Method for continuously manufacturing tape strip folded about a ring

A method for continuously manufacturing a folded tape strip with a ring, comprising the steps of:

• (a) successively supplying rings to a tape strip folding section via a ring supply path;
• (b) intermittently feeding, in response to intermittent driven rotation of tape drawer rollers, a continuous tape by a predetermined length at a time from a tape supply section to said tape strip folding section;
• (c) inserting a leading end portion of the continuous tape through the ring at said tape strip folding section while the continuous tape is fed;
• (d) stopping said feeding of the continuous tape when the continuous tape has been fed by said predetermined length;
• (e) severing said predetermined length of tape strip off the continuous tape, by a cutter operable when said feeding of the continuous tape is stopped, with the leading end portion of the continuous tape being inserted through the ring at the tape strip folding section;
• (f) folding the tape strip on itself through the ring by a tape strip bending means at the tape strip folding section;
• (g) fusing at least part of a laminate portion of the folded tape strip;
• and
• (h) discharging the resulting folded tape strip with the ring out of a folded tape strip manufacturing machine.