Method and apparatus for applying ductile tape

A tape applicator for applying a tape to a glass surface in a curved pattern, comprising:

• a) a tape head comprising:
• i) a base;
• ii) a tape roll holder attached to the base,
• iii) a tape application roller attached to the base such that the tape application roller presses the tape against at least two points of the glass surface along a line of tangency that extends from a first edge of the tape to a second edge of the tape,
• iv) a rotary actuator for rotating the base about an axis of rotation, wherein the axis of rotation intersects a midpoint of the line of tangency;
• b) a x-axis actuator operatively connected to the tape head for moving the tape applicator in the x-axis direction;
• and
• c) a y-axis actuator operatively connected to the tape head for moving the tape applicator in the y-axis direction.

A method of automatically applying a curved tape segment to a glass surface, comprising:

• a) moving a tape head along a path stored in a controller memory;
• b) controlling the tape head to dispense the tape the glass surface;
• c) aligning a midpoint of a tape application roller carried by the tape head with an axis of rotation of the tape head;
• d) pressing the tape against the glass surface with a tape application roller carried by the tape head;
• d) rotating the tape application roller about the axis of rotation as the tape head is moved along the path.

A tape applicator for applying the tape to a glass surface, comprising:

• a) a frame;
• b) a tape spool rotatably mounted to said frame;
• c) a drive roller rotatably mounted to said frame;
• d) an idler roller in communication with the drive roller;
• e) a platen that defines a line of travel of the tape, said tape spool, drive roller, idler roller, and platen defining a tape path of travel from said tape spool, between said drive roller and idler roller, and over said platen along the line of travel, wherein a line connecting a drive roller axis of rotation and an idler roller axis of rotation is perpendicular to the line of travel of the tape defined by the platen.

A tape applicator for applying the tape to a glass surface, comprising:

• a) a frame;
• b) a tape spool rotatably mounted to said frame;
• c) a drive roller rotatably mounted to said frame;
• d) an idler roller in communication with the drive roller;
• e) a platen that defines a line of travel of the tape, said tape spool, drive roller, idler roller, and platen defining a tape path of travel from said tape spool, between said drive roller and idler roller, and over said platen along the line of travel, wherein the path of travel from a point where the idler roller and the drive roller pinch the tape to an end of the platen is a substantially straight line.

A method of automatically applying tape to a glass surface, comprising:

• a) feeding tape from a tape spool between a drive roller and an idler roller;
• b) driving the tape from between the drive roller and the idler roller to a platen that defines a line of travel of the tape, wherein a line connecting a drive roller axis of rotation and an idler roller axis of rotation is perpendicular to the line of travel of the tape defined by the platen;
• and
• c) applying the tape to the glass surface.

A method of automatically applying tape to a glass surface, comprising:

• a) feeding tape from a tape spool between a drive roller and an idler roller;
• b) driving the tape from between the drive roller and the idler roller to a platen that defines a line of travel of the tape, wherein the path of travel from a point where the idler roller and the drive roller pinch the tape to an end of the platen is a substantially straight line;
• and
• c) applying the tape to the glass surface.

An assembly for cutting lead tape applied by an automatic tape applicator, comprising:

• a) a stationary blade coupled to an applicator frame;
• b) a first linear bearing component coupled to the applicator frame;
• c) a second linear bearing component coupled to the first linear bearing component such that the second linear bearing component is constrained to linear movement with respect to the first linear bearing component;
• d) a moveable blade fixed to the second linear bearing component such that the moveable blade is constrained to linear movement with respect to the fixed blade;
• and
• e) an actuator coupled to the moveable blade and the frame for moving the moveable blade along a linear path with respect to the fixed blade to cut the lead tape.