WO2005090164A1

WO2005090164A1 - Apparatus for wrapping adhesive tape around articles

Info

Publication number: WO2005090164A1
Application number: PCT/AU2005/000425
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert Borsato; Giovanni Moriconi; William Edward Seawright
Original assignee: Robert & Karen Borsato Pty Limited; Ibs Engineering Supplies Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2004-03-23
Filing date: 2005-03-23
Publication date: 2005-09-29

Abstract

A taping apparatus (1) for wrapping adhesive tape (2) around one or more articles. The apparatus (1) includes: a rotatable tape dispenser (5) for receiving a roll of adhesive tape (60) and for wrapping the tape (2) around at least one article by rotating relative to the article about an axis; a roller assembly (7) having a roller (70) to which a leading end of the tape (2) is releasably attached, said roller (70) being spaced from the tape dispenser (5) and rotatable about an axis that is substantially parallel to the axis about which the tape dispenser (5} rotates; a retainer (8) movable to releasably engage the roller assembly (7), wherein at the beginning of a wrapping operation the retainer (8) engages the roller assembly (7) and stops the leading end of the tape (2) detaching from the roller (70), and during the wrapping operation the retainer (8) disengages from the roller assembly (7) such that the leading end of the tape (2) detaches from the roller (70) and a trailing region of the tape (2) is detachably attached to the roller (70); a tape positioner (9) for detaching the leading end from the roller (70) after the retainer (8) has disengaged from the roller assembly (7); and a tape cutter (11) for providing a new leading end for the tape (2) when the retainer (8) re-engages the roller assembly (7) at the end of the wrapping operation.

Description

APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING ADHESIVE TAPE AROUND ARTICLES

This invention relates to a taping apparatus for wrapping adhesive tape around one or more articles. In particular, the invention concerns a taping apparatus for labelling an article with adhesive tape and/or for binding two or more articles together with tape.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Wrapping adhesive tape around one or more articles for labelling or packaging purposes is usually done by hand. Disadvantages of labelling or packaging articles by hand include that it is time consuming and inconvenient, as the tape first needs to be extended around the article or articles and then the tape needs to be cut. The present inventors have now invented a taping apparatus for wrapping adhesive tape around one or more articles that minimises the disadvantages referred to above, or provides the consumer with a useful or commercial choice. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a taping apparatus for wrapping adhesive tape around one or more articles, said apparatus including: a rotatable tape dispenser for receiving a roll of adhesive tape and for wrapping the tape around at least one article by rotating relative to the article about an axis; a roller assembly having a roller to which a leading end of the tape is releasably attached, said roller being spaced from the tape dispenser and rotatable about an axis that is substantially parallel to the axis about which the tape dispenser rotates; a retainer movable to releasably engage the roller assembly, wherein at the beginning of a wrapping operation the retainer engages the roller assembly and stops the leading end of the tape detaching from the roller, and during the wrapping operation the retainer disengages from the roller assembly such that the leading end of the tape detaches from the roller and a trailing region of the tape is detachably attached to the roller; a tape positioner for detaching the leading end from the roller after the retainer has disengaged from the roller assembly; and a tape cutter for providing a new leading end for the tape when the retainer re-engages the roller assembly at the end of the wrapping operation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The tape dispenser may be of any suitable size, shape and construction, and may be rotated in any suitable way. Preferably, the tape dispenser includes a radial disk cam, the roll of tape is rotatably mounted to the disk cam, and the tape is dispensed as the disk cam rotates. The roll of tape may be rotatably mounted to the disk cam in any suitable way. The disk cam may have a radially extending opening such as a slot. A spool of the roll of tape may be mounted for rotation within the disk cam opening such that the tape is dispensed substantially perpendicularly to the direction of rotation of the disk cam. The disk cam may have a proximal face and a distal face, each of which may have an elliptical pathway provided by a respective groove and/or a periphery of the disk cam. The dispenser may include at least one tape guide for correctly orientating the tape as it unravels from the spool, such that the tape wraps around and adheres to the article. Although the guide may be of any suitable shape, preferably the guide has a stem portion extending from the proximal face of the disk cam and a guide portion extending from the stem portion, and the tape slides around the guide portion. The dispenser may have two or more tape guides if the roll of tape is mounted such that an axis about which the spool rotates extends parallel to the axis about which the disk rotates. The dispenser may be rotated by hand and/or using a drive. Preferably the apparatus includes a drive and a shaft of the disk cam is coupled to an output shaft of the drive. Any suitable drive may be used. Preferably, the drive is an electric motor and, when activated, the output shaft initially rotates through 360 degrees. Such electric motors are commonly used in vehicles to move windscreen wipers. The apparatus may include an article support for supporting at least one article such that the article extends from the support towards the disk cam. The article support may be of any suitable size, shape and construction. The article support may be, for instance, a platform, a table, a bay, or a pair of opposed jaws such as a pair of tongs. Preferably, the article support is a platform for supporting one or more articles. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a movable support, such as a conveyor belt, so that the labelling or packaging of articles may be automated. The article or articles may be fresh produce (e.g. bananas, celery or asparagus) or manufactured items. The apparatus may include a housing having a first sidewall to which the roller assembly is connected, a second sidewall to which the disk cam and drive are connected, a bottom wall, and a non-linear rear wall extending between the first and second sidewalls to which the retainer, the tape positioner and cutter are connected. The article may extend within a central opening of the housing. The article support, such as a platform, table or bay, may extend from the first sidewall. The housing may include a cover or hood that may be raised or lowered relative to the rear wall. The roller assembly may be of any suitable size, shape and construction. A shaft of the roller assembly may extend through the roller. An end of the shaft may be connected to the first sidewall of the housing. The roller assembly may include a brake that, when engaged by the retainer, prevents the roller from rotating about the shaft. Any suitable type of brake may be used. Preferably, the brake includes a coil spring extending about an end of the shaft and a washer positioned between the roller and the coil spring, and when the retainer engages the coil spring, the washer bears against the roller. The cutter may be of any suitable size, shape and construction. Preferably, the cutter is a stainless steel blade having a sharp edge which cuts the tape to produce a cut end and the new leading end for the tape. The retainer may be of any suitable size, shape and construction. The retainer may include an actuating lever which moves into and out of engagement with the roller assembly. The actuating lever may extend parallel to the proximal face of the disk cam. The actuating lever may have a recess within which the coil spring of the brake locates when the retainer engages the roller assembly. The retainer may include a stopper which holds the leading end of the tape against the roller when the retainer engages the roller assembly. Preferably, the stopper is a strip or block of rubber which extends parallel to the roller. The retainer may include a first arm extending parallel to the roller and perpendicularly from the actuating lever, and the first arm may support the stopper as well as the cutter. The retainer may further move the cut end of the tape from the cutter to the article. This may be achieved in any suitable way. A second arm may extend parallel to the first arm adjacent the cutter and perpendicularly from the actuating lever, and the second arm may move the cut end of the tape towards the article. The second arm may provide a blast of air to blow the cut end of the tape against the article. The second arm may have an air passage extending longitudinally therethrough and a plurality of air passage outlets may extend along the second arm. Alternatively, rather than using a blast of air, rubber fingers extending from the second arm may push the cut end of the tape against the article. The retainer may be moved into and out of engagement with the roller assembly in any suitable way. For example, the apparatus may include a solenoid, a motor or a hydraulic cylinder for moving the retainer. Preferably, movement of the retainer is controlled by the disk cam. More preferably, the retainer includes a pin or a roller follower which follows the elliptical pathway at the proximal face of the disk cam. The retainer may include a linkage connecting the actuating lever to the follower. The linkage may include a cam lever connected to the roller follower, and a shaft interconnecting the actuating and cam levers. The actuating and cam levers may extend parallel to one another and may pivot about the shaft. The tape positioner may be of any suitable size, shape and construction. The tape positioner may include an arm extending parallel to the roller for detaching the leading end of the tape from the roller and moving the leading end towards the article. The arm may provide a blast of air to blow the leading end of the tape against the article. The arm may have an air passage extending longitudinally therethrough and a plurality of air passage outlets may extend along the arm. Alternatively, rather than using a blast of air, rubber fingers extending from the arm may push the leading end of the tape against the article. The tape positioner may be moved into and out of engagement with the leading end of the tape in any suitable way. For example, the apparatus may include a solenoid, a motor or a hydraulic cylinder for moving the tape positioner. Preferably, movement of the tape positioner is controlled by the disk cam. More preferably, the tape positioner includes a pin or a roller follower which follows the elliptical pathway at the distal face of the disk cam. The tape positioner may include an actuating lever extending parallel to the proximal face of the disk and the arm may extend perpendicularly from the actuating lever. The tape positioner may include a linkage connecting the actuating lever to the follower. The linkage may include a cam lever connected to the roller follower, and a shaft interconnecting the actuating and cam levers. The actuating and cam levers may extend parallel to one another and may pivot about the shaft. The apparatus may include a bearing block and the shafts of the linkages may extend through the bearing block. The shafts may pivot relative to the bearing block. The bearing block may be connected to the rear wall of the housing. The apparatus may include an air delivery system. Any suitable air delivery system may be used. The air delivery system may include a tank of compressed air, a respective hose extending from the air tank to the second arm of the retainer and to the arm of the tape positioner, and a valve for controlling the flow of air to the arms. The valve may be electrically coupled to the drive such that the valve is opened or closed at the required times during the wrapping operation. The apparatus may be powered in any suitable way. The apparatus may have a plug for connecting to a socket of a mains power supply, or the apparatus may be powered by a battery. The apparatus may include an electrical switch for activating the drive. The switch may be foot-operated. The apparatus may include one or more sensors such that the drive is actuated once an article is correctly positioned in or on the article support. For instance, the article may interrupt the beam of an infrared sensor, at which point the drive is activated. Alternatively, a pressure sensitive pad of the article support may control the drive. Automation of the labelling and/or packaging of articles may be achieved by using one or more sensors in combination with a movable article support or a machine which automatically loads and unloads the article support with articles. In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practice, preferred embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of part of a taping apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a front elevation view of the taping apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through plane A-A of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through plane B-B of Figure 2; Figure 5 is another perspective view of the taping apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a front elevation view of the taping apparatus of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken through plane C-C of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken through plane D-D of Figure 6; Figure 9 is an enlarged view of Figure 1 ; Figure 10 is an enlarged view of Figure 2; Figure 11 is the same as Figure 5 but showing how a cluster of bananas may be taped by the apparatus; Figure 12 shows a cluster of bananas taped by the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 13 is a perspective view of a taping apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention; Figure 14 is a front elevation view of the taping apparatus of Figure 13; and Figure 15 is a side elevation view of the taping apparatus shown in Figure 13. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like features. Figures 1 to 11 show an apparatus 1 for wrapping adhesive tape 2 around one or more articles, such as a cluster of bananas (as seen in Figure 11). The apparatus 1 includes a housing 3, an article support shelf 4 (best seen in Figures 5, 6 and 11), a tape dispenser 5 which includes a radial disk cam 6, a roller assembly 7 (best seen in Figures 3, 9 and 10), a retainer 8 (best seen in Figures 3, 9 and 10), a tape positioner 9 (best seen in Figures 3 and 10), a bearing block 10 (best seen in Figure 9), a cutter 11 (best seen in Figure 10), a drive 12, and an air delivery system (only shown in part). The apparatus 1 has a lead (not shown) which is connected to a mains supply of electricity. An electrical switch (not shown) is located above the shelf 4. Alternatively, or additionally, the apparatus may have a switch which is foot- operated. Housing 3 includes a first sidewall 31, a second sidewall 32 extending parallel to the first sidewall 31, a bottom wall 33 and a non-linear rear wall 34 extending between the first and second sidewalls 31, 32. As seen in Figures 5, 6 and 11, shelf 4 extends outwardly from the first sidewall 31. In order to wrap tape 2 around an article, the article is placed on the shelf 4 such that the article extends within an interior 15 of the housing 3, as seen in Figure 11. The disk cam 6 is mounted for rotation relative to the second sidewall 32. The disk cam 6 is rotated by the drive 12. The drive is an electric motor 12 having an output shaft (not labelled). As seen in Figure 2, a bracket 41 mounts the motor 12 to the second sidewall 32. A cam shaft housing 42 is connected to the second sidewall 32, a cam shaft 43 extends through the cam shaft housing 42 and has an end connected to the disk cam 6. A coupling 44 connects the output shaft to the other end of cam shaft 43. Each time the electric motor 6 is activated by the electrical switch, the output shaft rotates through 360 degrees and then stops. As seen in Figures 3, 4, 7 and 8, a proximal face 45 and a distal face 46 of the disk cam

6 each have an elliptical pathway 47 defined in part by a groove and a periphery of the disk cam 6. A slot 50 extends radially within the disk cam 6. The dispenser 5 is adapted to receive a roll of tape 60 and to dispense tape 2 from the roll 60. The dispenser 5 includes a bracket 62 and a tape guide 61, as seen in Figure 3. Bracket 62 mounts a spool (not labelled) of the roll of tape 60 within the slot 50 so that tape 2 is dispensed perpendicularly to the direction of rotation of the disk cam 6. The tape guide 61 has a stem portion 64 extending perpendicularly from the proximal face 45 of the disk cam 6 and a tape guiding portion 65 which extends from the stem portion 64 towards the roller assembly 7, so as to feed tape 2 around the article as the disk cam 6 rotates. The tape guiding portion 65 is a rod around which the tape 2 slides as the tape 2 is unravelled from the spool. The tape 2 that is dispensed by the dispenser 5 extends completely or almost completely around the article upon the disk cam 6 completing a revolution. As best viewed in Figures 9 and 10, roller assembly 7 has a roller 70 to which a leading end of the tape 2 is releasably attached. The roller assembly 7 further has a shaft 72 (bolt) extending completely through the roller 70 and a brake 73 for stopping the roller 70 from rotating about the shaft 72. Shaft 72 extends substantially parallel to the cam shaft 43. A nut 74 connects a threaded end of the shaft 72 to the first sidewall 31 adjacent the shelf 4. The brake 73 includes a washer 76 adjacent the roller 70 and a coil spring 77 extending between the washer 76 and an enlarged head 78 of the shaft 72. The brake 73 is activated when the retainer 8 compresses the coil spring 77 and the washer 76 bears against a side of the roller 70. The retainer 8 releasably engages the roller assembly 7. At the beginning of a wrapping operation, the retainer 8 holds the leading end of the tape 2 against the roller 70 and prevents the roller 70 from rotating, and during the wrapping operation the retainer 8 temporarily disengages the roller 70 such that a trailing region of the tape 2 may be extended between the roller 70 and the retainer 8 and attached to the roller 70. As best seen in Figures 2, 3, 6, 7 and 10, the retainer 8 includes first and second levers 81, 82, first and second arms 83, 84, a stopper 85, a shaft 86, and a roller follower 87 (shown clearly in Figures 5 and 9). The first and second levers 81, 82 extend parallel to the disk cam 6, the first and second arms 83, 84 extend perpendicularly from the first lever 81 and parallel to the roller 70, the shaft 86 extends from the first lever 81 to the second lever 82, and the roller follower 87 is connected to the second lever 82. The stopper 85 extends along the first arm 83 and consists of a strip of rubber 85. The roller follower 87 follows the elliptical pathway 47 at the proximal face 45 of the disk cam 6 and the pathway 47 determines the position of the first lever 81 and stopper 85. The first lever 81 has a recess 88 (see Figures 3 and 7) within which the coil spring 77 of the brake 73 locates when braking the roller 70. The cutter 11 is a stainless steel blade having a sharpened edge. As seen in Figure 10, cutter 11 is located on the first arm 83 of the retainer 8. The cutter 11 cuts the tape 2 and provides a cut end as well as a new leading end for the tape 2 after the dispenser 5 has extended tape 2 between the roller 70 and the retainer 8 and the retainer 8 has re-engaged the roller 70 at the end of the wrapping operation. The roller follower 87 also determines the position of the cutter 1 1. After the cutter 11 cuts the tape 2, the second arm 84 delivers a blast of air to blow a newly cut end of the tape 2 against the article. The second arm 84 has an air passage extending longitudinally therethrough (not shown), and a plurality of air passage outlets 89 extend along the length of the second arm 84. This is best seen in Figure 10. The tape positioner 9 moves the leading end of the tape 2 from the roller 70 onto the article after the retainer 8 has disengaged the roller assembly 7. As best seen in Figures 4, 8 and 9, the tape positioner 9 includes first and second levers 90, 91, an arm 92, a shaft 93, and a roller follower 94 (not clearly shown). The first and second levers 90, 91 extend parallel to the disk cam 6, the arm 92 extends parallel to the roller 70 and perpendicularly to the first lever 90, the shaft 93 extends from the first lever 90 to the second lever 91, and the roller follower 94 is connected to the second lever 91. The roller follower 94 follows the elliptical pathway 47 at the distal face 46 of the disk cam 6 and the pathway 47 determines the position of the arm 92. The arm 92 detaches the tape 2 from the roller 70 and then delivers a blast of air such that the leading end of the tape 2 is blown against the article. The arm 92 has an air passage extending longitudinally therethrough (not shown), and a plurality of air passage outlets (not labelled) extend along the length of the arm 92. As best seen in Figure 10, shaft 86 of the retainer 8 extends through a first passage of the bearing block 10 and the shaft 93 of the tape positioner 9 extends through a second passage of the bearing block 10. Both shafts 86, 93 pivot relative to the bearing block 10. The bearing block 10 is connected to the rear wall 34 of the housing 3. Referring now to Figures 9 and 10, the air delivery system includes a tank of compressed air 120, a respective hose (not shown) extending from the air tank 120 (at outlets 140 and 141) to the second arm 84 of the retainer 8 and to the arm 92 of the tape positioner 9, and an electrical air valve 121 for controlling the flow of air to the arms 84, 92. The tank 120 is connected to the rear wall 34 of the housing 3. The valve 121 is electrically coupled to the motor 6 such that during various stages of a wrapping operation, the valve 121 either opens or closes. The apparatus 1 can be used to either label an article with adhesive tape and/or to bind two or more articles together with tape. The apparatus has been developed particularly to bind articles such as fingers of a banana cluster 130 together and will therefore now be described in this context. The placement of a banana cluster 130 for taping by the apparatus 1 is shown in

Figure 9. In order to carry out a wrapping operation, a roll of tape 60 is first mounted within the slot 50 with the bracket 62. With the tape guiding portion 65 of the tape guide 61 in about the 10 o'clock position, the leading end of the tape 2 is gripped by an operator, tape 2 is unravelled from the roll of tape 60 and extended over the tape guiding portion 65, around the bottom of the roller 70 and over the cutter 11. The operator then manually moves the tape guiding portion 65 to about the 12 o'clock position by rotating the disk cam 6, at which point the retainer 8 pivots and the rubber stopper 85 holds the leading end of the tape 2 against the roller 70, the recess 88 of the first lever 81 engages the coil spring 77 to brake the roller 70, and the cutter 11 cuts the tape 2 to produce a new leading end that is flush with the cutter 11. The apparatus 1 is now primed to carry out one or more wrapping operations. At the 12 o'clock position, the arm 92 of the tape positioner 9 is located adjacent the rear wall 34 and is not in contact with the tape 2. A banana cluster 130 is placed on the shelf 4 such that the stalk end of the cluster 130 extends within the interior 15 of the housing 3. Upon pressing the electrical "on" switch, the motor 6 causes the disk cam 6 to begin rotating clockwise, through one complete revolution. When the tape guiding portion 65 is at about the 3 o'clock position, tape 2 has dispensed from the roll 60 and has wrapped around the top of the banana cluster 130, the retainer 8 is in engagement with the roller assembly 7 and the tape positioner 9 is not in contact with the tape 2. When the tape guiding portion 65 is at about the 6 o'clock position, the tape 2 has further wrapped around a side of the banana cluster 130, the retainer 8 pivots out of engagement with the roller assembly 7, the tape positioner 9 pivots down to push the leading end of the tape 2 off the roller 70 and a blast of air from the arm 92 causes the leading end of the tape 2 to adhere to the banana cluster 130. When the tape guiding portion 65 is at about the 9 o'clock position, the tape 2 has further wrapped around the bottom of the banana cluster 130 and around the bottom of the roller 70. At this position, the retainer 8 is out of engagement with the roller 70 and the tape positioner 9 has pivoted away from the roller 70 to a location adjacent the rear wall 34 of the housing 3. As the tape guiding portion 65 moves to about the 12 o'clock position, the retainer 8 again pivots to re-engage the roller assembly 7, the rubber stopper 85 holds the tape 2 against the roller 70, the recess 88 of the first lever 81 engages the coil spring 77 to brake the roller 70, and the cutter 11 cuts the tape 2 to produce a cut end as well as new leading end that is flush with the cutter 11. The second arm 84 pushes the cut end of the tape 2 towards the banana cluster 130 and a blast of air from the second arm 84 causes the cut end of the tape 2 to adhere to the banana cluster 130. The apparatus 1 is again ready to carry out one or more further wrapping operations. A banana cluster 130 taped by the apparatus 1 is shown in Figure 12, but showing that the leading end and the cut end of the tape 2 have adhered together rather than to the cluster 130. In this way, the apparatus can be used to quickly and easily label articles and/or to bind articles together. The apparatus may be used in an automated process, employing sensors and movable platforms or robots, for labelling and binding articles. Figures 13 to 15 show an apparatus 100 for wrapping adhesive tape 102 around one or more articles according to another embodiment of the invention. The apparatus 100 includes a housing 103, an article loading table 104, a tape dispenser 105, a roller assembly 107, a retainer 108, a tape positioner 109, a bearing block 110, a cutter 111, a drive 112, and an air delivery system. (An air tank of the air delivery system is labelled 113). The apparatus 100 differs from apparatus 1 in that apparatus 100 has an arcuate hinged cover 115 and an arcuate article holding arm 116. Otherwise, the apparatus 100 carries out wrapping operations substantially in the same manner as apparatus 1. The foregoing embodiment is illustrative only of the principles of the invention, and various modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention is capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways and in other embodiments. It is also to be understood that the terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Claims

1. A taping apparatus for wrapping adhesive tape around one or more articles, said apparatus including: a rotatable tape dispenser for receiving a roll of adhesive tape and for wrapping the tape around at least one article by rotating relative to the article about an axis; a roller assembly having a roller to which a leading end of the tape is releasably attached, said roller being spaced from the tape dispenser and rotatable about an axis that is substantially parallel to the axis about which the tape dispenser rotates; a retainer movable to releasably engage the roller assembly, wherein at the beginning of a wrapping operation the retainer engages the roller assembly and stops the leading end of the tape detaching from the roller, and during the wrapping operation the retainer disengages from the roller assembly such that the leading end of the tape detaches from the roller and a trailing region of the tape is detachably attached to the roller; a tape positioner for detaching the leading end from the roller after the retainer has disengaged from the roller assembly; and a tape cutter for providing a new leading end for the tape when the retainer re-engages the roller assembly at the end of the wrapping operation.

2. The taping apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tape dispenser includes a radial disk cam, the roll of tape is rotatably mounted to the disk cam, and the tape is dispensed as the disk cam rotates.

3. The taping apparatus of claim 2, wherein the dispenser includes at least one tape guide for correctly orientating the tape as it unravels from a spool of the roll of tape, such that the tape wraps around and adheres to the article.

4. The taping apparatus of claim 2 further including a drive and a shaft of the disk cam is coupled to an output shaft of the drive.

5. The taping apparatus of claim 4, wherein the drive is an electric motor and, when activated, the output shaft initially rotates through 360 degrees.

6. The taping apparatus of claim 2 further including an article support for supporting the article such that the article extends from the support towards the disk cam.

7. The taping apparatus of claim 1, wherein the roller assembly includes a brake that, when engaged by the retainer, prevents the roller from rotating about its axis.

8. The taping apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retainer includes a stopper which holds the leading end of the tape against the roller when the retainer engages the roller assembly.

9. The taping apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retainer supports the cutter.

10. The taping apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retainer further moves the cut end of the tape from the cutter to the article.

11. The taping apparatus of claim 2, wherein the retainer is movable into and out of engagement with the roller assembly by the disk cam.

12. The taping apparatus of claim 2, wherein the tape positioner is movable into and out of engagement with the leading end of the tape by the disk cam.