Automated unwind system with auto-splice
First Claim
1. A splicing arrangement for splicing a tail end of a first web, having an uncoiled section thereof extending in an out-feed direction along a web path from a coiled section thereof coiled in a winding direction opposite the out-feed direction about an unwind axis into a first coil, to a lead end of a second web coiled in the winding direction about the unwind axis into a second coil, wherein the webs define outer and inner surfaces thereof, and the outer surfaces of respective outer layers of the first and second webs of each of the first and second coils defines respective outer surfaces of each of the first and second coils, the splicing arrangement comprising, a splice roll and a splice roll drive arrangement:
- the splice roll defining a periphery thereof and mounted for rotation about a splice roll axis oriented substantially parallel to the unwind axis, configured for winding a portion of the uncoiled section of the first web adjacent the tail end of first web about the periphery of the splice roll by attaching the outer surface of the portion of the uncoiled section adjacent the tail end of the first web to the splice roll and rotating the splice roll about the splice roll axis in a direction opposite the winding direction of the coils; and
the splice roll drive arrangement operatively connected between the splice roll axis and the unwind axis for selectively translating the splice roll axis to urge the tail end of the first web wound around the periphery of the splice roll into rolling contact with the outer surface of the second coil and for pressing the tail end of the first web against the outer surface of the second coil when the second coil is mounted for rotation about the unwind axis, for joining the tail end of the first coil to the lead end of the second coil through compressing an adhesive between the inside surface of the tail end of the first coil and the outer surface of the second coil by urging the splice roll against the second coil while the second coil is rotating about the unwind axis in the unwind direction and the splice roll is rolling about the splice roll axis in a direction opposite to the unwind direction.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A splice is made, between a tail end of first web and a lead end of a second web coiled about an unwind axis, by winding a portion of the first web adjacent the tail end of the first web about a splicing roll mounted for rotation about a splice roll axis oriented substantially parallel to the unwind axis, and then joining the tail end to the lead end by compressing an adhesive between an inside surface of the tail end and an outer surface of the second web. Compression of the adhesive is accomplished by urging the splice roll against the coiled second web while the coiled second web is rotating about the unwind axis in an unwind direction and the splicing roll is rolling about the splice roll axis in a direction opposite to the unwind direction.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. A splicing arrangement for splicing a tail end of a first web, having an uncoiled section thereof extending in an out-feed direction along a web path from a coiled section thereof coiled in a winding direction opposite the out-feed direction about an unwind axis into a first coil, to a lead end of a second web coiled in the winding direction about the unwind axis into a second coil, wherein the webs define outer and inner surfaces thereof, and the outer surfaces of respective outer layers of the first and second webs of each of the first and second coils defines respective outer surfaces of each of the first and second coils, the splicing arrangement comprising, a splice roll and a splice roll drive arrangement:
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the splice roll defining a periphery thereof and mounted for rotation about a splice roll axis oriented substantially parallel to the unwind axis, configured for winding a portion of the uncoiled section of the first web adjacent the tail end of first web about the periphery of the splice roll by attaching the outer surface of the portion of the uncoiled section adjacent the tail end of the first web to the splice roll and rotating the splice roll about the splice roll axis in a direction opposite the winding direction of the coils; and the splice roll drive arrangement operatively connected between the splice roll axis and the unwind axis for selectively translating the splice roll axis to urge the tail end of the first web wound around the periphery of the splice roll into rolling contact with the outer surface of the second coil and for pressing the tail end of the first web against the outer surface of the second coil when the second coil is mounted for rotation about the unwind axis, for joining the tail end of the first coil to the lead end of the second coil through compressing an adhesive between the inside surface of the tail end of the first coil and the outer surface of the second coil by urging the splice roll against the second coil while the second coil is rotating about the unwind axis in the unwind direction and the splice roll is rolling about the splice roll axis in a direction opposite to the unwind direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for splicing a tail end of a first web, having an uncoiled section thereof extending in an out-feed direction along a web path from a coiled section thereof coiled in a winding direction opposite the out-feed direction about an unwind axis into a first coil, to a lead end of a second web coiled in the winding direction about the unwind axis into a second coil, wherein the webs define outer and inner surfaces thereof, and the outer surfaces of respective outer layers of the first and second webs of each of the first and second coils defines respective outer surfaces of each of the first and second coils, the method comprising:
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winding a portion of the uncoiled section of the first web adjacent the tail end of first web about a splicing roll mounted for rotation about a splice roll axis oriented substantially parallel to the unwind axis, by attaching the outer surface of the portion of the uncoiled section adjacent the tail end of the first web to the splice roll and rotating the splicing roll about the splice roll axis in a direction opposite the winding direction of the coils, so that the inside surface of a portion of the tail end of the first web faces outward from the splice roll axis; and joining the tail end of the first coil to the lead end of the second coil through compressing an adhesive between the inside surface of the tail end of the first coil and the outer surface of the second coil by urging the splice roll against the second coil while the second coil is rotating about the unwind axis in the unwind direction and the splice roll is rolling about the splice roll axis in a direction opposite to the second coil. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. An apparatus for splicing a tail end of a first web, having an uncoiled section thereof extending in an out-feed direction along a web path from a coiled section thereof coiled in a winding direction opposite the out-feed direction about an unwind axis into a first coil, to a lead end of a second web coiled in the winding direction about the unwind axis into a second coil, wherein the webs define outer and inner surfaces thereof, and the outer surfaces of respective outer layers of the first and second webs of each of the first and second coils defines respective outer surfaces of each of the first and second coils, the apparatus comprising:
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a splicing arrangement having a splice roll and a splice roll drive arrangement; the splice roll defining a periphery thereof and mounted for rotation about a splice roll axis oriented substantially parallel to the unwind axis, configured for winding a portion of the uncoiled section of the first web adjacent the tail end of first web about the periphery of the splice roll by attaching the outer surface of the portion of the uncoiled section adjacent the tail end of the first web to the splice roll and rotating the splice roll about the splice roll axis in a direction opposite the winding direction of the coils; and the splice roll drive arrangement operatively connected between the splice roll axis and the unwind axis for selectively translating the splice roll axis to urge the tail end of the first web wound around the periphery of the splice roll into rolling contact with the outer surface of the second coil and for pressing the tail end of the first web against the outer surface of the second coil when the second coil is mounted for rotation about the unwind axis, for joining the tail end of the first coil to the lead end of the second coil through compressing an adhesive between the inside surface of the tail end of the first coil and the outer surface of the second coil by urging the splice roll against the second coil while the second coil is rotating about the unwind axis in the unwind direction and the splice roll is rolling about the splice roll axis in a direction opposite to the unwind direction. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A computer readable medium having stored thereupon instructions for implementing a method for splicing a tail end of a first web, having an uncoiled section thereof extending in an out-feed direction along a web path from a coiled section thereof coiled in a winding direction opposite the out-feed direction about an unwind axis into a first coil, to a lead end of a second web coiled in the winding direction about the unwind axis into a second coil, wherein the webs define outer and inner surfaces thereof, and the outer surfaces of respective outer layers of the first and second webs of each of the first and second coils defines respective outer surfaces of each of the first and second coils, wherein the method comprises:
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winding a portion of the uncoiled section of the first web adjacent the tail end of first web, about a splicing roll mounted for rotation about a splice roll axis oriented substantially parallel to the unwind axis, by attaching the outer surface of the portion of the uncoiled section adjacent the tail end of the first web to the splice roll and rotating the splicing roll about the splice roll axis in a direction opposite the winding direction of the coils, so that the inside surface of a portion of the tail end of the first web faces outward from the splice roll axis; and joining the tail end of the first coil to the lead end of the second coil through compressing an adhesive between the inside surface of the tail end of the first coil and the outer surface of the second coil by urging the splice roll against the second coil while the second coil is rotating about the unwind axis in the unwind direction and the splice roll is rolling about the splice roll axis in a direction opposite to the second coil.
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Specification