Patent ID: 7287567

Claim:
A tape application jig for applying a pressure sensitive adhesive tape to an adherend having a bent portion and/or curved portion, comprising: a tape application head for applying said pressure sensitive adhesive tape under pressure to a tape applying surface of the adherend; a jig guide which is to be disposed on a surface of the adherend opposite to said tape application head for guiding said tape application jig along the adherend; a biasing member for biasing said jig guide and said tape application head toward one another to thereby control tape application and pressing force exerted on the pressure sensitive adhesive tape, when the tape applying surface of the adherend is in position there between for receiving the pressure sensitive tape; and tape holding member structure defining at least a portion of a tape guiding space and an entrance into said tape guiding space, said entrance allowing the tape to be inserted into said tape guiding space in a direction generally transverse to a direction of movement of the tape through said tape guiding space, said entrance being open during the application of the tape to a bent portion and/or curved portion of the adherend, wherein said tape holding member structure comprises first and second tape holding members fixed relative to said tape application head and spaced apart so as to define said entrance into said tape guiding space, said tape application head having an axis generally transverse to (1) the direction of movement of the tape and (2) an axis passing through said tape application head and said jig guide, wherein a portion of said second tape holding member extends away from said tape application head and toward said first tape holding member so as to define a portion of said tape guiding space, and a part of said second tape holding member extends beyond a part of said first tape holding member, located adjacent said entrance into said tape guiding space, in a direction generally transverse to the direction of movement of the tape through said tape guiding space and to the axis of said tape application head.