US2745464A - Automatic butt splicer - Google Patents

Description

y 1956 G. N. AUERBACHER ET AL 2,745,464

AUTOMATIC BUTT SPLICER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 18, 1952 INVENTOR GEORGE N. QvERBncHER LAWRENCE H. HASKINJR.

y 15, 1955 G. N. AUERBACHER ET AL 2,745,464

AUTOMATIC BUTT SPLICER Filed Dec. 18, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR G EORGE N. HUERBFICHER L WRENCE H. HQSKIN JR. BY

ATTORN Y y 1956 G. N. AUERBACHER ET AL 2,745,464

AUTOMATIC BUTT SPLICER Filed Dec. 18, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 j UPPER can Q6 l 1;: currcu l 6 7e 1 I56 I18: START H4 62 El? 46 INVENTOR GEORGE N. HUERBHCHER LAWRENCE H. HQSKINJR.

ATTORN EY United States Patent AUTOMATIC BUTT SPLICER George N. Auerbacher, South Orange, and Lawrence H. Haskin, Jr., Bloomfield, N. .L, assignors to Champlain gonlrfipany, Inc., Bloomfield, N. L, a corporation of N ew Application December 18, 1952, Serial No. 326,548

42 Claims. (Cl, 154-423) This invention relates to the splicing of a web to a web, usually the trailing end of a web leaving a first roll, to the leading end of a web coming from a new roll, and more particularly the butt splicing of webs of heavy material or cardboard.

With a thin web a splice may be made by overlapping the sheets, but with cardboard it is necessary to make a butt splice. The splice is held by thin strips of material cemented on either or both sides at the butting ends. Usually the web is being fed from a roll to high speed apparatus for printing or/ and die cutting or the like, and one object of the present invention is to provide splicing apparatus which does not necessitate interrupting the operation of the apparatus receiving the web.

In an effort to meet this requirement it has been suggested to provide a very long deep slack loop between the supply roll and the press, this loop being so long as to provide time during which a splice may be made as the material of the loop is being taken up. However, such an arrangement requires a great deal of room for the long slack loop, and is also critical and inconvenient for other reasons. Attempts have been made to provide automatic splicers which will function rapidly and thus require only a short loop.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a butt splicer which will function on a moving web without necessitating any slack loop at all. A more particular object is to provide the leading and trailing webs with perfectly matching ends at the butt splice, and for this purpose the webs are overlapped, and are cut through simultaneously by cutting rolls.

An ancillary object is to provide means for promptly removing the overlapping or scrap material. For example, if the new web is always placed on top of the old web, as we prefer to do, the scrap at the leading end of the new web is drawn upwardly away from the upper cutting roll. Similarly, the scrap from the trailing end of the old web is drawn downwardly away from the lower cutting roll. Appropriate feed rolls are provided to keep the new web moving along with the old web so that the freshly severed ends remain in abutting relation as they move toward splicing rolls which follow immediately after the cutting rolls.

The splicing rolls employ adhesive material, and for convenience this preferably takes the form of pressure sensitive adhesive tapes carried by the rolls and applied thereby to the top and bottom faces of the web along the splice.

It will be evident that continued rotation of the cutting rolls would sever the newly spliced web, and accordingly a further object of the invention is to prevent repeated operation of the cutting and splicing rolls. For this purpose the rolls in each pair are normally spaced apart somewhat and thereby made inoperative. Appropriate means, preferably air operated cylinders and pistons, are employed to momentarily move the rolls together and to thereby make them momentarily operative.

It is evident that the rolls while together must turn less ice than one revolution. Inasmuch as the web is moving at high speed it would be most diflicult to attempt to bring the rolls to full speed operation within a fraction of one rotation. A further object of the present invention is to overcome this difiiculty, which is done by starting the rolls and bringing them up to synchronous speed while they are still separated. When they are momentarily moved together by the air cylinders they are already rotating at proper speed. This in turn requires proper tirning in relation to the position of the cutting knife and adhesive tape, and for that purpose the apparatus is preterably provided with cam-operated means for automatically controlling the timing of the air-operated cylinders.

It has already been mentioned that the new is preferably placed on top of the old for proper functioning of the scrap removing means. The rollsm aybe giiit e large and heavy, say 60" or 72" in diameter. Further objects of the present invention center about the and mounting of the rolls with a view to bringing'a new roll into position without interrupting the supply'of web from the old roll. We have accordingly deviseda roll stand for use in combination with the splicer, and the said roll stand is well adapted to readily supply the new web on top of the old, as required by the splicer. It is also convenient in being able to pick up a roll which has been moved to a point at one end of the roll stand and while the roll is resting on the floor, thereby dispensing with the need for special lifting means for the'roll.

To accomplish the foregoing general objects, and other more specific objects which will hereinafter appear, our invention resides in the butt splicer and roll stand elements, and their relation one to another, as are hereinafter more particularly described in the following specification. The specification is accompanied by drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a somewhat schematic side elevation of the splicer and roll stand apparatus embodying features of our invention;

Fig. 2 is explanatory of the nature of the butt splice made by the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to the upper right end of Fig. 1, but explanatory of the roll liftingstep;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the roll stand with the roll support bearings and the chains removed for clarity .of the parts shown;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the roll stand; 1

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken through the splice approximately in the plane of the line 6- 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a wiring diagram for the apparatus;

Fig. 8 is a diagramatic showing of the air supply system for the apparatus; and

Fig. 9 is explanatory of the operation of the splicer.

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly Fig. 1, the complete apparatus comprises a roll stand generally designated R, followed immediately by a butt splicer generally designated B. The butt splicer comprises superposed cutting rolls generally designated C and superposed splicer rolls generally designated S.

The roll stand R will be described in detail later, briefly, comprises means to support an old or first roll 12 and a new or second roll 14, the arrangement being such that the new web 16 is always disposed over old or expiring web 18.

Coming now to the butt splicer B, there are superposed cutting rolls 20 and 22 which are normally separated an amount such that they do not operate on the webor webs passing therebetween. There is an additional means 24 to move the rolls together, in this case by raising the lower roll 22 to the upper roll 20. i

There are also a pair of superposed splicer rolls 26 and 28 which are adapted to carry an adhesive material. Most conveniently they carry a pressure sensitive adhesive tape extending longitudinally or axially of the roll. The rolls is' the same as the diameter of the rolls. teeth of the gears are made of sufficient height to keep the 26 and 28 are normally separated so that they do not apply the adhesive tape to a web passing therebetween. These rolls are provided with a means 30 to move them together, and in the present machine the lower roll 28 is raised up to the upper roll 26.

The upper and lower rolls are to be driven in unison and in opposite direction, which is most conveniently done by using directly meshing spur gears, shown at 32 and 34 in Fig. 6, for the cutting rolls and 22. A similar pair of spur gears is provided for the splicer rolls 26 and 28.

It will be understood that the pitch diameter of the gears However, the

same in mesh even when the lower roll is moved to its down position. This maintains the upper and lower rolls in proper registration, whether separated or pressed together. 7

Another important dimension of the splicer is the horizontal or center-to-center distance between the cutting .rolls and the splicer rolls. .2" less as a minimum, than the circumference of the rolls. The spacing may be much less than the circumference. vFor convenience the splicer rolls and cutter rolls are made alike in diameter, and are turned in synchronism.

This is kept a little less, say

In Fig. 2 it will be seen that the leading end of the new web 16 is butt spliced to the trailing end of the expiring web 18 by means of a pair of tapes 40 and 42 adhesively secured on opposite sides of the webs along the abutting ends. The ideas underlying the operation of the apparatus to produce such a splice may be described with reference to Fig. '9 of the drawing. The position of the rolls is there shown a little While after cutting through the two overlapping webs to form abutting ends, and while the travelling abutting ends are located between the cutting rolls and the splicing rolls.

The cutting blade 44 of roll 20 has cut through both the new web 16 and the old web v18, in cooperation with a mating die portion 46 on the roll 22. There is scrap or waste 48 from the trailing end of the expiring web 18, and the roll 22 is provided with means 'adhesive tape 60, and roll 28 carries an adhesive tape 62. The timing of the operation is such that the tapes come one abovethe other at the same time that the butt joint 64 comes to the pressure point between the rolls, and thus the tapes are applied to the top and bottom of the webs astride the joint, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby forming the desired splice. Inasmuch as the horizontal center-tocenter spacing between the cutting rolls and the splicer rolls is less than one circumference of the rolls, the lower rolls may be dropped promptly after the tapes are ap- "plied, thereby making all of the rolls inoperative before the cutting parts 44 and 46 of the rolls 20 and 22 come together again. This avoids again cutting the newly spliced web.

Reverting now to Fig. 1, to help insure proper feed of the webs without reliance solely on the cutting and splicing rolls, the unit preferably includes a pair of superposed pull rolls 66 and 68. These may be separated or brought together by a means 70. They are separated when .firs't'manually threading the starting end of a new web 16 into the splicer. At that time the scrap pull rolls 54 and 56 are also separated, as by means of manual control lever 72. The rolls 54, 56 are more important than the rolls 66, 68, in that the apparatus will function withoutv the latter. fIlle various rolls of the splicer are all driven, from 9.

4 single main shaft 74. It will be understood that this shaft extends in the direction of the web, and alongside all of the machines or presses which operate on the web. For example, there may be a series of gravure printing presses to apply multi-color printing to the web, and the presses may be followed by appropriate punching or/and gluing or/ and stacking units. At suitable points appropriate feed units or pull units may be provided. All of these units act on a single continuous web and therefore must be driven in synchronism. The synchronous. drive is provided by the main shaft 74 extending along and interconnecting all of the units.

Referring now to Fig. 1, shaft 74, through appropriate clutches 76 and 78, drives a shaft 80 which carries a helical gear 82 meshing with a helical gear 84. In Fig. 6 the helical gears are shown housed, the driven gear being,

housed at 86. The helical gear 84 drives a relatively large diameter spur gear 88, which in turn meshes with a pair of equal diameter spur gears and 92. The relative location of these is best shown in Fig. l. The spur gear 90 is carried by the shaft of roll 26 and drives that roll, while the spur gear 92 is carried by the shaft of roll 20 and drives that roll. The upper roll 20 in turn drives the lower roll 22 through the spur gears 32 and 34 (Fig. 6) previously referred to, and similarly, the upper roll 26 drives the lower roll 28 through a similar pair of superposed spur gears previously referred to, but not shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing because the pitch line of the gears coincides with the roll circumference.

The shaft of roll 20 carries a sprocket wheel 94. This drives a sprocket chain 96 which passes around a sprocket wheel 98 carried by the shaft of pull roll 56, and also passes around a sprocket wheel 100 carried by the shaft of the pull roll 66. The diameters of the sprocket wheels 94, 98 and 100 are made proportional to the diameters of their respective rolls, thus equalizing the linear or surface speed of all of the rolls. The pressure rolls 54 and 68, cooperating with the chain-driven pull rolls 56 and 66 respectively, need not be positively driven. It will thus be seen that rotation of the shaft 80 and helical gears 82, 84 drives the entire 'butt splicer unit.

In Fig. 6 it will be seen that the means 24 which operates on the bearing 102 at one end of the roll 22, is matched by a similar means 24' acting on the bearing 102' at the opposite end of the roll. These means are preferably air-operated pistons and cylinders. Referring now to Fig. 8, it will be seen that the cylinders 24 and 24 for acting on the cutting rolls, and cylinders 30 and 30' for acting on the splicer rolls, and also the cylinders 70 and 70' for acting on the main pull rolls, are all connected together by appropriate air supply pipes 104, 106, 108 and 109 fed through an air valve 110. This is preferably a solenoid-operated air valve, the solenoid being schematically indicated at 112. It will be understood that when the valve 110 is opened the rolls are moved together, and when the valve is returned to initial position the rolls are moved apart. They might be permitted to fall gravitationally, but for purposes of quick and positive action we prefer to make the cylinders 24 and 30 double-acting and to apply air pressure above the pistons. Compression springs might equally well be employed to insure quick separation of the rolls. The valve at 110 may be made more complex to supply air above the pistons when the air is released below the pistons, and vice versa, or in a simpler arrangement air may be admitted continuously above the pistons, thus providing an air cushion return. In the latter case it will be understood that the elfe'ctive area above the piston is made considerably smaller than that below the piston, a result which is inherently obtained to considerable extent because of the diameter of the piston rod, or the pressure may be made less.

Reverting now to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the clutch 76 is preferably a magnetic clutch and brake. This is a known unit so designed that when the clutchportion is energized the brake portion is de-energized, and vice versa. In simple form the clutch'may includean'axially movable element having friction surfaces on opposite faces, and which is normally moved as by means of a :spring against a stationary friction surface, thus acting as a brake to quickly stop the output shaft 114 of the clutch. However, when the clutch is energized the axially movable element is pulled to bring its friction surface into engagement with a mating friction surface on the driving :shaft 74, thus driving the output shaft 114. The latter is connected to a second clutch 78 which is manually operable, as by means of a control lever 116.

At a suitable convenient point the butt splicer B is provided with a panel carrying three pushbuttons, here indicated at 118, 120 and 122. The pushbutton 118 is marked Start; the pushbutton 120 is marked Splice; and the pushbutton 122 is marked Stop.

In order to properly and automatically time the precise instant of raising and lowering the rolls 22 and 28 within a single revolution of the rolls, one or more of the rolls is provided with cam-operated switch means to initiate the moving together of the rolls of said pairs and to again separate the same at the end of the splicing operation. In the present case the switch means comprises two separate cam-operated switches, and for convenience one is mounted on the upper roll 20 and the other is mounted on the lower roll 22, but inasmuch as these rolls rotate in synchronism they might equally well be mounted on one roll or the other, or on either or both of the rolls 26 and 28. In the present case the upper cam 124 operates a rnicroswitch 126 to start the splicing operation, and the lower cam 128 operates a microswitch 130 to terminate the splicing operation. It will be seen that the cams 124 and 128 are about 270 apart, so that the entire splicing operation takes place in less than one revolution of the rolls.

The operation of the control circuit may be explained with reference to Fig. 7 of the drawing. Power for the control circuits is supplied at terminals 132. A separate power supply may be employed for the magnetic clutch and brake, and the terminals for this separate power supply are indicated at 134. The coil system of the magnetic clutch and brake is indicated at 76. The sole- -noid of the air valve 110 previously referred to in connection with Fig. 8 is shown at 112. The Start, Splice and Stop buttons are shown at 118, 120, and 122, respectively. The switches 118 and 120 are normally open, While switch 122 is normally closed. The upper cam and rnicroswitch are shown at 124, 126, the said switch being normally open. The lower cam and rnicroswitch are shown at 128 and 130, the said switch being normally closed.

The circuit is completed by relays generally designated 136, 138 and 140.

It will be seen that by depressing the Start button 118 a circuit from terminals 132 is closed through relay 136, thereby closing its upper contacts which then act as a stick circuit for the button 118 so that the latter need be pressed only momentarily. The closing of the lower contacts of the relay 136 energizes the magnetic clutch 76, thus setting the various rolls of the splicer in rotation in order to bring the same up to speed. However, the actual splicing operation will not take place until and unless the Splice button 120 is depressed. When this is done a circuit from terminals 132 is closed through the relay 140, which then acts as a stick circuit for the button 120 so that it need be depressed only momentarily. The relay 138 is not energized because the normally open microswitch 126 is still open. However, when the cam 124 closes switch 126 the relay 138 is energized and the lower contacts of the relay act as a stick circuit for the microvswitch 126 so that the latter need be energized only mo- :mentarily. The upper-contacts of relay 138 close a circuit through the valve solenoid 112, and it will be recalled .by'reverting to Fig. 8 that this supplies air to the air cylinders and thus raises the cutting and splicing rolls for the splicing operation. After the splicing operation has taken'place, and before completion of one full revolution of the rolls, the cam 128 operates on the microswitch 130, thereby opening the same. This opensthe entire circuit from terminals 132, thereby de-energizing all of the relays and the valve solenoid 112 and the clutch and brake unit 76. The lower cutting and splicing rolls drop instantly and continued rotation of the rolls is arrested by the brake action.

The roll stand R may be described in greater detail with reference to Figs. 1, 4 and 5 of the drawing. Theroll stand comprises generally horizontal tracks and 150 which support bearings to carry the old and new rolls. In Fig. l the bearings are shown at 154, 156 and 158, and in Fig. 5 a pair of bearings is shown at 154, 154'. It will be understood that the bearings 156 and 158 also'have mating bearings at the opposite sides of the roll stand. The bearings have been omitted in Fig. 4. There isan endless sprocket chain 160 carried by sprocket wheels 162 and 164, the said chain carrying the bearings 154, 156 and 158. There is a similar chain and sprocket wheels at the opposite side of the unit to carry the bearings 154', 156 and 158. In Figs. 4 and 5 the sprocket wheels are shown, but the endless chains which pass around the sprocket wheels have been omitted. The bearings are equally spaced around the chain, and there should be at least three bearings on each chain, although a greater number might be used. The spacing of the bearings'along the chain is so related to the length of the generally horizontal track 158 that two of the bearings-in this case 154 and 158-may rest on top of the track at the same time. Of course, the length of track 150 is also adequate to receive rolls of the maximum diameter required, say 60" or 72". The splicing operation is performed when the old roll 12 is almost exhausted, and at any time between the splicing operation and the imminent exhaustion of the next roll 14 the chains are moved to draw the bearings 158, 158' along the support tracks 150, 150 until the roll 14 assumes the forward position. At this time the next bearing 156 is moved up to the position now occupied by the bearing 158 where it is adapted to receive a new roll preparatory to the next splicing operation. This shift of roll position in no way affects the operation of the subsequent presses because the web is simply being pulled from the roll, and indeed, friction is applied to keep the web somewhat taut. For this'purpose each bearing carries brake means controlled by a hand wheel indicated at 166.

The shift of the imminently exhausted roll from rear position to forward position may itself be utilized to pick up a new roll in the next pair of bearings, thus dispensing with the need for a special hoist or other means to elevate the new roll. For this purpose the support track 150 is placed at such an elevation that the bearings on the track support the roll with its axis at a height at least a little greater than the maximum radius of theroll, which may be, say, 30" or 36". In such case a newroll may be rolled into position at the end of the roll stand R,-as indicated by the roll 168 fragmentarily suggested in Fig. -3. As the chain moves the bearings the next bearing 156 comes around and up to the support shaft 170 of roll 68, thus picking up the shaft, and the continued movement of the bearing raises the roll from the floor and carries it around to the desired position shown at 14 in Fig. 1.

The chains are moved in unison by a drive motor shown at 172 in Figs. 1 and 4. This is belted at 174 to.a horizontal shaft 176 which extends across the machine 'ata low point, preferably close to the floor level in order not to interfere with passage of maximum diameter paper rolls between the two sides of the stand.

Shaft 176 is geared through mitre gears 178 to a shaft 180 which drives a worm 182 meshing witha -worm;-gear 184 at the lower end of a vertical shaft 186. At its upper ride-on the top edges of the channels.

end the shaft 186 carries a worm 188 meshing with a worm gear 190 carried on the outer end of a short shaft 192 which also carries the sprocket 164. This drives the chain and, of course, the other sprocket wheel 162 may be idle.

The described mechanism is duplicated symmetrically on the opposite side of the machine, as is indicated by the mitre gears 178, worm 182, worm gear 184', shaft 186', worm 188', worm gear 190', and shaft 192' carrying the sprocket wheel 164. It will thus be seen that the chains at the sides of the stand are moved in unison whenever the motor 172 is operated. The control of motor 172 may be manual, for it is only at comparatively lon intervals that a new roll of paper must be added.

Referring to Fig. it will be seen that the support tracks 150and 150' are channel-shaped and that the bearings The chains are received in the hollow or channel-shaped portion of the tracks, and each chain is connected to and carries its bearings between the side or support portions of the track. The bearings and tracks mate in any appropriate way to hold the bearings against sideward movement transversely of the tracks.

OPERATION Referring to Fig. 1, it may be assumed that the old or expiring roll 12 is still in rear position, that is, at the position shown for new roll 14. The main drive shaft 74 is rotating, but the magnetic clutch-brake is in braking position, thereby holding the shaft 114 stationary. The

Preparation Each splicing cylinder is provided with a strip of pressure sensitive adhesive. This may be held in place by small pins, or it may be held in place by using a few spaced discs of double-sided pressure sensitive adhesive, the said discs serving to lightly hold in position the long tape which, of course, has pressure sensitive adhesive on only one side. The splicing rolls carry a clear indication of proper location for the tape, and the hand wheel may be used to rotate the rolls to a convenient position for application of the tape. However, while not shown here in detail, the preparation may be further facilitated by providing each splicing roll with a mechanically remov able segment or strip. This is indicated at 202 and 294 in Fig. 9. These segments are removed, and the adhesive tape is applied to the segment at a nearby work bench or other support, whereupon the segments are returned to the rolls. This, of course, avoids need to reach over and through the machine while applying the tape, for the removable segments are rigid and may be handled from one side of the machine.

It was previously mentioned that the lower cutting roll 22 is provided with means to pull the trailing scrap from the expiring web around itself, as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawing. This means may consist of small pins which bite into the web, or it may consist of small pieces of double-sided pressure sensitive adhesive. If the latter are employed the pieces of double-sided adhesive are applied immediately behind the cutting point of the cylinder as a part of the preparation of the machine. This step is, of course, aided by free rotation of the rolls by means of the hand wheel previously referred to.

The new paper roll is moved up to the roll stand and is loaded on the roll stand by operation of the motor 172,

v as previously described, it being understood that the expiring roll is moved from the rear position to the forwardposition shown in Fig..l,.and that at the same time 8 the new roll is picked up by its support bearings and raised to the rear position shown in Fig. 1, the pick-up step being shown in Fig. 3.

The leading end of the new web 16 is then threaded on top of the old web between the pull rollers 66, 6S and between the cutting rolls 20, 22, and then around cutting roll 20 to a position between the scrap pull rolls 54, 56.

The leading edge of the web is brought as far as the scrap reservoir 210. The manual control 72 is then turned to apply pressure between the rolls 54 and 56. The manual clutch 78 is then engaged, thereby completing the preparation of the apparatus, it being understood that at this time the new web is still stationary because the magnetic clutch-brake 76 is disengaged. The expiring web, however, is moving at full speed through the splicer to the presses.

Making the splice When the old roll has just about expired the Start button 118 is pressed. This engages the magnetic clutch and accelerates all of the rotating elements of the splicer. It also begins feed of the new web by reason of the scrap pull rolls 54, 56 and thereby accelerates the new roll 14 which, of course, is important because of the large diameter and great mass of the new roll. In a few seconds, say one to three seconds, depending on web speed, etc., the new web is traveling at the same speed as the old web, and the parts are all running in synchronism, whereupon the Splice button 120 is pressed. The air cylinders are activated almost immediately, although not in direct response to the pushbutton, and instead the response is properly timed in relation to the orientation of the cutting and splicing rolls by reason of the camoperated switch mechanism previously described. For practical purposes, at least from the viewpoint of the op erator, the Splice button activates the air cylinders, thereby applying pressure at the pull rolls 66, 68 and at the cutting and splicing rolls. As the knife or knives of the cutting rolls pass through the pressure point, the cut is made through both webs simultaneously. Immediately after the cut has been made there are four ends of web which become disposed, as was explained with reference to Fig. 9 of the drawing. The trailing end of the old web and the leading end of the new web are traveling in a straight path and are butted together ready for application of the adhesive. It will be understood that there is a table or support surface indicated at 212 in Fig. 9 which insures that the ends will remain in alignment. The trailing end of the scrap of the new web is being pulled around the upper cutting roll toward and into the waste reservoir. The leading end of the scrap from the old web has adhered to the adhesive applied behind the cutting point on the lower cutting roll and is being pulled down around the lower cutting roll. The butted ends reach the pressure point between the splicing rolls, whereupon the adhesive tapes are applied on opposite sides, thus providing a joint as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

Immediately after the adhesive tapes have been applied the cam-operated switch mechanism previously described de-energizes the circuits in such a way that the cutting, splicing and pull rolls are retracted by operation at the air cylinders and the magnetic clutch 76 is de-energized, thereby immediately stopping rotation of all elements. Because of this quick stoppage the scrap from the trailing 'end of the old web is not wound in repeated convolutions about the lower cutting roll. The latter turns less than a full rotation, and the leading end of the scrap is exposed to be pulled free of the cylinder, thus permitting the remainder of the scrap to be drawn manually through and out of the splicer.

The manual clutch is disengaged; the scrap pull roll 54 is retracted manually; the scrap from the trailing end of the expiring web is pulled out of the splicer around the lower cutting roll; and the scrap from the leading endof the new web isremoved from the scrap reservoir 210.

The splicer is then ready for preparation for the next splice, as outlined above under the heading Preparation.

The Stop button 122 shown in Figs. 1 and 7 is not used normally. In Fig. 7 it will be seen that it is a normally closed switch in series with a normally closed microswitch 13%. Pressure on the Stop button 122 opens the main circuit to the current supply source 132, thereby tie-energizing all of the relays and immediately stopping the splicer, both by dropping the lower rolls and arresting rotation of the rolls.

SUMMARY It is believed that the construction, operation, and method of use of our improved automatic butt splicing apparatus, as well as the advantages thereof, will be ap parent from the foregoing description. The splicer starts the new roll, synchronizes the speeds of the new and old webs, cuts both webs simultantously, and applies pressure sensitive adhesive tape both to the bottom and top surfaces, thereby connecting the new and old webs in butt relation. This operation is accomplished without stopping or slowing the old web, and without requiring the provision of an extensive web reserve in the form of loops in an effort to feed the presses or other converting equipment while the splice is being made.

The apparatus operates at web speeds up to three hundred feet per minute, and higher speeds no doubt will be obtainable with further experience and refinement of the apparatus.

The roll stand shifts an expiring roll from new-roll position to old-roll position without in any way affecting the feed of the web to the presses and at the same time itself picks up a new roll from the floor and raises it to a suitable new-roll position such that the new web is always disposed on top of the old web, as is required for proper operation of the splicer when laid out as here shown. The apparatus might be inverted with the new web threaded beneath the old web as by unreeling the web from the bottom instead of the top of the roll, and by providing the scrap pull rolls and scrap reservoir at the bottom instead of the top of the splicer, but the present arrangement is thought to be more convenient.

An important advantage of the present splicer is that it does not disturb the normal feed of the expiring web. There is no need to provide and to then abruptly use up a slack loop of old web when making the splice, and even more important, there is no requirement that the old web assume the burden of starting and accelerating the new web and its large roll as soon as the splice has been made. From this viewpoint the main function of the pull rolls 54, 56 is to preliminarily accelerate the new roll, and to synchronize the new and the old webs, before the splice is made. We have called the rolls 54, 56 scrap pull rolls merely to distinguish the same from other pull rolls, and not to suggest that their sole function is to remove the scrap from the leading end of the new web. They do remove the scrap, but when considering the operating principle of the machine, their more important function is to accelerate the new web and bring it up to synchronous speed before cutting and splicing. In this aspect it is the preliminary synchronization of the new and old webs which makes it possible to cut and splice without providing a'slack loop, and without disturbing or heavily loading the old web and the newly made splice.

The cutting rolls may each have a knife, the said knives coming together and each roll having a respective groove or platen adjacent the knife to receive the other knife, .so that the main surfaces of the rolls may be a full diameter and may act as feed rolls for the webs, or, in the alternative, one cutting roll may have a knife and the other cutting roll may have an anvil or surface against which .the knife may bear at the pressure point between the rolls to cut :through the webs. We have shown three air cylinders on each side the splicer for the three lower rolls, but it will be understood that if desired a lesser number of air cylinders could be used acting on appropriate connections, linkages or gearing to simultaneously raise all rolls. Indeed it is not even necessary to have separate air cylinders on each side of the machine, but the use of separate cylinders has the benefit of acting as an automatic equalizing means to insure equal pressure at both ends of each roll.

It is understood that while we have shown and described our invention in a preferred form, changes may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the scope of the invention, as sought to be defined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for butt splicing webs end to end, said apparatus comprising a pair of normally separated cutting rolls disposed with their axes transverse of the Web, means to abruptly move said rolls together for web severance through both webs which are to be spliced, a pair of normally separated splicer rolls adapted to carry an adhesive material, said rolls being disposed with their axes transverse of the web, and means to abruptly move said splicer rolls together to apply the adhesive material to the severed web ends.

2. Apparatus for butt splicing moving webs end to end, said apparatus comprising a pair of normally separated cutting rolls disposed with their axes transverse of the web, means to move said rolls together for web severance, a pair of normally separated splicer rolls adapted to carry a pressure sensitive adhesive tape, said rolls being disposed with their axes transverse of the web, means to move said splicer rolls together to apply the tape to the severed web ends, and means for driving said rolls, the center-to-center spacing between the cutting rolls and the splicing rolls being less than one circumference of said rolls, and means to drive all of said rolls in unison.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, combined with a pair of scrap pull rolls associated with one of the cutting rolls and leading to a scrap magazine for receiving the leading end of the scrap from the leading end of the second or trailing web.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, combined with a pair of normally separated main web pull rolls preceding the cutting rolls, means to move them together during a splicing operation, means on a cutting roll to receive and hold the leading end of the scrap from the trailing end of the old web.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, combined with a pair of scrap pull rolls associated with one of the cutting rolls and leading to a scrap magazine for receiving the leading end of the scrap from the leading end of the second or trailing web, a pair of normally separated main web pull rolls preceding the cutting rolls, means to move them together during a splicing operation, means on the other cutting roll to receive and hold the leading end of the scrap from the trailing end of the old web.

6. In apparatus as defined in claim 1, a drive shaft, a clutch, gearing connected to said clutch for driving said cutting and splicing rolls in unison, and cam-operated means to initiate the moving together of the rolls of said pairs for the cutting and splicing operation and to again separate the same at the end of the splicing operation.

7. A butt splicer as defined in claim 6, in which the means for moving together the rolls of the pairs consists of air operated cylinders and pistons connected together and to an air supply pipe controlled by a solenoid operated air valve, and in which there is a splice switch for energizing the circuit of a cam-operated switch means, which in turn energizes the air valve, thus starting and stopping the splicing operation in proper timing to the rotative position of the cutting and splicing rolls.

8. In apparatus as defined in claim 1, a drive shaft, a magnetic clutch and brake connected to said shaft, a manual clutch connected to said magnetic clutch and brake, and gearing connected to said manual clutch for driving said cutting and splicing rolls in unison.

9. In apparatus as defined in claim 1, cam-operated switch means controlling electrical meansto initiate the moving together of the rolls of said pairs for the cutting and splicing operation and to again separate the same at the end of the splicing operation.

10. In apparatus as defined in claim 1, a drive shaft, a magnetic clutch and brake connected to said shaft, a manual clutch connected to said magnetic clutch and brake, gearingconnected to said manual clutch for driving said cutting and splicing rolls in unison, and camoperated switch means controlling electrical means to initiate the moving together of the rolls of said pairs for the cutting and splicing operation and to again separate the same at the end of the splicing operation.

11. A butt splicer as defined in claim 10, in which the means for moving together the rolls of the pairs consists of air operated cylinders and pistons connected together and to an air supply pipe controlled by a solenoid operated air valve, and in which there is a manually operable starting switch for energizing the magnetic clutch, and in which there is a splice switch for energizing the circuit of the cam-operated switch means, which in turn energizes the air valve, thus starting and stopping the splicing operation in proper timing to the rotative position of the cutting and splicing rolls.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, combined with a pair of scrap pull rolls associated with one of the cutting rolls and leading to a scrap magazine for receiving the leading end of the scrap from the leading end of the second or trailing web, means on the other cutting roll to receive and hold the leading end of scrap from the trailing end of the expiring web, a drive shaft, a clutch connected to said shaft, gearing connected to said clutch for driving said cutting and splicing rolls in unison,

.and cam-operated switch means to initiate the moving together of the rolls of said pairs for the cutting and splicing operation and to again separate the same at the end of the splicing operation.

13. A butt splicer as defined in claim 12, in which the means for moving together the rolls of the pairs consists of air operated cylinders and pistons connected together and to an air supply pipe controlled by a solenoid operated air valve, and in which there is a splice switch for energizing the circuit of a cam-operated switch means, which in turn energizes the air valve, thus starting and stopping the splicing operation in proper timing to the rotative position of the cutting and splicing rolls.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, combined with a pair of scrap pull rolls associated with one of the cutting rolls and leading to a scrap magazine for receiving the leading endof the scrap from the leading end of the second or trailing web, a pair of normally separated main web pull rolls preceding the cutting rolls, means to move them together during a splicing operation, means on the other cutting roll to receive and hold the leading end of scrap from the leading web, a drive shaft, a magnetic clutch and brake connected to said shaft, a manual clutch connected 'to said magnetic clutch and brake, gearing connected to said manual clutch for driving said cutting, splicing and pull rolls in unison, and cam-operated means to initiate the moving together of the rolls of said pairs for the cutting and splicing operation and to again separate the same at the end of the splicing operation.

15. A butt splicer as defined in claim 14, in which the means for moving together the rolls of the pairs consist of air operated cylinders and pistons connected together and to an air supply pipe controlled by a solenoid operated air valve, and in which there is a manually operable starting switch for energizing the magnetic clutch, and in which there is a splice switch for energizing the circuit of a cam-operated switch means, which in turn energizes the air valve, thus starting and stopping the splicing operation in proper timing to the rotative position of the cutting .and splicing rolls.

16. Apparatus for butt splicing webs end to end,

said apparatus comprising a pair of normally separated but gear-meshed cutting rolls disposed with their axes transverse of the web, means to move said rolls together for web severance, a pair of normally separated but gear-meshed splicer rolls adapted to carry a pressure sensitive adhesive tape, said rolls being disposed with their axes transverse of the web, and means to move said splicer rolls together to apply the tape to the severed web ends, the gear-mesh of said rolls using teeth of sufiicient height to remain in mesh whether the teeth are separated or moved together, the center-to-center spacing between the cutting rolls and the splicing rolls being less than one circumference of said rolls, and means to drive allv of said rolls in unison.

17. Apparatus for butt splicing a new web to an expiring web without stopping the expiring web, said apparatus comprising the apparatus of claim 2 combined with a pair of new web accelerating pull rolls following the cutting rolls for receiving. the leading end of the scrap from the leading end of the second or new web, and means to drive said pull rolls to accelerate the new web until it reaches the speed of the expiring web.

18. Apparatus for butt splicing webs end to end, said apparatus comprising a pair of normally separated but gear-meshed cutting rolls disposed with their axes transverse of the web, means to move said rolls together for web severance, a pair of normally separated but gearmeshed splicer rolls adapted to carry an adhesive material, said rolls being disposed with their axes transverse of the web, and means to move said splicer rolls together to apply the tape to the severed web ends, the gear-mesh of said rolls using teeth of sufficient height to remain in mesh whether the rolls are separated or moved together.

19. Apparatus for butt splicing webs end to end, said apparatus comprising a pair of cutting rolls having a length approximating the width of the web and disposed with their axes transverse of theweb, and a pair of splicer rolls adapted to carry a pressure sensitive adhesive tape, said splicer rolls having a length approximating the width of the web and being disposed with their axes transverse of the web, the center-to-center spacing between the cutting rolls and the splicing rolls being less than one circumference of said rolls, and means to drive all of said rolls in unison.

20. Apparatus for butt splicing webs end to end, said apparatus comprising a pair of normally separated cutting means having a length approximating the width of the web and disposed transversely of the web, means to guide both webs which are to be spliced in the same direction through the cutting means, means to abruptly move said cutting means together for severance of both of the webs, a pair of normally separated splicer means adapted to carry and carrying a pressure sensitive adhesive tape, said splicer means and the tape carried thereby having a length approximating the width of the web and being disposed transversely of the web, and means to abruptly move said splicer means together to apply the adhesive tape to the severed web ends.

21. Apparatus for splicing webs end to end, said apparatusscomprising a pair of normally separated cutting rolls disposed with their axes transverse of the web, means to move said rolls together for web severance, a pair of normally separated splicer rolls adapted to carry an adhesive material, said rolls being disposed with their axes transverse of the web, means to move said splicer rolls together to apply the material to the severed web ends, a scrap magazine, and a pair of scrap pull rolls associated with one of the cutting rolls and leading to said scrap magazine for receiving the leading end of the scrap from the leading end of the second or trailing web.

22. Apparatus for splicing webs end to end, .said apparatus comprising a pair of normally separated cutting rolls disposed with their axes transverse of the web, means to move said rolls together for web severance, a pair of normally separated splicer rollsadapted .to carry an adhesive material, said rolls being disposed with their axes transverse of the web, means to move said splicer rolls together to apply the material to the severed web ends, a pair of normally separated main web pull rolls preceding the cutting rolls, means to move them together during a splicing operation, and means on a cutting roll to receive and hold the leading end of the scrap fiom the trailing end of the old web.

23. Apparatus for splicing webs end to end, said apparatus comprising a pair of normally separated cutting rolls disposed with their axes transverse of the web, means to move said rolls together for web severance, a pair of normally separated splicer rolls adapted to carry an adhesive material, said rolls being disposed with their axes transverse of the web, means to move said splicer rolls together to apply the material to the severed web ends, a scrap magazine, a pair of scrap pull rolls associated with one of the cutting rolls and leading to said scrap magazine for receiving the leading end of the scrap from the leading end of the second or trailing web, a pair of normally separated main web pull rolls preceding the cutting rolls, means to move them together during a splicing operation, and means on the other cutting roll to receive and hold the leading end of the scrap from the trailing end of the old web.

24. Apparatus for splicing webs end to end, said apparatus comprising a pair of normally separated cutting rolls disposed with their axes transverse of the web, means to move said rolls together for web severance, a pair of normally separated splicer rolls adapted to carry an adhesive material, said rolls being disposed with their axes transverse of the web, means to move said splicer rolls together to apply the material to the severed Web ends, a drive shaft, a clutch, gearing connected to said clutch for driving said cutting and splicing rolls in unison, and cam-operated means to initiate the moving together of the rolls of said pairs for the cutting and splicing operation and to again separate the same at the end of the splicing operation.

25. A splicer as defined in claim 24, in which the means for moving together the rolls of the pairs consists of air operated cylinders and pistons connected together and to an air supply pipe controlled by a solenoid operated air valve, and in which there is a splice switch for energizing the circuit of a cam-operated switch means, I

which in turn energizes the air valve, thus starting and stopping the splicing operation in proper timing to the rotative position of the cutting and splicing rolls.

26. Apparatus for splicing webs end to end said apparatus comprising a pair of normally separated cutting rolls disposed with their axes transverse of the web, means to move said rolls together for web severance, a pair of normally separated splicer rolls adapted to carry an adhesive material, said rolls being disposed with their axes transverse of the webfmeans to move said splicer rolls together to apply the material to the severed web ends, a drive shaft, a magnetic clutch and brake connected to said shaft, a manual clutch connected to said magnetic clutch and brake, and gearing connected to said manual clutch for driving said cutting and splicing rolls in unison.

27. Apparatus for splicing webs end to end, said apparatus comprising a pair of normally separated cutting rolls disposed with their axes transverse of the web, means to move said rolls together for web severance, a pair of normally separated splicer rolls adapted to carry an adhesive material, said rolls being disposed with their axes transverse of the web, means to move said splicer rolls together to apply the material to the severed web ends, a drive shaft, a magnetic clutch and brake connected to said shaft, a manual clutch connected to said magnetic clutch and brake, gearing connected to said manual clutch for driving said cutting and splicing rolls in unison, and cam-operated switch means controlling electrical means to initiate the moving together of the rolls of said pairs for the cutting and splicing operation and to again separate the same at the end of the splicing operation.

28. A splicer as defined in claim 27, in which the means for moving together the rolls of the pairs consists of air operated cylinders and pistons connected together and to an air supply pipe controlled by a solenoid operated air valve, and in which there is a manually operable starting switch for energizing the magnetic clutch, and in which there is a splice switch for energizing the circuit of the cam-operated switch means, which in turn energizes the air valve, thus starting and stopping the splicing operation in proper timing to the rotative position of the cutting and splicing rolls.

. 29. Apparatus for splicing webs end to end, said apparatus comprising a pair of normally separated cutting rolls disposed with their axes transverse of the web, means to move said rolls together for web severance, a pair of normally separated splicer rolls adapted to carry an adhesive material, said rolls'being disposed with their axes transverse of the Web, means to move said splicer rolls together to apply the material to the severed web ends, a scrap magazine, a pair of scrap pull rolls associated with one of the cutting rolls and leading to said scrap magazine for receiving the leading end of the scrap from the leading end of the second or trailing web, means on the other cutting roll to receive and hold the leading end of scrap from the trailing end of the expiring web, a drive shaft, a clutch connected to said shaft, gearing connected to said clutch for driving said cutting and splicing rolls in unison, and cam-operated switch means to initiate the movin together of the rolls of said pairs for the cutting and splicing operation and to again separate the same at the end of the splicing operation.

30. A splicer as defined in claim 29, in Which-the means for moving together the rolls of the pairs consists of air operated cylinders and pistons connected together and to an air supply pipe controlled by a solenoid operated air valve, and in which there is a splice switch for energizing the circuit of a cam-operated switch means, which in turn energizes the air valve, thus starting and stopping the splicing operation in proper timing to the rotative position of the cutting and splicing rolls.

31. Apparatus for splicing webs end to end, said apparatus comprising a pair of normally separated cutting rolls disposed with their axes transverse of the Web, means to move said rolls together for web severance, a pair of normally separated splicer rolls adapted to carry an adhesive material, said rolls being disposed with their axes transverse of the web, means to move said splicer rolls together to apply the material to the severed web ends, a scrap magazine, a pair of scrap pull rolls associated with one of the cutting rolls and leading to said scrap magazine for receiving the leading end of the scrap from the leading end of the second or trailing web, a pair of normally separated main Web pull rolls preceding the cutting rolls, means to move them together during a splicing operation, means on the other cutting roll to receive and hold the leading end of scrap from the leading web, a drive shaft, a magnetic clutch and brake connected to said shaft, a manual clutch connected to said magnetic clutch and brake, gearing connected to said manual clutch for driving said cutting, splicing and pull rolls in unison, and cam-operated means to initiate the moving together of the rolls of said pairs for the cutting and splicing operation and to again separate the same at the end of the splicing operation.

32. A splicer as defined in claim 31, in which the means for moving together the rolls of the pairs consists of air operated cylinders and pistons connected together and to an air supply pipe controlled by a solenoid operated air valve, and in which there is a manually operable starting switch for energizing the magnetic clutch, and in which there is a splice switch for energizing the circuit of a cam-operated switch means, which in turn energizes the air valve, thus starting and stopping the splicing operation in proper timing to the rotative position of the cutting and splicing rolls. a

33. Apparatus for splicing webs end to end, said apparatus comprising a pair of normally separated cutting rolls disposed with their axes transverse of the web, means to move said rolls together for web severance, a pair of normally separated splicer rolls adapted tocarry an adhesive material, said rolls being disposed with their axes transverse of the .web, means to move said splicer rolls together to apply the material to the severed web ends, a pair of new web accelerating pull rolls following the cutting rolls for receiving theleading end of the scrap from the leading end of the second or new web, and means to drive said pull rolls to accelerate the new web until it reaches the speed of the expiring web.

34. Apparatus for splicing webs end to end, said apparatus comprising a pair of normally separated cutting rolls disposed with their axes transverse of the web, means to move said rolls together for web severance, a

pair of normally separated splicer rolls adapted to carry an adhesive material, said rolls being disposed'with their axes transverse of the web, means to move said splicer rolls together to apply the material to the severed web tends, a scrap magazine, a pair of scrap pull rolls leading to said scrap magazine for receiving the'leading end of the scrap from the leading end of the second or new web, a pair of web pull rolls preceding the cutting means, and means to receive and hold the leading end of the scrap from the trailing end of the old web.

35. Apparatus for butt splicing a new web to an expiring web without stopping the expiring web, said apparatus comprising the apparatus of claim 2 combined with a pair of newweb accelerating pull rolls following the cutting rolls for receiving the leading end of the scrap from the leading end of the second or new web, and means to drive said 'pull rolls to accelerate the new web until it reaches the speed of the expiring web.

36. Apparatus for splicing webs end to end, said apparatus comprising a pair of normally separated cutting rolls disposed with their axes transverse of the web, means to rotate said rolls at approximately web speed, means to abruptly move said rolls together and to quickly again separate the same for a single cutting operation, a pair of normally separated splicer rolls carrying a strip of adhesive tape disposed lengthwise of the splicer rolls, means to rotate said splicer rolls at approximately web speed, and means to abruptly move said splicer rolls together to apply the adhesive tape over the severed web ends.

37. Apparatus for butt splicing webs end to end, said apparatus comprising a pair of cutting rolls having a length at least as great as the width of the web and disposed with their axes transverse of the web, and a pair of splicer rolls carrying a strip of adhesive tape disposed lengthwise of the splicer rolls, said splicer rolls having a length at least as great as the width of the web and being disposed with their axes transverse of the web, means to guide both Webs between the rolls of both said pairs of rolls, said cutting rolls having cutting means designed to cut simultaneously through both webs with a single cut, and said splicer rolls being designed to apply the aforesaid strip of adhesive tape over the resulting severed web ends while said ends are in abutting relation'. i

38. Apparatus for butt splicing webs end to end, said apparatus comprising a pair of cutting rolls having a length at least as great as the width of the web and disposed with their axes transverse of the web, means to rotate said rolls at approximately web speed, means to abruptly move said rolls together and to quickly again separate the same for a single cuttingoperatiom a pair 7 of normally separated splicer rolls carrying a strip of adhesive tape disposed lengthwise of the splicer rolls, said splicer rolls having a length at least as great 'as the width of the ,web and being .disposed with their axes transverse of the web, means to rotate said splicer rolls at approximately web. speed, means to guide both webs between the rolls of both said pairs of rolls, said cutting rolls having cutting means designed to cut simultaneously through both webs with a single cut, and means to abruptly move said splicer rolls together to apply the aforesaid strip of adhesive tape over the severed web ends while said ends are in abutting relation. 7

39. Apparatus for butt splicing'webs end to end, said apparatus comprising a pair ofnormally separated cutting means having. alength approximating the Width of the web and disposed transversely of the web, means to guide'both webs which are to be spliced in the same direction through the cutting means, means to abruptly move said cutting means together for severance of both of the webs, a pair of normally separated splicer means adapted to carry and carrying a pressure sensitive adhesive tape, said splicer means and the tape carried thereby having a length approximating the width of the web and being disposed transversely of the web, and meansto abruptly move said splicer means together to apply the adhesive tape to the'severed web ends, a pair of scrap pull rolls leading ,to a scrap magazine for receiving the leading end of the scrap from the leading end of the second or new web, a pairof Web pull rolls preceding the cutting means, and meansv to, receiveand hold the leading end of the,

scrap from the trailing end of the old web.

40. Apparatus as defined claim 2, combined with a A pair of scrap pull rolls' associated with one of the cutting rolls and leading to. a scrap magazine for receiving the leading end of the scrap from theleadingendof the second or trailing web. e 7

41. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, combined with a pair of normally separated main web pull rolls preceding the cutting rolls, means to move them together during a sphcing operation, means on a cutting roll to receive and hold the leading end of the scrap from the trailingend ofthe old web.

42. Apparatus as defined in claim 2,, combined with a pair of scrap pull rolls associated with one of the cutting rolls and leading'to a'scrap magazine for receiving the leading end of the scrapfrom the leading end of the second or trailing web, a pair of normally separated main web pull rolls preceding the cutting rolls, means to move them together during a splicingoperation, means on the other cutting roll .to receive and hold the leading end of the scrap from the. trailing end ofv the old web.

References Cited in the file. of this patent -UNITED STATES PATENTS V Farnsworth ,Mar. 27, 1892

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