The tape nozzle cleaning unit removes excess material from the application nozzle by wiping it off with cleaning tape. Depending on the design and layout, the cleaning tape can either be pulled along a stationary nozzle by a gripper, or the nozzle is pulled along a stationary cleaning tape in the cleaning tape unit. A gripper unit driven by a pneumatic cylinder pulls the cleaning tape off a roll in the cleaning tape unit.The used cleaning tape is cut off with a knife and falls into a waste bin. Sensors detect when the roll is empty and if the tape is torn.