A web feeding and splicing device

Claim 2

A web feeding device for a continuous rod making machine, including a variable-speed motor for pulling the web from a bobbin and for feeding it towards a reservoir, a second motor for feeding the web from the reservoir at a predetermined speed, and a splicing mechanism comprising means for sensing when the bobbin is nearly empty and for starting a splicing operation, means for increasing the speed of the variable-speed motor to accumulate web in the reservoir, first means associated with said variablespeed motor for providing a first electrical output signal dependent on the speed of said variable-speed motor, second means associated with said second motor for providing a second electrical output signal dependent on the speed of said second motor, an integrator circuit for sensing the progressive accumulation of web in the reservoir, said integrator circuit being responsive to the difference between said first and second output signals and comprising a direct current amplifier with a capacitance connected between the input and output of the amplifier, means for stopping the variable-speed motor when the integrator circuit signals that there is a sufficient length of web in the reservoir, and a web splicer for then automatically joining the trailing end of the web on the old bobbin to the leading end of the web on a new bobbin before again starting the variable-speed motor.

Claim 3

A web feeding device according to claim 1 in which each of the motors is operatively connected to a tacho-generator to provide an output signal dependent on the speed of the motor, the integrator circuit being responsive to the difference between the outputs from the two motors.

Claim 4

A web feeding device according to claim 1 in which the output of the integrator is connected to a voltage-sensing device which operates the means for stopping the variable-speed motor in preparation for the joining of one web to the other.

Claim 5

A web feeding device according to claim 1 in which the device for joining one web to the other is operated by a pneumatic jack.

Claim 6

In a web feeding device for a continuous rod making machine, including a variable-speed motor for pulling the web from a bobbin and for feeding it towards a reservoir, a second motor for feeding the web from the reservoir at a predetermined speed, and a splicing mechanism comprising means for sensing when the bobbin is nearly empty and for starting a splicing operation, means for increasing the speed of the variable-speed motor to accumulate web in the reservoir, means for stopping the variable-speed motor when there is a sufficient length of web in the reservoir, and automatic means for then joining the trailing end of the web on the said bobbin to the leading end of a web on a new bobbin and for then restarting the variable-speed motor, the improvement comprising first means associated with said variable-speed motor for providing a first electrical output signal dependent on the speed of said variable-speed motor, second means associated with said second motor for providing a second electrical output signal dependent on the speed of said second motor, and an integrator circuit for sensing the progressive accumulation of web in the reservoir and for operating said automatic means when there is sufficient length of web in the reservoir, said integrator circuit being responsive to the difference between said first and second output signals and comprising a direct current amplifier with a capacitance connected between the input and output of the amplifier.

Claim 7

In a web feeding device for a continuous rod making machine, including a variable-speed motor for pulling the web from a bobbin and for feeding it towards a reservoir, a second motor for feeding the web from the reservoir at a predetermined speed, and a splicing mechanism comprising means for sensing when the bobbin is nearly empty and for starting a splicing operation, means for increasing the speed of the variable-speed motor to accumulate web in the reservoir, means for stopping the variable-speed motor when there is a sufficient length of web in the reservoir, and automatic means for then joining the trailing end of the web on the said bobbin to the leading end of a web on a new bobbin and for then restarting the variable-speed motor, the improvement comprising first means associated with said variable-speed motor for providing a first electrical output signal dependent on the speed of said variable-speed motor, second means associated with said second motor for providing a second electrical output signal dependent on the speed of said second motor, and an integrator circuit for sensing the progressive accumulation of web in the reservoir and for operating said automatic means when there is sufficient length of web in the reservoir, said integrator circuit being responsive to the difference between said first and second output signals and comprising a direct current amplifier with a capacitance connected between the input and output of the amplifier.

Claim 8

The web feeding device of claim 5 wherein said first and second means associated with the variable speed motor and the second motor, respectively, comprise a pair of tacho-generators, one driven by said variable-speed motor and the other driven by said second motor, for providing said electrical output signals dependent on the speed of said motors respectively.

Claim 9

The web feeding device of claim 5 further comprising a voltage-sensing device connected to the output of said amplifier and adapted to operate said means for stopping said variable-speed motor.

Claim 10

The web feeding device of claim 5 further comprising an adjustable potentiometer for receiving and combining said output signals and feeding the combined signal to said amplifier, whereby the strength of the combined signal may be adjusted to adjust the length of the web accumulated in said reservoir prior to splicing.