A bi-directional tape applicator head for applying tape onto a working surface, in which tape can either be folded back on itself at the end of each tape laying pass, or may be cut and another length of tape applied in an opposite direction. The head includes a frame to which a swivel plate and a support member are movably connected. The swivel plate has affixed thereto two dispensing blocks and is shiftable between two positions to alternately engage the blocks with the tape while folding over tape extending between the blocks. The support member includes a feeder assembly and a shearing mechanism and is pivotable between two positions corresponding to the two swivel plate positions. The feeder assembly includes two feeder elements which are movable to engage or disengage tape extending therebetween. The feeder assembly is movable along the support member between a retracted position at which the feeder elements are spaced from the shearing mechanism and an extended position at which the feeder elements extend past the shearing mechanism between the dispensing blocks. After shearing the tape and completing a tape laying pass in one direction, the feeder elements are engaged, the swivel plate and support member moved to their other corresponding positions, and the feeder assembly extended to advance the cut tape end past the dispensing blocks. The feeder assembly is then retracted, the feeder elements disengaged, and a tape laying pass in the opposite direction initiated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The invention, applies generally to tape dispensing and application 
equipment and, more particularly, to a bi-directional tape applicator 
head. 
The invention was developed primarily for use in the field of composite 
technology. In particular, the invention is used in constructing 
helicopter rotor blades, rotor blades parts, and other structural and 
aerodynamic parts of a helicopter. However, the invention can also be used 
for the construction of structural and aerodynamic parts for craft other 
than helicopters, for the construction of missiles, satellites, automobile 
bodies, rail cars, ships and the like. 
According to composite technology, a resin preimpregnated tape having, for 
example, fiberglass filaments is utilized with or without additional resin 
adhesive to construct the particular part desired. The final part is 
built-up of a successive application of layers of the tape to a working 
surface as, for example, a mandrel. The resulting part is light in weight 
and highly load redundant, so it is more desirable than a corresponding 
part made from traditional materials such as steel, aluminum, etc. 
2. Prior Art 
The U.S. patent application Ser. No. 949,477 of Robert H. Ballantine, filed 
Oct. 10, 1978, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,259,144 discloses a bi-directional tape 
applicator head for dispensing and compacting tape in two opposing 
directions onto a working surface. The tape is fed vertically between two 
spaced, symmetrically-orientated dispensing blocks onto the working 
surface. As the head moves in one direction, one of these blocks engages 
the tape and imparts a tension to the tape to draw the tape past the 
dispensing block to the working surface. At the end of the tape laying 
pass, the directional motion of the head is reversed, causing the tape to 
be disengaged from the one dispensing block and engaged with the other 
dispensing block, which folds the tape back on itself and compacts it 
against the previously laid layer of tape. The tape applicator head 
includes a tape shearing mechanism disposed between the tape supply and 
the dispensing blocks shearing the tape upon completion of the tape laying 
operation. The tape application head also includes a tape advancement 
mechanism for feeding tape from the tape supply between the two dispensing 
blocks onto the working surface to initiate a tape laying operation. The 
tape advancement mechanism includes a cam roller and an idler roller which 
are mounted adjacent to each other on opposite sides of the tape. The cam 
roller has an outermost surface which is semicircular in cross section, 
and which engages the tape as the cam roller is rotated. The circumference 
of this semicircular portion is at least equal to the distance between the 
end of the tape and the working surface, so that as the cam roller is 
rotated, tape will be advanced through the two dispensing blocks onto the 
working surface. 
In this known tape applicator head, tape distortions such as wrinkles or 
folds, can frequently be introduced to the tape as it is folded back upon 
itself during reversal of the tape placement. Also, since both of the 
dispensing blocks are disposed the same distance from the working surface, 
difficulty can be encountered in laying different lengths of tape to form 
a contoured part of varying thickness, in that the block not engaged with 
the tape being layed may engage with the end of a previously laid tape 
layer. Also, the tape advancement mechanism of this known tape applicator 
head is suitable only for vertical advancement of the tape, since it 
includes no means for holding and guiding the tape through the shearing 
mechanism and between the two dispensing blocks. 
In my U.S. patent application Ser. No. 949,476, filed Oct. 10, 1978, now 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,234,374 another bi-directional tape applicator head is 
described for dispensing and compacting tape to opposite directions onto a 
working surface. This second known tape applicator head includes a 
rotation rack assembly onto which the two dispensing blocks are mounted to 
be stationary relative to each other but to shift their positions in 
unison relative to the remainder of the head at the end of the tape laying 
pass. This movement of the dispensing blocks produces a step-over, or 
loop, in the tape at the end of each tape laying pass which prevents 
distortion of the tape as the tape is folded back on itself during 
reversal of the tape placement direction. Also, the dispensing block which 
is not engaged with the tape as the head is moved in a particular one of 
the two opposing directions, is spaced a predetermined distance from the 
working surface, to eliminate the possibility of this block engaging the 
end of a previously laid tape layer. Also, in this tape applicator head, 
the tape may be fed onto the working surface in any direction, horizontal 
or vertical. 
However, this last mentioned known tape applicator head does not include 
tape feeding and shearing mechanisms. Consequently, this tape applicator 
head is best suited for laying up laminated parts from a continuous length 
of composite tape, which is folded back on itself on reversal of 
tape-placement direction rather than forming contoured laminated parts 
requiring a plurality of different lengths of tape. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a bi-directional 
tape applicator head having tape feeder and shearing mechanisms, and 
having a pivotable dispensing element carrying two spaced dispensing 
blocks which alternately engage the tape during movement of the head or 
working surface in two opposing directions in which, during each tape 
laying pass, one block engages and compacts the tape against the working 
surface and the other block is spaced a predetermined distance further 
from the working surface than the engaged block. 
It is another object of the invention to provide a bi-directional tape 
applicator head which includes a mounting structure, a tape feeder 
mechanism, a tape shearing mechanism, a dispensing element including two 
dispensing blocks which are moveably carried by the mounting means for 
movement between the first position at which one dispensing block engages 
the tape and the second position in which the other dispensing block 
engages the tape, and an actuator for moving the dispensing element 
between its two positions during reversal of tape-placement direction to 
produce a localized tension relieving loop in the tape. 
It is still another object of the invention to provide a bi-directional 
tape applicator head, which includes two spaced dispensing blocks which 
alternately engage and compact tape against a working surface during 
movement of the head in two opposing directions, a tape shearing 
mechanism, and a tape feeder mechanism for feeding tape from a tape supply 
in a direction determined by the disposition of the head and accurately 
positioning the tape between the two dispensing blocks for any disposition 
of the head. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The development of the invention proceeded in response to a need for a more 
versatile bi-directional tape applicator head for either cutting and 
applying specified lengths of tape to a working surface in any two 
opposing directions, or for applying a continuous length of composite tape 
to the working surface in any two opposing directions. 
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the essential components of the 
applicator head include a mounting structure at one end of which is 
mounted a rotation rack assembly similar to that described in the above 
referenced U.S. Pat. No. 4,234,374. The rotation rack assembly includes a 
pair of dispensing and compacting blocks which are pivotably shifted in 
unison between a first position at whih one of these blocks engages and 
compacts the tape against the working surface during a tape laying pass in 
one direction, and a second position in which the other block engages and 
compacts the tape against the working surface during a tape laying pass in 
an opposite direction. 
An elongated support member, which is disposed between the rotation rack 
assembly and the tape supply, is pivotally connected to the mounting 
structure at a first end adjacent the rotation rack assembly. The tape 
shearing mechanism, through which the tape extends, is mounted to the 
support member at the first end thereof. Two adjacent guide rollers are 
rotatably mounted to the support member at an opposite second end of the 
support member for receiving therebetween tape from a tape supply and for 
determining the path of travel of the tape between these guide rollers and 
the dispensing blocks. The tape feeder assembly is slideably connected to 
the support member for linear movement with respect thereto along a path 
defined by the support member between a retracted position at which the 
feeder assembly is disposed between the two guide rollers and the shearing 
mechanism, and an extended position at which portions of the feeder 
assembly extend through the mechanism to a position in close proximity to 
the tape engaging surface portions of the two dispensing blocks. The 
feeder assembly includes two feeder elements between which the tape 
extends, which are moveable relative to each other between the disengaged 
position in which the two feeder elements are spaced from each other and 
from the tape extending therebetween, and an engaged position in which 
both feeder elements are engaged with opposite sides of the tape. 
The support member is pivotable with respect to the mounting structure 
between first and second positions corresponding to the first and second 
positions of the dispensing blocks, respectively. When both the support 
member and the dispensing blocks are disposed in their first positions, 
the path of travel of the feeder assembly between its retracted and 
extended positions is parallel to the path of travel of the tape between 
the surface portions of the guide rollers and dispensing blocks engaging 
the tape. Similarly, when the support member and the dispensing blocks are 
disposed in their second positions, the path of travel of the feeder 
assembly between its retracted and extended positions, is parallel to the 
path of travel of the tape between the surface portions of the guide 
rollers and the dispensing blocks engaging the tape. 
Both the dispensing blocks and the support member are set in their first 
position during a tape laying pass of the head in one direction relative 
to the working surface and are set in their second position during a tape 
laying pass in an opposite direction. At each terminal end of a tape 
laying pass, both the support member and the dispensing blocks are shifted 
to the other of their two positions to form a step-over, or loop, in the 
tape and to properly position the dispensing blocks and the guide rollers 
for a subsequent tape laying pass in the opposing direction. 
When it is desired to apply cut lengths of tape rather than a folded back 
continuous length of tape, the linear tape placement is stopped a 
predetermined distance before the end of the required dimension is 
reached, the shearing mechanism is activated to shear the tape, and then 
travel of the head relative to the working surface in the same direction 
is continued to complete placement of the tape. The head is then moved 
away from the working surface, and the feeder elements of the feeder 
assembly are moved from their unengaged position to their engaged position 
to clamp the tape therebetween and maintain a proper projection of tape 
beyond the feeder elements. Next, the rotation rack assembly and the 
support member are moved into their other corresponding positions to 
properly position these elements for tape placement in the reverse 
direction. The feeder assembly is then moved from its retracted position 
into its extended position to feed the tape extending from the feeder 
elements between and past the dispensing blocks. The head is then moved 
down at an angle against the working surface to wipe the extended tape 
under the proper dispensing block in preparation for a tape laying pass in 
the opposite direction. The feeder elements are then moved to the 
disengaged position, the feeder assembly is moved to its retracted 
position, and a tape laying pass is initiated in the opposite direction. 
The invention will be better understood and further objects and advantages 
will become apparent from the ensuing entailed description of preferred 
embodiments, taken in conjunction with the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The tape applicator head 10 of FIG. 1 is carried by a stationary support 
structure or carriage in a manner not shown, for displacement relative to 
a working surface 12. The tape applicator head 10 can have as many degrees 
of freedom of movement relative to the working surface 12 desired. The 
manner in which this is accomplished is not part of the invention. It is 
dictated primarily by the shape of the structure to be constructed. 
Preferably, the tape applicator head 10 is mounted for displacement along 
three mutually orthogonal axes relative to the work surface 12. In 
addition, the head may be rotatable relative to any or all of these three 
axes. 
Alternatively, it is also possible to mount the tape applicator head in a 
stationary manner and to move the work surface 12 relative to the 
applicator head 10. Whether the applicator head 10 or the working surface 
12 is moved is optional, and the structure for moving them is not 
discussed in further detail herein since it does not form a part of the 
invention. 
The tape applicator head 10 includes an elongated mounting structure 14 
which is affixed to the carriage of the tape applicator head. A rotation 
rack assembly 16 is mounted to one end of the mounting structure 14 to be 
positioned adjacent the working surface 12. A tape receiving roller 18 is 
pivotally mounted at the opposite end of the mounting structure 14 to 
receive the tape T from a supply reel 20 which is mounted to the carriage 
in a manner not shown. Also, the applicator head 10 may include a takeup 
reel 22, also mounted to the carriage, for removing and winding the 
backing strip S from the tape. 
The rotation rack assembly 16 includes a swivel plate 24, on which a pair 
of dispensing and compacting blocks 26 and 28 are rigidly mounted, and a 
transmission including a gear 30 and a rack 32, as shown in FIG. 3. The 
gear 30 is pivotally mounted to the mounting structure 14. The rack 32 is 
embodied as an extension of a reciprocating rod 34 of an actuator 36 for 
moving the swivel plate 24 between a first position (FIG. 1) and a second 
position (FIG. 2). The rack 32 is slideable within a slot 38 formed in the 
mounting structure 14. 
The two dispensing and compacting blocks 26 and 28 are symmetrically 
disposed on opposite sides of a center line A--A of the swivel plate 24. 
The swivel plate 24 is pivotally connected to the gear 30 by a pin 40 
disposed on the center line A--A of the swivel plate 24. The pin 40 
extends through the gear 30 into an arcuate slot 42 formed in the mounting 
structure 14. The opposite ends of the arcuate slot 42 serve as stops for 
positioning the swivel plate 24 in its two positions. The swivel plate 
also includes a pivot pin 44, disposed on the center line A--A, for 
pivotally and slideably connecting the swivel plate 24 to the mounting 
structure 14. The pivot pin 44 is received in and travels along a slot 46 
formed in the mounting structure 14 and extending along a center line B--B 
orthogonal to the working surface 12. 
The dispensing and compacting blocks 26, 28 are constructed as shown in 
FIG. 4. Each block 26, 28 includes side plates 48 and 50 between which 
rollers 52 and 54 are mounted. A belt 56 (FIG. 1) extends about the two 
rollers 52 and 54. 
The swivel plate 24, and the dispensing and compacting blocks 26, 24 fixed 
to swivel plate 24, are pivotally and translationally shifted between 
their two positions at each terminal end of a tape laying pass by the 
actuator 36 in the same manner as the rotation rack assembly described in 
the above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 4,234,374, which is hereby incorporated 
by reference. 
One end of a support member 58 is pivotally connected to the mounting 
structure 14, for example, by a pivot pin 60, to allow movement of the 
support member 58 with respect to the mounting structure 14 about a pivot 
axis C--C (FIG. 6). An actuator 62 is connected between an opposite end of 
the support member 58 and the carriage in a manner not shown to pivotally 
shift the support member 58 between a first position, shown in FIG. 1, and 
a second position, shown in FIG. 2. Two adjacent guide rollers 64, 66, 
through which the tape extends, are pivotally connected to the support 
member 58 adjacent the opposite end thereof. 
A tape feeder assembly 68 is slideably carried by the support member 58 for 
translation along a linear path which is parallel to a center line D--D of 
the support assembly 58 extending between the guide rollers 66 and 
intersecting the pivot axis C--C of the support member 58. As shown in 
FIG. 5, the feeder assembly 68 includes a guide plate 70 which is 
slideably disposed within a slot 72 of the support member 58 which defines 
the path of travel of the feeder assembly 68. The feeder assembly 68 
includes the two adjacent, parallel-disposed, tape feeder plates 74, 76, 
through which the tape extends. The feeder plate 74 is affixed to the 
guide plate 70. The other feeder plate 76 is attached to an actuator 78 
mounted to the guide plate 70 for moving the feeder plate 76 between a 
disengaged position at which the two feeder plates 74, 76, are spaced from 
each other and from the tape extending therebetween, and an engaged 
position at which both of the feeder plates 74, 76, are engaged with 
opposite sides of the tape extending therebetween. The actuator 78 is 
connected to the guide plate 70 by a mounting plate 82 which is affixed 
to, or integral with, the guide plate 70. 
An actuator 84 is pivotally connected at one end by a pivot pin 86 to the 
mounting structure 14 and is pivotally connected at an opposite end to the 
feeder assembly 68 by a pivot pin 88 affixed to the guide plate 70 and 
extending from an opposite side of the support member slot 72. The 
actuator 84 is arranged to move the feeder assembly 68 along the linear 
path of travel defined by the slot 72 between a retracted position, shown 
in FIG. 1, at which the feeder assembly 68 is disposed between the guide 
rollers 64, 66 and the pivot axis C--C of the support member 58 defined by 
the pivot pin 60, and an extended position, shown in FIG. 2, at which the 
tapered ends 90, 92 of the feeder plates 74, 76 extend between the 
dispensing and compacting blocks 26, 28 in close proximity to the tape 
engaging surface portions of these blocks 26, 28. 
A guillotine-type tape shearing mechanism 94, through which the tape 
extends, is mounted to the support member 58 adjacent the pivot pin 60. As 
shown in FIG. 6, the shearing mechanism 94 includes a frame 96 affixed to 
the support member 58, a tape cutting blade 98 slideably held within the 
frame 96 for movement across the path of the tape, and an actuator 100 
connected between the blade 98 and the support member 58, for moving the 
blade 98 between an open position in which it is spaced from the tape 
extending through the shearing mechanism 94 and a closed position at which 
the blade 98 engages an anvil member 102 affixed to the support member 58 
after shearing the tape. 
The pivot axis C--C of the support member 58 defined by the pivot pin 60 is 
disposed along the center line B--B, passing through the pivot axis of the 
swivel plate 24 defined by the pivot pin 44, which is equidistant from the 
first and second positions of the pin 40 carried by the swivel plate 24. 
The first position of the support member 58, shown in FIG. 1, is selected 
so that the guide roller 66 of the support member 58 and the dispensing 
block 26 of the rotation rack assembly 16 engaging the tape define a 
linear path of travel for the tape which passes through the pivot axis 
C--C of the support member 58. Similarly, the second position of the 
support member 58 shown in FIG. 2 is selected so that, when the swivel 
plate 24 is disposed in its corresponding second position, the guide 
roller 64 and the dispensing block 28 engaging the tape define the linear 
path of travel for the tape which also passes through the pivot axis C--C 
of the support member 58 defined by the pivot pin 60. Thus, when the 
swivel plate 24 and the support member 58 are both disposed in their 
corresponding first or second positions, and the movable feeder plate 76 
is disposed in its unengaged position, the feeder assembly 68 can be moved 
between its retracted and extended positions without engaging the tape 
extending through the feeder assembly 68. Also, since the angular 
displacement of the swivel plate 24 when it is disposed in its first 
position, relative to the center line B--B between the pivot axis C--C of 
the support member 58 and the pivot axis of the swivel plate 24 defined by 
the pivot pin 44 is equal, and opposite to the angular displacement of the 
swivel plate 24 when it is disposed in its second position relative to the 
same center line B--B, the displacement of the guide roller 66 from the 
center line B--B when the support member 58 is disposed in its first 
position will be approximately equal to and opposite the displacement of 
the guide roller 64 from the center line B--B when the support member 58 
is disposed in its second position. 
The pivot pin 86 connecting the feeder assembly actuator 84 to the support 
member 58 is also disposed along the center line B--B, so that the work 
requirements of the feeder assembly 68 between its retracted and extended 
positions are the same regardless of whether the support member 58 and the 
swivel plate 24 are disposed in either their corresponding first or second 
positions. Also, the tape receiving roller 18 is disposed so that the 
point on its periphery at which the tape is disengaged falls on the center 
line B--B, so that the support member 58 can be shifted between its first 
and second position without increasing the tension in the tape or causing 
slack in the tape between the receiving roller 18 and the dispensing 
blocks 26, 28. 
Since the feeder plates 74, 76 of the feeder assembly 68 must extend 
through the open tape shearing mechanism 94 when the support member 58 and 
the swivel plate 24 are disposed in either their corresponding first or 
second positions, the tape shearing mechanism 94 is disposed adjacent the 
pivot pin 60, defining the pivot axis C--C of the support member 58, to 
thus minimize the clearance required between the open blade 98 and the 
anvil 102 to allow passage of the feeder plate 74, 76 therebetween. 
Preferably, all surfaces of the various elements of the tape applicator 
head 10 which engage the tape are formed from or coated with a material, 
such as teflon, having inherent release characteristics. These tape 
engaging surfaces include the peripheral surfaces of the rollers 18, 64, 
and 66, the adjacent planar surfaces of the feeder plate 74 and 76, and 
the peripheral surfaces of the belts 56 of the dispensing and compacting 
blocks 26 and 28. 
OPERATION 
To prepare for a tape laying run in one direction, the feeder plate 
actuator 78 is actuated to move the feeder plate 76 to its disengaged 
position, the feeder assembly actuator 84 is actuated to move the feeder 
assembly 68 into its retracted position, and the shearing mechanism 
actuator 100 is actuated to move the blade 98 to its open position, if 
these various elements are not already so disposed. The rotation rack 
assembly actuator 36 and the support member actuator 62 are then actuated 
to move the swivel plate 24 and the support member 58 into their 
corresponding first or second positions proper for the direction in which 
tape is to be applied against the working surface 12. Next, a roll of tape 
is loaded onto the supply reel 20 and the tape is passed over the 
receiving roller 18. The backing strip S of the tape T is stripped from 
the end of the tape and attached to the takeup reel 22. The tape is then 
fed between the guide rollers 64, 66, the feeder plates 74, 76, and the 
dispensing and compacting blocks 26, 28. The tape applicator head 10 is 
then moved at an acute angle towards the working surface 12 to wipe the 
tape extending through the dispensing and compacting blocks 26, 28 about 
the block closest to the working surface 12, which is then positioned so 
that the minimum clearance between the tape engaging surface portion of 
this block and the working surface is less than the thickness of the tape. 
This is illustrated in FIG. 1, which shows the various elements of the 
applicator head 10 disposed in the proper positions for executing a tape 
laying pass in a direction from left to right as shown in this Fig. The 
feeder element 76 is disposed in its open position, the feeder assembly 68 
is disposed in its retracted position, the tape-shearing mechanism 94 is 
open, and the support member 58 and swivel plate 24 are disposed in their 
first positions for applying tape in a direction from left to right. The 
tape is engaged with the receiving roller 18, the guide roller 66, and the 
dispensing and compacting block 26, which compacts this tape against the 
working surface 12 as the tape applicator head 10 is moved to the right, 
as shown in FIG. 1. 
When it is desirable to apply individual lengths of tape in opposite 
directions, rather than apply a continuous length of tape which is folded 
over at the terminal end of each tape laying pass, the tape laying pass in 
a direction from left to right as shown in FIG. 1 is stopped at a 
predetermined distance before the end of required dimension to be reached, 
which is equal to the length of tape extending from the tape shearing 
mechanism 94 at the pivot axis C--C of the support member 58 about the 
dispensing and compacting block 26 to the working surface 12. The actuator 
100 is then actuated to move the blade 98 from its open position to its 
closed position, and back to its open position, to shear the tape. Travel 
of the tape applicator head is then reinitiated in a direction from left 
to right as shown in FIG. 1 to complete placement and compacting of the 
tape onto the working surface 12, after which the tape applicator head 10 
is moved away from the working surface 12. 
The feeder plate actuator 78 is actuated to move the feeder plate 76 into 
its engaged position at which the tape is clamped between the feeder 
plates 74, 76 to maintain proper projection of the tape beyond these 
feeder plates 74, 76 to the shearing mechanism 94. The support member 
actuator 62 and the rotation rack assembly actuator 36 are then activated 
to move the support member 58 and the swivel plate 24 into their second 
positions shown in FIG. 2, proper for tape placement in a right to left 
direction. The feeder assembly actuator 84 is then actuated to move the 
feeder assembly 68 from its retracted position to its extended position, 
also shown in FIG. 2, to feed the tape projecting from the feeder plates 
74, 76 between and a predetermined distance beyond the dispending and 
compacting blocks 26, 28. The tape applicator head 10 is then moved toward 
the working surface 12 at an angle so as to wipe the tape extending 
through and beyond the dispending and compacting rollers 26,28 about the 
dispensing and compacting block 28, until the clearance between the block 
28 and the working surface is less than the thickness of the tape. The 
feeder plate actuator 78 is actuated to move the feeder plate 76 to its 
disengaged position, and the feeder assembly actuator 84 is then actuated 
to move the feeder assembly 68 to its retracted position. The tape, which 
is held against the working surface 12 by the block 28, is disengaged from 
the feeder plates 74, 76 as these plates are moved to their disengaged, 
retracted positions. 
If, at the end of this next tape laying pass, from right to left as shown 
in FIG. 1, it is desired to fold the tape back upon itself and apply 
another layer of tape in a direction from right to left, the rotation rack 
assembly actuator 36 and the support member actuator 62 are actuated to 
move the swivel plate 24 and the support member 58 from their second 
positions to their first positions proper for tape placement in a left to 
right direction, as seen in FIG. 1, during which the pivotal and 
translational movement of the dispensing and compacting blocks 26, 28 
produce a localized tension relieving loop in the tape, in the same manner 
as described in the above-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 4,234,374. 
Since the support member 58 and the swivel plate 24 are both switched 
between their first and second positions at the same time, the support 
member actuator 62 could be eliminated by making the support member 58 
integral with the swivel plate 24, with the guide rollers 64, 66 being 
disposed on opposite sides of the center line A--A between the pins 40, 44 
of the swivel plate 24. However, in such an embodiment, the angular travel 
of the guide rollers 64, 66 would be the same as that of the dispensing 
and compacting blocks 26, 28, which would greatly increase the spacing 
between the supply reel 20 and the takeup reel 22 and, consequently, the 
width of the tape applicator head 10. By pivotally connecting the support 
member 58 to the mounting structure 14 at a point spaced from the point at 
which the swivel plate 24 is pivotally connected to the mounting structure 
14, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the angular travel of the 
support member 58 between its first and second positions can be greatly 
reduced, to thus result in a relatively small and compact tape applicator 
head 10. 
Also, the feeder assembly actuator 84 could be disposed to extend along the 
center line D--D, with one end connected to the support member 58 and an 
opposite end connected to the feeder assembly 68. However, in such an 
embodiment, the length of the support member 58 and the total mass moved 
by the actuator 78 would be greatly increased over that of the embodiment 
of FIG. 1. 
The tape applicator head 104 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 may be used to dispense 
and compact tape in two opposing directions onto a working surface where 
the ability to produce a tension-relieving loop in the tape end of each 
tape laying pass is not required, as for example, where individual lengths 
of tape are applied during each tape laying pass. The same identifying 
numbers have been used for the elements in the embodiment of FIG. 7 
corresponding to similar or identical elements in the embodiment of FIG. 
1. 
In FIG. 7, a rotation rack assembly 106 includes a swivel plate 108 having 
affixed thereto two dispensing and compacting blocks 26, 28. Each 
dispensing and compacting block 26, 28 includes side plates 48 and 50 
(FIG. 4) between which rollers 52 and 54 are mounted, and a belt 56 which 
extends about the two rollers 52 and 54. The swivel plate 108 is pivotally 
connected to a mounting structure 110 of the tape applicator head 104 for 
rotation about a pivot axis E extending parallel to the axes of the 
dispensing and compacting block rollers 52 and passing through the 
midpoint of the center line F--F extending between the two rollers 52 of 
the dispensing and compacting blocks 26, 28. The swivel plate 108 is 
pivotable about the axis E from a first position, shown in FIG. 7, at 
which the dispensing and compacting block 26 is correctly positioned for 
laying and compacting tape against the working surface 12 in a direction 
from left to right, and a second position, shown in FIG. 8, at which the 
dispensing and compacting block 28 is correctly positioned to dispense and 
compact tape against the working surface 12 in a direction from right to 
left. 
A tape receiving roller 18 is mounted at an opposite end of the mounting 
structure 110 to receive tape from a tape supply reel 20 and to define, 
together with the two dispensing and compacting blocks 26, 28, a path of 
travel for the tape extending from the receiving roller 18 through the 
dispensing and compacting blocks 26, 28 to the work surface 12 which is 
substantially orthogonal to the direction of tape placement. A tape feeder 
assembly 68, through which the tape extends, is slideably mounted to the 
mounting structure 110 for linear movement along a path of travel parallel 
to the tape extending through the feeder assembly 68. The feeder assembly 
68 includes a guide plate 70 which is slideably disposed within a slot 112 
extending through the mounting structure 110 and defining the feeder 
assembly path of travel. The feeder assembly 68 includes a fixed feeder 
plate 74 and a moveable feeder plate 76 disposed on opposite sides of the 
tape extending through the feeder assembly 68. The fixed feeder plate 74 
is affixed to one side of the guide plate 70, and the movable feeder plate 
76 is connected to an actuator 78 carried by the guide plate 70, for 
movement of the feeder plate 76 between a disengaged position at which the 
feeder plates 74, 76 engage opposite sides of the tape extending 
therebetween. 
A guillotine-type tape shearing mechanism 94, through which the tape 
extends, is disposed on the mounting structure 110 adjacent the swivel 
plate 108. The shearing mechanism 94 includes a blade 98 which is 
connected to an actuator 100 for holding the blade between an open 
position and a closed position to shear the tape extending therethrough. 
When the blade 98 is disposed in its open position, the feeder assembly 68 
is moveable by the actuator 84 from its retracted position to its extended 
position at which position the feeder plates 74, 76, extend through the 
shearing mechanism 94 towards the pivot axis E of the swivel plate 108. 
The procedure for using the tape applicator head 104 of FIG. 7 to dispense 
and compact a length of tape in one direction against the working surface 
12 and to dispense and compact another length of the tape against the 
working surface 12 in an opposing direction, is similar to the same 
procedure described above in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 1. The 
tape applicator head 104, as shown in FIG. 7, has its various elements 
properly disposed for initiating a tape laying pass in a direction from 
left to right. The blade 98 is disposed in its open position, the feeder 
plate 76 is disposed in its disengaged position, the feeder assembly 68 is 
disposed in its retracted position, and the swivel plate 108 is disposed 
in the proper position for the dispensing and compacting block 26 to 
dispense and compact the tape against the working surface 12 as the tape 
applicator head 104 is moved to the right relative to the working surface 
12. The linear tape placement is stopped a predetermined distance before 
the end of the required dimension to be reached, which is equal to the 
length of tape extending from the shearing mechanism 94 about the 
dispensing and compacting block 26 to the working surface 12. The tape is 
then sheared by the shearing mechanism 94 and the linear tape placement in 
a direction from left to right is continued to complete placement of the 
tape. Next, the tape applicator head 104 is moved away from the working 
surface 12, the actuator 78 is actuated to clamp the tape between the 
feeder plates 76, 78 and a swivel plate actuator 114 is actuated to 
pivotally move the swivel plate 108 about the axis E from its first 
position to its second position at which the dispensing and compacting 
block 28 is properly disposed for laying tape onto the working surface 12 
in a direction from right to left, as seen in FIG. 8. The feeder assembly 
actuator 84 is then actuated to move the feeder assembly 68 from its 
retracted position through the open shearing position 94 to its extended 
position, to move the portion of the tape extending from the feeder plate 
74, 76 between a predetermined distance beyond the dispensing and 
compacting blocks 26, 28. 
The tape applicator head 104 is then moved at an angle towards the working 
surface 12 until the minimum clearance between the dispensing and 
compacting block 28 and the working surface 12 is less than the thickness 
of the tape extending about and between the block 28 and the working 
surface 12. The actuator 78 is actuated to move the feeder plate 76 to its 
disengaged position, and then the actuator 84 is actuated to move the 
feeder assembly 68 to its retracted position, disengaging the tape from 
the feeder plates 76, 78. The tape applicator head 104 is then moved to 
the left relative to the working surface 12 as seen in FIG. 8, to apply 
and compact the tape against the working surface 12 in an opposing 
direction. 
Since there are other variations or modifications of the invention in 
addition to those discussed above which will be apparent to one skilled in 
the art, it is intended that the scope of this invention be limited only 
by the pending claims.