Apparatus for splicing webs
First Claim
1. A continuous splicer apparatus for attaching a lead end of a replenishing web to a depleting web while the replenishing web and the depleting web are in motion, said splicer apparatus comprising:
- first and second cylinders disposed in laterally spaced relation from one another and having respective first and second central longitudinal axes aligned in parallel with one another, wherein each of said cylinders is adapted for rotational displacement about its respective central axis;
first and second cutting elements disposed on respective first peripheral portions of said first and second cylinders, wherein each first peripheral portion of said cylinders is disposed in closely spaced relation to the other cylinder during a portion of rotation of said cylinders;
first and second tape retaining arrangements disposed on respective second peripheral portions of said first and second cylinders, wherein said second tape retaining arrangement is adapted to engage the replenishing web, and wherein each second peripheral portion of said first and second cylinders is disposed in closely spaced relation to a first peripheral portion of the other cylinder during a portion of the rotation of said cylinders;
an adhesive member having a first surface attached to the lead end of the replenishing web and a second opposed surface removeably attached to said second tape retaining arrangement of said second cylinder;
an anvil moveable between a first position in spaced relation from said cylinders and a second position between and in closely spaced relation to said first and second cylinders; and
a drive arrangement coupled to said first and second cylinders and to said anvil for rotationally displacing said first and second cylinders about their respective axes and displacing said anvil between said first and second positions in a timed manner so as to position said adhesive member and the attached end of the replenishing web in contact with a first surface of the depleting web while moving the first cutting element of said first cylinder into engagement with the depleting web in severing the depleting web while simultaneously moving the anvil to said second position so as to be positioned between the first surface of the depleting web and the replenishing web, wherein said first cutting element engages said anvil after severing the depleting web in forming a splice between the replenishing web and the depleting web without stopping the replenishing web and the depleting web.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A continuous splicer includes first and second closely spaced rotating cylinders each having a respective cutting element and tape retaining arrangement disposed on its outer periphery. With a depleting web fed by the first cylinder and a replenishing web fed by the second cylinder, an end of the replenishing web is adhesively joined to the depleting web while in motion and the depleting web is severed by the first cylinder'"'"'s cutting element in forming a splice of the two webs. As the replenishing web depletes, a third web may be inserted on the first cylinder and automatically or manually spliced to the original replenishing web without stopping or re-configuring the splicer. The splicer is capable of delivering the webs at a constant rate or a rapidly changing and/or dynamic cycling rate, and applies relatively low web tension for operation with delicate, narrow and extensible webs.
24 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A continuous splicer apparatus for attaching a lead end of a replenishing web to a depleting web while the replenishing web and the depleting web are in motion, said splicer apparatus comprising:
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first and second cylinders disposed in laterally spaced relation from one another and having respective first and second central longitudinal axes aligned in parallel with one another, wherein each of said cylinders is adapted for rotational displacement about its respective central axis; first and second cutting elements disposed on respective first peripheral portions of said first and second cylinders, wherein each first peripheral portion of said cylinders is disposed in closely spaced relation to the other cylinder during a portion of rotation of said cylinders; first and second tape retaining arrangements disposed on respective second peripheral portions of said first and second cylinders, wherein said second tape retaining arrangement is adapted to engage the replenishing web, and wherein each second peripheral portion of said first and second cylinders is disposed in closely spaced relation to a first peripheral portion of the other cylinder during a portion of the rotation of said cylinders; an adhesive member having a first surface attached to the lead end of the replenishing web and a second opposed surface removeably attached to said second tape retaining arrangement of said second cylinder; an anvil moveable between a first position in spaced relation from said cylinders and a second position between and in closely spaced relation to said first and second cylinders; and a drive arrangement coupled to said first and second cylinders and to said anvil for rotationally displacing said first and second cylinders about their respective axes and displacing said anvil between said first and second positions in a timed manner so as to position said adhesive member and the attached end of the replenishing web in contact with a first surface of the depleting web while moving the first cutting element of said first cylinder into engagement with the depleting web in severing the depleting web while simultaneously moving the anvil to said second position so as to be positioned between the first surface of the depleting web and the replenishing web, wherein said first cutting element engages said anvil after severing the depleting web in forming a splice between the replenishing web and the depleting web without stopping the replenishing web and the depleting web. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for splicing a lead end of a replenishing web to a depleting web, said method comprising the steps of:
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rotating first and second cylinders having respective first and second parallel central axes, wherein said first and second cylinders are rotated about their respective axes in opposite directions; positioning first and second cutting elements respectively on first peripheral portions of said first and second cylinders, wherein each first peripheral portion of said cylinders is disposed in closely spaced relation to the other cylinder during a portion of rotation of said cylinders; positioning first and second tape retaining arrangements on respective second peripheral portions of said first and second cylinders, wherein said second tape retaining arrangement is adapted to engage the replenishing web, and wherein each second peripheral portion of said cylinders is disposed in closely spaced relation to the other cylinder during a portion of rotation of said cylinders; attaching a first surface of an adhesive member to the lead end of the replenishing web and removeably attaching a second opposed surface of said adhesive member to said second tape retaining arrangement of said second cylinder; positioning an anvil adjacent to said first and second cylinders, wherein said anvil is moveable between a first position in spaced relation from said cylinders and a second position between and in closely spaced relation to said first and second cylinders; and rotating said first and second cylinders about their respective axes so as to displace the replenishing web and the depleting web and simultaneously displace said anvil between said first and second positions in a timed manner, wherein said adhesive member and the attached lead end of the replenishing web are positioned in contact with a first surface of the depleting web while the first cutting element of said first cylinder is moved into engagement with a second opposed surface of the depleting web in severing the depleting web while simultaneously moving said anvil to said second position so as to be positioned between the first surface of the depleting web and the replenishing web, wherein said first cutting element engages said anvil after severing the depleting web.
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Specification