Adhesive tape dispenser for folded edge tape

A tape dispenser adapted to dispense lengths of adhesive tape having a generally uniform width, an adhesive bearing surface and a non-adhesive surface from a roll of adhesive tape wound upon a core comprising:

• a first side wall having a forward end, a rearward end, a top edge, and a hub portion near the rearward end;
• a second side wall having a forward end, a rearward end, a top edge, and a hub portion near the rearward end;
• a connecting portion extending between the first side wall and the second side wall and connecting the first side wall and the second side wall with the first side wall and the second side wall being generally parallel to one another;
• a cutter adjacent the forward end of the first side wall and the forward end of the second side wall, the cutter adapted to separate a dispensed length of tape from the roll of adhesive tape;
• an edge folding guide having a first generally planar surface adapted to confront the non-adhesive surface of the lengths of adhesive tape, at least one inwardly facing surface generally perpendicular to the first generally planar surface, at least one inwardly facing surface having an end proximal the cutter and an end distal the cutter and converging toward a central plane between the first side wall and the second side wall from the distal end to the proximal end, a guide member adjacent to the inwardly facing surface, the guide member, the inwardly facing surface and the first generally planar surface defining a guide slot adapted to engage one of the edges of the lengths of tape and fold the edge of the lengths of tape in a longitudinal fold with portions of the adhesive bearing surface confronting one another;
• and,
• a compression element between the guide slot and the cutter adapted to apply pressure to the lengths of tape bringing the confronting adhesive surface portions into contact.

A method of threading an edge folding tape dispenser comprising:

• providing a tape dispenser having a first side wall having a forward end, a rearward end, a top edge, and a hub portion near the rearward end;
• a second side wall having a forward end, a rearward end, a top edge, and a hub portion near the rearward end;
• a connecting portion extending between the first side wall and the second side wall and connecting the first side wall and the second side wall with the first side wall and the second side wall being generally parallel to one another;
• a cutter adjacent the forward end of the first side wall and the forward end of the second side wall, the cutter adapted to separate a dispensed length of tape from the roll of adhesive tape;
• an edge folding guide having a first generally planar surface adapted to confront the non-adhesive surface of the lengths of adhesive tape, at least one inwardly facing surface generally perpendicular to the first generally planar surface, at least one inwardly facing surface having an end proximal the cutter and an end distal the cutter and converging toward a central plane between the first side wall and the second side wall from the distal end to the proximal end, a guide member adjacent to the inwardly facing surface, the guide member, the inwardly facing surface and the first generally planar surface defining a guide slot adapted to engage one of the edges of the lengths of tape and fold the edge of the lengths of tape in a longitudinal fold with portions of the adhesive bearing surface confronting one another;
• the edge folding guide being rotatable with respect to the first side wall and the second side wall about an axis adjacent its proximal end, and a first guide roller being mounted on the edge folding guide adjacent its distal end;
• and, a compression element between the guide slot and the cutter adapted to apply pressure to the lengths of tape bringing the confronting adhesive surface portions into contact;
• providing a roll of adhesive tape;
• rotating the edge folding guide into a tape threading position;
• threading a length of tape from the roll of tape into engagement with the first guide roller and adjacent to the guide slot;
• and,
• rotating the edge folding guide into a dispensing position for dispensing lengths of tape with folded edges.

A tape dispenser adapted to dispense lengths of adhesive tape having a generally uniform width, an adhesive bearing surface and a non-adhesive surface from a roll of adhesive tape wound upon a core comprising:

• a forward end supporting a cutter adapted to separate lengths of tape from the roll of tape;
• an edge folding guide having a first generally planar surface adapted to confront the non-adhesive surface of the lengths of adhesive tape, two inwardly facing surfaces generally perpendicular to the first generally planar surface, the two inwardly facing surfaces having ends proximal the cutter and distal the cutter and converging toward one another from the distal ends to the proximal ends, two guide members, one guide member adjacent to each inwardly facing surface, the guide members, the inwardly facing surfaces and the first generally planar surface defining guide slots adapted to engage the edges of the lengths of tape and fold the edges of the lengths of tape in longitudinal folds with portions of the adhesive bearing surface confronting one another;
• and,
• a compression element between the guide slots and the cutter adapted to apply pressure to the lengths of tape bringing the confronting adhesive surface portions into contact.