Composite tape laying apparatus including means for plural longitudinal and transverse cuts

An apparatus for severing and laying composite tape to form structural members with a shearing and compacting mechanism capable of a large variety of angular or circular severances. The severances are formed incrementally or digitally with a number of lengthwise slits of selected length. A plurality of transverse cuts are formed in the tape to intersect the slits to form a stairstepped severance. A curved chute at the discharge end of the apparatus has an endless belt to maintain the tape in alignment as it is pressed onto the work surface. The tape is compacted onto the work surface by a segmented roller system composed of several individual rollers. As the severance is reached, the rollers are selectively and individually disengaged from the work surface to correlate compaction termination with the shape of the severance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention: 
This invention relates in general to composite tape technology, and 
especially to machines and methods for laying composite tape to form 
laminated structural members. 
2. Description of the Prior Art: 
Composite tapes of tectonic unidirectional filaments in a resinous matrix 
are used to form structural members. Some aircraft have polymerized 
laminations of such tapes used as portions of the horizontal and vertical 
stabilizer skins instead of the more conventional metallic skins. The 
composition of the suitable tapes, the filaments and matrices are well 
known in the aerospace arts. 
Composite tapes may be laid by hand into parallel rows to form one layer 
and crossing parallel rows to form additional layers. Machines to automate 
the process have been suggested, one being disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 
3,574,040, "Apparatus For Making Laminated Structural Shapes By The 
Controlled Detrusive Placement And Polymerization of Tectonic Filamentous 
Tapes", B. E. Chitwood, et al., Apr. 6, 1971. This machine employs a belt 
drive to pull composite tape from a spool, a separator to collect the 
backing from the tape, a tape shear blade, an applicator vacuum belt to 
carry the tape to the work structure, and a pendant roller foot including 
heating elements to assure adhesion to the preceding layer by imparting 
tackiness to the resionous matrix and partial polymerization to the 
semi-cured stage. 
In an alternate embodiment the heating of the tape is accomplished with a 
detrusion nozzle for directing heated air onto the tape. Gap or overlap of 
adjacent tapes is avoided by use of a sensor such as a photoelectric cell 
or air-gauge to detect the edge of a previously laid tape for 
communication to the control system. 
The system includes a frame to support a table, a rotary table to support a 
pattern or die, a trellis, a tram carriage on a rail beam to support a 
detrusion pendant containing the above tape laying mechanisms. Control of 
the tape laying mechanism is achieved by the use of a master indexing 
template on a rotary table and photo electric scanning cells, which sense 
the pattern of the tape from the template and transmit this information to 
the tape laying mechanism. There have been various modifications to this 
machine such as the use of numerical control instead of the template. 
The prior art methods and mechanisms have the following disadvantages: (1) 
the tape shear blade cannot cut tape at angles greater than about sixty 
degrees and cannot make curved or bi-directional cuts; (2) the tape shear 
blade cannot cut tape while the tape is being fed through the machine; (3) 
short courses or lengths of tape less than 93/4" cannot be laid; and (4) 
the pressing roller cannot terminate its pressing along a nonperpendicular 
cut. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is the general object of this invention to overcome the disadvantages 
enumerated above with respect to the prior art methods and machines. 
In accordance with this object the tape is slit lengthwise or 
longitudinally to form staggered strips of a selected length and 
predetermined width. After slitting, the resulting strips are sheared or 
cut transversely by a group of cutters arranged in a digital design for 
individual activation. This enables a digital approximation of a wide 
variety of angles across the width of the tape that can include curved 
surfaces and enables compound or multiple angles. 
A transport and tape feed system prevents overlapping and gaps by use of 
backing paper and tape of a selected and identical width. Immediately 
below this shear system and preceding the laydown rollers, a belted roller 
chute holds the tape securely and keeps proper fiber orientation. The tape 
is released from the roller chute a fraction of an inch in front of the 
laydown rollers, enabling the use of very short tape length or courses. 
The laydown rollers comprise a transverse roll of separate rollers, each 
roller being individually activated for compaction of tape strips cut at 
differing points to form an angular cut. The non-compacted end of the tape 
is pulled up and retracted into the head for subsequent placement at the 
beginning at the next course or row. A toggle-action linkage is used to 
control each individual roller, which is controlled by a solenoid and 
spring return. Roller pressure against the tape is controlled by regulated 
air pressure to obtain uniformity of pressure against the tape 
irrespective of the number of rollers in engagement with the tape. 
Additional objects, features and advantages will become apparent in the 
following description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring initially to FIG. 1, a tape 11 is illustrated to show a plurality 
of longitudinal or lengthwise slits 13, across which extend transverse and 
digital cuts 15. A stair-stepped severance of the tape results 
approximately along a line intersecting cuts 15 at the angle .alpha. with 
respect to a line perpendicular to the tape 11 length. The slits 13 are 
grouped in a plurality of sets 16, as will be explained hereinafter. 
With reference to FIG. 2, there is shown a structural member 17 having a 
periphery 19 formed by tapes 11 laid in parallel rows with severances at 
selected angles digitally formed as shown in FIG. 1. The overall machine 
in FIG. 2 is designated by the numeral 21 and includes a supporting base 
23, a work table 25, a gantry support 27, and a gantry 29 that supports a 
tape laying head 31. The table 25 is moved horizontally along the "X" axis 
with respect to gantry 29 by a worm screw (not shown) on the base 23. The 
tape laying head 31 is moved along the gantry 29 along the "Y" axis by the 
worm screw 33. Vertical moving frame 104 (FIG. 3) is moved up and down in 
head encasement 32 by application of air pressure to air cylinders not 
shown. The vertical moving frame 104 may rotate in head encasement 32 to 
selected points 180.degree. about the "C" axis to enable the laying of 
parallel rows to form one layer or ply and crossing parallel rows to form 
additional layers. This is accomplished by coordinated X movements of 
table 25 and Y movements of head 31. 
Movements of the machine are numerically controlled by use of the computer 
35. Control lines 37 lead to the tape laying head 31, while other control 
lines (not shown) control the movements of the table 25. 
The tape laying head 31 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 3, being mounted 
upon the gantry beam 29 by chain bearings (not shown) for transverse 
movement along the "Y" axis by rotation of the worm screw gear which is 
powered by an electrical motor (not shown). The transverse movement is 
precisely controlled by a conventional gear rack and gear box and 
monitored by an encoder (not shown) mounted on the other side of gantry 
29. 
A roll 39 of composite tape with backing paper is mounted at the upper 
support member 41 for feeding tape 11 through the feed system. Electrical 
motor 43 is used to retract the tail of tape 11 after a section has been 
laid. Electrical motor 43 also provides some drag on supply roll 39 as 
tape 11 is drawn off. The tape, as it is unrolled, first moves past a 
slitter mechanism 45, the details of which will be described subsequently 
in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5. The purpose of slitter mechanism 45 is 
to form the lengthwise or longitudinal slits 13 as seen in FIG. 1 for the 
purpose of dividing the tape into strips of a predetermined width, length, 
and spacing. 
Next, the tape 11 moves downward to the region of the tape shearing or tape 
cutting mechanism 47, which forms digital cuts 15 in the tape, as shown 
schematically in FIG. 1. Hence, a selected cut such as one approximating 
an angle .alpha. shown in FIG. 1 may be formed. The details of the tape 
cutting mechanism will be described subsequently in connection with FIGS. 
5 and 6. 
Subsequent to the shearing or digital cutting of the tape 11, it is moved 
across a belted roller chute assembly 49, the details of which will be 
described subsequently in connection with FIGS. 7 and 8. The purpose of 
the roller chute 49 is to retain the tape securely to eliminate gaps, 
overlaps and misalignments between adjacent rows of tapes and to maintain 
the selected fiber orientation. 
Although not apparent in FIG. 3, the next step in the method utilized by 
the machine involves the compaction of the tapes by a laydown roller 
mechanism 48, as illustrated in FIGS. 9-14, which serves as press means 
for pressing tape 11 into adhering contact with the work surface. Tape 11 
is released from the roller chute 49 a fraction of an inch in front of the 
laydown roller mechanism 48, which enables the use of very short tape 
lengths or courses. The laydown roller mechanism 48 is divided into 
multiple rollers or segments for individual activation and compaction of 
selected sets of strips of the slitted tape 11, as will be described more 
completely in connection with FIGS. 9-14. 
From the above overall description of the machine, it will be seen that the 
method utilized by the machine involves the steps of slitting the tape 
along selected portions of its length to form strips of predetermined 
width and length, cutting the strips individually to digitally form an 
angle or curve, conveying the slitted and cut tape toward the structural 
member being formed, and compacting the strips selectively onto the work 
surface or tape previously laid. Additional and more detailed method steps 
will become apparent hereinafter. 
The tape slitter mechanism 45 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 4. The 
purpose of this mechanism is to assure slits 13 (FIG. 1) that run parallel 
to the tape fibers. The preferred slitter mechanism 45 is shown in FIG. 4 
and is contained in a support structure 50. There are preferably 
twenty-three one inch diameter slitting disks or wheels 51 mounted in six 
sets (not all shown). Five of the sets have four slitting wheels 51 and 
one set has three wheels. To assure a positive slitting action, the 
circular slitters move at a surface speed equal to the speed of tape laid 
on the work surface of work table 25. Activation of the pneumatic 
cylinders 57 on support shafts 59, causes engagement of the slitter wheels 
51 with the tape 11. The pneumatic cylinder is preferably a single-acting 
air cylinder with air flow by a valve activated by electric solenoid (not 
shown) in response to computer control. Subsequent to completing the 
slitting operation, air pressure is closed off by the solenoid to enable 
retraction of the slitters with springs (not shown). 
As shown in FIG. 4, the sets of cutters are mounted in two banks, each bank 
slitting against a plate (not shown) behind the tape 11 in the tape laying 
head 31 of FIG. 3. The composite tape and backing paper pass between the 
backup plate and slitting wheels 51. When slitting is required, the 
appropriate set of wheels are pushed against the backup plate at a 
pressure selected to cut only the composite tape 11 and not its backing 
paper. Each set of slitting wheels 51 is independently actuatable. 
Next, the tape 11 is drawn across the digital cutting or shearing mechanism 
47, the word "digital" meaning that a complete cut across the width of the 
tape is made by several incremental cuts 15 (FIG. 1) with small blades of 
the type illustrated in FIG. 5 and 6. In the preferred embodiment there 
are twenty-four 0.156 inch wide chisel type cutters 61 which constitute 
the shear system or mechanism. Each cutter 61 is powered by its own 
solenoid 63, with the cutters 61 and solenoids 63 being grouped in an 
array as indicated in FIG. 6. Each cutter 61 is aligned to cut between two 
adjacent slits 13 (FIG. 1) and is of a width that is substantially the 
distance between two adjacent slitter wheels 51 (FIG. 4), with only slight 
overlapping. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the cutters 61 are not mounted in 
a single transverse row, rather they are vertically staggered from each 
other. Also, each cutter 61 cuts a selected perpendicular segment of tape 
11 without overlapping with any other cutters 61. 
The cutters 61 are not fastened directly to the solenoid plunger 65 shown 
in FIG. 5, but rather the solenoid plunger 65 strikes the top 67 of the 
chisel cutter 61, which is thus driven into the composite tape 11. The 
cutter 61 and solenoid plunger 65 are returned to a rest position by a 
spring 69 placed around the cutter 61 and against shims 71 received in a 
drilled hole 73 of a retention plate 75. The depth of cut may be adjusted 
by proper selection of the number and size of shims 71, which constitutes 
one type of adjustment means. Preferably only tape 11 is cut and not its 
backing paper. 
The top 67 of each cutter 61 is received by an aperture 77 in a guide plate 
79. A top plate 81 is then assembled with the guide plate 79 and retention 
plate 75 by suitable fasteners. Tape 11 is maintained by a vacuum against 
an anvil 82 (FIG. 5) as it is drawn past cutters 61. Testing indicates 
that this cutter arrangement or mechanism is capable of cutting composite 
tapes while the tapes are in motion or "on-the-fly". While the precise 
speed limitations have not been determined, there is indication that the 
cutting can be accomplished satisfactorily with the tape moving at speeds 
of 180 inches per minute. The chisel shaped cutters perform best when the 
cutting extremity of 61 if formed of carbide brazed to the remainder of 
cutter 61. 
The tape 11 after leaving the digital cutter mechanism passes through a 
belted roller chute assembly 49, shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The belted roller 
chute 49 includes a 90.degree. curved metal chute 83 having a channel 85 
for changing the direction of tape 11 travel from vertical to horizontal. 
An endless flexible belt 87 of Teflon (see FIG. 8) is mounted in a curved 
contour within the channel 85 of chute 83. Rollers 89 are rotatably 
carried in the sides of the channel 85 to support belt 87. Belt 87 is not 
driven, rather moves due to friction as tape 11 is pulled out. Belt 87 and 
chute 83 serve as guides to keep the tape 11 strips and fibers properly 
aligned during laydown. 
The segmented roller system 48 is shown in FIGS. 9-14 and contains 
segmented or individual rollers 91 which roll by the friction created by 
the force of the head on the composite tape on the work surface. The 
segmented rollers 91, as shown in FIG. 9, consist of a plurality of 
individual rollers, preferably six, mounted in a row perpendicular to the 
length of tape 11. Each roller 91 has a width of about 1/2 inch and 
corresponds to a set 16 of slits 13 (FIG. 1). This segmented design allows 
for selective roller compaction of composite tape courses which terminate 
in a nonperpendicular course or severance 93, shown in FIG. 10. 
Progressively fewer of the rollers 91 engage and compact the tape 11, as 
is illustrated schematically by the rows a, b, and c of rollers 91 shown 
in FIG. 10. Each roller 91 ceases engagement once it contacts severance 
93. This better enables the non-compacted tail 95 to be pulled upward and 
retracted into the head 31 for subsequent placement at the beginning of 
the next course, a feature which limits the amount of waste tape from the 
operation. Also, the total weight on the roller system 48 is 
proportionally reduced each time a roller 91 is disengaged, so that each 
roller 91 always exerts the same force. 
The toggle action linkage 97 for selectively disengaging and engaging 
rollers 91 is illustrated in FIGS. 11-14. Referring to FIG. 12, each 
roller 91 is rotatably mounted by ball bearings on a bearing carrier 99. 
Bearing carrier 99 does not rotate and has a vertical slot 101 in its 
center. A single axle 103 for all of the rollers 91 is secured into the 
vertically movable frame 104 within head encasement 32 so that the axle 
always remains horizontal. Axle 103 has a vertical hole 105 for each 
roller 91. The vertical rod 107 for each bearing carrier 99 extends 
slidingly through each hole 105. A coil spring 109 encircles each rod 107 
between the top of slot 101 and axle 103. Spring 109 is compressed so that 
it tends to urge the roller 91 upward with respect to axle 103. 
In the pressing engagement position, as shown in FIG. 12, a linkage roller 
111 prevents spring 109 from disengaging roller 91 from the work surface 
of work table 25. Roller 111 is rotatably secured to two linkage members 
113 and 115 extending approximately at right angles from each other. The 
top of linkage member 115 is pivotally secured by a floating pin 116 to a 
finger member that has two portions 117a and 117b extending at about a 
right angle with respect to each other. Finger member 117 is pivotally 
secured by fixed pin 119 to the vertically movable frame 104 of head 31. 
A telescoping member 121 is secured to the intersection of linkage member 
115 and finger 117. Telescoping member 121 has two portions, 121a and 
121b, that slide within each other to vary its length. The other end of 
telescoping member 121 is secured to a three piece substantially rigid 
frame 123. A roller or cam follower 125 is rotatably carried by frame 123 
for engaging a cam surface 127. Cam surface 127 has a ramp leading to an 
upper end that is closer to pin 119 than the lower portion. Cam surface 
127 is carried by head encasement 32, however, is not vertically movable 
with the frame 104. The lower end of frame 123 is secured to pin 129. Each 
roller 91 has a separate solenoid 133, and separate linkage members 113, 
115, 117 and 121. A single cam surface 127, frame 123 and cam follower 125 
serve for all six rollers. 
A fixed stop bar 131 is secured to frame 104 of head encasement 32 and is 
located forward of floating pin 116. It is positioned so that when the 
joint of pin 116 contacts stop 131, linkage member 115 is slightly 
overcenter with finger member 117b. Floating pin 116 will be closer to the 
vertical plane of stop 131 than fixed pin 119. An electrical solenoid 133 
is mounted above finger portion 117a for disengaging rollers 91. 
During compaction, air pressure is released to allow vertically moving 
frame 104 weight to be applied as a force that transmits through the 
finger portion 117b, linkage member 115, and roller 111 to roller 91. 
Spring 109 acts against this force. 
In the operation of the roller system 48, arrow 135 in FIGS. 12 and 13 
indicates direction of travel of head 31. When it is desired to disengage 
a wheel 91, a solenoid 133 is actuated by a computer 35 to momentarily 
press finger 117a. This causes pin 116 to move foward with respect to 
arrow 135. The telescoping linkage member 121 shortens, with the portion 
121a sliding into portion 121b. As shown in FIG. 13, this allows roller 
111 to move upward, with coil spring 109 causing the upward movement. 
Once a section or course of tape 11 is laid, the roller mechanism 48 and 
roller chute 49, along with frame 104 (FIG. 12), are moved vertically 
upward within head encasement 32 is raised upward, the rollers 91 and 
entire linkage system 97, except for cam surface 127, will move upward, as 
shown in FIG. 14. Cam follower 125 rides up the cam surface 127 and moves 
floating pin 116 toward stop 131 as it reaches the thicker part of cam 
surface 127. As pin 116 moves toward stop 131, it passes dead center 
wherein pin 116 is vertically aligned with fixed pin 119. When the rollers 
91 are again lowered, there is no force present to move pin 116 forward 
again. Consequently, the system is "cocked", and when lowered from the 
position shown in FIG. 14, it will again appear as shown in FIG. 12. The 
downward force on frame 104 will be exerted from pin 119 thru the linkage 
member 115 and finger portion 117b, with stop 131 preventing further 
rearward travel of the telescoping member 121. 
As a roller 91 is raised at the severance 93, FIG. 10, air pressure is 
applied on the vertical frame 104 portion to lessen the vertical frame 104 
weight by the ratio of the number being raised over the number left plus 
the number being raised. At position C in FIG. 10, the vertically moving 
frame 104 weight is 1/6 of that at position a, and 1/3 of that at position 
b. This allows each roller 91 to maintain the same downward force on the 
work surface, regardless of the number of rollers 91 in engagement. 
In the overall operation of the tape laying system, as shown in FIG. 3, 
tape 11 is first threaded from the supply roll 39 down the slitter 
mechanism 45, transverse cutter mechanism 47, the chute assembly 49 and 
under the laydown roller assembly 48. Then the chute assembly 49 is 
lowered until rollers 91 compact the first end of tape 11 onto the work 
surface, this position being shown in FIG. 12. The first end of tape 11 
could be a square or perpendicular cut, or it might be an angular cut, 
depending upon what was previously cut. The first end will adhere to the 
work surface, which may be a thin flat sheet of plastic on work table 25, 
or a previously laid layer or ply of tape 11 on structure member 17. Then, 
referring to FIG. 2, table 25 will be moved along the "X" axis and rollers 
91 (FIG. 12) to compact the tape 11 after release from chute assembly 49. 
Table 25 and its drive system serve as drive means for providing relative 
movement between head 31 and tape 25 to lay tape 11. 
FIG. 2 only shows tape 11 being compacted in "X" axis direction only, it 
can also be compacted in a vector movement by rotating vertical frame 104 
in "C" axis movement to proper angle and moving table 25 "X" axis and head 
31 "Y" axis in coordinated movements. 
As the table 25 moves, the friction of tape 11 adhering to the work surface 
will cause the tape to move downward from the tape supply 39 and out the 
chute assembly 49. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, belt 87 and chute 83 guide 
the tape as it turns. Rollers 91 will compact the tape 11 to the work 
surface, as indicated in FIG. 12. A separate takeup roller (not shown) 
continuously peels the paper backing from the tape 11 after compaction and 
winds it up. 
As the tape passes through the slitter mechanism 45 and cutter mechanism 
47, the computer 35 will instruct these mechanisms on the particular cut. 
The computer will instruct the slitter mechanism 45 and cutter mechanism 
47 when to commence the severance 19 and at what angle. The pneumatic 
cylinder 57, FIG. 4, and associated control circuitry, serve as slitter 
wheel actuating means for selectively moving the slitting wheels 51 into 
and out of engagement with tape 11. Referring to FIG. 5, the solenoids 63 
and associated control circuitries serve as cutter actuating means for 
selectively moving the cutters 61 into and out of engagement with tape 11. 
Referring to FIG. 1, in order to determine the precise points at where the 
slits 13 and cuts 15 will be made, in the preferred embodiment, 23 
separate slits are placed by slitters 51 and 24 separate cuts are placed 
by cutters 61, all while the tape moves. Slitter wheels 51 are mounted so 
that slits 13 are all of the same parallel distance apart from each other. 
There are six groupings or sets 16, of which five of the sets 16 have four 
slits 13 and one has three slits, the one with three slits being shown in 
the drawing or the uppermost set. The slitter actuating means is 
controlled so that all of the slits within a single set 16 will start and 
stop at the same point on tape 11. The sets 16 that have four slits 13 are 
of the same length, but longer than the set that has only three slits 13. 
Preferably, the slits 13 within a set 16 do not overlap lengthwise with 
slits in other sets, providing the stairstep pattern shown in FIG. 1. 
All of the cuts 15 are of the same length, which is slightly greater than 
the distance between two adjacent slits. Also, all of the cuts 15 are 
perpendicular to the length of the tape. The cutters 61 are mounted so 
that cuts 15 do not overlap with each other. 
When cutting a straight nonperpendicular angle, as shown in FIG. 1, all of 
the cuts 15 will be uniformly spaced in a stairstep pattern. That is, each 
cut 15 will be forward of and closer to one side of the tape 11 than the 
cuts immediately before and behind it. The lengthwise distance between the 
cuts 15 will all be the same. Each set 16 of slits 13 commences on a cut 
15 and terminate on a cut 15, these cuts 15 at the commencement and 
termination linking the set 16 to adjacent sets 16. The sets 16 that 
contain four slits 13 thus are of length equal to the lengthwise distance 
between four cuts 15. The three slit set has slits 13 that are of length 
equal to the lengthwise distance between three cuts 15. 
The longitudinal or lengthwise distance between any two cuts 15 depends on 
the angle. At very high angles .alpha. the severance line will be much 
longer than at low angles .alpha.. At an angle .alpha. of zero degrees, 
cuts 15 will be sequentially made as the tape 11 moves to create a 
perpendicular line, and slits 13 will be completely unnecessary. 
Once the computer has determine the proper sequence, it signals each set of 
slitter wheels 51 independently into engagement with the tape 11 at the 
proper time sequence considering the tape speed (FIG. 4). As these slits 
(FIG. 1) reach the cutter mechanism 47, referring to FIG. 5, solenoids 63 
are actuated at the proper time considering the tape speed, to strike 
cutters 61. Cutters 61 then place transverse cuts 15 into the tape 11, the 
cuts 15 intersecting with the slits 13 to define a severance. Although the 
entire severance is completed at this point, the tape 11 will not separate 
until it is compacted because of the paper backing on tape 11. There may 
be several complete segments in the feed path of head 31 for very short 
courses. 
When the end of a course of tape 11 is reached, computer 35 will instruct 
each solenoid 133 when to disengage its roller 91, as indicated in FIG. 
12. Referring also to FIG. 10, a roller 91 will be disengaged once part of 
it contacts the severance 93. As illustrated by the numeral "a", all six 
rollers will be in engagement prior to severance 93. At point b, only 
three rollers 91 are in engagement. At point c, only one roller 91 is in 
engagement. Referring to FIG. 13, solenoid 133 strikes finger 117a, 
causing telescoping member 121 to retract and allowing spring 109 to urge 
roller 91 upward. The air pressure on movable frame 104 is proportionately 
increased as a roller 91 is raised, the air pressure system and movable 
frame 104 serving as force regulating means. The linkage system 97 and 
spring biased arrangement of axle 103, along with associated control 
circuitry, serve as roller actuating means for moving the rollers 91 into 
and out of engagement with the work surface. 
Once all of the rollers 91 are disengaged, the course has been completed 
and the roller assembly 48 will be raised by vertical frame 104 as shown 
in FIG. 14. Cam surface 127 "cocks" the linkage assembly 97 to push 
rollers 91 back downward with respect to axle 103. Electrical motor 43, 
FIG. 3, is actuated to draw the tail 95 (FIG. 10) of the supply roll 139 
back until the tip of the tail is directly below rollers 91. 
Then vertical frame 104 is rotated 180.degree. in head encasement 32, head 
31 is moved to next initiating position and the cycle is repeated by table 
25 "X" axis and head 31 on "Y" axis in opposite directions. 
It should be apparent that an invention having significant advantages has 
been provided. The slitter and cutter mechanism enables severances to be 
made while the tape is in motion. The severances may be curved, bi-angular 
or at very high angles. The belted roller chute allows very short courses 
to be made by preventing them from separating from their paper backing and 
by maintaining alignment. The segmented roller system provides compaction 
that approximates the angle of severance. 
While the invention has been shown in only one of its forms, it should be 
apparent to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is 
susceptible to various changes and modifications thereof.