Inventors:
John W. Clifford - Ashland MA
Andrew P. Butler - Marion MA
Peter E. Bianchetto - Foxboro MA
Pierre Gachet - Mouxy, FR
Robert Mavilia - Braintree MA
Assignee:
Butler Automatic, Inc. - Middleborough MA
International Classification:
B65H 1914
US Classification:
242552, 2425541, 2425542, 2425594, 2425982, 2425993, 156564
Abstract:
A web handling apparatus includes a base, a housing, a splicing head mounted in the housing, and first and second non-rotatable swing out roll shafts, each shaft having opposite first and second ends. The roll shafts are normally positioned in the housing substantially parallel to the splicing head so that web can travel through the splicing head to on from web rolls on the roll shafts. A web accumulator mounted to the housing conducts web to or from the splicing head and the housing is movably mounted to the base so that the housing can move relative to the base in either direction parallel to the roll shafts. An actuator connected between the housing and the base moves the housing relative to the base in response to signals from a web position sensor so as to minimize the side lay of web extending to or from the apparatus. The splicing head employs special mirror image upper and lower splicing sections which facilitate preparation of the leading end of the ready web while the other web is running and the two splicing sections cooperate to make a consistent high quality butt or lap splices between the two webs.
