Abstract:
A method for matching and splicing webs that splices, by use of splicing tape, a rear end of a strip-shaped flexible backing that is drawn and conveyed from an old roll and a front end of a strip-shaped flexible backing that is drawn and conveyed from a new roll, in a state in which the front end and the rear end are matched, wherein the method performs matching and splicing by executing: a preparation step of performing matching and splicing preparations by retaining a front end of a strip-shaped flexible backing of the new roll with one of a pair of cutting drums, and supplying splicing tape to a pair of splicing drums, respectively; a cutting step of cutting with the pair of cutting drums a strip-shaped flexible backing of the old roll and a strip-shaped flexible backing of the new roll in an overlapping state after the preparation step; a feeding step of feeding to a splicing position a rear end of the strip-shaped flexible backing of the old roll and a front end of the strip-shaped flexible backing of the new roll that are cut in the cutting step, as they are in a matched state; and a splicing step of using the pair of splicing drums to adhere and attach splicing tape to each of a front surface side and a rear surface side of a matching portion that is fed to a splicing position in the feeding step; wherein, in the preparation step, at least one of the pair of splicing drums is driven independently, and in the cutting step, the feeding step and the splicing step, the one of the pair of splicing drums is driven in synchrony with other drums.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for matching and splicing webs, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for matching and splicing webs that splices the ends of strip-shaped flexible backings (hereunder, referred to as “webs”) such as plastic, paper, or metallic foil.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     As disclosed in Japanese Examined Application Publication No. 49-12329, this type of apparatus for matching and splicing webs consists of a turret apparatus and a cutting and splicing unit for webs. The turret apparatus has a turret arm, and switches the positions of an old roll and a new roll that are pivotally supported at both ends of the turret arm to sequentially supply webs to the cutting and splicing unit. The cutting and splicing unit has a pair of cutting drums and a pair of splicing drums. It uses the cutting drums to cut the rear end of the web of the old roll that is being rewound and the front end of the web of the new roll for which rewinding is to be started while successively supplying the rolls, and after cutting it uses the splicing drums to splice the ends of the webs with splicing tape. According to this kind of splicing apparatus, it is possible to match and splice the ends of the web of the old roll and the web of the new roll while successively supplying the rolls.  
         [0005]     However, in a case where an emulsion is coated on the surface of the webs there is a problem that even if splicing tape is adhered and attached to the front surface side of the webs the splicing tape is liable to become unstuck from the webs. Therefore, a method for adhering and attaching matching portions of webs with splicing tape from the rear surface side has been proposed (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 50-84670). According to this method, splicing drums are disposed on both the front surface side and the rear surface side of webs, splicing tape is provided for each splicing drum, and the splicing tape is adhered to the matching portion of the webs by rotating these splicing drums in synchrony with the cutting drums.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     However, in the conventional splicing apparatus there is a problem that in order to rotate the drums in synchrony it is not possible to freely adjust the rotational position (posture) of each splicing drum, and therefore an operation to prepare splicing tape in each splicing drum is complicated. More specifically, although an operation to prepare splicing tape in the splicing drums is normally performed automatically by a tape supply apparatus, in a case where the drums are synchronized the rotational position of each splicing drum is already determined at the time of the preparation operation and therefore a case arises in which a tape supply apparatus can not be disposed, and there is thus a problem that the operator must supply splicing tape to the splicing drums manually.  
         [0007]     This invention was made in view of the foregoing situation, and an object of this invention is to provide an apparatus and method for matching and splicing webs that easily performs a preparation operation for supplying splicing tape to a pair of splicing drums.  
         [0008]     To attain the above object, a first aspect of the present invention provides a method for matching and splicing webs that splices, by use of splicing tape, a rear end of a strip-shaped flexible backing that is drawn and conveyed from an old roll and a front end of a strip-shaped flexible backing that is drawn and conveyed from a new roll, in a state in which the front end and the rear end are matched, wherein the method performs matching and splicing by executing: a preparation step of performing matching and splicing preparations by retaining a front end of a strip-shaped flexible backing of the new roll with one of a pair of cutting drums, and supplying splicing tape to a pair of splicing drums, respectively; a cutting step of cutting with the pair of cutting drums a strip-shaped flexible backing of the old roll and a strip-shaped flexible backing of the new roll in an overlapping state after the preparation step; a feeding step of feeding to a splicing position a rear end of the strip-shaped flexible backing of the old roll and a front end of the strip-shaped flexible backing of the new roll that are cut in the cutting step, as they are in a matched state; and a splicing step of using the pair of splicing drums to adhere and attach splicing tape to each of a front surface side and a rear surface side of a matching portion that is fed to a splicing position in the feeding step; wherein, in the preparation step, at least one of the pair of splicing drums is driven independently, and in the cutting step, the feeding step and the splicing step, the one of the pair of splicing drums is driven in synchrony with other drums.  
         [0009]     According to the invention set forth in the first aspect, since one of a pair of splicing drums is independently driven in the preparation step it is possible to supply splicing tape to that splicing drum from an arbitrary direction. Accordingly, an operation to prepare splicing tape on a splicing drum can be performed easily. Further, a splicing tape supply apparatus can be provided in an arbitrary direction of the splicing drum, and splicing tape can be automatically supplied.  
         [0010]     A second aspect of the present invention is in accordance with the invention set forth in the first aspect, wherein the one splicing drum is connected via a clutch mechanism to a main drive system that drives other drums, and the clutch mechanism switches between the independent driving and the synchronized driving.  
         [0011]     According to the invention set forth in the second aspect, it is possible to switch between independent driving and synchronized driving for one of the splicing drums by use of a clutch mechanism.  
         [0012]     A third aspect of the present invention is in accordance with the invention set forth in the first aspect, wherein the one splicing drum is driven by an independent drive system that is independent from a main drive system that drives other drums.  
         [0013]     According to the invention set forth in the third aspect, since one splicing drum can be driven independently from other drums, a rotational position of the one splicing drum can be freely adjusted.  
         [0014]     To attain the above described object, a fourth aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus for matching and splicing webs that splices, by use of splicing tape, a rear end of a strip-shaped flexible backing that is drawn and conveyed from an old roll and a front end of a strip-shaped flexible backing that is drawn and conveyed from a new roll, in a state in which the front end and the rear end are matched, comprising: a turret device that supports the old roll and the new roll in a drawnable condition and is rotatable at predetermined angles; a pair of cutting drums that cut a strip-shaped flexible backing of an old roll and a strip-shaped flexible backing of a new roll in an overlapping state by rotationally driving at the same speed as a conveying speed of the strip-shaped flexible backings at a time of a splicing operation; a pair of splicing drums that comprise a tape retaining part that retains the splicing tape and that, by rotationally driving at the same speed as a conveying speed of the strip-shaped flexible backings at a time of a splicing operation, adhere and attach the splicing tape from a front surface side and a rear surface side, respectively, to a matching portion of ends of the two strip-shaped flexible backings; a main drive system that synchronously drives other drums that exclude at least one splicing drum of the pair of splicing drums; and a switch drive device that drives the one splicing drum by switching between independent driving and synchronized driving with the main drive system.  
         [0015]     According to the invention set forth in the fourth aspect, since one splicing drum is switched between independent driving and synchronized driving, it is possible to drive the one splicing drum in synchrony with other drums to perform matching and splicing of strip-shaped flexible backings, and also to independently drive the one splicing drum to adjust a rotational position thereof to supply a splicing tape from an arbitrary direction.  
         [0016]     A fifth aspect of the present invention is in accordance with the invention set forth in claim  4 , wherein the switch drive device comprises a clutch mechanism that engages with or disconnects from the main drive system.  
         [0017]     According to the invention set forth in the fifth aspect, by employing a clutch mechanism to engage or disconnect one of the splicing drums with or from the main drive system, it is possible to switch between independent driving and synchronized driving.  
         [0018]     A sixth aspect of the present invention is in accordance with the invention set forth in the fourth aspect, wherein the switch drive device comprises an independent drive system that drives the one splicing drum independently from the main drive system; and a control device that controls so as to synchronize the main drive system and the independent drive system.  
         [0019]     According to the invention set forth in the sixth aspect, since one of the splicing drums can be driven independently from the other drums, the rotational position of the one splicing drum can be freely adjusted.  
         [0020]     According to this invention, since one of a pair of splicing drums can be independently driven, supply of splicing tape to that one splicing drum can be performed from an arbitrary direction and thus an operation to prepare splicing tape can be carried out easily.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  is an overall configuration diagram of an apparatus for matching and splicing webs according to an embodiment of this invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a configuration diagram of a cutting and splicing unit for explaining a splicing operation;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a configuration diagram of a cutting and splicing unit for explaining a splicing operation;  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a configuration diagram of a cutting and splicing unit for explaining a splicing operation;  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a configuration diagram of a cutting and splicing unit for explaining a splicing operation;  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a configuration diagram of a cutting and splicing unit for explaining a splicing operation;  
         [0027]      FIG. 7  is a configuration diagram of a cutting and splicing unit for explaining a splicing operation;  
         [0028]      FIG. 8  is a configuration diagram of a cutting and splicing unit for explaining a splicing operation;  
         [0029]      FIG. 9  is a configuration diagram of a cutting and splicing unit for explaining a splicing operation;  
         [0030]      FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram that illustrates a drum drive system;  
         [0031]      FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram that illustrates the configuration of a tape supply apparatus; and  
         [0032]      FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram that illustrates a drum drive system that is different to the system illustrated in  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0033]     Hereunder, preferred embodiments of the apparatus and method for matching and splicing webs according to this invention will be described in accordance with the attached drawings.  
         [0034]      FIG. 1  is an overall configuration diagram of an apparatus for matching and splicing webs according to an embodiment of this invention. As shown in the figure, a splicing apparatus  10  mainly consists of a turret apparatus  12  and a cutting and splicing unit  14 .  
         [0035]     The turret apparatus  12  has a turret arm  16 , and this turret arm  16  is provided in a rotatable condition on a columnar support  18  with a shaft  20  as a pivot. An old roll  24  for which rewinding of a web  22  is being completed is rotatably supported via a shaft  26  at one end of the turret arm  16 , and a new roll  28  for which rewinding of a web  32  is to be started is rotatably supported via a shaft  30  at the other end of the turret arm  16 . After being rewound from the old roll  24 , the web  22  that is wound on the old roll  24  is transferred into contact with the guide roller  33  and guided to the cutting and splicing unit  14 .  
         [0036]     The cutting and splicing unit  14  comprises a cutting drum  36 , a cutting and splicing drum (corresponds to cutting drum)  38 , a front surface splicing drum  40 , and a rear surface splicing drum  42 . The respective drums  36 ,  38 ,  40  and  42  are provided in a machine casing  44 .  
         [0037]     The web  22  from the aforementioned old roll  24  is passed between the cutting drum  36  and cutting and splicing drum  38  and between the front surface splicing drum  40  and rear surface splicing drum  42 . After being guided by the guide roller  34 , the web  22  is fed to a shock absorber (not shown) that buffers fluctuations in the tensile force or speed of the web  22 . In contrast, after the front end of the web  32  of the new roll  28  is conveyed as far as the position of the cutting and splicing unit  14 , it is attached to the cutting drum  36  to await completion of the splicing preparations.  
         [0038]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a cutter  46  is provided at a peripheral portion of the cutting drum  36 . The cutter  46  is attached in a state in which it protrudes by only a predetermined amount from the peripheral surface of the cutting drum  36 . Further, to improve cutting sharpness, the cutter  46  is attached at a predetermined angle of inclination θ with respect to the width direction of the cutting drum  36  (i. e. the width direction of webs  22  and  32 ). A cutting portion  48  is provided in the cutting and splicing drum  38  at a position at which the cutter  46  contacts therewith, and the web  22  and the web  32  are cut with the cutting portion  48  and the cutter  46  by overlaying and inserting the web  22  and the web  32  at that position.  
         [0039]     A flat portion is provided on the surface of the cutting drum  36 , and air holes  50 ,  50  are formed in this flat portion. The air holes  50 ,  50  communicate with an internal space  52 A of a rotating hollow shaft  52  via an air hole  54 . The internal space  52 A communicates with an unshown suction apparatus. By driving this suction apparatus a suction force acts through the air holes  50 ,  50  so that the vicinity of the front end of the web  32  is attached to and retained by the air holes  50 ,  50 . At a peripheral portion of the cutting drum  36 , an ejection hole  56  is formed at a position that is on the downstream side in the rotational direction with respect to the cutter  46 . This ejection hole  56  communicates with an internal space  52 B of the rotating hollow shaft  52  via an air hole  58 . The internal space  52 B communicates with an unshown air supply apparatus, and air is ejected from the ejection hole  56  by driving this air supply apparatus. It is therefore possible to separate from the cutting drum  36  a cutting remainder  32 B (i. e. the end on the front end side of the web  32  after cutting; see  FIG. 8 ) that remains after cutting the web  32 .  
         [0040]     The aforementioned cutting portion  48  is provided at a peripheral portion of the cutting and splicing drum  38 , and a suction hole  60  is disposed on the downstream side in the rotational direction of the cutting portion  48 . The suction hole  60  communicates with a rotating hollow shaft  64  via an air hole  62 , and the rotating hollow shaft  64  is connected to an unshown suction apparatus. Accordingly, driving this suction apparatus causes a suction force to work through the suction hole  60 , and a cutting remainder  22 B (i. e. the end on the rear end side of the web  22  after cutting; see  FIG. 8 ) to be described later can thus be attracted to and retained on the suction hole  60 .  
         [0041]     A plurality of air intake holes  66 ,  66  are formed at a peripheral portion of the front surface splicing drum  40 . The air intake holes  66  communicate with a rotating hollow shaft  70  via an air hole  68 , and the rotating hollow shaft  70  is connected to an unshown suction apparatus. Accordingly, by driving the suction apparatus a suction force works through the air intake holes  66 ,  66  such that a splicing tape  72  can be attracted to and retained at the air intake holes  66 ,  66 . The splicing tape  72  is automatically supplied by a tape supply apparatus  74  shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0042]     A plurality of air intake holes  76 ,  76  are formed at a peripheral portion of the rear surface splicing drum  42 . The air intake holes  76  communicate with a rotating hollow shaft  80  via an air hole  78 , and the rotating hollow shaft  80  is connected to an unshown suction apparatus. Accordingly, by driving the suction apparatus, a suction force works through the air intake holes  76 ,  76  such that a splicing tape  82  can be attracted to and retained at the air intake holes  76 ,  76 . The splicing tape  82  is automatically supplied by a tape supply apparatus  84  shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0043]     A guide member  88  is provided within the cutting and splicing unit  14 . The guide member  88  guides the webs  22  and  32  to a splicing position after cutting. By means of the guide member  88 , the rear end of the web  22  and the front end of the web  32  after cutting can be fed to the splicing position in a condition that maintains a state in which the two ends are matched. In this connection, an arc-shaped guide surface of the guide member  88  is coated with a fluorocarbon resin or the like so that there is little frictional resistance with respect to the webs  22  and  32 .  
         [0044]     As shown in FIGS.  2  to  8 , the above described cutting drum  36 , cutting and splicing drum  38 , front surface splicing drum  40 , and rear surface splicing drum  42  can be rotationally driven in synchrony. Further, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the rear surface splicing drum  42  can be rotated independently from the other drums  36 ,  38  and  40 . Hereunder, the drive system of each of the drums  36 ,  38 ,  40  and  42  is described based on  FIG. 10 .  
         [0045]     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the cutting drum  36 , the cutting and splicing drum  38  and the front surface splicing drum  40  are connected to a main drive system  90 , and are rotationally driven in synchrony by the main drive system  90 . The main drive system  90  is configured to rotationally drive the drums  36 ,  38  and  40  in synchrony by, for example, connecting a single motor to the drums  36 ,  38  and  40  via a timing belt or a gear.  
         [0046]     In contrast, the rear surface splicing drum  42  is connected to the main drive system  90  via a clutch mechanism  92  that consists of an electromagnetic clutch or the like. Connecting and disconnecting of the power transmission path between the main drive system  90  and the rear surface splicing drum  42  is performed by the clutch mechanism  92 . For example, a one position tooth clutch that engages at only one rotational position is used for the clutch mechanism  92 . Use of this kind of clutch mechanism makes it is possible to connect the rear surface splicing drum  42  to the main drive system  90  for synchronized driving with the other drums  36 ,  38  and  40 , or to disconnect the rear surface splicing drum  42  from the main drive system  90  to independently rotate the rear surface splicing drum  42 . A driving apparatus  94  that can arbitrarily adjust the rotational position (posture) of the rear surface splicing drum  42  is connected thereto. By means of the driving apparatus  94 , the posture of the rear surface splicing drum  42  can be adjusted between a standby position (see  FIG. 2 ) and a tape preparation position (see  FIG. 9 ) to be described later. Accordingly, it is possible to dispose the rear surface splicing drum  42  at the tape preparation position to perform a preparation operation by supplying the splicing tape  82  from the tape supply apparatus  84 , and it is also possible to dispose the rear surface splicing drum  42  at the standby position to drive the rear surface splicing drum  42  in synchrony with the other drums  36 ,  38  and  40 .  
         [0047]     Next, the structure of the tape supply apparatus  84  will be described based on  FIG. 11 . In this connection, the tape supply apparatus  74  is configured in the same manner as the tape supply apparatus  84 , and a description thereof is thus omitted here.  
         [0048]     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the tape supply apparatus  84  has a reel  102  within a main body  100 , and a lengthy splicing tape  82  is mounted in a wound state around the reel  102 . The splicing tape  82  is wound in a state in which it is attached to a strippable paper carrier  104 , and is fed forward from the reel  102  by rotationally driving feed rollers  106 ,  106 . After passing a guide roller  108  and the feed rollers  106 ,  106 , the splicing tape  82  that is fed forward from the reel  102  passes a cutter  110  to be fed to a stripping plate  112 . The strippable paper carrier  104  is stripped off by the stripping plate  112  so that the splicing tape  82  is supplied to the surface of the rear surface splicing drum  42 . After being stripped off, the strippable paper carrier  104  is fed forward by rotationally driving feed rollers  114 ,  114 , and is guided by guide rollers  116  and  118  to be wound up by a reel  120 .  
         [0049]     The main body  100  of the tape supply apparatus  84  as described above is freely moveable in the axial direction of the rear surface splicing drum  42 , and is moved by driving an unshown driving apparatus. As a result, the splicing tape  82  can be supplied in an axial direction of the rear surface splicing drum  42 .  
         [0050]     Next, a method for matching and splicing the webs  22  and  32  using the splicing apparatus  10  that is configured as described above will be explained on the basis of FIGS.  2  to  8 .  
         [0051]     First, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the apparatus is put in a standby state for a splicing operation. More specifically, operations are performed so that the front surface splicing drum  40  and the rear surface splicing drum  42  retain the splicing tapes  72  and  82 , respectively, and the front end of the web  32  of the new roll  28  is held by the cutting drum  36 . After the apparatus has entered the standby state, the clutch mechanism  92  shown in  FIG. 10  is put in a state in which it connects the main drive system  90  and the rear surface splicing drum  42 .  
         [0052]     In this state, delivery of the web  22  from the old roll  24  is continued, and when the rear end of the web  22  appears, the main drive system  90  is driven to start rotation of the drums  36 ,  38 ,  40  and  42 . By driving each of the drums  36 ,  38 ,  40  and  42  to perform one rotation in synchrony, matching and splicing is performed as shown in sequence in  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 8 . Hereunder, the situation in each diagram will be described.  
         [0053]      FIG. 3  shows a situation in which the webs  22  and  32  are first nipped by the cutting drum  36  and the cutting and splicing drum  38 . By further rotating the cutting drum  36  and the cutting and splicing drum  38  from this situation, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the webs  22  and  32  are pinched and cut between the cutter  46  and the cutting portion  48  in an overlapping state. Thereby, a matching portion is formed in which the rear end of the web  22  and the front end of the web  32  after cutting are associated together.  
         [0054]     At the time of cutting as shown in  FIG. 4 , the web  22  is nipped by the cutting and splicing drum  38  and the front surface splicing drum  40 , and by rotation of these drums  38  and  40  the matching portion is sent out from the cutting position. At this time, by ejection of air from the ejection hole  56  of the cutting drum  36  the matching portion is sent between the guide member  88  and the cutting and splicing drum  38 . The matching portion is then fed to the splicing position shown in  FIG. 5  by guidance of the guide member  88 . During this time, the cutting remainder  32 B that was generated on the front end side of the web  32  is held by suction on the air holes  50  of the cutting drum  36  and rotates together with the cutting drum  36 , and as shown in  FIG. 5 , is removed from the conveying path of the webs  22  and  32 .  
         [0055]      FIG. 5  shows a situation in which, while the matching portion of the webs  22  and  32  is nipped by the cutting and splicing drum  38  and the front surface splicing drum  40 , the splicing tape  72  that is held on the splicing drum  40  is attached to the front surface side of the matching portion. Thus, the webs  22  and  32  are spliced in a state in which their respective ends are associated together. At this time, by performing suction from the suction hole  60  of the cutting and splicing drum  38 , the cutting remainder  22 B on the rear end side of the web  22  is retained by suction on the cutting and splicing drum  38 . Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the cutting remainder  22 B is separated from the web  32  by rotation of the cutting and splicing drum  38 .  
         [0056]      FIG. 6  shows a situation in which, while the web  32  is nipped by the front surface splicing drum  40  and the cutting and splicing drum  38 , the web  22  has begun to be nipped by the front surface splicing drum  40  and the rear surface splicing drum  42 . By further rotating the front surface splicing drum  40  and the rear surface splicing drum  42  from this situation, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the splicing tape  82  that was held on the rear surface splicing drum  42  is attached to the rear surface side of the matching portion. Thus, since the splicing tapes  72  and  82  are attached to the front surface side and rear surface side, respectively, of the matching portion of the webs  22  and  32 , the webs  22  and  32  are matched and spliced in a firm manner.  
         [0057]     After matching and splicing of the webs  22  and  32  ends, as shown in  FIG. 8 , each of the drums  36 ,  38 ,  40  and  42  returns to its original position (i. e. the standby position of  FIG. 2 ) and stops. The cutting remainders  22 B and  32 B are then removed and a preparation operation is performed for the next splicing.  
         [0058]     In the preparation operation, the front end of a new web is placed in a condition in which it is held by the cutting drum  36 , and the splicing tapes  72  and  82  are supplied to and held by the front surface splicing drum  40  and the rear surface splicing drum  42 , respectively. At that time, in the splicing completed state as shown in  FIG. 8 , the air intake holes  76  of the rear surface splicing drum  42  face the guide roller  34  side and it is thus not possible to supply and retain a new splicing tape  82 .  
         [0059]     Therefore, after releasing the connection between the main drive system  90  and the rear surface splicing drum  42  using the clutch mechanism  92  as shown in  FIG. 10 , the rear surface splicing drum  42  shown in  FIG. 8  is rotated 90° in the anticlockwise direction by the driving apparatus  94  to thereby dispose the rear surface splicing drum  42  at the tape preparation position as shown in  FIG. 9 . In this tape preparation position the air intake holes  76  face upward, that is, the air intake holes  76  are in a state in which they face the direction of the tape supply apparatus  84 , and it is thus possible to supply a new splicing tape  82  from the tape supply apparatus  84  and retain it on the rear surface splicing drum  42 .  
         [0060]     After retaining the splicing tape  82 , the rear surface splicing drum  42  is rotated in the clockwise direction by the driving apparatus  94  so that it is moved to the standby position shown in  FIG. 2 . This standby position is a reference position for synchronizing the rear surface splicing drum  42  with the other drums  36 ,  38  and  40 . Synchronized driving can be carried out by rotating the rear surface splicing drum  42  simultaneously with the other drums  36 ,  38  and  40  from this position, enabling precise performance of the above described splicing operation.  
         [0061]     In this connection, in the front surface splicing drum  40 , since the position of the air intake holes  66  faces the direction of the tape supply apparatus  74  in the splicing completed state as shown in  FIG. 8 , the splicing tape  72  can be supplied from the tape supply apparatus  74  in that state and retained thereon.  
         [0062]     As described in the foregoing, according to the present embodiment, the rear surface splicing drum  42  and the main drive system  90  are connected through the clutch mechanism  92 , and connecting and disconnecting of the rear surface splicing drum  42  and the main drive system  90  can be performed using the clutch mechanism  92 . It is therefore possible to select between synchronized driving in which the rear surface splicing drum  42  is rotated in synchrony with the other drums  36 ,  38  and  40 , and independent driving in which the rear surface splicing drum  42  is driven independently. Accordingly, by independently driving the rear surface splicing drum  42  at the time of a supply operation for supplying the splicing tape  82  to the rear surface splicing drum  42 , the splicing tape  82  can be supplied from an arbitrary direction. Hence, it is possible to dispose the tape supply apparatus  84  in an arbitrary direction and to automatically supply the splicing tape  82 .  
         [0063]     Although the above described embodiment was configured to connect the rear surface splicing drum  42  and the main drive system  90  via the clutch mechanism  92 , and to switch between independent driving and synchronized driving of the rear surface splicing drum  42  by means of the clutch mechanism  92 , the configuration of the drive mechanism is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in  FIG. 12 , a configuration may be adopted in which an independent drive system  96  is provided that rotates the rear surface splicing drum  42  independently from the main drive system  90 , and the independent drive system  96  and the main drive system  90  are controlled by a control apparatus  98 . The independent drive system  96  can set the rotational speed and rotational position of the rear surface splicing drum  42  independently and separately from the main drive system  90 , and rotation of the rear surface splicing drum  42  can thus be started at a different timing to the other drums  36 ,  38  and  40 , or can be slowed down at a different timing to the other drums  36 ,  38  and  40 .  
         [0064]     When configured as described above, after the rear surface splicing drum  42  is supplied with the splicing tape  82  in the tape preparation position, it stands by in that position. Then, after rotation of the other drums  36 ,  38  and  40  starts, rotation of the rear surface splicing drum  42  is controlled so that it starts to rotate a little later than the other drums so that it rotates in synchrony with the other drums  36 ,  38  and  40 . As a result, the splicing operations as shown in  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 7  are performed. After the splicing operations, the rear surface splicing drum  42  is slowed down later than the other drums  36 ,  38  and  40  and stopped at the tape preparation position. Thus, the splicing tape  82  can be supplied to the rear surface splicing drum  42  by the tape supply apparatus  84 . Further, by delaying the timing for decelerating the rear surface splicing drum  42 , it is possible to prevent the rear surface splicing drum  42 , which is the most liable to rub against the web  32 , from rubbing against the web  32 , to thereby control the generation of dust.  
         [0065]     Although in the above described embodiment a configuration was adopted that can switch between independent driving and synchronized driving to drive the rear surface splicing drum  42 , the present invention is not limited thereto, and a configuration may also be adopted in which the front surface splicing drum  40  is driven by switching between independent driving and synchronized driving.