Abstract Apparatus is disclosed for automatically splicing the beginning of one roll of papers 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. The apparatus includes a support stand with the support stand having a first support shaft carrying said one roll of paper and a second support shaft for carrying the second roll of paper. A festooner arrangement is carried by the support stand for establishing an elongated path of travel for paper of the second roll moving through the apparatus and for allowing the utilizing device to feed upon the paper carried by the festooner arrangement when the second roll of paper has stopped rotating. There is provided first sensing means for stopping the rotation of the second roll when a preselected amount of paper remains on the roll and there is provided clamping, severing and splicing means responsive to the halt of the second roll of paper for clamping the paper of the second roll at a first predetermined location, severing the paper of the second roll at a second predetermined location, below the first predetermined location, and for joining the beginning of the first roll to the severed end of the second roll. Thereafter, releasing means are provided for resetting the clamping, severing and splicing means after the beginning of the first roll has been joined to the severed end of the second roll. First drive means, including a motor, is provided for rotating the first support shaft and with it the first roll of paper to help bring it up to speed. There is provided control means for energizing the first drive means for a preselected length of time, dependent upon the weight of the new roll of paper. A second sensing system is responsive to the tension in the paper of the first roll and generates control signals in proportion to the tension. Associated therewith is a first braking system which cooperates with the first support shaft carrying the first roll of paper and which is responsive to the aforementioned control signals for controlling the speed of rotation of the aforesaid first roll of paper on the support shaft associated therewith. In this manner, a servosystem is established to slow down the new roll of paper once it has been brought up to speed by the aforementioned motor, and which servosystem continues to provide appropriate braking action in accordance with the tension on the paper of said roll.
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; first support shaft means carried by said support stand for carrying said one roll of paper; second support shaft means carried by said support stand for carrying said second roll of paper; 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 braking means for stopping 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 for resetting said clamping, severing and splicing means after the beginning of said one roll has been joined to the severed end of said second roll; first drive means for rotating said first support shaft means; control means for energizing said first drive means for a predetermined length of time, said control means beinG activated after the operation of said releasing means; sensing means responsive to the tension in said paper of said one roll for generating control signals in proportion to said tension in said paper of said one roll; second braking means for stopping the rotation of said first roll when a preselected amount of paper remains thereon and for cooperating with said first support shaft means and responsive to said control signals for controlling the speed of rotation of said first support shaft means; 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 displaceable relative to said first set of rollers; said paper of said second roll alternatively passing over rollers of said first and second sets to establish said elongated path; and further including 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, said operating means including means for permitting said second set of rollers to approach said first set of rollers when said second roll of paper has stopped rotating; wherein said apparatus further includes: first switch means responsive to said first set of rollers traveling a first predetermined distance for initiating operation of said clamping, severing and splicing means; second switch means responsive to said first set of rollers traveling a second predetermined distance for initiating operation of said releasing means; and third switch means responsive to said first set of rollers traveling a third predetermined distance for initiating operation of said control means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
538 words
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; first support shaft means carried by said support stand for carrying said one roll of paper; second support shaft means carried by said support stand for carrying said second roll of paper; 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 braking means for stopping 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 for resetting said clamping, severing and splicing means after the beginning of said one roll has been joined to the severed end of said second roll; first drive means for rotating said first support shaft means; control means for energizing said first drive means for a predetermined length of time, said control means beinG activated after the operation of said releasing means; sensing means responsive to the tension in said paper of said one roll for generating control signals in proportion to said tension in said paper of said one roll; second braking means for stopping the rotation of said first roll when a preselected amount of paper remains thereon and for cooperating with said first support shaft means and responsive to said control signals for controlling the speed of rotation of said first support shaft means; 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 displaceable relative to said first set of rollers; said paper of said second roll alternatively passing over rollers of said first and second sets to establish said elongated path; and further including 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, said operating means including means for permitting said second set of rollers to approach said first set of rollers when said second roll of paper has stopped rotating; wherein said apparatus further includes: first switch means responsive to said first set of rollers traveling a first predetermined distance for initiating operation of said clamping, severing and splicing means; second switch means responsive to said first set of rollers traveling a second predetermined distance for initiating operation of said releasing means; and third switch means responsive to said first set of rollers traveling a third predetermined distance for initiating operation of said control means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said drive means includes a motor and said control means compises a timer.