Abstract:
Tape, such as masking tape, that is used during the painting of automobiles to mark the boundaries of various areas on the vehicle, is fed from a device that automatically folds the edges of the tape over onto the remaining portion of the tape. The tape thus has areas adjacent to the edges that do not adhere to the substrate and thus permits paint to move under the tape at such defined areas wherein no tape line will be produced during the painting process.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to the general art of masking tape, and to the particular field of modifying masking tape to a particular application. 
   2. Discussion of the Related Art 
   Painting and detailing of vehicles often requires that a line or edge be defined by the paint. This often is achieved by covering a portion of the substrate with tape so the edge of the tape defines an edge of the paint. However, in some instances, a sharp edge is not desired. Examples of such situations include door jambs, under a hood, two-toning, spot repairs and the like. 
   In such instances, masking tape is not as efficient as possible. A problem with using masking tape to define such boundaries is that the tape, itself, will define a paint edge. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a means and a method for customizing masking tape to avoid defining a paint edge when masking tape is used in painting of vehicles and the like. 
   Of course, the masking tape can be customized by hand. However, hand customizing of such tape may be too time consuming to be practical. Therefore, there is a need for a means and a method for automatically customizing masking tape to avoid defining a paint edge when masking tape is used in painting of vehicles and the like. 
   PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   It is a main object of the present invention to provide a means and a method for customizing masking tape to avoid defining a paint edge when masking tape is used in painting of vehicles and the like. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a need for a means and a method for automatically customizing masking tape to avoid defining a paint edge when masking tape is used in painting of vehicles and the like. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   These, and other, objects are achieved by a device for handling masking tape which comprises a base having a top wall, an opening defined in the top wall, and a tape-engaging surface on the top wall adjacent to the opening; a tape roll- supporting element on the base; a first tape-folding element mounted on the top wall of the base near the tape roll-supporting element, the first tape-folding element including a base element and a tape edge-engaging element on the base element and which is spaced apart from the top wall of the base by a first distance; a second tape-folding element mounted on the top wall of the base adjacent to the first tape-folding element; a third tape-folding element mounted on the top wall of the base adjacent to the opening defined in the top wall of the base, the third tape-folding element including a base element and a tape edge-engaging element on the base element of the third tape folding-element and which is spaced apart from the top wall of the base by a second distance, with the second distance being smaller than the first distance. 
   The objects are also achieved by a process for folding tape which comprises supporting a roll of tape so the tape is oriented in a vertical plane; feeding the tape from the roll; guiding the tape around a first tape-folding roller and engaging one edge of the tape being fed around the first tape-folding roller and folding the one edge over the remainder of the tape and defining a first folded tape which is oriented in a vertical plane; reorienting the first folded tape to be in a horizontal plane; pressing the one edge against the remainder of the tape and adhering the one edge to the remainder of the tape and defining a first folded and adhered tape; reorienting the first folded and adhered tape into a vertical plane; guiding the tape around a second tape-folding roller and engaging a second edge of the tape being fed around the second tape-folding roller and folding the second edge over the remainder of the tape and defining a second folded tape which is oriented in a vertical plane; reorienting the second folded tape into a horizontal plane; and pressing the second edge against the remainder of the tape and adhering the second edge to the remainder of the tape and defining a second folded and adhered tape. 
   The edges of the tape are automatically folded over so the adhesive on the tape will bond the folded-over edges to the body of the tape. This covers the adhesive on the folded-over edges and defines a non-adhesive portion adjacent to each edge of the customized tape. When the customized tape is adhered to a substrate, the edges of the customized tape will not bond to the substrate thus leaving an area uncovered adjacent to the body of the customized tape. When paint is applied, some of the paint will move beneath the non-bonded edges thereby producing a desired effect without having to hand modify the tape. The form of the invention discussed in this disclosure folds approximately one-eighth inch on each edge of a tape over onto the body of the tape so that a total of one-fourth inch is folded over. For example, if the tape is three-fourths inch wide, a one-eighth inch border is formed adjacent to each edge, leaving one-half inch of tape that will adhere to the substrate. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the device for handling tape embodying the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a bottom plan view of the device for handling tape embodying the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is an end view of the device for handling tape embodying the present invention as seen on line  3 — 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  shows how tape is customized by folding the edges over onto the body of the tape being customized to define non-adhesive areas adjacent to each edge. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
   Referring to the figures, it can be seen that the present invention is embodied in a device  10  for handling tape. Device  10  will dispense tape T in a manner that automatically folds the tape edges over the body of the tape in a manner that defines edges that do not adhere to a substrate, such as an automobile being painted. Device  10  thereby eliminates a paint line, which is desirable in some instances. 
   Device  10  comprises a base  12  having a first side wall  14 , a second side wall  16 , a transverse axis  18  extending between the first side wall  14  and the second side wall  16 , a top wall  20 , a bottom wall  22 , a height axis  24  extending between the top wall  20  and the bottom wall  22 , a first end  26 , a second end  28 , and a longitudinal axis  30  extending between the first end  26  and the second end  28 . A first opening  32  is defined in the top wall  20  near second end  28 . The first opening  32  includes a first edge  34  on the top wall  20  and a second edge  36  on the top wall  20  with the second edge  36  being spaced apart from the first edge  34  in the direction of the longitudinal axis  30  toward the second end  28  of the base  12 . The top wall  20  further includes an outside surface  38  and an inside surface  40 . 
   A tape roll support element  50  is mounted on the top wall  20  of the base  12  near the first end  26  of the base  12  and supports a roll of tape T with the tape oriented in a vertical plane with the first and second side walls  14 ,  16  also being oriented in a vertical plane and the top wall  20  being oriented in a horizontal plane. 
   A first tape-folding roller  52  is mounted on the top wall  20  of the base  12  near the tape roll support element  50  and is spaced from the tape roll support element  50  in the direction of the longitudinal axis  30  of the base  12  toward the second end  28  of the base  12  and is spaced from the tape roll support element  50  in the direction of the height axis  24  toward bottom wall  22  of the base  12 . First tape-folding roller  52  includes a base element  54  mounted on the top wall  20  of the base  12 . Base element  54  of the first tape-folding roller  52  has a radial dimension  56 . The first tape-folding roller  52  further includes a tape-engaging head element  58  mounted on the base element of the first tape-folding roller  52 . The tape-engaging head element  58  is spaced apart from the top wall  20  of the base  12  by a first distance  60  and has a radial dimension  62  which is greater than the radial dimension  56  of the base  54  of the first tape-folding roller  52 . As will be understood from the teaching of the present disclosure, the first distance  60  is less than a width dimension W of tape T. Since radial dimension  56  is less than radial dimension  62 , and since tape T is positioned above the first tape-folding roller  52 , as tape T moves around first tape-folding roller  52 , the edge E 1  of tape T is pushed away from a plane containing the remainder of tape T. Tape T moves in direction F off of the tape roll towards second end  28  of the base  12 . Downstream direction DF and upstream direction UF are taken with reference to direction F. In the direction of tape movement, edge E 1  will be folded over the remaining portion of the tape in direction O 1 . Tape T is oriented so that adhesive A is located on side A 1  of the tape. Thus, edge E 1  is folded over the remaining portion of the tape so that adhesive A on edge E 1  contacts adhesive A on side A 1  on the remaining portion of the tape. Side A 2  of the tape is free of adhesive. Thus, a portion of the folded tape adjacent to edge E 1  will be free of adhesive. In one form of the invention, this portion is one-eighth of an inch with the overall width dimension W of the tape being three-fourths of an inch. Other widths can also be set by adjusting the first distance  60 . 
   A tape-folding element  70  is mounted on the top wall  20  of the base  12  near the first tape-folding roller  52  and is spaced apart from the first tape-folding roller  52  in the direction of the longitudinal axis  30  of the base  12  towards the second end  28  of the base  12 . Tape-folding element  70  includes a body  72  which extends in the direction of the transverse axis  18  of the base  12 . Body  72  of tape-folding element  70  includes a tape-engaging surface  74  located adjacent to the outside surface  38  of the top wall  20  of the base  12 . Tape-folding element  70  includes a V-shaped portion  75  which defines an entrance portion EA and an exit portion OA. Tape entering the area adjacent to the entrance portion will be smoothly forced against the top wall  20  of the base  12  as the tape passes beneath the V-shaped portion  75  and then smoothly exits the tape-folding element  70  via the area adjacent to the exit portion OA. 
   After leaving the first tape-folding roller  52 , edge E 1  of the tape is pushed over to overlap the remainder of the tape. The tape then moves beneath tape-folding element  70  and the folded-over edge is pressed against the remaining body of the tape. This causes the adhesive on the folded-over edge to adhere to the adhesive on the remainder of the body of the tape. The V-shaped portion  75  of the tape-folding element  70  is located sufficiently close to the top wall  20  of the base  12  to permit the tape to move past the V-shaped portion  75  yet have the folded-over edge pressed against the rest of the tape by the action of the V-shaped portion  75  and the top wall  20  of the base  12 . 
   A second tape-folding roller  76  is mounted on the top wall  20  of the base  12  near first edge  34  of the first opening  32  defined in the top wall  20  of the base  12  and is spaced apart from the first edge  34  of the first opening  32  in the direction of the longitudinal axis  30  of the base  12  toward first end  26  of the base  12 . Second tape-folding roller  76  includes a base element  78  mounted on the top wall  20  of the base  12 . Base element  78  of the second tape-folding roller  76  has a radial dimension  80 . The second tape-folding roller  76  further includes a tape-engaging head  82  mounted on the base element  78  of the second tape-folding roller  76 . The tape- engaging head  82  of the second tape-folding roller  76  is spaced apart from the top wall  20  of the base  12  by a second distance  84  and has a radial dimension  88  which is greater than radial dimension  80  of the base element  78  of the second tape-folding roller  76 . 
   The operation and function of second tape-folding roller  76  is similar to the operation and function of first tape- folding roller  52  as discussed above. The tape exiting tape-folding element  70  is moving in a horizontal plane. The tape is re-oriented into a vertical plane to pass around second tape-folding roller  76 . Edge E 1  abuts tape-engaging head  82  and the other edge, edge E 2 , abuts base element  78  of the second tape-folding roller  76 . Since edge E 1  is a double thickness, the tape folds about edge E 2  as that edge moves against the outside surface  38  of the base  12  and the tape engages tape-engaging head  82 . This forces edge E 2  to fold upwardly toward the remaining portion of the tape in direction O 2 . As discussed above, adhesive is located on side A 2  of the tape, and thus adhesive on edge E 2  adheres to adhesive on the remaining portion of the tape. 
   Second distance  84  is less than first distance  60 . This relationship accounts for the smaller size of tape associated with second tape-folding roller  76  than with first tape- folding roller  52  since the tape associated with second tape- folding roller  76  has already been folded over by first tape-folding roller  52  and tape-folding element  70 . Distance  84  is set to fold the tape and define a folded edge on the tape, which is the same dimension as the folded edge E 1 . Thus, in one form of the invention, distance  84  is set to define an edge E 2  that is one-eighth of an inch. Thus, in the example being discussed, a three-fourths inch tape has been folded into edges E 1  and E 2  that are each one-eighth of an inch, thereby leaving one-half inch of tape that can be adhered to a substrate with two boundary edges of one-eighth of an inch each. 
   After exiting the second tape-folding roller  76 , the tape moves over first edge  34  adjacent to opening  32  and then under second edge  36  located adjacent to opening  32  and is pressed against inside surface  40  of the base  12  adjacent to second edge  36  of the opening  32 . This pressing serves the same function for edge E 2  as tape-folding element  70  does for edge E 1 . That is, the folded-over edge is pressed against the remainder of the tape body to cause the adhesive on the folded-over edge to adhere to the adhesive on the remainder of the body. The final form of the folded tape is indicated in  FIG. 4  as FT. 
   As can also be understood from the foregoing disclosure, and by reference to  FIG. 4 , the invention  10  is also embodied in a process for folding tape T. The process comprises supporting a roll of tape T so the tape is oriented in a vertical plane; feeding the tape from the roll in a direction F; guiding the tape around a first tape-folding roller  52  and engaging one edge E 1  of the tape being fed around the first tape-folding roller  52  and folding the one edge over the remainder of the tape and defining a first folded tape FFT which is oriented in a vertical plane; reorienting the first folded tape to be in a horizontal plane; pressing edge E 1  against the remainder of the tape and adhering the one edge to the remainder of the tape and defining a first folded and adhered tape FFT A ; reorienting the first folded and adhered tape into a vertical plane; guiding the tape around second tape-folding roller  76  and engaging a second edge E 2  of the tape being fed around the second tape-folding roller  76  and folding the second edge over the remainder of the tape and defining a second folded tape FFT 2  which is oriented in a vertical plane; reorienting the second folded tape into a horizontal plane; and pressing second edge E 2  against the remainder of the tape and adhering the second edge to the remainder of the tape and defining a second folded and adhered tape FT. Tape FT is oriented in a horizontal plane. 
   It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.