Taping machine for wire harness

Apparatus for applying tape to wire harnesses comprising:

• a body (3) defining a first mouth (3a) opening to one side of the body (3) and extending in an outward direction from a closed inner end, the body (3) having an axis (A) generally perpendicular to said outward direction of the mouth (3a) and intersecting an inner end portion of the mouth;
• at least two toothed gears (17) mounted on the body (3) each for rotation about a respective axis (18);
• a head (1, 5, 16) comprising a support (5) with a gear disposed around the support and in meshing engagement with said at least two gears (17), the head (1, 5, 16) being supported for rotation about said axis (A), the head (1, 5, 16) defining a second mouth (1a) opening to one side of the head (1, 15, 16) and extending in an outward direction from a closed inner end of the second mouth (1a), an inner end portion of said second mouth (1a) being intersected by said axis (A) whereby the inner end portions of said first and second mouths (1a, 3a) are in register one with the other;
• mounting means (6, 8) on the head (1, 5, 16) for mounting a reel (28) of tape on the head for rotation about an axis (B) parallel with the axis (A), the axis (B) disposed radially outwardly of the axis (A);
• drive means (9, 11, 12) adapted to rotate said at least two gears (17) in synchronism whereby to cause said gears (17) to rotate said head about said axis (A), and
• counterbalance means (4) mounted on the head (1, 5, 16) substantially diametrically opposite the mounting means (6, 8) for the reel (28) of tape, said counterbalance means (4) comprising counterbalance weight (2) mounted for movement in a direction generally towards and away from the axis (A) and control means (21, 22, 24, 26) for detecting the diameter of tape carried by a reel (28) mounted on said mounting means (6, 8) and for moving the counterbalance weight (2) to a position to substantially counterbalance said reel (28) of tape.