Apparatus for automatically threading the leading edge of a spooled web into a conveying passage

Apparatus for automatically threading the leading end of a web spooled on a reel into one end of a conveying passage, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a draw-out lever having a web support surface and movable to a first position at which said support surface engages the web spooled on the reel:
• (b) a nipping finger actuatable to trap the leading end of the web against said surface when the lever is in its first position:
• (c) said lever being movable to a second position in which said support surface is spaced from the web spooled on the reel for unspooling the web from the reel:
• (d) feed means made effective after said lever has moved to its second position and after said nipping finger is deactuated for engaging the unspooled web and feeding the leading end thereof into said conveying passage;
• and
• (e) suction means on said support surface for releasably retaining the leading end of said web to said lever when said nipping finger is deactuated.

Apparatus comprising:

• (a) a primary reel containing spooled primary web, and a replacement reel containing spool replacement web that terminates in a leading end;
• (b) a conveying passage associated with each of the respective reels, each passage having an entrance end for receiving a web and a exit end;
• (c) a connecting station downstream of said conveying passage adjacent the exit ends of the passages;
• (d) a pair of opposed delivery rollers downstream of said connecting station, the primary web passing through its associated passage, to the connecting station in between said delivery rollers;
• and
• (e) apparatus for threading the leading end of the replacement web through the conveying passage associated with replacement web and to said connecting station, said last named apparatus including:
• (i) a draw-out lever having a web support surface and movable to a first position at which said support surface engages the web spooled on the replacement reel;
• (ii) a nipping finger actuatable to trap the leading end of the web against said surface when the lever is in its first position and deactuatable to release said web;
• (iii) suction means on said support surface for releasably retaining the leading edge of said web to said lever after said nipping finger is deactuated:
• (iv) said lever being movable to a second position at which said support surface is spaced from the web spooled on the reel for unspooling the web from the reel;
• and
• (v) feed means made effective after said lever has moved to its second position, and after nipping finger is deactuated, for engaging the unspooled web and feeding the leading end thereof into said conveying passage.