Apparatus for splicing indeterminate lengths of fabric

A fabric splicing system for a fabric processing machine, comprising:

• (a) a supply of a primary fabric;
• (b) means to feed said primary fabric to said fabric processing machine;
• (c) stopping means for interrupting the feeding of said primary fabric to said fabric processing machine;
• (d) tail end clamping means supported on a pair of swing arms for movement therewith, and pivotal movement thereon, having clamping surfaces disposed on opposite sides of said primary fabric for engaging and holding said fabric, after the feeding is interrupted, at a first point;
• (e) primary fabric head end clamping means, supported on a pair of swing arms for movement therewith, and pivotal movement thereon, having clamping surfaces disposed on opposite sides of said primary fabric for engaging and holding said fabric, after the feeding is interrupted, at a second point located between said point and said fabric supply;
• (f) means for severing said primary fabric at a point between said first and second points after the feeding of said fabric is interrupted, whereby a free end of said primary fabric extends beyond each of said clamping means;
• (g) a supply of a secondary fabric;
• (h) secondary fabric head end clamping means, supported on a pair of swing arms for movement therewith and pivotal movement thereon, having clamping surfaces in clamping engagement on opposite sides of said secondary fabric, having a free end of said secondary fabric extending beyond said clamping means;
• (i) means for moving said tail end clamping means and said secondary fabric head end clamping means to a sewing station in close proximity to each other wherein the head and tail ends of fabric extending beyond said clamping surfaces are aligned at said sewing station;
• (j) sewing means for sewing said aligned fabric ends together at said sewing station;
• (k) means for moving said tail end clamping means and said secondary fabric head end clamping means to a run position and for opening both of said clamping means to permit said secondary fabric to be drawn therebetween;
• and
• (l) means for restarting said feeding means to transport said secondary fabric to said fabric processing machine.

A web splicing system comprising:

• (a) a web joining station located adjacent a path of web travel;
• (b) first and second web clamping means spaced apart along said path of web travel, said clamping means being operative to permit web travel therethrough during normal operation and to clamp said web when web splicing is desired;
• said first clamping means being movable to and from said web joining station, and said second clamping means being movable to and from said web joining station;
• (c) web severing means located adjacent said web path of travel between said first and second clamping means and being movable between an inactive position and a web severing position for severing said web when said web is clamped by said first and second clamp means;
• (d) third web clamping means located adjacent said path of web travel for receipt of a secondary web and being movable between said web joining station and said path of web travel;
• and
• (e) means located at said web joining station for joining web ends held by two of said web clamping means located thereat.

A fabric splicing system for a fabric processing machine comprising:

• (a) a splicing station located adjacent said processing machine;
• (b) fabric sewing means located at said splicing station and being movable transversely thereacross to sew said fabric;
• and
• (c) fabric clamping means located on opposite sides of a path of fabric travel to said processing machine, said clamping means being open during normal operation and closable when it is desired to splice said fabric, said clamping means being mounted for movement between said path of fabric travel and said splicing station for alignment with a second fabric for sewing thereto and for returning to said path of travel after said sewing has been completed.