Tape edge folding roller
A tape applicator configured for applying a tape to a carton (e.g., for sealing and/or assembling the carton). The tape applicator may include an edge folder assembly having an edge folder roller operatively coupled to a support member that allows the edge folder roller to rotate around the support member. The edge folder assembly may also include an alignment assembly (e.g., a self-alignment assembly) that allows the edge folder roller to move axially along the support member. The alignment assembly may comprise one or more biasing members (e.g., springs, or the like) and/or one or more restraining members (e.g., washers, or the like) to aid in allowing the edge folder roller to rotate and/or move axially with respect to the one or more support members in order to account for shifting of the tape transversely through the tape applicator.
1. An edge folder roller assembly comprising:
one or more roller support members;
an edge folder roller operatively coupled to the one or more roller support members to allow rotation of the edge folder roller with respect to the one or more roller support members, wherein the edge folder roller comprises an inner portion and one or more outer projections; and
an alignment assembly operatively coupled to the edge folder roller or the one or more roller support members, wherein the alignment assembly allows the edge folder roller to move axially with respect to the one or more roller support members;
wherein the edge folder roller receives tape and the one or more outer projections folds at least one edge of the tape as the tape moves over the edge folder roller.
2. The edge folder roller assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more outer projections comprise:
a first outer projection adjacent a first end of the inner portion; and
a second outer projection adjacent a second end of the inner portion;
wherein the first outer projection folds a first edge of the tape and the second outer projection folds a second edge of the tape.
3. The edge folder roller assembly of claim 2 , wherein the inner portion comprises an inner portion surface, and wherein the inner portion surface is a convex surface.
4. The edge folder roller assembly of claim 2 , wherein the one or more outer projections have an inner projection surface and an outer projection surface, and wherein the inner projection surface is a concave surface.
5. The edge folder roller assembly of claim 1 , wherein the alignment assembly comprises:
one or more biasing members operatively coupled adjacent a first end or a second end of the edge folder roller.
6. The edge folder roller assembly of claim 5 , wherein the one or more biasing members comprises:
a first biasing member operatively coupled adjacent the first end of the edge folder roller;
a second biasing member operatively coupled adjacent the second end of the edge folder roller;
wherein the first biasing member and the second biasing member are operatively coupled to the one or more roller support members; and
wherein the first biasing member and the second biasing member allow the edge folder roller to move axially with respect to the one or more roller support members.
7. The edge folder roller assembly of claim 5 , wherein the one or more biasing members are springs.
8. The edge folder roller assembly of claim 5 , wherein the alignment assembly further comprises:
one or more restraining members operatively coupled to the one or more biasing members, wherein the one or more restraining members aid in allowing the one or more biasing members to align the edge folder roller.
9. The edge folder roller assembly of claim 8 , wherein the one or more restraining members comprise:
one or more first restraining members operatively coupled to a first biasing member; and
one or more second restraining members operatively coupled to a second biasing member.
10. The edge folder roller assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a mounting member operatively coupled to the one or more roller support members.
11. The edge folder roller assembly of claim 10 , further comprising:
a knurl roller operatively coupled to the mounting member, wherein the knurl roller only rotates in the forward direction to allow the tape to move downstream and aid in preventing the tape from moving upstream.
12. The edge folder roller assembly of claim 10 , further comprising:
one or more guide rollers operatively coupled to the mounting member, wherein the one or more guide rollers aid in moving the tape downstream and setting a leg length of the tape.
13. A tape applicator, comprising:
an edge folder roller assembly, comprising:
one or more roller support members; and
an edge folder roller operatively coupled to the one or more roller support members to allow rotation of the edge folder roller with respect to the one or more roller support members, wherein the edge folder roller comprises:
an inner portion;
one or more outer projections; and
an alignment assembly operatively coupled to the edge folder roller or the one or more roller support members, wherein the alignment assembly allows the edge folder roller to move axially with respect to the one or more roller support members; and
wherein the edge folder roller receives tape and the one or more outer projections fold at least one edge of the tape as the tape moves over the edge folder roller before the tape applicator applies the tape to a carton.
14. The tape applicator of claim 13 , wherein the one or more outer projections comprise:
a first outer projection adjacent a first end of the inner portion; and
a second outer projection adjacent a second end of the inner portion;
wherein the first outer projection folds a first edge of the tape and the second outer projection folds a second edge of the tape.
15. The tape applicator of claim 13 , wherein the alignment assembly comprises:
one or more biasing members operatively coupled adjacent a first end or a second end of the edge folder roller.
16. The tape applicator of claim 15 , wherein the alignment assembly further comprises:
one or more restraining members operatively coupled to the one or more biasing members, wherein the one or more restraining members aid in allowing the one or more biasing members to align the edge folder roller.
17. A method of folding an edge of tape, the method comprising:
receiving tape in an edge folder roller assembly, wherein the edge folder roller assembly comprises:
one or more roller support members; and
an edge folder roller operatively coupled to the one or more roller support members, wherein the edge folder roller comprises an inner portion and one or more outer projections; and
folding one or more edges of the tape with the one or more outer projections as the tape moves longitudinally over the edge folder roller and the edge folder roller rotates with respect to the one or more roller support members;
moving the edge folder roller axially with respect to the one or more roller support members as the tape moves laterally with respect to the one or more roller support members during operation of the edge folder roller assembly as the tape is moving longitudinally over the edge folder roller.
18. An edge folder roller assembly comprising:
one or more roller support members; and
an edge folder roller operatively coupled to the one or more roller support members to allow rotation of the edge folder roller with respect to the one or more roller support members, wherein the edge folder roller comprises:
an inner portion comprising an inner portion surface, wherein the inner portion surface is a convex surface;
a first outer projection adjacent a first end of the inner portion; and
a second outer projection adjacent a second end of the inner portion;
wherein the edge folder roller receives tape, and wherein the first outer projection folds a first edge of the tape and the second outer projection folds a second edge of the tape.
19. A method of folding an edge of tape, the method comprising:
receiving tape in an edge folder roller assembly, wherein the edge folder roller assembly comprises:
one or more roller support members; and
an edge folder roller operatively coupled to the one or more roller support members to allow rotation of the edge folder roller with respect to the one or more roller support members, wherein the edge folder roller comprises:
an inner portion comprising an inner portion surface, wherein the inner portion surface is a convex surface;
a first outer projection adjacent a first end of the inner portion; and
a second outer projection adjacent a second end of the inner portion;
folding a first edge of the tape using the first outer projection and a second edge of the tape using the second outer projection as the tape moves longitudinally over the edge folder roller and the edge folder roller rotates with respect to the one or more roller support members.
20. An edge folder roller assembly comprising:
one or more roller support members; and
an edge folder roller operatively coupled to the one or more roller support members to allow rotation of the edge folder roller with respect to the one or more roller support members, wherein the edge folder roller comprises:
an inner portion;
a first outer projection adjacent a first end of the inner portion; and
a second outer projection adjacent a second end of the inner portion;
wherein the first outer projection and the second outer projection have an inner projection surface and an outer projection surface, and wherein the inner projection surface is a concave surface;
wherein the edge folder roller receives tape, and wherein the first outer projection folds a first edge of the tape and the second outer projection folds a second edge of the tape.
21. A method of folding an edge of tape, the method comprising:
receiving tape in an edge folder roller assembly, wherein the edge folder roller assembly comprises:
one or more roller support members; and
an edge folder roller operatively coupled to the one or more roller support members to allow rotation of the edge folder roller with respect to the one or more roller support members, wherein the edge folder roller comprises:
an inner portion;
a first outer projection adjacent a first end of the inner portion; and
a second outer projection adjacent a second end of the inner portion;
wherein the first outer projection and the second outer projection have an inner projection surface and an outer projection surface, and wherein the inner projection surface is a concave surface;
folding a first edge of the tape using the first outer projection and a second edge of the tape using the second outer projection as the tape moves longitudinally over the edge folder roller and the edge folder roller rotates with respect to the one or more roller support members.