Method and apparatus for applying a splicing tape to a roll of sheet material
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorLeif O. Erickson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for applying a flying splicing tape to a roll of sheet material. A preferred embodiment of the invention provides methods and apparatus for lifting a portion of the outer-most layer of sheet material away from a roll of sheet material to form a lifted portion of the outer-most layer, applying a splicing tape to a wound portion of the roll, and applying pressure to the lifted portion of the outer-most layer to progressively place the lifted portion of the outer-most layer in contact with the remainder of the roll and the splicing tape.
Claims18
A method of applying a splicing tape to a roll of sheet material, the method comprising:
- lifting a portion of an outer-most layer away from a remainder of the roll to form a lifted portion of the outer-most layer;
- applying the splicing tape to a wound portion of the roll;
- and
- applying pressure to the lifted portion of the outer-most layer to progressively place the lifted portion of the outer-most layer in contact with the remainder of the roll and the splicing tape.
An apparatus for applying a splicing tape to a roll of sheet material, the apparatus comprising:
- a sheet engagement mechanism to lift an outer-most layer of the roll to form a lifted portion of the outer-most layer;
- a taping device to apply a splicing tape to the roll;
- and
- a paper applicator to apply pressure to the lifted portion of the outer-most layer to progressively place the lifted portion of the outer-most layer in contact with the remainder of the roll and the splicing tape.
An apparatus for engaging a roll of sheet material, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of sheet engagement mechanisms to engage and lift an outermost layer of the roll to form a lifted portion of the outer-most layer, wherein each sheet engagement mechanism includes a vacuum source and a roll sensor for sensing a spatial position of the roll relative to the sheet material engagement mechanism, wherein each vacuum source only operates when a selected plurality of the roll sensors sense the roll relative to the sheet engagement mechanism.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.