Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a portion of sheet product stored in a dispenser, in which a dispensed sheet portion is to be removed by tearing the sheet portion from the remaining product supply. The dispenser includes a system which detects the presence of sheet product in a region of a dispensing outlet. Upon detection of a potential user, the sensing system causes dispensing of paper, on the condition that the sheet portion is regarded as having been torn off. The system includes elements for detecting a discontinuity in the sheet product.

Abstract: A film splicer apparatus is disclosed for splicing a film used for bagging snack foods. The apparatus includes a frame and an axle which is rotatably supported by the frame for rotatably supporting a first roll of the film used for the bagging of the snack foods. A further axle is disposed spaced from the axle for rotatably supporting a replacement second roll of film for replacing the first roll of the film when spent. The first roll and the replacement second roll are rotatable about a first and second axis respectively, the first and second axes being disposed spaced and parallel relative to each other. A tail grabber is provided for grabbing a tail end of the spent first roll. Also, a tracking control is used for tracking the tail end of the spent first roll. A registration device is controlled by the tracking control for registering the tail end of the first roll with an aligned leading edge of the replacement second roll.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical roll towel dispenser includes a housing with a roll carrier disposed therein to rotationally support a roll of towel material. An electro-mechanical feed mechanism is disposed in the housing to dispense measured sheets of the towel material. The feed mechanism operates in a first mechanical operational mode wherein the towel sheets are dispensed by a user grasping and pulling on a tail of the towel material extending from the housing, and a second electrical operational mode wherein a measured length of a next sheet is automatically and electrically fed out of the housing to define the tail for the next user.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing roll stock material comprises a pair of rollers for receiving the roll stock material, the pair of rollers being axially offset. A base supports the pair of rollers and a wheel assembly is coupled to the base. The wheel assembly enables movement of the dispenser and rotation of the pair of rollers causes the roll stock material to be unrolled. The rollers are driven by a drive mechanism to deliver a free end of material to a workstation for processing.

Abstract: A sleeve label splicer apparatus is disclosed for splicing together a tail end of a roll of sleeve labels to a leading edge of a replacement roll of sleeve labels. The splicer apparatus includes a drive roller for driving and guiding the roll of sleeve labels and a backing roller cooperating with the drive roller such that the drive and backing rollers define therebetween a nip for controllably positioning the tail end of the roll of sleeve labels relative to the leading edge of the replacement roll of sleeved labels. The arrangement is such that the tail end is disposed in abutting relationship relative to the leading edge of the replacement roll. A splicing tape applicator is provided for applying a splicing tape to front surfaces of the abutting tail end and leading edge. Also, a further splicing tape applicator is provided for applying a further splicing tape to back surfaces of the abutting tail end and leading edge.

Abstract: A concentric tape applicator has a support shaft that defines an axis and includes a structure for supporting a tape pad for rotation with the support shaft about the axis. Guide rollers are mounted on the support shaft for rotation concentrically about the axis for guiding tape from the tape pad for application to an elongated member advancing along the axis relative to the support shaft. A drive is directly coupled to the guide elements. A differential clutch is provided that has an input shaft directly coupled to the drive and an output shaft coupled to the support shaft for applying braking forces to the pad. A feedback circuit is provided for sensing the speed of rotation of the pad and applying a feedback signal to the clutch for regulating the excitation of the clutch to maintain a substantial uniform tension on the tape dispensed from the pad so potentially independently of the amount of tape remaining on the pad.

Abstract: A roll unwinding system having a kitchen rail, a primary drive assembly, and an elevator assembly is disclosed. The unwinding system stages and positions multiple rolls, which are spliced together on the fly. A method for unwinding sequential rolls of web material that eliminates machine down time for positioning new parent rolls is disclosed. A method for unwinding and splicing the rolls is also disclosed.

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.

Abstract: A flying reel changer includes first drive means for rotating the new paper reel at a minimum splice speed and second drive means for accelerating the old paper reel from either standstill or crawl speed to a speed which substantially corresponds to the minimum splice speed. The flying reel changer includes actuating means that, while the old paper reel is being accelerated from the first state, moves the dancer roll such that a substantially uniform tension is maintained in the paper web. The flying reel changer also includes joining means that joins the old paper web and the new paper web together while the old paper web and the new paper web are moving at the minimum splice speed.

Abstract: In the method in unwinding, paper web (W) is discharged from a reel (R1) that is becoming empty and the paper web of a new full reel (R2) is spliced at the discharge speed to the paper web discharged from the reel that is becoming empty. The terminal end point (L) of the web of the reel (R1) that is becoming empty is stored as information indicating its position in the longitudinal direction of the web in a readable memory (M) corresponding to the reel. During the discharge the distance travelled by the web is determined and compared to the memory, and when there is a predetermined length of web to the terminal end point (L) remaining on the reel (R1) that is becoming empty, a splicing command is given, whereafter the leading end of the paper web of a new full reel (R2) is spliced to the paper web (W) being discharged.

Abstract: A roll stand with a frame, a holder arm arranged in the frame, a shaft for the holder, a holder, a motor, and a transmission agent. The transmission agent includes a first and second toothed wheel mounted on an incoming shaft, which is arranged to be driven by the motor, a third toothed wheel and a fifth toothed wheel are arranged on the shaft for the holder, freewheel hubs are arranged at the shaft for the holder between the third and the fifth toothed wheel. The freewheel hubs are capable of locking a toothed wheel in one direction of rotation. Due to the arrangement of the toothed wheels, a first and second drive path is formed so that the transmission agent is capable of achieving two gear changes on an outgoing shaft, depending on the direction of rotation of the motor.