Suction box for stabilizing web at connecting point

Apparatus for stabilizing a moving web during splicing of an exhausted first web to a new second web, wherein the first web is being moved past the apparatus and the second web is in position to be moved past the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

• a knife positioned for cutting the first web as the first web moves past the apparatus, thereby creating a free trailing end of the first web;
• web moving means for moving the trailing end of the moving first web into engagement with the leading end of the moving second web at a splice position on the apparatus for splicing them together at the splice position, and the splice position is located downstream of and spaced away from the position at which the knife cuts the first web;
• suction means located along the path of the first web between the knife and the splice position over which the trailing end of the first web passes for drawing the first web toward the suction means and stabilizing the trailing end of the first web while it moves for subsequent splicing;
• the suction means comprising a surface adjacent the end of the web passing thereover on which the trailing end of the first web is stabilized;
• and
• a leaf-spring-like extension of the surface of the suction means extending downstream of the suction means toward the splice position, for extending the effective length of the suction means and extending the stabilization of the trailing end of the first web while it moves toward the splice point, the extension being deflectable toward the webs being spliced at the splice position as the web moving means move the webs together.