Patent ID: 7819356
Filing Date: 2010-10-26
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. A method of connecting a strip-like material, comprising: providing two supply support portions, each of which supports a plurality of supply apparatuses of a strip-like material on a support shaft thereof, said two supply support portions each including an awaiting portion on the front side thereof to which a start end portion of the strip-like material is drawn out; supplying a strip-like material from a first supply apparatus from a first one of said two supply support portions; drawing out the start end portion of the strip-like material of a second supply apparatus of the first one of said two supply support portions to a position above said awaiting portion of the first one of said two supply support portions, while the strip-like material is being transported from the first supply apparatus of the first one of said two supply support portions; detecting a presence of a terminal end of the strip-like material from said first supply apparatus of the first one of said two supply support portions on a receiving base; temporarily stopping supply of the strip-like material from the first supply apparatus of the first one of said two supply support portions when a terminal end of the strip-like material from the first supply apparatus of the first one of said two supply support portions is detected on said receiving base; during the temporary stopping, carrying a start end portion of a strip-like material from the second supply apparatus of the first one of said two supply support portions to said receiving base using a hand apparatus; connecting the start end portion of the strip-like material from the second supply apparatus of the first one of said two supply support portions to the terminal end portion of the strip-like material from the first supply apparatus of the first one of said two supply support portions; detecting a presence of a terminal end of the strip-like material from a final supply apparatus of the first one of said two supply support portions on said receiving base; temporarily stopping supply of the strip-like material from the final supply apparatus of the first one of said two supply support portions when a terminal end of the strip-like material from the final supply apparatus of the first one of said two supply support portions is detected on said receiving base; during the temporary stopping, carrying a start end portion of a strip-like material from a first supply apparatus of a second one of said two supply support portions to said receiving base using a hand apparatus; and connecting the start end portion of the strip-like material from the first supply apparatus of the second one of said two supply support portions to the terminal end portion of the strip-like material from the final supply apparatus of the first one of said two supply support portions, wherein said two supply support portions are disposed such that one of the two supply support portions is in front of the other, in the transporting direction, and wherein said receiving base is disposed in front of said two supply support portions, in the transporting direction.