US20070200025A1

US20070200025A1 - Apparatus and method for feeding a material web to a machine

Info

Publication number: US20070200025A1
Application number: US11/364,261
Authority: US
Inventors: James Barner
Original assignee: Smurfit Stone Container Inc
Current assignee: Smurfit Stone Container Inc
Priority date: 2006-02-28
Filing date: 2006-02-28
Publication date: 2007-08-30

Abstract

An apparatus for feeding a material web to a machine positioned downstream of the apparatus includes a base defining an axis in a lateral direction of the base. A first roller assembly is rotatably coupled to the base at a first roller position substantially parallel with the axis and is configured to feed a first roll of material web to the machine. The first roll has a lead edge and a tail edge. A second roller assembly is rotatably coupled to the base at a second roller position substantially parallel with the axis. The second roller assembly is configured to feed a second roll of material web to the machine. The second roll has a lead edge and a tail edge. The second roll is substantially aligned in the lateral direction with the first roll. A splicing table is suspended with respect to the base. The material web advances from the first roll or the second roll and across the splicing table to the machine. A stop bar coupled to the splicing table is movable between an unlocked position and a locked position. In the locked position, the stop bar locks the material web against the splicing table.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for feeding a material web to a machine and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for coupling a lead edge of a replacement roll of material web to a tail edge of a depleted running roll of material web.
During high speed wrapping processes, a running roll of material including a continuous line of printed or unprinted material web is feed to a machine for wrapping a product or a product container. In some conventional processes, when the running roll of material needs replenishing, the machine operation is shut down for a substantial period of time to remove the expired running roll and position the replacement roll with respect to the machine. Other conventional processes remove the expired running roll and strip all the material from the machine and then position a replacement roll and rethread the machine or splice a lead edge of a replacement roll of material with a tail edge of the expiring running roll. Many such conventional processes attach a splicing tape or adhesive material to one or both of the tail edge of the running roll and the lead edge of the replacement roll to attach the rolls. Such conventional processes also require shut-down of the machine operation for a substantial period of time to accurately register the lead edge of the replacement roll with the tail edge of the running roll. Further, a substantial amount of wasted or discarded material may result from such conventional processes, which further adversely affects productivity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, an apparatus for feeding a material web to a machine positioned downstream of the apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a base that defines an axis in a lateral direction of the base. A first roller assembly is rotatably coupled to the base at a first roller position substantially parallel with the axis. The first roller assembly is configured to feed a first roll of material web to the machine. The first roll of material web has a lead edge and a tail edge. A second roller assembly is rotatably coupled to the base at a second roller position substantially parallel with the axis. The second roller assembly is configured to feed a second roll of material web to the machine. The second roll of material web has a lead edge and a tail edge. The second roll of material web is substantially aligned in the lateral direction with the first roll of material web. A splicing table is suspended with respect to the base. The material web advances from the first roll or the second roll and across the splicing table to the machine. A stop bar is coupled to the splicing table. The stop bar is movable between an unlocked position and a locked position. In the locked position, the stop bar locks the material web against the splicing table.
In another aspect, an apparatus for feeding a material web to a machine positioned downstream of the apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a base. A first roller assembly is rotatably coupled to the base at a first roller position. The first roller assembly is configured to feed a first roll of material web to the machine. The first roll of material web has a lead edge and a tail edge. A second roller assembly is rotatably coupled to the base at a second roller position. The second roller assembly is configured to feed a second roll of material web to the machine. The second roll of material web has a lead edge and a tail edge. The second roll of material web is substantially aligned with the first roll of material web. A splicing table including a work panel is positioned over the base. The material web advances from the first roll or the second roll and across the work panel to the machine. A first eject mechanism is pivotally coupled to the base. With the lead edge of the second roll of material web spliced to the tail edge of the first roll of material web, the first eject mechanism is pivotally movable with respect to the first roller position for removing the first roller assembly from the first roller position. A second eject mechanism is pivotally coupled to the base. With the first roller assembly removed from the first roller position, the second eject mechanism is pivotally movable with respect to the second roller position for advancing the second roller assembly from the second roller position to the first roller position.
In another aspect, a method for supplying a material web to a machine is provided. The method includes providing a first roll of material web from a first roller assembly. The first roller assembly is rotatably coupled to a base at a first roller position. The first roll of material web has a lead edge and a tail edge. The material web is advanced across a splicing table. The material web is cut near the tail edge of the first roll for coupling with a lead edge of a second roll of material web. The second roll of material is provided from a second roller assembly that is rotatably coupled to the base at a second roller position. The lead edge of the second roll of material web is coupled to the tail edge with the second roll of material web substantially aligned with the first roll of material web in a lateral direction defined by the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary apparatus for feeding a material web to a machine positioned downstream of the apparatus;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the exemplary apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the exemplary apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a side view of an exemplary apparatus for feeding a material web to a machine positioned downstream of the apparatus; and
FIG. 5 is a front view of the exemplary apparatus shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for feeding a material web to a machine positioned downstream of the apparatus. The present invention is described below in reference to its application in connection with and operation of an apparatus for feeding a running roll of a material web including a continuous web of printed or non-printed material coupled in a serial configuration from a running roll supported by a support stand. The support stand also supports a replacement roll of the material web including a continuous line of material web coupled in a serial configuration. With the running roll material web requirement fulfilled or the roll depleted of the material web, a portion extending from a lead edge of the replacement roll is spliced to a portion extending from a tail edge of the running roll to provide a continuous line of printed or non-printed material web from the replacement roll to the machine. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art and guided by the teachings herein provided that the invention is likewise applicable to any apparatus and/or method for feeding suitable packaging and/or wrapping materials.
Referring to FIGS. 1-5, an apparatus 10 for feeding a material web 12 to a machine 14 positioned downstream of apparatus 10 is provided. Apparatus 10 is positioned or mounted at any suitable angle with respect to the machine, such as parallel, diagonal or perpendicular to the machine. Further, apparatus 10 is positioned or mounted above, below, behind or in front of the machine. Apparatus 10 includes a support stand 18 having a base 20 made of a suitable material, such as steel, for providing adequate support and strength to apparatus 10. In one embodiment, base 20 defines an axis 21 in a lateral direction of base 20. A first roller assembly 22 is rotatably coupled to base 20 at a first or forward roller position 24, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. In a particular embodiment, first roller position 24 is substantially parallel with axis 21. Roller assembly 22 is configured to feed a first roll 26 of the material web to the machine.
Referring further to FIG. 2, in one embodiment roller assembly 22 includes a shaft 28 that defines a first end 30 and a laterally opposing second end 32 of roller assembly 22. First end 30 and second end 32 are each positionable within a corresponding indentation formed in base 20. In a particular embodiment, first end 30 and second end 32 are each positionable within a guide 34 (shown in FIG. 4) mounted to base 20 for facilitating rotating roller assembly 22 to feed the material web to the machine. First end 30 and second end 32 are each retained within a corresponding guide 34 such that shaft 28 rotates with respect to at least one rotatable member 36, such as a cam follower, a bearing or a wheel, of each guide 34 to feed the material web to the machine. As shown in FIG. 2, roller assembly 22 also includes a pair of cooperating collars or chucks 38 that are coupled to respective ends 30, 32 to maintain first roll 26 properly positioned about shaft 28 in a lateral direction with respect to axis 21 and aligned with an input of the machine (not shown) as the material web is fed to the machine. In one embodiment, each chuck 38 forms an angled or chamfered inner surface for facilitating maintaining first roll 26 properly positioned about shaft 28 and/or for facilitating a continuous feed of the material web to the machine.
A second roller assembly 42 is rotatably coupled to base 20 at a second or rearward roller position 44 with respect to first roller position 24, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. In one embodiment, second roller position 44 is substantially parallel with axis 21 and first roller position 24. Second roller assembly 42 is configured to feed a second roll 46 of the material web to the machine. In this embodiment, second roll 46 is substantially aligned in the lateral direction with first roll 26. With second roll 46 substantially aligned with first roll 26, a portion extending from a lead edge of second roll 46 is coupled to a portion extending from a tail edge of first roll 26 for facilitating minimizing machine shut-down time required to replace depleted or partially depleted first roll 26 and/or an amount of material web wasted or discarded during the replacement processes. First roller assembly 22 including depleted or partially depleted first roll 26 is then removed from first roller position 24 and second roller assembly 42 including replacement second roll 46 is moved from second roller position 44 to first roller positioned 24 as apparatus 10 feeds the material web from second roll 46 to the machine.
Referring further to FIGS. 2 and 5, in one embodiment roller assembly 42 includes a shaft 48 that defines a first end 50 and a laterally opposing second end 52 of roller assembly 42. First end 50 and second end 52 are each positionable within a corresponding indentation formed in base 20. In one embodiment, first end 50 and second end 52 are each positionable within a guide 54 mounted to base 20 (as shown in FIG. 4) for facilitating rotating roller assembly 42 to feed the material web to the machine. First end 50 and second end 52 are each retained within a corresponding guide 54 such that shaft 48 rotates with respect to at least one rotatable member 56, such as a cam follower, a bearing or a wheel, of each guide 54 to feed the material web to the machine. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, roller assembly 42 also includes a pair of cooperating collars or chucks 58 that are coupled to respective ends 50, 52 to maintain second roll 46 properly positioned about shaft 48 and aligned with an input of the machine (not shown) as the material web is pulled by the machine from apparatus 10. In one embodiment, each chuck 58 forms an angled or chamfered inner surface 59, as shown in FIG. 5, for facilitating maintaining second roll 46 properly positioned about shaft 48 and/or for facilitating a continuous feed of the material web to the machine.
In one embodiment, apparatus 10 includes a first eject mechanism 60 pivotally coupled to base 20, as shown in FIG. 2. Eject mechanism 60 is pivotally movable with respect to first roller position 24 to remove or eject first roller assembly 22 from first roller position 24, for example when the material web is depleted or partially depleted from first roll 26. As shown in FIG. 2, eject mechanism 60 includes a handle or pedal 61 operatively coupled to cooperating lever members 62 that are positionable with respect to respective end 30, 32 of shaft 28 by actuation of pedal 61. Upon actuation of pedal 61, lever member 62 moves towards and generally parallel to respective end 30, 32 to engage respective end 30, 32 and lift shaft 28 from first roller position 24. In one embodiment, each lever member 62 forms or includes a lip portion 64 that engages shaft 28. With shaft 28 removed from within first roller position 24, depleted or partially depleted first roller assembly 22 is discarded to a catch tray 66 positioned with respect to first roller position 24. In one embodiment, catch tray 66 is mounted to base 20, as shown in FIG. 2. It is apparent to those skilled in the art and guided by the teachings herein provided that first roller assembly 22 may be removed from within first roller position 24 as desired with any quantity of material web remaining, i.e., first roller assembly 22 may be completely depleted, partially depleted or full.
In one embodiment, apparatus 10 also includes a second eject mechanism 70 pivotally coupled to base 20, as shown in FIG. 2. Eject mechanism 70 is pivotally movable with respect to second roller position 44 to remove or eject second roller assembly 42 from second roller position 44 and advance second roller assembly 42 to first roller position 24 after first roller assembly 22 has been ejected from first roller position 24. As shown in FIG. 2, eject mechanism 70 includes a pedal 71 operatively coupled to cooperating lever members 72 that are positionable with respect to respective end 50, 52 of shaft 48 by actuation of pedal 71. Upon actuation of pedal 71, lever member 72 moves toward and generally parallel to respective end 50, 52 to engage shaft 48 to lift shaft 48 from second roller position 44 and advance second roller assembly 42 to first roller position 24. In one embodiment, each lever member 72 forms or includes a lip portion 74 that engages shaft 48. With second roller assembly 42 removed from within second roller position 44, a third roller assembly (not shown) including a replacement roll of the material web is positioned within second roller position 44.
As described above, in one embodiment first eject mechanism 60 and second eject mechanism 70 are actuated manually to eject first roller assembly 22 from first roller position 24 and eject second roller assembly 42 from second roller positioned 44, respectively. In an alternative embodiment, a controller (not shown) is coupled to first eject mechanism 60 and/or second eject mechanism 70 to initiate ejecting first roller assembly 22 and/or second roller assembly 44, respectively. The controller may be coupled to first eject mechanism 60 and/or second eject mechanism 70 using any suitable electrically, hydraulically, pneumatically, and/or mechanically counterweighted coupling component or any combination therein. It is apparent to those skilled in the art and guided by the teachings herein provided that other suitable mechanisms for initiating ejection of first roller assembly 22 and/or second roller assembly 44 can be used to discard, transfer and/or replace the roller assemblies of the present invention. Further, in one embodiment first eject mechanism 60 and/or second eject mechanism 70 are actuated during operation of apparatus 10, e.g., as apparatus 10 feeds the material web to the machine.
Apparatus 10 includes a splicing table 80 positioned with respect to base 20. In one embodiment, splicing table 80 is suspended over at least a portion of base 20, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-5. In this embodiment, frame members 82 extend from opposing sides of support stand 18 and are coupled to respective sides of splicing table 80. Frame members 82 are coupled to an upstream end 84 of splicing table 80, as shown in FIG. 1, and/or frame members 82 are coupled to a downstream end 85 of splicing table 80, as shown in FIG. 4.
In one embodiment, splicing table 80 includes a work panel 86 that is fabricated of a suitable transparent material, such as a Lexan® polycarbonate resin material available from General Electric Company, located at 1 River Road in Schenectady, N.Y. The Lexan® polycarbonate resin material exhibits suitable impact strength for applications associated with splicing table 80 and provides a transparent surface for viewing components of apparatus 10 during the splicing process, as described in greater detail below. In a particular embodiment, a light is mounted with respect to splicing table 80, such as underneath splicing table 80, to enhance the material web for pattern alignment. It is apparent to those skilled in the art and guided by the teachings herein provided that other suitable materials having sufficient impact strength may used to fabricate splicing table 80 and/or work panel 86.
The material web advances from first roll 26 or second roll 46 and across splicing table 80 to the machine, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. In this embodiment, the material web advances across splicing table 80 from upstream end 84 to downstream end 85 in a machine direction represented by directional arrow 87 in FIG. 1. A cross-machine direction substantially perpendicular to the machine direction is represented by directional arrow 88 in FIG. 1. In one embodiment, a first roller 89 is positioned at upstream end 84 and/or a second roller 90 is positioned at downstream end 85 for facilitating advancing the material web across work panel 86. In a particular embodiment, according to a machine infeed height, roller 90 is mounted within a corresponding hole of a plurality of holes and/or a second roller (not shown) is mounted above roller 90. First roller 89 and/or second roller 90 may include any suitable mechanism known to those skilled in the art and guided by the teachings herein provided for facilitating feeding the material web across work panel 86 and into the machine positioned downstream.
A stop bar 92 is coupled to splicing table 80. In one embodiment, stop bar 92 is pivotally mounted with respect to splicing table 80 to extend in the cross-machine direction along a width of work panel 86. In an alternative embodiment, stop bar 92 is housed within a guillotine housing and movable in a generally vertical direction with respect to work panel 86. Stop bar 92 is movable between an unlocked position, as shown in FIG. 3, and a locked position. Stop bar 92 is activated to move using a suitable electrically, hydraulically, pneumatically, and/or mechanically counterweighted component or any combination therein. It is apparent to those skilled in the art and guided by the teachings herein provided that other suitable components and/or mechanisms for activating stop bar 92 can be used in the present invention.
In the unlocked position, the material web is allowed to move between stop bar 92 and work panel 86 without stop bar 92 preventing or limiting movement of the material web across work panel 86. Stop bar 92 is movable from the unlocked position to the locked position, wherein stop bar 92 locks and/or maintains the material web against a top surface 93 of work panel 86 for facilitating splicing of a lead edge of a replacement roll of material web with a tail edge of a running roll of material web, as described in greater detail below. In a particular embodiment, a strip 95 of a resilient material, such as a rubber material or other suitably resilient material known in the art, is coupled to stop bar 92 for facilitating maintaining the material web between stop bar 92 and work panel 86 with stop bar 92 in the locked position. In an alternative embodiment, stop bar 92 includes a roller made of a rubber material or other suitably resilient material known in the art.
In an alternative embodiment, apparatus 10 includes an eccentric brake roll 94, as shown in FIG. 4, which locks or maintains the material web against a top surface 93 of work panel 86 for facilitating splicing of a lead edge of a replacement roll of material web with a tail edge of a running roll of material web. In one embodiment, a slot 96 is cut in top surface 93 in the cross-machine direction for facilitating cutting or forming the tail edge of first roll 26.
In one embodiment, apparatus 10 includes a staging bar 98 positioned with respect to splicing table 80. As shown in FIG. 3, staging bar 98 is mounted at upstream end 84 of splicing table 80 and is configured to temporarily hold a lead edge of the material web from second roll 46 until second roll 46 is spliced with first roll 26. In one embodiment, at least a portion or surface of staging bar 98 is coated with a material for facilitating temporarily coupling the lead edge of second roll 46 to staging bar 98. In an alternative embodiment, the lead edge of second roll 46 is temporarily coupled to staging bar 98 using a suitable coupler including, without limitation, an adhesive tape and/or a clip, or the lead edge is draped over staging bar 98.
In one embodiment, a method for supplying a material web to a machine is provided. First roll 26 of material web is provided from first roller assembly 22. First roller assembly 22 is rotatably coupled to base 20 of apparatus 10 at first roller position 24 substantially parallel with axis 21. The material web is provided by first roll 26 and advanced across work panel 86 to the machine. When the first roll 26 of the material web is depleted or approaches depletion or an allotted quantity of the material web is consumed, a tail edge of the material web is cut or formed. To facilitate forming the tail edge and/or splicing the replacement roll of the material web to the running roll of the material web, stop bar 92 is moved from the unlocked position to the locked position. In the locked position, stop bar 92 locks and/or maintains the material web from first roll 26 against top surface 93 of work panel 86 and the material web is cut at a designated position on first roll 26. In one embodiment, the material web is cut at or near the tail edge of the material web from first roll 26 for coupling with the lead edge of the material web from second roll 46. In one embodiment, a utility knife is used to cut the material web in the cross-machine direction along slot 96 formed in top surface 93 of work panel 86.
In one embodiment, a lead edge of second roll 46 is temporarily staged at staging bar 98 prior to cutting the tail edge of first roll 26. Second roll 46 is provided by second roller assembly 42 positioned at second roller position 44, which is substantially parallel with axis 21 and first roller position 24. In this embodiment, second roll 46 is substantially aligned in the lateral direction with first roll 26. With second roll 46 substantially aligned in the lateral direction with first roll 26, the lead edge of the material web from second roll 46 is then coupled to the tail edge of the material web from first roll 26 using a suitable adhesive tape or a sealer, such as a manual or automatic electric or compression sealer.
In one embodiment, a portion extending from the lead edge is coupled to a portion extending from the tail edge using an adhesive material, such as an adhesive tape, double-sided tape or glue applied to the lead edge and/or the tail edge. In a particular embodiment, at least one mark formed on the lead edge of second roll 46 is aligned with a corresponding mark formed on the tail edge of first roll 26. In this embodiment, a full or partial pattern on the tail edge of first roll 26 is overlapped and aligned with a full or partial pattern on the lead edge of second roll 46. By overlapping a full or partial pattern of the tail edge of first roll 26 with a full or partial pattern on the lead edge of second roll 46, the material web from second roll 46 is precisely registered with the material web from first roll 26. This embodiment is particularly useful in precisely registering transparent material webs, such as material webs fabricated of a polymeric film material. However, it is apparent to those skilled in the art and guided by the teachings herein provided that other suitable material webs, such as transparent, semi-transparent or generally opaque material webs may be registered with apparatus 10. After coupling the lead edge to the tail edge, stop bar 92 is moved from the locked position to the unlocked position and the material web from second roll 46 is advanced through splicing table 80 and into the machine.
First roller assembly 22 with fully depleted or partially depleted first roll 26 is removed or ejected from first roller position 24 after the lead edge of the material web from second roll 46 is coupled to the tail edge of the material web from first roll 26. In one embodiment, first roller assembly 22 is removed from first roller position 24 by pivotally moving first eject mechanism 60, pivotally coupled to base 20 with respect to first roller position 24. In a particular embodiment, first roller assembly 22 is removed from first roller position 24 as apparatus 10 feeds the material web from second roll 46 to the machine. Eject mechanism 60 includes pedal 61 and cooperating lever members 62 that are positionable with respect to shaft 28 by actuation of pedal 61. Upon actuation of pedal 61, lever member 62 moves towards and parallel to ends 30, 32 to engage shaft 28 and lift first roller assembly 22 from first roller position 24. In this embodiment, each lever member 62 forms or includes a lip portion 64 that engages shaft 28 to lift shaft 28. In an alternative embodiment, eject mechanism 60 includes a handle that cooperates with level members 62 to lift shaft 28. With first roller assembly 22 removed from within first roller position 24, fully depleted or partially depleted first roller assembly 22 is discarded to catch tray 66.
With first roller assembly 22 removed from first roller position 24, second roller assembly 42 is removed or ejected from second roller position 44 and advanced to first roller position 24 by pivotally moving second eject mechanism 70, pivotally coupled to base 20 with respect to second roller position 44. In a particular embodiment, second roller assembly 42 is moved from second roller position 44 to first roller position 24 as apparatus 10 feeds the material web from second roll 46 to the machine. Eject mechanism 70 is pivotally movable with respect to second roller position 44 to remove or eject second roll 46 from second roller position 44 and advance second roll 46 to first roller position 24. As shown in FIG. 2, eject mechanism 70 includes pedal 71 and cooperating lever members 72 that are positionable with respect to respective end 50, 52 of shaft 48 by actuation of pedal 71. Upon actuation of pedal 71, lever member 72 moves towards and parallel to respective end 50, 52 to engage shaft 48 and lift second roller assembly 42 from second roller position 44 and advance second roller assembly 42 to first roller position 24. In one embodiment, each lever member 72 forms or includes a lip portion 74 that engages shaft 48 to lift shaft 48. In an alternative embodiment, eject mechanism 70 includes a handle that cooperates with level members 72 to lift shaft 48. With second roller assembly 42 removed from within second roller position 44, a third roller assembly (not shown) including a replacement roll of the material web is positioned within second roller position 44.
The above-described apparatus and method for feeding a material web to a machine positioned downstream of the apparatus minimizes machine shut-down time and/or wasted material web required to couple a replacement roll of material web with a depleted running roll of material web. More specifically, with the running roll partially or fully depleted of the material web, a lead edge of the replacement roll substantially aligned with the depleted running roll is overlapped with and coupled to a tail edge of the running roll to provide the material web from the replacement roll to the machine. The transparent splicing table allows the user to position a portion of the replacement material web over a portion of the material web of the running roll and align the patterns (if any). The pre-taped replacement lead edge is couple to the tail edge of the running roll. With the replacement roll positioned on a shaft mounted in the apparatus and a clean lead edge staged on the staging bar, the material web from the replacement roll is easily coupled to a clean tail edge of the running roll. Thus, the apparatus and method of the present invention increases productivity by providing an efficient and effective apparatus and method for coupling rolls of the material web.
Exemplary embodiments of an apparatus and method for feeding a material web to a machine positioned downstream of the apparatus are described above in detail. The apparatus and method are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather, components of the apparatus and/or steps of the method may be utilized independently and separately from other components and/or steps described herein. Further, the described apparatus components and/or method steps can also be defined in, or used in combination with, other apparatus and/or methods, and are not limited to practice with only the apparatus and method as described herein.
While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for feeding a material web to a machine positioned downstream of the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a base defining an axis in a lateral direction of the base;

a first roller assembly rotatably coupled to the base at a first roller position substantially parallel with the axis, the first roller assembly configured to feed a first roll of material web to the machine, the first roll of material web having a lead edge and a tail edge;

a second roller assembly rotatably coupled to the base at a second roller position substantially parallel with the axis, the second roller assembly configured to feed a second roll of material web to the machine, the second roll of material web having a lead edge and a tail edge, the second roll of material web substantially aligned in the lateral direction with the first roll of material web;

a splicing table suspended with respect to the base, the material web advancing from one of the first roll and the second roll and across the splicing table to the machine; and

a stop bar coupled to the splicing table, the stop bar movable between an unlocked position and a locked position, in the locked position the stop bar locking the material web against the splicing table.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a first eject mechanism pivotally coupled to the base, the first eject mechanism pivotally movable with respect to the first roller position for removing the first roller assembly from the first roller position.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 further comprising a second eject mechanism pivotally coupled to the base, the second eject mechanism pivotally movable with respect to the second roller position for advancing the second roller assembly from the second roller position to the first roller position.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein each of the first eject mechanism and the second eject mechanism are actuated with the apparatus feeding the material web to the machine.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein, with the lead edge of the second roll of material web overlapped with the tail edge of the first roll of material web and the second roll of material web coupled to the first roll of material web, the first eject mechanism is actuated for removing the first roller assembly from the first roller position.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein, with the first roller assembly removed from the first roller position, the second eject mechanism is actuated for moving the second roller assembly from the second roller position to the first roller position.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a staging bar positioned with respect to the splicing table, the staging bar configured to hold the lead edge of the second roll.

8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first roller assembly defines a first end and an opposing second end, each of the first end and the second end positionable within a corresponding guide mounted to the base for facilitating rotating the first roller assembly for feeding the material web to the machine.

9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 further comprising a first chuck coupled to the first end and a second chuck coupled to the second end, the first roll positioned between the first chuck and the second chuck for facilitating alignment of the material web with an input of the machine.

10. An apparatus for feeding a material web to a machine positioned downstream of the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a base;

a first roller assembly rotatably coupled to the base at a first roller position, the first roller assembly configured to feed a first roll of material web to the machine, the first roll of material web having a lead edge and a tail edge;

a second roller assembly rotatably coupled to the base at a second roller position, the second roller assembly configured to feed a second roll of material web to the machine, the second roll of material web having a lead edge and a tail edge, the second roll of material web substantially aligned with the first roll of material web;

a splicing table including a work panel positioned over the base, the material web advancing from one of the first roll and the second roll and across the work panel to the machine;

a first eject mechanism pivotally coupled to the base and, with the lead edge of the second roll of material web overlapping the tail edge of the first roll of material web and the second roll of material web coupled to the first roll of material web, the first eject mechanism pivotally movable with respect to the first roller position for removing the first roller assembly from the first roller position; and

a second eject mechanism pivotally coupled to the base and, with the first roller assembly removed from the first roller position, the second eject mechanism pivotally movable with respect to the second roller position for advancing the second roller assembly from the second roller position to the first roller position.

11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein the base defines an axis in a lateral direction of the base, each of the first roller assembly and the second roller assembly coupled to the base substantially parallel with the axis, the first roll of material web substantially aligned in the lateral direction with the second roll of material web.

12. An apparatus in accordance with claim 10 further comprising a stop bar coupled to the splicing table, the stop bar movable between an unlocked position and a locked position, in the locked position the stop bar locking the material web against the work panel.

13. An apparatus in accordance with claim 10 further comprising a staging bar positioned with respect to the splicing table, the staging bar configured to hold the lead edge of the material web from the second roll.

14. An apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein the first roller assembly defines a first end and an opposing second end, each of the first end and the second end positionable within a corresponding guide mounted to the base for facilitating rotating the first roller assembly for feeding the material web to the machine.

15. An apparatus in accordance with claim 14 further comprising a first chuck coupled to the first end and a second chuck coupled to the second end, the first roll positioned between the first chuck and the second chuck for facilitating alignment of the material web with an input of the machine.

16. A method for supplying a material web to a machine, the method comprising:

providing a first roll of material web from a first roller assembly, the first roller assembly rotatably coupled to a base at a first roller position, the first roll of material web having a lead edge and a tail edge;

advancing the material web across a splicing table;

cutting the material web near the tail edge of the first roll for coupling with a lead edge of a second roll of material web, the second roll of material provided from a second roller assembly rotatably coupled to the base at a second roller position; and

coupling the lead edge of the second roll of material web to the tail edge with the lead edge of the second roll of material web overlapping with the tail edge, the second roll of material web substantially aligned with the first roll of material web in a lateral direction defined by the base.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein coupling the lead edge of the second roll of material web to the tail edge further comprises aligning at least one mark on the lead edge with a corresponding mark on the tail edge.

18. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein cutting the material web near the tail edge of the first roll further comprises moving a stop bar coupled to the splicing table between an unlocked position and a locked position to lock the material web against the splicing table.

19. A method in accordance with claim 16 further comprising:

removing the first roller assembly from the first roller position after the lead edge of the second roll of material web is coupled to the tail edge by moving a first eject mechanism pivotally coupled to the base and with respect to the first roller position; and

advancing the second roll from the second roller position to the first roller position by moving a second eject mechanism pivotally coupled to the base and with respect to the second roller position.

20. A method in accordance with claim 16 further comprising staging a lead edge of the material web from the second roll on a staging bar positioned with respect to the splicing table before coupling the lead edge of the second roll of material web to the tail edge.