Adhesive tape for masking

Abstract

An absorbent edge coating for masking tape and other masking materials is herein disclosed. A masking tape according to the present invention comprises a substrate having a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one masking edge. The bottom surface of the substrate has an adhesive layer applied thereto. An absorbent edge coating is applied to at least one masking edge of the substrate so as to at least substantially prevent liquids addressed to the at least one coated masking edge from being absorbed into the substrate of the tape and from passing between the bottom surface of the tape and a surface to which the tape has been applied.

1 . A method of manufacturing an adhesive tape having an absorbent edge coating comprising: 
 providing a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface;    applying an adhesive layer to the bottom surface of the substrate;    rolling the substrate onto a cylindrical core;    cutting the substrate and the core onto which the substrate is rolled into discrete rolls; and,    applying an absorbent material to an edge of a discrete roll of tape such that the absorbent material is adhered to the edge of the substrate exposed on the cut edge of the roll by the adhesive layer applied to the bottom surface of the substrate.    
   
   
       2 . The method of manufacturing an adhesive tape of  claim 1  wherein the absorbent material is a cross-linked polyacrylate polymer.  
   
   
       3 . A method of manufacturing an adhesive tape having an absorbent edge coating comprising: 
 providing a roll of tape comprising a substrate with an adhesive applied to a bottom surface thereof and wound on a core, the roll of tape having an exposed edge; and,    applying an absorbent material to the exposed edge of the roll of tape such that at least some of the absorbent material is adhered to the adhesive applied to the bottom surface of the substrate at the exposed edge of the roll of tape.    
   
   
       4 . The method of manufacturing an adhesive tape of  claim 3  wherein the absorbent material is a cross-linked polyacrylate polymer.  
   
   
       5 . A bi-directional tape dispensing device capable of applying tape around and into corners of a first surface, wherein the first surface may be adjacent to a second surface, said tape dispensing device comprising: a frame having an alignment member extending from said frame; a hub rotatably attached to said frame and adapted for receiving a roll of tape, the roll of tape comprising an elongate substrate having a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one masking edge, an adhesive layer applied to the bottom surface of the substrate for adhering the tape to one of said first and second surfaces, and an absorbent edge layer applied to the at least one masking edge, and wherein when the roll of tape is received by said hub, the at least one masking edge of said tape aligns with an outer edge of said alignment member, and further wherein said roll of tape may be pressed onto said hub with the at least one masking edge of said roll of tape being oriented on said bi-directional tape dispenser independent of a width of the roll of tape and with no dependency on an inner edge of said roll of tape.  
   
   
       6 . The bi-directional tape dispensing device of  claim 5  wherein the absorbent edge layer is a cross-linked polyacrylate polymer.