C.g. Bretting Manufacturing Company, Inc.

John W LaChapelle, Jr

Tad T Butterworth

An apparatus and method for applying adhesive in a web converting machine is disclosed. In some embodiments, an adhesive application assembly is used to seal the tail of a rolled product against the rolled product. After being positioned in a location upon a roller, the rolled product is rotated and a sensor detects the location of the tail end, thereby establishing a reference for determining tail length in later operations. When the tail reaches a desired position, the adhesive application assembly applies adhesive to the tail and/or rolled product. In some embodiments, the adhesive assembly includes one or more adhesive sprayers with aperture members, and is self-cleaning. After the adhesive has been applied, the tail is wound upon the rolled product. In some embodiments, an adhesive application assembly is employed to apply adhesive to a core about which sheet material is to be wound.

Apparatus and method for applying adhesive in a web converting machine

An apparatus and method for sealing the tail of a rolled product against the rolled product using a roller and one or more sensors to position the tail for accurate adhesive application upon the tail and/or the log. After being positioned in a location upon a roller, the rolled product is rotated between the roller and a conveyor assembly until a jet blows the unsealed tail against the roller. By further rotating the roller, a sensor detects the location of the tail end, thereby establishing a reference (along with measured roller and conveyor assembly movements) for determining tail length in later operations. Next, the roller is reversed to pass the tail around the roller and preferably to a tail support adjacent to the roller. When the tail reaches a desired position along the tail support, an applicator sensor sends a signal to an adhesive assembly which applies adhesive to the tail and/or to the rolled product. Preferably, the adhesive assembly includes one or more adhesive sprayers triggered by the applicator sensor. After the adhesive has been applied, the roller is again reversed to roll the tail back upon the rolled product. The rewound rolled product is then preferably rolled over at least one ironing roller to ensure proper adhesion of the tail to the rolled product. For increased tail control in the various stages of operation, the roller can be a vacuum roller or be fitted with an electrostatic generator to hold the tail against the surface of the roller.

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Ironwood, MI, United States of America

John W LaChapelle, Jr