Web support and alignment station

Claim 2

A web support and alignment station comprising a track member having a web support surface with a width substantially equal to the width of the web, said track being divided along its length into first and second portions having a web separator member extending transversely of said track therebetween, means for supplying a vacuum to each of the web support surfaces of the first and second portions of said track, at least one normally closed valve arranged to control said vacuum supply means, and means responsive to the presence of a web in said track adjacent said separator member arranged to open said normally closed valve to supply vacuum to said web support surface.

Claim 3

The invention according to claim 1 wherein said track member is channel-shaped and has a recessed web support surface, said means for supplying a vacuum to the web support surface including a plurality of openings in said surface connected to a source of vacuum.

Claim 4

The invention according to claim 1 wherein said means responsive to the presence of a web in said track includes a pilot opening in the web support surface adjacent the separator member, said pilot opening being connected to a source of vacuum and having a vacuum responsive switch arranged, upon an increase of vacuum in said pilot opening, to open a normally closed valve.

Claim 5

The invention according to claim 3 wherein a normally closed valve cooperates with each portion of said track, a separate pilot opening is provided in the web support surface on each side of the web separator member, each of said pilot openings being provided with a vacuum responsive switch which operates the normally closed valve which cooperates with the same portion of the track containing that pilot opening.

Claim 6

The invention according to claim 1 wherein said web separator member is resiliently supported in said track and extends above said web support surface, said separator member arranged, upon the application of a force to the separator member normal to the web support surface, to be depressed to the web support surface.

Claim 7

The invention according to claim 5 wherein said web separator member is releasably held In the depressed position by a latch member.

Claim 8

A film splicing station comprising a track member having a recessed film support surface with a width substantially equal to the width of the film being spliced, said track being divided along its length into first and second portions, a resiliently mounted film separator blade extending upwardly from the film support surface transversely of said track between said first and said second portions thereof, means including a plurality of openings in said film support surface for supplying a vacuum to the film support surface of the first portion of said track and including a first normally closed valve, means including a plurality of openings in said film support surface for supplying a vacuum to the second portion of said track and including a second normally closed valve, said normally closed valves being connected to a vacuum source, a first pilot opening disposed in the film support surface of the first portion of said track immediately adjacent said separator blade, said first pilot opening being connected to a source of vacuum and to a first vacuum responsive switch which, upon increased vacuum in said first pilot opening, is arranged to open said first normally closed valve to supply a vacuum to the film support surface of the first portion of said track, a second pilot opening disposed in the film support surface of the second portion of said track immediately adjacent said separator blade, said second pilot opening being connected to a source of vacuum and to a second vacuum responsive switch which, upon increased vacuum in said second pilot opening, is arranged to open said second normally closed valve to supply a vacuum to the film support surface of the second portion of said track, whereby upon covering said pilot openings by a first and second strip of film abutted against the separator blade a vacuum is supplied to the film support surfaces holding said film strips in place.

Claim 9

A film splicing station comprising a track member having a recessed film support surface with a width substantially equal to the width of the film being spliced, said track being divided along its length into first and second portions, a resiliently mounted film separator blade extending upwardly from the film support surface transversely of said track between said first and said second portions thereof, means including a plurality of openings in said film support surface for supplying a vacuum to the film support surface of the first portion of said track and including a first normally closed valve, means including a plurality of openings in said film support surface for supplying a vacuum to the second portion of said track and including a second normally closed valve, said normally closed valves being connected to a vacuum source, a first pilot opening disposed in the film support surface of the first portion of said track immediately adjacent said separator blade, said first pilot opening being connected to a source of vacuum and to a first vacuum responsive switch which, upon increased vacuum in said first pilot opening, is arranged to open said first normally closed valve to supply a vacuum to the film support surface of the first portion of said track, a second pilot opening disposed in the film support surface of the second portion of said track immediately adjacent said separator blade, said second pilot opening being connected to a source of vacuum and to a second vacuum responsive switch which, upon increased vacuum in said second pilot opening, is arranged to open said second normally closed valve to supply a vacuum to the film support surface of the second portion of said track, whereby upon covering said pilot openings by a first and second strip of film abutted against the separator blade a vacuum is supplied to the film support surfaces holding said film strips in place.

Claim 10

The invention according to claim 7 wherein said track member is channel-shaped having a recessed film support surface.

Claim 11

The invention according to claim 8 wherein said track member is provided with a surface sloping towards the recessed film support surface.

Claim 12

The invention according to claim 7 wherein said film separator blade is arranged, upon application of a force to the blade normal to the film support surface, to be depressed to the film support surface, and a latch member arranged to releasably hold said blade in the depressed position.