Patent ID: 7178756

Claim:
An automated perforated web splicing system, comprising: a) a web stock roll of a perforated web supported on a sole unwind spindle and having both a precut web leader and a web trailer prior to splicing, wherein the perforated web has a corresponding pitch for each perforation; b) a movable leader holder device supported by a slide for automatically, without manual intervention during operation of the splicing system, acquiring and positioning the web leader of the web stock roll according to perforations in the perforated web upon actuation of a cylinder that provides a controlled force to the movable leader holder; and c) a splicing station including a sprocket rotationally driven by a sprocket drive mounted to a frame of the splicing system for automatically, without manual intervention during operation of the splicing system, positioning the web trailer prior to splicing and performing an on pitch splice according to perforations in the perforated web.