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US 6,884,312 B2Granted
Apparatus for printing and applying tape and methods of printing and applying tape
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsMichael R. Mitchell, Steven G. Lucht, Lloyd S. Vasilakes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for printing and applying tape. A preferred embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus that includes a printer for printing on tape, a tape puller that pulls the printed tape out from the printer, and an applicator that applies the printed tape to an object. The present invention also generally relates to methods of printing and applying tape to objects.
Claims38
An apparatus for printing and applying tape, comprising:
- a tape supply holder;
- a printer for printing on tape;
- a tape puller for pulling printed tape from said printer, said tape puller being laterally moveable relative to said printer;
- a tape cutter for cutting tape pulled from said printer;
- a tape applicator for applying the printed tape to an object, said tape applicator being adapted to contact only one side of the printed tape;
- and
- a vacuum system for holding the printed tape prior to application on an object.
4 more elements
An apparatus for printing and applying tape, comprising:
- a tape supply holder;
- a printer;
- a gripper;
- a cutter having cutting elements;
- a first actuator for moving said gripper from a first position between said cutting elements to a second position distant from said cutter;
- and
- a tape applicator.
4 more elements
A method of printing and applying tape, comprising the steps of:
- providing tape;
- gripping the tape with a laterally moveable tape puller;
- printing on a segment of the tape with a printer, wherein the tape segment is gripped by the tape puller prior to printing;
- pulling the printed tape segment under tension from the printer with the tape puller;
- cutting the printed tape segment;
- and
- applying printed tape to an object.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.