System and method for advancing thermoplastic adhesive segment dispensing tape and applying adhesive segments thereby

An adhesive segment dispensing apparatus, comprising:

• (a) a housing comprising a main housing portion and a housing door pivotally secured to the main housing portion;
• (b) a tape supply spool comprising a supporting core having a first end rotatably mounted directly on to the main housing portion of the housing and a second end spaced apart from the housing door;
• (c) a roll of flexible carrier release tape removably positioned directly on to the supporting core of the tape supply spool, the roll of flexible carrier release tape extending longitudinally having a transverse width, opposed first and second release surfaces, and a plurality of adhesive segments arrayed non-contiguously in a longitudinally spaced-apart progression along the first release surface of the carrier release tape;
• (d) a take-up spool comprising an accumulating core having a first end rotatably mounted to the main housing portion of the housing and a second end spaced apart from the housing door, the second end including a tape retainer mounted thereto, wherein the take up spool is spaced apart from the tape supply spool, receives an end of the flexible carrier release tape, and is coupled to the tape supply spool with a belt such that rotation of the tape supply spool drives rotation of the take-up spool, wherein the tape supply spool and the take-up spool rotate in the same direction;
• and
• (e) an adhesive dispensing wheel rotatably mounted to the main housing portion of the housing, such that the tape supply spool is located between the take-up spool and the adhesive dispensing wheel;
• wherein the tape supply spool, take-up spool, and adhesive dispensing wheel are mounted with respect to each other within the main housing portion of the housing such that the flexible carrier release tape from the roll of flexible carrier release tape held on the supply spool is extended from the supply spool, around the adhesive dispensing wheel, and onto the take-up spool such that rotation of the supply spool to advance the carrier release tape to position an adhesive segment at the adhesive dispensing wheel to be applied to a work piece therefrom rotates the take-up spool to wind carrier release tape with the adhesive segments removed therefrom around the take-up spool.