Butt splicer apparatus

• US 6,880,604 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2002
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Keene Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Keene Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Keene, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Osele, Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US10/222,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20030075276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 976 Days
• Field of Search: 156/304.1, 156/304.3, 156/502, 156/504, 156/505, 156/506, 156/507, 242/554.1, 242/554.5, 242/555.2, 242/556.1
• US Class Current: 156/504
• CPC Class Codes: B31F 5/06 by adhesive tape

Abstract

A sleeve label splicer apparatus is disclosed for splicing together a tail end of a roll of sleeve labels to a leading edge of a replacement roll of sleeve labels. The splicer apparatus includes a drive roller for driving and guiding the roll of sleeve labels and a backing roller cooperating with the drive roller such that the drive and backing rollers define therebetween a nip for controllably positioning the tail end of the roll of sleeve labels relative to the leading edge of the replacement roll of sleeved labels. The arrangement is such that the tail end is disposed in abutting relationship relative to the leading edge of the replacement roll. A splicing tape applicator is provided for applying a splicing tape to front surfaces of the abutting tail end and leading edge. Also, a further splicing tape applicator is provided for applying a further splicing tape to back surfaces of the abutting tail end and leading edge.

Claims

1. A sleeve label splicer apparatus for splicing together a tail end of a roll of sleeve labels to a leading edge of a replacement roll of sleeve labels, the splicer apparatus comprising:

a drive roller for driving and guiding the roll of sleeve labels;

a backing roller cooperating with the drive roller such that the drive and backing rollers define therebetween a nip for controllably positioning the tail end of the roll of sleeve labels relative to the leading edge of the replacement roll of sleeve labels such that the tail end is disposed in abutting relationship relative to the leading edge of the replacement roll;

a splicing tape applicator for applying a splicing tape to front surfaces of the abutting tail end and leading edge;

a further splicing tape applicator for applying a further splicing tape to back surfaces of the abutting tail end and leading edge;

an idler roller disposed in a vicinity of the tape applicators for guiding the tail end and leading edge which are indexed relative to each other;

a first clamp collar adjustably secured to the idler roller for guiding the indexed tail end and leading edge; and

a second clamp collar adjustably secured to the idler roller and spaced from the first collar for guiding the indexed tail end and leading edge.

2. A sleeve label splicer apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including:

a control mechanism for controlling rotation of the drive roller such that the tail end and leading edge are indexed relative to each other.

3. A sleeve label splicer apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including:

a festoon disposed downstream relative to the nip;

the backing roller permitting the nip to isolate any tension generated by the festoon from the tail end and leading edge which are indexed relative to each other during application of the splicing tapes.

4. A sleeve label splicer apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein

the tape applicator is disposed upstream relative to the nip.

5. A sleeve label splicer apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein

the further tape applicator is disposed upstream relative to the nip.

6. A sleeve label splicer apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein

the tape applicator and further tape applicator are disposed upstream relative to the nip.

7. A sleeve label splicer apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein

the tape applicator and further tape applicator apply the splicing tape and further splicing tape respectively substantially simultaneously to the tail end and leading edge which are indexed relative to each other.

8. A sleeve label splicer apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein

the idler roller is disposed upstream relative to the tape applicators.

9. A sleeve label splicer apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including:

a trimming mechanism for trimming excess splicing tape from the abutting spliced rolls.

10. A sleeve label splicer apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein

the trimming mechanism includes;

a first trimming knife for trimming a first side of the applied splicing tapes;

a second trimming knife for trimming a second side of the applied splicing tapes.

11. A sleeve label splicer apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein

the tail end and leading edge are indexed such that the splicing tapes are applied to both the front and back surfaces of one of the sleeve labels so that when the one sleeve label with splicing tapes applied thereto is applied to a product, only the product with the one sleeve label applied thereto will require rejection.

12. A sleeve label splicer apparatus for splicing together a tail end of a roll of sleeve labels to a leading edge of a replacement roll of sleeve labels, the splicer apparatus comprising:

a drive roller for driving and guiding the roll of sleeve labels;

a backing roller cooperating with drive roller such that the drive and backing rollers define therebetween a nip for controllably positioning the tail end of the roll of sleeve labels relative to the leading edge of the replacement roll of sleeve labels such that the tail end is disposed in abutting relationship relative to the leading edge of the replacement roll;

a splicing tape applicator for applying a splicing tape to front surfaces of the abutting tail end and leading edge;

a further splicing tape applicator for applying a further splicing tape to back surfaces of the abutting tail end and leading edge;

a control mechanism for controlling rotation of the drive roller such that the tail end and leading edge are indexed relative to each other;

a festoon disposed downstream relative to the nip;

the backing roller permitting the nip to isolate any tension generated by the festoon from the tail end and leading edge which are indexed relative to each other during application of the splicing tapes;

the tape applicator and further tape applicator being disposed upstream relative to the nip;

the tape applicator and further tape applicator applying the splicing tape and further splicing tape respectively substantially simultaneously to the tail end and leading edge which are indexed relative to each other;

an idler roller disposed in a vicinity of the tape applicators for guiding the tail end and leading edge which are indexed relative to each other;

a first clamp collar adjustably secured to the idler roller for guiding the indexed tail end and leading edge;

a second clamp collar adjustably secured to the idler roller and spaced from the first collar for guiding the indexed tail end and leading edge;

the idler roller being disposed upstream relative to the tape applicators;

a trimming mechanism for trimming excess splicing tape from the abutting spliced rolls;

the trimming mechanism including;

a first trimming knife for trimming a first side of the applied splicing tapes;

a second trimming knife for trimming a second side of the applied splicing tapes; and

the tail end and leading edge being indexed such that the splicing tapes are applied to both the front and back surfaces of one of the sleeve labels so that when the one sleeve label with splicing tapes applied thereto is applied to a product, only the product with the one sleeve label applied thereto will require rejection.