Splice station for a heat seal film splicer

Claim 1

In a heat seal film splicer of the type having a splice pad with a film supporting surface, a guide track, and a splice head having a heatable splice contacting surface, the splice head being (1) movable along the guide track toward a first position where the splice head is adapted to cooperate with a portion of the guide track to sever a portion of heat activated splice tape from a tape supply and to apply heat and pressure to a film splice by pressing the splice between the film supporting surface of the splice pad and the splice contacting surface of the splice head and (2) movable toward a second position away from the first position, the improvement comprising: means cooperating with the splice head and the guide track and (a) responsive to movement of the splice head toward the first position for urging the splice head into firm contact with the guide track to effect severance of the splice tape and to accurately align the splice head with the splice pad, and (b) responsive to movement of the splice head toward the second position for releasing the splice head from firm contact with the guide track to minimize heat loss from the splice head to the guide track.