Web directional control apparatus for butt joint splicer

Claim 2

A web directional control apparatus for directing a new web on a continuously rotating web roll into engagement with a running web from an expiring web roll, the new web having the end of a knife extending outwardly from one side of the lead edge, said apparatus comprising: a frame including a pair of sideplates, a pair of nip rolls mounted for rotary motion on said plates, a directional belt assembly operatively associated with each of said nip rolls, each of said assemblies includinG a directional belt, and means for selectively moving one or the other of said directional belt assemblies to a position to engage the outwardly extending end of the knife whereby the directional belt on said selected assembly will guide the knife and the lead edge of the new web into engagement with the running web.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1 including means for moving said apparatus to align said directional belt assemblies with the side of said new web.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 1 including means for supporting said nip rolls for movement toward and away from each other, said supporting means being operatively connected to the corresponding directional belt assembly for movement towards each other on movement of a directional belt assembly to a position to engage said knife.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of the belt assemblies includes a support plate mounted for pivotal movement on said sideplates, a belt pulley mounted on each of said support plates, and an endless belt trained around said belt pulley and the corresponding nip roll.

Claim 6

In a universal butt splicer, having a roll stand for supporting a new web roll and an expiring web roll, a roll accelerator positioned to continuously rotate the new web roll and a tape-applicator assembly for applying tape to the splice formed in the running web, an apparatus for attaching the new web to the running web, the new web having a knife attached thereto and extending outward from one side thereof, said apparatus comprising; a frame including a pair of sideplates pivotally mounted on said tape-applicating assembly, a pair of nip rolls mounted for rotary motion on said sideplates, a directional belt assembly operatively associated with each nip roll, and means for selectively moving one or the other of said belt assemblies to a position to engage the outwardly extending end of said knife whereby the outwardly projecting end of the knife will be guided by the directional belt assembly into the nip rolls for engagement with the running web.

Claim 7

In a universal butt splicer, having a roll stand for supporting a new web roll and an expiring web roll, a roll accelerator positioned to continuously rotate the new web roll and a tape-applicator assembly for applying tape to the splice formed in the running web, an apparatus for attaching the new web to the running web, the new web having a knife attached thereto and extending outward from one side thereof, said apparatus comprising; a frame including a pair of sideplates pivotally mounted on said tape-applicating assembly, a pair of nip rolls mounted for rotary motion on said sideplates, a directional belt assembly operatively associated with each nip roll, and means for selectively moving one or the other of said belt assemblies to a position to engage the outwardly extending end of said knife whereby the outwardly projecting end of the knife will be guided by the directional belt assembly into the nip rolls for engagement with the running web.

Claim 8

The butt splicer according to claim 5 wherein said apparatus includes means for moving said nip rolls towards each other, said moving means being operatively associated with said belt assembly whereby the nip roll corresponding to the selected belt assembly is moved toward the other nip roll on movement of the selected belt assembly.

Claim 9

The butt splicer according to claim 6 wherein said moving means comprises an eccentric cam pivotally mounted in said sideplates and operatively connected to said nip rolls.

Claim 10

The butt splicer according to claim 5 wherein each of said directional belt assemblies includes a support plate, mounted for pivotal movement with said nip roll, a belt pulley secured to the outer end of said support plate, and a directional belt mounted on said pulley and the corresponding one of said nip rolls.

Claim 11

The butt splicer according to claim 7 including means for biasing said belt pulley outwardly from said nip roll, whereby said belt on said selected assembly will assume the contour of the other nip roll.

Claim 12

A web direction control apparatus for a butt joint splicer having a new web roll mounted for connection to a running web, the new web roll having a knife with an adhesive strip thereon mounted on the leading edge of the new web and extending outward from the leading edge thereof, said apparatus comprising: a frame having a pair of sideplates, a pair of shafts mounted in said sideplates, a nip roll mounted for rotary motion on each of said shafts, a directional belt assembly mounted for pivotal movement on each of said shafts, each assembly including a belt trained around the corresponding nip roll, and means for selectively moving one or the other of said assemblies to an operative position to engage the knife when the new web is to be attached to the running web.

Claim 13

A web direction control apparatus for a butt joint splicer having a new web roll mounted for connection to a running web, the new web roll having a knife with an adhesive strip thereon mounted on the leading edge of the new web and extending outward from the leading edge thereof, said apparatus comprising: a frame having a pair of sideplates, a pair of shafts mounted in said sideplates, a nip roll mounted for rotary motion on each of said shafts, a directional belt assembly mounted for pivotal movement on each of said shafts, each assembly including a belt trained around the corresponding nip roll, and means for selectively moving one or the other of said assemblies to an operative position to engage the knife when the new web is to be attached to the running web.

Claim 14

The apparatus according to claim 10 including means for moviNg said nip rolls toward each other on movement of the selected belt assembly to the operative position.

Claim 15

The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein each of said assemblies includes means for biasing said belts into tight engagement with said nip roll.