Patent ID: 6397915
Filing Date: 2002-06-04
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
An apparatus for supplying sealing film for a blister band to a splicing station (10) comprising:a drum (8) rotating about a horizontal axle (41) and having a plurality of carriers (7) arranged along its periphery for receiving reels (6,6s,6a) of films (1,1s,1a); a station (10) for splicing the film (1s) coming from a running out reel (6s), situated in an unrolling position (S), with a film to be spliced (1a) coming from a replacement reel (6a) situated in a waiting position (A); means (25) for preparing a leader end of the film (1a) coming from the replacement reel (6a) in the region of the splicing station (10); means (20) allowing and determining a rotation of the drum (8) about a vertical axis, means (40) for automatic adjustment of the axial movement of the drum carrier axis upon a size change of the blister band to be closed with said film (1), and means (40,51,52) for control and automatic adjustment of lateral offset of the sealing film; said means (25) for preparing a leader end of the film (1a) including: a pair of holding-driving rollers (16,17) located close to each of the carriers (7) for said reels (6,6s,6a) to hold the film (1a) before placing the respective reel in a waiting position (A) and to drag the film, with the reel in said waiting position (A), to the splicing device (10); means (30) operating said holding-driving rollers (16,17) and acting selectively on the pair of said holding-driving rollers (16,17) situated in said waiting position (A); a plate (5), shifting transversely with respect to the film unrolling direction and aimed at keeping apart the film (1a) unrolled from the replacement reel (6a), situated in said waiting position (A), from the film (1s) coming from the running out reel (6s), situated in said unrolling position (S) before the splicing, and at shifting, so as to allow the replacement film (6a) to move from the waiting position (A) to an unrolling position (S) after the splicing, due to one step rotation of the drum (8).