A method for joining ends of fiber webs with a device comprising a tool element with a gripping device and a traversing punching device. A run of the fiber web from the emptying parent roll is moved to a joining position at the tool element. The trailing end of the parent roll fiber web is cut upstream from the joining position and the fiber web is attached to the tool element by a gripping device of the tool element. An end of a new roll fiber web is guided to contact with and to an overlapping position with the trailing end of the parent roll fiber. The traversing punching device is moved across the width direction of the fiber webs and makes at least one joint cut and joins the fiber webs. The new fiber web is cut downstream from the joint, and then tension control is turned on.

A splice arrangement includes an unwinding arrangement for unwinding a finite first material web from a first material roll or a finite second material web from a second material roll, a braking arrangement for applying a braking force to the unwinding arrangement and/or the finite material web being unwound, a connection arrangement for connecting the finite material webs to form an endless material web, a storage trolley for the uninterrupted conveying of the endless material web, at least one material web tension-influencing device arranged before the storage trolley, and an actuation device, which is in signal connection with the at least one material web tension-influencing device for actuating the same.

A splice arrangement includes an unwinding arrangement for unwinding a finite first material web from a first material roll or a finite second material web from a second material roll, a braking arrangement for applying a braking force to the unwinding arrangement and/or the finite material web being unwound, a connection arrangement for connecting the finite material webs to form an endless material web, a storage trolley for the uninterrupted conveying of the endless material web, at least one material web tension-influencing device arranged before the storage trolley, and an actuation device, which is in signal connection with the at least one material web tension-influencing device for actuating the same.

An assembly for feeding backing ribbon for adhesive labels for labeling products to be labeled, comprising a splicing device and at least two supporting elements for the backing ribbon, the splicing device being intended to perform on command the splice between a first splicing region, formed on a first backing ribbon being unwound from a first supporting element, and a second splicing region, formed on a second backing ribbon wound on a second supporting element, the first backing ribbon supporting a plurality of adhesive labels which are arranged, mutually spaced, on the face directed toward the second splicing region; the first backing ribbon having, when associated with the respective first supporting element, at least one portion that is free from self-adhesive labels and forms the first splicing region; the portion is located substantially at the end of the first backing ribbon that is associated with the first supporting element.

An assembly for feeding backing ribbon for adhesive labels for labeling products to be labeled, comprising a splicing device and at least two supporting elements for the backing ribbon, the splicing device being intended to perform on command the splice between a first splicing region, formed on a first backing ribbon being unwound from a first supporting element, and a second splicing region, formed on a second backing ribbon wound on a second supporting element, the first backing ribbon supporting a plurality of adhesive labels which are arranged, mutually spaced, on the face directed toward the second splicing region; the first backing ribbon having, when associated with the respective first supporting element, at least one portion that is free from self-adhesive labels and forms the first splicing region; the portion is located substantially at the end of the first backing ribbon that is associated with the first supporting element.

A method for joining unidirectional tapes is provided. The method includes placing a plurality of unidirectional tapes by abutting without overlapping an end of one of the unidirectional tapes with an end of other one of the unidirectional tapes at a butt joint. The unidirectional tapes includes a resin material and a plurality of fibers running in a running direction. The method further includes placing a prepreg including a resin material and a plurality of short fibers over the butt joint to cover an area surrounding the butt joint such that the short fibers run in the running direction. The method further includes fusing the prepreg by applying heat such that the short fibers are fused into a matrix of the unidirectional tapes at the butt joint.

A method for joining unidirectional tapes is provided. The method includes placing a plurality of unidirectional tapes by abutting without overlapping an end of one of the unidirectional tapes with an end of other one of the unidirectional tapes at a butt joint. The unidirectional tapes includes a resin material and a plurality of fibers running in a running direction. The method further includes placing a prepreg including a resin material and a plurality of short fibers over the butt joint to cover an area surrounding the butt joint such that the short fibers run in the running direction. The method further includes fusing the prepreg by applying heat such that the short fibers are fused into a matrix of the unidirectional tapes at the butt joint.

A supply (22) of sheet stock material (24, 34) for a dunnage conversion machine (26) that is readily spliced to another supply includes (a) one or more plies of sheet material (24, 34) having (i) multiple longitudinally-extending sections, including a center section (42) bounded by lateral sections (40), where the lateral sections (40) are folded over a common face of the center section (42) along longitudinal fold lines (44) at lateral edges of the folded sheet material, and (ii) a leading end (60) and a trailing end (62) at respective longitudinally-opposite ends of the sheet material, where the lateral sections (40) are separated from the center section (42) adjacent the leading end (60) and adjacent the trailing end (62) along respective lines of separation; and (b) a splicing adhesive (76) applied to the sheet material adjacent the leading end (60) or the trailing end (62) on both the center section (42) and each of the lateral WO 2020/092578 A1 sections (40) to facilitate splicing each section to respective sections of two supplies.

A supply (22) of sheet stock material (24, 34) for a dunnage conversion machine (26) that is readily spliced to another supply includes (a) one or more plies of sheet material (24, 34) having (i) multiple longitudinally-extending sections, including a center section (42) bounded by lateral sections (40), where the lateral sections (40) are folded over a common face of the center section (42) along longitudinal fold lines (44) at lateral edges of the folded sheet material, and (ii) a leading end (60) and a trailing end (62) at respective longitudinally-opposite ends of the sheet material, where the lateral sections (40) are separated from the center section (42) adjacent the leading end (60) and adjacent the trailing end (62) along respective lines of separation; and (b) a splicing adhesive (76) applied to the sheet material adjacent the leading end (60) or the trailing end (62) on both the center section (42) and each of the lateral WO 2020/092578 A1 sections (40) to facilitate splicing each section to respective sections of two supplies.

A method for splicing a material associated with an absorbent article, including: transporting the material in a direction of transport with a material wound around an entrance roll and a moving roll of a dancer unit; splicing a subsequent material with a preceding material which is a material being transported, by bonding a leading end portion of the subsequent material with the preceding material; and cutting the preceding material so that the total length of a bonded portion and an stacking portion is larger than a path length of the material from a downstream end of a winding portion of the material that is wound around the entrance roll to an upstream end of another winding portion of the material that is wound around the moving roll positioned at a reference position.