Method and apparatus for manufacturing a tape strip folded about a workpiece

A machine for continuously manufacturing tape strips having at least at one end a portion folded through an aperture of a workpiece, comprising:

• a tape supply section accommodating a continuous tape;
• a tape feed unit adapted to supply tape along a tape traveling pat;
• a workpiece receiving device adapted to hold the workpiece and position the aperture of the workpiece in the tape traveling path;
• first and second tape folders oppositely positioned on each side of the workpiece receiving device, the first and second tape folders movable from a first position not in the tape traveling path to a second position in the tape traveling path;
• a tape fusing member positioned adjacent to the workpiece receiving device and the tape traveling path;
• and
• a first gripping arm having first and second opposed members, the first gripping arm movable between a first location wherein the first and second opposed members fold the tape into contact with the tape fusing member while the tape folders are in the second position and a second location wherein the first gripping arm ejects the manufactured tape strip.

A machine for continuously manufacturing a tape strip having at one end a portion folded through an aperture of a workpiece, comprising:

• a tape supply section accommodating a continuous tape;
• a tape feed unit adapted to supply tape along a tape traveling path;
• a workpiece receiving device movable between a first position for receiving the workpiece and a second position adjacent to the tape feed unit;
• a workpiece supply path along which workpieces are successively supplied to the workpiece receiving device at the first position;
• first and second tape folders oppositely positioned on each side of the workpiece receiving device, the first and second tape folders movable between a first position not in the tape traveling path and a second position in the tape traveling path;
• a tape fusing member positioned adjacent to the second position of the workpiece receiving device;
• a first gripping arm having first and second opposed members which move from an open position for surrounding the tape strip and a second position for gripping the tape strip, the first gripping arm movable to a second location for ejecting the manufactured tape strip;
• wherein the first and second opposed members of the first gripping arm further fold the tape into contact with the tape fusing member while the tape folders are in the second position.