Machines for interconnecting continuous webs

Claim 1

Apparatus for interconnecting two webs of material, incident to travel thereof, comprising; a frame defining a horizontal axis; support means mounted on the frame for pivotal motion about said axis; first and second mandrels each pivotally mounted on said support means for supporting and rotating respectively a first web reel for unwinding a first travelling web of material at a high, peripheral, linear speed of travel, and a second web reel in readiness for delivery of a second web; means for cutting off said first travelling web from said first web reel, when said first web reel approaches being totally unwound, to produce a transverse edge across the web, said means comprising a counter-blade mounted on said support means for movement between an inactive position and a cutting position of the counter-blade; a driving shaft journaled on said frame, parallel to said axis; a motor for driving the shaft; rotary cutter means, comprising, a blade holder mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith; and a cutting blade mounted on said blade holder to cooperate with said counterblade in the cutting position of the latter by cutting said first travelling web to produce said edge; a transmission system, comprising, first and second transmission wheels; first and second clutches for coupling said first and second transmission wheels respectively, to said driving shaft to drive them; first and second motion transmission means for transmitting motion from said first and second transmission wheels, respectively, to the mandrels of said first and second web reels; first and second brake means for said first and second transmission wheels and thereby for said first and second mandrels and web reels, respectively; and control means for said first and second clutch means and for said first and second brake means, thereby enabling equalizing the linear, peripheral speeds of said first and second web reels for splicing the first and second webs; means for splicing said webs, comprising, means for juxtaposing an edge of the second web with the transverse edge of the first web and applying at least one adhesive band to the two edges while beginning the rotation of the second web reel and ending the rotation of the first web reel by said first and second clutches and brakes; and means for effecting the pivotal motion of said support, upon the splicing of said bands, and for thereby converting the second web reel into a web reel for further delivery of a travelling web of material.