Patent ID: 8061581

Claim:
A method of operating a connecting device ( 100 ) for connecting separate strips into an endless strip and said connecting device including: a first clamping device provided on an inlet side of the connecting device for clamping one separate strip, a second clamping device provided on an outlet side of the connecting device for clamping another separate strip, wherein the first clamping device and the second clamping device each have an upper clamp ( 110 -r, 110 -l), a lower clamp ( 120 -r, 120 -l), and means (H 1 , H 2 , H 3 ) for displacing the upper clamp ( 110 -r, 110 -l) and the lower clamp ( 120 -r, 120 -l) between an open position in which the strips can be freely displaced therebetween and a closed position in which the strips are clamped therebetween, and the first clamping device and the second clamping device each being formed as a separate unit releasably mountable into the connecting device, cutting means ( 155 ) located between the first clamping device and the second clamping device for cutting ends of the one strip and the another strip, joining means ( 183 ) for connecting the one strip and the another strip with each other, a frame, a first lifting and positioning device ( 400 ), a second lifting and positioning device ( 500 ), wherein both lifting and positioning devices ( 400 , 500 ) are supported on the frame for supporting the first clamping device and the second clamping device and for adjusting their respective height and lateral positions, the method comprising the steps of: opening the first clamping device and the second clamping device and introducing the strips ends in the first clamping device and the second clamping device, respectively, adjusting height and lateral positions of the first and second clamping devices with the first and second lifting and positioning devices, respectively, cutting the strip ends with the cutting means before displacement of the strips in a joining position, moving the first and second clamping devices in a strip joining position, and joining the strip ends.