The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 19, 1985
Filed:
Dec. 08, 1981
Wladyslaw H Krywiczanin, Fairoak, GB;
William Lumsden, Winchester, GB;
British-American Tobacco Company Limited, London, GB;
Abstract
Apparatus for supplying web material from reels thereof to a web-utilizing machine comprises a reel changer including a reel store, means for advancing reels in the store in succession to a reel-unwinding location, a web-transport system for feeding and guiding to the machine a web extending from a reel at that location, which system comprises at least one air mover, means for sensing the absence of web from a portion of the extent of the system and control means responsive to signals from said sensing means to activate air-supply to the air movers, whereby a leading end of a web length extending from a said reel is fed to the outlet end of the system. The web path of the transport system may include at least one curved portion defined by an air bearing. When the web is running through the transport system, air is supplied to the air bearing or bearings but not to the air mover or movers and, when a web end is being advanced to the utilizing machine, air is supplied to the air mover or movers, but not to the air bearing or bearings. A storage and advancing unit in the reel changer may comprise a hollow mandrel, means for advancing reels along the mandrel to the unreeling location and means operable at that location for coupling the reel to a rotatable shaft. There may be two reel changers associated with respective air movers which can be selectively brought into operative relation with an onward-going further air mover.