Apparatus for use with a web fed mechanism

Claim 2

Apparatus for use in a web fed mechanism having web pull means for pulling a web to a said mechanism from a web payout means at a relatively constant pull velocity and comprising: movable web guide means positioned so as to be engaged by and for guiding directional movement of a said web from a said payout means to a said mechanism, said guide means being movable along a path so that when the payout velocity is less than said pull velocity the guide means is moved along said path; controllable means for applying retarding forces to said guide means to decelerate movement of said guide means along said path in such a manner that said payout velocity increases toward that of said pull velocity wherein said retarding means includes motor means connected to said guide means for dynamically braking movement of said guide means; and control means for controlling the retarding forces applied by said retarding means and thereby control the rate at which said payout velocity increases.

Claim 3

Apparatus for use in a web fed mechanism having web pull means for pulling a web to a said mechanism from a web payout means at a relatively constant pull velocity and comprising: movable web guide means positioned so as to be engaged by and for guiding directional movement of a said web from a said payout means to a said mechanism, said guide means being movable along a path so that when the payout velocity is less than said pull velocity the guide means is moved along said path; controllable means for applying retarding forces to said guide means to decelerate movement of said guide means along said path in such a manner that said payout velocity increases toward that of said pull velocity wherein said retarding means includes motor means connected to said guide means for dynamically braking movement of said guide means; and control means for controlling the retarding forces applied by said retarding means and thereby control the rate at which said payout velocity increases.

Claim 4

Apparatus for use in a web fed mechanism having web pull means for pulling a web to a said mechanism from a web payout means at a relatively constant pull velocity and comprising: movable web guide means positioned so as to be engaged by and for guiding directional movement of a said web from a said payout means to a said mechanism, said guide means being movable along a path so that when the payout velocity is less than said pull velocity the guide means is moved along said path; controllable means for applying retarding forces to said guide means to decelerate movement of said guide means along said path in such a manner that said payout velocity increases toward that of said pull velocity wherein said retarding means includes motor means connected to said guide means for dynamically braking movement of said guide means; and control means for controlling the retarding forces applied by said retarding means and thereby control the rate at which said payout velocity increases.

Claim 5

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said control means including motor control circuit means for controlling the dynamic braking of said guide means.

Claim 6

Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said control means includes circuit means for developing a control signal for application to said motor control circuit means so as to dynamically brake movement of said guide means along said path in dependence upon said control signal.

Claim 7

In an apparatus for splicing the lead end of a web on a new web roll to a web on an expiring web roll in a web fed mechanism having web pulling means for pulling said web at a relatively constant pull velocity so that said web pays out from a said roll and comprising: movable web guide means positioned so as to be engaged by and for guiding directional movement of a said web from a said roll to a said mechanism, said guide means being movable along a path from a first position to a second position so that when the payout velocity of a said web from its roll is less than said pull velocity the guide means is moved along said path; means for applying braking forces to said expiring roll so that the payout velocity of the web therefrom is decreased to cause said guide means to move from said first position toward said second position a distance sufficient to permit the lead end of a web from a said new roll to be spliced to the web from the expiring roll; controllable means for applying retarding forces to said guide means to retard motion thereof along said path toward said second position in such a manner that the payout velocity of web from said new roll is increased toward said pull velocity; and control means for controlling said retarding means to apply said retarding forces at a controlled rate so that said guide means comes to a stop substantially at said second position at which time the payout velocity of the web from said new roll is substantially equal to said pull velocity.

Claim 8

In an apparatus for splicing the lead end of a web on a new web roll to a web on an expiring web roll in a web fed mechanism having web pulling means for pulling said web at a relatively constant pull velocity so that said web pays out from a said roll and comprising: movable web guide means positioned so as to be engaged by and for guiding directional movement of a said web from a said roll to a said mechanism, said guide means being movable along a path from a first position to a second position so that when the payout velocity of a said web from its roll is less than said pull velocity the guide means is moved along said path; means for applying braking forces to said expiring roll so that the payout velocity of the web therefrom is decreased to cause said guide means to move from said first position toward said second position a distance sufficient to permit the lead end of a web from a said new roll to be spliced to the web from the expiring roll; controllable means for applying retarding forces to said guide means to retard motion thereof along said path toward said second position in such a manner that the payout velocity of web from said new roll is increased toward said pull velocity; and control means for controlling said retarding means to apply said retarding forces at a controlled rate so that said guide means comes to a stop substantially at said second position at which time the payout velocity of the web from said new roll is substantially equal to said pull velocity.

Claim 9

In an apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said control means includes means for controlling said retarding means to apply said retarding forces to decelerate movement of said guide means at a substantially constant rate.

Claim 10

In an apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said control means includes means for controlling said retarding means once the web from said new roll has been spliced to the web from said expiring roll to control the rate at which the payout velocity of web from said new roll increases toward that of said pull velocity.

Claim 11

In an apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said control means includes: circuit means for providing a first output signal representative of the distance along said path required for said guide means to reach said second position once the web from said new roll has been spliced to the web from the expiring roll; and circuit means for providing an output control signal dependent on said first signal for use in controlling said retarding means.