Manufacturing decorative panels by using a web-fed inkjet printer. During the feeding of the to-be-printed substrate, the tension of the substrate is controlled by a dancer unit (720) which includes a dancer roll (200), having a connector (120) on both side ends of said roll, and wherein both connectors (120) are connected to a pair of parallel guiders (110) for floating said roll along a floating path (210); and wherein the step of controlling comprises the step of moving one guider (110) of said pair of guiders (110) parallel to said floating path (210) whereby the dancer roll (200) is tilted.

A frame for cradling a rolled surface covering during installation onto a ground surface, including first and second spaced-apart end panels, a surface covering support base extending between the first and second spaced-apart panels and adapted for holding the rolled surface covering during installation. At least one lower roller extends along the support base between the first and second spaced-apart end panels at a level above the support base, and at least one upper roller extends along the support base between the first and second spaced-apart end panels at a level above the support base and is vertically spaced-apart from the at least one lower roller. The space defines a gap extending along a length of the at least one lower roller and the at least one upper roller through which a free end of the rolled surface covering is extended during installation onto the ground surface.

A tape applicator assembly for securing tape to a surface includes a body and may include a centering and locking assembly configured to automatically center and lock a tape assembly within the body for dispensing. The tape applicator assembly may further be configured for securing tape to at least one cable and a surface, wherein the body includes a tape-receiving cavity defined for receiving a tape assembly having tape with a tape center longitudinal axis. A tape applying assembly may be defined within the body that is configured to adhere the tape to both the at least one cable and the surface. A cable alignment assembly may also be defined within the body that is configured to receive at least one cable positioned against the surface and substantially align the at least one cable with the tape center longitudinal axis.

A one-piece integrally molded tape removal hub for a temporary tape removing apparatus which includes a length of cylindrical tube and a sleeve having a noncircular through bore extending into a portion of the cylindrical tube at an end thereof. A plurality of webs extend from the outer surface of the sleeve to the inner wall of the cylindrical tube. The portion of the cylindrical tube extending from the sleeve to the opposite end of the cylindrical tube is hollow.

A device for applying a tape at least partially adhesive including a support having a handling system for handling the support, a reel-holder constrained to the support, support in a compliant way a reel including the tape and defining a first axis of rotation around which the reel rotates, a tensioner constrained to one of the support and the reel-holder is configured to dispense the tape in tension, wherein the support separates the reel-holder and the tensioner from the handling system in such a way that when the handling system is placed on at least one wall and the tensioner dispenses the tape on to a surface, only the handling system facing to the wall.

Method and apparatus are disclosed for drywall banjo tools for applying joint tape. An example drywall banjo for applying joint tape includes a banjo body. The banjo body includes a panel and side walls protruding from outer edges of the panel to define a cavity that is configured to contain joint compound mud. The side walls include a first side wall that extends between an inlet and an outlet. The example disclosed drywall banjo also includes a sloped mound configured to couple to and project away from the first side wall within the cavity. The sloped mound is configured to guide the joint compound mud within the cavity toward the joint tape travelling between the inlet and the outlet to enable the joint compound mud to uniformly collect on a side of the joint tape.

A one-piece integrally molded tape removal hub for a temporary tape removing apparatus which includes a length of cylindrical tube and a sleeve having a noncircular through bore extending into a portion of the cylindrical tube at an end thereof. A plurality of webs extend from the outer surface of the sleeve to the inner wall of the cylindrical tube. The portion of the cylindrical tube extending from the sleeve to the opposite end of the cylindrical tube is hollow.

A spool-less system for deployment, recovery and manipulation of a traversable road covering track is provided. The system includes an arcuate guide member detachably coupled to a retaining means; the guide member and retaining means defining a volume for receiving a roll of traversable road covering; the guide member arranged to contact the roll along a first arcuate range and the retaining means configured to contact the roll along a second arcuate range; and wherein the guide member and retaining means are detachably coupleable having, a first position in which, the guide member and retaining means are separated at a first diameter whereby the roll of traversable road covering may be deployed or recovered when the host machine is in motion, and a second position in which, the guide member and retaining means are separated at a second diameter in which the roll of traversable road covering is retained.

Applicators for applying a masking material to a target surface, the applicators include a body, an applicator system attached to the body and configured to apply the masking material to the target surface with a substantially straight edge as the body is translated in an application direction, a dispenser system attached to the body, the dispenser system being configured to support a supply of the masking material and to dispense the masking material to the applicator system, and a guide member attached to the body proximate the applicator system in a trailing position and configured to press the masking material to the target surface after the applicator system applies the masking material to the target surface.

A seam tape applicator for applying self-adhesive seam tapes to the junctions of dimpled waterproofing membranes, wherein the dimpled waterproofing membranes comprise dimpled surfaces, the seam tape applicator comprising: a body; a roller which is rotatably mounted to the body; and a handle which is attached to the body; wherein the roller comprises a roller surface which comprises surface features which complement the dimpled surfaces of the dimpled waterproofing membranes.