Machinable enveloping of adhesive tape with a backing layer

An apparatus for winding and holding an adhesive tape with a backing layer comprising:

• a planar, longitudinal support comprising a first end and a second end;
• and
• a first cut-out section in the first end and a second cut-out section in the second end;
• wherein the adhesive tape is longitudinally wound around the planar, longitudinal support such that the adhesive tape is positioned in the first cut-out section and the second cut-out section, thereby creating a first fold in a first end of the adhesive tape comprising a first angle of approximately 180 degrees and a second fold in a second end of the adhesive tape comprising a second angle of approximately 180 degrees, thereby creating a first longitudinal section of multiple layers of the adhesive tape and a second longitudinal section of multiple layers of the adhesive tape, the first longitudinal section being separated from the second longitudinal section by the planar, longitudinal support, wherein the first longitudinal section is a first single stack of the multiple layers of the adhesive tape and the second longitudinal section is a second single stack of the multiple layers of the adhesive tape;
• a first lateral dowel support positioned at the first end of the planar, longitudinal support, the first lateral dowel support positioned adjacent to the first cut-out section, the first lateral dowel support perpendicular to the first longitudinal section and the second longitudinal section;
• and
• a second lateral dowel support positioned at the second end of the planar longitudinal support, the second lateral dowel support positioned adjacent to the second cut-out section, the second lateral dowel support perpendicular to the first longitudinal section and the second longitudinal section.

A method comprising:

• folding an adhesive tape with a backing layer onto itself, thereby forming a first fold at a first end comprising a first angle of approximately 180 degrees and a second fold at a second end comprising a second angle of approximately 180 degrees, thereby forming a first longitudinal section of multiple layers of the adhesive tape and a second longitudinal section of multiple layers of the adhesive tape, the first longitudinal section positioned above and parallel to the second longitudinal section, wherein the first fold at the first end comprises a first opening between the first longitudinal section and the second longitudinal section, and wherein the second fold at the second end comprises a second opening between the first longitudinal section and the second longitudinal section;
• wherein the first fold at the first end comprises a first opening between the first longitudinal section and the second longitudinal section, and wherein the second fold at the second end comprises a second opening between the first longitudinal section and the second longitudinal section;
• positioning a first dowel in the first opening and a second dowel in the second opening;
• placing a securing device a nominal distance from the first fold and the second fold, thereby maintaining contact or proximity between a single layer of the first longitudinal section and a single layer of the second longitudinal section over a longitudinal length of the first longitudinal section and the second longitudinal section, such that the adhesive tape comprises a flat profile;
• and
• placing the adhesive tape into an envelope that is sized to meet United States Post Office regulations for a machinable first class letter not requiring hand stamping.