Hand-carried taping machine with non-powered guide system

A hand-carried taping machine for taping an elongated object, the hand-carried taping machine comprising:

• a body defining an opening to one side of the body that extends in an outward direction from a closed inner end, wherein an application axis extends generally perpendicular to the outward direction of the opening in the body;
• a powered gear set operably coupled to the body and powered by a drive system;
• an applicator head including:
• a substantially C-shaped, toothed gear in meshing engagement with the powered gear set such that the substantially C-shaped, toothed gear rotates about the application axis under control of the drive system,
• a tape reel mount for rotatably mounting a reel of tape on the substantially C-shaped, toothed gear for rotation about the application axis and application of the tape to the elongated object, wherein the tape reel mount includes a substantially C-shaped mounting plate coupled to the substantially C-shaped, toothed gear, the substantially C-shaped mounting plate further including an exposed, radially exterior, substantially circumferentially even bearing surface;
• a plurality of rolling bearings mounted to the body about the opening in the body, wherein the exposed, radially exterior, substantially circumferentially even bearing surface of the substantially C-shaped mounting plate engages at least one of the plurality of rolling bearings;
• and
• a non-powered guide system operably coupled to the body for guiding the applicator head along the elongated object with transient engagement with the elongated object such that the elongated objected is maintained in a vicinity of the reel of tape.

A hand-carried taping machine for taping an elongated object, the hand-carried taping machine comprising:

• a body defining an opening to one side of the body that extends in an outward direction from a closed inner end, wherein an application axis extends generally perpendicular to the outward direction of the opening in the body;
• a powered gear set operably coupled to the body and powered by a drive system;
• an applicator head including:
• a substantially C-shaped, toothed gear in meshing engagement with the powered gear set such that the substantially C-shaped, toothed gear rotates about the application axis under control of the drive system, and
• a tape reel mount for rotatably mounting a reel of tape on the substantially C-shaped, toothed gear for rotation about the application axis and application of the tape to the elongated object, wherein the tape reel mount includes a substantially C-shaped mounting plate coupled to the substantially C-shaped, toothed gear, the substantially C-shaped mounting plate further including an exposed, radially exterior, substantially circumferentially even bearing surface engaged with a bearing;
• and
• a non-powered guide system operably coupled to the body, the non-powered guide system including a plurality of rollers for transient rolling engagement with the elongated object for guiding the applicator head along the elongated object with transient engagement with the elongated object such that the elongated object is maintained in a vicinity of the reel of tape.