Tape applicator

A tape applicator for applying tape to a substrate, the tape applicator comprising a pair of nip rollers wherein the nip rollers comprise a tape roller and a substrate roller defining a nip therebetween, the tape applicator further comprising a tension roller of a substantially same length as the substrate roller and disposed in front of the substrate roller to tension the substrate evenly across a width of the substrate, the tension roller being mounted on arms rotatably mounted to a frame such that the tension roller being rotatable between an operational condition in which the weight of the tension roller urges the substrate into contact with the substrate roller and a passive condition in which the tension roller is positioned away from the substrate roller, wherein the longitudinal axis of the tension roller is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the substrate roller in both the operational condition and the passive condition, the tension roller being located below the nip in the operational condition so as to direct the substrate at a rising angle into contact with the substrate roller prior to feeding between the nip rollers, a tape feed assembly mounted above the tape roller to support a roll of tape above the tape roller with an axis of rotation of the roll of tape substantially co-planar with at least the tape roller, the tape fed over the tape roller and between the nip rollers to allow the tape roller to tension the tape, and a drive for rotating the nip rollers.