Supply-roll switching apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for switching a strip feed between supply rolls has first and second supports displaceable in a direction independently parallel to each other between an outer reload position and an inner supply position and respective first and second shafts on the supports extending parallel to the direction and adapted to carry respective rolls of strip. The strip is pulled off one of the rolls in the supply position of the respective support and fed continuously or in steps to a user. Respective cutters on each of the supports cut the respective strip, and respective gluers on each of the supports glue a leading end of the respective strip to a trailing end of the strip of the other roll.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a partly schematic end view of the system in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the splicers;

FIG. 3 is a larger-scale section taken along line III-III of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4A-4D are views like FIG. 2 showing the one splicer in successive operational positions;

FIG. 5A is a large-scale view like FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5B-5D are views of the region indicated at VB in FIG. 5A illustrating different operational positions of the apparatus; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the system with the two feeder/splicers removed for clarity of view.

Claims

1. An apparatus for switching a strip feed between supply rolls, the apparatus comprising: first and second supports displaceable in a direction independently parallel to each other between an outer reload position and an inner supply position;respective first and second shafts on the supports extending parallel to the direction and adapted to carry respective rolls of strip;feeder means for pulling the strip off one of the rolls in the supply position of the respective support and feeding it continuously or in steps to a user;respective cutter means on each of the supports for cutting the respective strip; andrespective gluing means on each of the supports for gluing a leading end of the respective strip to a trailing end of the strip of the other roll.

2. The strip-switching apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein each cutter means includes a pair of blades at least one of which is movable relative to the other.

3. The strip-switching apparatus defined in claim,2, a further comprising respective clamps on each of the supports adjacent the respective cutter means, the clamps being operable to grip and arrest the respective strips.

4. The strip-switching apparatus defined in claim 3, further comprising respective vacuum grippers on each of the supports adjacent the respective cutter means operable to hold the respective strip against a face of the respective support.

5. The strip-switching apparatus defined in claim 3 a wherein each clamp includes a clamp plate engageable with the respective strip.

6. The strip-switching apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein each gluing means includes a roller pressable against the roller of the other gluing means.

7. The strip-switching apparatus defined in claim 3, further comprising respective vacuum grippers on the face adjacent each of the gluing means.

8. The strip-switching apparatus defined in claim 3, further comprising: respective vacuum grippers for holding a piece of tape attached to a strip end against the face of the gluing means.

9. The strip-switching apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein each shaft has radially displaceable fins engageable with cores of the respective rolls to lock same rotationally to the *respective shaft.

10. The strip-switching apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising means on each off the supports for detecting when the respective roll is about to be empty.

11. The strip-switching apparatus defined in claim 10, wherein the sensor is an inductive rotation sensor coupled to the respective shaft.

12. The strip-switching apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising a looper in a plane extending through the between the supports and the inner supply positions between the supports and the user, the strip running through the looper.

13. The strip-switching apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising spring means resiliently supporting each of the gluing means on the respective support.

14. The strip-switching apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising a feed roller engaged with the strip between the gluing means and the user.

15. The strip-switching apparatus defined in claim 14, further comprising a counter roller pinching the strip against the feed 4 roller.

16. The strip-switching apparatus defined in claim 14, further comprising a direct-current motor driving the feed roller.

17. The strip-switching apparatus defined in claim 16, further comprising a transmission between the motor and the feed roller.

18. The strip-switching apparatus defined in claim 14 where in the feed roll is provided with drive means for a gradual stop and a gradual stop for preventing excessive tension in the strip being fed.

19. The strip-switching apparatus defined in claim 18 wherein the drive means is a servomotor.