Splicing head assembly for tape loading machines

摘要

A new and improved splicing block assembly and a novel splicing tape dispenser applicator for a cassette-loading machine are disclosed. The improved splicing block assembly comprises a first splicing block having a first tape guide means located in a selected plane, a second splicing block having a second tape guide means located in said selected plane in alignment with said first tape guide means, means mounting said second block for reciprocal movement along a selected axis extending parallel to said first and second tape guide means between a first position in which said second block is adjacent to said first block and a second position in which said second block is spaced from said first block, a third splicing block having a third tape guide means that extends parallel to said selected axis, and means mounting said third splicing block for reciprocal movement between (1) a first position in which said third splicing block is spaced from said first and second splicing blocks and (2) a second position in which said third splicing block is located between said first and second splicing blocks and said third tape guide means is located in said selected plane in alignment with at least one of said first and second tape guide means. The new dispenser-applicator is a transfer type device comprising dispensing means for dispensing and cutting a splicing tape into pieces of preselected lengths, and applicator means for transferring the cut pieces of splicing tape to a splicing block assembly that is a substantial distance from the dispensing means.