Mechanical bonding of blunt ends of two continuous strip materials - comprises rotating store for two rolls, cutting and bonding station and loop store for changing length of strip take=off

摘要

Equipment for mechanically bonding the end of a first continuous strip to the start of a second continuous strip has rolls of the strip material mounted on a frame which can be rotated to allow unwinding from either roll. Strip is conveyed through a combined cutting and bonding device and is subsequently taken through a continuously operating loop store which permits continuous haul-off of strip, even when the like is halted briefly for bonding of the two ends. Cutting is performed by a knife moving perp. to the strip movement. The bonding system moves with the knife and comprises an adhesive tape store and application rollers. The continuous strip product is held by pneumatic or hydraulic operated clamps during the cutting and bonding operation. The plant comprises two unwinding stations (1) on a pivoted turning frame (2). Each station holds a roll (6a, 6b) of continuous strip (W). Strip (W) is moved forward to a cutting and bonding station (3) by a conveyor belt (9) to which vacuum is pref. applied. When the end of the first roll (6a) and start of the second roll (6b) are detected by a sensor (22), the conveyor belt (9) and unwinding station (6b) are halted. Pneumatically operated clamps (11, 12, 13, 14) press the overlapping ends of the two strips (W) against supporting surfaces (15, 16). The cutting and bonding station (3) is activated and two circular knives on a baseplate are moved forward to cut off the overlap ends. When the knives move back, suction grips remove the surplus ends. Simultaneously, the bonding arrangement (3) comprising rolls of adhesive tape and application rollers moves forwards controlled by the sensor (22). A strip of adhesive tape is progressively placed over the butt joined ends of the strip (W) on both faces. A perforating knife cuts off the tape after application and moves away from the now joined strip (W). During the cutting and bonding process, the loop store (4) at the end of the line adjusts to the reduced length of strip (W) on the output side of the bonding section (3). Haul-off of the strip material therefore continues without halting the prod. line. USE/ADVANTAGE - The plant is used to cut and bond the butt ends of successive rolls of continuous strip material, without halting the prodn. line.