Apparatus for holding two abutting tape ends in place and applying a segment of splicing material across their junction

Claim 2

Apparatus for splicing together two tape ends, comprising: base means including means for receiving said two ends and holding them in abutting relationship; splicing material dispensing means pivotally mounted to said base means and rotatable between a rest position and a splicing position, said dispensing means including severing means responsive to rotation of said dispensing means into said splicing position and operative to sever a splicing segment from a length of adhesive-coated splicing material carried by said dispensing means during said rotation and to deposit said segment across said two ends; and pressure-applying means operatively associated with said dispensing means and operative to press said segment into bonding engagement with said two ends as said dispensing means is rotated from said splicing position back into said rest position.

Claim 3

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said severing means includes a punch and die, and means for applying lubrication to said splicing material prior to its engagement by said punch and die.

Claim 4

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for receiving and holding said two ends includes, a splicer block having a slot formed in the upper surface thereof, said slot having a width and depth substantially equivalent to the width and thickness, respectively, of the tapes whose ends are to be spliced together, said block having openings therein providing passages intersecting the bottom of said slot and through which a partial vacuum can be drawn to provide suction for holding said two ends in place in said slot.

Claim 5

Apparatus for splicing together two tape ends, comprising: base means including means for receiving and holding said two ends in abutting relationship; splicing material dispensing means piVotally attached to said base means and rotatable between a rest position and a splicing position, said dispensing means including, severing means, means for positioning splicing material in operative relationship with said severing means, and actuating means responsive to rotation of said dispensing means into said splicing position and operative to cause said severing means to sever a splicing segment from the splicing material and dispose it upon said two ends; and pressure-applying means responsive to rotation of said dispensing means from said splicing position to said rest position and operative to apply bonding pressure to said segment, said pressure-applying means including, an arm pivotally attached to said dispensing means at one end and having a roller affixed to the other end for rollingly engaging said segment, and means for resiliently biasing said arm in a direction tending to rotate said dispenser means into said rest position.

Claim 6

Apparatus for splicing together two tape ends, comprising: base means including means for receiving and holding said two ends in abutting relationship; splicing material dispensing means piVotally attached to said base means and rotatable between a rest position and a splicing position, said dispensing means including, severing means, means for positioning splicing material in operative relationship with said severing means, and actuating means responsive to rotation of said dispensing means into said splicing position and operative to cause said severing means to sever a splicing segment from the splicing material and dispose it upon said two ends; and pressure-applying means responsive to rotation of said dispensing means from said splicing position to said rest position and operative to apply bonding pressure to said segment, said pressure-applying means including, an arm pivotally attached to said dispensing means at one end and having a roller affixed to the other end for rollingly engaging said segment, and means for resiliently biasing said arm in a direction tending to rotate said dispenser means into said rest position.

Claim 7

Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said severing means includes a punch and die, and means for applying lubrication to the splicing material prior to its engagement by said punch and die.

Claim 8

Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said means for positioning splicing material includes a supply reel and a takeup reel for transporting a strip of the splicing material, and means responsive to rotation of said dispensing means for advancing said strip from said supply reel to said takeup reel.

Claim 9

Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said means for receiving and holding said two ends includes, a splicer block having a slot formed in the upper surface thereof, said slot having a width and depth substantially equivalent to the width and thickness, respectively, of the tapes whose ends are to be spliced together, said block having openings therein providing passages intersecting the bottom of said slot and through which a partial vacuum can be drawn to provide a suction for holding said two ends in place in said slot.

Claim 10

In a tape-splicing apparatus of the type described having means for severing a segment of splicing material from a strip of adhesive-backed splicing material and applying it across two abutted ends of tape to be spliced together, an improved severing means, comprising: punch housing means having a punchway for receiving a punch; a punch having a cross-sectional configuration dimensioned in accordance with the dimensions of the segment of material to be severed thereby; a passageway passing transversely through the lower portion of said punch housing in intersecting relationship with said punchway, and through which a strip of adhesive-coated material to be punched is passed, the lower edge of said passageway and said punchway forming a die which cooperates with said punch to enable a splicing segment of material to be severed from said strip; and a lubricating means for applying a thin layer of lubricant to a nonadhesive coated side of said strip before it is passed through said passageway, whereby a small amount of said lubricant is picked up by said punch and transferred to said die to prevent adhesive from being transferred from said strip to said die and said punch.

Claim 11

In a tape-splicing apparatus of the type described having means for severing a segment of splicing material from a strip of adhesive-backed splicing material and applying it across two abutted ends of tape to be spliced together, an improved severing means, comprising: punch housing means having a punchway for receiving a punch; a punch having a cross-sectional configuration dimensioned in accordance with the dimensions of the segment of material to be severed thereby; a passageway passing transversely through the lower portion of said punch housing in intersecting relationship with said punchway, and through which a strip of adhesive-coated material to be punched is passed, the lower edge of said passageway and said punchway forming a die which cooperates with said punch to enable a splicing segment of material to be severed from said strip; and a lubricating means for applying a thin layer of lubricant to a nonadhesive coated side of said strip before it is passed through said passageway, whereby a small amount of said lubricant is picked up by said punch and transferred to said die to prevent adhesive from being transferred from said strip to said die and said punch.