Apparatus for feeding and splicing tape-shaped materials

Claim 1

Apparatus for providing a continuous feed of tape, comprising a rotatable central shaft and a bobbin carrier mounted on said central shaft, motor means for rotatably driving said central shaft and lock means at the ends of said bobbin carrier each for locking said shaft and carrier against rotation, a first bobbin of tape mounted on said bobbin carrier unwinding tape in response to demand, a second bobbin of tape mounted on said bobbin carrier diametrically opposite from said first bobbin, first and second splicing rollers each spaced from the other, the unwinding tape of said first bobbin passing over said first splicing roller and the lead end of the tape of said second bobbin being disposed on said second splicing roller and provided with an adhesive, tape severing means disposed between said first bobbin and said first splicing roller, first means for sensing the supply of tape on said first bobbin and second means for sensing the supply of tape on said second bobbin, means responsive to said first sensing means when the tape of said first bobbin is substantially depleted for moving at least one of said splicing rollers towards the other to a splicing position closing the space therebetween splicing the tapes and operating said severing means to cut the tape of said first bobbin between said bobbin and the splice, spring means retaining said splicing rollers in the splicing position and said severing means operated, means responsive to said second sensing means when a predetermined amount of tape has been unwound from said second bobbin causing said locking means to release said bobbin carrier and said motor means to rotate said shaft until said bobbins each assume the position of the other, and said central shaft having cam means moving said sensing means out of the paths of said bobbins when said central shaft is rotated and resetting said splicing rollers and said severing means against the force of said spring means.