Method for dispensing adhesive transfer tape for engagement with a moving strip of photographic film prints

A method for dispensing pressure sensitive adhesive transfer tape composed of a transferable pressure sensitive adhesive layer and a releasable backing strip, comprising the steps of:

• dispensing a strip of adhesive transfer tape;
• directing the dispensed tape strip into a course of travel aligned with the direction of travel to be taken by a strip of photographic film prints as it enters a film cutter;
• and guiding the tape strip by confining and guiding it along an elongated path in the course of travel into superimposed registry with the back of the photographic print strip during said directing step, so as to bring progressively the adhesive layer of the tape strip and the back of the protographic print strip into face-to-face engagement with each other as they are drawn conjointly into the film cutter.

In a film cutting method, including the steps of advancing intermittantly a photographic print strip, applying pressure to the print strip as it is advanced, and severing individual photographic film prints from the print strip, the improvement comprising the steps of:

• dispensing a strip of pressure sensitive adhesive transfer tape composed of a transferable pressure sensitive adhesive layer and a releasable backing strip, directing the tape strip into a course of travel aligned with the direction of travel to be taken by the print strip as it is advanced, and guiding the tape strip by confining and guiding it along an elongated path in the course of travel into superimposed registry with the back of the print strip during said directing step, so as to bring progressively the adhesive layer of the tape strip and the back of the print strip into face-to-face adhesive engagement with each other as they are drawn together during said pressure applying step, whereupon the tape strip may be advanced conjointly with the print strip for severance into individual film prints with pressure sensitive adhesive tape backing.

In a method of cutting photographic prints including the step of advancing a strip of photographic film prints, the steps of progressively applying two spaced apart pressure sensitive adhesive transfer tape strips, each composed of a transferable pressure sensitive adhesive layer and a releasable backing strip, to the back face of the advancing print strip parallel to the length thereof, simultaneously severing individual prints and portions of the tape strips applied thereto from the print and tape strips, respectively, to thereby provide individual photographic prints having pressure sensitive transfer tape backing made up of parallel severed portions of the two tape strips, said applying step including the steps of dispensing the two tape strips, directing the dispensed tape strips into a course of travel aligned with the path of advance of the print strip, and guiding the tape strips by confining and guiding them in parallel coplanar alignment along an elongated path in the course of travel such that their adhesive layers and the back face of the print strip are progressively engaged in superimposed face-to-face relation as they are drawn conjointly toward a location at which said severing step is effected.