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A tape closure device for securing the neck of a bag with a tape closure includes an automated control system, a tape feed assembly configured to provide a continuous length of tape and a closure application assembly. The closure application assembly also includes an encoder wheel that outputs to th

A tape closure device for securing the neck of a bag with a tape closure includes an automated control system, a tape feed assembly configured to provide a continuous length of tape and a closure application assembly. The closure application assembly also includes an encoder wheel that outputs to the automated control system a signal representative of the length of tape provided to the closure application assembly from the tape feed assembly during the closure cycle. The tape closure device further includes a motorized cutting member that is connected to the automated control system and configured for selective activation by the automated control system in response to the signal provided by the encoder wheel. The selective activation of the motorized cutting member allows the tape closure device to create a tape closure that based on the length of tape drawn into the closure application assembly.

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1. A tape closure device for securing a neck of a bag with a tape closure during a closure cycle, wherein the tape closure has a first leg and a second leg, and the tape closure device comprising: an automated control system;a tape feed assembly configured to provide a continuous length of tape; whe

1. A tape closure device for securing a neck of a bag with a tape closure during a closure cycle, wherein the tape closure has a first leg and a second leg, and the tape closure device comprising: an automated control system;a tape feed assembly configured to provide a continuous length of tape; wherein the tape feed assembly further includes a belt clamp assembly comprising: a small pneumatic cylinder;a press;a closure application assembly configured to pull the continuous length of tape from the tape feed assembly and form the tape closure around the neck of the bag during the closure cycle, wherein the closure application assembly includes an encoder wheel that outputs to the automated control system a signal representative of the length of tape provided to the closure application assembly from the tape feed assembly during the closure cycle;a motorized cutting member configured to sever the continuous length of tape from the tape closure around the neck of the bag, wherein the motorized cutting member is connected to the automated control system and configured for selective activation by the automated control system in response to the signal provided by the encoder wheel to control the length of the second leg of the tape closure; andwherein the belt clamp assembly is configured to selectively isolate the closure application assembly from the tape feed assembly during a closure cycle. 2. The tape closure device of claim 1, wherein the closure application assembly further comprises: an upper guide rail; anda lower guide rail. 3. The tape closure device of claim 1, wherein the closure application assembly further comprises a pivotally movable bag stop, wherein the bag stop comprises: a pivot arm;a leg member; anda foot piece. 4. The tape closure device of claim 3, wherein the closure application assembly further comprises a pivotally movable contact member that is not connected to the bag stop, wherein the pivotally movable contact member comprises: a swing arm;a headpiece connected to the swing arm;a spring post connected to the swing arm; anda contact member spring connected to the spring post, wherein the contact member spring opposes the pivotal movement of the contact member. 5. The tape closure device of claim 1, wherein the tape closure device further comprises a paper feed assembly, wherein the paper feed assembly is configured to provide a continuous length of paper to the closure application assembly. 6. The tape closure device of claim 1, wherein the tape feed assembly further comprises a shuttle indexer connected to the control system, wherein the shuttle indexer is configured to linearly reciprocate and wherein the shuttle indexer includes: a slide;a carriage block mounted for reciprocating linear movement on the slide; andan indexer pulley mounted on the carriage block. 7. The tape closure device of claim 6, wherein the shuttle indexer further comprises a pneumatic cylinder that is operably connected to the carriage block and controllably operated by the control system. 8. The tape closure device of claim 7, wherein the pneumatic cylinder is configured to permit the linear movement of the carriage block when the pneumatic cylinder is deployed. 9. A tape closure device for securing a neck of a bag with a tape closure during a closure cycle, the tape closure device comprising: an automated control system;a tape feed assembly configured to provide a continuous length of tape; wherein the tape feed assembly further comprises a shuttle indexer connected to the automated control system, wherein the shuttle indexer is configured to linearly reciprocate and wherein the shuttle indexer includes: a slide;a carriage block mounted for reciprocating linear movement on the slide; andan indexer pulley mounted on the carriage block;a print belt, wherein the continuous length of tape is temporarily adhered to the print belt before it reaches the shuttle indexer;a belt clamp assembly configured to selectively lock the print belt in place during the closure cycle; anda closure application assembly. 10. The tape closure device of claim 9, wherein the shuttle indexer further comprises a pneumatic cylinder that is operably connected to the carriage block and controllably operated by the control system. 11. The tape closure device of claim 10, wherein the pneumatic cylinder is configured to permit the linear movement of the carriage block when the pneumatic cylinder is deployed. 12. The tape closure device of claim 9, wherein the closure application assembly is configured to pull the continuous length of tape from the tape feed assembly and form the tape closure around the neck of the bag during the closure cycle, and wherein the closure application assembly includes an encoder wheel that outputs to the automated control system a signal representative of the length of tape provided to the closure application assembly from the tape feed assembly during the closure cycle. 13. The tape closure device of claim 12, further comprising: a motorized cutting member, wherein the motorized cutting member is connected to the automated control system and configured for selective activation by the automated control system in response to the signal provided by the encoder wheel. 14. A method for applying a tape closure to a neck of a bag, wherein the tape closure has a first leg and a second leg, the method comprising the steps of: providing a continuous length of tape from a roll of tape, onto a print belt, to a guide rail of a closure application assembly;providing a continuous length of paper from a roll of paper to the guide rail of the closure application assembly;passing the neck of the bag through the closure application assembly to draw into the closure application assembly a length of tape from the roll of tape;isolating the length of tape in the closure application assembly from the roll of tape by locking the print belt with a belt clamp assembly;measuring with the length of the tape drawn into the closure application assembly as the neck of the bag is passed through the closure application assembly;encoding the measured length of the tape drawn into the closure application assembly into a tape closure length signal;processing the tape closure length signal; andactivating a motorized cutting mechanism to sever the continuous length of tape and the continuous length of paper in response to the tape closure length signal to control the length of the second leg of the tape closure. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of processing the tape closure length signal further comprises: establishing a predetermined a tape length set point;comparing the measured length of tape drawn into the closure application assembly against the predetermined tape length set point;creating a tape length correction factor; andadjusting the activation of the motorized cutting mechanism in a subsequent tape closure cycle in response to the tape length correction factor. 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises the step of retracting a shuttle indexer to draw a predetermined length of tape from the roll of tape before the step of passing the neck of the bag through the closure application assembly. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises the step of releasing the shuttle indexer to permit the movement of the shuttle indexer as tape is drawn into the closure application assembly. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of releasing the shuttle indexer further comprises deploying a pneumatic cylinder that permits the linear movement of the shuttle indexer toward the closure application assembly. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of retracting the shuttle indexer comprises retracting the pneumatic cylinder to force the shuttle indexer to draw a length of tape from the roll of tape as the shuttle indexer returns to the retracted position.