Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
381 words
A method of joining a leading edge of a new roll of web material onto a moving web from an expiring roll of web material, the steps comprising: placing a mark on said new roll of web at a location along the outer circumference a predetermined circumferential distance from said leading edge: securing a splicing strip to said leading edge with an adhesive portion extending beyond said leading edge so as to be engagable with said moving web; releasably securing said splicing strip and said leading edge to the surface of said new roll; positioning said new roll immediately adjacent said moving web so that said leading edge and splicing strip when unwound will move in the direction of movement of said moving web; rotating said new roll of web so that the surface speed thereof is substantially the same as said moving web; sensing the passing of said mark at a fixed location around the circumference of said new roll of web so as to locate the position of said leading edge relative to the point of closest proximity of said new roll of web and said moving web; forcing said moving web at said point of closest proximity into engagement with said new roll of web a sufficient time after said sensing of said mark to allow said leading edge to pass said point of closest proximity; securing a web cutting blade to a rotatable shaft driven by a motor; initiating movement of said web cutting blade towards said moving web by rotating said shaft upon sensing the passing of said mark at said fixed location; continuously monitoring the angular position of said shaft; continuously monitoring web speed; correlating said web speed with said angular position of said shaft; continuously adjusting the speed of rotation of said shaft in response to change of said web speed so that said blade contacts said web at substantially web speed and severs said web at a predetermined distance from said point of closest proximity when said leading edge is substantially the same or greater circumferential distance from said point of closest proximity; and pressing said adhesive portion of said splicing strip into engagement with the cut trailing edge of said moving web by a pressing means at said point of closest proximity.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
381 words
A method of joining a leading edge of a new roll of web material onto a moving web from an expiring roll of web material, the steps comprising: placing a mark on said new roll of web at a location along the outer circumference a predetermined circumferential distance from said leading edge: securing a splicing strip to said leading edge with an adhesive portion extending beyond said leading edge so as to be engagable with said moving web; releasably securing said splicing strip and said leading edge to the surface of said new roll; positioning said new roll immediately adjacent said moving web so that said leading edge and splicing strip when unwound will move in the direction of movement of said moving web; rotating said new roll of web so that the surface speed thereof is substantially the same as said moving web; sensing the passing of said mark at a fixed location around the circumference of said new roll of web so as to locate the position of said leading edge relative to the point of closest proximity of said new roll of web and said moving web; forcing said moving web at said point of closest proximity into engagement with said new roll of web a sufficient time after said sensing of said mark to allow said leading edge to pass said point of closest proximity; securing a web cutting blade to a rotatable shaft driven by a motor; initiating movement of said web cutting blade towards said moving web by rotating said shaft upon sensing the passing of said mark at said fixed location; continuously monitoring the angular position of said shaft; continuously monitoring web speed; correlating said web speed with said angular position of said shaft; continuously adjusting the speed of rotation of said shaft in response to change of said web speed so that said blade contacts said web at substantially web speed and severs said web at a predetermined distance from said point of closest proximity when said leading edge is substantially the same or greater circumferential distance from said point of closest proximity; and pressing said adhesive portion of said splicing strip into engagement with the cut trailing edge of said moving web by a pressing means at said point of closest proximity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said step of placing said mark on said new roll includes: positioning said mark around the circumference from the leading edge of said new roll a sufficient distance that said web can be severed at a distance from said point of closest proximity equal to or greater than the circumferential distance from said leading edge to said point when said mark is being sensed at said fixed location.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
92 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of placing said mark on said new roll includes: positioning said mark around the circumference of said new roll at a distance from the leading edge a sufficient distance that the severing of the web can be accomplished within the period of time it takes the new roll to rotate from a position in which said mark is at said point of closest proximity to said web, to a position in which said leading edge is at said point of closest proximity.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
413 words
A method of joining a leading edge of a new roll of web material onto a moving web from an expiring roll of web material, the steps comprising: placing a mark on said new roll of web at a location along the outer circumference a predetermined circumferential distance from said leading edge; securing a splicing strip to said leading edge with an adhesive portion extending beyond said leading edge so as to be engagable with said moving web; releasably securing said splicing strip and said leading edge to the surface of said new roll; carrying said new roll and said expiring roll on an indexing head rotatable about an axis transverse to the plane of said web, said indexing head further carrying an anvil associated with each said roll; rotating said indexing head until said new roll is disposed adjacent said web so that said leading edge and splicing strip when unwound will move in the direction of movement of said moving web, and said anvil associated therewith is disposed on the opposite side of said web and in registry with a web cutting blade for severing said web; rotating said new roll of web so that the surface speed thereof is substantially the same as said moving web; sensing the passing of said mark at a fixed location around the circumference of said new roll of web so as to locate the position of said leading edge relative to the point of closest proximity of said new roll of web and said moving web; forcing said moving web at said point of closest proximity into engagement with said new roll of web a sufficient time after said sensing of said mark to allow said leading edge to pass said point of closest proximity; initiating movement of said web cutting blade towards said moving web upon sensing the passing of said mark at said fixed location; continuously adjusting the speed of said blade in response to change of said web speed so as to contact said web with said blade at substantially web speed and force said web into said anvil and sever said web at a predetermined distance from said point of closest proximity when said leading edge is substantially the same or greater circumferential distance from said point of closest proximity; and pressing said adhesive portion of said splicing strip into engagement with the cut trailing edge of said moving web by a pressing means at said point of closest proximity.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
413 words
A method of joining a leading edge of a new roll of web material onto a moving web from an expiring roll of web material, the steps comprising: placing a mark on said new roll of web at a location along the outer circumference a predetermined circumferential distance from said leading edge; securing a splicing strip to said leading edge with an adhesive portion extending beyond said leading edge so as to be engagable with said moving web; releasably securing said splicing strip and said leading edge to the surface of said new roll; carrying said new roll and said expiring roll on an indexing head rotatable about an axis transverse to the plane of said web, said indexing head further carrying an anvil associated with each said roll; rotating said indexing head until said new roll is disposed adjacent said web so that said leading edge and splicing strip when unwound will move in the direction of movement of said moving web, and said anvil associated therewith is disposed on the opposite side of said web and in registry with a web cutting blade for severing said web; rotating said new roll of web so that the surface speed thereof is substantially the same as said moving web; sensing the passing of said mark at a fixed location around the circumference of said new roll of web so as to locate the position of said leading edge relative to the point of closest proximity of said new roll of web and said moving web; forcing said moving web at said point of closest proximity into engagement with said new roll of web a sufficient time after said sensing of said mark to allow said leading edge to pass said point of closest proximity; initiating movement of said web cutting blade towards said moving web upon sensing the passing of said mark at said fixed location; continuously adjusting the speed of said blade in response to change of said web speed so as to contact said web with said blade at substantially web speed and force said web into said anvil and sever said web at a predetermined distance from said point of closest proximity when said leading edge is substantially the same or greater circumferential distance from said point of closest proximity; and pressing said adhesive portion of said splicing strip into engagement with the cut trailing edge of said moving web by a pressing means at said point of closest proximity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as defined in claim 4 including the steps of: engaging said indexing head with an anvil locator when said new roll and said anvil are rotated into position adjacent said web, for aligning and holding said anvil in position during severing of said web; and disengaging said locator after said severing stop.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
94 words
A method as defined in claim 5 or 1 including the steps of: continuing to monitor the movement of the splice between said leading edge and said trailing edge after it leaves said pressing means; activating a further pressing means down stream of the first said pressing means and on the opposite side of said web therefrom, when said splice is monitored to be in registry therewith; and applying with said further pressing means a further splicing strip having an adhesive portion to said opposite side in registry with the first said splicing strip.