US 6,854,497 B2 · Concentric tape applicator

Abstract

A concentric tape applicator has a support shaft that defines an axis and includes a structure for supporting a tape pad for rotation with the support shaft about the axis. Guide rollers are mounted on the support shaft for rotation concentrically about the axis for guiding tape from the tape pad for application to an elongated member advancing along the axis relative to the support shaft. A drive is directly coupled to the guide elements. A differential clutch is provided that has an input shaft directly coupled to the drive and an output shaft coupled to the support shaft for applying braking forces to the pad. A feedback circuit is provided for sensing the speed of rotation of the pad and applying a feedback signal to the clutch for regulating the excitation of the clutch to maintain a substantial uniform tension on the tape dispensed from the pad so potentially independently of the amount of tape remaining on the pad.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A concentric tape applicator comprising a support shaft defining an axis and including means for supporting a tape pad for rotation with said support shaft about said axis;

guide means mounted on a said support shaft for rotation concentrically about said axis for guiding tape from the tape pad for application to an elongated member advancing along said axis relative to said support shaft;
a drive means directly coupled to said guide means;
a differential clutch having an input shaft directly coupled to said drive means and an output shaft coupled to said support shaft for applying braking forces to said pad;
feedback means for sensing the speed of rotation of said pad and applying a feedback signal to said clutch to maintain a substantially uniform tension on the tape dispensed from the pad substantially independently of the amount of tape remaining in the pad.

1 more element

A concentric tape applicator comprising a support shaft defining an axis for rotation and including means for supporting a plurality of tape pads axially spaced from each other along said axis for rotation on said support shaft;

guide means for each tape pad mounted on said support shaft for rotation concentrically about said axis for guiding tape from each of said tape pads for application to an elongated member advancing along said axis relative to said support shaft;
drive means directly coupled to said guide means;
a plurality of differential clutches one for each of said plurality of tape pads, each differential clutch having an input shaft directly coupled to said drive and an output shaft, said means for supporting the tape pads comprising at least one independent bearing system for at least one of said plurality of tape pads to allow for independent rotational speeds of each of the tape pads and defining a rotating member the rotational speed of which corresponds to the rotational speed of its associated tape pad, said output shaft of each clutch being coupled to said rotating member of an associated tape pad for applying braking forces to the pad;
feedback means for sensing the speed of rotation of each taping pad and associated rotating member and applying a feedback signal to an associated clutch for maintaining a substantially uniform tension on a tape on an associated tape pad substantially independently of the amount of tape remaining on such tape pad.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Concentric tape applicator

Life of this patent

Concentric tape applicator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19