Tape edge folding roller

A tape applicator, comprising:

• an edge folder roller assembly, comprising:
• one or more roller support members;
• and
• an edge folder roller operatively coupled to the one or more roller support members to allow rotation of the edge folder roller with respect to the one or more roller support members, wherein the edge folder roller comprises:
• an inner portion;
• one or more outer projections;
• and
• an alignment assembly operatively coupled to the edge folder roller or the one or more roller support members, wherein the alignment assembly allows the edge folder roller to move axially with respect to the one or more roller support members;
• and
• wherein the edge folder roller receives tape and the one or more outer projections fold at least one edge of the tape as the tape moves over the edge folder roller before the tape applicator applies the tape to a carton.

A method of folding an edge of tape, the method comprising:

• receiving tape in an edge folder roller assembly, wherein the edge folder roller assembly comprises:
• one or more roller support members;
• and
• an edge folder roller operatively coupled to the one or more roller support members, wherein the edge folder roller comprises an inner portion and one or more outer projections;
• and
• folding one or more edges of the tape with the one or more outer projections as the tape moves longitudinally over the edge folder roller and the edge folder roller rotates with respect to the one or more roller support members;
• moving the edge folder roller axially with respect to the one or more roller support members as the tape moves laterally with respect to the one or more roller support members during operation of the edge folder roller assembly as the tape is moving longitudinally over the edge folder roller.

An edge folder roller assembly comprising:

• one or more roller support members;
• and
• an edge folder roller operatively coupled to the one or more roller support members to allow rotation of the edge folder roller with respect to the one or more roller support members, wherein the edge folder roller comprises:
• an inner portion comprising an inner portion surface, wherein the inner portion surface is a convex surface;
• a first outer projection adjacent a first end of the inner portion;
• and
• a second outer projection adjacent a second end of the inner portion;
• wherein the edge folder roller receives tape, and wherein the first outer projection folds a first edge of the tape and the second outer projection folds a second edge of the tape.

A method of folding an edge of tape, the method comprising:

• receiving tape in an edge folder roller assembly, wherein the edge folder roller assembly comprises:
• one or more roller support members;
• and
• an edge folder roller operatively coupled to the one or more roller support members to allow rotation of the edge folder roller with respect to the one or more roller support members, wherein the edge folder roller comprises:
• an inner portion comprising an inner portion surface, wherein the inner portion surface is a convex surface;
• a first outer projection adjacent a first end of the inner portion;
• and
• a second outer projection adjacent a second end of the inner portion;
• folding a first edge of the tape using the first outer projection and a second edge of the tape using the second outer projection as the tape moves longitudinally over the edge folder roller and the edge folder roller rotates with respect to the one or more roller support members.

An edge folder roller assembly comprising:

• one or more roller support members;
• and
• an edge folder roller operatively coupled to the one or more roller support members to allow rotation of the edge folder roller with respect to the one or more roller support members, wherein the edge folder roller comprises:
• an inner portion;
• a first outer projection adjacent a first end of the inner portion;
• and
• a second outer projection adjacent a second end of the inner portion;
• wherein the first outer projection and the second outer projection have an inner projection surface and an outer projection surface, and wherein the inner projection surface is a concave surface;
• wherein the edge folder roller receives tape, and wherein the first outer projection folds a first edge of the tape and the second outer projection folds a second edge of the tape.

A method of folding an edge of tape, the method comprising:

• receiving tape in an edge folder roller assembly, wherein the edge folder roller assembly comprises:
• one or more roller support members;
• and
• an edge folder roller operatively coupled to the one or more roller support members to allow rotation of the edge folder roller with respect to the one or more roller support members, wherein the edge folder roller comprises:
• an inner portion;
• a first outer projection adjacent a first end of the inner portion;
• and
• a second outer projection adjacent a second end of the inner portion;
• wherein the first outer projection and the second outer projection have an inner projection surface and an outer projection surface, and wherein the inner projection surface is a concave surface;
• folding a first edge of the tape using the first outer projection and a second edge of the tape using the second outer projection as the tape moves longitudinally over the edge folder roller and the edge folder roller rotates with respect to the one or more roller support members.