Automatic splicer in tape feeder or the like

A tape splicer in an automatic continuous tape feeder for

• splicing tapes including tubular tapes, each of said tapes having patterns repeatedly printed thereon in a predetermined constant pitch and containing, in said pattern a gap of a constant length within each pitch;
• comprising:
• a pair of paths capable of alternately feeding rolls of tapes in appropriate quantities from a pair of reels supporting thereon said rolls of tapes to a common feed roller;
• first and second photoelectric conversion switches for detecting the passage of the trailing end portion of each of said tapes, each of said switches disposed in each of said paths in positions upstream of and equidistant from said feed roller;
• a pair of tape holding plates disposed outside said pair of paths between said photoelectric conversion switches and said feed roller, respectively, with such a gap between them that the front surfaces thereof are opposed to each other and are capable of joining each other when they undergo displacement towards each other;
• each of said tape holding plates having vacuum suction holes bored on the front surface thereof for drawing and holding said tapes thereon in a waiting state at predetermined positions in the direction of width and with predetermined positions in the longitudinal direction in order to splice the leading end portion of the succeeding tape pulled out from one of said reels to the trailing end portion of the preceding tape pulled from the other of said reels;
• a third photoelectric conversion switch for detecting said patterns of said tapes, disposed between said tape holding plates and said feed roller;
• a rocking roller disposed downstream of said feed roller, suspended by said tapes stretched between two guide rollers, having both axial end portions thereof disposed movably in vertical direction along guide frames and capable of rising against gravity to feed stored tape in the downstream direction when said feed roller stops rotating and tension is applied to said tape;
• a driving motor for said feed roller capable of being changed over to low speed revolution upon receiving a signal generated when the trailing end portion of the preceding tape pulled out from one of said reels and fed through the one of said paths passes by said first or second photoelectric conversion switch, and returned to high speed revolution upon receiving a signal generated when said tape holding plates withdraw after the completion of tape splicing;
• a pulse generator actuated upon receiving said signal generated from said first or second photoelectric conversion switch and generating pulses in such a number as to be proportional to a rotational displacement of said feed roller;
• a first counter so set as to receive the number of pulses generated from said pulse generator and an ON-OFF signal detected from said third photoelectric conversion switch, and to generate one signal whenever the pulse number corresponding to the gap of said pattern is counted;
• a second counter set so as to receive the signal generated from said first counter and to generate a signal instructing the stop of said feed roller and a signal to instruct the advance and joining of said pair of tape holding plates when a number of pulses equal to the number of pitches corresponding to the distance between the set position of said first or second photoelectric conversion switch and the set position of said pair of tape holding plates are counted.