Splicing tape, splicing method and splice using the splicing tape

A splice on a leading edge of a roll of sheet material for attachment to a further sheet material, each winding of said sheet material on said roll having an outer surface facing radially outwards from said roll, comprising:

• a splicing portion and a pre-formed attachment portion, said splicing portion comprising:
• an elongate backing member;
• an adhesive layer on said backing member, a first part layer of said adhesive layer attaching the leading edge of the roll of sheet material substantially across a width of said roll to said backing member and a second part layer of said adhesive layer being provided for attachment to said further sheet material;
• and
• said pre-formed attachment portion is connected to and distributed along said splicing portion and releasably and self-supportively attaching said splicing tape to the outer surface of an underlying winding of said roll of sheet material substantially across the width of said roll, said attachment portion being adapted for releasing at least said splicing portion from said underlying winding of said first roll while leaving the outer surface of said underlying winding in a non-tacky condition.

A method for preparing a splice between a leading edge of a roll of sheet material and a further sheet material using a splicing tape, each winding of said sheet material on said roll having an outer surface facing radially outwards away from said roll, said splicing tape comprising:

• a splicing portion and a pre-formed attachment portion, in which method said splicing tape is attached to the outer surface of an underlying winding using said attachment portion substantially across a width of said roll, said splicing portion comprising:
• an elongate backing member;
• an adhesive layer on said backing member and covered by at least one release foil, a first part layer of said adhesive layer being provided for attaching the leading edge of said roll of sheet material substantially across the width of said roll to said backing member and a second part layer of said adhesive layer being provided for attachment to said further sheet material;
• said pre-formed attachment portion being connected to and distributed along said splicing portion for self-supportively and releasably attaching said splicing tape to the outer surface of the underlying winding of said roll of sheet material substantially across the width of said roll, said attachment portion being adapted for releasing at least said splicing portion from the underlying winding of said roll while leaving the outer surface of the underlying winding in a non-tacky condition, said method further comprising the steps of:
• exposing the first part layer of said adhesive layer;
• attaching said leading edge to the exposed first part layer of said adhesive layer;
• and
• separating said attachment portion from said splicing portion attached to said leading edge while leaving the outer surface of said underlying winding in a non-tacky condition.

A method for making a splice between a leading edge of a roll of sheet material and a further sheet material using a splicing tape, each winding of said sheet material on said roll having an outer surface facing radially outwards away from said roll, said splicing tape comprising:

• a splicing portion and a pre-formed attachment portion, in which method said splicing tape is attached to the outer surface of an underlying winding using said attachment portion substantially across a width of said roll, said splicing portion comprising:
• an elongate backing member;
• an adhesive layer on said backing member and covered by at least one release foil, a first part layer of said adhesive layer being provided to attach the leading edge of the roll of sheet material substantially across the width of said roll to said backing member, and a second part layer of said adhesive layer being provided for attachment to the further sheet material;
• said pre-formed attachment portion being connected to and distributed along said splicing portion for self-supportively and releasably attaching said splicing tape to the outer surface of the underlying winding of said roll of sheet material substantially across the width of said roll, said attachment portion being adapted for releasing at least said splicing portion from the underlying winding of said roll while leaving the outer surface of the underlying winding in a non-tacky condition, said method further comprising the steps of:
• exposing said first part layer of said adhesive layer;
• attaching said leading edge to the exposed first part layer of said adhesive layer;
• exposing said second part layer of said adhesive layer;
• attaching the further sheet material to the exposed second part of said adhesive layer;
• and
• releasing said leading edge and said splicing portion attached thereto from said underlying winding while leaving the outer surface of said underlying winding non-tacky.