Patent ID: 7022205

Claim:
An improved apparatus for forming a butt joint to join together the leading end of a web from a new roll of material to the trailing end of a web from an expiring roll of material for use with lightweight web materials, the web of the expiring roll being run downstream from the expiring roll under tension along a predetermined path of travel, the improved apparatus comprising: a. a splicer frame that includes at least one side member and at least one end member, the at least one side member operably connected to the at least one end member; b. an anvil operably connected to the splicer frame, at least one side of the anvil being disposed adjacent to the path of travel of the web from the new roll and the web of the expiring roll, the anvil having a cutting edge; c. at least one shear wheel assembly operably connected to the splicer frame, the at least one shear wheel assembly comprising a shear wheel, the shear wheel having a rotary cutting edge, the at least one shear wheel adapted to move along the anvil, the shear wheel assembly configured for movement from the proximity of an adjacent at least one side member to the proximity of another at least one side member, the rotary cutting edge adapted for movement along a path substantially parallel to the cutting edge; d. at least one drive cable, at least a portion of the at least one drive cable being threaded through the splicer frame, at least a portion of the at least one drive cable threaded through the splicer frame being wrapped around at least a portion of the shear wheel; and e. at least one cable terminator operably connected to the splicer frame, the at least one cable terminator configured to secure at least a portion of the at least one drive cable and to maintain tension on the at least one drive cable.