Apparatus and method for feeding strip material for application to a drum

Abstract

An apparatus and method wherein strip material is clamped to a shuttle finger slidably mounted in a shuttle casing which in turn is slidably mounted on a strip applier frame. The shuttle casing and shuttle finger are movable simultaneously from a retracted first position to a second position with the end of the shuttle casing adjacent an applicator roll. The shuttle finger is then movable by itself from the second position to a third position for transferring a tongue portion of the strip onto the applicator roll. The tongue portion may then be elevated into clamping engagement with the drum and the strip released from the shuttle finger. The shuttle casing and shuttle finger may then be returned to the first position, the drum rotated a predetermined amount to partially wrap the strip around the drum and the strip cut at a predetermined location whereupon the drum is rotated to fully wrap the strip of flexible material around the drum. Guide members at the front edges of the feed path are retractable to permit movement of the shuttle casing into close proximity with the applicator roll. Also a cycle reset clamping assembly is provided for clamping a portion of the strip of flexible material to the applicator roll to allow the shuttle casing to move to the retracted position for cutting of the strip of flexible material in that position when the applicator roll is not elevated into contact with the drum.