Patent ID: 8800342

Claim:
A method of preparing a metallic tape for use on a joint, the method comprising: providing a metallic tape, wherein the metallic tape includes: a metallic carrier material; an adhesive layer applied to the metallic carrier material; and a backing, wherein the backing material is configured to protect the adhesive layer until use; feeding the metallic carrier material, adhesive layer, and backing, between first and second gears each being rotatably mounted to a body to be rotatable about an axis of rotation and mated with one another and each having a left side toothed portion, a right side toothed portion, and an interior portion between the right and left side toothed portions, the interior portion of both the first and second gears lacking teeth and defining a circle about the axis of rotation, the feeding the metallic carrier material and adhesive layer between the first and second gears effective to create alternating ridges and troughs along the width of the metallic tape and create a fold line along the length of the metallic tape without cutting the metallic tape and without folding the metallic tape along the fold line, wherein the fold line includes an area where the alternating ridges and troughs are flattened approximately 50 percent relative to the depth of the alternating ridges and troughs; and feeding the metallic carrier material, adhesive layer, and backing past a stationary cutting tool affixed to the body and positioned adjacent the first and second gears effective to create a cut in the backing, wherein cutting the backing includes at least partially cutting through the backing on the metallic tape without cutting through the metallic tape; wherein feeding the metallic carrier material, adhesive layer, and backing between the first and second gears occurs after feeding the metallic carrier, adhesive layer, and backing past the cutting tool such that the cut line is positioned over the fold line.