Patent ID: 6228205
Filing Date: 2001-05-08
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
An apparatus for forming a splice between the trailing end of an expiring web of material which is advanced along a path of travel, and the leading end of a new web of material, and comprisinga frame including a support plate having a generally flat upper surface for supporting a web of material thereon as it is advanced along the path of travel,clamp means mounted on the frame to selectively clamp the advancing web of material onto the upper surface of the support plate to stop the advance thereof,a web severing mechanism mounted to the frame for transverse movement across the upper surface of the support plate to transversely sever the stopped web of material and thereby form a trailing end, said web severing mechanism including a cutting wheel positioned to sever the stopped web, and a drive wheel coaxially and rotatably connected to said cutting wheel and positioned to roll across the portion of the stopped web of material resting upon the upper surface of said support plate as the web severing mechanism moves transversely across the support plate to thereby rotate the cutting wheel,a drive for reciprocating the web severing mechanism transversely across the upper surface of the support plate, and which includes a drive cylinder mounted below said support plate and a bracket plate extending through a transverse slot in the support plate along which the web severing mechanism is adapted to move, with the bracket plate interconnecting said drive cylinder and said web severing mechanism,a new web holding assembly for releasably supporting a leading end portion of a new web of material thereon, with the leading end portion of the new web of material including a leading end which is located in a predetermined initial position with respect to the assembly,means mounting the new web holding assembly on the frame for movement between a raised position wherein the leading end of the new web of material is in spaced relation above the trailing end of the stopped web, and a lowered position wherein the new web rests on the upper surface of the support plate and is linearly aligned with the stopped web,drive means for selectively moving the new web holding assembly between the raised and lowered positions,whereby the trailing and leading ends of the webs may be interconnected by means of an interconnecting member when the new web holding assembly is moved to said lowered position.