# US 12,112,863 B2 · Taping head > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,112,863 B2 - Document ID: US12112863B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/973,709 - Filed: 2022-10-26 - Published: 2023-04-27 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2021-10-27 - Assignees: Aptiv Technologies AG - Applicants: Aptiv Technologies Limited - Inventors: Lopes José Carrolo Nuno; Qiu Jianliang; Rubén Marco Medeiros Ferreira Da Silva; Miguel Sousa Borges Monteiro Pires - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12112863B2 ## CPC - H01B 13/01281: {Harness wrapping apparatus} - B65H 35/008: {Arrangements or adaptations of cutting devices} - B65B 13/18: Details of, or auxiliary devices used in, bundling machines {or bundling tools} - B65B 13/185: {Details of tools (B65B13/24 takes precedence)} - B65B 13/187: {Motor means} - B65H 2701/377: Adhesive tape - H01B: CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES (selection for magnetic properties H01F1/00; waveguides H01P {; printed circuits H05K}) - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) ## Abstract A taping head for taping a wire harness includes a base plate with a first aperture for receiving a wire harness. A tape dispenser with a second aperture is configured to rotate a roll of tape around the center of the first and second apertures. The taping head further includes a clamping unit configured to clamp a free end of the tape. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A taping head for taping a wire harness with tape of a roll of tape, said taping head comprising: a base plate with a first aperture for receiving the wire harness, a rotatable tape dispenser with a second aperture, the rotatable tape dispenser rotatably mounted to the base plate and configured to rotate the roll of tape about a center of the first and second apertures, and a clamping unit configured to clamp a free end of the tape, wherein the clamping unit includes an anvil fixedly mounted to the rotatable tape dispenser and a clamping element movably mounted to the base plate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The taping head according to claim 1, wherein the clamping element moves between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position the clamping unit releases the tape, and wherein in the closed position the tape is cut and simultaneously clamped between the clamping element and the anvil. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The taping head according to claim 1, wherein the clamping element includes a rotatable lever. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The taping head according to claim 1, wherein the clamping unit includes a gear rod and a gear wheel for rotating the clamping element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The taping head according to claim 1, wherein the tape dispenser includes a spring-loaded receptacle for accommodating the wire harness. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The taping head according to claim 5, wherein the receptacle has at least one wall that is concavely curved. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The taping head according to claim 5, wherein the receptacle forms a gap for the tape. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The taping head according to claim 7, further comprising a guide roll located adjacent to the gap for guiding the tape, wherein the guide roll is rotatable about a first axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The taping head according to claim 8, wherein the guide roll pivots about a second axis that is generally perpendicular to the first axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The taping head according to claim 9, wherein the first axis is offset from the second axis such that the first axis and the second axis do not intersect. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The taping head according to claim 1, wherein a contact surface of the anvil is located adjacent to an inlet of the second aperture of the tape dispenser. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The taping head according to claim 1, wherein the anvil and the clamping element include a protrusion and a slit for clamping the tape therebetween. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The taping head according to claim 1, further comprising at least one rotatable support lever for supporting the wire harness received in the first and second apertures, wherein in particular two support levers are provided adjacent two opposing sides of the base plate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A method of wrapping an adhesive tape around a bundle of wires in a lengthwise direction using the taping head of claim 1, the method comprising: clamping the free end of the tape with the clamping unit; manipulating the taping head such that the bundle of wires is located within the first and second apertures and the tape adheres to a circumferential section of the bundle of wires; releasing the clamping unit; rotating the rotatable tape dispenser in a first direction for a period of time to fix the free end of the tape on the bundle of wires; and thereafter rotating the rotatable tape dispenser in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction while moving the taping head parallel to the bundle of wires to wrap the tape around the bundle of wires in the lengthwise direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the base plate is not moved when the rotatable tape dispenser is rotated in the first direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the period of time is chosen such that a length of the tape that initially extends between the bundle of wires and the free end of the tape is completely wrapped around the bundle of wires. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A method of cutting a tape wrapped around a bundle of wires using the taping head of claim 1, the method comprising: moving the taping head away from the wrapped bundle of wires such that a length of tape from the roll of tape extends between the first and second apertures and the wrapped bundle of wires; manipulating the taping head such that the clamping unit contacts the length of tape at a location between the first and second apertures and the wrapped bundle of wires; and clamping the length of tape by means of the clamping unit and cutting the tape. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the tape is simultaneously clamped and cut. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the tape is tensioned before it is clamped and cut.