Device and method for splicing and continuously providing a film web

A method for operating a device for splicing and continuously providing an outgoing film web, wherein the splicing device includes a first film supply for feeding in a first incoming film web, a second film supply for feeding in a second incoming film web, a splicing unit configured to splice the first incoming film web or the second incoming film web to the outgoing film web, a clamping unit, an intermediate film storage for the outgoing film web, wherein the intermediate film storage is downstream of the clamping unit, the splicing unit including a first sealing jaw with a first holding device for the outgoing film web, the splicing unit further including a first cutting device configured to sever the outgoing film web in a region of the first sealing jaw, the splicing unit further including a second sealing jaw with a second holding device alternately for the first incoming film web or the second incoming film web;

• the splicing unit including a second cutting device configured to sever the first or the second incoming film web, the first cutting device defining a first region of action, the second cutting device defining a second region of action, and, the first sealing jaw with the first holding device and the second sealing jaw with the second holding device being configured to be displaceable relative to one another out of corresponding ones of the first region of action of said first cutting device and said second region of action of said second cutting device into a mutual region of action, wherein the method comprises the following method steps:
• during normal operation, continuously guiding one of the two incoming film webs in the form of the outgoing film web through the intermediate film storage and out of the device for splicing and continuously providing an outgoing film web;
• detecting that the one of the two incoming film webs is running low;
• as soon as it is detected that the one of the two incoming film webs is running low, securing the outgoing film web via the clamping unit and guiding the outgoing film web out of the device on an outlet side of the clamping unit via removal from the intermediate film storage;
• holding the outgoing film web on the first sealing jaw via the first holding device and severing the outgoing film web in a region of the first sealing jaw via the first cutting device;
• holding the other of the two incoming film webs on the second sealing jaw via the second holding device and severing the other of the two incoming film webs in the region of the second sealing jaw via the second cutting device;
• displacing the first sealing jaw with the severed outgoing film web, which is held on the first holding device, and the second sealing jaw with the severed second or first incoming film web, which is held on the second holding device, relative to one another out of respective ones of the first region of action and the second region of action into the mutual region of action, and the severed second or first incoming film web being spliced to the severed outgoing film web via the first sealing jaw and the second sealing jaw;
• and,
• reopening the clamping unit and continuing normal operation with the spliced outgoing film web.