Applicators for adhesive tape, such as double-sided adhesive tape

Abstract

A tape applicator ( 20 ) including housing, carriage, and blade assemblies ( 22;24;26 ). The housing assembly ( 22 ) includes a housing ( 40 ) and an application roller ( 42 ). The carriage assembly ( 24 ) includes a carriage body ( 120 ), a hub ( 122 ), and an idler roller ( 124 ). The carriage body ( 120 ) and hub ( 122 ) are slidably mounted within the housing ( 40 ). The idler roller ( 124 ) is rotatably mounted to the carriage body ( 120 ). The blade assembly ( 26 ) includes a blade arm ( 200 ), a blade ( 28 ), and a pressing finger ( 202 ). The blade arm ( 200 ) pivots relative to the housing ( 40 ) about a pivot axis. The blade ( 28 ) projects from the blade arm ( 200 ) to a tip. An articulation plane is defined by the blade tip and the pivot axis. The pressing finger ( 202 ) projects from the blade arm ( 200 ) through the articulation plane. The applicator ( 20 ) is transitionable between an application state and a cut state to sever tape ( 302 ) along an internal tape path. The pressing finger ( 202 ) flexes to prevent the tape ( 302 ) from adhering to the blade ( 28 ) during the cutting operation.

1 . An adhesive tape applicator comprising:
 a housing assembly including:
 a housing defining a tape dispensing opening, 
 an application roller rotatably mounted to the housing adjacent the tape dispensing openings; 
   a carriage assembly including:
 a carriage body slidably mounted within the housing, 
 a hub carried by the carriage body and configured to rotatably support a roll of tape, 
 an idler roller rotatably mounted to the carriage body; and 
   a blade assembly including:
 a blade arm defining a pivot end pivotably mounted to the housing such that the blade arm is pivotable relative to the housing about a pivot axis, 
 a blade projecting from the blade arm opposite the pivot end and terminating in a blade tip, 
 wherein an articulation plane is defined by the blade tip and the pivot axis, 
 a first pressing finger projecting from the blade arm at a location between the blade and the pivot end, the first pressing finger extending through the articulation plane; 
 wherein the applicator defines a tape path from the hub to the tape dispensing opening, the tape path being defined, at least in part, by the application and idler rollers; 
   and further wherein the tape applicator is configured to be transitionable between an application state in which the blade tip is at a first side of the tape path and a cut state in which the blade tip is located at an opposite, second side of the tape path.   
     
     
         2 . The tape applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the first pressing finger is flexible. 
     
     
         3 . The tape applicator of  claim 2 , wherein the flexibility of the first pressing finger is greater than the flexibility of the blade arm. 
     
     
         4 . The tape applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the first pressing finger is silicone. 
     
     
         5 . The tape applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the first pressing finger is configured to deflect upon forced contact with a tape extending along the tape path and tensioned between the application and idler rollers as the applicator is transitioned from the application state toward the cut state. 
     
     
         6 . The tape applicator of  claim 5 , wherein the first pressing finger terminates at a contact end opposite the blade arm, and further wherein the first pressing finger is configured such that deflection of the first pressing finger in response to contacting a tape extending along the tape path includes the contact end moving more proximate the blade. 
     
     
         7 . The tape applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the first pressing finger terminates at a contact end opposite the blade arm, and further within the contact end and the blade tip are spatially arranged such that as the applicator is transitioned from the application state toward the cut state, the contact end intersects the tape path prior to the blade tip. 
     
     
         8 . The tape applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the blade assembly further comprises a second pressing finger extending from the blade arm at a location between the first pressing finger and the pivot end. 
     
     
         9 . The tape applicator of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second pressing fingers are flexible. 
     
     
         10 . The tape applicator of  claim 9 , wherein a length of the first pressing finger in extension from the blade arm is greater than a length of the second pressing finger in extension from the blade arm. 
     
     
         11 . The tape applicator of  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the application roller is a silicone material. 
     
     
         12 . The tape applicator of  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the idler roller is a silicone material. 
     
     
         13 . The tape applicator of  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the application roller includes a plurality of spaced apart, circumferential ribs. 
     
     
         14 . The tape applicator of  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the idler roller includes a plurality of spaced apart, circumferential ribs. 
     
     
         15 . A system for applying adhesive tape, the system comprising:
 a roll of adhesive tape; and   an applicator comprising:
 a housing assembly including:
 a housing defining a tape dispensing opening, 
 an application roller rotatably mounted to the housing adjacent the tape dispensing opening, 
 
 a carriage assembly including:
 a carriage body slidably mounted within the housing, 
 a hub carried by the carriage body and rotatably maintaining the roll of adhesive tape, 
 an idler roller rotatably mounted to the carriage body, 
 
 a blade assembly including:
 a blade arm defining a pivot end pivotably mounted to the housing such that the blade arm is pivotable relative to the housing about a pivot axis, 
 a blade projecting from the blade arm opposite the pivot end and terminating in a blade tip, 
 a first pressing finger projecting from the blade arm at a location between the blade and a pivot end, the first pressing finger terminating at a contact end opposite the blade arm; 
 
   wherein upon final assembly, the system is configured to provide an application state in which a length of tape extends from the roll to the idler roller and then to the application roller for dispensement through the dispensing opening, the application state including the blade and the pressing finger being displaced from the length of tape;   and further wherein the system is transitionable from the application state to a cut state in which the blade tip is progressed through the length of tape to sever the length of tape;   and even further wherein transitioning of the system from the application state to the cut state includes the contact end initially contacting the length of tape and then deflecting toward the blade.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the adhesive tape of the roll of adhesive tape is a double-sided adhesive tape. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the pressing finger is silicone. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein an outer surface of the application roller is a silicone material. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein an outer surface of the application roller includes a plurality of spaced apart, circumferential ribs. 
     
     
         20 . A method of dispensing an adhesive tape, the method comprising:
 receiving a system including an applicator maintaining a roll of adhesive tape, the applicator including .  
 a housing assembly including:
 a housing defining a tape dispensing opening, 
 an application roller rotatably mounted to the housing adjacent the tape dispensing opening, 
 
 a carriage assembly including:
 a carriage body slidably mounted within the housing, 
 a hub carried by the carriage body and rotatably maintaining the roll of adhesive tape, 
 an idler roller rotatably mounted to the carriage body, 
 
 a blade assembly including:
 a blade arm defining a pivot end pivotably mounted to the housing such that the blade arm is pivotable relative to the housing about a pivot axis, 
 a blade projecting from the blade arm opposite the pivot end and terminating in a blade tip, 
 a first pressing finger projecting from the blade arm at a location between the blade and the pivot end, the first pressing finger terminating at a contact end opposite the blade arm; 
 
   wherein in an application state of the system, a leading segment of a length of tape from the roll extends into the dispensing opening and is supported by the application roller;   pressing the leading segment into adhesive contact with a substrate surface to define a tacked region;   manipulating the housing to draw the applicator away from the tacked region while simultaneously maintaining a pressing force on the application roller to successively dispense an additional segment of the length of tape from the applicator and into adhesive contact with the substrate surface; and   actuating the carriage assembly to pivot the blade arm, including the pressing finger and the blade contacting the length of tape between the application and idler rollers, to completely sever the length of tape;   wherein prior to the blade tip completely severing the length of tape, a contact end of the pressing finger contacts the length of tape and, with further pivoting movement of the blade arm, deflects toward the blade due to a tensioned rigidity of the length of tape.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the adhesive tape of the roll of adhesive tape is a double-sided adhesive tape. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the step of actuating the carriage assembly includes the contact end of the pressing finger contacting an adhesive side of the adhesive tape, the method further including the adhesive side not adhering to the contact end. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the pressing finger is silicone. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein an adhesive side of the adhesive tape contacts the application roller during the step of manipulating the housing, the method further included the adhesive side not adhering to the application roller. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein an outer surface of the application roller is a silicone material. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein an outer surface of the application roller includes a plurality of spaced apart, circumferential ribs.