Abstract: A tape guide plate and finger plate assembly for the leading end portion of the carton or case sealing tape is provided in order to effectively prevent the leading end portion of the carton or case sealing tape from folding over upon itself whereby the adhesive material, disposed upon the front side surface portion of the sealing tape would effectively become stuck to itself and thereby foul further carton or case seal-ing operations. In addition, rollers are provided upon a finger plate so as to permit the sealing tape to be dispensed in a substantially frictionless or drag-free manner.

Abstract: A spring tension control system for the front and rear application roller arms, and for the sealing tape application rollers mounted thereon, of a tape cartridge assembly of a case sealing machine comprises a first spring-biasing mechanism to control the disposition and movement of the front and rear application roller arms upon which are respectively mounted the front and rear case sealing tape application rollers for applying the sealing tape to the vertically oriented front and rear surface portions of the case. In addition, there is also provided a second spring biasing mechanism which operatively cooperates with the first spring biasing mechanism so as to effectively impart an enhanced amount of tension and speed to the rear case sealing application roller in order to achieve enhanced case sealing processing speeds.

Abstract: An adjustable diameter tape roll cartridge core assembly which permits various different tape rolls, manufactured, for example, by various different tape roll manufacturers, and characterized by different internal diameter dimensions, to be fixedly and securedly mounted upon the tape roll cartridge core member of a tape roll dispensing cartridge assembly of a carton or case sealing machine. The core assembly comprises an expandable and contractible annular ring member whereby the external diametrical extent of such expandable and contractible annular ring member is adjustable so as to in fact be capable of tightly engaging the inner peripheral surface portion of any one of various different tape rolls having various different internal diameter dimensions.

Abstract: A new and improved apparatus or system for automatically assembling or erecting tote containers, and a corresponding method or process for practicing or implementing the assembly or erection of the tote containers, is disclosed wherein tote container workpieces are disposed in a serial array within a magazine or hopper.

Abstract: A system for mounting the front or rear sealing tape application roller of a carton or case sealing apparatus wherein the front or rear tape application roller is able to be quickly and easily replaced upon its roller shaft without the need for special tools. A spring-biased detent pin which is spring-biased between a radially outwardly position at which the detent pin so as to be engaged with and block removal of the roller from its roller shaft but which may be depressed radially inwardly so as to be disengaged from the roller and thereby permit the roller to be removed from its roller shaft.

Abstract: A quick change knife blade assembly, for use in conjunction with a tape roll dispensing cartridge assembly of a case sealing machine, comprises a knife blade mounted upon a knife blade mounting plate. A pin plate is fixedly connected to mounting pins passing through the knife blade, and springs are interposed between the pin plate and the mounting plate so as to normally bias the pin plate to a position at which the mounting pins prevent the removal of the knife blade from the mounting plate. When the pin plate is depressed against the biasing forces of the springs, the mounting pins are moved so as to permit the knife blade to be removed from the mounting plate.

Abstract: A tape guide plate and finger plate assembly for the leading end portion of the carton or case sealing tape is provided in order to effectively prevent the leading end portion of the carton or case sealing tape from folding over upon itself whereby the adhesive material, disposed upon the front side surface portion of the sealing tape would effectively become stuck to itself and thereby foul further carton or case seal-ing operations. In addition, rollers are provided upon a finger plate so as to permit the sealing tape to be dispensed in a substantially frictionless or drag-free manner.

Abstract: A knife blade guard locking mechanism, for use in conjunction with the sealing tape application rollers of a tape cartridge assembly of a case sealing machine, is adapted to be operatively connected to a spring biasing mechanism of the sealing tape application rollers such that when the sealing tape application rollers are disposed at their inoperative positions, the knife blade guard locking mechanism is disposed at its locked position so as to effectively cover the knife blade in order to protect personnel from being accidentally cut. Conversely, when the sealing tape application rollers are disposed at their operative positions, the knife blade guard locking mechanism is automatically unlocked so as to permit the knife blade to be uncovered in order to perform its sealing tape cutting operation.

Abstract: A spring tension control system for the front and rear application roller arms, and for the sealing tape application rollers mounted thereon, of a tape cartridge assembly of a case sealing machine comprises a first spring-biasing mechanism to control the disposition and movement of the front and rear application roller arms upon which are respectively mounted the front and rear case sealing tape application rollers for applying the sealing tape to the vertically oriented front and rear surface portions of the case. In addition, there is also provided a second spring biasing mechanism which operatively cooperates with the first spring biasing mechanism so as to effectively impart an enhanced amount of tension and speed to the rear case sealing application roller in order to achieve enhanced case sealing processing speeds.

Abstract: An adjustable diameter tape roll cartridge core assembly which permits various different tape rolls, manufactured, for example, by various different tape roll manufacturers, and characterized by different internal diameter dimensions, to be fixedly and securedly mounted upon the tape roll cartridge core member of a tape roll dispensing cartridge assembly of a carton or case sealing machine. The core assembly comprises an expandable and contractible annular ring member whereby the external diametrical extent of such expandable and contractible annular ring member is adjustable so as to in fact be capable of tightly engaging the inner peripheral surface portion of any one of various different tape rolls having various different internal diameter dimensions.

Abstract: A banding machine applies labels to the top of containers and has a frame with a turret plate rotatably mounted thereon and driven by a drive mechanism. Band holders are positioned on the turret plate and receive cut film sleeves having spaced indicia thereon in an unopened, flattened condition. The band holders open the band into a circular sleeve, and then hold and move the band onto the top of a vertically oriented container advancing into a banding position as the turret plate rotates. A registration sensor senses film indicia before label cutting and generates a signal indicative of the sensed registration. A controller stops film advancement upon the sensor's detection of film indicia so as to initiate film cutting and initiate film feeding again to advance film a predetermined amount for a newly cut label. The feed roller is initiated for feeding film upon rotation of the turret plate and movement of a band holder into an indexed position.