Automatic two-ply web splicer

摘要

The severed trailing edge of a two-ply web is spliced to a leading edge of a replacement web on a replacement roll in a two-part operation which permits on-the-fly splicing. The upper ply of the replacement web is trimmed back to reveal a strip of the lower ply. A splice tape is placed under the edge of the lower ply with a portion of the splice tape exposed. A splice roll is prepared with a splice sheet having first and second adhesive strips spaced apart on it. The replacement roll and splice roll are accelerated to synchronize their peripheral speeds with the web speed. The rotational phases of the replacement roll and splice roll are coordinated. A bump roll is triggered to urge the web against the replacement roll. A cut-off knife is triggered to sever the web. The bump roll and cut-off knife trigger are timed so that the trailing edge of the severed web falls into contact with the exposed portion of the splice tape. This splices the lower plies together. The splice roll is urged into contact with the web at a rotational phase and a timining effective to adhere the first adhesive strip to the upper ply of the web downstream of the splice and the second adhesive strip to the upper ply upstream of the splice with the splice sheet bridging the gap between the first and second adhesive strips. The completed splice of lower to lower and upper to upper plies permits independent subsequent handling, separation, etc. of the first and second plies.