Abstract: An unwinding system for handling reels of tissue, which for each laminar ply of tissue to be applied consists of two reel-carrier units onto which are mounted the respective reels, one of which supplies the laminar band for processing, whilst the other remains on stand-by to be spliced onto the processing line when the supply reel runs out, with the reel-carriers capable of vertical displacement, for the separate positioning of the respective reels, one in the upper part and the other in the lower part, for the preparation of the stand-by reel whilst the other is in the operating stage; with the reels mounted in the reel-carriers by means of attachment cones, by means of which unwinding rotation is controlled.

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.

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.

Abstract: A flying web splice apparatus and method for splicing a moving web of material to another web of material without tape or adhesives being used at the splice. Two splicer assemblies are provided which each have a rotatable parent roll feeding web material into the splicer apparatus. Each splicer assembly has a series of substantially parallel vacuum belts and a series of vacuum boxes therein. The vacuum boxes for each splicer assembly are evacuated by a vacuum blower, which creates a vacuum causing a suction through holes within a portion of the vacuum belts in order to hold web material to the vacuum belts. The series of belts for each splicer assembly are preferably rotatable about a top pivot to bring a bottom portion of each series of belts together.

Abstract: An automatic tape splicer includes a block of metal that has a channel journalled into it to receive tape from first and second rolls. Adjacent to and protruding into the channel are first and second pinch rollers. Each roll of tape to be spliced includes a leading end and a trailing end. The leading end includes a portion having adhesive applied to one side which may be covered by release paper. The trailing end includes a reinforced portion which is thicker than the normal thickness of the tape. The channel is dimensioned such that the pinch rollers will press the trailing end of the tape against an adhesive-exposed leading end of the second roll of tape, splicing the two rolls together as the trailing end feeds through the channel engaging the sticky leading end of the second roll.

Abstract: A pair of synchronously rotating draw-in devices are placed in contact with an outer layer of a web of material wrapped on a supply roll. The outer layer is pulled between the two draw-in devices. This pulled-in outer layer can them be conveyed to a separate processing station where it can be given a fresh end.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a splice between the trailing end of an expiring web of paper or other material, and the leading end of a new web of material. The apparatus includes a clamp for engaging and stopping the advancing web, and a web severing mechanism to transversely move across and sever the stopped web. A new web holding assembly supports the leading end portion of the new web, and the holding assembly may be lowered to align the trailing and leading ends so that they may be joined by a tape or the like. The web severing mechanism includes a clamping wheel positioned to smooth the trailing end portion of the stopped web before it is severed by a following cutting wheel. Also, a hand-held tool is provided for accurately and safely positioning the leading end portion of the new web on the new web holding assembly.