Web-splicing apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for automatically splicing the beginning of one roll of paper or the like onto the approximate end of a second roll of paper or the like without discontinuing the flow of paper to a utilizing device; said apparatus comprising: a support stand, said stand having means for supporting said one roll of paper and said second roll of paper in rotatable relationship therewith; festooner means carried by said support stand for establishing an elongated path of travel for paper of said second roll moving through said apparatus and for allowing said utilizing device to ''''feed'''' upon the paper carried by said festooner means when the second roll of paper has stopped rotating; first sensing means for stopping the rotation of said second roll when a preselected amount of paper remains on said roll; clamping, severing and splicing means responsive to the halt of said second roll for clamping the paPer of said second roll at a first predetermined location, severing the paper of said second roll at a second predetermined location, below said first predetermined location, and for joining the beginning of said one roll to the severed end of said second roll; and releasing means responsive to the passage of a preselected time after said second roll has stopped rotating for resetting said clamping, severing and splicing means; whereby said utilizing device will begin ''''feeding'''' on the paper of said one roll of paper; wherein said festooner means comprises: a first set of rollers secured to said support stand in freely rotatable relation therewith; a second set of freely rotatable rollers, said second set of rollers being freely displacable relative to said first set of rollers when said second set of rollers approaches said first set of rollers; said paper of said second roll alternately passing over rollers of said first and second sets to establish said elongated path; operating means for maintaining said second set of rollers at a predetermined distance from said first set of rollers when said second roll of paper is rotating and feeding paper through said rollers of said first and second sets to said utilizing device, said operating means including means for permitting said second set of rollers to approach said first set of rollers in response to predetermined tension created on said paper by said utilizing device to thereby shorten said elongated path of travel and allow said utilizing device to ''''feed'''' upon the paper of said second roll which is supported by and between the rollers of said first and second sets when said second roll has stopped rotating.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said operating means includes: pneumatic cylinder means; piston means movable within said cylinder means; one end of said piston means extending out of said cylinder means and being operatively connected to said second set of rollers; pressure supply means for supplying a first predetermined fluid pressure against said piston means, said first predetermined pressure being sufficient to maintain said second set of rollers at said predetermined distance when said second roll of paper is rotating and feeding paper; and pressure exhaust means for relieving the pressure in said cylinder means and allowing said second set of rollers to approach said first set of rollers when the pressure in said cylinder means exceeds a second predetermined fluid pressure due to the force applied to said second set of rollers when said second roll of paper stops rotating.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said clamping, severing and splicing means is operated in response to said second set of rollers traversing a first distance toward said first set of rollers.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said releasing means is operated in response to said second set of rollers traversing a second distance toward said first set of rollers.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said operating means includes: pneumatic cylinder means; piston means movable within said cylinder means; one end of said piston means extending out of said cylinder means and being operatively connected to said second set of rollers; pressure supply means for supplying a first predetermined fluid pressure against said piston means, said first predetermined pressure being sufficient to maintain said second set of rollers at said predetermined distance when said second roll of paper is rotating and feeding paper; and pressure exhaust means for relieving the pressure in said cylinder means and allowing said second set of rollers to approach said first set of rollers when the pressure in said cylinder means exceeds a second predetermined fluid pressure due to the force applied to said second set of rollers when said second roll of paper stops rotating; wherein said clamping, severing and splicing means is operated in response To said second set of rollers traversing a first distance toward said first set of rollers; and wherein said releasing means is operated in response to said second set of rollers traversing a second distance toward said first set of rollers.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said clamping, severing and splicing means includes clamping means responsive to the halt of said second roll for clamping the paper of said second roll at said first predetermined location.

Claim 8

Apparatus for automatically splicing the beginning of one roll of paper or the like onto the approximate end of a second roll of paper or the like without discontinuing the flow of paper to a utilizing device; said apparatus comprising: a support stand, said stand having means for supporting said one roll of paper and said second roll of paper in rotatable relationship therewith; festooner means carried by said support stand for establishing an elongated path of travel for paper of said second roll moving through said apparatus and for allowing said utilizing device to ''''feed'''' upon the paper carried by said festooner means when the second roll of paper has stopped rotating; first sensing means for stopping the rotation of said second roll when a preselected amount of paper remains on said roll; clamping severing and splicing means responsive to the halt of said second roll for clamping the paper of said second roll at a first predetermined location, severing the paper of said second roll at a second predetermined location, below said first predetermined location, and for joining the beginning of said one roll to the severed end of said second roll; releasing means responsive to the passage of a preselected time after said second roll has stopped rotating for resetting said clamping, severing and splicing means; whereby said utilizing device will begin ''''feeding'''' on the paper of said one roll of paper; wherein said clamping, severing and splicing means includes clamping means responsive to the halt of said second roll for clamping the paper of said second roll at said first predetermined location; wherein said clamping means includes a backing plate positioned on the opposite side of said paper of said second roll; and a power-driven clamp which grasps the paper of said second roll between itself and said backing plate.

Claim 9

Apparatus for automatically splicing the beginning of one roll of paper or the like onto the approximate end of a second roll of paper or the like without discontinuing the flow of paper to a utilizing device; said apparatus comprising: a support stand, said stand having means for supporting said one roll of paper and said second roll of paper in rotatable relationship therewith; festooner means carried by said support stand for establishing an elongated path of travel for paper of said second roll moving through said apparatus and for allowing said utilizing device to ''''feed'''' upon the paper carried by said festooner means when the second roll of paper has stopped rotating; first sensing means for stopping the rotation of said second roll when a preselected amount of paper remains on said roll; clamping severing and splicing means responsive to the halt of said second roll for clamping the paper of said second roll at a first predetermined location, severing the paper of said second roll at a second predetermined location, below said first predetermined location, and for joining the beginning of said one roll to the severed end of said second roll; releasing means responsive to the passage of a preselected time after said second roll has stopped rotating for resetting said clamping, severing and splicing means; whereby said utilizing device will begin ''''feeding'''' on the paper of said one roll of paper; wherein said clamping, severing and splicing means includes clamping means responsive to the halt of said second roll for clamping the paper of said second roll at said first predetermined location; wherein said clamping means includes a backing plate positioned on the opposite side of said paper of said second roll; and a power-driven clamp which grasps the paper of said second roll between itself and said backing plate.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said clamp is driven by pneumatic pressure.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said clamping, severing and splicing means includes severing means responsive to the operation of said clamping means for severing the paper of said second roll at said second predetermined location below said first predetermined location.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said clamping, severing and splicing means includes severing means responsive to the operation of said clamping means for severing the paper of said second roll at said second predetermined location below said first predetermined location; and said severing means comprising a baseplate an upper edge of which coacts with a lower edge of said backing plate to sever the paper of said second roll as the plane of said baseplate enters the plane of said backing plate.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said baseplate is pivotally rotatable between a first position out of the plane of said backing plate and a second cutting position in the same plane as said backing plate.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said severing means includes pneumatic operating means responsive to the operation of said clamping means for rotating said baseplate between its first and second position.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said clamping, severing and splicing means includes splicing means responsive to the operation of said severing means for joining the previously prepared beginning end of said one roll of paper to the severed end of said second roll of paper.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said clamping, severing aNd slicing means includes splicing means responsive to the operation of said severing means for joining the previously prepared beginning end of said one roll of paper to the severed end of said second roll of paper; said splicing means comprising a gripping plate carried by and movable with said baseplate for gripping the previously prepared beginning end of said one roll between said gripping plate and said baseplate; said gripping plate including a portion which overlaps a portion of said backing plate to urge the previously treated beginning end of said one roll of paper into adhesive contact with the severed end of said second roll of paper as said baseplate enters the plane of said backing plate.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said gripping plate is pivotally rotatable on said baseplate between a first, open, position in which said previously treated end of said one roll can be inserted between said gripping plate and said baseplate, and a second gripping position in which said previously treated end of said one roll is frictionally maintained between said gripping plate and said baseplate.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said baseplate is pivotally rotatable between a first position out of the plane of said backing plate and a second cutting position in the same plane as said backing plate; and wherein the axis of rotation of said baseplate is secured to said backing plate; whereby said backing plate, baseplate, and gripping plate carried thereby together define a clamp, sever and splice assembly which together with said power-driven clamp constitutes said clamping, severing and splicing means.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said gripping plate is pivotally rotatable on said baseplate between a first, open, position in which said previously treated end of said one roll can be inserted between said gripping plate and said baseplate, and a second gripping position in which said previously treated end of said one roll is frictionally maintained between said gripping plate and said baseplate; and wherein said support stand includes means for removably supporting said clamp, sever, and splice assembly in predetermined position with respect to the path of movement of said paper of said second roll of paper; whereby said clamp, sever, and splice assembly can be removed from its predetermined position when it is desired to rotate said gripping plate to its first position and insert said previously treated beginning end of said one roll between said gripping plate and said baseplate.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said releasing means includes operating means for rotating said gripping plate between its gripping position and its open position after said previously treated beginning end of said one roll of paper has joined in adhesive contact with the severed end of said second roll of paper.

Claim 21

Apparatus for automatically splicing the beginning of one roll of paper or the like onto the approximate end of a second roll of paper or the like without discontinuing the flow of paper to a utilizing device; said apparatus comprising: a support stand, said stand having means for supporting said one roll of paper and said second roll of paper in rotatable relationship therewith; festooner means carried by said support stand for establishing an elongated path of travel for paper of said second roll moving through said apparatus and for allowing said utilizing device to ''''feed'''' upon the paper carried by said festooner means when the second roll of paper has stopped rotating; first sensing means for stopping the rotation of said second roll when a preselected amount of paper remains on said roll; clamping severing and splicing means responsive to the halt of said second roll for clamping the paper of said second roll at a first predetermined location, severing the paper of said second roll at a second predetermined location, below said first predetermined location, and for joining the Beginning of said one roll to the severed end of said second roll; releasing means responsive to the passage of a preselected time after said second roll has stopped rotating for resetting said clamping, severing and splicing means; whereby said utilizing device will begin ''''feeding'''' on the paper of said one roll of paper; wherein said festooner means comprises: a first set of rollers secured to said support stand in freely rotatable relationship therewith; a second set of freely rotatable rollers, said second set of rollers being displaceable relative to said first set of rollers; said paper of said second roll alternately passing over rollers of said first and second sets to establish said elongated path; operating means for maintaining said second set of rollers at a predetermined distance from said first set of rollers when said second roll of paper is rotating and feeding paper through said rollers of said first and second sets to said utilizing device, and for permitting said second set of rollers to approach said first set of rollers to thereby shorten said elongated path of travel and allow said utilizing device to ''''feed'''' upon the paper of said second roll which is supported by and between the rollers of said first and second sets when said second roll has stopped rotating: wherein said clamping, severing and splicing means is operated in response to said second set of rollers traversing a first distance toward said first set of rollers; and wherein said support stand carries first normally open switch means positioned in the path of movement of said second set of rollers at said first distance therefrom; movement of said second set of rollers for said first distance closing said first normally open switch means to initiate operation of said clamping, severing and splicing means.

Claim 22

Apparatus for automatically splicing the beginning of one roll of paper or the like onto the approximate end of a second roll of paper or the like without discontinuing the flow of paper to a utilizing device; said apparatus comprising: a support stand, said stand having means for supporting said one roll of paper and said second roll of paper in rotatable relationship therewith; festooner means carried by said support stand for establishing an elongated path of travel for paper of said second roll moving through said apparatus and for allowing said utilizing device to ''''feed'''' upon the paper carried by said festooner means when the second roll of paper has stopped rotating; first sensing means for stopping the rotation of said second roll when a preselected amount of paper remains on said roll; clamping severing and splicing means responsive to the halt of said second roll for clamping the paper of said second roll at a first predetermined location, severing the paper of said second roll at a second predetermined location, below said first predetermined location, and for joining the Beginning of said one roll to the severed end of said second roll; releasing means responsive to the passage of a preselected time after said second roll has stopped rotating for resetting said clamping, severing and splicing means; whereby said utilizing device will begin ''''feeding'''' on the paper of said one roll of paper; wherein said festooner means comprises: a first set of rollers secured to said support stand in freely rotatable relationship therewith; a second set of freely rotatable rollers, said second set of rollers being displaceable relative to said first set of rollers; said paper of said second roll alternately passing over rollers of said first and second sets to establish said elongated path; operating means for maintaining said second set of rollers at a predetermined distance from said first set of rollers when said second roll of paper is rotating and feeding paper through said rollers of said first and second sets to said utilizing device, and for permitting said second set of rollers to approach said first set of rollers to thereby shorten said elongated path of travel and allow said utilizing device to ''''feed'''' upon the paper of said second roll which is supported by and between the rollers of said first and second sets when said second roll has stopped rotating: wherein said clamping, severing and splicing means is operated in response to said second set of rollers traversing a first distance toward said first set of rollers; and wherein said support stand carries first normally open switch means positioned in the path of movement of said second set of rollers at said first distance therefrom; movement of said second set of rollers for said first distance closing said first normally open switch means to initiate operation of said clamping, severing and splicing means.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said clamping, severing and splicing means includes clamping means responsive to the closing of said first normally open switch means for clamping the paper of said second roll at said first predetermined location.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said clamping means includes a power-driven clamp which grasps the paper of said second roll between itself and a backing plate positioned on the opposite side of said paper of said second roll.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said clamping, severing and splicing means includes severing means responsive to the operation of said power-driven clamp for severing the paper of said second roll at said second predetermined location below said first predetermined location; said severing means including a baseplate an upper edge of which coacts with a lower edge of said backing plate to sever the paper of said second roll as the plane of said baseplate enters the plane of said backing plate, and sever and drive-operating means responsive to the operation of said power-driven clamp for rotating said baseplate into the plane of said backing plate.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said clamping, severing and splicing means include splicing means responsive to the operation of said sever and splice operating means for joining the previously prepared beginning end of said one roll of paper to the severed end of said second roll of paper; said splicing means comprising a gripping plate carried by and movable with said baseplate for gripping the previously prepared beginning end of said one roll between said gripping plate and said baseplate; said gripping plate including a portion which overlaps a portion of said backing plate to urge the previously treated beginning end of said one roll of paper into adhesive contact with the severed end of said second roll of paper as said baseplate enters the plane of said backing plate.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said baseplate is pivotally rotatable by said sever and splice operating means between a first position out of the plane of said backing plate and a second cUtting position in the same plane as said backing plate; and wherein the axis of rotation of said baseplate is secured to said backing plate; whereby said backing plate, baseplate, and gripping plate carried thereby together define a clamp, sever and splice assembly which together with said power-driven clamp constitutes said clamping, severing and splicing means.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said gripping plate is pivotally rotatable on said baseplate between a first, open position in which said previously treated end of said one roll can be inserted between said gripping plate and said baseplate, and a second gripping position in which said previously treated end of said one roll is frictionally maintained between said gripping plate and said baseplate; and wherein said support stand includes means for removably supporting said clamp, sever, and splice assembly in predetermined position with respect to the path of movement of said paper of said second roll of paper; whereby said clamp, sever, and splice assembly can be removed from its predetermined position when it is desired to rotate said gripping plate to its first position and insert said previously treated beginning end of said one roll between said gripping plate and said baseplate.

Claim 29

The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said releasing means includes operating means for rotating said gripping plate between its gripping position and its open position after said previously treated beginning end of said one roll of paper has joined in adhesive contact with the severed end of said second roll of paper.

Claim 30

The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said releasing means includes operating means for rotating said gripping plate between its gripping position and its open position after said previously treated beginning end of said one roll of paper has joined in adhesive contact with the severed end of said second roll of paper; said operating means of said release means being operated when said second set of rollers traverses said second distance toward said first set of rollers to close second normally open switch means.

Claim 31

Preparing apparatus for preparing the beginning end of one roll of paper for subsequent joining to the end of a second roll of paper; said preparing apparatus comprising: a support plate for supporting the paper of said one roll; a grasping plate operatively secured to said support plate for grasping the paper of said one roll against said support plate, said grasping plate being movable between an open position in which said paper may be inserted between said grasping plate and said support plate and its grasping position; an edge-preparing plate member pivotally secured along one edge thereof to said grasping plate and rotatable between a first nonoperative position and a second, operative position in which a second edge thereof engages said paper to facilitate the trimming of the end thereof; tape-dispensing means secured to said support plate and oriented with respect thereto to permit tape to be drawn across said paper with a portion of said tape overlying the end of said paper; and tape-trimming means operatively secured to said support plate and movable between a first, nonoperative position and a second operative position for cutting said tape in a manner such that the width of said cut portion of tape corresponds to the width of said paper.

Claim 32

Preparing apparatus for preparing the beginning end of one roll of paper for subsequent joining to the end of a second roll of paper; said preparing apparatus comprising: a support plate for supporting the paper of said one roll; a grasping plate operatively secured to said support plate for grasping the paper of said one roll against said support plate, said grasping plate being movable between an open position in which said paper may be inserted between said grasping plate and said support plate and its grasping position; an edge-preparing plate member pivotally secured along one edge thereof to said grasping plate and rotatable between a first nonoperative position and a second, operative position in which a second edge thereof engages said paper to facilitate the trimming of the end thereof; tape-dispensing means secured to said support plate and oriented with respect thereto to permit tape to be drawn across said paper with a portion of said tape overlying the end of said paper; and tape-trimming means operatively secured to said support plate and movable between a first, nonoperative position and a second operative position for cutting said tape in a manner such that the width of said cut portion of tape corresponds to the width of said paper.

Claim 33

The preparing apparatus of claim 28 wherein said grasping plate is pivotally secured along a longitudinal edge thereof to a longitudinal edge of said support plate, and wherein said edge-preparing plate is pivotally secured to an edge of said grasping plate which is transverse to the said longitudinal edge of said grasping plating.

Claim 34

Apparatus for automatically splicing the beginning of one roll of paper or the like onto the approximate end of a second roll of paper or the like without discontinuing the flow of paper to a utilizing device; said apparatus comprising: a suppoRt stand, said stand having means for supporting said one roll of paper and said second roll of paper in rotatable relationship therewith; festooner means carried by said support stand for establishing an elongated path of travel for paper of said second roll moving through said apparatus and for allowing said utilizing device to ''''feed'''' upon the paper carried by said festooner means when the second roll of paper has stopped rotating; first sensing means for stopping the rotation of said second roll when a preselected amount of paper remains on said roll; clamping, severing and splicing means responsive to the halt of said second roll for clamping the paper of said second roll at a first predetermined location, severing the paper of said second roll at a second predetermined location, below said first predetermined location, and for joining the beginning of said one roll to the severed end of said second roll; releasing means responsive to the passage of a preselected time after said second roll has stopped rotating for resetting said clamping, severing and splicing means; whereby said utilizing device will begin ''''feeding'''' on the paper of said one roll of paper; further including preparing apparatus secured to said support stand for preparing the beginning end of said one roll of paper for subsequent joining to the approximate end of said second roll of paper, said preparing apparatus comprising: a support plate for supporting the paper of said one roll; a grasping plate operatively secured to said support plate for grasping the paper of said one roll against said support plate, said grasping plate being movable between an open position in which said paper may be inserted between said grasping plate and said support plate and its grasping position; an edge-preparing plate member pivotally secured along one edge thereof to said grasping plate and rotatable between a first nonoperative position and a second, operative position in which a second edge thereof engages said paper to facilitate the trimming of the end thereof; tape-dispensing means secured to said support plate and oriented with respect thereto to permit tape to be drawn across said paper with a portion of said tape overlying the end of said paper; and tape-trimming means operatively secured to said support plate and movable between a first nonoperative position and a second operative position for cutting said tape in a manner such that the width of said cut portion of tape corresponds to the width of said paper.

Claim 35

Apparatus for automatically splicing the beginning of one roll of paper or the like onto the approximate end of a second roll of paper or the like without discontinuing the flow of paper to a utilizing device; said apparatus comprising: a suppoRt stand, said stand having means for supporting said one roll of paper and said second roll of paper in rotatable relationship therewith; festooner means carried by said support stand for establishing an elongated path of travel for paper of said second roll moving through said apparatus and for allowing said utilizing device to ''''feed'''' upon the paper carried by said festooner means when the second roll of paper has stopped rotating; first sensing means for stopping the rotation of said second roll when a preselected amount of paper remains on said roll; clamping, severing and splicing means responsive to the halt of said second roll for clamping the paper of said second roll at a first predetermined location, severing the paper of said second roll at a second predetermined location, below said first predetermined location, and for joining the beginning of said one roll to the severed end of said second roll; releasing means responsive to the passage of a preselected time after said second roll has stopped rotating for resetting said clamping, severing and splicing means; whereby said utilizing device will begin ''''feeding'''' on the paper of said one roll of paper; further including preparing apparatus secured to said support stand for preparing the beginning end of said one roll of paper for subsequent joining to the approximate end of said second roll of paper, said preparing apparatus comprising: a support plate for supporting the paper of said one roll; a grasping plate operatively secured to said support plate for grasping the paper of said one roll against said support plate, said grasping plate being movable between an open position in which said paper may be inserted between said grasping plate and said support plate and its grasping position; an edge-preparing plate member pivotally secured along one edge thereof to said grasping plate and rotatable between a first nonoperative position and a second, operative position in which a second edge thereof engages said paper to facilitate the trimming of the end thereof; tape-dispensing means secured to said support plate and oriented with respect thereto to permit tape to be drawn across said paper with a portion of said tape overlying the end of said paper; and tape-trimming means operatively secured to said support plate and movable between a first nonoperative position and a second operative position for cutting said tape in a manner such that the width of said cut portion of tape corresponds to the width of said paper.