Film splicer

Abstract: A film splicer for connecting a first film (12) and a second film (15) to each other includes a pair of rolls (11, 14) of said films (12, 15) wherein the film splicer comprises further a) a pair of rods (122, 125) disposed advanceably and retreatably and mounted to form a preset angle, b) a pair of heater-receiving rollers (123, 126) each rotatably supported at corresponding one of said rods (122, 125) for alternately transporting the first film (12) and the second film (15), and c) a pair of sealing and cutting heaters (110, 111) each disposed in an opposed relation to corresponding one of said heater-receiving rollers (122, 125) and each including a heater and a cutter, d) said heater-receiving rollers (123, 126) being adapted to clamp both the films (12, 15) between the heater-receiving rollers (123, 126) themselves and said sealing and cutting heaters (110, 111), when said rods (122, 125) are advanced.

Description: BACKGROUND ART In a prior art film splicer, a predetermined number of packages, after being filled with a content and transported from a filling machine, are collected in a packed pattern and wrapped with a thermally-shrinkalle film, e. g., a polyethylene film. In this case, the film is formed into a continuous configuration and wound into a roll of film which is set on a feeder. Then, the film delivered from the feeder is continuously fed to a shrinking machine, where the film is cut into a length required for use in wrapping. If the roll of film is emptied of film during continuous wrapping, a second roll of film (which will be referred to as a new roll hereinafter) is set on the feeder, and a second film is delivered from the new roll. However, the wrapping of the packages is continuously conducted in the shrinking machine and therefore, the prior art film splicer is of a construction such that a portion of the second film in the new roll near its leading end can be connected to a portion of the first film near its trailing end delivered from the first roll of film (which will be an old roll hereinafter) and thus, continuously supplied to the shrinking machine. Fig. 1 is a diagram for explaining the operation of a prior art film splicer, wherein Fig. 1a illustrates a state before the connection, and Fig. 1b illustrates a state after the connection. In Fig. 1, reference numeral 11 is an old roll; reference numeral 12 is a first film delivered from the old roll by a feeder which is not shown; reference numeral 14 is a new roll; and reference numeral 15 is a second film delivered from the new roll 14 by the feeder which is not shown. While the first film 12 is being delivered from the old roll 11, the new roll 14 is previously set on the feeder, as shown in Fig. 1a, and the positioning of a leading end of the second film 15 is conducted. Reference numeral 18 is a ultrasonic sensor disposed on a transporting path for each of the films 12 and 15 for detecting a portion of each delivered film 12, 15 near a trailing end thereof; reference numerals 20 and 21 are a pair of heaters disposed in an opposed relation to each other for movement toward and away from each other. If the ultrasonic sensor 18 detects a portion of the first film near its trailing end, a control unit which is not shown allows the heaters 20 and 21 to be moved. The heaters 20 and 21 clamp and heat the portion of the first film 12 near its trailing end and the portion of the second film near its leading end to perform a heat-sealing of them at a connection point a , as shown in Fig. 1b. In this manner, the second film 15 can be connected with the first film 12. Reference numeral 12a is a residual portion formed rearwardly of the connection point a of the first film 12. In the prior art film splicer, however, when the second film 15 is to be connected with the first film 12, the control unit starts the movement of the heaters 20 and 21 at a timing such that the portion of the first film 12 near its trailing end is passed through the ultrasonic sensor 18, thereby performing such connection. However, the amount of first film 12 delivered varies depending upon the packed pattern of the collected packages and for this reason, it is difficult to position the portion of the first film 12 near its trailing end between the heaters 20 and 21 in conducting the heat sealing, and a residual portion 12a may be formed rearwardly of the connection point a , as described above. If the second film 15 is delivered with the residual portion remaining formed, a machine used at a next step is not normally operative. Thereupon, before the residual portion enters the machine used at the next step, it is necessary to stop the machine and remove the residual portion. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a film splicer, wherein the problems associated with the prior art film splicer are overcome, and in connecting the first film in the old roll and the second film in the new roll with each other, a residual portion cannot be formed rearwardly of the connection point of the first film, and the machine used at the next step need not be stopped. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, 'there is provided a film splicer in which two rolls of films are alternately set, and a portion of the first film near its trailing end delivered or unwound from one of the rolls of films is connected with a portion of the second film of the other roll of film near its leading end, the film splicer comprising a pair of rods disposed advanceably and retreatably and mounted to form a preset angle, a pair of heater-receiving rollers each rotatably supported at corresponding one of the rods for alternately transporting the first and second films, and a pair of sealing and cutting heaters each disposed in an opposed relation to corresponding one of the heater-receiving rollers and each including a heater, a cutter and holding means the heater-receiving rollers being adapted to clamp both the films between the heater-receiving rollers themselves and the sealing and cutting heaters, when the rods are advanced. With such construction, the film rolls can be set at locations other than the heater-receiving rollers and the sealing and cutting heaters and therefore, it is easy to set the film rolls. Advantageously, the sealing and cutting heater includes a cutter centrally provided at a tip end thereof, and heaters provided on opposite sides of the cutter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a diagram for explaining the operation of a prior art film splicer; Fig. 2 is a front view of a feeder in a film splicer according to the present invention; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of an essential portion of the film splicer according to the present invention; Fig. 4 is a view illustrating the film splicer according to the present invention in a first state; Fig. 5 is a view illustrating the film splicer according to the present invention in a second state; and Fig. 6 is a view illustrating the film splicer according to the present invention in a third state. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The best mode for carrying out the present invention will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawings. In Fig 2, reference numeral 11 is an old roll; reference numeral 12 is a first film; reference numeral 14 is a new roll; and reference numeral 15 is a second film. Fig. 2 is a front view of a feeder in a film splicer according to the present invention; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of an essential portion of the film splicer according to the present invention; Fig. 4 illustrates the film splicer according to the present invention in a first state; Fig. 5 illustrates the film splicer according to the present invention in a second state; and Fig. 6 illustrates the film splicer according to the present invention in a third state. Referring to these Figures, an upper roll rest 26 and a lower roll rest 27 are disposed on a feeder frame 25. The first and second rolls 26 and 27 have sliders 29 and 30, respectively. The slider 29 is horizontally drawably supported by the frame 25 with slide bearings 32 and 33 interposed therebetween, while the slider 30 is horizontally drawably supported by the frame 25 with slide bearings 34 and 35 interposed therebetween. L-shaped support members 38 and 40 are fixed'to the sliders 29 and 30, respectively. Each of the L-shaped support members 38 and 40 comprises a horizontal portion and a vertical portion. The horizontal portion has a shape slightly inclined downwardly toward the vertical portion. Therefore, when an old roll 11 and a new'roll 14 are placed on the horizontal portions respectively, each of roll pins 11a and 14a is moved by gravity to a connection between the horizontal and vertical portions, so that each of the rolls 11 and 14 can be set in a stable state. Moreover, it is easy to set each of the rolls 11 and 14. It should be noted that for convenience, the new roll 14 is set on the upper roll rest 26, while the old roll 11 is set on the lower roll rest 27, but after all the first film 12 in the old roll 11 is used, a next new roll 14 may be set on the lower roll rest 27. The first and second films 12 and 15 delivered from the old and new rolls 11 and 14 are passed through guide rollers 51, 52, 102 and 103 to a splicing section 101. The guide rollers 51 and 102 are fixed to the slider 29, while the guide rollers 52 and 103 are fixed to the slider 30 through a support base 104. Thus, in the splicing section 101, a heater which is not shown clamp and heat a portion of the first film 12 near its trailing end and a portion of the second film 15 near its leading end to heat-seal them at a connection point which is not shown. In this manner, the first and second films 12 and 15 can be connected to each other. A residual portion of the first film in rear of the connection point is cut away by a cutter which is not shown. The first film 12 with the residual portion cut away therefrom and the second film 15 which have been heat-sealed are then passed through a feed roller 57 rotated by a feed motor 56 and a dancer roller 58 to a machine (not shown) used at a next step. Reference numeral 60 is a control board for controlling the splicing section 101 and the like. As shown in Fig. 10, a sealing and cutting heater 110 and a heater receiver 113 are mounted to.a lower surface of the slider 29 in an obliquely downwardly directed manner, while a sealing and cutting heater 111 and a heater receiver 114 are mounted to an upper surface of the support base 104 in an obliquely downwardly directed manner. The sealing and cutting heater 110 and the heater receiver 113 are opposed to each other, while the sealing and cutting heater 111 and the heater receiver 114 are opposed to each other. Each of he heater receivers 113 and 114 includes a pneumatic cylinder 120, 124, respectively, so that a rod 122, 125 may be advanced and. retreated by the pneumatic cylinder 120, 124, respectively. A pair of heater receiving rollers 123 and 126 are rotatably supported at tip ends of the rods 122, 125 for transporting the first and second films 12 and 15, respectively, thereby constituting a pair of clamping means. Each of the sealing and cutting heaters 110 and 111 includes a cutter and heaters provided on opposite sides of the cutter, as does the sealing and cutting heater 88. Thus, the heater receiving rollers 123 and 126 are advanced toward the cutters, and the films 12 and 15 are urged against the heater receiving rollers 123 and 126, thereby cutting the films 12 and 15. At this time, the heaters provided on the opposite sides of the cutters heats the films 12 and 15 to heat-seal them. The operation of the film splicer having the above-described construction will be described below. As shown in Fig. 4, while the first film 12 is being delivered from the old roll 11 (Fig. 3), the new roll 14 is previously set on the upper roll rest 26; the positioning of a leading end of the second film 15 is conducted, and a portion of the second film 15 near its leading end is laid over a film magazine 110a of the sealing and cutting heater 110. When a ultrasonic sensor which is not shown detects a portion of the first film near its trailing end, a control board 60 (Fig. 2) actuates the pneumatic cylinder 124 to advance the heater receiving roller 126. Subsequently, when the heater receiving roller 126 is urged against the sealing and cutting heater 110, as shown in Fig. 5, the sealing and cutting heater 110 heats and cuts the films 12 and 15 to heat-seal them. In this case, since the heaters are disposed adjacent the cutter, as described above, the first and second films 12 and 15 are connected to each other at a connection point which is not shown, while at the same time, a residual portion of the first film 12 is cut away. When the pneumatic cylinder 124 is then operated to retreat the heater receiving roller 126, as shown in Fig. 6, the second film 15 is delivered. The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, it will be understood that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention defined in claims. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As discussed above, the film splicer according to the present invention is useful in a system for collecting a predetermined number of packages in a packed pattern and wrapping them with a film.

Claims: Film splicer in which two rolls (11, 14) of films (12, 15) are alteernately set, and a portion of the first film (12) near its trailing end delivered or unwound from one of the rolls (11) of films is connected with a portion of the second film (15) of the other roll (14) of film near its leading end, said film splicer comprising a) a pair of rods (122, 125) disposed advanceably and retreatably and mounted to form a preset angle, b) a pair of heater-receiving rollers (123, 126) each rotatably supported at corresponding one of said rods (122, 125) for alternately transporting the first film (12) and the second film (15), and c) a pair of sealing and cutting heaters (110, 111) each disposed in an opposed relation to corresponding one of said heater-receiving rollers (122, 125) and each including a heater, a cutter and holding means, d) each of said heater-receiving rollers (123, 126) being adapted to clamp both said films (12, 15) between itself and its corresponding sealing and cutting heater (110, 111), when said rods (122, 125) are advanced. Film splicer as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, said sealing and cutting heater (110, 111) includes a cutter centrally provided at a tip end thereof, and heaters provided on opposite sides of said cutter.

Inventors: KANEKO YUTAKA, SATOYOSHI JUNICHI, KANEKO, YUTAKA, SATOYOSHI, JUNICHI
Applicants: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE, TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE SA
Application year: 1993
Main classification: B65H19
IPC codes: B65H19