Butler Automatic, Inc.

Richard A Butler, Jr

John W Clifford

Tamas Hetenyi

Stephen C Dangel

Robert S Kurz

Raymond W Johnson

Alexander Jesensky

Geoffrey C Grigg

A web splicing method and apparatus to splice a running web to the web on a ready roll so as to avoid web speed and position mis-matches due to roll eccentricity and roll end wobble. After an adhesive splicing medium is applied to the leading end of the web on the ready roll, that roll is accelerated to a selected nominal splicing speed. The roll surface speed and end edge position are then measured at least at a location at or near the splicing medium thereon. The speed and edge position of the running web are also measured. During successive revolutions of the roll, the running web speed and the roll surface speed in the vicinity of the splicing medium are compared to produce speed difference signals which are applied to control the speed of the running web and/or the roll to match the speed of the running web and the surface speed of the roll at or near the splicing medium. Also, the edge positions of the running web and the roll end at or near the location of the splicing medium are compared to produce edge position difference signals which are applied to shift the lateral position of the running web and/or the roll to achieve a web edge position match between the running web and the web roll at or near the splicing medium. After the webs are matched thusly in speed and position, the splice is made between the two webs.

Speed match splicing method and apparatus

A web roll handling system comprises a roll loading section, a plurality of splicers and at least one robotic vehicle arranged to travel back and forth between the loading section and the plurality of splicers.

Automatic web roll handling system for splicing

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Marion, MA, United States of America

Richard A Butler, Jr