Abstract: A system and method for performing a splicing operation where the splicing apparatus is configured to orient the web to ensure the two sealing sides are presented to each other and the splice is always made on one side of the web.

Abstract: A system and method for automatic splicing of rolls of sleeve material used in various packaging markets is provided. The system will automatically splice the prepared end of a new roll onto the expiring end of the prior roll. The system performs an automatic cut and splice operation resulting in a butt splice of the two rolls with tape applied to both sides of the splice joint. The splice can be done in-registration to provide a consistent product repeat length between expiring and new rolls.

Abstract: A web handling apparatus includes a base, a housing, a splicing head mounted in the housing, and first and second non-rotatable swing out roll shafts, each shaft having opposite first and second ends. The roll shafts are normally positioned in the housing substantially parallel to the splicing head so that web can travel through the splicing head to on from web rolls on the roll shafts. A web accumulator mounted to the housing conducts web to or from the splicing head and the housing is movably mounted to the base so that the housing can move relative to the base in either direction parallel to the roll shafts. An actuator connected between the housing and the base moves the housing relative to the base in response to signals from a web position sensor so as to minimize the side lay of web extending to or from the apparatus.

Abstract: The leading end of a web on a roll of web convolutions is prepared for a splice by releasably securing that web end to the adjacent underlying web convolution on the roll and then adhering to that convolution just ahead of the web end a spoiler strip having a lengthwise boundary line which extends the length of the strip. A surface portion of the strip on one side of that boundary line is coated with an adhesive so that the adherent portion of the strip is speed in front of and substantially parallel to the web end whereby when the roll is rotated, the spoiler strip deflects the on-coming air stream away from the web end, yet permits the web end to be pulled away from the roll when being spliced to another web. Different spoiler strip constructions are also disclosed.

Abstract: The leading end of a web on a roll of web convolutions is prepared for a splice by releasably securing that web end to the adjacent underlying web convolution on the roll and then adhering to that convolution just ahead of the web end a spoiler strip having a lengthwise boundary line which extends the length of the strip. A surface portion of the strip on one side of that boundary line is coated with an adhesive so that the adherent portion of the strip is speed in front of and substantially parallel to the web end whereby when the roll is rotated, the spoiler strip deflects the on-coming air stream away from the web end, yet permits the web end to be pulled away from the roll when being spliced to another web. Different spoiler strip constructions are also disclosed.

Abstract: A web splicing method and apparatus to splice a running web to the web on a ready roll so as to avoid web speed and position mis-matches due to roll eccentricity and roll end wobble. After an adhesive splicing medium is applied to the leading end of the web on the ready roll, that roll is accelerated to a selected nominal splicing speed. The roll surface speed and end edge position are then measured at least at a location at or near the splicing medium thereon. The speed and edge position of the running web are also measured. During successive revolutions of the roll, the running web speed and the roll surface speed in the vicinity of the splicing medium are compared to produce speed difference signals which are applied to control the speed of the running web and/or the roll to match the speed of the running web and the surface speed of the roll at or near the splicing medium.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus useful for palletizing elongated articles including bundles of stacked sheets or signatures. The apparatus of the present invention comprises a frame and a slide system mounted to the frame. The slide system comprises a slide conveyor and a slide support connected to the slide conveyor. There is at least one, and preferably at least two, clamp assemblies connected to the slide support. Each clamp assembly comprises a pair of opposing clamping surfaces with at least one of the clamping surfaces on a clamp, and preferably each clamping surface on an opposing clamp.

Abstract: In a web handling apparatus for continuously supplying a running web to a web-consuming machine using a main accumulator to provide uninterrupted feed of the web during splicing of the trailing end of an expiring roll to the leading end of a ready roll, an improved ready-roll acceleration technique uses a supplemental accumulator disposed between the ready roll and the splicing head to enable the ready roll to be accelerated prior to completion of the splice. This technique permits the use of a smaller main accumulator and/or increased running speeds. In fact, the total storage capacity of the main and supplemental accumulators can be less than that of the single accumulator of conventional apparatus of this type. Furthermore, the running roll can be slowed without adverse consequence so as to reduce web tension upsets. The invention is also useful in web winder/splicer applications.

Abstract: A web roll handling system comprises a roll loading section, a plurality of splicers and at least one robotic vehicle arranged to travel back and forth between the loading section and the plurality of splicers.

Abstract: An improved splicing apparatus has a splicer head comprising a pair of opposed upper and lower traveling carriages each of which supports an idler roller, a nip bar which is swingable on its carriage between a ready position downstream from its corresponding idler roller and a web preparation position at the front of the splicer head and means for pushing the nip bar towards the opposite nip bar when both carriages are in their advanced positions. A knife carriage located on the head between the two nip bar carriages retracts when either nip bar carriage retracts to permit the nip bar on the opposite carriage to be swung to its web preparation position. The knife carriage supports a knife which can be actuated momentarily to urge it from a normal retracted position to an advanced position wherein it intercepts one of the nip bars when that nip bar is in its splicing position against the opposite nip bar.

Abstract: A web winder of the center wind type drives the web roll through a controllable variable speed mechanical transmission whose input shaft is turned by a variable slip torque modulating device whose torque coupling varies in accordance with the output of a web tension sensor upstream from the web roll to immediately change the angular velocity of the roll to compensate for sudden tension upsets in the web. The amount of slip in that device is detected and compared with a selected reference slip to develop an error signal for controlling the gear-in ratio of the transmission which slows the angular velocity of the roll to compensate for the gradual web tension increase caused by increasing roll size. Thus the winder's speed characteristics are matched at the input of the transmission to the clutch characteristics at all roll diameters so that the winder requires only a minimum size torque modulating device for given web speed and tension conditions.

Abstract: Web cutting apparatus employs a rotary knife cylinder with elongated, radially outwardly projecting knife blade assemblies spaced around its periphery. A rotary anvil cylinder spaced parallel to the knife cylinder carries a corresponding peripheral array of elongated anvils. When the two cylinders rotate, the knife blades bear against the anvils at the nip between the two cylinders. The knife blade assemblies are flexible and resilient so that each blade edge is biased against its anvil at the instant of interference, with a local force sufficient to cut web. Further, the natural frequency of the knife assemblies is selected to be considerably higher than those of the other machine parts so that the spacing between the knife blades and the anvils at the nip is substantially unaffected by vibrations of those parts. Also the apparatus efficiently removes trim strips produced by the web cuts.

Abstract: Web splicing apparatus employs a pair of driven nip rolls which controllably feed web from a running roll into a festoon as web is drawn out of the festoon at a constant rate by a downstream web consuming machine. The nip rolls are driven by a DC motor connected in a closed loop servo system which compares the speed of the web entering the festoon with the web line speed to develop a command signal for the motor. During normal operation, the command signal includes a web velocity trim signal developed by monitoring the position of the festoon dancer relative to a selected reference position so as to minimize tension upsets and to maintain the dancer within its control range. During a splice sequence, the command signal comprises a deceleration ramp having a selected slope to provide controlled deceleration of the web to minimize tension upsets and to permit actuation of the splicing nips prior to actual web stop.

Abstract: A web steering frame having parallel entering and exiting rollers is supported for pivotal movement on a stationary support frame in a web guide apparatus by a system of pivoted, linear bearings. Each bearing includes a bushing which is movable along a linear guide rod. The bushings are fixed near the rollers where any loads are transmitted to the support frame thereby minimizing steering frame racking. The guide rods are pivotally connected to the support frame. The bearings are oriented so that the direction of linear freedom of each is orthogonal to a line passing through the bearing pivot and the desired steering frame pivot. The linear bearings effectively constrain the steering frame to pivotal motion about the steering frame pivot. Their use gives rise to significant reductions in cost and complexity over conventional web guide apparatus using precision arcuate guides, links or flexures.

Abstract: A system for maintaining lateral alignment of web employs a rotating mirror which reflects a light beam from a source of coherent light along a track across the web path. A mirror driven by a synchronous motor is located at the focal point of a parabolic reflector which converts the circular sweep of light from the mirror to rectilinear light that scans along the track and is incident on the track from the same direction all along the length of the track. A retro-reflector on the track reflects the light back to a detector. Thus the system generates an electrical pulse as the light beam crosses the web edge and this pulse is compared to the phase angle of the power driving the synchronous motor. This phase relationship is then used to develop an error signal to return the web to its reference location.

Abstract: An automatic web splice control system determines when an expiring roll of web of indeterminate caliper reaches a preselected splice radius by sensing when the web roll has diminished to preset first and second radii and measuring the web length resulting from that diminishment to determine web caliper. Then the system computes the roll cross-sectional area between the second radius and the preselected splice radius divided by that caliper to determine in advance the web length that will be drawn from a roll as the roll size diminishes from the second radius to the splice radius. Commencing at the second radius, the system then measures the amount of web drawn from the roll and when that amount equals the precomputed web length, the system generates a splice signal indicating that the roll has diminished to the preselected splice radius.

Abstract: In a web tension control system in which web drawn from a variably braked roll passes through a festoon, a selected amount of web is maintained in the festoon by variably braking the roll. The system maintains accurate control of the festoon dancer position over a wide range of web tensions and roll diameters by means of a separate control loop whose output is a relatively slowly changing voltage proportional to the average deviation of the festoon dancer from its selected reference position.

Abstract: An automatic web splice control system determines when an expiring roll of web of indeterminate caliper reaches a preselected splice radius by sensing when the web roll has diminished to preset first and second radii and measuring the web length resulting from that diminishment to determine web caliper. Then the system computes the roll cross-sectional area between the second radius and the preselected splice radius divided by that caliper to determine in advance the web length that will be drawn from a roll as the roll size diminishes from the second radius to the splice radius. Commencing at the second radius, the system then measures the amount of web drawn from the roll and when that amount equals the precomputed web length, the system generates a splice signal indicating that the roll has diminished to the preselected splice radius.

Abstract: An automatic web splice control system determines when an expiring roll of web of indeterminate caliper reaches a preselected splice radius by sensing when the web roll has diminished to preset first and second radii and measuring the web length resulting from that diminishment to determine web caliper. Then the system computes the roll cross-sectional area between the second radius and the preselected splice radius divided by that caliper to determine in advance the web length that will be drawn from a roll as the roll size diminishes from the second radius to the splice radius. Commencing at the second radius, the system then measures the amount of web drawn from the roll and when that amount equals the precomputed web length, the system generates a splice signal indicating that the roll has diminished to the preselected splice radius.

Abstract: Web supply apparatus for supplying relatively stiff web material such as liner board for a corrugator serves the web from one of two supply rolls. The running web passes through a splicing station and a festoon on its way to the web-consuming machine. The leading end of the ready web is prepared on a web positioning bar away from the splicing station and then carried by the bar to the splicing station while the running web is being consumed. When the roll of running web expires, a control system automatically stops the roll of running web and special pressure pads at the splicing station press the running web and ready web together to make a strong splice between them. Immediately thereafter, a knive fires directly behind the splice, thereby cutting the trailing end of the running web. The pressure pads firmly grip the webs above and below the line of the cut so that the knife slices cleanly through the web.