ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 6 -- United States Patent no. 12,378,027, issued on Aug. 5, was assigned to Pearson Packaging Systems (Spokane, Wash.).
"Tape head assist assembly" was invented by Michael J. Johnson (Spokane, Wash.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A tape head assembly-which tapes flaps of boxes on a conveyor-includes power-assist functionality to stretch a first spring used to power a trailing roller to press tape against a trailing case sidewall of a case. A force by the case moving on the conveyor acting upon a leading roller may provide some of the energy to stretch the first spring. However, a roller-assist air cylinder uses compressed air to assist or fully stretch the first spring. ...