Joining Indefinite Length Laminae End-to-end Patents (Class 156/157)
  • Patent number: 6858105
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing continuous web material to an applicator machine, comprising a placement arm for supporting a length of splicing tape and the end of a substitute roll for attachment to a supply web, and a knife holder mounted for movement from a standby position to a position engaged by the substitute web to trigger movement of the cutting knife of the knife holder for cutting the supply web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Adalis Corporation
    Inventors: James N. Hartman, Peter M. Downie
  • Patent number: 6841019
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for splicing a strip of material packaged in stacks arranged parallel to each other. The method comprises a step of reversely rotating the bottom end portion around the transverse edge of the bottom end portion and/or reversely rotating the top end portion around the transverse edge of the bottom end portion until the longitudinal tangential vector of the bottom end portion forms an angle of 90 and 270 degrees with the longitudinal tangential vector of the top end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: The Procter + Gamble Company
    Inventor: Martin Scaife
  • Patent number: 6841020
    Abstract: The leading end of a running fresh web of cigarette paper or the like is spliced to the trailing end of a running expiring web while the ends travel at the same speed, in the same direction and next to each other. The splicing unit includes a rotatable roll at one side of the path for the advancing ends, and a rotary carrier at the other side of such path opposite the roll. The carrier is provided with a segment having a convex knurling surface which cooperates with the peripheral surface of the roll to provide the webs with a splice while the segment engages the adjacent web. Prior to splicing, the carrier is rotated in a first direction to move the segment away from the path for the webs, and such movement is followed by rotation of the carrier in a second direction to accelerate the knurling surface at least close (a) to the common speed of the webs and (b) at least close to the speed of the peripheral surface of the roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Hauni Maschienbau Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Albert-Berend Hebels, Frank Grothaus, Franz Hartmann, Jens Collin
  • Patent number: 6835259
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a method is described for ultrasonically splicing together overlapping ends of first and second lengths of photographic film strips of common film strip width with a film splicer employing a stationary elongated ultrasonic horn positioned on one side of the overlapping film strip ends in the width direction and a relatively movable anvil positioned on the opposite side of the overlapping film strip ends which traverses across the overlapping film ends by sliding or rolling in the length direction of the horn while the horn is ultrasonically vibrated and which provides pressure to the overlapping film ends while traversing across the overlapping film ends such that ultrasonic energy from the horn is transferred to the overlapping film ends effecting an ultrasonic weld between such film ends, wherein one of the first and second lengths of photographic film strips comprises an acetate based film strip and the other of the first and second lengths of photographi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas M. Smith, Frederick J. Oleson, Robert W. Easterly, Jan A. Chrisler
  • Publication number: 20040256049
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of increasing flexibility of joints between areas of plastic materials, and in particular the joint between a catheter shaft and a balloon neck involving welding the overlapping portions to create a joint region and applying a tensile force to the joint region, the force being of sufficient strength to elongate the joint region, thus thinning the joint region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
    Inventors: Donagh O'Shaughnessy, Alan O'Driscoll
  • Publication number: 20040244899
    Abstract: A supply of sheet stock material for use in a cushioning conversion machine is disclosed. The supply of stock material includes at least one ply of sheet stock material rolled or folded into a compact configuration such as a roll of wound stock material or a stack of fan-folded stock material. The ply has disposed on a leading or trailing end thereof, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer and a removable release liner covering the pressure sensitive adhesive layer. When a supply of sheet stock material is almost spent, a succeeding supply of stock material may be spliced to the almost spent supply by removing the release liner to expose the adhesive and then applying the leading or trailing end, having the adhesive thereon, to a trailing end of the almost spent supply of stock material or leading end of the succeeding supply of stock material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventor: Joseph J. Harding
  • Patent number: 6827803
    Abstract: A belt press use a combination of vacuum and atmospheric pressure to provide the majority of the compressive force between platens. A first platen has a substantially rigid proximal side and a plurality of vacuum ports communicating therewith. The compressive force is generated by pulling a vacuum at the vacuum ports associated with the first platen while allowing atmospheric pressure to act against its distal side. Heat may be applied via at least one of the platens while generating the compressive force. Evolved gases are vented via the vacuum ports while applying the heat by continuing to pull the vacuum during heating. When the now-joined belt ends have cooled after the application of heat, the compressive force is relieved by ceasing the pulling the vacuum at the vacuum ports associated with the first platen. The second platen of the belt press may be similar to the first platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Inventor: John A. Willis
  • Publication number: 20040221943
    Abstract: A process for adhesive bonding of an endless seamed flexible belt, wherein the belt has a first end and a second end, each of the first end and the second end with a plurality of mutually mating elements which join in an interlocking relationship to form a seam, and the seam has an adhesive, the process includes providing an adhesive strip on a front side of a release substrate to form an adhesive tape, wherein the release substrate includes polypropylene, vinyls, siloxane containing polymers, acrylates, polyimines, or mixtures thereof; providing the adhesive tape over the seam, wherein the front side of the release substrate containing the adhesive strip is in contact with the seam and mutually mating members; and subjecting the adhesive tape to adhesive bonding, wherein the adhesive strip melts and flows between the mutually mating members of the seam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C.U. Yu, Min-Hong Fu
  • Publication number: 20040221942
    Abstract: A process for adhesive bonding of an endless seamed flexible belt, wherein the belt has a first end and a second end, each of the first end and the second end with a plurality of mutually mating elements which join in an interlocking relationship to form a seam, and the seam has an adhesive, the process includes providing an adhesive strip on a front side of a release substrate to form an adhesive tape, wherein the release substrate includes polypropylene, vinyls, siloxane containing polymers, acrylates, polyimines, or mixtures thereof; providing the adhesive tape over the seam, wherein the front side of the release substrate containing the adhesive strip is in contact with the seam and mutually mating members; and subjecting the adhesive tape to adhesive bonding, wherein the adhesive strip melts and flows between the mutually mating members of the seam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C.U. Yu, Min-Hong Fu
  • Patent number: 6814123
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for applying a flying splicing tape to a roll of sheet material. A preferred embodiment of the invention provides methods and apparatus for lifting a portion of the outer-most layer of sheet material away from a roll of sheet material to form a lifted portion of the outer-most layer, applying a splicing tape to a wound portion of the roll, and applying pressure to the lifted portion of the outer-most layer to progressively place the lifted portion of the outer-most layer in contact with the remainder of the roll and the splicing tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Leif O. Erickson
  • Patent number: 6814827
    Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for joining films wherein a rear end portion of a preceding film and a front end portion of a trailing film are mutually joined without using a joining material such as an adhesion tape or the like to sufficiently contribute the joint portion to heat seal likewise the other portions of the films and realize excellent liquid tightness and airtightness of the joint portion itself and also tensile strength required for the film itself is given to the joint portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Taisei Lamick Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsunori Futase
  • Publication number: 20040219355
    Abstract: A double-faced, non-woven supported silicone pressure sensitive adhesive splicing tape comprising a non-woven backing material having opposing porous surfaces, each said surfaces being coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive, with at least one of said surfaces being coated with a silicone pressure sensitive adhesive layer which is coated and cured on said surface. A method of using the double-faced, non-woven supported silicone pressure sensitive adhesive splicing tape to splice substrates having a low energy surface is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Michael Clemmens, Colleen McNulty Wagner, Peter D. Gabriele
  • Patent number: 6811636
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and to a machine for splicing the trailing end of a running expiring web (e.g., a web of cigarette paper) to the leading end of a fresh web while the ends of the webs travel next to each other, in the same direction and at an at least substantially identical speed between a rotary knurling surface and a complementary second rotary surface which may but need not be a knurling surface. The rolls which constitute or mount the carriers for the two surfaces are driven in such a way that each n-th (e.g., each tenth) revolution results in the making of a splice between the leading and trailing ends of the webs. The forwardly and/or rearwardly extending remnants of the fresh and expiring webs are torn off the spliced-together webs at the respective ends of the splice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: HAUNI Maschinenbau Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Albert-Berend Hebels, Frank Grothaus, Franz Hartmann
  • Patent number: 6811637
    Abstract: A source for supplying lengths of adhesive tape applies such adhesive elements with their outer surfaces facing outwards onto a gripping element consisting of a rotating drum. The drum in question applies the adhesive element on the outer surface of a reel of web material in such a way as to establish adhesive connection with the latter. As a result of a subsequent movement of the drum with respect to the reel, there is formed a loop of web material. Since the loop is separate from the reel, it can undergo a cutting action with the consequent formation of a free flap that can be used for unreeling the web material from the reel. After the web material has been unreeled for a certain stretch and the portion on which the aforesaid adhesive element was applied has been eliminated, on the same web material there may be applied a further adhesive element which is left uncovered for at least part of its surface provided with adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Fameccanica.Data S.p.A.
    Inventors: Pietro Pelagatti, Giancarlo Casuscelli
  • Patent number: 6808580
    Abstract: A method is provided for splicing a conveyor belt having vulcanized rubber with steel strands embedded in the vulcanized rubber, comprising the steps of exposing a plurality of strands at two belt ends, and applying a vulcanizable rubber composition to the exposed strands to form a spliced joint between the two belt ends, the vulcanizable rubber composition comprising 100 parts by weight of rubber, and the rubber comprising from about 1 to about 20 parts by weight of syndiotactic polybutadiene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Terry Frank Allen, Jean Nicolas Bergh
  • Publication number: 20040200047
    Abstract: The invention relates to a splice between two ends of yarn, the ends of yarn, positioned to point at each other without increase in diameter, each being joined over a length of yarn to at least one longitudinal strip. The longitudinal strip is provided on its side facing the ends of yarn with a joining agent, said joining agent permanently binding the ends of yarn over the respective length of yarn to the longitudinal strip in frictional non-positive manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventor: Falk-Hayo Sanders
  • Publication number: 20040194872
    Abstract: A method for the welding of plastic materials in the form of webs, films or the like by means of a heating wedge, welding being carried out without the use of a second pressure roller below the welded material webs. For this purpose, the heating wedge is placed onto the lower material web and is moved over the latter under pressure. The pressure is generated via a holding-down device which has a holding-down roller and which presses onto the upper material web and onto the heating wedge. A floating mounting for the heating wedge compensates for slight unevennesses on the lower material web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Walter Zurmuehle, Paul Zimmerli
  • Publication number: 20040188003
    Abstract: A splicing unit for splicing strips of in rubber material embedded cords to each other, which splicing unit comprises a splicing table and a splicing machine placed over the splicing table and determining a splice-line, wherein the splicing table is provided with a longitudinal axial line dividing the splicing table in a first splicing table half and a second splicing table half, an inlet end, an outlet end, a first splicing table transport unit placed on the first splicing table half, which first splicing table transport unit extends from the inlet end of the splicing table up to a distance from the inlet end of the splicing table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: VMI EPE HOLLAND B.V.
    Inventors: Klaas Nauta, Theodorus Gijsbertus Gerardus Teunissen
  • Patent number: 6796354
    Abstract: Splicer (1) for splicing to each other strips (30) of cords embedded in rubber material. The device comprises a supply transport device (2) for supplying strips in a supply direction. A splicing unit (6) splices strips to each other, and comprises a splicing table (7) and a splicing machine (8) placed over the splicing table. The supply transport device supplies strips to the splicing unit. A discharge transport device (11) discharges strips spliced to each other. A first (4) and a second (5) transport unit that are in line with each other are provided. The first transport unit (4) supplies strips to the second transport unit (5), in which the second unit supplies strips to the splicing unit and has an inlet end and an outlet end. The outlet end of the second transport unit and the splicing table are laterally, that means transverse to the transport direction, movable with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: VMI Epe Holland B.V.
    Inventors: Klaas Nauta, Theodorus Gijsbertus Gerardus Teunissen
  • Publication number: 20040182498
    Abstract: A process for splicing a first portion of absorbent material to a second portion of absorbent material to form a longer, continuous length of absorbent material suitable for uninterrupted sequential infeed to a processing machine. The process includes the steps of placing a trailing end of the first portion adjacent a leading end of the second portion and aligning the ends. A piece of splicing material is attached to the ends. The piece of splicing material has a fluid permeability at least about as great as a fluid permeability of the first portion of absorbent material and at least about as great as a fluid permeability of the second portion of absorbent material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Beitz, Alissa R. Bruss, Robert J. Makolin
  • Publication number: 20040182497
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically activating a paster or splicing mechanism in a printing press to connect web material from an expiring first roll to a new second roll, comprising a detector which detects a mark on the face of the web at the end of the expiring first roll and thereby activates the paster or splicing mechanism to connect the web from the expiring roll to the web of the new second roll. Because the detector acts instantly the press can continue to run during pasting or splicing and very little wasted web is left on the expired first core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventor: John D Lowrey
  • Publication number: 20040182496
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for splicing a strip of material packaged in stacks arranged parallel to each other. The method comprises a step of reversely rotating the bottom end portion around the transverse edge of the bottom end portion and/or reversely rotating the top end portion around the transverse edge of the bottom end portion until the longitudinal tangential vector of the bottom end portion forms an angle of 90 and 270 degrees with the longitudinal tangential vector of the top end portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventor: Martin Scaife
  • Patent number: 6790302
    Abstract: An adhesive strip is usable to prepare a material roll for a flying roll change. A support strip has at least one adhesive layer or stripe on its upper surface. A further adhesive zone is provided on the undersurface of the support strip. The adhesive zone includes at least two adhesive layers which are separated from each other by a backing paper. An additional separate adhesive strip is also placed on the undersurface of the support strip, spaced from the adhesive zone and without a backing paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Franz Beck, Andreas Bruno Rösch
  • Patent number: 6786264
    Abstract: Automatic splicing device for laminar webs in continuous feed processes, consisting of two reel-carriers (1 and 2), mounted above which are the respective preparation heads (3 and 4) and between them a moving head (14) capable of displacement between the positions of said preparation heads (3 and 4), for the preparation in either of these of the web from a reel in stand-by for the subsequent joining to the web of another infeed reel when the latter runs out, without any interruption to the feed process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Inventor: Manuel Torres Martinez
  • Patent number: 6780268
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing endless reinforced belts is disclosed. The method comprising the steps of laying up on a flat build table at least one sheet of curable material and at least one sheet of reinforcement material forming a carcass, curing a central portion of the carcass, and then splicing and curing the uncured ends of the carcass to form the endless lugged track. The manufacturing system has three cells: a building cell, a flat cure press cell, and a splice cure press cell. Each cell is operated in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Ronald Alan Wellman, Kent Alan Stubbendieck, Thomas Goodsell Hutchins, Mario Antonio Rago
  • Publication number: 20040144486
    Abstract: Apparatus and a method are provided for guiding the seam allowance of a seamed joint of a fabric into alignment longitudinally with a seam sealing tape applied to the seamed joint within a consolidation nip, all to effect a leakproof seal of the joint. The apparatus includes guide means positioned proximate the consolidation nip, adjacent the entrance thereof, the guide means having an opening therein to and through which the seam allowance is passed. The opening is of a size sufficient to accept and guide the seam allowance passing therethrough. The opening is preferably a slot, the open end of the slot being positioned adjacent the seamed joint and aligned with the tape as the tape and joint pass to and through the consolidation nip. The guide means optionally includes co-acting shock absorbers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventors: Andrea Biro, D. Scott Wolf
  • Publication number: 20040140044
    Abstract: A banderoling machine (1) has film rolls (8, 9) on sides of a feed table (2). Film webs (3) of the rolls are joined by a seal seam to form a film curtain (4) which passes through a slot (5) in the feed table (2). Material to be banderoled is pushed towards the curtain, film is placed around the material to form a loop and the loop is tightened by a tensioning device (6) which temporarily clamps at least one of the film webs, and is heat-sealed by a heat-sealing device and separated from the remainder of the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Roland Rassi, Manfred Kirchmann
  • Publication number: 20040134591
    Abstract: An adhesive strip is usable to prepare a material roll for a flying roll change. A support strip has at least one adhesive layer or stripe on its upper surface. A further adhesive zone is provided on the undersurface of the support strip. The adhesive zone includes at least two adhesive layers which are separated from each other by a backing paper. An additional separate adhesive strip is also placed on the undersurface of the support strip, spaced from the adhesive zone and without a backing paper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Peter Franz Beck, Andreas Bruno Rosch
  • Publication number: 20040129374
    Abstract: The leading end of a running fresh web of cigarette paper or the like is spliced to the trailing end of a running expiring web while the ends travel at the same speed, in the same direction and next to each other. The splicing unit includes a rotatable roll at one side of the path for the advancing ends, and a rotary carrier at the other side of such path opposite the roll. The carrier is provided with a segment having a convex knurling surface which cooperates with the peripheral surface of the roll to provide the webs with a splice while the segment engages the adjacent web. Prior to splicing, the carrier is rotated in a first direction to move the segment away from the path for the webs, and such movement is followed by rotation of the carrier in a second direction to accelerate the knurling surface at least close (a) to the common speed of the webs and (b) at least close to the speed of the peripheral surface of the roll.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Applicant: HAUNI Maschinenbau Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Albert-Berend Hebels, Frank Grothaus, Franz Hartmann, Jens Collin
  • Patent number: 6749708
    Abstract: A method is provided for splicing a conveyor belt having vulcanized rubber with steel strands embedded in the vulcanized rubber, comprising the steps of exposing a plurality of strands at two belt ends, and applying a vulcanizable rubber composition to the exposed strands to form a spliced joint between the two belt ends, the vulcanizable rubber composition comprising 100 parts by weight of rubber, and the rubber comprising from about 1 to about 40 parts by weight of a polyoctenamer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Inventors: Terry Frank Allen, Kevin Xie
  • Publication number: 20040103978
    Abstract: A device for splicing strips has a first drum rotating about a first axis and having a first outer face for selectively retaining and guiding a first strip; and a second drum rotating about a second axis and having a second outer face for selectively guiding and retaining a second strip; the first and second outer face are so shaped as to form a gap for passage of the strips, and to press the first and second strip and a sticker together as a function of the indexing angles of the first and second drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Applicant: G. D SOCIETA' PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Luca Borderi, Mario Spatafora
  • Publication number: 20040103977
    Abstract: The invention relates to improvements to methods for recharging a machine which is used to pack groups of products (1, 2, 3, 4) with the aid of a plastic film (5; 51; 53) wherein the film (51) of a distributor reel (7) is unwound, the film of a full reel (70) is subsequently engaged into injection means (17) in such a way that said reel (70) becomes a distributor reel in turn, then the empty distributor reel (7) is replaced with a new full reel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventors: Laurent Mace, Francois Gosset
  • Patent number: 6740182
    Abstract: A flexible imaging member seam treatment method comprising bonding a thermoplastic polymer film to the seam of the flexible imaging member after placing the film on the seam. The film is bonded by heating the film above a glass transition temperature of at least one of a thermoplastic polymer from which the film is made and a polymer from which an imaging layer of the flexible imaging member is made. The film can be formed on a flexible, removable substrate. Treatment according to embodiments significantly improves seam region physical properties, greatly reducing cracking and delamination resulting from bending stresses induced by traversal of rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Robert C. U. Yu
  • Publication number: 20040094257
    Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for joining films wherein a rear end portion of a preceding film and a front end portion of a trailing film are mutually joined without using a joining material such as an adhesion tape or the like to sufficiently contribute the joint portion to heat seal likewise the other portions of the films and realize excellent liquid tightness and airtightness of the joint portion itself and also tensile strength required for the film itself is given to the joint portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventor: Katsunori Futase
  • Publication number: 20040089402
    Abstract: A tape splicing mechanism joins the tail of one tape to the leading edge of another tape. A frame defines a passageway along which the tape passes. A pair of arms rotatably attached to the frame have projecting posts and rotate between a first position where the posts are closer to the pathway and a second position where they are further from the pathway. The arms are urged toward the first position and a catch mechanism holds them in the second position until released by a release mechanism when a release indicia in the first tape passes. The leading edge of the second tape is looped around the first tape to form a loose knot and is tied to the post on each side of the first tape. When the arms are released they move to the second position and tighten the knot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Gilles Cyr, Elvin Dalebout, Ronald L. Willadson
  • Publication number: 20040089398
    Abstract: A method of labeling a product container includes the steps of providing first and second webs of heat shrinkable label material and a heat shrinkable splice tape having an adhesive on a surface of the tape. The webs are arranged such that ends of the webs abut one another and the splice tape is adhered to a portion of each of the webs to extend transversely across a width defined by the webs to form a continuous web. The webs may include separate laminates of heat shrinkable material and ink. The webs have a combined length sufficient to encircle an outer surface of a container and shrink into a substantially conforming relationship thereto when the webs are heated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Applicant: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Doug Ulbrich, Thomas Eric Johnson
  • Patent number: 6733608
    Abstract: A method for processing high bulk tissue webs is disclosed for forming a wet web, drying the web, winding the dried web to form a plurality of parent rolls, unwinding the parent rolls by transmitting torque through the roll center and/or ends, moving the partially unwound roll to effect splicing with a subsequent parent roll, and rewinding the thus united web. In particular embodiments, the torque transmitting means comprise side clamping mechanisms that engage only the end surfaces of the parent rolls. In other embodiments, an automated off-line method for splicing tissue webs from different parent rolls utilizes a finishing unit that substantially continuously impacts each web during unwinding to splice the webs together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: James Leo Baggot, Michael Earl Daniels, Ronald Frederick Gropp, David Robert Gruber, Paul Kerner Pauling, James Monroe Perkins, James B. Ba Dour, Jr., Larry E. Birnbaum, Rudolph S. Fortuna
  • Publication number: 20040074590
    Abstract: The method for splicing together first (10) and second (20) webs of pre-creased laminated packaging material for manufacturing sealed packages of pourable food products in a form, fill and seal type packaging machine, includes the steps of holding an end portion (18) of a first web (10), with its inner surface (14) oriented in a predetermined direction. An end portion (28) of a second web (20) is cut to form an undercut surface (29). The undercut surface (29) of the second web (20) is superimposed onto the end portion (18) of the first web (10), with the outer surface (27) of the second web (20) in contact with the inner surface (14) of the first web (10). The undercut surface (29) of the second web (20) is then bonded to the end portion (18) of said first web (10). At the splice (30), the inner surface (14) of the first web (10) and the inner surface (24) of the second web (20) together define an integral, continuous inner surface (14, 24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: Paolo Canti, Paolo Benedetti, Roberto Grisendi, Gianni Morselli, Davide Sabbadini
  • Publication number: 20040045658
    Abstract: A splicing tape (100) is provided having a base layer (10), an adhesive layer (20) on the top of the base layer (10), a first adhesive strip (30a) and a second adhesive strip (30b) on the bottom of the base layer (10), and a two lines of separating portions (50a and 50b) in the base layer (10). A splicing tape (100a) is also provided having a base layer (10a), a top adhesive (20a) on the top of the base layer (10) with detackified portions (14a and 15a), and a bottom adhesive (30c) on the bottom of the base layer (10a) with a detackified portion (23a), and first and second lines of separating portions (50a and 50b) in the base layer (10a). The line of separating portions (50a or 50b) can include perforations having a ratio of perforation length to space between perforations between a ratio of 4 to 6 and a ratio of 9 to 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: PERMACEL
    Inventors: Jason A. Bean, Koichi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20040037993
    Abstract: A method is provided for splicing a conveyor belt having vulcanized rubber with steel strands embedded in the vulcanized rubber, comprising the steps of exposing a plurality of strands at two belt ends, and applying a vulcanizable rubber composition to the exposed strands to form a spliced joint between the two belt ends, the vulcanizable rubber composition comprising 100 parts by weight of rubber, and the rubber comprising from about 1 to about 20 parts by weight of syndiotactic polybutadiene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Terry Frank Allen, Jean Nicolas Bergh
  • Publication number: 20040020585
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously seaming cured EPDM membrane to form a composite sheet of predetermined width and indefinite length. The method includes the steps of providing at least two rolls of cured EPDM membrane having longitudinal marginal edges and feeding the cured EPDM membrane from the at least two rolls in a first direction. The longitudinal marginal edges of the cured EPDM membranes are positioned in an overlapping relationship as the cured EPDM membranes are fed in the first direction and then the overlapping longitudinal marginal edges are continuously seamed to form a composite sheet of indefinite length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Michael J. Hubbard, Walter J. Kelly, Anthony Verrocchi, Raymond J. Weinert
  • Patent number: 6685786
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided to improve a cutting reliability, to facilitate automation of the connection of wires and to allow for a reliable detection of wire joints. Ends of wires (a, a′) to be connected along their longitudinal directions are linearly placed, and a tape (t) is wound over and around the both wire ends. An adhesive layer of the tape is faced up, and the tape (t) is wound as the wire ends are rolled, thereby connecting the wires (a, a′). Since the tape displays a strong tear resistance in its longitudinal direction, the wires are strongly connected. The tape may contain reinforced fibers to display a stronger tear resistance. The wires (a, a′) are rolled by being held between plates (11, 33) and moving the plate (33) with respect to the plate (11). The tape (t) is placed on an auxiliary base plate (12) and is wound by the rolling movement of the wires (a, a′). The plate (33) is moved back after winding of the tape (t) to untwist the wires (a, a′).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Susumu Matsuzawa, Tomiyuki Takeda
  • Patent number: 6682620
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for welding materials has a flat anvil (12) having a width of at least two inches and a length of at least eighteen inches. A welding apparatus (14) having at least one welding head (22) is mounted on a rail (16) which is parallel to said anvil (12). The apparatus (10) may be mobile. In an illustrated embodiment, welding apparatus (14) is an ultrasonic welding unit, and apparatus (10) is used to weld thermoset materials. As illustrated, the method is used to weld thermoset plastic monofilament fabric (34) to provide a continuous method of treating the monofilament fabric (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Robert John Gartland, Kenneth Michael Kot
  • Patent number: 6679963
    Abstract: A process is described for the preparation of end-products made of acrylic fiber, for external use, by the joining of one or more sheets with a copolyamide adhesive, resistant to solar light, the above junction been effected by the melting of said adhesive on the acrylic matrix and subsequent pressing of the glued area with a system capable of exerting an adequate pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Montefibre S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mario Pinton, Raffaele Tedesco
  • Patent number: 6673185
    Abstract: A process is provided for splicing multiple blocks of multi-lane festooned material. The tail ends of stacks from a first block are spliced to lead ends of stacks from a second block, and the tail ends of the stacks in the second block are spliced with the lead ends of stacks in the first block or another block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Beduhn, Kent E. Kordsmeier, Rodney L. Abba, Robert J. Makolin
  • Publication number: 20040000372
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing the amount of wallboard wasted during the manufacturing process is disclosed. Wallboard sections that contain a cover paper splice, which sections must go to waste, are reduced in size during the manufacturing process. This is accomplished by determining the optimum location for a cover paper splice to be made and making the splice at or near this location, such that a rotary knife can readily isolate the splice onto a section of wallboard having a reduce length. This function is accomplished using any suitable computer equipment capable of monitoring desired manufacturing conditions and using this data to calculate the optimum location for a splice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventor: John Benedetti
  • Publication number: 20030230377
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for splicing closer tape utilizes a first clamping assembly adapted to hold a first section of closer tape and a second clam ping assembly adapted to hold a second section of closer tape. A moving assembly is adapted to move the first and second clamping assemblies relative to one another so as to permit alignment of the first and second sections of closer tape. A joining assembly is adapted to join the first and second sections of closer tape together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: Robert R. Turvey, Theis F. Clarke, Jeramy M. Dubay
  • Publication number: 20030211271
    Abstract: A tail for adhering the tailing edge of a first roll of tape that is being fed to an application device to the leading edge of a second roll of tape without stopping the tapes includes a bulge which is located in the tail and has an adhesive coating on each side. A first protective element located on the tail releasably covers the adhesive coating on one side of the bulge and a second protective element located on the other side of the bulge releasably covers the adhesive coating on the other side of the bulge when the tail is wrapped onto a roll base. The leading edge of the second roll of tape is wrapped around the tape from the first roll to form a loose knot and then is threaded through a pair of pincher rollers through which the first roll of tape is fed. Thus, when the bulge passes through the pincher rollers it becomes adhesively attached to the leading edge of the second roll and the knot is tightened around the second roll and a mechanical joint is formed between the tapes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventors: Gilles Cyr, John Getz, Mike Liles, Elvin Dalebout
  • Publication number: 20030211272
    Abstract: A tail for adhering the tailing edge of a first roll of tape that is being fed to an application device to the leading edge of a second roll of tape without stopping the tapes includes a bulge which is located in the tail and has an adhesive coating on each side. A first protective element located on the tail releasably covers the adhesive coating on one side of the bulge and a second protective element located on the other side of the bulge releasably covers the adhesive coating on the other side of the bulge when the tail is wrapped onto a roll base. The leading edge of the second roll of tape is wrapped around the tape from the first roll to form a loose knot and then is threaded through a pair of pincher rollers through which the first roll of tape is fed. Thus, when the bulge passes through the pincher rollers it becomes adhesively attached to the leading edge of the second roll and the knot is tightened around the second roll and a mechanical joint is formed between the tapes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventors: Gilles Cyr, John Getz, Mike Liles, Elvin Dalebout
  • Patent number: 6647140
    Abstract: A spectrum inverter receives optical values from a scanning device and applies a spectrum inversion method to the optical values. The spectrum inversion method is selected based on a medium identifier that identifies the medium upon which the scanned image is formed. The resulting spectral space values are then output and may be used by an image output device to reproduce the scanned image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Bank One
    Inventors: Shen-Ge Wang, Gaurav Sharma