Patent ID: 6340130
Filing Date: 2002-01-22
Classification: B65H,Y10T

Abstract:
A foil supply apparatus for supplying foil material producing foil bags, comprising at least two motor-driven supply rolls each for supplying foil material with a supply capacity, a withdrawal means for withdrawing the respective foil material from the respective supply roll with a withdrawal capacity, and a respective consumption sensor arranged between the supply rolls and the withdrawal means, with the help of which the drive of the respective supply roll is controlled in dependency of the consumption of foil material wherein said foil materials are brought together downstream of said respective consumption sensors to seal said foil materials to each other, said consumption sensors each comprising:at least one stationary deflection roller configured to make rolling contact with the foil material, at least one movable sensor roller positioned a spacing distance from the at least one deflection roller, the sensor roller being configured to make rolling contact with the foil material and being movable under the force of gravity in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the stationary deflection roller such that the spacing distance changes in accordance with the difference between the supply capacity and the withdrawal capacity of the foil material and slack in the foil material is removed, a sensor means which senses the spacing distance and increases the speed of the drive of the respective supply roll when the spacing distance is smaller than a respective first predetermined distance, and which reduces the speed of the respective drive when a respective second predetermined distance is exceeded, a guide means along which the at least one sensor roller moves while the spacing distance is changed, the guide means being oriented in at least a substantially vertical orientation, a first signal for accelerating the drive when the spacing distance is smaller than the first predetermined distance, and a second signal for slowing but not stopping the drive when the spacing distance exceeds the second predetermined distance.