# US 2003/0121593 A1 · Automatic label splicing apparatus

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2003/0121593 A1
- Document ID: US20030121593A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 10/371,487
- Filed: 2003-02-22
- Published: 2003-07-03
- Earliest claimed: 2000-07-06
- Assignees: PakTech, Inc.
- Inventors: Richard Monroe
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20030121593A1

## CPC

- B65H 19/1868: {The roll support being of the turret type}
- B65H 19/1852: {taking place at a distance from the replacement roll}
- B65H 2301/46014: of webs with labels
- B65H 2301/46171: cutting leading edge of new web, e.g. manually
- B65H 2301/4622: Abutting article or web portions, i.e. edge to edge
- B65H 2301/4631: Adhesive tape
- B65H 2701/192: Labels
- B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES

## Abstract

An automatic splicing apparatus for use in combination with a selected automatic labeling apparatus which uses a sensor and a splicing station through which a first web of stick-on labels passes; a second web of material from a standby roll is held in a ready position for splicing end-to-end with the first web. The first web is stopped and severed at an approximate reference line location, the second web is joined using a splice piece; wherein web feeder continues continuously with uninterrupted operation due to a loose loop located downstream of the splicer permitting splicing the first web to said second web, “on the fly”, that is without reducing the speed of the automatic labeling process during splicing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

In a splicing apparatus having a dual unwind apparatus mounted on a frame, wherein said dual unwind apparatus comprises a turret rotatably mounted on the frame, wherein the improvement comprises;
a) the splicing apparatus comprises label splicing apparatus for preparing a trailing end of a depleted first running roll of labels and for splicing said depleted roll of labels to a fresh second standby roll of labels to provide continuous delivery of labels to a selected automatic labeling apparatus;
b) the labels are carried on a web formed in a roll;
c) the dual unwind apparatus comprises a first running roll of labels mounted on a web and a second standby roll of labels mounted on a web, wherein said turret is moveable between a first running position and second running position for alternately arranging the second standby roll of labels on top as a new running roll and arranging the first running roll on the bottom for replacement with a new roll;
d) the dual unwind apparatus comprises a central shaft having a reflector that only is visible at terminus of the web of a running roll;
e) sensing means comprising a photoelectric cell for detecting the central shaft of the turret when visible at terminus of the web of a running roll;
f) loop control means comprising drive apparatus arranged for unwinding the first running roll of labels and maintaining a constant loop of labels in a loop box in association with a loop sensing means comprising a output loop detector for monitoring and controlling the loop of labels size in said loop box;
g) the label splicing apparatus comprises a splicing station comprising;
i) a lower splice plate associated with indexing means moveable between a splice ready position and an upper splice position having a positioning means for holding a leading end of the web of said second standby roll of labels wherein said lower splice plate indexes up between a first position to a second compression position for pressing the web of said running roll and said standby web together;
ii) a cutter back plate pivotally mounted on the frame to swing between a first idle position and a second cut position for trapping the trailing end of a depleted first roll of labels;
iii) cutting means comprising a moveable blade for severing a trailing end of the depleted first running roll of labels at a point between adjacent labels, moveable between a cut position and a retracted position along a cutter slot; and
iv) upper splice plate, fixedly mounted on a fan housing having upper positioning means comprising an air register for holding the trailing end of the depleted first running roll of labels in place awaiting splicing by means of compression by the lower splice plate pressing the web of said deplete first running roll of labels and the web of said second standby roll of labels; and
h) registration apparatus for controlling splice sequence comprising;
i) a controller for regulating speed of said drive means comprising a variable speed motor associated with a rubber pull roll for putting said webs in registration; and
ii) sensing means comprising a slot scanner for locating divisions between labels; whereby the web of said standby roll is held in a ready position for splicing end to end with the web of said running roll such that splicing rolls of labels is accomplished without reducing speed of labeling at rates of operation comparable to said selected automatic labeling equipment.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The label splicing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the registration apparatus comprises a shift register counter for regulating swinging said pivot plate between a first idle position to a second splicing position;

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The label splicing apparatus of claim 1 wherein labels are pressure sensitive labels comprising individual labels on a continuous carrier made of but not limited to paper or plastic film wherein registration is accomplished by detecting divisions between the labels for monitoring a register position of the web.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The label splicing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dual unwind means comprises;
a) a first running roll of labels mounted on a web with divisions between adjacent labels;
b) a second standby roll of labels mounted on a web with divisions between adjacent labels; and
c) a turret apparatus rotatably moveable between a first running position for arranging the first running roll of labels on top and a second standby roll of labels on the bottom; and second running position for arranging the second standby roll of labels on top and the first running roll on the bottom; and a central shaft having a reflector that is only visible at terminus of the web of a running roll.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The label splicing apparatus of claim 1 wherein control of the drive means comprises a controller for regulating the speed of the drive means comprising a variable speed motor associated with a rubber pull nip for putting the webs in registration.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The label splicing apparatus of claim 1 wherein sensing means comprising a slot scanner for locating the division between labels.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

In the label splicing apparatus of claim 1, a method of preparing a splice wherein a finish splice joining the standby roll to the running roll is prepared by;
i) preparing a leading end of said web of the second standby roll by cutting a leading end label in half;
ii) removing residual waste and the resulting ½ segment of said leading-end label leaving a leading end free of a ½ segment of web for receiving a splice tape;
iii) attaching a splice tape segment to the back of said free end of said ½ segment of web of said standby roll comprising a prepared splice; and
iv) indexing said lower splice plate to press the prepared splice to the end of the running web whereby no cut is made in labels positioned adjacent to finish splice.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

In the method of claim 5, indexing comprises swinging said pivot plate back from said second splicing position to said idle position indexing said lower splice plate up between a first position to a second compression position for pressing the web of said running roll and the standby web together; wherein said standby web is held in a ready position for splicing end to end with said web of the running roll web, said lower splice plate retracts to a non compression mode wherein control of web speed is shifted back to the photocell sensing means and the turret is rotated such that a new running roll is on top a new roll is placed on the bottom, and thereafter a next successive splice is manually prepared and placed on the lower splice plate where it is held by vacuum.

### Claim 9

A continuous delivery method of preparing and delivering error free labels to an automatic labeler comprising the steps of;
a) registration of the lower splice plate with the a cutter slot of the cutter assembly by locating a splice reference line on the top of the lower splice plate coplanar with the plane of travel of the cutting blade;
b) registration of the lead end of the standby web with the splice reference line on the holding surface of the lower splice plate;
c) putting the divisions between labels on the trailing end portion of the running web in registration with the plane of travel of the cutting blade; and
d) holding the trailing end portion of the running web against the holding surface of the upper splice plate by air suction of on vacuum pump to insure that registration is maintained during splicing; there being an overlap of standby web and running web produced in the splicing procedure for added strength.