TAPE APPLYING APPARATUS

1,243,343. Tape applicator. EASTMAN KODAK CO. 23 Aug., 1968 [23 Aug., 1967], No. 40349/68. Heading B8F. [Also in Division G2] A device for applying tape to an article comprises a support for the article; a tape-roll carriage movable towards the support to position a first length of tape; a tape-applicator carriage movable towards the support to apply the first length of tape to the article and to remain in position while the tape-roll carriage is reversed so that a second length of film is stripped from the roll for later application to a further article. As shown, the device is applied to a film-splicer as described in Specification 1,243,342, in Division G2, wherein film strips 12, 13, mounted on tables 10, 11 are to be joined by tape 86. Tape-roll carriage R and applicator carriage K have rollers, e.g. 53, 57, 71, 72 for movement relative to each other and to a support S; rollers 72 (and 68, Fig. 6, not shown) of carriage R being connected by a shaft 70 which is driven by a rotor (22, Fig. 3, not shown) through linkage 42, 43, 44. As carriage R is driven towards the film strips, carriage K is also pulled along, due to an interconnecting spring (133, Fig. 6) until a spring 135 attached to carriage K abuts a flange 137 on support S. Carriage R continues alone, threading the tape 86 through a cutter C on carriage K and positioning the tape over the film ends. A stop 104 on carriage R then strikes a latch 101 on carriage K releasing the latch from a plate 108 attached to a lever 98, 99 allowing the latter to pivot, under the action of a spring 100, so that a roller 96 presses the tape 86 against the film strips. Stops 138, 140 on the carriage then abut to drive carriage K forward, compressing spring 135 and pushing roller 96 across the end of tape 86. The linkage 42, 43, 44 reverses the carriages which move together until the spring 135 is no longer compressed. Carriage R then moves alone, stripping tape from a roll 83 and pulling it through a creasing device D.. A shaft 124 on carriage R strikes a shoulder 123 of a link 118 which pivots a latch 114, releasing a lip 116 thereof from a pin 131 of a cutter blade (111, Fig. 2, not shown) which, under the action of a spring 113, severs the tape. Continued movement of the shaft 124 into a slot 122 allows recocking of the latch 114 by a spring 142. The carriages are driven together again on the abutment of stops 143, 145, and screws 150, 151 on support S pivot levers 99, 129 on carriage K to raise roller 96 and b