Tape Head for Sealing Cases

Abstract

Structural and operational techniques for a tape head sealer are described herein. In one example, a tape head utilizes a first actuator to drive leading and trailing rollers and a second actuator to drive a tape-cutting knife. In some examples, the actuators may be air-powered cylinders. However, solenoids, hydraulics, motors and/or other devices may be used as actuators. In the example, a first air-powered cylinder may drive the leading and trailing rollers and a second air-powered cylinder may drive the tape-cutting knife. The leading and trailing rollers press tape against the case to thereby adhere the tape to the case to seal it. The second air-powered cylinder may extend a tape-cutting knife to cut the tape. After the tape has been cut, the knife may be retracted.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tape head, comprising:
 leading and trailing rollers;   a roller-controlling actuator to move the leading and trailing rollers;   a knife to cut tape; and   a knife-controlling actuator to move the knife;   wherein the roller-controlling actuator and the knife-controlling actuator operate the leading and trailing rollers to press the tape against flaps of a case and to cut the tape, respectively.   
     
     
         2 . The tape head of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the roller-controlling actuator and the knife-controlling actuator are air-powered cylinders. 
     
     
         3 . The tape head of  claim 1 , wherein the roller-controlling actuator is an air-powered cylinder powered by compressed air and configured to allow the compressed air to be introduced, in an alternating manner, to each end of the air-powered cylinder. 
     
     
         4 . The tape head of  claim 1 , additionally comprising:
 a linkage between the leading and trailing rollers to cause the leading and trailing rollers to move in simultaneously.   
     
     
         5 . The tape head of  claim 1 , wherein the leading roller is configured to press the tape against a leading side and a top side of the case, and wherein the trailing roller is configured to press the tape against the top side and a trailing side of the case. 
     
     
         6 . The tape head of  claim 1 , wherein the leading and trailing rollers are supported by first and second support arms, respectively, and pivot about first and second pivots, respectively, and wherein the first and second support arms are connected by a connecting linkage. 
     
     
         7 . The tape head of  claim 1 , wherein the leading and trailing rollers are supported by first and second support arms, respectively, and pivot about first and second pivots, to press tape against a leading side of the case, a top of the case, and a trailing side of the case. 
     
     
         8 . A method, comprising:
 under control of one or more processors configured with executable instructions:   positioning a leading roller to contact an advancing case by operation of an actuator;   pressing a first end of a piece of tape against a leading side of a case by operation of the leading roller;   pressing the tape against adjacent flaps of a top of the case by operation of the leading roller;   pressing the tape against adjacent flaps of the top of the case by operation of a trailing roller; and   pressing a second end of the piece of tape against a trailing side of the case by operation of the trailing roller.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , additionally comprising:
 lowering a knife into a position to cut the tape, wherein the knife is moved by operation of an air cylinder.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , additionally comprising:
 extending a tape guide to position tape for contact with a second case.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein operation of the leading roller and operation of the trailing roller comprises moving in response to first and second support arms, respectively, and pivoting about first and second pivots, respectively, and wherein the moving and the pivoting is driven at least in part by a connecting linkage. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein operation of the leading roller and operation of the trailing roller comprises moving in response to first and second support arms, respectively, and pivoting about first and second pivots, respectively, and wherein the moving and the pivoting positions the leading roller and the trailing roller at similar elevations as they move. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the actuator comprises an air-powered cylinder. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein operation of the leading roller and operation of the trailing roller is based at least in part on programming controlling operation of the actuator. 
     
     
         15 . A tape head, comprising:
 a leading roller, to move on a first support arm about a first pivot, wherein the leading roller is configured to press tape against a leading side and a top side of a case;   a trailing roller, to move on a second support arm about a second pivot, wherein the trailing roller is configured to press the tape against the top side and a trailing side of the case; and   a linkage to connect the first and second support arms of the leading roller and the trailing roller, respectively, and to move the leading roller and the trailing roller in response to action by a roller-controlling actuator;   wherein the roller-controlling actuator is configured to press the leading and trailing rollers against the tape to seal flaps of the case.   
     
     
         16 . The tape head of  claim 15 , wherein operation of the leading roller and operation of the trailing roller is based at least in part on programming controlling operation of the roller-controlling actuator. 
     
     
         17 . The tape head of  claim 15 , wherein the roller-controlling actuator is an air-powered cylinder powered by compressed air and configured to allow the compressed air to be introduced, in an alternating manner, to each end of the air-powered cylinder. 
     
     
         18 . The tape head of  claim 15 , wherein the roller-controlling actuator is operated in response to operation of a processing unit, memory and programming defined in the memory. 
     
     
         19 . The tape head of  claim 15 , additionally comprising:
 a tape guide configured to position tape for contact with a second case.   
     
     
         20 . The tape head of  claim 15 , additionally comprising:
 a knife to cut the tape; and   a knife-controlling actuator to move the knife.