Paper roll diameter sensing device for use with paper splicing apparatus

Abstract

A paper roll diameter sensing device for use with a paper splicing apparatus is disclosed which gives the output signal when the diameter of an unrolled paper roll is reduced to a predetermined diameter so that the running paper web may be spliced to the leading end of a new paper roll.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A paper roll diameter sensing device for use with paper splicing apparatus of the type splicing the running paper sheet or web unrolled from one paper roll supported by a paper roll supporting stand to the leading end of another paper roll which is also supported by said paper roll supporting stand and which has not yet unrolled, said paper roll diameter sensing device comprising, a guide roll adapted to rotate in contact with the running paper sheet or web unrolled from said one paper roll;   first pulse generator means responsive to the rotation of said guide roll to generate one pulse for each rotation of said guide roll .[.in the provision of.]. .Iadd.so as to provide .Iaddend.a first pulse train having a pulse repetition rate indicative of a predetermined roll diameter at a given velocity of said web;   second pulse generator means responsive to the rotation of said one paper roll to generate one pulse for each rotation of said one paper roll .[.in the provision of.]. .Iadd.so as to provide .Iaddend.a second pulse train having a pulse repetition rate indicative of the varying diamever of said one paper roll at said given velocity of said web; and   electrical means responsive to said first and second pulse trains to generate an output signal when the pusle repetition rates of said first and second pulse trains are coincident to indicate the reduction of the varying diameter of said one paper roll to said predetermined diameter, said electrical means comprising a selector circuit means responsive to at least one of said pulse trains to divide the said one of said pulse trains from one of said first and second pulse generator means into an odd-numbered pulse train and an even-numbered pulse train, the pulses of which occur in regular sequential alternation one with the other; and   a discriminator circuit means responsive to said pulse trains as modified by said selector circuit means generating said output signal when the pulses in said respective pulse trains occur in a predetermined alternating sequence with one another over a predetermined consecutive number of pulses in said respective pulse trains, said predetermined alternating sequence occurring when the pulse repetition rate of the pulses generated by said first pulse generator means coincides that of the pulses generated by the second pulse generator means.   
     
     
       2. A paper roll diameter sensing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said electrical means includes circuit means generating said output signal in response to predetermined alternate sequential occurrences of selected consecutive pulses in said first and second pulse trains; said predetermined alternate sequential occurrences being indicative of the coincidence of said pulse repetition .[.raes.]. .Iadd.rates .Iaddend.of said first and second pulse trains.   
     
     
       3. A paper roll diameter sensing device for use with paper splicing apparatus of the type splicing the running paper sheet or web unrolled from one paper roll supported by a paper roll supporting stand to the leading end of another paper roll which is also supported by said paper roll supporting stand and which has not yet unrolled, said paper roll diameter sensing device comprising: a guide roll adapted to rotate in contact with the running paper sheet or web unrolled from said one paper roll;   first pulse generator means responsive to the rotation of said guide roll to generate one pulse for each rotation of said guide roll .[.in the provision of.]. .Iadd.so as to provide .Iaddend.a first pulse train having a pulse repetition rate indicative of a predetermined roll diameter at a given velocity of said web;   second pulse generator means responsive to the rotation of said one paper roll to generate one pulse for each rotation of said one paper roll .[.in the provision of.]. .Iadd.so as to provide .Iaddend.a second pulse train having a pulse repetition rate indicative of the varying diameter of said one paper roll at said given velocity of said web; and   electrical means responsive to said first and second pulse trains to generate an output signal when the pulse repetition rates of said first and second pulse trains are coincident, to indicate the reduction of the varying diameter of said one paper roll to said predetermined diameter, .[.sid.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.electrical means comprising a selector circuit means responsive to one of said first and second pulse trains to divide said one pulse train into an odd-numbered pulse train and an even-numbered pulse train, the pulses of which occur in regular sequential alternation one with the other, and to pass the other of said first and second pulse trains without any processing; and   a discriminator circuit means responsive to said odd and even-numbered pulse trains and said other of said first and second pulse trains generating said output signal when the pulses in said respective pulse trains occur in a predetermined alternating sequence with one another over a predetermined consecutive number of pulses in said respective pulse trains, said predetermined alternating sequence, occurring when the pulse repetition rate of said first pulse generator means coincides with that of said second pulse generator means.   
     
     
       4. The invention defined in claim 3, wherein said selector circuit means includes bistable switching means responsive to said one of said first and second pulse trains to provide said odd and even-numbered pulse trains, and wherein said discriminator circuit means comprises a logic network responsive to the order of occurrence of pulses in said respective odd and even-numbered pulse trains and said other of said first and second pulse trains to generate said output signal in response to said predetermined alternating sequence. 
     
     
       5. A paper roll diameter sensing device for use with paper splicing apparatus of the type splicing the running paper sheet or web unrolled from one paper roll supported by a paper roll supporting stand to the leading end of another paper roll which is also supported by said paper roll supporting stand and which has not yet unrolled, said paper roll diameter sensing device comprising: a guide roll adapted to rotate in contact with the running paper sheet or web unrolled from said one paper roll;   first pulse generator means responsive to the rotation of said guide roll to generate one pulse for each rotation of said guide roll .[.in the provision of.]. .Iadd.so as to provide .Iaddend.a first pulse train having a pulse repetition rate indicative of a predetermined roll diameter at a given velocity of said web;   second pulse generator means responsive to the rotation of said one paper roll to generate one pulse for each rotation of said one paper roll .[.in the provision of.]. .Iadd.so as to provide .Iaddend.a second pulse train having a pulse repetition rate indicative of the varying diameter of said one paper roll at said given velocity of said web; and   electrical means responsive to said first and second pulse trains to generate an output signal when the pulse repetition rates of said first and second pulse trains are coincident, to indicate the reduction of the varying diameter of said one paper roll to said predetermined diameter, said electrical means comprising a selector circuit means responsive to said first and second pulse trains to divide said pulse trains into first and second sets of odd-numbered pulse trains and even-numbered pulse trains, respectively, the pulses of said first odd- and even-numbered pulse trains occurring in regular sequential alternation one with the other and the pulses of said second odd- and even-numbered pulse trains occurring in regular sequential alternation one with the other; and   a discriminator circuit means responsive to said sets of pulses trains generating said output signal when the pulses in said respective pulse trains occur in predetermined alternating sequences with one another over a predetermined consecutive number of pulses, said predetermined alternating sequences occurring when the pulse repetition rate of said first pulse generator means coincides with that of said second pulse generator means.   
     
     
       6. The invention defined in claim 5, wherein said selector circuit means includes first and second bistable switching means responsive, respectively, to said first and second pulse trains to provide, respectively, said first set of odd and even-numbered pulse trains and said second set of odd and even-numbered pulse trains; and wherein said discriminator circuit means comprises a logic network responsive to the order of occurrence of predetermined pulses in said first and second sets of pulse trains to generate said output signal in response to said predetermined alternating sequences. .Iadd. 7. A device for sensing the diameter of a roll of web material being unwound, said device comprising a guide roll contacting and rotating with the web material coming from said roll a first pulse generator operatively associated with said guide roll and operable to generate a sequence of pulses in synchronized relation to the rotation of said guide roll, a second pulse generator operatively associated with the roll of web material and operable to generate a sequence of pulses in synchronized relation to the rotation of said roll of web material, an electrical means constituted by a selector circuit means connected to said pulse generators and operable for dividing one of the pulse trains from said first and second pulse generators into alternate pulses and producing an odd-numbered pulse train and an even-numbered pulse train, and a discriminator circuit means connected to said selector circuit means and operable to compare said pulse trains from said selector circuit means and to generate an output signal to indicate the reduction of the diameter of said roll of web material to a predetermined diameter when the sequences of odd and even-numbered pulses and the sequence of pulses from the other of the two pulse generators coincides with a predetermined sequence. .Iaddend..Iadd. 8. A device for sensing the diameter of a roll of web material being unwound, said device comprising a guide roll contacting and rotating with the web material coming from said roll a first pulse generator operatively associated with said guide roll and operable to generate a sequence of pulses in synchronized relation to the rotation of said guide roll, a second pulse generator operatively associated with the roll of web material and operable to generate a sequence of pulses in synchronized relation to the rotation of said roll of web material, an electrical means constituted by a selector circuit means connected to said pulse generators and operable for dividing both of the pulse trains from said first and second pulse generators into alternate pulses and producing an odd-numbered pulse train and an even-numbered pulse train corresponding to each pulse generator, and a discriminator circuit means connected to said selector circuit means and operable to compare said pulse trains from said selector circuit means and to generate an output signal to indicate the reduction of the diameter of said roll of web material to a predetermined diameter when the sequences of odd and even-numbered pulses corresponding to the pulse train from the one pulse generator and the sequences of the odd and even-numbered pulses corresponding to the pulse train from the other pulse generator coincide with a predetermined sequence. .Iaddend.