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US 5,935,371 AGranted
Apparatus and method for joining webs
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsJoseph Distefano, Vladimir A. Garris, deceased, Renee H. Locke, William E. Robinson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for joining webs has clamp assemblage which includes a pair of clamp members for securing and moving a trailing end of an expiring web into a spaced relations with the leading end of a fresh web. An actuator moves the clamp members securing the expiring web along guide rails to a predetermined position for setting the gap width between the ends of web.
Claims13
Apparatus for joining a fresh web and an expiring web, said apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a clamp assemblage mounted to the frame for securing said expiring web, said clamping assemblage comprising a first, fixed clamp member and a second, movable clamp member for clamping the expiring web therebetween, said second clamp member being mounted for vertical movement relative to said first clamp;
- means for actuating said second clamp member;
- a pair of linear guides for slidably supporting said clamp assemblage, said clamp assemblage being supported by a cross tie and said cross tie being affixed to said linear guides and wherein a clevis is arranged in said cross tie for providing freedom of rotation of said cross tie when said clamp assemblage moves translationally, and wherein said linear guides enable said first and second clamp members after securing said expiring web to move translationally from a first position at which said expiring web and said fresh web are simultaneously cut to form said leading end of said fresh web and said trailing end of said expiring web, to a second position at which said trailing end is displaced a predetermined distance from the leading end of said fresh web to form a splice gap between said trailing end and said leading end;
- and,
- means for applying an adhesive layer across said splice gap thereby joining said fresh web and said expiring web.
3 more elements
Method of joining a trailing end of an expiring web and a leading end of a fresh web, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an expiring web and a fresh web;
- (b) moving said trailing end of said expiring web into proximity with said leading end of said fresh web;
- (c) providing means for setting a predetermined gap between said trailing end of said expiring web and said leading end of said fresh web, said means comprising a clamp assemblage for securing said expiring web, said clamp assemblage comprising a first, fixed clamp member and a second, movable clamp member for clamping the expiring web therebetween, said second clamp member being mounted for vertical movement relative to said first clamp member;
- means for actuating said second clamp member;
- a pair of linear guides slidably supporting said clamp assemblage, said clamp assemblage being supported by a cross tie and said cross tie being affixed to said linear guides and wherein a clevis is arranged in said cross tie for providing freedom of rotation of said cross tie when said clamp assemblage moves translationally, and wherein said linear guides enable said first and second clamp members after securing said expiring web to move translationally from a first position at which said expiring web and said fresh web are simultaneously cut to form said leading end of said fresh web and said trailing end of said expiring web, to a second position at which said trailing end is displaced a predetermined distance from said leading end of said fresh web to form a splice gap between said trailing end and said leading end;
- and, means for applying an adhesive layer across said trailing end, said splice gap and said leading end thereby joining said fresh web and said expiring web;
- (d) setting said predetermined gap between said trailing end of said expiring web and said leading end of said fresh web;
- and,
- (e) applying an adhesive layer across said trailing end, said splice gap, and said leading end so as to join said fresh and expiring web.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.