Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Surface bonding means and/or assembly means therefor – Automatic and/or material-triggered control
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-12
2001-02-27
Crispino, Richard (Department: 1734)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Surface bonding means and/or assembly means therefor
Automatic and/or material-triggered control
C156S361000, C156S363000, C156S502000, C156S504000, C226S020000, C242S554100, C242S555100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06192955
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for aligning flexible material, such as webs. More particularly, the invention concerns an apparatus and method for aligning while conveying a trailing end of a first expiring web with a leading end of a second, fresh web so that a spliced web is substantially free of edge weave and the like when conveyed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Apparatus for splicing flexible material, such as web, are well known in the art. In a typical apparatus and method for splicing the ends of webs, the web ends are cut while generally in an overlapping or abutting relations. One end of one of the webs is separated while being conveyed so that the two cut ends to be joined can be maneuvered into abutting or overlapping relations with one another. Splice tape is then applied to the abutting or overlapping ends to form the spliced web.
A problem with existing web splicing operations is that in most continuous web processing machines, the conveyance of webs prior to splicing oftentimes results in misalignment between the web ends. Poor geometric alignment, i.e,. skew
10
and offset (illustrated in FIG.
1
), of the spliced webs
102
,
104
will invariably produce coating edge registration problems. Illustrated in
FIGS. 2 and 3
, respectively, are the effects of a misaligned spliced webs
102
,
104
and an aligned spliced web on coating registration. One of the most common results of weave is coating registration problems, as shown in FIG.
2
. Experience has shown that weave, occurring generally along lateral edge portions of the joined webs, is caused by the lateral motion of a moving web perpendicular to its direction of motion and in the plane defined by the width of the web. Thus, it is generally established that lateral edge weave is induced by splice misalignment (offset and skew). While prior art developments have not addressed the problem of web alignment, there are exists some developments that teach web splicing generally, and in particular, disclose various means of cutting the new and expired webs and then joining of the two webs with, for instance. tape, glue, heat seal for both butt and lap splices. As examples, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,892,611 and 4,878,986 each discloses limiting operator intervention in the cutting and joining phase of the splice operation. Neither of these references evinces concern or appreciation for geometric alignment of the new and expired web as a means for resolving the weaving of one web relative to the other prior to splicing.
Therefore, a need persists for an apparatus and method for aligning adjoining ends of webs in (high speed) conveying operations so as to eliminate the possibility of misaligned web segments prior to splicing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for aligning webs prior to splicing so as to virtually eliminate splice induced weave.
It is another object of the invention to provide a spliced web wherein the lateral alignment can be specified in terms of offset, lateral displacement of the expired and new web edges and skew, and the local angle between the two web edges (edge parallel to the machine direction of travel).
It is yet another object of the invention, to provide an apparatus capable of geometrically aligning the trailing edge of an expiring web and the leading edge of a new web in continuously operating web converting machines prior to the splice operation.
It is an advantageous effect of the present invention that the apparatus and method minimize splice induced weave and eliminates waste associated therewith.
It is a feature of the invention that lateral edges of an expiring web and fresh web are aligned by position metrics detected by sensors which communicates with a controller that processes the signals and transmits a signal to a movable support means bearing the fresh web. The movements of the support means registrably aligns the fresh web with the expiring web.
To accomplish these and other objects and advantages of the invention, there is provided, in one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for moving a first, fresh web into registered alignment with a second, expiring web. According to this embodiment, means is provided for movably supporting the fresh web in a prearranged fixed position. A first sensor means in proximity to the supporting means and arranged to detect the fresh web is employed to detect both the rotational and lateral metrics of the fresh web in its fixed position. Similarly, a second sensor means in proximity to the supporting means is used to detect the plurality of positions of the expiring web as it is being positioned in proximity with the supporting means. Each of the sensor means produces signals that are received and processed by a controller means having a microprocessor which compares the positions of the expiring and fresh webs and transmits a third signal corresponding to precisely sensed positions of the expiring web relative to the fixed position of the fresh web. Thus, the third signal provides the supporting means with movements that registrably aligns the fresh web with the expiring web.
In another aspect of the invention, a method for moving a first, fresh web into registered alignment with a second, expiring web, comprises the step of movably supporting the fresh web in a fixed position. The movably supporting means is capable of movements in response to a signal corresponding to the sensed positions of the expiring web relative to the fixed position of the fresh web. Sensors are used for generating signals corresponding to the positions of the fresh web and the expiring web, as described above. A controller means receives and processes these signals. Thereafter, the controller means transmits a third new signal that provides the supporting means with movements that registrably aligns the fresh web with the expiring web.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3786974 (1974-01-01), Kron
patent: 3834971 (1974-09-01), Johnson
patent: 4003511 (1977-01-01), Schwestka
patent: 4878986 (1989-11-01), Nishikawa
patent: 4888717 (1989-12-01), Ditto et al.
patent: 4892611 (1990-01-01), Wheeler et al.
patent: 5098507 (1992-03-01), Mao
patent: 0 167 917 (1986-01-01), None
Bailey, Sr. Clyde E.
Crispino Richard
Eastman Kodak Company
Koch George
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