GB2318052A - Framing pictures - Google Patents

Abstract

Pictures, e.g., painted by schoolchildren, are cheaply framed by adhering tape, possibly coloured or patterned, to the edges of the picture, the tape bearing adhesive on half the width of one face. Picture 14 is laid face down and against guides 12 and retractable guide 13. Tape dispensed from reel 16 is adhered to successive picture edges, and cut at the picture corners by using a blade in appropriate slots in fold-over cutting guides 18, 19, guide 19 being positionable.

Description

The present invention relates to a framing apparatus and also relates to a border tape for use in the apparatus.

It is often desirable to display creative works such as on a wall. In schools in particular, the work of children, such as paintings or drawings on paper, needs to be displayed from time to time. In order to improve the appearance of such work, rather than simply pin a piece of paper supporting art work on a wall, it is desirable to frame the paper. Normal framing however is too costly and time consuming for schools.

The present invention provides a framing apparatus which borders a piece of paper supporting artwork with a tape to give framelike border to the paper.

According to the present invention there is provided a framing apparatus for paper supporting artwork comprising: a) a substantially planar base, b) one or more shoulders extending from the base to provide guides for placing paper in a predetermined position, c) a tape dispenser for dispensing tape along an edge of the paper, and d) cutting means for cutting the tape at the corner of the paper.

Preferably the cutting means comprises a first fixed plate hinged to the base, said plate including at least one slot for guiding a cutting blade to cut the tape. The cutting means may further comprise a second plate hinged to and slidable on a track, said second plate including at least one slot for guiding a cutting blade to cut the tape. Preferably the second plate slides to predetermined positions on the track. Preferably the first andlor second plate has two slots, one for cutting the tape at 90 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the tape and the other for cutting the tape at 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis.

Preferably there are two shoulders for supporting rectangular sheets of paper along two edges.

One of said shoulders being recessable into the planar base member.

Preferably the planar base member is a board for mounting on a table.

The invention also provides a tape, said tape having two faces, one of said faces having no adhesive and the other face having a continuous layer of adhesive on only a portion of its length Preferably the adhesive covers substantially half of its length.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a view of a tape of the invention, Figure 2 shows a piece of artwork which has been framed with the apparatus and tape of the invention, and Figure 3 shows a perspective view of an apparatus.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a tape 1 having two faces 2 and 3. Face 3 has no adhesive and the other face 2 has a continuous layer of adhesive 2b on only a portion of its length and the other portion 2a has no adhesive. The adhesive covers substantially half of its length.

Referring to Figure 2 there is shown a rectangular sheet of paper 4 with an artistic drawing (not shown) thereon. Along the side edges are first placed two strips oftape 5a,5b (of the type shown in Figure 1) with the area on each face ofthe tapes covered with adhesive adhering to the paper 4. The ends of the tape adjacent the corners of the paper are cut at 45 degrees.

Along the top and bottom edges of the paper 4 are two strips of tape 6a,6b, with the area on each face of the tapes covered with adhesive adhering to the paper 4 and the ends of tapes 5a,5b where they overlap the tapes 5a,5b. The ends of the tapes 6a,6b adjacent the corners of the paper are cut at 90 degrees.

The paper is thus framed by the tape with the 45 degree cuts on the ends of tapes 5a,5b simulating the joints on a conventional picture frame. The tapes 5a,5b,6a,6d may be coloured or patterned to provide an aesthetic look.

Referring now to Figure 3 there is shown an apparatus 10 for framing paper supporting artwork such as shown in Figure 2. The apparatus has a substantially planar base in the form of a board 11 for mounting on a table (not shown). A first shoulder in the form of a pair of blocks 12alb are positioned on and project above the surface ofthe board. A second shoulder in the form of a block 13 is provided which is spring loaded and recessable into the board 11. First and second shoulders provide a guide for placing a sheet of paper 14 in a predetermined position as the edge ofthe paper abuts against the side ofthe shoulders.

A tape dispenser 15 is provided in the form ofa reel 16 secured to board 11 by arms 17a,1Th.

Reel 16 supports tape of the type shown in Figure 1.

Cutting means for cutting the tape at the corner of the paper is provided by two cutting stations 18 and 19. Station 18 includes a first fixed plate 18a hinged to the base 11 by hinge 18b. Plate 18a includes a pair of slots 20a,20b for guiding a cutting blade to cut the tape. Slot 20a cuts the tape at 90 degrees. Slot 20b cuts the tape at 45 degrees.

Station 19 includes a second plate 19a hinged by a hinge 19b, which hinge is slidable on a track 22. Plate 19a includes a pair of slots 21a,21b for guiding a cutting blade to cut the tape.

Slot 21a cuts the tape at 90 degrees. Slot 21b cuts the tape at 45 degrees. The second plate slides to predetermined positions to accommodate standard paper sizes on the track by means of an indexing pin 23 secured to the hinge 19b and locates in pin holes such as 22a in track 22.

Mounted recessed in the board for each cutting station 18 and 19 is a cutting surface 24 and 25 respectively, and may be made of tough plastics or metal.

The apparatus of Figure 3 is used as follows. Firstly the artwork paper 14 is placed on the apparatus into the position shown by dotted lines, abutting against the blocks l2a,12b and 13 with the artwork image face downwards. Tape is then pulled from the dispenser 15 and the adhesive part ofthe tape adhered to the paper. Block 13 recesses into the board 11 when the tape passes over it. If desired guides may be provided to ensure only the adhesive strip of the tape covers the paper. The plates 1 8a and 1 9a are then lowered over respective comers of the paper 14. Plate 19a is positioned on the track 22 so that it is adjacent the corner of a paper depending on the size of the paper.

The tape is then cut using a cutting tool at 45 degrees. The cutting tool may have a cutting blade just deep enough to cut the tape but not deep enough to cut the paper.

The paper 14 is then rotated through 90 degrees and the operation repeated except that the tape is cut at 90 degrees. Thus a piece of paper is framed by the tape.

Because the cutting station 19 is slidable on track 22, so the apparatus of Figure 3 can be used to frame different sizes of paper, such as A3, A4, A5 sizes.

The apparatus can be formed of any desired material.

The invention also extends to an automated framing machine which, instead of cutting tape into strips at 45 degrees or 90 degrees to frame a rectangular piece of paper, this machine guides a continuous length of tape around the perimeter of a piece of paper and which folds the tape so that the tape changes direction by 90 degrees each time it meets a corner. When the paper is framed the tape is cut.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (7)

CLAIMS.

1. A framing apparatus for paper supporting artwork with a tape to give a frame-like border to said artwork.

2. A framing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a substantially planar base and one or more guides for placing paper in a predetermined position.

3. A framing apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 and 2 which includes a tape dispenser for dispensing tape along an edge of the paper.

4. A framing apparatus which involves a cutting means for the tape as in Claim 3.

5. A framing apparatus which is fully automated in the above Claims.

6. A framing apparatus whereby the framing tape rotates through 90 degrees to frame a rectangular piece of paper as in Claim 5.

7. A framing apparatus as in Claim 5 and 6 which involves a cutting device such that when the paper is framed and the paper mounted a cut is made leaving the mounting apparatus ready for the next operation.