Apparatus for splicing webs of cigarette paper or the like

Claim 2

In a cigarette rod making or analogous machine wherein a running web of cigarette paper or the like which is being withdrawn from an expiring roll is transported lengthwise along a predetermined path extending toward, through and beyond spacedapart first and second stations and is converted into wrappers of discrete rod-shaped articles not later than at said second station, and wherein the leading end of a fresh web which is stored in the form of a fresh roll is maintained in readiness at said first station, a combination comprising means for advancing the running web along said path and a splicing apparatus, said splicing apparatus including means for accelerating the leading end of the fresh web and signal generating means having a first portion, drive means for transmitting motion to said first portion from said advancing means in response to acceleration of the leading end of the fresh web and a second portion for furnishing a plurality of signals in response to movement of said first portion, said signals including a first signal and said splicing apparatus further comprising means for uniting portions of the running web and the accelerated fresh web in response to said first signal so that said portions of the running and fresh webs form at said first station a splice which is thereupon transported along said path at the speed of the running web, said splicing apparatus also comprising means for severing the running web between said splice and the expiring roll in response to one of said plurality of signals to thereby separate the splice from the expiring roll, said severing means being adjacent to said path.

Claim 3

A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for monitoring the supply of running web on said expiring roll and including means for generating a signal in response to depletion of the supply of running web on said expiring roll to a predetermined minimum value, said accelerating means comprising means for setting the leading end of the fresh web in motion in response to said last mentioned signal.

Claim 4

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said signals include a second signal which is generated when at least one rod-shaped article whose wrapper embodies said splice travels through said second station, and further comprising means for efecting from said path articles whose wrappers embody said splice in response to said second signal so that the ejecting of such articles takes place at said second station.

Claim 5

A comBination as defined in claim 3, wherein said second portion of said signal generating means comprises a plurality of discrete signal generating elements, one for each of said plurality of signals and said first portion of said signal generating means comprises mobile means for actuating said discrete signal generating elements in a predetermined sequence and in synchronism with the speed of transport of the running web along said path.

Claim 6

A combination as defined in claim 4, wherein said accelerating means derives motion from said advancing means.

Claim 7

In a cigarette rod making or analogous machine wherein a running web of cigarette paper or the like which is being withdrawn from an expiring roll is transported lengthwise along a predetermined path extending toward, through and beyond spacedapart first and second stations and is converted into wrappers of discrete rod-shaped articles not later than at said second station and wherein the leading end of a fresh web which is stored in the form of a fresh roll is maintained in readiness at said first station, a combination comprising means for advancing the running web along said path and a splicing apparatus, said splicing apparatus including means for accelerating the leading end of the fresh web and signal generating means having a rotatable first portion, drive means for transmitting rotary motion to said first portion from said advancing means in response to acceleration of the leading end of the fresh web and a second portion for furnishing a plurality of signals in response to rotation of said first portion, said signals including a first signal which is produced by said second portion in a first predetermined angular position of said first portion, said splicing apparatus further comprising means for uniting portions of the running web and the accelerated fresh web in response to said first signal so that said portions of the running and fresh webs form at said first station a splice which is thereupon transported along said path at the speed of the running web and said splicing apparatus also comprising means for arresting said first portion of said signal generating means in a second predetermined angular position so that repreated rotation of said first portion of said signal generating means from said second predetermined angular position to said first predetermined angular position necessitates rotation of said first portion through angles of substantially identical magnitude.

Claim 8

In a cigarette rod making or analogous machine wherein a running web of cigarette paper or the like which is being withdrawn from an expiring roll is transported lengthwise along a predetermined path extending toward, through and beyond spacedapart first and second stations and is converted into wrappers of discrete rod-shaped articles not later than at said second station and wherein the leading end of a fresh web which is stored in the form of a fresh roll is maintained in readiness at said first station, a combination comprising means for advancing the running web along said path and a splicing apparatus, said splicing apparatus including means for accelerating the leading end of the fresh web and signal generating means having a rotatable first portion, drive means for transmitting rotary motion to said first portion from said advancing means in response to acceleration of the leading end of the fresh web and a second portion for furnishing a plurality of signals in response to rotation of said first portion, said signals including a first signal which is produced by said second portion in a first predetermined angular position of said first portion, said splicing apparatus further comprising means for uniting portions of the running web and the accelerated fresh web in response to said first signal so that said portions of the running and fresh webs form at said first station a splice which is thereupon transported along said path at the speed of the running web and said splicing apparatus also comprising means for arresting said first portion of said signal generating means in a second predetermined angular position so that repreated rotation of said first portion of said signal generating means from said second predetermined angular position to said first predetermined angular position necessitates rotation of said first portion through angles of substantially identical magnitude.

Claim 9

A combination as defined in claim 16, further comprising means for actuating said arresting means in response to a second signal of said plurality of signals.

Claim 10

In a cigarette rod making or analogous machine wherein a running web of cigarette paper or the like which is being withdrawn from an expiring roll is transported lengthwise along a predetermined path extending toward, through and beyond spacedapart first and second stations and is converted into wrappers of discrete rod-shaped articles not later than at said second station, and wherein the leading end of a fresh web which is stored in the form of a fresh roll is maintained in readiness at said first station, a combination comprising means for advancing the running web along said path and a splicing apparatus, said splicing apparatus including means for accelerating the leading end of the fresh web, said accelerating means comprising a drive having a rotary input member receiving motion due to frictional engagement with the running web and means for setting the leading portion of the fresh web in motion in response to rotation of said input member, said splicing apparatus further comprising signal generating means having a first portion, drive means for transmitting motion to said first portion from said advancing means in response to acceleration of the leading end of the fresh web and a second portion for furnishing a plurality of signals in response to movement of said first portion, said signals including a first signal and said splicing apparatus also comprisinG means for uniting portions of the running web and the accelerated fresh web in response to said first signal so that said portions of the running and fresh webs form at said first station a splice which is thereupon transported along said path at the speed of the running web.

Claim 11

In a cigarette rod making or analogous machine wherein a running web of cigarette paper or the like which is being withdrawn from an expiring roll is transported lengthwise along a predetermined path extending toward, through and beyond spacedapart first and second stations and is converted into wrappers of discrete rod-shaped articles not later than at said second station, and wherein the leading end of a fresh web which is stored in the form of a fresh roll is maintained in readiness at said first station, a combination comprising means for advancing the running web along said path and a splicing apparatus, said splicing apparatus including means for accelerating the leading end of the fresh web, said accelerating means comprising a drive having a rotary input member receiving motion due to frictional engagement with the running web and means for setting the leading portion of the fresh web in motion in response to rotation of said input member, said splicing apparatus further comprising signal generating means having a first portion, drive means for transmitting motion to said first portion from said advancing means in response to acceleration of the leading end of the fresh web and a second portion for furnishing a plurality of signals in response to movement of said first portion, said signals including a first signal and said splicing apparatus also comprisinG means for uniting portions of the running web and the accelerated fresh web in response to said first signal so that said portions of the running and fresh webs form at said first station a splice which is thereupon transported along said path at the speed of the running web.

Claim 12

A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said drive further comprises means for moving the running web into frictional engagement with said rotary input member.

Claim 13

A combination as defined in claim 9, wherein said means for moving the running web into frictional engagement with said input member comprises a roller and means for moving said roller transversely of the path of said running web.

Claim 14

In a cigarette rod making or analogous machine wherein a running web of cigarette paper or the like which is being withdrawn from an expiring roll is transported lengthwise along a predetermined path extending toward, through and beyond spaced-apart first and second stations and is converted into wrappers of discrete rod-shaped articles not later than at said second station, and wherein the leading end of a fresh web which is stored in the form of a fresh roll is maintained in readiness at said first station, a combination comprising means for advancing the running web along said path and a splicing apparatus, said splicing apparatus including means for accelerating the leading end of the fresh web and signal generating means including a first portion having a rotary programming device with a plurality of actuating elements, drive means for transmitting rotatary motion to said programming device from said advancing means in response to acceleration of the leading end of the fresh web, and a second portion for furnishing a plurality of signals in response to rotation of said programming device, said second portion including a plurality of discrete signal generating elements each actuatable by one of said actuating elements in predetermined angular positions of said programming device, said signals including a first signal and said splicing apparatus further comprising means for uniting portions of the running web and the accelerated fresh web in response to said first signal so that said portions of the running and fresh webs form at said first station a splice which is thereupon transported along said path at the speed of the running web.

Claim 15

In a cigarette rod making or analogous machine wherein a running web of cigarette paper or the like which is being withdrawn from an expiring roll is transported lengthwise along a predetermined path extending toward, through and beyond spaced-apart first and second stations and is converted into wrappers of discrete rod-shaped articles not later than at said second station, and wherein the leading end of a fresh web which is stored in the form of a fresh roll is maintained in readiness at said first station, a combination comprising means for advancing the running web along said path and a splicing apparatus, said splicing apparatus including means for accelerating the leading end of the fresh web and signal generating means including a first portion having a rotary programming device with a plurality of actuating elements, drive means for transmitting rotatary motion to said programming device from said advancing means in response to acceleration of the leading end of the fresh web, and a second portion for furnishing a plurality of signals in response to rotation of said programming device, said second portion including a plurality of discrete signal generating elements each actuatable by one of said actuating elements in predetermined angular positions of said programming device, said signals including a first signal and said splicing apparatus further comprising means for uniting portions of the running web and the accelerated fresh web in response to said first signal so that said portions of the running and fresh webs form at said first station a splice which is thereupon transported along said path at the speed of the running web.