmission.

2. Optosensor

At the early versions of Paperfox FTD-1 tape applicator the optosensor was fixed on a TD-1 tape applicator head. This was quite easy to use and easy to adjust, but had some limits: If the sheet on which the tape should be placed is not rectangular (for example: die cutted boxes) then the position of the optosensor often should be replaced.
Now we mounted the optosensor on a slider so you can move it in cross direction. The longitudinal position can be compensated with the digital controller.

3. Additional paper guides

The slider for the optosensor can be used for fixing other elements (paper guides, other type of optosensor...) as well. We fixed two aditional paper guide to ensure the smooth movement of the paper under the applicator heads.

4. Teflon coated rollers

The sticky side of double sided self adhesive tapes can contaminate the guiding rollers. We've put feflon surface on the rollers to eliminate this issue.

5. Software improvements

Now you don't have to calculate the proper delays, you can set the tape laying positions in millimeters.

The delay time due to the position of the optosensor can be set digitally, you don't have to adjust the optosensor mechanically into the proper position.

Up to 10 program can be stored into the programming unit.

... and this is still not the end. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any idea about the improvement of this device.

What kind of double sided adhesive tape can be used in Paperfox tape applicators?

The Paperfox TD-1 tape applicator head is an affordable device for placing double coated pressure sensitive adhesive tape on paper cardboard plastic foil or other sheet materials but the usage of this useful device has some limits.

The most obvious limit is  the width of the tape. We are manufacturing this heads for 12 and 20mm maximal tape widths.

The other limit is the material of the tape. 

To understand this limit let's have a look at to the construction of the double coated pressure sensitive adhesive tapes.

The construction of the double coated pressure sensitive adhesive tapes.

Release liner

The white paper strip on the photo is the release liner. Release liners are usually paper coated on booth sides with silicone layer.
The width of the liner is usually the same as the width of the adhesive coated carrier, but the so called "finger lift" tapes having extended liners to make the manual removal of the release liner easier.

Paperfox tape applicators can applicate tapes only with easy to tear thin paper release liners. (Fortunately the most release liner is easy to tear)

Backing or carrier

The transparent strip is the backing or carrier coated on booth sides with adhesive layer. The carrier can be different:

• acrylic film
• other plastic film
• felt or non-woven tape
• paper
• foam materials
• etc...

Paperfox tape applicators can applicate tapes only with easy to tear carrier such as paper, felt or non-woven tape.

Adhesive

There are different adhesives used. Rubber based adhesives are having a high initial strength so they sticking to the paper quickly providing a stabile workflow. Unfortunately if you keep this kind of tapes long on stock it loses the quality don't sticks well the tape application can be unstable.

Acrylic adhesives having weaker initial strength but the quality is more stabile and having better environmental (temperature, chemical...) resistance. 

Tear test

The easiest way to determine if the tape can be used in Paperfox TD-1 Tape applicator is to test. Try to tear the tape.

Breaks easily as the white tape on the photo, then it can be used. If the backing material is stretches and hard to tear then maybe that the tape applicator head can't cut the tape well.

If the tape is old and there are gaps between the turns then the glue maybe dry and don't sticks to the paper well. In this case the tape application can be stopped. 

What if the tape sticks "too good", and it sticks to the guiding elements of the tape applicator?

In this case you can put a drum sanding cylinder on the guiding screw as in the picture below.

Two tricks for the Paperfox tape applicators

1. 

If the paper curls up at the edges and it bumps to the knife it can cause paper jam and stop the machine. With a peace of plastic plate or a peace of wire as in the pictures you can avoid this problem.

2.
If the adhesive band sticks on the guiding screws it can also cause jam. Put a small (1/4") drum sanding cylinder on the guiding screws so that it can turn around and the problem is solved.

Tape applicator with conveyor

We have manufactured a programmable tape applicator with two Paperfox TD-1 tape applicator heads and with a conveyor belt.

The tape application positions can be programmed by both tape applicator heads independently.
The machine is similar to the machine which we have manufactured with cylinders.

What do you think which solution is the better?