Splicing tape dispenser

Claim 2

A splicing tape dispensing mechanism comprising a carriage plate mounted for pivotal movement, means on said carriage plate for feeding splicing tape, means for operating said tape feed means only when said carriage plate is pivoted in a first direction so that a predetermined amount of tape is advanced by said tape feeding means, guide means on said carriage plate for positioning the leading end of said tape as it is advanced by said tape feeding means, and cutting means carried by said carriage plate and moveable in said guide means for severing said tape at a selected point within said guide means.

Claim 3

A mechanism according to claim 1 further including means for dispensing tape severed by said cutting means, and means connecting said dispensing means and said cutting means so that said dispensing means and said cutting means are moveable as a unit.

Claim 4

A mechanism according to claim 2 further including means mounting said cutting means and said dispensing means for longitudinal movement within said guide means.

Claim 5

A mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said guide means defines a channel in which said cutting means and dispensing means are disposed, said guide means also including a side opening whereby tape advanced by said tape feeding means enters said channel in position to be severed by said cutting means, said channel being open at one end to permit tape severed by said knife means to be dispensed by said dispensing means.

Claim 6

A mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said means for operating said tape feeding means comprises a tape feed spool, a gear train for rotating said tape feed spool, and a one-way clutch connected to said gear train so that said gear train is driven by pivotal movement of said carriage plate but only when said carriage plate is pivoted in said first direction.

Claim 7

A splicing tape applicator comprising a stationary plate, a pivot shaft affixed to said stationary plate, a carriage plate pivotally mounted on said shaft, an overrunning way-clutch mounted on said shaft, said clutch adapted to rotate on said shaft when subjected to a turning force in one direction and to lock to said shaft when subjected to a turning force in the opposite direction, a first gear affixed to said clutch so that it will rotate therewith, meAns for feeding splicing tape including a tape feed spool and gear means for rotating said tape feed spool to advance splicing tape, said gear means including a second gear rotatably mounted on said carriage plate in engagement with said first gear, tape guide means carried by said carriage plate for guiding the leading end of tape advanced by said tape feed spool, tape cutting and applying means associated with said guide means comprising a knife for cutting a length of tape off the leading end of said tape at a point within said guide means and a pressure member for dispensing said length of tape and applying it to materials to be spliced, means for pivoting said carriage plate in a first direction in which said clutch will rotate on said shaft and then pivoting said plate in the opposite direction in which said clutch is locked to said shaft and said second gear is rotated by movement along said first gear, and means for actuating said tape cutting and applying means as said plate is pivoted in said first direction.

Claim 8

A splicing tape applicator comprising a stationary plate, a pivot shaft affixed to said stationary plate, a carriage plate pivotally mounted on said shaft, an overrunning way-clutch mounted on said shaft, said clutch adapted to rotate on said shaft when subjected to a turning force in one direction and to lock to said shaft when subjected to a turning force in the opposite direction, a first gear affixed to said clutch so that it will rotate therewith, meAns for feeding splicing tape including a tape feed spool and gear means for rotating said tape feed spool to advance splicing tape, said gear means including a second gear rotatably mounted on said carriage plate in engagement with said first gear, tape guide means carried by said carriage plate for guiding the leading end of tape advanced by said tape feed spool, tape cutting and applying means associated with said guide means comprising a knife for cutting a length of tape off the leading end of said tape at a point within said guide means and a pressure member for dispensing said length of tape and applying it to materials to be spliced, means for pivoting said carriage plate in a first direction in which said clutch will rotate on said shaft and then pivoting said plate in the opposite direction in which said clutch is locked to said shaft and said second gear is rotated by movement along said first gear, and means for actuating said tape cutting and applying means as said plate is pivoted in said first direction.

Claim 9

A splicing tape applicator according to claim 6 wherein said guide means defines a channel for said pressure member, said channel having a side opening through which tape can be advanced into the path of said knife and said pressure member by said tape feed spool.

Claim 10

A splicing tape dispensing mechanism comprising a carriage plate moveable first in one direction and then in an opposite direction between two predetermined positions, means on said carriage plate for feeding splicing tape, means for operating said tape feeding means so as to advance tape only when said carriage plate is moved in a first direction between said two positions, guide means carried by said carriage plate for positioning the leading end of said tape as it is being advanced by said tape feeding means, and cutting means carried by said carriage plate and moveable in said guide means for severing said tape at a selected point within said guide means.

Claim 11

A splicing tape dispensing mechanism comprising a carriage plate moveable first in one direction and then in an opposite direction between two predetermined positions, means on said carriage plate for feeding splicing tape, means for operating said tape feeding means so as to advance tape only when said carriage plate is moved in a first direction between said two positions, guide means carried by said carriage plate for positioning the leading end of said tape as it is being advanced by said tape feeding means, and cutting means carried by said carriage plate and moveable in said guide means for severing said tape at a selected point within said guide means.

Claim 12

A mechanism according to claim 8 further including means for dispensing tape severed by said cutting means, and means connecting said dispensing means and said cutting means so that said dispensing means and cutting means are operable as a unit.

Claim 13

A mechanism according to claim 9 further including means for mounting said dispensing means and said cutting means within said guide means.

Claim 14

A mechanism according to claim 9 wherein said guide means defines a channel and said dispensing means and said cutting means are reciprocally moveable members mounted within said channel.

Claim 15

A mechanism according to claim 8 wherein said tape feeding means comprises a tape feeding wheel, a gear train for rotating said tape feeding wheel, and a one-way clutch connected to said gear train so that said gear train is driven by movement of said carriage plate only when said carriage plate is moved in said first direction.

Claim 16

A mechanism according to claim 8 including means for selectively moving said carriage plate back and forth between said two positions, said tape feeding means comprising a tape feeding roll, a gear train for rotating said tape feeding roll, and means including a one-way clutch connected to said gear train for driving said gear train to rotate said tape feeding roll only when said carriage plate is moved in said first direction.

Claim 17

A splicing tape applicator comprising a carriage plate, a shaft coupled to said carriage plate so as to permit relative rotation between said shaft and said carriage plate, an overrunning one-way clutch mounted on said shaft, said clutch adapted to rotate on said shaft when subjected to a turning force in one direction and to lock to said shaft when subjected to a turning force in the opposite direction, a first gear affixed to said clutch so that it will rotate therewith, means for feeding splicing tape including a tape feed spool and gear means for rotating said tape feed spool to advance splicing tape, said gear means including a second gear rotatably mounted on saiD carriage plate in engagement with said first gear, tape guide means carried by said carriage plate for guiding the leading end of tape advanced by said tape feed spool, tape cutting and applying means associated with said guide means comprising a knife for cutting a length of tape off the leading end of said tape at a point within said guide means and a pressure member for dispensing said length of tape and applying it to materials to be spliced, and means for actuating said tape cutting and applying means.

Claim 18

A splicing tape applicator comprising a carriage plate, a shaft coupled to said carriage plate so as to permit relative rotation between said shaft and said carriage plate, an overrunning one-way clutch mounted on said shaft, said clutch adapted to rotate on said shaft when subjected to a turning force in one direction and to lock to said shaft when subjected to a turning force in the opposite direction, a first gear affixed to said clutch so that it will rotate therewith, means for feeding splicing tape including a tape feed spool and gear means for rotating said tape feed spool to advance splicing tape, said gear means including a second gear rotatably mounted on saiD carriage plate in engagement with said first gear, tape guide means carried by said carriage plate for guiding the leading end of tape advanced by said tape feed spool, tape cutting and applying means associated with said guide means comprising a knife for cutting a length of tape off the leading end of said tape at a point within said guide means and a pressure member for dispensing said length of tape and applying it to materials to be spliced, and means for actuating said tape cutting and applying means.

Claim 19

A splicing tape applicator according to claim 14 wherein said guide means defines a channel for said pressure member, said channel having a side opening through which tape can be advanced into the path of said knife and said pressure member by said tape feed spool.

Claim 20

A splicing tape applicator according to claim 14 comprising means for sequentially producing (a) relative rotation between said carriage plate and said shaft in a first direction in which said clutch will rotate on said shaft and (b) relative rotation between said carriage plate and shaft in an opposite direction in which said clutch is locked to said shaft.