Devices and methods for starting strip material in a substrate processing machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016067911-A1
Application number	US-201514671398-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 27, 2015
Priority date	Sep 4, 2014
Publication date	Mar 10, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for starting a strip material in a substrate processing machine wherein the machine is not stopped and/or operators do not have to reach into the running machine to start the strip material. Exemplary systems include a strip material guide apparatus including at least one guide arm and at least one gas stream generator configured to direct strip material from the guide arm into a substrate processing machine to join the strip material with one or more running substrates. The gas stream generator is operable to cause a leading end of a strip material dispensed from the guide arm to be conveyed via a gas stream toward the running substrates, such that the leading end of the strip material becomes engaged by the substrate processing machine and the strip material joins with the running substrate.

First claim

1 . A system for starting strip material in a substrate processing machine that includes at least a first running substrate and a nip point where the first running substrate and the strip material are join together, the system comprising:
a strip material guide apparatus configured to direct strip material from a strip material source into the nip point to join the strip material with the first running substrate, the strip material guide apparatus including at least one guide arm operable to guide strip material being dispensed from the strip material source into a desired position relative to the first running substrate; and a gas stream generator coupled to the guide apparatus and positioned adjacent to a strip material outlet of the guide arm, the gas stream generator operable to generate a stream of gas flowing in a general direction of the first running substrate or the nip point; wherein the gas stream generator is operable to cause a leading end of a strip material to be conveyed via a gas stream toward the first running substrate or the nip point, such that the leading end of the strip material becomes engaged by the substrate processing machine at the nip point and joins with the first running substrates.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein, after the leading end of the strip material becomes engaged by the substrate processing machine, strip material runs from the strip material source, through the guide arm, and into the substrate processing machine without passing through the gas stream generator.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the leading end of the strip material is positioned within the gas stream generator before the gas stream generator causes the leading end of the strip material to become engaged by the substrate processing machine.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the substrate processing machine pulls the leading end of the strip material out of the gas stream generator such that strip material can run from the guide arm into the substrate processing machine while bypassing the gas stream generator.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a portion of strip material is inserted through a gas outlet of the gas stream generator and extends out through an air inlet of the gas stream generator.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the portion of the strip material that extends out through the air inlet of the gas stream generator is retained outside of the air inlet of the gas stream generator.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a leading end of strip material to be dispensed from the strip material source is connected to an intermediate portion of a leader strip material, and the leader strip material comprises a tail that passes through the gas stream generator.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the leader strip material comprises a leading end portion that is conveyed via the gas stream toward the first running substrate or the nip point, such that the leading end portion of leader strip material becomes engaged by the substrate processing machine at the nip point and joins with the first running substrates, and the leader strip material in turn pulls the leading end of the strip material to be dispensed into the substrate processing machine.

9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the leader strip material comprises a string.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a second guide arm for dispensing second strip material, and the second strip material has a leading end that is coupled to the strip material that becomes engaged in the substrate processing machine, such that the substrate processing machine pulls the second strip material via tension transmitted through the strip material that becomes engaged in the substrate processing machine by the gas stream generator.

11 . The system of claim 1 , where the system comprises a first strip material guide apparatus including at least a first guide arm and at least a first gas stream generator coupled to the first guide arm, and the system comprises a second strip material guide apparatus including at least a second guide arm and at least a second gas stream generator coupled to the second guide arm, wherein the first and second strip material guide apparatuses are positioned on opposite sides of the first running substrate.

12 . A method of starting a strip material in a substrate processing machine, the method comprising:
providing slack in a leading end portion of a strip material that is to be started in a substrate processing machine to join with a running substrate; creating a gas stream flowing from adjacent the slacked leading end portion of the strip material toward the running substrate or toward a nip point in the substrate processing machine, such that the gas stream causes the slacked leading end portion of the strip material to move with the flowing gas stream toward the nip point and become engaged in the substrate processing machine.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the gas stream is created by a gas stream generator having a gas stream outlet and wherein providing slack in the leading end portion of the strip material comprises inserting a portion of the strip material through the gas stream outlet of the gas stream generator and either allowing the leading end portion of the strip material to hang loosely from the gas stream outlet of the gas stream generator or positioning the leading end portion of the strip material inside of the gas stream generator in a bunched configuration.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein inserting a portion of the strip material through the gas stream generator comprises passing a looped portion of the strip material into the gas stream outlet and through the gas stream generator, and retaining the looped portion adjacent an inlet of the gas stream generator.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein inserting a portion of the strip material through the gas stream generator comprises passing a tail of a leader strip material into the gas stream outlet and through the gas stream generator, and retaining the tail of the leader strip material adjacent an inlet of the gas stream generator.

16 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising feeding strip material from a strip material source into the substrate processing machine without the strip material that is being fed from the strip material source passing through the gas stream generator, wherein the strip material that is being fed from the strip material source is coupled to, as is pulled by, the slacked leading end portion of the strip material that moves with the flowing gas stream toward the nip point and initially becomes engaged in the substrate processing machine.

17 . A strip material guide arm configured to guide strip material from a strip material source into a nip point of a substrate processing machine to join the strip material with a running substrate, the guide arm comprising:
a gas stream generator operable to generate a stream of gas flowing from a gas outlet of the gas stream generator generally toward the running substrate or the nip point; and a retention device configured to hold a strip material at a location adjacent an air inlet of the gas stream generator, with a portion of the held strip material extending into the air inlet, through the gas stream generator, and out through the gas outlet; wherein the gas stream generator is operable to cause a leading end portion of the held strip material to be conveyed via a gas stream toward the running substrate or the nip point, such that the leading end of the strip material becomes engaged by the substrate processing

Assignees

• Fuller H B Co

Inventors

• Cavins Orion A
• Koeltzow Martin E
• Stewart-Irvin Cynthia A

Classifications

• B29C66/472

  said single elements being substantially flat · CPC title

• B29C65/002 Primary

  Joining methods not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B65H20/14 Primary

  by direct action on web of moving fluid · CPC title

• B65H51/16

  Devices for entraining material by flow of liquids or gases, e.g. air-blast devices (blowing slag wool in molten state C03B37/06) · CPC title

• B65H2406/122

  Nozzles · CPC title