Patent ID: 7836933
Filing Date: 2010-11-23
Classification: B29C,B29L,B65H

Abstract:
1. A splicer for splicing two fiber strips, an end of one of the fiber strips from an ending reel to a start of the other of the fiber strips from a stand-by reel, comprising: a frame; a guide mounted on the frame; two opposing modules, each movably mounted on the guide; two linear actuators, one of each of the actuators associated with one of each of the modules, for moving the modules into and out of splicing engagement with each other; two heater means, one of each of the heaters mounted in one of each of the modules for heating the fiber strips during splicing; two cutting blades, one of each of the cutting blades movably mounted in one of each of the modules, for cutting the one of the fiber strips from the ending reel during splicing; two opposing bases, one of each of the bases mounted on one of each of the modules, each of the bases having a front-side protrusion which faces the opposing base; two supports, one of each of the supports tiltably mounted on one of each of the bases; two catches, one of each of the catches mounted in one of each of the supports, for holding the start of the other of the fiber strips from the stand-by roll and for releasing the start when the front-side protrusion engages one of the catches; a block movably mounted on the frame, the block movably mounted below the modules, the block having two upward faces, one of each of the faces for supporting one of each of the modules; and two elastic dollies, one of each of the dollies mounted on one of each of the upward faces of the block, such that when the block moves into engagement with the modules and the modules are moved into engagement with each other, the cutting blades are aligned with the dollies, the fiber strips are positioned between the modules and between the upward faces of the block and the modules for splicing, and one of the front-side protrusions engages one of the catches to release the start of the other of the fiber strips.