Web feeding systems

• US 5,975,457 A
• Filed: 03/09/1998
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frontier Bio Technology Company Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Thomas J. Forbes
• Inventors: Forbes, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, Donald P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, MINH CHAU
• Application Number:
  US09/036,712
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 242/555.1, 242/555.2, 242/552, 242/556.1
• US Class Current: 242/552
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 19/102 Preparing the leading end of the replacement web before splicing operation; Adhesive arrangements on leading end of replacement web; Tabs and adhesive tapes for splicing
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 19/1852 taking place at a distance from the replacement roll
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 19/1873 with two stationary roll supports carrying alternately the replacement and the expiring roll
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/4621 Overlapping article or web portions
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/46312 double-sided
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/464145 at least one of the rollers having additional feature, eg. knife or at least partly non-cylindrical shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2406/33 Rotary suction means, e.g. roller, cylinder or drum
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/1762 Corrugated

Abstract

The present invention features a web feeding and transition system for exchanging a first, used, web roll for a second, fresh, web roll, so that web material is conveyed along a web-conveying feed path. Each web of the first and second web rolls includes a backing or a separate, interleaved web. The web assembly has a first work station having a mounting for allowing the first web roll to unwind and feed the first web to the feed path. A second work station has a mounting adjacent the first mounting for allowing the second web roll to unwind so that the second web may be spliced to the first web. A "bump splicing" vacuum roll disposed upon the first work station causes an adhesive section of the fresh web to contact an end portion of the exhausting web, as the web roll runs out.

Claims

1. A web feeding and transition system for exchanging a first, spent, web roll for a second, fresh, web roll, so that web material will be continuously fed and conveyed along a web-conveying feed path, comprising:

a web-conveying feed path;

a first web roll containing at least a first web having a first backing material, said first web roll disposed adjacent said web-conveying feed path;

a second web roll containing at least a second web having a second backing material;

means for respectively, rotationally mounting said first web roll and said second web roll in juxtaposition thereto, wherein said first and second web rolls are capable of unwinding, so as to be fed along said web-conveying feed path;

storage means disposed adjacent said first and second web rolls having means for respectively storing said first and second backing materials in one of either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, whereby said backing material can be threaded from said first web roll in either a clockwise or counterclockwise rotation from the web supply roll; and

splicing means disposed adjacent said first web roll for splicing said second web to said first web when said first web roll becomes substantially spent.

2. The web feeding and transition system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said respective first and second webs are each threaded upon a movable threading assembly.

3. The web feeding and transition system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said movable threading assemblies are each movable between a splicing/feeding position and a threading position.

4. The web feeding and transition system in accordance with claim 3, wherein each of said movable threading assemblies is slidably movable upon a respective work station.

5. The web feeding and transition system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an accumulator disposed along said web-conveying feed path for adjusting tension in said web as it moves therethrough.

6. The web feeding and transition system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said splicing means further includes a bump splicer and cutting means.

7. A web feeding and transition system for exchanging a first, spent, web roll for a second, fresh, web roll, so that web material will be continuously fed and conveyed along a web-conveying feed path, comprising:

a web-conveying feed path;

a first work station for receiving a first web roll containing at least a first web having a first backing material, said first work station being disposed adjacent said web-conveying feed path;

a second work station for receiving a second web roll containing at least a second web having a second backing material, and an adhesive portion disposed upon a front section of said second web for effectuating a splice with said first web;

means for respectively, rotationally mounting said first web roll and said second web roll in juxtaposition thereto, wherein said first and second web rolls are capable of unwinding, so as to be fed along said web-conveying feed path;

storage means disposed adjacent said first and second web rolls for storing backing materials and having means for unwinding from said first and second web rolls, respectively, in one of either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, whereby said backing material can be threaded from said first web roll in either a clockwise or counterclockwise rotation from the web supply roll; and

splicing means disposed adjacent said first web roll for splicing said second web to said first web by bringing into contact said adhesive portion of said second web with a trailing portion of said first web.

8. The web feeding and transition system in accordance with claim 7, wherein said respective first and second webs are each threaded upon respective movable threading assemblies.

9. The web feeding and transition system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said movable threading assemblies are each movable between a splicing/feeding position and a threading position.

10. The web feeding and transition system in accordance with claim 9, wherein each of said movable threading assemblies is slidably movable upon said respective first and second work station.

11. The web feeding and transition system in accordance with claim 7, further comprising an accumulator disposed along said web-conveying feed path for adjusting tension in said web as it moves therethrough.

12. The web feeding and transition system in accordance with claim 7, wherein said splicing means further includes a bump splicer and cutting means.

13. A web feeding and transition system for exchanging a first, spent, web roll for a second, fresh, web roll, so that web material will be continuously fed and conveyed along a web-conveying feed path, comprising:

a web-conveying feed path;

a first work station having first movable threading means for threading a first web roll containing at least a first web having a first backing material, said first work station being disposed adjacent said web-conveying feed path;

a second work station having second movable threading means for threading a second web roll containing at least a second web having a second backing material;

means for respectively, rotationally mounting said first web roll and said second web roll in juxtaposition thereto, wherein said first and second web rolls are capable of unwinding, so as to be fed along said web-conveying feed path;

storage means disposed adjacent said first and second web rolls for storing said first and second backing materials, respectively; and

splicing means disposed adjacent said first web roll for splicing said second web to said first web, said splicing means further comprising means for attaching said second web to said first web in two different modes;

either when the first web is at rest, or when the first web is moving.

14. The web feeding and transition system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said movable threading assemblies are each movable between a splicing/feeding position and a threading position.

15. The web feeding and transition system in accordance with claim 13, wherein each of said movable threading assemblies is slidably movable upon said respective first and second work stations.

16. The web feeding and transition system in accordance with claim 13, further comprising an accumulator disposed along said web-conveying feed path for adjusting tension in said web as it moves therethrough.

17. The web feeding and transition system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said splicing means further includes a bump splicer and cutting means.