US2034838A

US2034838A - Web supply means

Info

Publication number: US2034838A
Application number: US643847A
Authority: US
Inventors: David J Scott
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1932-11-22
Filing date: 1932-11-22
Publication date: 1936-03-24
Anticipated expiration: 1953-03-24

Description

March 24, 1935. -Dl J. SCOTT 2,034,333

WEB SUPPLY MEANS f Filed Nov. 22, 1932- sjlsheeiS-sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY A D. J. scoT-r' f. 2,034,838

WEB SUPPLY MEANS Filed NOV. 22, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 lima@ .I wi BY @or ATTORNEY MmchwZf, 1936. D. J, SCOTT 2,034,838

WEB SUPPLY MEANS Filed Nov. 22, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEY March 24,1936. D. J. SCOTT 2034,83@

WEB SUPPLY MEANS Filed Nov. 22, 1952 A 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 gawd j .Simi/Z ATTORN EY D. J. SCOTT WEB SUPPLY MEANS Much 24, 3936.

Filed Nov. 22, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 @of ATTO R N EY Patented Mar. 24, 1936 UNITED STATES TENT OFFIQE 26 Claims.

'I'his invention relates generally to web supply means, and has more particularly reference to roll change mechanism such as are used in connection with printing or other web-pulling machines.

The main object and feature of the invention is to provide simple and eiective means whereby a replenishing web roll can be substituted for an active web roll without the necessity of stopping the printing machine, or without slowing it down unduly, in such a way as to avo-id undue stress on the running web when effecting a roll change. Other features of invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention is disclosed in a concrete and preferred form in Which:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation View, partly in section of a. device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view substantially on the plane of line 2-2 of Fig. 1, with parts broken away and in section;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of one of the arms of the spider or reel with its equipment;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view substantially on the plane of line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view looking in the direction of arrow 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic View showing the movement of the replenishing roll when a pasted joint is to be made; and v Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical controlling means of the device.

A plurality of rotatable web rolls, here three in number, are employed, said rolls being indicated by 20, 2l and 22. 20 is the active roll and has its running web 23 threaded into a printing or other machine 24 that unwinds the web from the roll. 2l and 22 are replenishing web rolls awaiting to` be employed and which in turn become active rolls. The three rolls are carried by spaced-apart arms 25 of a spider or reel 25, the center of rotation of which is indicated by shaft 21 and, when a roll change is to be eiected, shaft 21 is turned clockwise in Fig. 1 to bring the periphery of replenishing roll 2l in contact with running web 23 so as to unite the webs of the active and replenishing rolls by means of a pasted joint in a manner well understood. Any suitable means can be employed to turn shaft 21 but, as here shown, an electric motor 28 is used for this purpose, said motor driving said shaft by a train of transmission elements 29 to gear 36. Arms 25 of the spider carry bearings 3.1 for the reception of rotatable core-engaging or web roll supporting means 38 that are provided with brake drums 39 for the reception of brake shoes 40, said brake drums having nonradial cooling fins 4l that by rotation of the brake drums, during the unwinding o-peration, tend to cool the braking elements. Each brake shoe is actuated by a brake lever 42 pivotally connected to one brake shoe member at 43 and pivotally connected to the other brake shoe member by a link 134. Although each web roll supportingv means is equipped with a brake mechanism, it is only desired to control the brake mechanism of the active web roll. In order to accomplish this, the following means are employed: a plurality of rockshafts l5 are supported by shaft 21. On each rockshaft is an actuating lever 41 carrying a roller 48 to engageits corresponding brake lever. Also mounted on said rockshafts are a plurality of arms 49, one on l each rockshaft and each carrying a roller 5B. 5I indicates a cam to engage each roller 5i! as the latter passes beneath the same, and said cam is pivotally carried by two levers 52 that are mounted on pins 5.3 supported on the framework. Levers 52 are connected by link 55 and one of said levers is further pivotally connected to controller arm 56 which latter in turn is connected to controller roller 51 pivotally supported on shaft 58 which carries a balancing Weight 59 and has connection with the plunger of a dashpot in accordance with the well-known Jones tension construction. Web 23 is carried over rollers 6I and 62 and around roller 51, and said roller 51 moves back and forth in response to the tightness or slackness of the web. Thus if the active web roll is rotating too fast in response to the pull of the printing machine, slack will accumulate in the web and said roller 51 will move to the right in Fig. 1 thereby exerting an upward pull on rod 56 which Yhas the effect of bringing cam 5l nearer the center of shaft 21', thereby depressing roller 50 and actuating brake lever 42 to make the brake of the web roll more effective. Conversely, if the active web roll is rotating too slowly in response to the pull of the printing machine, web 23 will move roller 51 to the left in Fig. l, and this will, through the connections previously described, render the brake of the active web roll less effective. It will be seen that when replenishing roll 2l is brought into contact with web 23` to make a pasted joint, it is necessary to provide a backing means for the running web. As here shown, this backing means consists of a set of tapes'I or aprons Y63 carried by a frame 64 pivotally sup.-

ported at 65 on the main frame of the machine and having sustaining means 65a that admit of a limited pivotal movement of said frame but which normally hold the tapes out of contact with the running web. One end of the tapes may also be mounted in a spring-pressed bearing 66 that permits the tapes to more readily conform to the contour of the replenishing roll when the latter brings the running web against the tapes. Continued rotation of shaft 2l causes the replenishing roll to pass by the tapes to the final position occupied by roll 20 in Fig. 1. In the present instance, tapes 63 are not driven. Carried by one of the arms 25, of each set of arms that support a roll, is a boosting motor 69 the armature pinion l of which engages a gear 'Il of the core-engaging means. This motor, 69, is energized only about the time when its roll is a replenishing roll that acts to effect a pasted joint between its web and the running web, and the object of the motor is to relieve undue strain on the running web. Two methods may be employed to energize motor 69, one of which consists in partially closing a'circuit by rotation of the reel but not to complete the circuit until an initial rotation has been given to the replenishing roll, such initial rotation of the replenishing roll being eiected by a push of the hand of the operator, or by a slight rotating movement of the roll caused by its engagement with the running web and by the impingement of the latter against the backing member. The other method consists in relying wholly upon rotation of the reel to close the circuit. To this end there are arranged certain stationary and rotating contacts, and, preferably, the rotating contacts are in the form of rings or sectors 'l2 and 13 carried by gear 36 and the stationary contacts or brushes 'I4 and l5 are carried by bracket 'I6 of the framework. As shown in Fig. 6, replenishing roll 2l, and its sector 73, is shown in dotted lines at the beginning of the rotating movement of the reel, and the parts are shown infull lines at the point where the replenishing roll has deflected the running web into Contact with the backing member. Sector 12 may, of course, be a continuous ring. As previously indicated under the first-mentioned method, when the replenishing roll occupies the full-line position of Fig. 6, the circuit through motor 69 is partially closed and, by engagement of the roll, the running web and the backing member, said roll is given a slight rotation about its own axis sufcient to bring dog 'I8 (Fig. 3), carried by gear 1I, into engagement with switch 19, stationary on the framework thereby completing the circuitk This energizes the boosting motor and causes it to drive the replenishing roll throughthe coreengaging means of the latter. After about onehalf revolution, dog 80, also carried by gear ll turns switch 19 and ruptures the circuit through motor 69. Dogs I8 and 80 are spring-pressed as shown in such amanner that during the subsequent rotation of the roll its speed will be suiiicient to throw said dogs outwardly by centrifugal action. Also, it will be understood, when the replenishing roll reaches the limit of its movement, due to rotation of the reel, and has become an active roll, brush 'l5 will no longer be in engagement with sector T3, so that Vthe motor circuit will likewise be broken at that point. In the second-mentioned method above referred to, switch 19 and dogs 'I8 and 8D will be omitted and the timing of contacts 72, 13, 'Hl and 'l5 will be slightly altered. Pinion 10 (Fig. 4) of motor 69 is arranged like the self-starter of an automobile, that is, rotation of motor 69 causes screw 8l to feed said pinion to the left until it meshes with gear 'Il and comes against abutment member 82, when it begins to drive ll. When motor 69 ceases rotation, the continued rotation of 'Il feeds the pinion back to the right until it disengages gear 1l. After the pasted joint between the two webs has been effected, the web from the now practically exhausted roll can be severed by hand, but it is preferredto have a web-severing device carried by the spider or reel. Such web-servering device is here indicated by solenoids 11 carried by shaft 21, the detailed construction of which is omitted here but will be found disclosed in detail in my application Ser. No. 642,714, filed Nov. 15, 1932. In order to actuate the web-severing solenoids, however, a third set of contacts or segments 83 is carried by gear 36 and a third brush or shoe 84 is carried by bracket A'16. It may be mentioned in passing, that shoesv lll, 'l5 and 84 -are carried by an arm 85 that is spring-pressed by means Vof coiled spring 86, so that when sidewise adjustment of shaft 21 occurs to side register the rolls with the cylinders of the printing machine, said shoes will maintain contact With the complementary rings or sectors.

When the replenishing roll engages the running web and defiects fit against the backing member, the tapes of said backing member begin to travelv over the pulleys and thus assist in speeding up the web of the replenishing roll. In the case of the first-mentioned method above described, this initial rotation of the replenishing roll closes a circuit through the boosting motor thereby relieving excessive strain on the active web. This in turn enables the running web to assist the replenishing web and thus tends to relieve the load on the boosting motor. iConsequently the boosting motor, which has a high ultimate speed, acceleratesand increases the speed of the replenishing roll, and so on. In the case of the second-mentioned method, the boosting'motor starts to turn the replenishing roll at about the time the pasted joint is made, after which the interaction between the efforts of the motor and the combined eiorts ofthe running web and the backing member occur about inthe manner above described.

In addition to .assisting in bringing the replenishing web up to speed, the device performs' an additional function if the brake control means, previously described, are used. As will beunderstood, the amplitude of movement of roller l is such that it will respond to variations in tension of the running web within relatively narrow limits. Should it now be attempted, by turning the spider on center 2i', to bring the periphery of replenishing roll 2l from the dotted line-position shown in Fig. 6 into the full lineposition shown, it will be seen that the running web from active roll 26 will be subjected not only to the retarding iniiuence of its brake butV also to the inertia of web roll2l, because the replenishing roll will not merely contact the running web, but will v,bring said web against the backing means,lhere tapes 63. This will cause such abnormal. fluctuations in the tension of the running web that excessive movement of controllerl and the brake mechanism will result. This condition is, however, avoided by the interaction between theboosting motor, the running web and the backing member which prevents excessive movement of controller 5l' and-the brake mechanism. If a motor, as 123,

is utilized to turn the spider, it is desirable to employ a limit switch, as indicated in Fig. 7, where a contact 61 controlling the circuit of the motor is shown open, this having been effected by one of the high points of cam 58, carried by shaft 21, at the time the web rolls reach the position indicated in Fig. 1.

A preferred form of electrical equipment is shown'in Fig. '1. Motor 28 should be capable not only of turning the spider to effect the bringing together of the two Webs, but should also be capable of adjusting the position of the spider in either direction, and said motor is therefore reversible. By closing contact |53, current will flow from line wire |34, over wires IE5, |53 and |51, contact |83, wire |58, coil or relay |89 to line wire The energization of coil |33 closes contacts I and I |2, and current now ows from line wire |04, over wire I I3, contact I I I, wire I I4, motor 23, wires ||5 and H6, contact H2, and wire ||1 back to line wire IH). This will cause motor 28 to rim in a forward direction to turn the spider clockwise in Fig. l. When contact ||3 is closed and |53 is open, current will flow from line wire |04, over wires |35, |55 and |01, contact IIB, wire i9, coil or relay |25 and wire |2I back to line Wire III). The energization of coil |25 closes contacts |22 and |23, and current now flows from line wire |34, over wire |24, contact |22, wire ||5, motor 28, wire H4, wire |25, contact |23, and wire |25 back to line wire |55. This will cause motor 28 to run in reverse direction to turn the spider counter-clockwise in Fig. l.

ment 83, brush 34, wire 200, contact |43, Wire |05 and back to line wire III) either over the path established by |23 or |44.

Contact |29 is speed-governed being controlled by governor |53 and held closed when said governor is running below a given speed. The governor is driven by shaft |54 and the gearing shown from printing machine 24 so that, in the present case, a roll change cannot be effected unless the printing machine has had its speed reduced to a given point. In order to readily ascertain when such reduced speed has been reached, a lamp'or other indicating device as |55 may be employed and it will be seen that this lamp is included in a circuit between contact |29 and line wire I I0, said circuit here consisting of wires |55 and |51, which circuit will be established whenever contact |29 is closed, even though contacts |21, |32 and 61 be open, because current can then flow from line wire |54 over wires |05 and |28, contact |29, wire |55, lamp |55, wire |51 and back to line wire |0.

A brief summary of the operation of the device is as follows: when the last previous roll change was effected, limit switch |51 was opened by one of the high points of cam 58 and thus all operating circuits were destroyed and rotation of shaft 21 was stopped, contact |51 remaining open. When it is now desired to make the next roll change, contact |53 is closed just long enough to energize motor 28 to turn shaft 21 suiciently to bring the high point of cam 68 past contact 61 whereby the latter will close. Contact |21 will now be closed and (contacts |29, 51 and |32 being in their closed position) the circuit previously described will be established through motor 28 to thereby rotate shaft 21 to bring the replenishing roll against -the running web so as to deilect the latter against the backing member and in due time energizing the boosting motor. Contact |21 can be released as soon as magnet |35 becomes energized as said magnet will hold the circuit to motor 28 closed in the manner previously described. Contact |43 is now closed thereby actuating the web-severing solenoid while shaft 21 is still rotating. Upon completion of the required movement of shaft 21, contact 51 will be opened by the next high point of cam 58 and the various circuits will be ruptured. Contact |32 is normally closed, but is a stop which can be opened at any time by the operator in case, for any reason, he desires to interrupt the roll change operation.

I claim:

l. Web supply means including: a support having an active web roll the web of which is threaded into a machine that unwinds the web from the roll; a support having core-engaging means for a rotatable replenishing web roll the web of which is to be united to the running web; a backing member normally out of contact with the running web and normally idle but capable of movement by engagement with the running web; means to bring the periphery of the replenishing roll into contact with the running web to thereby deflect the latter into engagement with the backing member so as to effect a pasted joint between the two webs; and additional means, other than the running web and backing member, to rotate the replenishing roll..

2. Web supply means including: a support having an active web roll the web of which is threaded into a machine that unwinds the web from the roll; a support having core-engaging means for a rotatable replenishing web roll the web of which is to be united to the running web; a backing'member-normally out of contact with the running web and normally idle but capable of movement by engagement with the running web; means to bring the periphery of the replenishing roll into contact with the running web to thereby deect the latter into engagement With the backing member so as to efrect a pasted joint between the two webs; and means to rotate the replenishing roll through its core-engaging means.

3. Web supply means including: a support having an active web roll the web of which is threaded into a machine that unwinds the web from the roll; a support having core-engaging means -for a rotatable replenishing web roll the web of which is tobe united to the running web; a backing member normally out of contact with therunning web and normally idle but capable of `movement by engagement with the running web; means to bring theperiphery of the replenishing roll into contact with the running web to thereby deflect the latter into engagement with the backing member so as to effect a pasted joint between the two webs; and additional means, other than the running web andbacking'member, to rotate the replenishing roll when the active web is deflected into engagement wit the backing member.`

4. Web supply means including: a support having an active web roll the web of which is threaded'into'a machine that unwinds the web from the roll; a support having core-engaging means for a rotatable replenishing web roll the web of which is to be united to the running web; a backing member normally out of Contact with the running web and normally idle but capable of movement by engagement with the running webymeans to bring the periphery of thereplenishing roll into contact with the running web tothereby deect the latter into engagement with the backing member so as to effect a pasted `joint between the two webs; and additional means, other than the running web and backing member, to rotate the replenishing roll, said means controlled by the movement of the replenishing roll toward the active web.

' 5. Web supply means including: a support Ahaving an active web roll the web of which is the running web and normally idle but capable of movement by engagement with the running web; means to bring the periphery ofthe replenishing roll into contact with the running web to thereby deect the latter into engagement with the backingY member so as to eiect -a pasted joint between the two webs; and means to rotate the replenishing roll through its` core-engaging means when the active web is deflected into engagement with the backing member.

6. Web supply means including: a support having an active web roll the web' of which is threaded into a machine that unwinds the web from the roll; a support having core-engaging means for a rotatable replenishing web roll the web-0f whichis to be united to the running web; a backing member normally out of contact with the running `web and normally' idle but capable of movement by engagement with the running web; means to bring the periphery of the replenishing roll into contact with the running web to therebyV deflect the latter into engagement with the backing member so as to effect a pasted joint between the two Webs; and means, controlled by the movement of the replenishing roll toward the active web, to rotate the replenishing roll through its -core-engaging means.

7. Web supply means including: a rotatable reel to support a plurality of rotatable web rolls having core-engaging means, each of which rolls is alternately an active roll with its running web threaded into a machine and a replenishing roll the web of which is to be united to the running web of an active roll; a backing memberV normally out of contact with the running web and normally idle but capable of movement by engagement with the running web; means to turn the reel to bring the periphery of the replenishing roll into contact with the running web to thereby deect the latter into engagement with the backing member so as to effect a pasted joint between the two webs; andadditional means, other than the running web and backing member, to rotate the replenishingroll.

8. Web supply means including: a rotatable reel to support a plurality of rotatable web rolls having core-engaging means, each of Vwhich rolls is alternately an active roll with its running web threaded into a machine and ay replenishing roll the web of which is to be united to the running web ofan active roll; a backing member normally out of contact with the running -Web and normally idle but capable of movement by engagement with the running web; means to turn the reel to bring the periphery of the replenishing` roll into contact with the running web to thereby deflect the latter into engagement with the backing member so as to effect a pasted joint between the two webs; and means to rotate the replenishing roll through its core-engaging means. i

9. Web supply means including: a rotatable reel to support a plurality of rotatable web rolls having core-engaging means, each of which rolls is alternately an active roll with its running web threaded into a machine and a replenishing roll the web of which is `to be united to the running web of an active roll; a backing member normally out of contact with the running web and normally idle but capable of movement by er1- gagement with the running web; means to turn the reel to bring the periphery of the replenishing roll into contact with the running web to thereby deiiect the latter into engagement with the backing member so as to eiect a pasted joint between the two webs; and additional means, other than the running web and backing member, to rotate the replenishing roll when the active web is deected into engagement with the backing member.

l0. Web supply means including: a rotatable reel to support a plurality of rotatable web rolls having core-engaging means, each of which rolls is alternately an active roll with its running web threaded into a machine and a replenishing roll the web of which is to be united to the running web of an active roll; a backing member norcallyout of contact with the running web and normally idle but capable of movement by engagement with the running web; means to turn the reel to bring the periphery of the replenishing roll into contact with the running web to thereby deflect the latter into engagement with the backing member so as to effect a pasted joint between the two webs; and additional means, other than the running web and backing member,

to rotate the replenishing roll, said means controlled by the movement of the reel to bring thel replenishing roll into engagement with the active web.

11. Web supply means including: a rotatable reel to support a plurality of rotatable web rolls having core-engaging means, each of which rolls is alternately an active roll with its running web threaded into a machine and a replenishing roll the web oi which is to be united to the running Web of an active roll; a backing member no-rcally out of Contact with the running web and normally idle but capable of movement by engagement with the rimning web; means to turn the reel to bring the periphery of the replenishing roll into contact with the running web to thereby deflect the latter into engagement with the backing member so as to eiect a pasted joint between the two webs, and means to rotate the replenishing roll through its core-engaging means when the active web is deiiected into engagement with the backing member.

12. Web supply means including: a rotatable reel to support a plurality of rotatable web rolls having core-engaging means, each of which rolls is alternately an active roll with its running web threaded into a machine and a replenishing roll the web of which is to. be united to the running Web of an active roll; a backing member norcally out of contact with the running web and normally idle but capable of movement by engagement with the running web; means to turn the reel to bring the periphery of the replenishing roll into contact with the running web to thereby deflect the latter into engagement with the backing member so as to eiect a pasted joint between the two webs; and means, controlled by rotation of the reel to bring the replenishing roll toward the active web, to rotate the replenishing roll through its core-engaging means.

13. Web supply means including: a support having an active web roll the web of which is threaded into a machine that unwinds the web from the roll; a support having core-engaging means for a rotatable replenishing web roll the web of which is to be united to the running web; means to bring the periphery of the replenishing web roll into engagement with the running web to thereby initiate rotation of the replenishing roll; normally inactive actuating means, other than the running web, to drive said replenishing roll; and a control device for the actuating means, controlled by initial rotation of the replenishing roll, to render the actuating means active todrive the replenishing roll.

14. Web supply means including: a support having an active web roll the web of which is threaded into a machine that unwinds the web from the roll; a support having core-engaging means for a rotatable replenishing Web roll the web of which is to be united to the running web; means to bring the periphery of the replenishing web roll into engagement with the running web t-o thereby initate rotation of the replenishing roll; normally inactive actuating means, other than the running web, to drive said replenishing roll; and a control device for the actuating means, controlled by initial rotation of the replenishing roll, to render the actuating means active to drive the replenishing roll.

15. In a web supply means: a rotatable reel; a plurality of sets of rotatable core-engaging means for a plurality of web rolls; normally inactive actuating means other than the running web to drive each web roll o-ne at a time; and a control device for the actuating means controlled by rotation of the reel and by initial rotation of the roll to be driven to render the actuating means active to drive the web roll.

16. In a Web supply means: a rotatable reel; a plurality of sets of rotatable coreengaging means for a plurality of web rolls; normally inactive actuating means other' than the running web to drive each web roll one at a time through the core-engaging means; and a control device for the actuating means controlled by rotation of the reel and by initial rotation of the roll to be driven to render the actuating means active to drive the webroll. Y

1'7. Web supply means including: a rotatable reel to support a, plurality of rotatable Web rolls having core-engaging means, each of which rolls is alternately an active roll with its running web threaded into a machine and a replenishing roll the web Yof which is to be united to the running Web of an active roll; normally inactive actuating means, other than the running web, to drive each web roll one at a time; and a control device for the actuating means controlled by rotation of the reel and by initial rotation of the roll to be driven to render the actuating means active to drive the web roll.

18. Web-supply means including: a rotatable reel to support a plurality of rotatable web rolls having core-engaging means, each of which rolls is alternately an active roll with its running web threaded into a machine and a replenishing roll the web of which is to be united to the running web of an active roll; normally inactive actuating means, other than the running web, to drive each web roll one at a time through the coreengaging means; and a control device for the actuating means controlled by rotation of the reel and by initial rotation of the roll to be driven to render the actuating means active to drive the web roll.

19. Web supply means including: a support having an active web roll the web of which is threaded into a machine that unwinds the Web from the roll; a support having core-engaging means for a rotatable replenishing web roll the Web of which is to be united to the running web; a backing member normally out of contact With the running web and normally idle but capable of movement by engagement with the running web; means to bring the periphery of the re plenishing roll into contact with the running web to thereby deflect the latter into engagement with the backing member so as to effect a pasted joint between Athe two Webs; and means, controlled by rotation of the replenishing roll, to rotate the replenishing roll.

20. Web supply means including: a rotatable reel to support a plurality of rotatable web rolls having core-engaging means, each of which rolls is alternately an active roll with its running Web threaded into a machine and a replenishing roll the web of which is to be united to the running web of an active roll; a backing member normally out of contact with the running web and normally idle but capable of movement by engagement with the running web; means to turn the reel to bring the periphery of the replenishing roll into contact with the running web to thereby deflect the latter into engagement with the backing member so as to effect a pasted joint between the two webs; and means, controlled by rotation of the reel and by rotation of the replenishing roll, to rotate the replenishing roll.

21. Web supply means including: a support having an active Web roll the web of which is threaded into a machine that unWinds the web from the roll; a support having core-engaging means for a rotatable replenishing Web roll the web of which is to be united `to the running Web; a motor to rotate the replenishing roll through its core-engaging means; a backing member normally out of Contact With the running web; and means to move the periphery of the replenishing roll into contact with the running web to deflect the latter into engagement with the backing member to effect a pasted joint between the two Webs and to decrease the load on the motor that rotates the replenishing roll Without subjecting the running web to undue strain.

22. Web supply means including: a support having an active web roll the web of which is threaded into a machine that unwinds the web from the roll; a support having core-engaging means for a rotatable replenishing web roll the the active roll to varyv the eiectiveness of the brake mechanism; a motor to rotate the replenishing roll through its core-engaging means; a backing member normally out of contact with the running web; and means to move the periphery of the replenishing roll into contact with the running web to deflect the latter into engagement with the backing member to effect a pasted joint between the two Webs and to decrease the load on the motor that rotates the replenishing roll Without subjecting the running web to undue strain to thereby avoid excessive movem'ent of the controller and brake mechanism.

V23. In a Web supply means: a rotatable reel; a plurality of sets of rotatable core-engaging means for a plurality of web rolls; a plurality of means for a plurality of Web rolls; a plurality ofv electric motors, one for each web roll, to drive said web rolls one at a time through the core-A engaging means; and means, controlled by rotation of the reel and by rotation of the vroll to be driven, to energize the motor of that replenishing roll which is to be driven.

25. Web supply means including: a rotatable reel to support a plurality of rotatable web rolls having core-engaging means, each of which rolls is alternatively an active roll with is running web threaded into a machine and a replenishing roll the Web of which is to be united to the running Web of an active roll; a plurality of electric motors, one for each web roll, to drive said web rolls one at a time; and means, controlled by rotation of the reel and by rotation of the roll to be driven, to energize the motor of that re plenishing roll which is to be driven.

26. Web supply means including: a rotatable reel to support a plurality of rotatable web rolls having core-engaging means, each of which rolls is alternatively an active roll with its running web threaded into a machine and a replenishing roll the web of which is to be united to the running Web of an .active roll; a plurality of electric motors, one for each Web roll, to drive said Web rolls one at a time through the core-engaging means; .and means, controlled by rotation of the reel and by rotation of the roll to be driven, to energize the motor of that replenishing roll which is to be driven.

DAVID J. SCOTT.