Web splicer

An apparatus for splicing a patterned web comprising:

• first and second unwind spindles engaging a new roll of the patterned web and expiring roll of the patterned web, respectively;
• a first web indexing mechanism capable of linearly translating the patterned web from the new roll along its travel direction;
• a first clamp surface that extends across the patterned web from the new roll;
• a second clamp surface that extends across the patterned web from the expiring roll;
• a cutting mechanism for severing the patterned web from the expiring roll;
• a second web indexing mechanism capable of linearly translating the patterned web along its travel direction from the expiring roll;
• and
• a registration carriage capable of being translated along a travel direction of the patterned web, wherein the first and second clamp surfaces, the first web indexing mechanism, and the cutting mechanism are coupled to the registration carriage and the first and second unwind spindles and the second web indexing mechanism are not coupled to the registration carriage,
• wherein the first and second web indexing mechanisms are independently operable to align registration features of the patterned web on the new roll and the expiring roll with each other, whereby the first and second clamp surfaces can be brought together to create a registered splice of the patterned web between the new and expiring rolls.