US2706515A

US2706515A - Web splicing machine

Info

Publication number: US2706515A
Application number: US308827A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur J Evers
Original assignee: International Paper Co
Current assignee: International Paper Co
Priority date: 1952-09-10
Filing date: 1952-09-10
Publication date: 1955-04-19
Anticipated expiration: 1972-04-19

Description

6 Sheets-Sheet l April 19, 1955 A. J.' EvERs WEB SPLICING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 1952 JNVENToR. APN/umn ivf/vs BY v April 19, 1 EVERS v v WEB sPLIcING MACHINE:

6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed sept. 1o, 1952 INVENTOA ARTHUR d .Q /Ws gf April 19, 1955 Filed Sept. l0, 1952 A. J. EVERS v WEB SPLICING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENToR. ,2mn/uf? d. [v5/Ps GENT April 19, 1955 A. J. E-vERs WEB SPLICING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 10, 1952 ZZ INVENToR.

Af? rHa/P d. {Vf/Ps April 19, 1955 A. J. EvERs 2,706,515

WEB SPLICING MACHINE Filed sept. 1o, 1952 6 sheds-sheet 5 INVENToR. ART/fw? d Fl/f/'s GENT 'April 19, 1955 Filed Sept. l0, l1952 A. J. EVERS WEB SPLICING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 k BY AGENT nited States Patent() WEB SPLICING MACHINE Arthur J. Evers, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to International Paper Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 10, 1952, Serial No. 308,827 Claims. (Cl. 154-42.3)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in web splicing machines generally, and particularly seeks to provide a novel machine for automatically butt-splicing the lead end of a fresh roll of paperboard to the tag end of the previously used roll of paperboard and to supply a continuous web of paperboard from the splicing stations to a subsequent operation-performing machine under conditions of controlled feed.

In the production of paperboard containers such as milk cartons a supply of paper is withdrawn from a roll thereof and fed into a printing or other operations-performing machine, as a result of which individual container blanks may be printed and cut out. Modern machines for performing these functions operate at a web speed of several hundred feet a minute, and accordingly, the lost time involved in transferring supply rolls of paperboard becomes substantial either when a splice from a new roll to an old is made manually after stopping the equipment or when the old roll is permitted to completely run out and the lead end of a fresh roll is introduced to the operating equipment. In either case there is a considerable amount of wastage resulting from inaccuracies occurring when the operating equipment is brought up to speed.

Apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention is capable of automatically performing a butt-splice between the lead end of a fresh supply of paperboard and the tag end of the used supply roll of paperboard while the web is being moved. A web-splicer constructed in accordance with this invention includes also a pair of uniquely operable draw rolls for constantly pulling the paperboard from the supply roll therof under such conditions that as it is fed from the supply rolls to an associated printing or blank cutting machine no drag is transmitted from the supply roll to the associated operating machine and the tension together with the rate of feed from the draw roll to the operating machine is automatically adjusted.

Therefore an object of this invention is to provide a machine for automatically performing butt-splices between two moving webs of paperboard.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of the character stated in which means are provided for transversely cutting the tag end of an expiring supply of paperboard while simultaneously feeding the lead end of a fresh supply of paperboard.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of the character stated which includes means elective after the trailing end of the expiring paperboard and the lead end of the fresh supply thereof have been placed in abutting relationship to apply an adhesive tape across the buttseam whereby to join the two together.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of the character stated in which the web of paperboard is drawn by a pair of constantly operable draw rolls and in which the cutting, butt-positioning and taping of the abutted webs is effected through mechanisms operated only through a single cycle for each splicing operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of the character stated in which the draw rolls are driven from a primary source of power through planetary gear connections and in which a secondary source of power is provided to vary the position of the normally stationary gear of the planetary system whereby to effect speed changes of the draw rolls.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of the character stated in which actuation of the planetary gearing-adjusting means is automatically effected by apparent changes in tension of the paperboard web after it leaves its engagement from between the draw rolls.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of the character stated which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the nature of which will be more apparent, the invention will be more fully understood by reference to the drawings, the accompanying detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a web-splicing machine constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a broken top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a left-end elevation thereof with certain of the parts being deleted in order more clearly to illustrate the general organization;

Fig. 4 is a detail longitudinal section taken along line 4 4 of Fig. 2 and shows the position of the cutting rolls prior to the starting of a splicing cycle;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section similar to Fig. 4 but shows the position of the rolls at the instant the expiring web is being cut;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a detail longitudinal section taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 2 and shows the positions of the taping rolls prior to the start of a splicing cycle;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section similar to Fig. 7 and shows the positions of the tape rolls as the tape is being applied to the butt joint between the old and new Webs;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged broken horizontal section taken along line 9-9 of Fig. l;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken along line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 1l is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section through the planetary drive taken along line 11-11 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. l2 is a longitudinal section taken along line 12-12 of Fig. 11.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the invention as illustrated is embodied in an automatic web-splicing machine which includes a web-cutting station generally indicated at A, a taping station generally indicated at B, main draw rolls generally indicated at C adapted to be driven through a planetary gear box generally indicated at D, and web tension control means generally indicated at E, all adapted to be driven from a primary source of power through a gear box generally indicated at F. The supply roll of paperboard which is being exhausted is indicated at G and a fresh supply roll of paperboard is indicated at H.

The entire machine is carried by a main frame which includes a front frame member S and a rear frame member 6 to which is rigidly affixed the gear box F. The

machine is adapted to be driven from any suitable source of power but preferably from a power take-off of an associated printing or carton blank cutting machine through a main drive shaft 7 which is connected to the gear box F through a coupling 8 which is connected to a longitudinal shaft 9 entering into the gear box F and carrying at its inner end a bevel gear 10. The bevel gear 10 meshes with a similar bevel gear 11 carried on a transverse shaft 12 and provided with an extension carrying a sprocket gear 13. A clutch generally indicated at 14 is carried by the shaft 12 and includes a slidable clutching and declutching collar 15 and a driven element 16. The driven element 16 of the clutch assembly 14 carries with it a pinion gear 17 which meshes with a large diameter intermediate gear 18 rotatably carried by the rear frame member 6. Power is thus adapted to be transmitted by the main drive shaft 7 through intermediate gear 18 in order to drive the operative rolls at the cutting and taping stations A and B.

The taping station A includes an upper roll 19 carried by a shaft 20 journalled between the frame members 5 and 6 and provided at its rear end with a pinion 21. A lower roll 22 carried by a shaft 23 is disposed immediately beneath the roll 19 and is provided at its rear end with a pinion 24 which is engaged in meshing relationship with the upper pinion 21 and the large intermediate gear 18.

As will be seen from Fig. l of the drawings, the intermediate gear 18 rotates in a counterclockwise direction while the lower pinion 24 rotates in a clockwise direction and the upper pinion 21 rotates counterclockwise. In this manner the

rolls

19 and 22 are rotated in opposite directions in order to effect cutting operations at the station A in the same direction as the normal feed of the webs G and H of the paperboard.

The upper roll 19 may be termed the knife roll and is provided with a resilient outer covering 25 around the major portion of its periphery. The roll 19 is also provided with an axial bore 26 adapted to be connected as by suitable pipe connections 27 to a source of vacuum. The roll 19 is also provided with a plurality of aligned cuplike recesses 28 which enter into open communication with the axial bore 26 through a corresponding number of radial ducts 29, in order that the leading portion of a new supply of paperboard may be retained in contact with the surface of the roll by action of the vacuum pulled through the recesses 28. Immediately adjacent the line of recesses 28 the roll 19 is provided with a longitudinal groove 30 adapted to receive and retain a knife assembly generally indicated at 31. The knife assembly 31 includes a pair of

clamp blocks

32 and 33 between which is adapted to be held a radially extending knife blade 34 by suitable securing devices such as a plurality of clamp screws 35. The knife assembly 31 is retained within the groove 30 as by a plurality of securing screws 36. It will be noted by reference to Fig. of the drawings in particular that the cutting edge of `the knife blade 34 projects slightly beyond the surface of the resilient covering 25 of the roll 19.

As viewed particularly in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings it will be noted that the lower roll 22 is provided with a horizontally disposed iiat 37 which provides clearance between the

rolls

22 and 19 when the web splicer is not actually being operated. A second at 38 is formed on the surface of the roll 22 to the left of the fiat 37 as viewed in Figs. 4 and 5 and carries a rigidly aliixed hard metal cutting or anvil plate 39 secured by suitable screws 40, the crown of which lies substantially within the cylinder dened by the roll 22. It will be noted that the at 38 and its associated anvil plate 39 are angularly offset from the vertical axis through the roll 22 by an amount substantially equal to the angular displacement of the knife blade 34 as viewed in Fig. 4 of the drawings. In this manner the knife blade and the cutting anvil will come into line contact as the

rolls

19 and 22 are rotated and thus effect a severing of a paperboard web which may be interposed therebetween.

The rearwardly projecting end of the shaft 23 carries rigidly aixed thereto a face cam 41 including a high lift surface 42 and a quick release surface 43. The cam 41 is operatively engaged periodically by a plate cam follower 44 (see Figs. 2 and 3) rigidly affixed to the upper end of a rock arm 45 pivoted intermediate its ends as at 46 between the end walls of the gear box F and having its lower end operatively connected as at 47 to the slidable clutch collar 15.

The fron-t frame member 5 is provided with a pair of forwardly projecting

lugs

48, 48 which pivotally support the lower end of a clutch operating handle 49. A pitman or connecting link 50 has one end pivotally connected to the rock arm 45 as at 51 and the other end pivotally connected to the clutch handle 49 as at 52 through the medium of a lost motion slot 53 formed in the adjacent end of the pitman 50. A tension spring 54 is connected between the pivot 52 and the frame member 5 and constantly-tends to bias the clutch handle 49 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2 of the drawings, in order to maintain the clutch 14 in an inoperative or non-driving state.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that when the clutch handle 49 is pulled forwardly or to the right as viewed in Fig. 3 the rock arm 45 will be oscillated slightly in a clockwise direction to move the clutch collar to the left to engage -the clutch and to drive the rolls of the cutting station A as well as those of the taping station B. When the clutch is thus engaged the plate cam follower 44 will be moved into position for engagement with the cam surface 42 of the cam 41, and since it is only a single lift lobe on the cam 41 one revolution of the shaft 23 will effect return movement of the follower 44 and the rock arm 45 to the position shown in Fig. 3 to thus again disengage the clutch and stop rotation of the cutting and taping rolls after a single revolution.

In order to prevent overriding upon the completion of a single revolution the clutch 14 may be provided with suigasble braking apparatus, diagrammatically indicated at The taping station B includes an upper roll 56 covered by a rubber or other resilient material 57 and rotatably supported between the frame members 5 and 6 on stub end shafts 58, 58. The rear stub shaft 58 projects beyond the frame member 6 and has rigidly affixed thereto a gear 59 of the same diameter and number of teeth as the gear 21. The roll 56 and its resilient covering 57 are provided with two parallel rows of radially disposed apertures 60 through which a vacuum may be pulled from the interior of the roll as by a pipe 61 rotatably carried wi-thin the rear stub shaft 58. The two rows of apertures 60 are spaced apart a distance sufficient to temporarily hold a strip of adhesive tape used to bind together the butt joint between the webs of paperboard to be spliced.

A lower roll 62 having a at 63 is journalled beneath the upper roll 56 by suitable stub shafts extending between the front and rear frame members 5 and 6 and carries at its rear end a gear 64 of the same diameter and number of teeth as the gear 59 and meshes both with the gear 59 and the intermediate driving gear 18. It will be apparent from the foregoing that the roll gears 21, 24, 59, and 64 are all of the same diameter and number of teeth and that the gears 24 and 64 are in meshing engagement with the intermediate driving gear 18 in order that the rolls of the cutting station A and the taping station B may be simultaneously driven at identical speeds.

A valve assembly generally indicated at 65 is fastened to the rear frame member 6 in a position slightly above and between the

rolls

19 and 56. A pipe 66 connects the valve assembly with any suitable source of vacuum (not shown) and it may be noted that the pipe 61 which extends into open communication with the upper roll 56 of the taping station is also connected to the same source of vacuum. One side of the valve 65 is additionally connected to the pipe 27 which extends into open communication with the upper roll 19 at the cutting station. A sliding D type valve plate 67 is disposed in operative relationship to the valve 65 and serves to control the admission or stopping of the vacuum from the pipe 66 through the pipe 27 and the roll 19. The valve plate 67 is affixed near the upper end of a valve lever 68 pivotally connected at its lower end as at 69 to the rear frame member 6. As viewed in Fig. 1 of the drawings the valve lever 68 is provided intermediate its ends with a laterally projecting lug 70 which is adapted to contact the shaft 58 of the upper taping roll 56 to limit the right-hand movement of oscillation of the valve lever. A lug 71 having a rounded cam-following surface projects laterally in a direction opposite that of the lug 70 and is adapted to be contacted by the lift portion of1 la 72 rigidly aixed to the shaft 20 of the knife ro .When the valve lever 68 is in the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings the valve plate 67 has been moved to its right-hand limit of movement and the pipe 27 ex tending from the roll 19 is uncovered and in open cornmunlcation with the atmosphere. Before a splicing cycle is to take place the machine operator will manually move the valve lever 68 to the left a distance sufcient for the valve plate 67 to cover the open port whereby to admit vacuum to the knife roll 19 and to move the cam follower lug 71 into position whereby it can become contacted by the lift portion of the cam 72 during rotation of the roll 19. In this manner the vacuum to the roll 19 is automatically cut off before one complete revolution of the roll 19 takes place. This, of course, will enable the lead end of the new roll H of paperboard to be relltleasesd from its vacuum-held position on the face of the ro In the draw roll section C there is provided a lower draw roll 73 journalled between the frame members 5 and 6 with its upper surface lying in the same plane as that which passes through the nips of the rolls of the cutting and taping stations A and B. The rear end of the roll 73 is provided with a shaft portion 74 which projects through the planetary gear box D and is provided at its outer end with a portion 75 of reduced diameter. A sun gear 76 is rotatably carried by a ball bearing 77 mounted on the shaft 74 and is provided with a rearwardly projecting hub portion 78 which is supported upon the reduced diameter portion 75 of the shaft as by ball bearings 79. A sprocket gear 80 is firmly axed to the rearwardly projecting hub portion 78 and is adapted to be driven from the sprocket 13 by a sprocket glzxain 81 which passes over an intermediate idler sprocket A normally stationary spider 83 provided with a peripheral worm gear 84 formed integral therewith is rotatably supported upon the shaft 74 as by

ball bearing

85, 85. The spider 83 rotatably carries three planetary gears 86 which are engaged in meshing relationship with the gears 76. Each of the planetary gears 86 is provided with a transversely extending shaft 87, the other end of which carries another planetary gear 88 which meshes with a second sun gear 89 keyed to the shaft portion 74. In this manner power is transmitted to the shaft 74 from the sprocket 80 through the sun gear 76,

planetary gears

86 and 88 and sun gear 89. It will be appreciated that so long as the spider 83 is held stationary the shaft 74 will be rotated in the same direction as the sprocket 80 and since the sun gears 76 and 89 are of the same diameter and number of teeth and the

planetary gears

86 and 88 are of the same diameter and number of teeth the speed of rotation of the shaft 74 will be the same as that of the sprocket.

Means are provided by which the spider 83 may be rotated in either direction in order to either slightly accelerate or decelerate the rotative speed of the shaft 74 and its associated draw roll 73. To this end a shaft 90 is journalled in the planetary gear box D and is disposed with its axis aligned with the median plane passing through the worm gear 84 formed on the spider 83. A worm 91 is rigidly affixed to the shaft 90 and meshes with the worm gear 84. One end of the shaft 90 is provided with a relatively large gear 92 rigidly affixed thereto which meshes with a pinion 93 mounted upon the shaft 94 of a reversible motor 95.

An upper draw roll 96 is rotatably carried by a pair of spaced

parallel arms

97, 97 aiixed to a rock shaft 98 journalled between the main frame members 5 and 6. The outer ends of the arms 97 are engaged by spring loading devices generally indicated at 99 in order that contact pressure between the upper and lower draw rolls may be easily adjusted. For the purpose of raising the upper draw roll 96 from contact with the lower draw roll 73 the spring loading devices 99 are connected with an eccentrically mounted shaft 100 which can be rotated by a handle 101 to raise the ends of the arms 97 and the roll 96 carried thereby.

After the paperboard web leaves the draw rolls station C it is directed downwardly and under a decurling bar 102 adjustably clamped between the outer ends of a pair of spaced

parallel arms

103, 103, the inner ends of which are axed to a rock shaft 104 journalled between the front and rear frame members 5 and 6. The decurling bar 102 is employed to remove the curl imparted to paperboard as the result of having been rolled up on the supply roll. It will be noted from Fig. of the drawings that the decurling bar presents surface areas whose radii of curvature from the axis of the bar vary over different portions. This is in order that the decurling effect of the bar may be varied by changing its position about its axis and thus causing the paperboard web to contact portions of different curvature. The adjusting means for this include a forwardly projecting stub shaft 105 formed integrally with the decurling bar 102 to which is attached an adjusting lever 106 having a transversely extending arcuate slot 107 formed therein with a radius of curvature equal to the distance from the axis of the slot to the axis of the decurling bar 102. A threaded stud 108 is mounted on the forward arm 103 and extends through the slot 107 of the adjusting arm 106. A clamp handle 109 is threadably engaged with the stud 108 and serves to clamp the adjusting lever 106 into any desired position relative to the arm 103.

The arms 103 and the decurling bar 102 together form a bail which is adapted to swing about the axis of the rock shaft 104 to maintain a deep bight in the paperboard web which passes around the decurling bar, and in order that suicient frictional Contact may be maintained between the decurling bar and the web the bail is weighted as by a transversely extending weight roll 110 adjustably mounted between the arms 103.

The forward end of the rock shaft 104 is provided with an upwardly extending cam segment 111 having a pair of

cam lobes

112, 112 formed on its upper edge portion.

A normally open micro-switch 113 provided with an actuating finger 114 is operatively positioned adjacent one of the cam lobes 112 and a second normally open microswitch 115 having an actuating finger 116 is operatively positioned adjacent the other cam lobe 112. The two micro-switches 113 and 115 are connected to the reversible motor by suitable wiring (not shown) so that whenever the decurling bar 102 becomes lowered as a result of too fast a feed rate of the web by the main draw rolls such lowering of the decurling bar will effect an oscillation of the rock shaft 104 and the cam 111 in a clockwise direction so that the left-hand cam lobe 112 will close the micro-switch through motion of the finger 116 to operate the motor 95 in such a direction that the spider 83 of the planetary gear system D will be rotated in a direction the same as the direction of rotation of the lower draw roll 73 and thus effect a slight reduction in the operative speed of the draw rolls. A reduction in speed of the draw rolls in this manner will cause the bight formed in the web as it passes around the decurling bar 102 to become shortened and to raise the decurling bar. This will effect an oscillation of the rock shaft 104 in a counterclockwise direction whereupon the micro-switch 115 will again be opened as a result of its finger 116 becoming disengaged from the left-hand cam lobe 112, and the motor 95 will be stopped, whereupon the lower draw roll 73 will resume its regular rotative speed. If the decurling bar 102 is raised further by additional shortening of the bight of the web as by a slight increase in speed of the associated printing or blank cutting machine such further raising of the decurling bar will further effect an oscillation of the cam 111 counterclockwise to cause the micro-switch 113 to become closed as a result of engagement of its actuating finger 114 with the right-hand cam lobe 112 to cause the motor 95 to run in a direction such that the main spider 83 of the planetary gear system D will be rotated in a direction contrary to that of the lower draw roll 73 and thus slightly speed up the rotative speed of the draw roll. This will cause the bight in the web passing around the decurling bar 102 to again deepen so that the decurling bar 102 will become lowered and the cam 111 will be rotated clockwise to effect opening of the micro-switch 113 by disengagement of its actuating finger 114 with the right-hand cam lobe 112 to stop the motor 95 and permit the draw roll 73 to resume its normal rotative speed.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that through the use of the reversible motor 95 and the control thereof effective through the tension control means E, either a speeding up or a slowing down of the web may be effected. It is, of course, entirely feasible to employ a uni-directional motor in connection with the planetary gear D in those instances in w ich it is desirable to only vary the speed of advance of the web in one direction, that is, to either periodically slow the speed of advance or speed it up. In the case where the associated printing or blank cutting machine would be operated at a nearly fixed web speed it may be desirable to operate the web splicer and its draw rolls at a slightly reduced speed. Then when the bight in the web as it passes around the decurling bar 102 becomes shortened the cam 111 would be elective to initiate action of the planetary gear driving motor to slightly increase the speed of the draw rolls 73. In this case, of course, it would be necessary to employ only a single micro-switch rather than the two which are employed in connection with the reversible motor.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description the operation of this machine will be clear a brief outline of one cycle of operation of the rolls of the cutting and taping stations will be given by way ot' review.

As will be seen from Fig. l of the drawings, the supply roll G of paperboard is being drawn over an idler roll 117 through the machine by the draw rolls 73 and 96 While the fresh supply H is in a standby position with its lead end passing under an upper idler roll 118 and thence upwardly in a free bight with its end proper held by the vacuum recesses 28 on the upper cutting roll 19 adjacent the projectingedge of the knife 34. (See Fig. 4.) At this time the rolls of the taping station B are in the position shown in Fig. 7 so that web G passes freely between the rolls of both the cutting and taping stations. The upper taping roll 56 has had positioned thereon a strip of adhesive tape 119 of sufficient width to properly secure a butt splice between the webs and which is held in place by being engaged over the radial apertures 60 of the taping roll.

When it comes time for a splice to be made to the tail end of the supply roll G the vacuum pump (not shown) is started in order to pull air from the roll 56 through the apertures 60 thereof to rmly hold the tape 119 thereon and also to pull air from the valve assembly 65. The valve lever 68 is shifted to the left from the position shown in Fig. l in order that air may be pulled from the recesses 28 through the pipe 27 to hold firmly the lead end of the fresh web of paperboard from the supply roll H. Once the tape has been applied to the roll 56 and the lead end of the new web has been positioned adjacent the knife of the roll 19 the clutch handle 49 is pulled to the right as viewed in Fig. 3 in order to engage the clutch and drive all of the rolls of the cutting and taping stations.

As the

rolls

19 and 22 of the cutting station rotate in opposite directions the knife 34 will approach contact with the cutting plate 39 and when the rolls reach the position shown in Fig. 5 the old web G Will become transversely severed and the lead end of the new web H will be positioned in substantial abutting relation with the line of severance. As the rolls continue to rotate there will be line or nip contact between the cylindrical portion of the bottom roll 22 and the resiliently covered portion of the top roll 19 with the web H held therebetween and advanced thereby. It will be appreciated that the gear ratios of the driving connections for the cutting station A as well as for the taping station B are such that the eifective speed of advance of the web held between the nips of each pair of rolls will be identical with the speed of web advance effected by the main draw rolls 73 and 96.

At the start of the splicing cycle the rolls of the taping station B are as shown in Fig. 7, and as they revolve after engagement of the clutch 14 the tape 119 carried thereby will be brought into engagement with the trailing edge of the expiring web G and the leading edge of the new web H, and the nip pressure between the upper and lower taping rolls 56 and 62 will be sutlicient to firmly press the tape into adhering relationship with the webs and thus complete the splice. It will be noted that no means have been shown for releasing the vacuum pulled through the apertures 60 since the tape 119 is readily peeled from the surface of the upper roll 56 as a result of its adhesive bond with the webs.

As the rolls of the cutting and taping stations A and B have rotated approximately 90 the cam 72 carried on the shaft 20 of the cutting roll 19 becomes effective to move the valve lever 68 to the right as shown in Fig. l and thus interrupt the vacuum to the recesses 28 and place them in open communication with the atmosphere in order that the web H may be quickly released from its position adjacent the surface of the roll 19.

As rotation of the rolls of the cutting and taping stations continues until nearly one full revolution has been completed, the cam 41 mounted on the end of the lower roll shaft 23 becomes effective to disengage the clutch 14 as a result of contact with the follower plate 44 (see Fig. 3). In this manner the rolls of the cutting and taping stations revolve through only one revolution for each splicing operation.

After the web leaves the draw roll station C and is brought downwardly under the decurling bar 102 it is brought upwardly over an idler roll 120 and thence downwardly around a lower idler roll 121 from which it is introduced into the associated printing or blank cutting machine.

It is, of course, to be understood that various details of arrangements and proportions of parts may be modified within the scope of the appended claims.

l claim:

l. Apparatus for butt-splicing moving webs of paperboard comprising means for continuously advancing a web of paperboard. means positioned ahead of said webadvancing means for supporting the lead end of a new web of paperboard and for transversely severing an old web ot` paperboard while simultaneously advancing the new web in abutting relation to the line of severance, and means interposed between said web-advancing and said severing means for applying a securing tape over the butt joint between said webs as said webs are being continuously advanced.

2. Apparatus for butt-splicing moving webs of paperboard comprising means for continuously advancing a web of paperboard, means positioned ahead of said webadvancing means for supporting the lead end of a new web of paperboard and for transversely severing an old web of paperboard while simultaneously advancing the new web in abutting relation to the line of severance, means interposed vbetween said web-advancing and said severing means for applying a securing tape over the butt joint between said webs as said webs are being continuously advanced, and web-tension-responsive control means for varying the effective speed of said web-advancing means.

3. A machine for automatically butt-splicing moving webs of paperboard, comprising a pair of draw rolls for continuously advancing a web of paperboard, means for varying the speed of rotation of said draw rolls, intermittently operable means positioned ahead of said draw rolls for supporting the lead end of a new web of paperboard and for transversely severing an old web of paperboard while simultaneously advancing the new web in abutting relation to the line of severance, intermittently operable means interposed between said draw rolls and said severing means for applying a securing tape over the butt joint between said webs as said webs are being continuously advanced, and web-tension-responsive control means for actuating said draw roll speed-varying means.

4. A machine for automatically butt-splicing moving webs of paperboard, comprising a pair of draw rolls for continuously advancing a web of paperboard, a cutting station including intermittently operable upper and lower rolls, said upper roll being provided with a longitudinally extending radially projecting knife blade normally positioned out of the line of tangency between said rolls and with means for temporarily holding the leading edge of a new web of paperboard against said knife blade, said lower roll being provided with a flat area normally positioned substantially parallel with the plane of tangency between said rolls whereby to permit free passage of a paperboard web therebetween except when a splice is being made and provided with a cutting plate normally angularly oifset to the same degree that the knife blade on said upper roll is oifset, a taping station including intermittently operable upper and lower rolls, said upper roll being provided with means for temporarily holding a length of adhesive tape for splice-securing purposes in a position well away from the line of tangency between said rolls, said lower roll being provided with a at area normally positioned substantially parallel with the plane of tangency between said rolls whereby to permit free passage of a paperboard web therebetween except when a splice is being made, and means for intermittently and synchronously driving the rolls of said cutting and taping stations whereby to form and tape a butt splice between said old and new webs as said webs are being continuously advanced.

5. A machine for automatically butt-splicing moving webs of paperboard, comprising a pair of draw rolls for continuously advancing a web of paperboard, a cutting station including intermittently operable upper and lower rolls, said upper roll being provided with a longitudinally extending radially projecting knife blade normally positioned out of the line of tangency between said rolls and with means for temporarily holding the leading edge of a new web of paperboard against said knife blade, said lower roll being provided with a at area normally positioned substantially parallel with the plane of tangency between said rolls whereby to permit free passage of a paperboard web therebetween except when a splice is being made and provided with a cutting plate normally angularly offset to the same degree that the knife blade on said upper roll is offset, a taping station including intermittently operable upper and lower rolls, said upper roll being provided with means for temporarily holding a length of adhesive tape for splice-securing purposes in a position well away from the line of tangency between said rolls, said lower roll being provided with a flat area normally positioned substantially parallel with the plane of tangency between said rolls whereby to permit free passage of a paperboard web therebetween except when a splice is being made, and manually-started automatically-stopped means for synchronously driving the rolls of said cutting and taping stations one revolution only during each splicing operation whereby to form and tape a butt splice between said old and new webs as said webs are being continuously advanced.

6. A machine for automatically butt-splicing moving webs of paperboard, comprising a pair of draw rolls for continuously advancing a web of paperboard, a cutting station including intermittently operable upper and lower rolls, said upper roll being provided with a longitudlnally extending radially projecting knife blade normally positioned out of the line of tangency between said rolls and with means for temporarily holding the leading edge of a new web of paperboard against said knife blade, said lower roll being provided with a at area normally positioned substantially parallel with the plane of tangency between said rolls whereby to permit free passage of a paperboard web therebetween except when a splice is being made and provided with a cutting plate normally angularly offset to the same degree that the knife blade on said upper roll is offset, a taping station including intermittently operable upper and lower rolls, said upper roll being provided with means for temporarily holding a length of adhesive tape for splice-securing purposes in a position well away from the line of tangency between said rolls, said lower roll being provided with a flat area normally positioned substantially parallel with the plane of tangency between said rolls whereby to permit free passage of a paperboard web therebetween except when a splice is being made, means for intermittently and synchronously driving the rolls of said cutting and taping stations whereby to form and tape a butt splice between said old and new webs as said webs are being continuously advanced, and web-tension-responsive control means for varying the effective speed of said draw rolls.

7. A machine for automatically butt-splicing moving webs of paperboard, comprising a pair of draw rolls for continuously advancing a web of paperboard, a cutting station including intermittently operable upper and lower rolls, said upper roll being provided with a longitudinally extending radially projecting knife blade normally positioned out of the line of tangency between said rolls and with means for temporarily holding the leading edge of a new web of paperboard against said knife blade, said lower roll being provided with a flat area normally positioned substantially parallel with the plane of tangency between said rolls whereby to permit free passage of a paperboard web therebetween except when a splice is being made and provided with a cutting plate normally angularly offset to the same degree that the knife blade on said upper roll is offset, a taping station including intermittently operable upper and lower rolls, said upper roll being provided with means for temporarily holding a length of adhesive tape for splice-securing purposes in a position well away from the line of tangency between said rolls, said lower roll being provided with a flat area normally positioned substantially parallel with the plane of tangency between said rolls whereby to permit free passage of a paperboard web therebetween except when a splice is being made, manually-started automaticallystopped means for synchronously driving the rolls of said cutting and taping stations one revolution only during each splicing operation whereby to form and tape a butt splice between said old and new webs as said webs are being continuously advanced, and web-tension-responsive control means for varying the effective speed of said draw rolls.

8. A machine for automatically butt-splicing moving webs of paperboard, comprising a pair of draw rolls for continuously advancing a web of paperboard, means for varying the speed of rotation of said draw rolls, a cutting station including intermittently operable upper and lower rolls, said upper roll being provided with a longitudinally extending radially projecting knife blade normally positioned out of the line of tangency between said rolls and with means for temporarily holding the leading edge of a new web of paperboard against said knife blade, said lower roll being provided with a flat area normally posi tioned substantially parallel with the plane of tangency between said rolls whereby to permit free passage of a paperboard web therebetween except when a splice is being made and provided with a cutting plate normally angularly offset to the same degree that the knife blade on said upper roll is offset, a taping station including intermittently operable upper and lower rolls, said upper roll being provided with means for temporarily holding a length of adhesive tape for splice-securing purposes in a position well away from the line of tangency between said rolls, said lower roll being provided with a flat area normally positioned parallel with the plane of tangency between said rolls whereby to permit free passage of a paperboard web therebetween except when a splice is being made, means for intermittently and synchronously driving the rolls of said cutting and taping stations whereby to form and tape a butt splice between said old and new webs as said webs are being continuously advanced, and web-tension-responsive control means for actuating said draw roll speed-varying means.

9. A machine for automatically butt-splicing moving webs of paperboard, comprising a pair of draw rolls for continuously advancing a web of paperboard, means for varying the speed of rotation of said draw rolls, a cutting station including intermittently operable upper and lower rolls, said upper roll being provided with a longitudinally extending radially projecting knife blade normally positioned out of the line of tangency between said rolls and with means for temporarily holding the leading edge of a new web of paperboard against said knife blade, said lower roll being provided with a flat area normally positioned substantially parallel with the plane of tangency between said rolls whereby to permit free passage of a paperboard web therebetween except when a splice is being made and provided with a cutting plate normally angularly offset to the same degree that the knife blade on said upper roll is offset, a taping station including intermittently operable upper and lower rolls, said upper roll being provided with means for temporarily holding a length of adhesive tape for splice-securing purposes in a position well away from the line of tangency between said rolls, said lower roll being provided with a flat area normally positioned substantially parallel with the plane of tangency between said rolls whereby to permit free passage of a paperboard web therebetween except when a splice is being made, web-tension-responsive control means for actuating said draw roll speed-varying means, and manually-started automatically-stopped means for synchronously driving the rolls of said cutting and taping stations one revolution only during each splicing operation whereby to form and tape a butt splice between said old and new webs as said webs are being continuously advanced` 10. A machine in accordance with claim 9 in which the draw roll speed-varying means comprises a planetary gear train including a driving sun gear, a rotatably mounted but normally stationary spider, a plurality of sets of planetary gears rotatably carried by said spider, a driven sun gear connected to one of said draw rolls, said planetary gears being operably connected with said sun gears, and means actuated by said web-tensionresponsive control means for rotating said spider whereby to vary the speed of said driven sun gear with respect to the driving sun gear.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,828,997 Collins Oct. 27, 1931 1,850,706 Collins Mar. 22, 1932 1,931,953 Cameron Oct. 24, 1933 2,606,136 Garrett et al. Aug. 5, 1952