Apparatus and method for feeding a material web to a machine

Abstract

An apparatus for feeding a material web to a machine positioned downstream of the apparatus includes a base defining an axis in a lateral direction of the base. A first roller assembly is rotatably coupled to the base at a first roller position substantially parallel with the axis and is configured to feed a first roll of material web to the machine. The first roll has a lead edge and a tail edge. A second roller assembly is rotatably coupled to the base at a second roller position substantially parallel with the axis. The second roller assembly is configured to feed a second roll of material web to the machine. The second roll has a lead edge and a tail edge. The second roll is substantially aligned in the lateral direction with the first roll. A splicing table is suspended with respect to the base. The material web advances from the first roll or the second roll and across the splicing table to the machine. A stop bar coupled to the splicing table is movable between an unlocked position and a locked position. In the locked position, the stop bar locks the material web against the splicing table.

1 . An apparatus for feeding a material web to a machine positioned downstream of the apparatus, the apparatus comprising: 
 a base defining an axis in a lateral direction of the base;    a first roller assembly rotatably coupled to the base at a first roller position substantially parallel with the axis, the first roller assembly configured to feed a first roll of material web to the machine, the first roll of material web having a lead edge and a tail edge;    a second roller assembly rotatably coupled to the base at a second roller position substantially parallel with the axis, the second roller assembly configured to feed a second roll of material web to the machine, the second roll of material web having a lead edge and a tail edge, the second roll of material web substantially aligned in the lateral direction with the first roll of material web;    a splicing table suspended with respect to the base, the material web advancing from one of the first roll and the second roll and across the splicing table to the machine; and    a stop bar coupled to the splicing table, the stop bar movable between an unlocked position and a locked position, in the locked position the stop bar locking the material web against the splicing table.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a first eject mechanism pivotally coupled to the base, the first eject mechanism pivotally movable with respect to the first roller position for removing the first roller assembly from the first roller position.  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 2  further comprising a second eject mechanism pivotally coupled to the base, the second eject mechanism pivotally movable with respect to the second roller position for advancing the second roller assembly from the second roller position to the first roller position.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 3  wherein each of the first eject mechanism and the second eject mechanism are actuated with the apparatus feeding the material web to the machine.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 2  wherein, with the lead edge of the second roll of material web overlapped with the tail edge of the first roll of material web and the second roll of material web coupled to the first roll of material web, the first eject mechanism is actuated for removing the first roller assembly from the first roller position.  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 5  wherein, with the first roller assembly removed from the first roller position, the second eject mechanism is actuated for moving the second roller assembly from the second roller position to the first roller position.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a staging bar positioned with respect to the splicing table, the staging bar configured to hold the lead edge of the second roll.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the first roller assembly defines a first end and an opposing second end, each of the first end and the second end positionable within a corresponding guide mounted to the base for facilitating rotating the first roller assembly for feeding the material web to the machine.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 8  further comprising a first chuck coupled to the first end and a second chuck coupled to the second end, the first roll positioned between the first chuck and the second chuck for facilitating alignment of the material web with an input of the machine.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus for feeding a material web to a machine positioned downstream of the apparatus, the apparatus comprising: 
 a base;    a first roller assembly rotatably coupled to the base at a first roller position, the first roller assembly configured to feed a first roll of material web to the machine, the first roll of material web having a lead edge and a tail edge;    a second roller assembly rotatably coupled to the base at a second roller position, the second roller assembly configured to feed a second roll of material web to the machine, the second roll of material web having a lead edge and a tail edge, the second roll of material web substantially aligned with the first roll of material web;    a splicing table including a work panel positioned over the base, the material web advancing from one of the first roll and the second roll and across the work panel to the machine;    a first eject mechanism pivotally coupled to the base and, with the lead edge of the second roll of material web overlapping the tail edge of the first roll of material web and the second roll of material web coupled to the first roll of material web, the first eject mechanism pivotally movable with respect to the first roller position for removing the first roller assembly from the first roller position; and    a second eject mechanism pivotally coupled to the base and, with the first roller assembly removed from the first roller position, the second eject mechanism pivotally movable with respect to the second roller position for advancing the second roller assembly from the second roller position to the first roller position.    
   
   
       11 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 10  wherein the base defines an axis in a lateral direction of the base, each of the first roller assembly and the second roller assembly coupled to the base substantially parallel with the axis, the first roll of material web substantially aligned in the lateral direction with the second roll of material web.  
   
   
       12 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 10  further comprising a stop bar coupled to the splicing table, the stop bar movable between an unlocked position and a locked position, in the locked position the stop bar locking the material web against the work panel.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 10  further comprising a staging bar positioned with respect to the splicing table, the staging bar configured to hold the lead edge of the material web from the second roll.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 10  wherein the first roller assembly defines a first end and an opposing second end, each of the first end and the second end positionable within a corresponding guide mounted to the base for facilitating rotating the first roller assembly for feeding the material web to the machine.  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 14  further comprising a first chuck coupled to the first end and a second chuck coupled to the second end, the first roll positioned between the first chuck and the second chuck for facilitating alignment of the material web with an input of the machine.  
   
   
       16 . A method for supplying a material web to a machine, the method comprising: 
 providing a first roll of material web from a first roller assembly, the first roller assembly rotatably coupled to a base at a first roller position, the first roll of material web having a lead edge and a tail edge;    advancing the material web across a splicing table;    cutting the material web near the tail edge of the first roll for coupling with a lead edge of a second roll of material web, the second roll of material provided from a second roller assembly rotatably coupled to the base at a second roller position; and    coupling the lead edge of the second roll of material web to the tail edge with the lead edge of the second roll of material web overlapping with the tail edge, the second roll of material web substantially aligned with the first roll of material web in a lateral direction defined by the base.    
   
   
       17 . A method in accordance with  claim 16  wherein coupling the lead edge of the second roll of material web to the tail edge further comprises aligning at least one mark on the lead edge with a corresponding mark on the tail edge.  
   
   
       18 . A method in accordance with  claim 16  wherein cutting the material web near the tail edge of the first roll further comprises moving a stop bar coupled to the splicing table between an unlocked position and a locked position to lock the material web against the splicing table.  
   
   
       19 . A method in accordance with  claim 16  further comprising: 
 removing the first roller assembly from the first roller position after the lead edge of the second roll of material web is coupled to the tail edge by moving a first eject mechanism pivotally coupled to the base and with respect to the first roller position; and    advancing the second roll from the second roller position to the first roller position by moving a second eject mechanism pivotally coupled to the base and with respect to the second roller position.    
   
   
       20 . A method in accordance with  claim 16  further comprising staging a lead edge of the material web from the second roll on a staging bar positioned with respect to the splicing table before coupling the lead edge of the second roll of material web to the tail edge.