US3677864A

US3677864A - Tape dispenser and applicator

Info

Publication number: US3677864A
Application number: US69940A
Authority: US
Inventors: John E Morse; Norman J Rosenburgh
Original assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
Current assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
Priority date: 1970-09-04
Filing date: 1970-09-04
Publication date: 1972-07-18
Anticipated expiration: 1989-07-18

Abstract

A device having a tape applicator mounted on a reciprocal knife carriage is adapted to press an adhesive-coated tape across abutting end of two strips to form a splice. Another reciprocal carriage carries a roll of the tape fed through a tape-folding device and a cutter on the knife carriage. At the beginning of a cycle, the tape-roll carriage moves forward to feed a piece of tape, previously stripped from the roll, so that the leading edge is positioned over the abutting ends of the strips. The knife carriage also moves forward to a position over the leading edge to form a splice. While the applicator is holding the end of the tape, the tape-roll carriage moves away from the splice and through the tape-rolling device to make it more rigid for feeding. The tape is then cut; the trailing edge is affixed to the splice; and the applicator and cutter are recocked for the next cycle.

Description

July 18, 1972 MORSE EIAL TAPE DISPENSER AND APPLICA'IOR 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Aug. 23. 1967 JOHN E. MORSE NORMAN J. ROSENBURGH 1A \"ENTORS ATTORNEYS July 18, 1972 MORSE ETAL 3,677,864

TAPE DISPENSEI AND APPLICATOR Original Filed Aug. 23. 1967 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOHN E. MORSE NORMAN J- ROSENBURGH INVENTORS BY A47 d Juli.

ATTORNEYS July 18, 1972 MQRSE ETAL TAPE DISPENSER AND APPLICATOR Original Filed Aug. 23. 1967 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 RRS m WWW E .mw m m 0 T Z A .J.

July 18, 1972 J SE ETAL TAPE DISPENSER AND APPLiCATOR 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Aug. 25. 1967 JOHN E. MORSE NORMAN J. ROSENBURGH INVENTORS A Ma, 2

A1 TORNEYS July 18, 1972 J MORSE EI'AL 3,677,864

TAPE DISPENSER AND APPLICATOR FIG. 6

JOHN E. MORSE NORMAN J. ROSENBURGH INVENTORS BY XWMM ATTORNEYS July 18, 1972 J, MORSE ETAL TAPE DISPENSER AND APPLICATOR 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Aug. 23. 1967 N QE JOHN E- MORSE NORMAN J. ROSENBURGH INVENTORS 42 JM WWW ATTORNEYS July 18, 1972 MORSE ETAL TAPE DISPENSER AND APPLICATOR 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Original Filed Aug. 23. 1967 JOHN E. MORSE NORMAN J. ROSENBURGH INVENTORS 6. JM

WWW

ATTORNEYS July 18, 1972 MORSE ETAL TAPE DISPENSER AND APPLICATOR 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Original Filed Aug. 23. 1967 N mm JOHN E- MORSE NORMAN J ROSENBURGH INVENTOIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 156-505 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device having a tape applicator mounted on a reciprocal knife carriage is adapted to press an adhesivecoated tape across abutting end of two strips to form a splice. Another reciprocal carriage carries a roll of the tape fed through a tape-folding device and a cutter on the knife carriage. At the beginning of a cycle, the taperoll carriage moves forward to feed a piece of tape, previously stripped from the roll, so that the leading edge is positioned over the abutting ends of the strips. The knife carriage also moves forward to a position over the leading edge of the tape and presses the tape against the strips to form a splice. While the applicator is holding the end of the tape, the tape-roll carriage moves away from the splice pulling a length of tape from the roll for the next splice and through the tape-rolling device to make it more rigid for feeding. The tape is then cut; the trailing edge is afiixed to the splice; and the applicator and cutter are recocked for the next cycle.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The tape dispenser and applicator disclosed in this application has particular utility in the strip splicing device disclosed in copending U.S. application Ser. No. 662,685 filed Aug. 23, 1967, now Pat. No. 3,553,056. The tape cutoff mechanism utilized with this invention is disclosed more fully in copending US. application Ser, No. 662,687, filed Aug. 23, 1967, now Pat. No. 3,474,696.

This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 662,686, filed Aug. 23, 1967, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus for joining ends of two strips of indefinite length together by means of an adhesive web or tape which is applied to the abutting ends to form a splice, and is severed from its supply means. One use for such long lengths is in a film processing or treating machine, where the individual short lengths of film are spliced together to form a long length to be fed into the machine.

The prior art tape dispensing and applicating mechanisms have certain disadvantages. For instance, in some devices it is necessary to either advance the Ifilrn strips by hand or apply them by hand. Furthermore, many machines are complex in operation, having many moving parts, which may include a separate feeding mechanism and separate applicator means. Also, some machines were relatively slow in operation in that the operator must wait while the tape is dispensed from a roll before it can be applied to a joint to form a splice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Two reciprocal carriages are provided, one carrying the tape roll and the other carrying the tape applicator, the cutting mechanism and the tape-creasing or folding means. The end of the tape, which may be pressure sensitive, is fed through the folding means and cutter to the tape applicator which applies the end of the tape to "ice the abutting ends of two strips to form a splice. While the end of the tape is held by the applicator, the taperoll carriage moves away from the splice, stripping a length of tape from the roll. As the tape is stripped from. the roll, it is drawn through the cutter and tape-creasing or folding means. The tape is then severed. As the taperoll carriage continues to move, it pulls the leading end of the tape away from the cutter so that the adhesive will not cause the end of the tape to stick to the cutter during the next cycle when the tape is fed through the cutter. Next, both carriages move away from the splice causing the applicator roller to be lifted from the splice and the cutter to be recocked.

Additional novel features of this invention will become apparent from the description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a film splicing device incorporating the tape dispenser and applicator of this invention, showing the tape support tables in open position with film strips positioned on them prior to being spliced;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the film splicing device of FIG. 1, showing the tables in open position after the film strips have been cut;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the tape dispenser and applicator taken on the opposite side from FIG. 1, parts being broken away and omitted for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal section, taken along line 44 of FIG. 1, showing details of the tape-feed mechanism when the device is at rest;

FIG. '5 is an enlarged, substantially vertical section, taken along line 5-5 of .FIG. 4, with parts broken away for clarity of illustration, showing details of the tapecreasing device;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary, top-plan view of the tape dispenser and applicator at rest;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section, taken along line 77 of FIG. 6, showing the position of the tape dispenser and applicator at rest, with parts broken away and omitted for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 8 is a vertical section, similar to FIG. 7, but showing the position of the tape dispenser and applicator just after the pressure roller has been released; and

FIG. 9 is a vertical section, similar to FIGS. 7 and 8, but showing the tape dispenser and applicator just after the cutter has severed the tape.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In accordance with this invention, the tape dispenser and applicator includes movable tables 10 and 11, as shown in FIG. 1, which are adapted to support the ends of two strips, such as film strip 12 on table 10, which may be fed onto the table from a supply roll (not shown) and a film strip 13 mounted on table 11, which may be attached to a film take-up reel (not shown). These tables are mounted for reciprocal movement on a support rod 14, shown in FIGS. 1-3, for movement across the front of frame F so that the film ends may be brought into abutting relationship for splicing. A knife carriage K and a tape-roll carriage R mounted for reciprocal movement within frame F in a direction generally perpendicular to the movement of tables 10 and 11.

As best seen in FIG. 3, frame F may be conveniently formed from a single piece of material, such as sheet metal, having a base 15 integrally formed with

sides

16 and 17 which terminate in outwardly extending

flanges

18 and 19, respectively. The rear of base 15 terminates in a larger pedestal or support 21 upon which the tapesplicer, drive motor is mounted by means of angle bracket 23.

To initiate operation of film splicer S, handle 24 is pulled forwardly and depressed, as from the solid line position to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 7. The handle is mounted between

arms

25 and 26 which terminate at their lower ends in

angular brackets

27 and 28, as best seen in FIG. 6, which are pivotly connected to support rod 14. Curved

cutter blades

29 and 30 are attached to the outer sides of

arms

25 and 26, respectively, and are adapted to cut against cutting members 31 and 32 on tables and 11, respectively, when the handle is lowered to the dotted line position of FIG. 7. Upon release, handle 24 is returned to its retracted position by means of

springs

33 and 34 connected between

arms

25 and 26 and

side walls

16 and 17, respectively, as best seen in FIG. 6.

This movement begins the automatic portion of the splicing operation by closing switch 35 of FIG. 2 which energizes motor 36 to cause tables 10 and 11 to be driven together. The tables are interconnected by

racks

37 and 38 through pinion 39. As the tables come together, the rack 37 will engage microswitch 40 to energize tape splicer drive motor 22, which is connected to a tape-roll holding means such as tape-roll carriage R, through bell crank 41, link 42, arm 43 connected to one side thereof and offset arm 44 connected to the other side, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Tape-roll carriage R is mounted for longitudinal movement within a knife carriage K, which in turn is movable longitudinally within a generally U-shaped support S. Both carriages, however, are mounted for movement along support S, as described below. Support S has a relatively short left side wall 45, a bottom wall 46 and a relatively high right side wall 47 connected to frame F by front bracket 48 and rear bracket 49, extending between

side Walls

16 and 17 of frame F. Knife carriage K is mounted for movement within support S and is also generally U- shaped having a left side wall 50, a bottom wall 51 and a right side wall 52. As can be seen in FIG. 6, knife carriage K is supported by

rollers

53 and 54 journaled on

shafts

55 and 56, respectively, extending from side wall 50 and riding along the upper edge of support side wall 45. The opposite side of carriage K is supported by

rollers

57 and 58 which are journaled on

shafts

59 and 60, respectively, and roll between upper and lower rails or tracks 61 and 62 of slot 63 in support side wall 47. Conveniently, the tracks are set inwardly from wall 47 so that the outer edges of

rollers

57 and 58 are substantially flush therewith.

Similarly, tape-roll carriage R is mounted for movement relative to both support S and knife carriage K and is located within the knife carriage. Carriage R, which is U-shaped, includes a left wall 64, a bottom wall 65 and a relatively high right wall 66 for supporting a roll of tape. The left side of carriage R is supported by

rollers

67 and 68 journaled on

shafts

69 and 70, respectively, which ride along the upper edge of side wall 45. The opposite side is supported by rollers 71 and 72, roller 71 being journaled on shaft 73 and roller 72 being journaled on the opposite end of shaft 70 extending across knife carriage K and tape-roll carriage R. Advantageously, shaft 70 extends beyond

rollers

68 and 72 and is provided with

collars

74 and 75 which receive yoke 76 of angular arm 44 and yoke 77 of arm 43, respectively.

Arms

43 and 44 are pivoted on a shaft 78 whose ends extend through

cars

79 and 80, which depend from support S, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Advantageously,

rollers

53, 54, 67 and 68 are held against the upper edge of side wall 45, which acts as a rail or track, by an angular, generally U-shaped housing 81 which is attached to side wall and has slots through which arm 44 extends, such as slot 82 in the upper wall thereof, as seen in FIG. 6. Thus, it can be seen that as bell crank 41 is turned by motor 22, knife carriage K is reciprocally driven by link 42 and

arms

43 and 44. It will be understood that one revolution of the bell crank results in one complete cycle of the device. Knife carriage K is driven by tape-roll carriage R as will be ex plained more fully below.

As clearly seen in FIG. 4, tape-roll carriage R serves as a holding means for tape-roll 83 mounted on a pair of

spools

84 and 85 attached to wall 66, a length of tape 86 being fed from roll 83 around guide roller 87; through a tape folding or crimping device D; and through cutter C, attached to knife carriage K. Crimping device D includes a generally flat plate 88 connected to an angle 89 mounted on wall 66 of knife carriage K. Conveniently, plate 88 has a central, vertical slot 90 cut therein, as shown partially in section in FIG. 5, which terminates in an enlarged V-shaped notch 91. A generally cylindrical member 92, having a vertical, transverse slot 93 extending from the lower end thereof, is positioned over plate 88, as best seen in FIG. 4. The bottom of member 92 has an angular edge 94 which cooperates with notch 91 to form a generally V-shaped slot, which creases the tape as it is pulled therethrough. Angular edge 94 is maintained in fixed spaced relationship to notch 91 by means of a threaded knob 95 on the upper end of member 92 which rests on plate 88. Thus, the thickness of the groove can be adjusted to assure that the tape is creased as it is pulled therethrough without applying a positive pressure to the tape. Advantageously, this arrangement prevents the pressure-sensitive surface of the tape from sticking to the groove.

The tape may be fed from creasing device D between the blades of C, which is mounted on knife carriage K, and under an applicator roller '96, which is rotatably mounted between the ends of

angular arms

97 and 98 pivoted about

roller shafts

55 and 59, respectively, extending from the knife carriage, as best seen in FIG. 6. Arm 97 terminates at shaft 55, whereas arm 98 has a depending cocking lever 99 at the rear end for recocking or raising roller 96 near the end of a cycle, as described below. Roller 96 is normally urged downwardly by coil spring 100 extending between lever 99 and bottom wall 46 of support S, as best seen in FIGS. 7-9. It is held in the cooked or raised position, however, by a release lever 101 pivoted at its lower end on a shaft 102, extending from side wall 52. The lever has an outstanding ear or abutment 103 at its upper end engageable by an adjustable stop 104 extending through a flange 105 at the forward edge of side wall 66 of tape-roll carriage R, as described below. Release lever 101 is normally held in upright position by coil spring 106, extending between it and shaft 59, and has a notch 107 on the inner edge thereof, which engages a latch plate 108 extending from arm 98.

Cutter C includes a vertical plate 109 mounted on inturned flange 110 of side wall 52 on knife carriage K, as best seen in FIG. 4, which has a cutting surface along the lower edge spaced from a knife blade 111 pivoted to plate 109 about a shaft 112 as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, tape 86 may be fed between the fixed and pivoted blades. Blade 111 is normally urged toward cutting position by coil spring 113 extending from the end thereof to the upper end of plate 109, but is held in cocked position by a latching arm 114, shown in FIGS. 7-9, pivoted intermediate its ends about pivot pin 115 on plate 109, which has a lip 116 engageable with outwardly extending arm or car 117 on blade 111. The upper end of arm 114 is adjustably connected to a link 118 through a pivot 119 and adjustment screw 120. Intermediate the ends of link 118 is a relatively wide longitudinal slot 121 which has a narrower slot 122 extending from the lower rear end thereof and forming a shoulder 123 thereabove, best seen in FIG. 8. Conveniently, shaft 124 extends from side wall 66 of tape-roll carriage R through and is movable within slot 121 to activate cutter C, as described below. Link 118 is held in place by a washer 125 attached to the end of the shaft. The end of link 118 is provided with an inclined cam surface 126, adapted to engage pin 127 on wall 47 of the support to permit necocking of cutter C, as discussed below.

After the cutter has been actuated, it may be recocked by means of a cocking arm 128, pivoted about shaft 59, and having a depending lever 129 at the rear end and a generally U-shaped curved lip 130 the forward end adapted to engage pin 131 extending from car 117 on blade 111.

The splicing operation is started, as stated above, by depressing handle 24 to cause

cutter blades

29 and 30 to sever the ends of film strips 12 and 13. Upon release of the handle, switch 35 will activate motor 36 to close tables and 11 so that rack 37 engages microswitch 40 to energize tape splicer drive motor 22, which will cause bell crank 41 to be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3, so that tape-roll carriage R is moved forwardly by

arms

43 and 44. Initially, both carriages move forwardly together from the at-rest position shown in FIG. 7. Tape-roll carriage R and knife carriage K are interconnected by coil spring 133 extending from bottom wall 65 to a depending flange 134 on bottom wall 51. This spring pulls knife carriage K along with taperoll carriage R until the end of coil spring 135, which is mounted on a rod 136 between flange 134 and an upturned car 137 in bottom wall 46 of support S, engages car 137. Advantageously, the initial distance between the end of spring 135 and ear 137 is such that this movement-of knife carriage K will bring applicator roller 96 into position over the abutting ends of

strips

12 and 13. Since spring 135 is stronger than spring 133, knife carriage K will stop moving, but tape-roll carriage R will continue to be driven forward, stretching spring 133. This movement will cause the end of tape 86, which is initially just to the rear of cutter C, to be fed between plate 109 and blade 111 of the cutter, until it is positioned over the abutting ends of film strips 12 and 13. At this point, stop 104 strikes abutment 103 on release lever 101 moving it from the dottedline position of FIG. 8 to the solid-line released position so that applicator roller 96 presses tape 86 against the film sh'ips.

Tape-roll carriage R continues to be driven forward so that adjustable stop 138, extending through ear 139 thereon, strikes abutment 140 on knife carriage K so that the knife carriage is moved forwardly compressing spring 135 slightly and causing applicator 96 to roll across the leading end of tape 86 to firmly aifix it to the film strips. The spacing of stop 138 and abutment 140 is such that they come together immediately after stop 104 strikes release lever 101.

As roller 96 rolls across the end of the tape, bell crank 41 will have rotated so that it extends rearwardly. As it continues to rotate, it will begin driving tape-roll carriage R in the opposite direction, through link 42 and arms 43 and 4. As this movement begins, both carriages initially will move to the right, together as viewed in FIGS. 7-9, until spring 135 is no longer compressed, returning applicator roller 96 to the position of FIG. 8. Then, tape-roll carriage R will continue to the right while knife carriage K remains stationary. Since applicator roller 96 is still resting on the end of tape 86, an additional length of tape will be stripped from roll 83 and creased by creasing device D. During this movement, shaft 124 will move along slot 121 in link 118 until it abuts shoulder 123. Conveniently, link 118 should be adjusted, by means of screw 120, so that this movement is just suflicient to strip a length of tape from roll 83 which will be the proper length for the next subsequent splice. When shaft 124 strikes abutment 123, latching arm 114 on cutter C will be pivoted in a clockwise direction about pivot pin 115, thereby releasing blade 111 which will sever the tape.

Tape-roll carriage R continues to be driven rearwardly as knife carriage K remains stationary. This movement pulls the severed end of tape 86 away from the edge of the cutter so that the adhesive on the tape will not cause it to stick to the cutter when it is fed therethrough during the next cycle. Since ithas been creased by creasing device D, it remains substantially rigid for feeding during the next cycle. During the continued movement of carriage R, cam surface 126 of link 118 will ride up on pin 127 extending from support S until shaft 124 is aligned with narrow slot 122. Link 118 will then be pulled forwardly by coil spring 142, connected between cam surface 126 and wall 66 of tape-roll carriage R, to permit latching arm 114 to return to its initial position.

An adjustable abutment screw 143 is mounted on an intured flange 144 at the rear edge of wall 66. Thus, as tape-roll carriage R continues to be driven rearwardly, screw 143 will strike bumper 145, attached to flange 146 on side wall 52 of knife carriage K, so that the knife carriage is now driven rearwardly with the tape-roll carriage.

Front support bracket 48 is provided with a depending leg 147 which terminates in a forwardly extending flange 148. Flange 148 is provided with a notch 149, partially shown in FIG. 6, for receiving the ends of Cooking levers- 99 and 128. A pair of

adjustable screws

150 and 151 extend through leg 147 and are adapted to be engaged by cocking

levers

99 and 128, respectively, as knife carriage K is moved rearwardly. Thus, applicator roller 96 will be raised, permitting notch 107 of release lever 101 to engage plate 108, as the release lever is pivoted in a clockwise directiomas viewed in FIGS. 7-9, under the influence of spring 106. As cocking lever 129 is pivoted in a clockwise direction, curved lip 1 30 will engage pin 131 on cutter blade 111 causing the blade to be pivoted against the force of spring 113 until it is held in cocked position by lip 116 of latching arm 114. At this point, bell crank 41 will have completed one revolution, again reaching the rest position shown in FIG. 7. Movement is stopped by microswitch 152 when it reaches recess 153 in cam 154 to shut off motor 22.

Thus, it can be seen that the novel features of this invention have been fulfilled to a marked degree by the structure shown and described. Two separate carriages are reciprocally mounted on a common support, the first carriage, which is driven by a motor, carries the tape roll and a second carriage which carries the tape applicator and cutoff means is interconnected to the first carriage by spring means so that during a portion of the movement of the first carriage, the second carriage will move therewith. However, at the end of the forward movement of the carriages, the knife carriage will be stopped while the tape-roll carriage moves forwardly to position the tape under the tape-affixing roller, which drops down onto the end of the tape to splice two abutting strips which are to be joined together and rolls forward across the leading edge of the tape. During the rearward movement of the carriages, the tape-roll carriage moves for a short distance while the tape-affixing carriage remains stationary to strip a length of tape from the tape-roll for the next subsequent operation. This length of tape is pulled through the creasing device so that it will be rigid enough for subsequent feeding. At this point, the tape is severed and the trailing edge of the tape applied to the splice by the applicator roller. The tape carriage continues to move rearwardly, pulling the severed edge of the tape away from the knife so that it will not stick thereto during subsequent feeding. Then the tape-roll carriage engages the knife carriage so that they both move together. During this movement, the cocking levers are actuated to raise the applicator roller and recock the cutter.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A device for applying a length of tape to an article, said device comprising: 7

a support for positioning an article to be taped;

tape-roll holding means mounted for reciprocal move ment toward and away from said support;

means for guiding a first length of tape from a taperoll on said holding means toward said support;

I tape-applying means movable toward and away from said support for applying a length of tape to an article;

means for biasing said tape-applying means toward said support;

actuatable release means for releasably holding said tape-applying means in a position spaced from said support and for releasing said tape-applying means for movement by said biasing means toward said support in response to movement of said holding means toward said support when said first length of tape is positioned between said tape-applying means and said article to apply said first length of tape to an article on said support;

drive means coupled to said holding means for moving said holding means along said track toward said first length of tape is positioned between said article and said applying means, and for moving said holding means away from said support when said applying means is retaining said first length of tape against an article so that a second length of tape will be stripped from said roll for later application to an article; and

an actuatable cutter between said tape-applying means and said guiding means movable between a cocked position and a cutting position for severing said first length of tape from said roll after said second length of tape has been stripped from said roll;

means for actuating said cutter engageable by and responsive to movement of said holding means away from said support to out said first length of tape from said roll; and

means associated with said cutter responsive to movement of said holding means away from said support to cock said cutter after said first length of tape has been severed.

2. A device for applying a length of tape to an article,

comprising a frame having a track;

a support adjacent said track for retaining an article to be taped;

tape-roll holding means mounted for reciprocal movement on said track from an initial rest position to position adjacent said support;

means on said holding means for guiding a first length of tape from a roll on said holding means toward said support;

a carriage mounted for reciprocal movement along said track;

tape-applying means on said carriage, movable between a first position wherein said first length of tape may be fed between said applying means and an article on said support and a second position for engaging and pressing said length of tape against said article;

means for urging said tape-applying means toward said support;

drive means coupled to said holding means for moving said holding means toward said support until said support until said first length of tape is positioned between said article and said applying means, and for moving said holding means away from said support along said track when said applying means is in said second position holding said first length of tape against an article so that a second length of tape will be stripped from said roll for subsequent application to an article; and

first resilient means interconnecting said tape holding means and said carriage to move said carriage toward said support when said holding means is moved along said track toward said support;

second resilient means extending from one of said carriage and said frame for engaging the other of said carriage and said frame when said carriage has moved along said track to a place wherein said tape applying means is positioned over an article on said support, said holding means being movable against the force exerted by said first resilient means to feed said first length of tape between said applying means and said article;

an abutment on said holding means; and

release means on said tape-applying means engageable with said abutment to move said tape-applying means from said first position to said second position when said second length of tape has been fed between said applying means and said article.

3. A device, as set forth in claim 2, further including:

actuatable tape cutting means on said carriage between said tape-applying means and said guiding means movable between a cooked position and a cutting position to out said first length of tape from said roll after said second length of tape is stripped from said roll; and

means for actuating said cutting means engageable by and responsive to movement of said holding means along said track away from said support after said second length of tape has been stripped from said roll.

4. A device, as set forth in claim 3, further including:

means for moving said cutting means from said cutting position to said cocked position, said moving means being engageable with said frame in response to movement of said holding means toward said rest position after actuation of said cutting means.

5. A device, as set forth in claim 2, further including:

means on said carriage engageable by said holding means after said applying means has moved to said second position to move said carriage against the force of said second resilient means as said holding means is driven along said track toward said support so that said applying means moves across said article applying said length of tape thereto.

6. A device, as set forth in claim 2, further including means engageable with said frame for moving said applying means from said second position to said first position in response to movement of said holding means to said rest position after actuation of said cutting means.

7. A device, as set forth in claim 2, further including:

stop means on said carriage engageable by said tapeholding means during movement of said holding means toward said initial rest position after activation of said cutting means, to move said carriage along said track with said holding means to said initial rest position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1969 Jorgensen l56505 3/1955 Nord et al 1565l7 US. Cl. X.R.

223 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERHHCATE CF CQRREC'HCN Patent No, Dated July 18 Inventor(s) John E. Morse and Norman J. Rosenburgh It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 7; Claim 1; line 20; delete "along said track toward and insert --toward said support until--.

Column 7; Claim 2; line 70; after means(2nd occurrence) insert --along said track-.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of December- 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOT'I'SCHALK Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer