FULLY AUTOMATIC MATERIAL FILM SPLICING APPARATUS AND SPLICING METHOD

Abstract

A fully automatic material film splicing apparatus and splicing method, comprising: an on-line material film feeding device and at least two material film splicing devices; the on-line material film feeding device being configured to switch between working positions corresponding to the at least two material film splicing devices; each of the material film splicing devices being equipped with a material film roll machine, the material film roll machine continuously delivering a strip-shaped material film into subsequent mechanisms via the material film splicing device and the on-line material film feeding device; when a material film in use (referred to as an on-line material film) is depleted, the on-line material film feeding device transferring an end portion of the on-line material film to the next material film splicing device to splice a starting portion of a new material film with the end portion of the on-line material film.

Claims

1. A fully automatic material film splicing apparatus comprises: an on-line material film feeding device and at least two material film splicing devices; the at least two material film splicing devices are adjacently arranged along a horizontal X-axis beneath the on-line material film feeding device; the on-line material film feeding device is configured to move reciprocally along the X-axis to perform working position switching corresponding to the at least two material film splicing devices; each material film splicing device incorporates a material film unwinding machine; the material film unwinding machine continuously feeds uninterrupted material film to both the corresponding material film splicing device and the on-line material film feeding device; wherein: the material film splicing device includes a platform, the platform extending along a Y-axis direction and defining a first end and a second end, the first end opposing the on-line material film feeding device; above the first end of the platform, a material film splicing roller and a guide roller are disposed in parallel along the X-axis; the material film splicing roller and the guide roller are controlled by a linear driving device to move reciprocally along a pair of kidney-shaped slots; the pair of kidney-shaped slots is formed on a left sidewall and a right sidewall of the platform, each kidney-shaped slot including a first limiting end and a second limiting end; the second limiting end is located higher than the first limiting end; when the material film splicing roller and the guide roller are positioned at the second limiting end, the material film splicing roller and the guide roller are separated from the platform; when the material film splicing roller and the guide roller are positioned at the first limiting end, the material film splicing roller presses against the platform; the on-line material film feeding device comprises: a material film pressing unit, a material film cutting unit, and a material film holding unit, arranged in sequence from to back along the Y-axis and installed within a housing; the material film pressing unit includes at least one material film pressing element moving upward and downward along a Z-axis; the material film cutting unit includes a material film cutting blade moving reciprocally along both the X-axis and the Z-axis; the material film holding unit includes a material film carrying platform, the material film carrying platform configured to move reciprocally along the Z-axis to connect to or separate from the first end located on the platform.

2. The fully automatic material film splicing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the both ends of the material film splicing roller and the guide roller are connected to a bracketed roller assembly, the bracketed roller assembly being controlled by the linear driving device to move along the kidney-shaped slots.

3. A fully automatic material film splicing apparatus comprises: an on-line material film feeding device and at least two material film splicing devices; the at least two material film splicing devices are adjacently arranged along a horizontal X-axis beneath the on-line material film feeding device; the on-line material film feeding device is configured to move reciprocally along the X-axis to perform working position switching corresponding to the at least two material film splicing devices; each material film splicing device incorporates a material film unwinding machine; the material film unwinding machine continuously feeds uninterrupted material film to both the corresponding material film splicing device and the on-line material film feeding device; wherein: the material film splicing device includes a platform, the platform extending along a Y-axis direction and defining a first end and a second end, the first end opposing the on-line material film feeding device; above the first end of the platform, a material film splicing roller and a guide roller are disposed in parallel along the X-axis; the material film splicing roller and the guide roller are controlled by a linear driving device to move reciprocally along a pair of kidney-shaped slots; the pair of kidney-shaped slots is formed on a left sidewall and a right sidewall of the platform, each kidney-shaped slot including a first limiting end and a second limiting end; the second limiting end is located higher than the first limiting end; when the material film splicing roller and the guide roller are positioned at the second limiting end, the material film splicing roller and the guide roller are separated from the platform; when the material film splicing roller and the guide roller are positioned at the first limiting end, the material film splicing roller presses against the platform.

4. The fully automatic material film splicing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the both ends of the material film splicing roller and the guide roller are connected to a bracketed roller assembly, the bracketed roller assembly being controlled by the linear driving device to move along the kidney-shaped slots.

5. A fully automatic material film splicing apparatus comprises: an on-line material film feeding device and at least two material film splicing devices; the at least two material film splicing devices are adjacently arranged along a horizontal X-axis beneath the on-line material film feeding device; the on-line material film feeding device is configured to move reciprocally along the X-axis to perform working position switching corresponding to the at least two material film splicing devices; each material film splicing device incorporates a material film unwinding machine; the material film unwinding machine continuously feeds uninterrupted material film to both the corresponding material film splicing device and the on-line material film feeding device; wherein: the on-line material film feeding device comprises: a material film pressing unit, a material film cutting unit, and a material film holding unit, arranged in sequence from to back along the Y-axis and installed within a housing; the material film pressing unit includes at least one material film pressing element moving upward and downward along a Z-axis; the material film cutting unit includes a material film cutting blade moving reciprocally along both the X-axis and the Z-axis; the material film holding unit includes a material film carrying platform, the material film carrying platform configured to move reciprocally along the Z-axis to connect to or separate from the first end located on the platform.

6. A splicing method for the fully automatic material film splicing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: Step 1: Preparing a new material film on a platform of a material film splicing device, wherein a starting portion of the new material film passes beneath a material film splicing roller and is then laid upward over a guide roller; the material film splicing roller and the guide roller are positioned at an intermediate position of a kidney-shaped slot, such that the starting portion of the new material film is separated from the platform; a bottom surface of the starting portion of the new material film is pre-coated with adhesive; Step 2: A material film carrying platform of an on-line material film feeding device places an end portion of an on-line material film on the platform, and the end portion is positioned beneath the starting portion of the new material film; Step 3: The material film splicing roller and the guide roller move from the intermediate position of the kidney-shaped slot to the first limiting end of the kidney-shaped slot; The material film splicing roller presses the starting portion of the new material film onto the end portion of the on-line material film, thereby bonding the starting portion to the end portion with adhesive and completing the splicing of the new material film to the on-line material film.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not limitative of the present disclosure and wherein:

[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the fully automatic material film splicing apparatus of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a side schematic view showing the internal structure of the fully automatic material film splicing apparatus of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating how a material film is arranged in the fully automatic material film splicing apparatus as shown in FIG. 2.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 3.

[0020] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram, following FIG. 4, illustrating the cutting of the material film.

[0021] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram, following FIG. 5, illustrating the splicing of the material film.

[0022] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram, following FIG. 6, illustrating the completion of the splicing process.

[0023] FIG. 8 is the first perspective view and action schematic diagram of the material film splicing device of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 9 is the second perspective view and action schematic diagram of the material film splicing device of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 10 is the third perspective view and action schematic diagram of the material film splicing device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawing.

[0027] In addition, the terms used in the present disclosure, such as technical and scientific terms, have its own meanings and can be comprehended by those skilled in the art, unless the terms are additionally defined in the present disclosure. That is, the terms used in the following paragraphs should be read on the meaning commonly used in the related fields and will not be overly explained, unless the terms have a specific meaning in the present disclosure.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, the fully automatic material film splicing apparatus of the present invention comprises an on-line material film feeding device 20 and at least two material film splicing devices 10. The two material film splicing devices 10 are adjacently arranged along a horizontal X-axis beneath the on-line material film feeding device 20. The on-line material film feeding device 20 is controlled by a linear transfer device 21 (prior art) to move reciprocally along the X-axis, thereby switching working positions corresponding to the two material film splicing devices 10.

[0029] Each material film splicing device 10 is disposed with a material film roll machine (not shown) at a lower or front side, which is a prior art mechanism. In the material film roll machine, a roll of material film is mounted on a reel stand, and the material film roll machine continuously outputs a strip-shaped material film, which passes through the material film splicing device 10 and the on-line material film feeding device 20 to enter the subsequent mechanism (not shown).

[0030] When the material film in use (referred to as the on-line material film) is exhausted, the system temporarily stops, and the on-line material film is stationary. The on-line material film feeding device 20 cuts the on-line material film, then transfers the terminal portion of the on-line material film to the next material film splicing device 10, and splices the starting portion of a new material film to the terminal portion of the on-line material film, after which the system is restarted to continue feeding the material film.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 8, the material film splicing device 10 includes a platform 11. The platform 11 extends along a Y-axis direction and defines a first end 111 and a second end 112. The first end 111 is located opposite to the on-line material film feeding device 20. A material film 30 released from a material film roll machine (not shown) is drawn from a roller 114 at the second end 112 toward the first end 111.

[0032] A material film splicing roller 12 and a guide roller 13 are provided at the first end 111 of the platform 11 and are arranged in parallel along the X-axis. Both ends of the material film splicing roller 12 and the guide roller 13 are connected to a bracketed roller assembly 14, which is driven by a linear driving device 15 located beneath the platform 11. An extension shaft 151 of the linear driving device 15 is connected to the bracketed roller assembly 14 to drive the material film splicing roller 12 and the guide roller 13 to move along a pair of kidney-shaped slots 16. The pair of kidney-shaped slots 16 is formed on a left sidewall 113 and a right sidewall 113 of the platform 11, each kidney-shaped slot 16 including a first limiting end 161 and a second limiting end 162, and the second limiting end 162 is located higher than the first limiting end 161.

[0033] Based on the foregoing, when the material film splicing roller 12 and the guide roller 13 move along the kidney-shaped slots 16, the vertical distance between the rollers and the platform 11 varies. Specifically, when the material film splicing roller 12 and the guide roller 13 are positioned at the second limiting end 162 (as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8) or at an intermediate position within the kidney-shaped slots 16 (as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9), the material film splicing roller 12 and the guide roller 13 are separated from the platform 11, which facilitates the transport of the material film 30 on the platform 11 without interference. When the material film splicing roller 12 and the guide roller 13 are positioned at the first limiting end 161 (as shown in FIGS. 7 and 10), the material film splicing roller 12 presses against the platform 11.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, the on-line material film feeding device 20 includes a material film pressing unit 23, a material film cutting unit 24, and a material film holding unit 25. The material film pressing unit 23, the material film cutting unit 24, and the material film holding unit 25 are sequentially arranged from front to back along the Y-axis and installed in a housing 22, positioned above the platform 11.

[0035] The material film pressing unit 23 includes two material film pressing elements 231 configured to move upward and downward along the Z-axis to press against or lift off the material film 30 on the platform 11. The material film pressing elements 231 are controlled by a first guide-rod slide pneumatic cylinder 232 (or an electric cylinder) to move upward and downward, and may also be substituted with other functionally equivalent modules.

[0036] The material film cutting unit 24 includes a material film cutting blade 241 configured to move reciprocally along both the X-axis and the Z-axis. A blade slot 115 is formed on the platform 11. The material film cutting blade 241 enters the blade slot 115 along the Z-axis and moves within the blade slot 115 along the X-axis, thereby cutting the material film 30 on the platform 11. The Z-axis movement of the material film cutting blade 241 is controlled by a second guide-rod slide pneumatic cylinder 242 (or an electric cylinder), and the X-axis movement is controlled by a horizontally oriented third guide-rod slide pneumatic cylinder 243 (or an electric cylinder). The second guide-rod slide pneumatic cylinder or third guide-rod slide pneumatic cylinder may also be replaced with other modules having equivalent functions.

[0037] The material film holding unit 25 includes a material film carrying platform 251, which is controlled by a fourth guide-rod slide pneumatic cylinder 252 (or an electric cylinder) to move reciprocally along the Z-axis, thereby engaging with or disengaging from the first end 111 on the platform 11. The fourth guide-rod slide pneumatic cylinder 252 may also be substituted with another functionally similar module.

[0038] Please refer to FIGS. 3, 4, and 8. The on-line material film 301 is arranged between the on-line material film feeding device 20 and the material film splicing device 10. FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 3. As illustrated, the on-line material film feeding device 20 further includes several tension rollers 26 and guide rollers 27 to maintain the tension of the on-line material film 301 and control the conveying direction of the on-line material film 301. In FIGS. 3, 4, and 8, the material film pressing elements 231 and the material film cutting blade 241 are separated from the platform 11, and the material film carrying platform 251 is connected to the first end 111 of the platform 11. The material film splicing roller 12 and the guide roller 13 are positioned at the second limiting end 162 of the kidney-shaped slots 16 (as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8), and thus the material film splicing roller 12 and the guide roller 13 leave the platform 11. The on-line material film 301 is released from a material film roll machine (not shown) and is continuously conveyed through the platform 11, the material film carrying platform 251, the tension rollers 26, and the guide rollers 27 to subsequent mechanisms.

[0039] Please refer to FIG. 5. When the on-line material film 301 is depleted, the system momentarily stops and the on-line material film 301 comes to a halt. At this moment, the material film pressing elements 231 move downward to press the on-line material film 301 on the platform 11. Immediately afterward, the material film cutting blade 241 moves downward into the blade slot 115 and moves within the blade slot 115 to cut the on-line material film 301. The end portion 3011 of the cut on-line material film 301 is supported by the material film carrying platform 251.

[0040] Please refer to FIGS. 6 and 9. The material film pressing elements 231 and the material film cutting blade 241 are raised to disengage from the platform 11. The material film carrying platform 251 carrying the end portion 3011 of the on-line material film 301 moves upward and disengages from the platform 11. Subsequently, the on-line material film feeding device 20 moves along the X-axis to switch to the next working position corresponding to the next material film splicing device 10 and the end portion 3011 of the on-line material film 301 is placed on the first end 111 of the platform 11 of the next material film splicing device 10.

[0041] The next material film splicing device 10 has a new material film 302 pre-arranged on the platform 11. The new material film 302 is released from a new material film roll machine (not shown) and is drawn from a roller 114 at the second end 112 of the platform 11 toward the first end 111. The starting portion 3021 of the new material film 302 passes beneath the material film splicing roller 12 and is then laid upward over the guide roller 13. The material film splicing roller 12 and the guide roller 13 are positioned at the intermediate position of the kidney-shaped slots 16, causing the starting portion 3021 of the new material film 302 to be separated from the first end 111 of the platform 11. Accordingly, the starting portion 3021 of the new material film 302 is located above the end portion 3011 of the on-line material film 301. The bottom surface of the starting portion 3021 of the new material film 302 is pre-coated with adhesive.

[0042] Please refer to FIGS. 7 and 9. The material film splicing roller 12 and the guide roller 13 move from the intermediate position of the kidney-shaped slots 16 to the first limiting end 161. The material film splicing roller 12 presses the starting portion 3021 of the new material film 302 onto the end portion 3011 of the on-line material film 301. The adhesive secures the starting portion 3021 of the new material film 302 to the end portion 3011 of the on-line material film 301, thereby completing the splicing of the new material film 302 to the on-line material film 301.

[0043] Subsequently, the material film splicing roller 12 and the guide roller 13 immediately move from the first limiting end 161 to the second limiting end 162 of the kidney-shaped slots 16, releasing the pressure on the new material film 302, and the system then activates to continuously transport the material film 30 to subsequent mechanisms. The sample 10 is as previously described and shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

[0044] In the illustrated example, one on-line material film feeding device 20 is paired with two material film splicing devices 10, but is not limited to this configuration, and may also, for example, be configured such that one on-line material film feeding device 20 is paired with multiple material film splicing devices 10, or multiple on-line material film feeding devices 20 are paired with multiple material film splicing devices 10. When the material film 30 from an in-use material film roll machine is depleted, the on-line material film feeding device 20 cuts the material film 30 and immediately moves to the next material film splicing device 10 to splice a new material film 30, thereby continuing the transport of the material film 30.

[0045] During the preparation, transport, and splicing of the material film 30, known techniques are used to monitor the integrity, orientation, positioning, tension, conveying speed, etc., of the material film 30 to ensure accurate splicing and stable, continuous transport.

[0046] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present disclosure. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary embodiments only, with a scope of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.