An end edge detector and method for sensing and indicating an end edge along a roll of material. A sensor retained by a housing detects the end edge and triggers an output signal indicative thereof. The sensor can be formed by a light source for producing an illuminated area on the roll of material in combination with a light radiation detector. Light received by the radiation detector is processed to produce an electronic control signal, and an output signal is triggered when the light received reaches a predetermined threshold electronic control signal indicative of light scattering by the end edge. Alternatively, the sensor can comprise a probe with a tip that extends from the housing for traveling along the surface of the roll of material. Deflection of the probe by contact with the end edge trips an electrical contact switch and triggers the output signal.

A tape releasing device includes a reel support section and a release section. The reel support section is configured to support a reel in which an outer peripheral portion of a spiral tape, where a carrier tape, in which a cover tape that closes an accommodation section that accommodates an electronic component is attached to a base tape provided with the accommodation section, is spirally wound, and a tip end portion of the cover tape are fixed by a fixing tape. The release section releases the fixing tape of the reel supported by the reel support section.

The invention relates to a device and a method for connecting finite webs of material for the energy cell producing industry, wherein the device comprises a holding device adapted to hold the new web of material by means of negative pressure in the second guide section, as well as a backing element and a cutting element, downstream in the conveying direction of the holding device. The backing element and the cutting element are adapted to cut the stationary new web of material to produce a new leading end of the new web of material. The device also comprises an applicator for applying an adhesive strip to the new leading end of the new web of material and a ram and a cutting device, wherein the cutting device is adapted to cut the stationary running-out web of material to produce a new trailing end of the running-out web of material. The ram is adapted to press the trailing web end of the running-out web of material onto the adhesive strip and against the applicator in order to connect the new leading end of the new web of material to the new trailing end of the running-out web of material.

Described herein is a sheet supply apparatus for continuously supplying sheets while splicing the leading edge of the sheet of a standby roll to the trailing end of a sheet being unwound from a working roll by using an auto splicer, the sheet supply apparatus including: a turret unwinder provided with fixation chucks that each fix both ends of a paper tube, and configured to switch the positions of the standby and working rolls; a detector configured to detect the position of one of both axial ends of the standby roll; a corrector configured to be connected to each of the fixation chucks and to correct the position of the standby roll; and a controller configured to align an end of the standby roll so that the end of the standby roll is aligned with the end of the working roll while correcting the position of the standby roll.

A reel loading device loads, into a feeder, a reel on which a carrier tape is wound, the carrier tape including a base tape and a cover tape, the base tape on which multiple accommodation sections that accommodate components are formed at constant intervals, the cover tape that closes the multiple accommodation sections. The reel loading device includes a positioning mechanism. When loading the reel into the feeder, the positioning mechanism positions a peeling blade such that a blade tip portion of the peeling blade enters a tip end portion of the carrier tape before the tip end portion of the carrier tape reaches the peeling blade for peeling the cover tape.

A sheet feeder includes a support to support a roll sheet winding a sheet, a sensor that is at a first position on the support and contacts a surface of the roll sheet to detect a level difference at a trailing edge of the roll sheet and output a first signal and a second signal, a roller that is at a second position different from the first position in a circumferential direction of the roll sheet on the support and contacts the surface of the roll sheet to guide the roll sheet, and circuitry to cause the roll sheet to rotate in a sheet feeding direction to feed the sheet, and detect the trailing edge of the roll sheet based on the first signal output from the sensor, and the second signal output from the sensor.