A two-sided adhesive tape comprising first and second single-sided adhesive tapes connected to one another by a bridge member. Each single-sided adhesive tape comprises an elongated strip of flexible material having lengthwise extending lateral edges, an adhesive side surfaced with adhesive, and a back side not surfaced with adhesive. The bridge member comprises an elongated strip of flexible material having lengthwise extending lateral edges. The single-sided adhesive tapes are positioned in edge-to-edge relationship to one another, such that their inner lateral edges are adjacent to one another with the adhesive sides of the single-sided adhesive tapes facing in opposite directions. The bridge member extends between the single-sided adhesive tapes. In one embodiment, the bridge member is adhesively joined to the adhesive sides of the single-side adhesive tapes. In a second embodiment, the bridge member includes an adhesive surface, the adhesive surface of one lateral edge of the bridge member is joined to the adhesive surface of the first single-sided adhesive tape, and the adhesive surface of the second lateral edge of the bridge member is joined to the back surface of the second single-sided adhesive tape. Apparatus and method for making such two-sided adhesive tape are also disclosed.

An automatic application device for dispensing an adhesive transfer tape with the liner removed includes a hub for rotatably supporting a roll of adhesive transfer tape and an application head for pressing the adhesive transfer tape unwound from the roll onto a product to which it is to be applied. An idler roller is disposed above the application head to pull the liner away from the application head. A motor driven take-up roller and corresponding nip roller are provided to pull the liner along its path over said idler roller away from the application head. A brake roller is provide along the path of the transfer tape between the roll and the application head to selectively stop the tape's advance. When the brake roller is released, the product to which the adhesive is applied pulls the tape underneath the application head, unwinding it from the roll. When the brake roller is stopped, the tape stops advancing and the adhesive strip carried on the liner is broken. A compensation roller provides that when the head is lifted the tape is maintained in a fixed position relative to the head so that the leading edge of the adhesive on the tape liner returns to the proper position when the head is lowered.

An automatic application device for dispensing an adhesive transfer tape with the liner removed includes a hub for rotatably supporting a roll of adhesive transfer tape and an application head for pressing the adhesive transfer tape unwound from the roll onto a product to which it is to be applied. An idler roller is disposed above the application head to pull the liner away from the application head. A motor driven take-up roller and corresponding nip roller are provided to pull the liner along its path over said idler roller away from the application head. A brake roller is provided along the path of the transfer tape between the roll and the application head to selectively stop the tape's advance. When the brake roller is released, the product to which the adhesive is applied pulls the tape underneath the application head, unwinding it from the roll. When the brake roller is stopped, the tape stops advancing and the adhesive strip carried on the liner is broken. A compensation roller provides that when the head is lifted the tape is maintained in a fixed position relative to the head so that the leading edge of the adhesive on the tape liner returns to the proper position when the head is lowered.

There is disclosed herein a photoprocessing system for receiving film and processing it into the final prints. The system particularly includes modifications to the film printer for encoding identification numbers onto the roll of prints which can key sets of prints to the respective film. Also, a film advance system is disclosed wherein the film is stopped during the printing process to allow a bar code to be read from each film of a roll of films. Additionally, an automated packaging machine is disclosed wherein the prints from a roll of prints are cut apart by a continuously running knife system. A film accumulator for cutting apart and stacking sections of film after it has been printed is disclosed, as is a batch management computer system for maintaining a file of information pertaining to the film, order envelope and print processing taking place.