Patent ID: 7784374

Claim:
A carrier block assembly driven by a horizontally disposed threaded lead screw and supporting a splicing head assembly with a load bearing shaft of a splicing machine, said carrier block assembly comprising a separable, mating two part body structure defining separate body half structures, each said body half structure having an inside surface with a plurality of alternating lands and grooves extending across said inside surfaces to form an interlocking lands and grooves arrangement in said carrier block assembly, said interlocking lands and grooves arrangement comprising individual mating lands and grooves having equal heights, widths and lengths, said carrier block assembly being a generally rectangular solid structure having a length, a height and a thickness, each said body structure half structure being separable at said carrier block thickness, said carrier block having a continuous threaded bore along said body length in a transverse direction with respect to said lands and grooves to provide a positive movement between said carrier block and the lead screw, and a non-threaded bore through said body thickness and normal to and spaced from said threaded bore, said non-threaded bore for receiving the load bearing shaft of a splicing head assembly, said carrier block further having a plurality of apertures in said body thickness, and a plurality of fasteners for extension through said plurality of apertures to thereby secure said separate body halves to form said carrier block, whereby the movement of the threaded lead screw within said continuous threaded bore of said carrier block assembly results in the forces of the splicer head assembly moving therewith being born by the interlocking lands and grooves.