Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Background and Summary of the Invention
This invention relates to web splicing apparatus
for paper and the like, and more particularly to an apparatus
for splicing together the web from a fresh roll of paper and
the web from a nearly spent roll of paper in a continuous
paper web feeding operation.
~ he concepts of the invention can be utilized in
connection with a large variety of devices where a web of
paper or other material is continuously supplied. One such
device can be a machine for wrapping boards with paper, such
~ as in the present inventor's U. S. Patent No. 3,590,552
- issued July 6, 1971 and entitled "Automatic Panel Wrapping
Machine." Another such device can be a corrugating machine.
In such machines, the paper supply comprises a
pair of paper rolls which alternately feed a web of paper in
continuous fashion to the machine input. When one roll is
exhausted, the other roll is substituted. To prevent extensive
down time, it has been found desirable to quickly splice the
web of a fresh roll onto the web of a nearly exhausted roll.
The machine of the aforementioned patent 3,590,552
includes such a device. In that patent, the task of splicing
two supply webs together was accomplished by forcing an
eccentric roll against an idler roll, with the paper traveling
between the rolls, and with the movement of the eccentric roll
automatically causing a knife to sever the web of the nearly
exhausted roll.
In other known devices, a paper roll brake has been
used to bring the exhausted paper roll to a stop for web
splicing. In addition, the splicing has been accomplished
by pressing the two webs together between a pair of splice
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sealing rolls which form a nip, and by the use of an
adhesive between the webs. It is further known to feed the
running or spliced web continuously over an idler roll
disposed downstream from the splicing apparatus, and then
5 to an accumulator or dancer roll, and subsequently to the ~
machine which is to utilize the paper web. See U. S. ~ -
Patent 3,841,944. In addition, it has been proposed to
apply an adhesive strip to a new web attached to a splice
sealing roll and then to rotate this roll to bring the adhesive
into position for a horiæontal engagement with the expiring
roll. See U. S. Patent 3,837,954.
Heretofore, it has been found difficult to get the
spliced web, which has momentarily been stopped, up to normal
speed as quickly as possible before the excess web at the
accumulator dancer roll runs out. Furthermore, it has been
found that with at least some of the above-described known
structures, misalignment between the paper webs which may
occur between the paper supply rolls and the splicing rolls
may continue on downstream up to and past the idler roll,
thereby causing tensions to develop which will rip or tear
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the paper web.
It is the task of the present invention to signi-
ficantly reduce one or both of the above problems,and also to
splice two webs together in an entirely new way so that the
same splicer can be added to many types of web handling
machines without major modification of the latter. Progress
in the technical art of web splicing has therefor been accom-
plished.
In the form of the device shown, at least one movable
splicer assembly which is disposed adjacent a paper supply roll
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and which includes an idler roll, a paper stop device, a
severing device and a splice sealing roll. When the assembly
is disposed adjacent the nearly exhausted paper roll, the
stop device is actuated to hold the outgoing web from moving,
regardless of the existence or adequacy of a roll brake.
When the assembly is disposed adjacent the spent roll, the
stop device positively holds the paper for lead~edge
cutting and trimming during set-up and keeps the paper în
place until the splice is made. The splice sealing roll
has provisions to guide a cutting tool for said lead-edge
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forming of the fresh web, and also for optimally locating
the lead edge. A separate splicer assembly is disposed
adjacent each of the pair of rolls, with the splice sealing
rolls being engageable to form a nip for sealing the splice.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention,
~ the fixed idler roll which is disposed at the discharge end
- of the splicing area and upstream of the accumulator dancer
roll, is provided with a drive mechanism including a selec- -
tively engageable clutch therebetween. At the time of the
splice, the c1utch is engaged to thereby convert the idler
roll into a capstan which accelerates the spliced web up to
line speed; and thereafter the clutch is disengaged. This ~- ~
substantially reduces the problem of exhaustion of the accumu- -
lator before the new web can be supplied.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention,
energizing of the clutch will cause the capstan effect to
pull the web forwardly, thus reducing misalignment problems.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The accompanying drawings illustrate the best mode
presently contemplated by the inventor for carrying out the
invention.
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In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a schematic side elevation of an apparatus
constructed in accordance with the invention and showing two
positions of each splicer assembly;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of a
splicer assembly in the position shown in phantom in Fig. 1
with parts broken away and in section;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side view o~ a
splice sealer roll and showing adhesive transfer tape
applied adjacent the cut-off slot;
Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 and showing the
tape being removed;
Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and shbwing the
paper web released and the splice sealer roll rotated back
to the detent;
Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the
splice sealer rolls in pressure contact for splicing and
showing the spent paper web cut-off; and
Fig. 7 is a top plan view taken on line 7--7 of Fig. 2.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
As shown in the drawings, the splicer of the present
invention is adapted for use with an unwind station 1 of any
suitable type of web handling machine not shown except for an
input nip 2. Station 1 comprises a pair of paper rolls 3 and
4 rotatably mounted on parallel shafts 5 and 6 respectively,
with brakes 7 and 8 engageable with the respective shafts to
control the paper rolls.
Paper rolls 3 and 4 are shown as having respective
webs 9 and 10 extending therefrom.
In the present instance, roll 3 is shown as having
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. its web 9 extending through the apparatus to machine input
:: nip 2. This apparatus includes a fixed idler roll 11 on the
downstream side of the apparatus and over which the web 9
extends, and a dancer roll 12 of any .suitable desired well-
known type which is mounted for movement in a horizontal
channel 13. Dancer roll 12 is maintained under tension
to thereby keep web 9 tensioned.
In the drawings, paper roll 3 is shown as being ~ .
nearly exhausted and it is desired to substitute fresh roll
! 10 web 10 for web 9 in a manner to provide an unbroken web feed
to nip 2. This is accomplished by splicing the webs together
and severing web 9 behind the splice.
.~ For this purpose, and in the embodiment shown in .
the drawings, splicer assemblies 14 and 15 are provided for .
' 15 each respective paper roll 3, 4. Assembly 15... comprises a ..
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carriage 16 having a pair of blocks 1? mounted for movement
along a pair of threaded shafts 18, which in turn are rotatably
driven ln synchronism by a reversible motor 19 actuated by a
switch 20. Carriage 16 carries roller followers 21 adapted -
20 to follow fixed cam tracks 22 having-horizontal outer portions .- -
23 whlch merge into inclined portions 24 having.vertical inner
: end portions 25. Only one block 17, shaft 18 and cam
arrangement for assembly 15 are shown. Carriage 16 carries .-
a pair of spaced rolls, with roll 26 compxising an idler roll ~ ~.
and roll 27 comprising a splice sealer roll normally positioned
; on the far side o~ roll 26 remote from paper roll 3. Splice
. sealer roll 27 is provided with a lon~itudinal slot 28 on
its surface, and there is provided a unidirectional detent
mechanism comprising arcuate projections 29 on the .roll and
a spring biased pivotal arm 30 and stop 31 for purposes to be
described. See Figs. 2 and 5.
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A paper stop means is provided between rolls 26 and
27 and adjacent idler roll 26. For this purpose, and referring
to Figs. 2, ~ and 6, an elongated stop bar 32 is mounted to
carriage 16 parallel to roll 26, with bar 32 being movable
into and out of engagement with a parallel suppoxt 33 by
means of a control cylinder 34 connected to a suitable source
of pressurized fluid and actuatable by a lever 35. Under
normal conditions, stop bar 32 and support 33 are separated
by a space 36.
10In additionl a paper severing means is provided
between the paper stop means and splice sealer roll 27. For
this purpose, a longitudinal elongated web cut-off knife 37
is mounted to carriage 16 parallel to roll 27, with knife 37
being movable transversely by means of a control cylinder 38
connected to a suitable source of pressurized fluid and actuat-
able by a lever 39.
Splicer assembly 14 is substantially identical to
assembly 15 and like numbers with an "a" suffix have been
applied to the respective parts 16-39 and other in the drawings.
As can be seen, assembly 14 and its associated parts are
mounted in reversed opposed relationship to assembly 15.
During normal operation of the web handling machine,
both assemblies are positioned in spaced apart relationship on
shafts 18, 18a, with the assembly for the web of the running
roll in position as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, and the
other assembly moved back along its shafts such as at the end
; position as shown in phantom in Fig. 1, and tilted from its
working position.
As heretofore explained, it is desired to splice
fresh web 10 to web 9, and the procedure will now be described.
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. As shown in ~igs. 2-4, web 10 is manually pulled
from fresh roll 4, extended over idler roll 26 of assembly 15
and threaded through space 36 and past knife 37 and around
: over splice sealing roll 27. When sufficient paper has
been pulled through so that no wrinkles exist, lever 35
~ . is actuated to cause stop bar 32 to clamp the paper to support 33
- as shown in ~ig. 2, thus preventing web movement.in any direc-
tion. Adhesive is then applied to the forward.edge portion, ~
as by use of well-known transfer tape 40. The operator
then inserts a sharp instrument 41.in slot 28 in roll 27
- and by drawing it through the slot cuts the.leading edge of .--~
the web so that it is square. Other methods of web.cutting
and alignment may be utilizea. Fig. 3 shows tape 40 after
application to the web edge, and Fig. 4 shows the tape backing :~ -
15 being removed after web cut-off, .leaving the adhesive layer 42 :
.:, exposed. Stop bar 32 may then be released as shown in Fig. 5,
~ and with the web being manually held to the splice sealer
:~ roll 27, the latter is manually reversably indexed until
detent projection 29 engages arm 30.to stop roll 27. The .
2.0 leading web edge will then be accurately and automatically
7~ po$itioned for splicing after the assembly has been shifted. ~ ..
Stop bar 32 is then re-engaged. Switch 20 is then actuated ~. .
to cause motor 19 to move the entire assembly 15 to above .
:.~ paper roll 4 and into the ready-to-splice position. Movement.
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25 : of blocks 17 along shafts 18 and of followers 21 along cam
tracks 22 causes assembly 15 to pivot to the position sho.wn
~ in full lines in ~ig. 1. The configuration of cam tracks 22
. is such that assembly 15 will maintain its generally hori-
. zontal position until after it has cleared the top of roll 4, i
.30 at which time it quickly pivots to its more vertical position. ¦.
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With assembly 14 already being in the splice position with
web 9 extending there around, assembly 15 is brought up to
the ready-to-splice position so that its splice sealer
roll 27 is spaced slightly from splice sealer roll 27a of
assembly 14 with assemblies 14 and 15 diverging downwardly.
Adhesive layer 42 is now on the side of roll 27 facing
roll 27a.
The splice is now ready to be made.
Brake 7 is actuated to "full on" condition to bring
spent roll 3 to a stop as quickly as possible. At the same
time, independently and regardless of the adequacy of brake 7,
lever 35a is moved to clamp stop bar 32a to support 33a to stop
movement of web 9 at the splicer assembly 14. Carriage 16
for the new paper roll splicer assembly 15 is ~hen actuated
by switch 20, motor 19 and shafts 18 to bring splice sealer
roll 27 up tightly against splice sealer roll 27a to create
a high pressure splicing nip 43. See Fig. 6. The lead edge
of web 10 with adhesive 42 thereon will be pressed against
web 9 and confined between rolls 27 and 27a, to form the
splice.
Lever 39a is moved to activate knife 37a to sever
web 9 from spent paper roll 3 and upstream of nip 43. See
Fig. 6.
At about the same time, lever 35 is moved to release
stop bar 32 from fresh web 10.
Splicer carriage 16a, which is on the spent paper
roll side, is backed off to permit free run of the new web 10.
At the time of the splice between webs 9 and 10,
idler roll 11, which is upstream from accumulator dancer roll 12,
is ready to commence its inventive function.
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As shown in Fig. 1, and in accordance with one
aspect of the invention, idler roll 11 is provided with a
fixed shaft 44 which in turn is connected by a belt through
a clutch 45 to a drive motor 46. When a switch 47 is actuated,
5 clutch 45 will be engaged and driven by motor 46 to convert -
roll 11 to a capstan which accelerates the spliced web back -
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to line speed after splicing,old web severing and brake
release has occurred. This reduces the problem of run-out
of the accumulator dancer roll 12. As soon as the spliced
web has reached the normal line speed, switch 47 is actuated
to stop the action of clutch 45, and roll 11 returns to its
usual idling function.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention,
the capstan action of the clutched roll 11 causes a substan-
15 tial re-alignment of any misaligned web at or upstream of the
splicing device and prior to the web reaching the accumulator
dancing roll 12. Tearing and ripping of the web is sùb-
stantially reduced.
Spent paper roll 3 may then be replaced with a
fresh paper roll and, when paper roll 4 nears exhaustion, the
abovè described procedure is again followed, but with opposite
splicer assemblies performing opposite functions.
While various elements of the device have been
discloses as manually actuated, the elements would preferably
be actuated by a suitable automatic control mechanism for high
speed operation without departing from the spirit of the
invention.
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