Web butt-splicing apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Apparatus for splicing a first, expiring web to a second, fresh web, comprising:
- a first, ported, full circumference vacuum drum;
a second, ported, full circumference vacuum drum;
means for supplying the expiring web to one of the first and second vacuum drums;
means for supplying the fresh web to another of the first and second vacuum drums, said expiring web and fresh web being further transportable by either one of said first and second vacuum drums in alternating sequence after said webs are spliced;
a first cutting member mounted on one of said first and second vacuum drums in a portion of a circumference of said drum where vacuum is applied;
a second cutting member capable of cooperating with said first cutting member, said second cutting member being mounted on the other of said first and second vacuum drums in a portion of a circumference of said drum where vacuum is applied;
a third, at least partial circumference vacuum drum;
a fourth, full circumference vacuum drum;
means for applying a first strip of splice tape to the third drum;
means for moving the first and second drums into proximity to cause the first and second cutting members to cooperate for cutting the first and second webs between the first and second drums, whereby a just-cut leading end of the expiring web remains with one of the first and second vacuum drums and a just-cut trailing end of the fresh web remains with the other of the first and second vacuum drumsmeans cooperating with said moving means for causing a just-cut trailing end of the expiring web and a just-cut leading end of the fresh web to transfer from the first drum to the fourth drum; and
means for moving the third and fourth drums into proximity to cause the first strip of splice tape to be applied across the trailing end of the expiring web and leading end of the fresh web, to form a spliced web.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for web butt-splicing at high speeds has a series of vacuum drums which sequentially supports an expiring web and a fresh web. Cutting members are provided on each drum which cooperate with the movement of the drums into proximity for cutting the webs forming just-cut ends of both the fresh and expiring webs. The just-cut ends of the web, once in abutting relations, are then transferred to a splicing means and splice tape is applied across a side of the abutting ends thereby forming a spliced web.
25 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. Apparatus for splicing a first, expiring web to a second, fresh web, comprising:
-
a first, ported, full circumference vacuum drum; a second, ported, full circumference vacuum drum; means for supplying the expiring web to one of the first and second vacuum drums; means for supplying the fresh web to another of the first and second vacuum drums, said expiring web and fresh web being further transportable by either one of said first and second vacuum drums in alternating sequence after said webs are spliced; a first cutting member mounted on one of said first and second vacuum drums in a portion of a circumference of said drum where vacuum is applied; a second cutting member capable of cooperating with said first cutting member, said second cutting member being mounted on the other of said first and second vacuum drums in a portion of a circumference of said drum where vacuum is applied; a third, at least partial circumference vacuum drum; a fourth, full circumference vacuum drum; means for applying a first strip of splice tape to the third drum; means for moving the first and second drums into proximity to cause the first and second cutting members to cooperate for cutting the first and second webs between the first and second drums, whereby a just-cut leading end of the expiring web remains with one of the first and second vacuum drums and a just-cut trailing end of the fresh web remains with the other of the first and second vacuum drums means cooperating with said moving means for causing a just-cut trailing end of the expiring web and a just-cut leading end of the fresh web to transfer from the first drum to the fourth drum; and means for moving the third and fourth drums into proximity to cause the first strip of splice tape to be applied across the trailing end of the expiring web and leading end of the fresh web, to form a spliced web. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method of butt-joining webs, comprising the steps of:
-
providing a first and second vacuum drum for supporting the web; providing first and second cutting members, each being mounted on said first and second vacuum drums, respectively, in a portion of the circumference where vacuum is applied; supplying an expiring web to one of the first and second vacuum drums; supplying a fresh web to the other of the first and second drum; moving the first and second drums into proximity to cause the first and second cutting members to cooperate to form a just-cut leading end and a just-cut trailing end of the webs, said moving being enabled by actuating a linear actuator in synchronism with rotation of said first and second drums; moving said trailing end of said just-cut expiring web and said leading end of said just-cut fresh web in abutting alignment for subsequent joining; providing splicing tape for engageably joining the ends of said webs in abutting alignment; deflecting the just cut leading end of said expiring web, and alternately deflecting the just cut trailing end of the fresh web, said respective ends of said webs being deflected away from said splicing tape so as to provide easy access to one side of the ends of the webs to be joined; and
,applying a first strip of splice tape across one side of the trailing end of the expiring web and the leading end of the fresh web thereby forming a spliced web. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification