Sealing packages using tape and pull cord

A tape head for a carton sealer,

• a. the tape head including:
• i. a tape roll holder configured to receive a roll of adhesive tape;
• ii. a spool holder configured to receive a spool of pull cord;
• iii. a retractable cutting arm positioned between a retractable forward applying roller and a retractable rear applying roller, the cutting arm:
• 1) having a tape blade and a pull cord blade;
• and
• 2) being movable between a cutting arm retracted position and a cutting arm extended position, the cutting arm being biased towards the cutting arm extended position;
• b. wherein:
• i. the tape head is configured to seal a carton with a pull cord sandwiched between an adhesive tape and the carton;
• and
• ii. the cutting arm is configured to cut a pull cord and an adhesive tape after the cutting arm has started moving from the cutting arm retracted position towards the cutting arm extended position so as to provide a pull tab extending out from between the carton and the adhesive tape.

A tape head for a carton sealer,

• a. the tape head including:
• i. a roll of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, the tape extending:
• 1) lengthwise from a tape first end to a tape second end;
• and
• 2) widthwise from a tape first side to a tape second side;
• ii. a pull cord spool having a pull cord;
• iii. a collar guide configured to support the pull cord on a path from the pull cord spool to the tape as the pull cord:
• 1) extends lengthwise along a portion of the tape between the tape first end and the tape second end;
• and
• 2) is positioned between the tape first side and the tape second side;
• and
• iv. a cutting arm having a tape blade and a separate pull cord blade;
• b. wherein when the tape head is received in a carton sealer, the tape head is configured:
• i. to seal a carton such that the pull cord is sandwiched between the tape and the carton;
• and
• ii. such that as a carton moves through a carton sealer, the pull cord blade severs the pull cord from the pull cord spool before the tape blade severs the tape from the roll of tape.