Tape applicator

Abstract

A tape applicator including a housing and an adjustment mechanism. The housing partially defines a cavity and includes a tape hub having an exterior planar surface. The adjustment mechanism includes a course defined by the housing on the planar surface, the course including a plurality of positions, and an adjustment plate movable along the course among the plurality of positions, the adjustment plate being held in a selected position of the plurality of positions by the housing based on a size of a tape roll configured to be supported in the cavity.

1 . A tape applicator comprising:
 a housing partially defining a cavity and including a tape hub having an exterior planar surface; and   an adjustment mechanism including
 a course defined by the housing on the planar surface, the course including a plurality of positions, and 
 an adjustment plate movable along the course among the plurality of positions, the adjustment plate being held in a selected position of the plurality of positions by the housing based on a size of a tape roll configured to be supported in the cavity. 
   
     
     
         2 . The tape applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the course is defined by a stepped rail, the stepped rail including a first end, a second end, and a plurality of teeth disposed between the first end and the second end, and wherein the adjustment plate is movable along the course between different teeth. 
     
     
         3 . The tape applicator of  claim 2 , wherein the housing has a plurality of gaps defined between adjacent teeth, and wherein the adjustment plate is adjustable between the first end and the second end among the plurality of positions based on the quantity of gaps between the teeth. 
     
     
         4 . The tape applicator of  claim 2 , wherein the adjustment plate includes a projection that extends from the adjustment plate and is selectively engageable with the plurality of teeth to hold the adjustment plate in the selected position. 
     
     
         5 . The tape applicator of  claim 4 , wherein the projection extends from a tab, and wherein the tab is rotatable to engage and disengage the projection with the plurality of teeth to hold the adjustment plate in the selected position along the course. 
     
     
         6 . The tape applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes an internal wall, and wherein the adjustment plate is configured hold the tape roll against the internal wall. 
     
     
         7 . The tape applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment plate is disposed in the cavity. 
     
     
         8 . The tape applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a first housing part and a second housing part, and wherein the second housing part is adjustable relative to the first housing part between a closed position and an open position. 
     
     
         9 . The tape applicator of  claim 8 , further comprising an actuator coupled to the first housing part and is configured to secure the second housing part to the first housing part in the closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The tape applicator of  claim 8 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is enclosed by the second housing part in the closed position. 
     
     
         11 . The tape applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment plate is movable only linearly along the course. 
     
     
         12 . The tape applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment plate includes a central aperture that is shaped to fit around the tape hub. 
     
     
         13 . The tape applicator of  claim 12 , wherein the central aperture has a cross-section substantially similar to an outer shape of the tape hub. 
     
     
         14 . A tape applicator comprising:
 a housing including a first housing part pivotably coupled to a second housing part, the second housing part rotatable between an open positioned and a closed position; and   an actuator positioned on the first housing part and slidable to secure the second housing part in the closed position.   
     
     
         15 . The tape applicator of  claim 14 , wherein the housing includes an actuator slot in which the actuator is slidable. 
     
     
         16 . The tape applicator of  claim 15 , wherein the actuator slot includes a first portion formed in the first housing part and a second portion formed in the second housing part. 
     
     
         17 . The tape applicator of  claim 14 , further comprising an adjustment mechanism including an adjustment plate supported by the first housing part, wherein the second housing part covers the adjustment mechanism in the closed position. 
     
     
         18 . The tape applicator of  claim 17 , wherein the actuator is supported on a first portion of the housing and the adjustment plate is supported on a second portion of the housing that is separate from the first portion of the housing. 
     
     
         19 . A tape applicator comprising:
 a housing including a first housing part from which a tape hub extends, the tape hub defining a plurality of plate adjustment positions; and   an adjustment plate supported by the tape hub and positionable at a selected one of the plurality of plate adjustment positions, the adjustment plate including a tab that is actuatable by a user to position the adjustment plate along the tape hub.   
     
     
         20 . The tape applicator of  claim 19 , wherein the adjustment plate includes a planar section, the tab extends from the planar section of the adjustment plate and curves away from the planar section, and engagement of the tab biases the tab out-of-plane with the planar section.