Apparatus and method for dispensing tape

An apparatus for dispensing elongated material from a roll of material, comprising:

• a first spool of elongated material having a trailing end portion and a first obstacle element secured to its trailing end portion;
• a second spool of elongated material having a leading end portion and a first catching mechanism secured to the leading end portion;
• and
• a support structure that supports the first catching mechanism while the first catching mechanism at least partially surrounds at least a portion of the elongate material from the first spool, the support structure including a holding member that releasably holds the first catching mechanism relative to the support structure,
• wherein the first obstacle element is sized to engage the first catching mechanism when the first obstacle element and the first catching mechanism are brought into contact with each other.

A method of splicing elongate material in a dispenser, the method comprising:

• providing a first spool of elongate material in a first position on a dispenser, the first spool having a trailing end portion and a first obstacle element secured to its trailing end portion;
• dispensing material from the first spool;
• providing a second spool of elongate material in a second position, the second spool having a leading end portion and a first catching mechanism secured to the leading end portion, the second spool also having a trailing end portion with a second obstacle element secured to its trailing end portion;
• providing a third spool of elongated material having a leading end portion and a second catching mechanism secured to its leading end portion;
• placing the first catching mechanism of the second spool around material being dispensed from the first spool;
• placing the second catching mechanism of the third spool around the leading end portion of the second spool;
• positioning the first and second catching mechanisms in a splicing area, the splicing area being defined by an outer envelope, the outer envelope comprising a perimeter defined by the outer edges of the first, second, and third spools of elongate materials,
• wherein the act of positioning the first and second catching mechanisms in the splicing area includes supporting the leading end portions of the second and third spools on a support member in the splicing area and the first, second, and third spools can dispense material in a continuous feed.