Patent ID: 8464773

Claim:
An apparatus for removing tape material from backing paper comprising: a supply reel for supplying and unrolling tape material on backing paper; at least one cutting member for cutting first and second spaced apart cuts in unrolled tape material while still on backing paper, and for cutting a third cut between the first and second spaced apart cuts, in the unrolled tape material while still on the backing paper; at least one bending member for pressing against the backing paper to separate first and second adjacent portions, disposed on opposite sides of the third cut, of unrolled tape material from the backing paper; a first vacuum roller for rolling a first adjacent portion of the unrolled tape material at least partially around the first vacuum roller to remove from the backing paper the first adjacent portion; and a second vacuum roller adjacent to the first vacuum roller for rolling a second adjacent portion of the unrolled tape material at least partially around the second vacuum roller to remove from the backing paper the second adjacent portion.