Apparatus and method for connecting two material strips

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus (10) for connecting two material strips (60, 62), wherein the apparatus (10) comprises a fixing functional unit, a cutting functional unit, and an adhesive bonding functional unit, wherein, in order to connect the two material strips (60, 62), the latter can be fixed / are fixed by means of the fixing functional unit, can be severed / are severed by means of the cutting functional unit, and can be connected to each other / are connected to each other by means of the adhesive bonding functional unit, and the fixing functional unit has at least three clamping fingers (40), (42), (44).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Device and method for joining two material strips

[0003] The innovation presented here concerns the technical field of applying (placing, gluing) sections of a material strip (material web) to individual paper or cardboard blanks (blanks) or another material web, in particular blanks for packaging.

[0004] The material strip, for example silicone paper, is continuously fed to a respective process, for example a production process for manufacturing packaging material, and separated into sections there. The material strip is drawn off from a roll or similar for feeding to the respective process. When the material on the roll runs out, a new roll must be selected. This also requires joining the material strip from the previously used roll to a material strip from the new roll. This means that two material strips must be joined, and the innovation presented here relates to a device and, furthermore, a method for joining two material strips in such a situation.

[0005] Devices for joining two strips of material are generally known. The unpublished DE 20 2022 104 612.3 describes such a device.

[0006] One object of the innovation presented here is to provide a further embodiment of a device for joining two strips of material, as well as to provide a method for operating such a device, thus a method for joining two strips of material. This object is achieved according to the invention by means of a device, hereinafter referred to as a splicer in accordance with the usual technical terminology, having the features of claim 1.

[0007] The device – the splicer – is designed and configured to join two strips of material, which are referred to below as the first, old, or active strip, and the second, new, or passive strip. During joining, the new strip is connected to the old strip.

[0008] The splicer comprises a support surface, possibly made up of several parts, over which the old material strip runs. The support surface includes an adhesive area (adhesive surface). The two material strips are joined in the adhesive area. The splicer further comprises fixing devices on both sides of the adhesive area—namely, in the direction of runoff of the old material strip, on both sides of the adhesive area—that can be lowered onto the support surface or onto a segment of a possibly multi-part support surface, in particular, fixing devices that can be lowered onto one segment of a possibly multi-part support surface.

[0009] Fixing devices, referred to below as clamping or holding fingers, serve as the primary means of securing the roller. For further differentiation, the clamping or holding fingers are referred to as roll-side clamping fingers, middle clamping fingers, and process-side clamping fingers, depending on their position.

[0010] A support surface, possibly made up of multiple parts, also functions as a support surface with the segments it encompasses, and functionally there is no difference between a single-piece support surface and a multi-part support surface comprising several segments. For this reason, the following often refers simply to a support surface or the support surface. Any multi-part support surface, i.e. a support surface divided into two, three or more segments, must always be included, for example, a support surface with one segment containing the adhesive area and one or each of these separate segments below the roll-side clamping finger, the middle clamping finger and / or the process-side clamping finger.

[0011] The roll-side clamping finger is located in front of the gluing area or at the beginning of the gluing area, in the direction of the material strips' runoff. The area in front of the gluing area is the roll side of the splicer. The process-side clamping finger is located behind the gluing area or at the end of the gluing area, in the direction of the material strips' runoff. The area behind the gluing area is the process side of the splicer. The middle clamping finger is preferably located on the roll side of the splicer, namely behind the roll-side clamping finger and in front of the gluing area or at the beginning of the gluing area, in the direction of the material strips' runoff.

[0012] When the inactive, but activatable splicer is in operation, the old material strip runs under the then raised clamping fingers, namely between the support surface and the clamping fingers. As long as there is still a sufficient supply of the old material strip on a reel or similar containing the material from the old material strip to continue drawing off the old material strip to supply a process located downstream (relative to the direction of flow of the old material strip) of the splicer, the splicer is not activated, meaning no automatic measures are taken to join a new material strip to the old material strip, and the old material strip runs through the splicer toward the respective process.

[0013] The advantage of the splicer proposed here is that it can be used to connect an upper, new material strip to a lower, old material strip and, on the other hand, to connect a lower, new material strip to an upper, old material strip and can be / is connected during operation of the splicer.

[0014] The terms "top" and "bottom" refer to a position of the material strips relative to each other. During splicer operation, the old and new material strips are located above the support surface—at least when the new material strip is threaded into the splicer—and even at different levels above each other, extending on both sides of the adhesive area of ​​the support surface, namely on the roll side and the process side. The terms "top" and "bottom" therefore refer to a respective position of the material strip in one of these levels.

[0015] The option proposed here of being able to connect an upper, new material strip to a lower, old material strip, or a lower new material strip to an upper, old material strip, advantageously allows for simple, successive splicing without having to change the location on the roll from which the respective old material strip runs and has run out by the time of splicing. For example, there is no longer any need for the otherwise time-consuming turning or other movement of the roll holders with the respective rolls (roll holders for rotatably holding one roll each, roll with the old material strip, roll with the new material strip). Because the locations of the two rolls remain unchanged throughout the entire process and can advantageously remain unchanged, the guidance of the respective material strip from the two rolls to the splicer also remains unchanged.

[0016] This advantage is achieved by the splicer's three clamping fingers (at least three clamping fingers): the roll-side clamping finger, the middle clamping finger, and the process-side clamping finger. Because these clamping fingers are located on both sides of the bonding area, both material strips or one of the material strips can be secured on each side of the bonding area using one clamping finger each. Where only one of the material strips is secured, the other material strip can be removed from the area above the bonding area during the splicing process. The new material strip can then be joined to the old material strip.

[0017] In other words, the device proposed here for joining a new material strip to an old material strip – the splicer – comprises fixing means for fixing an old material strip and a new material strip, as well as a support surface with an adhesive area. The aforementioned clamping fingers act in particular as fixing means. When the splicer is in operation, the old and new material strips are located above the support surface and the adhesive area there, and even in different planes above one another (aligned one above the other) and extend on both sides of the adhesive area. The type and location of the fixing of the material strips depend on their function and position relative to the other material strip.If the old material strip is underneath the new material strip (and the new material strip is underneath the old material strip), the following applies: The old material strip can be secured using the securing means on both sides of the bonding area, and the new material strip can be secured using at least one of the securing means, at least on the roll side of the bonding area. If the new material strip is underneath the old material strip (and the old material strip is underneath the new material strip), the following applies: The new material strip can be secured using the securing means on both sides of the bonding area, and the old material strip can be secured using at least one of the securing means, at least on one process side of the bonding area.With regard to the fixability of a material strip with a respective fixing agent, such fixation is carried out by means of the fixing agent during splicing and the respective material strip is fixed with the fixing agent.

[0018] In a method for operating such a device, i.e. a method for operating such a splicer and for joining a new material strip to an old material strip, it is provided that the device comprises fixing means for fixing an old material strip and a new material strip and a support surface with an adhesive area, that during operation of the device for joining the material strips, the old and the new material strip are located above the support surface, namely above the adhesive area, and even in different planes one above the other and extend on both sides of the adhesive area,that the old material strip, in the case of a layer underneath the new material strip, is fixed by means of the fixing means on both sides of the adhesive area, and that the new material strip, in the case of a layer above the old material strip, is fixed by means of at least one of the fixing means on at least one roll side of the adhesive area, and that the new material strip, in the case of a layer underneath the old material strip, is fixed by means of the fixing means on both sides of the adhesive area, and that the old material strip, in the case of a layer above the new material strip, is fixed by means of at least one of the fixing means on at least one process side of the adhesive area.

[0019] It should be noted here that the splicer comprises three fundamentally independent functional units, namely means for fixing the material strips to the support surface (fixing means, fixing functional unit), then means for cutting the material strips fixed to the support surface (cutting means, cutting functional unit) and finally means for pressing an adhesive strip onto the cut material strips (adhesive means, adhesive functional unit), which optionally also effect a lateral cutting of the adhesive strip, namely a lateral cutting along the edges of the material strips.

[0020] In the innovation proposed here, the clamping fingers act as the fixing means. The clamping fingers and the or each means for their intended movement constitute a fixing functional unit. In the innovation proposed here, a first punch and a blade thereon act as the cutting means. The first punch and its blade, as well as the or each means for the intended movement of the first punch, constitute a cutting functional unit. In the innovation proposed here, a second punch, or the second punch and its blades, act as the adhesive means. The second punch, or the second punch and its blades, as well as the or each means for the intended movement of the second punch, constitute an adhesive functional unit.

[0021] In principle, all of these functional units – fixing functional unit, cutting functional unit, and gluing functional unit – are independent of one another. This means that in a splicer, each of these functional units can be designed as described here and below and function as described here and below when joining two strips of material, while one of the other functional units or both of the other functional units are designed differently than described here and below and function accordingly differently. Accordingly, based on the description of the innovation presented here, the definition of the splicer proposed here can also be limited to exactly one of the mentioned functional units or two of the mentioned functional units, without departing from the disclosure content of the presented description.In the following, it should therefore always be understood that a splicer in the embodiment according to the invention necessarily comprises only exactly one of the functional units as described here and below, optionally comprises exactly two of the functional units as described here and below, and particularly preferably comprises all three functional units as described here and below.

[0022] To avoid unnecessary repetition, the following description states that features and details described in connection with the splicer (device) and any possible embodiments naturally also apply in connection with and for a method for operating such a splicer, and vice versa. Accordingly, the method can also be developed using individual or multiple method features that relate to method steps performed or executable by the splicer or by means of the splicer. Likewise, the splicer can be developed using physical means that are intended and / or configured / prepared to perform method steps provided within the method.

[0023] The special feature of the splicer proposed here and the method for its operation is that the splicer comprises three clamping fingers (at least three clamping fingers) or that, as part of the method, these at least three clamping fingers are used when joining two strips of material. CH 684 701 A5 discloses a method and a device for automatically joining the ends of two strips of material. The device comprises counterholders that can be lowered onto a support surface on both sides of an adhesive area and, in the sense of the terminology of the description presented here, could be understood in the broadest sense as clamping fingers. The device therefore comprises, in a sense, two clamping fingers. WO 2019 / 077741 A1 deals with the processing of cellulose webs and their joining to one another during processing. The device provided for this purpose comprises fixing devices. Even if these mayin the broadest sense could be understood as clamping fingers, the device in any case only comprises two such fixing devices.

[0024] Advantageous embodiments of the innovation presented here are the subject matter of the subclaims. References used therein indicate the further development of the subject matter of the respective independent claim referred to in accordance with the features of the respective subclaim. They are not to be understood as a waiver of independent, objective protection for the feature combinations of the referenced subclaims. Furthermore, with regard to the interpretation of the claims, if a feature is further specified in a subordinate claim, it must be assumed that such a limitation does not exist in the respective preceding claims.

[0025] In an advantageous embodiment of the splicer, it comprises devices sometimes referred to below as lowering means. The lowering means are, in particular, a lowerable, roll-side hold-down device in the run-off direction of the material strips between the first or roll-side clamping finger and the second or middle clamping finger, as well as a lowerable, process-side hold-down device in the run-off direction of the material strips between the bonding area and the third or process-side clamping finger. Preferably, each hold-down device is a finger-like device, similar to the clamping fingers, and is aligned parallel to the clamping fingers. The lowering means / hold-down devices each serve to guide a material strip.In other words, the splicer comprises lowering means on both sides of the bonding area, namely for lowering a section of the old or new material strip that is not fixed by the fixing means onto a section of the new or old material strip that is fixed by the fixing means.

[0026] While a clamping finger can be lowered completely onto the support surface and is lowered onto the storage surface when the splicer is in operation, a hold-down device is not lowered completely onto the support surface or is at least lowered onto the support surface only to such an extent that a section of a material strip located between the hold-down device and the support surface is still movable (can still be pulled out from under the hold-down device). Pressing down on the respective material strip results in the gripped section of the material strip resting on the other material strip or at least running closely over the other material strip; the gripped section of the material strip is guided by the hold-down device. When the material strips are cut, the blade comes into contact with an essentially horizontally running material strip, so that a clean cut is made at a defined point.

[0027] Preferably, the roller-side hold-down device is assigned to the first or roller-side clamping finger, and the process-side hold-down device is assigned to the third or process-side clamping finger, and can be lowered together with the respective clamping finger. Particularly preferably, each hold-down device is connected to the respective clamping finger, for example, by the hold-down device extending from a base of the respective clamping finger. Assigning the hold-down device to exactly one clamping finger creates a functional unit. If the hold-down device is connected to exactly one clamping finger, a structural unit also results.

[0028] In a method for operating the device proposed here - method for operating the splicer - an initial state is established, and from this, the two material strips (old material strip, new material strip) are spliced. In the initial state, either the new material strip is aligned over the old material strip, or the old material strip is aligned over the new material strip.

[0029] First, the situation with the old material strip at the bottom (the new material strip is aligned above the old material strip) is considered: The new material strip is or is threaded into the splicer aligned with the old material strip and above the old material strip. The new material strip runs over the roll-side clamping finger, under the roll-side hold-down device, under the middle clamping finger, under the process-side hold-down device, and over the process-side clamping finger. The flow of the old material strip – under all clamping fingers and the hold-down devices – through the splicer and over its support surface is stopped. The middle clamping finger and the process-side hold-down device as well as the process-side clamping finger are lowered.This ensures that the old material strip is secured on both sides by means of the middle clamping finger and the process-side clamping finger, namely on both sides of the bonding area, and that the new material strip is secured on one side, namely on the roll side of the bonding area. Both material strips are cut in the bonding area. The unsecured end of the new material strip, which is only secured on one side, is removed from the bonding area by pulling it out from under the process-side hold-down device. The roll-side end of the new material strip is now connected to the process-side end of the old material strip. To do this, an adhesive strip is applied to the ends that are butted together. When the old material strip is pulled again on the process side, the old material strip and the new material strip attached to its end run out of the splicer and the new material strip finally runs into the process.

[0030] Now consider the situation with the new material strip positioned below (the old material strip is aligned above the new material strip): The new material strip is or is threaded into the splicer aligned with the old material strip and below the old material strip, namely under all clamping fingers and hold-down devices. The old material strip runs over the roll-side clamping finger, under the roll-side hold-down device, under the middle clamping finger, under the process-side hold-down device, and under the process-side clamping finger. The flow of the old material strip through the splicer and over its support surface is stopped. The roll-side clamping finger, the roll-side hold-down device, and the process-side clamping finger are lowered.This results in the new material strip being secured on both sides by means of the roll-side clamping finger and the process-side clamping finger, namely on both sides of the bonding area, and the old material strip being secured on one side by means of the process-side clamping finger, namely on the process side of the bonding area. Both material strips are cut in the bonding area. The unsecured end of the old material strip, which is only secured on one side, is removed from the bonding area by pulling it out from under the roll-side hold-down device. The roll-side end of the new material strip is now connected to the process-side end of the old material strip. For this purpose, an adhesive strip is applied to the butted ends.When the old material strip is pulled again on the process side, the old material strip and the new material strip attached to its end run out of the splicer and the new material strip finally runs into the process.

[0031] The method for operating the splicer is characterized by the steps of threading or following threading the new material strip over the old material strip until the two material strips are joined by means of the adhesive strip and / or by the steps of threading or following threading the new material strip under the old material strip until the two material strips are joined by means of the adhesive strip.

[0032] One aspect of the innovation proposed here is also a control device for controlling the splicer and for controlling the drives included in the splicer, wherein the control device operates according to the method as described here and below and, for this purpose, comprises means for implementing the method. The control device functions as a means for executing the method for operating the splicer as well as any possible embodiments of the method.

[0033] The method for operating the splicer, as well as any possible embodiments, is / are preferably implemented in the form of a control program (computer program) for automatic execution. A further aspect of the innovation proposed here is thus also a computer program with program code instructions executable by a computer, in particular a control device, with an implementation of the method proposed here and, if applicable,individual embodiments and a storage medium with such a control program (computer program), i.e. a computer program product with program code means, and finally also a control device, in whose memory as a means for carrying out the method and its embodiments such a control program (computer program) can be loaded and executed by means of the control device and is loaded into this memory at least during operation of the splicer and is executed by means of the control device during operation of the splicer.

[0034] When process steps or process step sequences are described below ("moved," "lowered," "cut," "pressed," etc.), this refers to actions that occur during automatic execution of the respective process step under the control or due to the functionality of the control device, in particular due to the control program or under the control of the control program. Furthermore, any reference to an automatic process means that it is carried out under the control or due to the functionality of the control device, in particular due to the control program or under the control of the control program.

[0035] Instead of a control program with individual program code instructions, the method described here and below can also be implemented entirely or partially in the form of firmware or hardware. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that instead of implementing a method in software, it is always also possible to implement it entirely or partially in firmware, or in firmware and software, or in firmware and hardware. Therefore, for the description presented here, the terms "control program" and "computer program" should also encompass other implementation options, namely, in particular, an implementation at least partially in firmware and / or at least partially in firmware and software, or at least partially in firmware and hardware.

[0036] The claims submitted with the application are suggested formulations without prejudice to the attainment of further protection. Since the subject matter of the subclaims, in particular, may constitute separate and independent inventions in view of the prior art on the priority date, the applicants reserve the right to make these or other combinations of features previously disclosed only in the description and / or drawings the subject matter of independent claims or declarations of division. They may also contain independent inventions that have a design independent of the subject matter of the preceding subclaims.

[0037] An exemplary embodiment of the innovation presented here is explained in more detail below using the drawing. Corresponding objects or elements are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

[0038] The exemplary embodiment is not to be understood as a limitation of the presented innovation. Rather, within the scope of the present disclosure, modifications and alterations are also possible, which, for example, can be derived by combining or modifying individual features and method steps in conjunction with the features and method steps described in the general or specific description, as well as in the claims and / or the drawings, with regard to solving the problem, and which, through combinable features, lead to a new subject matter or to new method steps or method step sequences.

[0039] It shows

[0040] Figure 1 ,

[0041] Figure 2,

[0042] Figure 3 and

[0043] Figure 4 shows an embodiment of a device (splicer) intended for joining two strips of material,

[0044] Figure 5 and

[0045] Figure 6 is a schematically simplified representation of the material strips to be joined when being severed by a blade of the splicer (Fig. 5) and material strips connected by means of an adhesive strip (Fig. 6), Figures 7a to

[0046] Figure 7h shows the splicing process with an old material strip lying underneath and

[0047] Figure 8a to Figure 8h show the splicing process with an old material strip on top,

[0048] Figure 9 shows the location of two roll holders for / with rolls for the material strips to be spliced ​​and

[0049] Figure 10 is a structogram with a schematically simplified representation of the process steps that occur during operation of the splicer when joining two strips of material.

[0050] The illustrations in Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure 4 show - schematically simplified - an embodiment of the device 10 proposed here in different views, namely isometric (Figure 1, Figure 2) and in a first side view (Figure 3) and a second side view (Figure 4).

[0051] The device 10 is referred to below as a splicer 10 in accordance with its function. The term "splicer" is commonly used in technical terminology. A German equivalent of this term is, for example, "Klebepresse" (gluing press).

[0052] The splicer 10 comprises various movable components, which will be discussed first before the description turns further below to the function of the splicer 10. Each movable component is moved by means of at least one linear drive. Linear drives can be, in particular—but not exclusively—hydraulic cylinders, pneumatic cylinders, linear motors, or threaded rod drives (generally: feed assembly).

[0053] Components of the Splicer 10

[0054] The splicer 10 comprises two punches 20, 22, which are referred to as the first or inner punch 20 and the second or outer punch 22 for differentiation. The two punches 20, 22 can be lowered and raised, i.e., translationally movable in the vertical direction, by means of a drive 24, 26 (punch drive 24, 26), in particular in the form of a linear drive. The punch drives 24, 26 are shown schematically in a highly simplified manner as cuboid units and with block arrows indicating the possible directions of movement. Suitable drives that could be considered as punch drives 24, 26, namely linear drives, are known per se. This also applies to all other drives mentioned below.

[0055] The punches 20, 22—each punch 20, 22 individually—can be lowered onto a support surface 28 encompassed by the splicer 10 or assigned to the splicer 10 (they can be lowered onto the support surface 28 and are lowered onto the support surface 28 as needed during operation of the splicer 10) and can be raised in the opposite direction (they can be raised in the opposite direction and are raised as needed during operation of the splicer 10). Lowering onto the support surface 28 occurs, for example, by means of a forward stroke of the respective punch drive 24, 26, and raising in the opposite direction by means of a return stroke of the respective punch drive 24, 26.

[0056] Each punch 20, 22, together with the punch drive 24, 26 provided for its vertical movement, forms a punching device. The two punching devices are referred to—also for the purpose of differentiation—as the first or inner punching device and the second or outer punching device.

[0057] The two stamping devices are movable – individually or jointly – in a horizontal direction (specifically, transversely to the previously described direction of movement of the stamps 20, 22). In this respect, the description continues on the basis of the exemplary embodiment shown. There, the two stamping devices are movable jointly in a horizontal direction. For this purpose, the splicer 10 comprises a guide 30 and a carrier 32 movable along the guide 30. The two stamping devices are connected to the carrier 32, for example, mounted on the carrier 32, and are themselves moved horizontally upon a horizontal movement of the carrier 32. A plate movable along the guide 30, for example, functions as the carrier 32. A drive 34 in the form of a linear drive is provided for moving the carrier 32 along the guide 30.In an advantageous embodiment (not shown), the drive 34 comprises at least two individual linear drives arranged one behind the other in the axial direction (linear drives arranged one after the other in the axial direction). Such a drive 34 preferably comprises exactly two linear drives, in particular pneumatic cylinders (or hydraulic cylinders), as described in the aforementioned DE 20 2022 104 612.3, which is incorporated into the description presented here with its corresponding disclosure content and is deemed to be encompassed by the description presented here with this reference. As explained therein, at least three defined positions (horizontal positions) can be specifically approached by maximum extension or retraction (forward or return stroke) of the linear drives without any other position sensors: three defined positions with the same stroke of the two linear drives, four defined positions with different strokes.

[0058] The splicer 10 further comprises a plurality of clamping fingers 40, 42, 44 and hold-down devices 46, 48, namely at least three clamping fingers 40, 42, 44 or exactly three clamping fingers 40, 42, 44 and at least two hold-down devices 46, 48 or exactly two hold-down devices 46, 48. The further description will be continued - without sacrificing further general validity - on the basis of the embodiment shown, i.e. on the basis of a splicer with exactly three clamping fingers 40, 42, 44 and exactly two hold-down devices 46, 48. More than three clamping fingers 40, 42, 44 and / or more than two hold-down devices 46, 48 are always to be read along with.

[0059] The clamping fingers 40, 42, 44 and the hold-down devices 46, 48 are preferably oriented transversely or at least substantially transversely to the direction of the respective unwinding material strip 60 (at least oriented such that they can cover a material strip 60, 62 across its entire width or at least substantially across its entire width) and serve, among other things, to fix the respective unwinding material strip 60 during splicing. The clamping fingers 40, 42, 44 are referred to as clamping fingers 40, 42, 44 because they have an elongated (finger-like) shape and protrude beyond the support surface 28 and thus beyond the area - similar to the boom of a crane over a construction site - in which the material strips 60, 62 run. The hold-down devices 46, 48 also have such an elongated (finger-like) shape. The clamping fingers 40, 42, 44 or at least one underside of the clamping fingers 40, 42, 44 are or are parallel to the surface of the support surface 28.

[0060] The clamping fingers 40, 42, 44 are each movable up and down, i.e., in a translational direction, by means of a drive 50, 52, 54 (clamping finger drive 50, 52, 54), in particular in the form of a linear drive. This means that the clamping fingers 40, 42, 44 can be lowered onto the support surface 28 (they can be lowered onto the support surface 28 and are lowered onto the support surface 28 as needed during operation of the splicer 10) and can be raised in the opposite direction to a position above the plane of the support surface 28 (they can be raised in the opposite direction and are raised as needed during operation of the splicer 10). The lowering onto the support surface 28 takes place, for example, by means of a forward stroke of the respective clamping finger drive 50, 52, 54 and the lifting in the opposite direction by means of a return stroke of the respective clamping finger drive 50, 52, 54.

[0061] As noted at the beginning, there is no functional difference between a (as shown) one-piece support surface 28 and a possibly multi-part support surface 28, wherein a multi-part support surface 28 comprises at least one segment with an adhesive region 68 and one or more segments for lowering a clamping finger 40, 42, 44 onto the support surface 28, namely onto the respective segment of the support surface 28. Whether a clamping finger 40, 42, 44 can be lowered onto a one-piece support surface 28 or a segment of a multi-part support surface 28 or is lowered as part of the method has no influence on the function of the splicer 10 and the joining of two material strips 60, 62 by means of the splicer 10. Therefore, in the following - in accordance with the exemplary embodiment shown and in the interest of better readability of the description - reference is made to a support surface 28 or the support surface 28. A possiblyHowever, the multi-part support surface 28 must always be read. For the purpose of differentiation and in accordance with the illustration in Figure 4 and the sequence of clamping fingers 40, 42, 44 therein, the clamping fingers 40, 42, 44 are referred to as the first or left clamping finger 40, the second or middle clamping finger 42, and the third or right clamping finger 44.

[0062] The hold-down devices 46, 48 are finger-like devices similar to the clamping fingers and are aligned parallel to the clamping fingers 40, 42, 44. The hold-down devices 46, 48 are each spatially and functionally assigned to a clamping finger 40, 42, 44. One of the hold-down devices 46 is assigned to the first / left clamping finger 40 and is accordingly referred to as the left hold-down device 46. The other hold-down device 48 is assigned to the third / right clamping finger 44 and is accordingly referred to as the right hold-down device 48.

[0063] Each hold-down device 46, 48 can also be lowered onto the support surface 28, for example, together with or by means of the respective clamping finger 40, 44 to which it is assigned. In the embodiment shown, the left clamping finger 40 and the left hold-down device 46, as well as the right clamping finger 44 and the right hold-down device 48, each form a functional unit. In the embodiment shown, each clamping finger 40, 44 and the associated hold-down device 46, 48 form a functional unit in that the finger-like section of the respective clamping finger 40, 44 and the finger-like hold-down device 46, 48 extend from a common base, which is movable by means of the respective clamping finger drive 50, 54. Without such a functional unit, a separate drive is required for each hold-down device 46, 48, and the movement of each hold-down device would have to be coordinated with the movement of the respective clamping finger 40, 44.

[0064] In the embodiment shown, the left and right clamping fingers 40, 44 are characterized—in a fundamentally optional manner—by a broadly triangular profile, and the left and right hold-down devices by a broadly round profile. The triangular profile (or a corresponding polygonal profile) has a surface oriented parallel to the support surface 28 and functioning as the underside of the clamping finger 40, 44, as well as an inclined surface, wherein the respective inclined surface can be viewed as an inclined plane pointing toward the support surface 28.In the embodiment shown, the left clamping finger 40 and the left hold-down device 46 as well as the right clamping finger 44 and the right hold-down device 48 each form a functional unit, and the hold-down device 46, 48 is located next to the inclined surface of the respective clamping finger 40, 44, namely the left hold-down device 46 to the right (in the direction of the right clamping finger 44) next to the inclined surface of the left clamping finger 40 and the right hold-down device 48 to the left (in the direction of the left clamping finger 40) next to the inclined surface of the right clamping finger 44. The underside of each hold-down device 46, 48 - in the case of a hold-down device 46, 48 with a round profile, a linear underside - is flush with the underside of the respective clamping finger 40, 44 or at least substantially flush with this underside, thus possibly lying in a plane slightly above the plane of the underside of the respective clamping finger 40, 44.

[0065] All clamping fingers 40, 42, 44 are individually movable by means of a respective clamping finger drive 50, 52, 54. The clamping fingers 40, 42, 44, together with their clamping finger drives 50, 52, 54, form a clamping finger device.

[0066] It was explained above that each stamp 20, 22 is movable in the vertical direction (along the z-axis of the coordinate system shown in Figure 1), the stamp devices are movable together in the horizontal direction (along the y-axis), and the clamping fingers 40, 42, 44 are also movable in the vertical direction. It should be noted that these directions refer to the embodiment shown and its orientation shown there. However, the splicer 10 does not necessarily have to be installed in the orientation shown. The splicer 10 can, for example, be rotated about the x-axis shown in Figure 1. For example, rotated by 90°, so that the movement of the stamps 20, 22 and the clamping fingers 40, 42, 44 described above as vertical actually takes place along the horizontal. The joint movement of the stamp devices then takes place accordingly in the vertical direction.This relativity of the directional information - and corresponding information such as "below", "above" or the like - must always be read along and accordingly the directional information used so far and also used below for a better understanding of the splicer 10 and its function according to the embodiment shown and its orientation should never be interpreted in a restrictive manner.

[0067] The splicing process in general

[0068] At least one material strip 60 runs through the splicer 10. This material strip 60 is drawn off in a manner known per se from a roll or the like (spool, drum, etc.) not shown in the figures – collectively referred to as a roll. The material strip 60 is drawn off from a process (not shown) downstream of the splicer 10 and into this process, for example, toward a lay-up head or the like for applying, for example, sections of the material strip 60 onto blanks provided for this purpose.

[0069] The material strip 60 is consumed over time, and before the end of the material strip 60 from its roll, it must be connected to a new material strip 62 running from another roll (new roll), also not shown. The material strips 60, 62 are, for example, silicone paper.

[0070] The joining of two material strips 60, 62 (old material strip 60, new material strip 62) is referred to in technical terminology as splicing. The device 10 proposed here—the splicer 10—effects such a connection during operation and is accordingly referred to as splicer 10. The result of joining two material strips 60, 62 is a continuous material strip 60, 62, which at least temporarily encompasses both material strips 60, 62, namely a section of the old material strip 60 and an adjoining section of the new material strip 62.

[0071] For the further description, a distinction between directions is useful. As long as the splicer 10 is inactive, i.e., as long as a running material strip 60 is not joined to a new material strip 62, exactly one material strip 60 runs through the splicer 10. This material strip 60 is drawn from its roll toward the respective process. The splicer 10 is located between the roll and the process. This applies accordingly to a new material strip 62. Starting from the splicer 10 toward the roll and starting from the splicer 10 toward the process, the terms roll-side (roll-side direction 64) and the like, or process-side (process-side direction 66) and the like are obvious.Instead of "roll-side," terms such as "incoming" or the like are sometimes used below, because the respective material strip 60, 62 arrives at the splicer 10 from its roll in the roll-side direction 64. Likewise, instead of "process-side," terms such as "outgoing" or the like are sometimes used below, because the respective material strip 60, 62 runs out of the splicer 10 toward the process (outgoing or process-side direction 66).

[0072] When considering the splicing process, the location at which the two material strips 60, 62 are joined by the splicer 10 also comes into consideration. This location is referred to as the connection point, and the connection point is located in an adhesive area 68 of the support surface 28 of the splicer 10. Upstream of the connection point / adhesive area 68, the respective material strip 60, 62 arrives from the roll side. Downstream of the connection point / adhesive area 68, the respective material strip 60, 62 runs off in the process side.

[0073] Splicing comprises fixing the two material strips 60, 62, severing (cutting) both material strips 60, 62, applying an adhesive strip 70, cutting the adhesive strip 70 and finally releasing the fixing of the two material strips 60, 62.

[0074] The material strips 60, 62 are secured by means of the clamping fingers 40, 42, 44, namely by at least two of the at least three clamping fingers 40, 42, 44. The securing process is explained in detail below. For securing, the flow of the material strip 60, which was previously flowing into the process, is stopped, and as a result of the securing process, both material strips 60, 62 (old and new material strips 60, 62) are secured in the longitudinal direction. The at least three clamping fingers 40, 42, 44, with their drives 50, 52, 54, function as a securing function unit.

[0075] The cutting of the material strips 60, 62, the application of an adhesive strip 70, and the cutting of the adhesive strip 70 are carried out in the manner and with the means already described in DE 20 2022 104 612.3. DE 20 2022 104 612.3 is incorporated into the description presented here with its corresponding, complete disclosure content regarding the cutting of the material strips 60, 62, the application of an adhesive strip 70, and the cutting of the adhesive strip 70, and is deemed to be encompassed by the description presented here with this reference. Nevertheless, the cutting of the material strips 60, 62, the application of an adhesive strip 70, and the cutting of the adhesive strip 70 are briefly explained below:

[0076] After fixing the material strips 60, 62, both material strips lie flush on top of each other (with parallel, aligned edges).

[0077] Before joining the two material strips 60, 62, a piece of the new material strip 62 must be cut off at least at the free end so that one end of the new material strip 62 is directly in the adhesive area 68.

[0078] Cutting is performed by the first punch 20 of the splicer 10. For this purpose, the punch is moved into a position above the material strip 60, 62 and lowered there, namely, positioned over the adhesive area 68 by means of the drive 34 and then lowered onto the adhesive area 68 by means of its own drive 24. The adhesive area 68 is a section of the support surface 28 and preferably contains an elastically compressible material, for example, an elastically compressible plastic.

[0079] On its underside, the first punch 20 has a blade 72 for cutting the material strips 60, 62. The first punch 20 can therefore also be referred to as a cutting punch 20. As the first punch 20 is lowered, the blade 72 comes into contact with the two material strips 60, 62 one after the other, pressing the upper material strip onto the lower material strip, pressing both material strips 60, 62 onto the adhesive area 68 and severing both material strips 60, 62—particularly upon further pressing into the elastically compressible material there. The first punch 20 is then raised back to its starting position (by means of its drive 24). The first punch 20, together with its drive 24, functions as a cutting function unit.

[0080] The fixing of the material strips 60, 62 and the separation of the material strips 60, 62 in the fixed position results in the resulting separation points being butt-to-butt. The cutting process creates two ends for each material strip 60, 62 at the separation point: a roll-side end and a process-side end of the unwinding material strip 60, as well as a roll-side end and a process-side end of the new material strip 62. In this position, the process-side end of the unwinding / old material strip 60 is now joined to the roll-side end of the new material strip 62. The resulting connection of the two material strips 60, 62 is a butt-to-butt connection.

[0081] To join the two material strips 60, 62, the second punch 22 is moved into the position previously assumed by the first punch 20 during cutting over the material strip 60, 62 and over the adhesive area 68 and lowered there, namely positioned over the adhesive area 68 by means of the drive 34 and lowered there onto the adhesive area 68 by means of its own drive 26 (before or at least during the lowering, a process-side end of the new material strip 62 is removed). Due to the lowering of the second punch 22 onto the adhesive area 68, an adhesive strip 70 (adhesive strip 70 or section of an adhesive strip 70) guided along an underside of the second punch 22 is pressed onto the ends of the material strips 60, 62 located in the adhesive area 68 and finally, as the second punch 22 is lowered further, the material strips 60, 62 are cut and / or trimmed on both sides by means of two blades 74 on the second punch 24.The second die 22, together with its drive 26, functions as a functional bonding unit. The second die 22 has blades 74 spaced apart from one another on its underside. The spacing of the blades 74 corresponds to a width of the material strips 60, 62, and advantageously, the blades 74 extend from opposite side surfaces of the second die 22, which, in this orientation, has a dimension corresponding to the width of the material strips 60, 62.

[0082] Now the old and the new material strips 60, 62 are connected to each other, namely the roll-side end of the new material strip 62 and the process-side end of the running / old material strip 60 and by means of the adhesive strip 70. Furthermore, the section of the adhesive strip 70 connecting the two material strips 60, 62 is cut off laterally in each case so that the cut edges of the adhesive strip 70 are aligned or at least substantially aligned with the edge lines of the material strips 60, 62.

[0083] After the adhesive strip 70 has been pressed on and the adhesive strip 70 has been cut and / or trimmed, the second stamp 22 is raised back to its starting position (by means of its drive 26). If necessary, the second stamp 22 is then moved away from the area above the adhesive area 68 and the first stamp 20 is moved back into the position above the adhesive area 68.

[0084] The illustrations in Figures 5 and 6 show, as a basis for the following description, the joining (splicing) of two material strips 60, 62 in a basic and schematically highly simplified form. The material strips 60, 62 and a section of an adhesive strip 70 intended for their joining are shown on or above the support surface 28 of the splicer 10 and transversely to the surface of the respective strips 60, 62, 70. The relationships shown in Figure 5 roughly correspond to the course of the material strips 60, 62, as also shown in the illustrations in Figures 1, 2, and 4—although there with the details of the splicer 10.

[0085] In the figures showing the exemplary embodiment, a single-piece support surface 28 is shown. Functionally, there is no difference between a single-piece support surface 28 and a support surface 28 divided into two, three, or more segments. Such a multi-piece support surface 28 also acts as a support surface 28 for the material strips 60, 62 and functions as a location for securing a material strip 60, 62 by means of a clamping finger 40, 42, 44 lowered onto the support surface 28 (or a section thereof / a segment thereof).

[0086] The illustration in Figure 5 shows the two material strips 60, 62, which lie flush one above the other without movement in the longitudinal direction, resulting in a lower material strip 60 and an upper material strip 62. The lower material strip 60 is the material strip previously running towards the process. Its feed into the process is interrupted. The upper material strip 62 is the new material strip. Both material strips 60, 62 are severed by means of a blade 72 (blade 72 on the first punch 20 of the splicer 10). After severing, the resulting ends (roll-side end, process-side end) of both material strips 60, 62 lie abutting in the same plane.

[0087] After severing, one end of one of the two material strips 60, 62 is removed. The illustration in Figure 6 shows the situation in which the process-side end of the new material strip 62 has been removed. The roll-side end of the new material strip 62 is now connected to the process-side end of the material strip 60 previously running toward the process by means of an adhesive strip 70 (adhesive strip 70 under the second punch 22 of the splicer 10). The surface of this end of the running material strip 60 has become free after the removal of the run-off-side / process-side end of the new material strip 62. The roll-side end of the new material strip 62 and the process-side end of the material strip 60 previously running toward the process are now connected to one another.When the material strip 60, which was previously running toward the process, is pulled again, its process-side end runs out of the splicer 10 and pulls the beginning of the new material strip 62 along with it. As a result, the new material strip 62 also eventually runs into the process. To distinguish between the material strips 60, 62, they are sometimes referred to as an old material strip 60 and a new material strip 62. When it comes to the position of the material strips 60, 62 when they are joined together (during splicing), they are sometimes referred to as a lower material strip 60 and an upper material strip 62. In the illustrations in Figures 5 and 6 and the situation shown there, the lower material strip 60 is the old material strip 60, i.e., the currently running material strip 60, and the upper material strip 62 is the new material strip 62, i.e., the material strip 62 not yet used in the respective process.

[0088] However, it should be noted that this designation and this position refer to the description of the situation during exactly one splicing process. After a splicing process, the new material strip 62 becomes the currently running material strip. When this strip runs out and re-splicing is therefore necessary, this currently running material strip becomes the old material strip during the re-splicing process, to which a new material strip is connected, and so on.

[0089] The use of reference numbers within the scope of the description presented here therefore refers to exactly one splicing process. Furthermore, from the perspective of the respective process, the respective strip of material being run off is a continuous strip of material and, depending on the point in time, this can be the old strip of material 60 (before the splicing process) or the new strip of material 62 (after the splicing process). For a certain period of time, the running strip of material (after the splicing process) even comprises material from the old strip of material 60 as well as material from the new strip of material 62. This is taken into account wherever possible in the scope of the description presented here by using both reference numbers (60, 62) when designating the strip of material 60, 62 used in the respective process, and it is irrelevant whether it is the old or the new strip of material 60, 62.The splicing process using the splicer 10 presented here.

[0090] The joining of two material strips 60, 62 is regularly necessary when a continuous material strip 60, 62 is required in a process and, in the course of its consumption, the remaining quantity of the currently used material strip 60 falls below a threshold value, i.e. when the currently used material strip 60 runs out.

[0091] In the following, a running material strip 60 currently still in use in the process is referred to as an active material strip 60 and, for short, as active paper 60. Accordingly, a new material strip 62 not currently in use in the process and soon to be bonded to the respective active paper 60 is referred to as a passive material strip 62 and, for short, as passive paper 62. The abbreviation "paper 60, 62" is not to be interpreted restrictively, and the designation encompasses all materials mentioned above for a material strip 60, 62, in particular silicone paper.

[0092] When the active paper 60 runs out, the passive paper 62 is attached to the active paper 60 (connection process, splicing), and in the process, the passive paper 62 ultimately replaces the previously active paper 60. The passive paper 62 then becomes the active paper 60, and when the active paper 60 runs out, splicing occurs again, and so on. Splicing is therefore the joining of a currently used paper (active paper) 60 with a new paper (passive paper) 62, which becomes the active paper 60 after splicing, and so on.

[0093] The joining of an active paper 60 to a passive paper 62 is carried out - roughly speaking - by either (Figures 7a to 7h) placing the passive paper 62 above the running active paper 60, which lies at the bottom during splicing, cutting both papers 60, 62 so that all resulting ends are butted, removing the process-side end of the passive paper 62 and joining the two papers 60, 62 in the area of ​​the beginning of the passive paper 62 - in the area of ​​the roll-side end of the passive paper 62 - or by (Figures 8a to 8h) placing the passive paper 62 below the running active paper 60, which lies at the top during splicing, cutting both papers 60, 62 so that all resulting ends are butted, removing the roll-side end of the active paper 60 and joining the two papers 60,62 in the area of ​​the beginning of the passive paper 62 - in the area of ​​the roll-side end of the passive paper 62 - are connected to each other.,

[0094] The joining takes place - as already described above - by means of an adhesive strip 70, which overlaps, transversely or at least substantially transversely to the direction of travel of the two papers 60, 62, on the one hand, the beginning (roll-side end) of the passive paper 62 and, on the other hand, the end (process-side end) of the active paper 60. Due to the joining of the two papers 60, 62, a continuous paper strip (material strip) 60, 62 is thus produced, which comprises the (previously) active paper 60 downstream of the joining point and the (previously) passive paper 62 upstream of the joining point.

[0095] The splicing process is automated by means of the device 10 proposed here—the splicer 10. The individual splicing steps are now explained in further detail using the illustrations in Figures 7a to 7h and 8a to 8h:

[0096] The illustration in Figure 7a shows a situation referred to as the initial state. The designation "initial state" refers to the description presented here. The initial state arises from time to time during the operation of the splicer 10, and establishing / reaching the initial state is a first step in the operation of the splicer 10.

[0097] The initial state is characterized by the active paper 60 running through the splicer 10 and the passive paper 62 being threaded into the splicer 10. All clamping fingers 40, 42, 44 are raised. The active paper runs over the support surface 28 and under the clamping fingers 40, 42, 44 through the splicer 10 and toward the respective process. The passive paper 62 is threaded into the splicer 10 by being guided between the left clamping finger 40 and the left hold-down device 46, under the middle clamping finger 42, and between the right clamping finger 44 and the right hold-down device 48. The passive paper 62 therefore lies / runs on the left clamping finger 40, under the left hold-down device 46, under the middle clamping finger 42, under the right hold-down device 48, and on the right clamping finger 44.The passive paper 62 is guided along the hold-down devices 46, 48 on the left clamping finger 40 and the right clamping finger 44 and is located above the active paper 60 and is aligned with the active paper 60 at least in the area of ​​the support surface 28. The passive paper 62 is fixed longitudinally above the active paper 60. In the initial state, the active paper 60 is located in a lower plane and the passive paper 62 is located in an upper plane above the lower plane; the active paper 60 is the lower paper, the passive paper 62 is the upper paper.

[0098] For fastening the beginning (free end, process-side end) of the threaded passive paper 62 to the splicer 10, a particularly spring-loaded pull-off device 76 is provided, for example, and the beginning of the threaded new material strip 62 is / is fastened to the splicer 10 by means of the pull-off device 76 (to distinguish it from the fixation by means of the clamping fingers 40, 42, 44, this fixation is referred to as fastening). A pull-off device 76 for fastening the beginning of the threaded passive paper 62 has already been described in DE 20 2022 104 612.3, and this is incorporated into the description presented here with its corresponding, complete disclosure content with regard to fastening the beginning of the passive paper 62 and with regard to pulling off the beginning of the passive paper 62 after cutting, and is to be deemed to be encompassed by the description presented here with this reference.Instead of fastening by means of a pull-off device 76 or the like, fastening by means of a magnet placed on the surface of the paper 62 and adhering, for example, to a surface of the splicer 10, a push rod tensioner or the like is also possible.

[0099] In the following figures, not all reference numbers are repeated in the interest of clarity. In this respect, reference is made to the illustration in Figure 7a and the reference numbers therein. The illustration in Figure 7b shows a second step in the operation of the splicer 10. The withdrawal of the active paper 60 towards the process is / is stopped. Both papers 60, 62 (active paper 60 and passive paper 62) are / are fixed in the longitudinal direction. The fixing of at least one paper 60, 62 is carried out by means of at least one clamping finger 40, 42, 44 of the splicer 10. To stop the withdrawal of the active paper 60, for example, the rotation of its roll is stopped. Optionally, a certain quantity of the active paper 60 is previously stored downstream of the splicer 10 in a buffer or the like so that the respective process can continue even during splicing.

[0100] To facilitate reference to exactly one clamping finger 40, 42, 44, the first / left clamping finger 40 is also referred to as the roll-side clamping finger 40, the second clamping finger 42 is also referred to as the middle clamping finger 42, and the third / right clamping finger 44 is also referred to as the process-side clamping finger 44. This also applies accordingly to the hold-down devices 46, 48, so that the first / left hold-down device 46 is also referred to as the roll-side hold-down device 46, and the second / right hold-down device 48 is also referred to as the process-side hold-down device 48. The clamping fingers 40, 42, 44 and the hold-down devices 46, 48 are located along the support surface 28 on both sides of the adhesive area 68.The roll-side clamping finger 40, the roll-side hold-down device 46 and the middle clamping finger 42 are located in front of (upstream) the gluing area 68 with respect to the running direction of the papers 60, 62, and the process-side hold-down device 48 and the process-side clamping finger 44 are located behind (downstream) the gluing area 68 with respect to the same running direction.

[0101] The active paper 60 is / is fixed on the roll side and the process side (fixed on both sides), namely on the roll side by means of the middle clamping finger 42 and on the process side by means of the process-side clamping finger 44. The middle clamping finger 42 and the process-side clamping finger 44 are / are lowered. The passive paper 62 is / is fixed on one side, namely on the roll side by means of the middle clamping finger 42. On the process side, the passive paper 62 is / is guided by means of the process-side hold-down device 48 of the process-side clamping finger 44 and lowered onto the active paper 60. However, lowering the passive paper 62 by means of the process-side hold-down device 48 does not fix the passive paper 62 in the longitudinal direction, but only ensures that the two papers 60, 62 are located directly above one another or resting on one another in parallel or at least essentially parallel planes.Mobility of the passive paper 62 under the process-side hold-down device 48 in the longitudinal direction and relative to the process-side hold-down device 48 is maintained even in the lowered position of the hold-down device 48.

[0102] In this respect, it should be noted that the underside of each hold-down device 46, 48 - in the case of a hold-down device 46, 48 with a round profile, an approximately linear underside, i.e. an underside with a very small contact surface - is aligned with the underside of the respective clamping finger 40, 44 or at least substantially aligned with this underside, i.e. the undersides lie in the same plane or the underside of the hold-down device 46, 48 lies in a plane slightly above the plane of the underside of the respective clamping finger 40, 44.

[0103] For undersides in the same plane, the hold-down device 46, 48 is rotatable, for example, so that the mobility of the paper 60, 62 lowered by the hold-down device 46, 48 is maintained due to this rotatability. With an underside of the hold-down device 46, 48 in a plane slightly above the plane of the underside of the respective clamping finger 40, 44, "slightly" means an order of magnitude in the range of the thickness of a paper 60, 62, so that the mobility of the paper 60, 62 lowered by the hold-down device 46, 48 is maintained due to these different planes.

[0104] In the lowered state, the middle clamping finger 42 fixes the passive paper 62 on top and the active paper 60 below on the support surface 28. The middle clamping finger 42 presses on the passive paper 62 and presses the passive paper 62 onto the active paper 60 and both papers 60, 62 onto the support surface 28. The process-side clamping finger 44 presses only the active paper 60 onto the support surface 28, and the passive paper 62 is lowered onto the active paper 60 by means of the hold-down device 48 on the process-side clamping finger 44 and guided by means of the hold-down device 48. The roll-side clamping finger 40 remains / is raised.

[0105] The illustration in Figure 7c shows a third step in the operation of the splicer 10. Here, the two papers 60, 62, which are held in place by the aforementioned clamping fingers 42, 44, are cut. The cutting process has been explained above, so reference can be made to it here.

[0106] The illustration in Figure 7d shows a fourth step in the operation of the splicer 10. Here, after cutting, the cut-off beginning of the passive paper 62 (process-side end) is pulled away from the area above the support surface 28, for example, as a result of the cutting, in particular pulled away under spring load, or blown away. This pulling away is possible because the process-side end of the passive paper 62 is not fixed by means of the process-side clamping finger 44, but was only lowered (guided) by means of the hold-down device 48. To blow away the paper end, blown air from at least one blown air duct can be used, wherein the at least one blown air duct (not shown) ends, for example, in the inclined surface of the respective clamping finger 40, 44. Alternatively, another surface element 78 of the splicer 10 can also be considered as the location of the end of the at least one blown air duct if its surface is located in the paper path.Such a surface element 78 is shown as an example in the figures.

[0107] The illustration in Figure 7e shows a fifth step in the operation of the splicer 10. After both papers 60, 62 have been cut and the cut-off process-side end of the passive paper 62 has been pulled away, the beginning of the passive paper 62 (roll-side end of the passive paper 62) and two abutting ends of the active paper 60 (roll-side end of the active paper 60 and process-side end of the active paper 60) are now located in the area of ​​the support surface 28. The roll-side end of the passive paper 62 lies flush with the roll-side end of the active paper 60. Just as the two ends of the active paper 60 lie abutting, the roll-side end of the passive paper 62 and the process-side end of the active paper 60 also lie abutting. These two ends are fixed by means of the middle clamping finger 42 and the process-side clamping finger 44 and are connected to each other in this step by means of an adhesive strip 70.The connection of the two ends by means of adhesive strips 70 has already been described above, so that reference can also be made to it here.

[0108] The illustration in Figure 7f shows a sixth step in the operation of the splicer 10. The (previously) passive paper 62 is already connected to the active paper 60 by means of the adhesive strip 70. The middle and process-side clamping fingers 42, 44 are now raised again, thus completing the fixation of the two papers 60, 62 in the longitudinal direction.

[0109] The illustration in Figure 7g shows a seventh step in the operation of the splicer 10. All three clamping fingers 40, 42, 44 are raised and a (process-side) pull on the active paper 60 causes the splice with the adhesive strip 70 and thus also the beginning of the previously passive paper 62 to be pulled out of the adhesive area 68. The beginning of the previously passive paper 62 thus runs out of the splicer 10 in the direction of the process and the previously passive paper 62 thus enters the process and finally becomes the active paper. The roll-side end of the (previously) active paper 60 lies freely beneath the running-off (previously) passive paper 62 and is pulled away, for example, in connection with a change of the roll for the paper lying at the bottom during splicing. In the illustration in Figure 7g, the roll-side end of the previously active paper 60 has already been removed.

[0110] The illustration in Figure 7h shows an eighth step in the operation of the splicer 10. The withdrawal of the (previously) active paper 60, which is no longer shown in the illustration in Figure 7h, into the process continues. The process-side end of the active paper 60 and the roll-side end of the (previously) passive paper 62 run out of the splicer 10 - connected by the adhesive strip 70. The passive paper 62 enters the process and replaces the previously active paper 60. The process downstream of the splicer 10 continues with the (previously) passive paper 62. Only the previously passive paper 62 runs through the splicer 10 and out of the splicer 10 towards the process. This runs over the roller-side clamping finger 40, under the roller-side hold-down device 46 as well as under the middle clamping finger 42, the process-side hold-down device 48 and the process-side clamping finger 44.The previously passive paper 62 is / becomes the active paper, and the process downstream of the splicer 10 continues with the latter until the next splicing operation. All three clamping fingers 40, 42, 44 are raised.

[0111] The illustration in Figure 8a shows a ninth step in the operation of the splicer 10 and the situation during preparation for a new splicing process. The currently active paper 60 continues to run toward the process, namely under the roll-side hold-down device 46 and under the middle clamping finger 42, as well as under the process-side hold-down device 48 and under the process-side clamping finger 44. Because this too will be exhausted in the foreseeable future, a (new) passive paper 62 has already been threaded through. The passive paper 62 is - unlike in the first step - now located under the active paper 60, and its beginning (free end, process-side end) is fastened, in particular to the splicer 10, for example by means of a magnet placed on the surface of the paper 60 and adhering to a surface of the splicer 10 (or by means of one of the other fastening options mentioned above).All three clamping fingers 40, 42, 44 are / remain raised.

[0112] The illustration in Figure 8b shows a tenth step in the operation of the splicer 10. The withdrawal of the active paper 60 into the process is / is stopped, and the passive paper 62 located below and the active paper 60 located above are / are fixed. The passive paper 62 is / is fixed on the roll side and the process side (fixed on both sides), namely on the roll side by means of the roll-side clamping finger 40 and on the process side by means of the process-side clamping finger 44. The active paper 60 is / is fixed on one side, namely on the process side by means of the process-side clamping finger 44. On the roll side, the active paper 60 is / is guided by means of the hold-down device 46 of the roll-side clamping finger 40 and lowered onto the passive paper 62 by means of this hold-down device 46. Here too, the lowering by means of the hold-down device 46 does not fix the active paper 60 in the longitudinal direction, but only ensures - see the description above that the two papers 60, 62 are located directly above or resting on one another in parallel or at least substantially parallel planes. The middle clamping finger 42 remains / is raised. Here, too, the above (Fig. 7b) applies accordingly with regard to stopping the withdrawal of the active paper 60 and any storage of active paper 60 downstream of the splicer 10.

[0113] The illustration in Figure 8c shows an eleventh step in the operation of the splicer 10. The papers 60, 62 (active paper 60 at the top, passive paper 62 at the bottom), which are held in place by the clamping fingers 40, 44, are cut. The above description applies accordingly to the cutting of the two papers 60, 62.

[0114] The illustration in Figure 8d shows a twelfth step in the operation of the splicer 10. The papers 60, 62 are cut, and the resulting ends lie abutting immediately after the cut, as described above. The roll-side end of the active paper 60 is pulled or blown away, as described above in connection with the explanation of the illustration in Figure 7d, for example, in connection with a change of the roll for the paper lying on top during splicing. This is possible because the roll-side end of the active paper 60 is not fixed, but was simply lowered onto the passive paper 62 by means of the hold-down device 46.

[0115] The illustration in Figure 8e shows a thirteenth step in the operation of the splicer 10. After the roll-side end of the active paper 60 has been pulled away, the roll-side end of the passive paper 62 is exposed and the process-side ends of the active and passive papers 60, 62 lie on top of one another. The process-side end of the active paper 60 lies flush with the process-side end of the passive paper 62, and the roll-side end of the passive paper 62 and the process-side end of the active paper 60 are butted against one another. The two ends of the passive paper 62 and the active paper 60 (roll-side end of the passive paper 62, process-side end of the active paper 60) are now joined together by applying an adhesive strip 70. The above description applies accordingly to the application of the adhesive strip, so reference can be made to it here.

[0116] The illustration in Figure 8f shows a fourteenth step in the operation of the splicer 10. The two paper sheets 60, 62 are connected. The two clamping fingers 40, 44, which previously held them in place, are raised again. The two paper sheets 60, 62 are thus free again in the longitudinal direction. The process-side end of the passive paper 62, which has also become free in this context, is pulled away, for example, by spring force or is transported out of the area of ​​the support surface 28 during the subsequent withdrawal of the two interconnected ends of the paper sheets 60, 62 into the process—that is, it is pushed out, so to speak.

[0117] The illustration in Figure 8g shows a fifteenth step in the operation of the splicer 10. The withdrawal of the active paper 60 into the process continues. All three clamping fingers 40, 42, 44 are raised. The process-side end of the active paper 60 and the roll-side end of the passive paper 62—connected by the adhesive strip 70—exit the splicer 10, and the passive paper 62 enters the process, ultimately replacing the previously active paper 60. The process-side end of the previously passive paper 62 is removed.

[0118] The illustration in Figure 8h shows a sixteenth step in the operation of splicer 10. Only the previously passive paper 62 runs through splicer 10 and out of splicer 10 toward the process. The previously passive paper 62 is now / becomes the active paper. All three clamping fingers 40, 42, and 44 are raised.

[0119] The illustration in Figure 8i shows a seventeenth step in the operation of the splicer 10. Here, the state referred to above as the initial state is reached again. The seventeenth step therefore corresponds to the first step, and in this respect, reference can be made to the above; the illustration in Figure 8i corresponds to the illustration in Figure 7a. During the operation of the splicer 10, the steps referred to as the first to sixteenth steps are successively repeated, and in each case, an active paper 60 and a passive paper 62 are connected to one another. The special feature is that the passive paper 62 lies partly (steps one to eight; Figs. 7a to 7h) on top, namely on the active paper 60, and partly (steps nine to sixteen; Figs. 8a to 8h) on bottom, namely beneath the active paper 60.Because the splicer 10 allows these different layers of the passive paper 62 to be connected to the active paper 60, continuous splicing is possible.

[0120] Splicing, i.e., securing the two papers 60, 62 for splicing, cutting the papers 60, 62, connecting the roll-side end of the passive paper 62 to the process-side end of the active paper 60, and finally releasing the securing of the two papers 60, 62, occurs automatically during operation of the splicer 10 and under the control of a splicer control program 100. The control program 100 is loaded in a conventional manner into a memory 110 of a control device 120 of the splicer 10. A programmable logic controller (PLC), which is known per se, functions as the control device 120, for example.

[0121] When operating the splicer 10, at least immediately before a splicing process, it is necessary to attach a new roll with new passive paper 62 and thread the new passive paper 62 into the splicer 10 (Fig. 7a; Fig. 8a). Threading is performed manually by an operator. Threaded passive paper 62 is a prerequisite for joining the active paper 60 to the passive paper 62. The respective roll (not shown in the figures) is located upstream of the respective paper path shown, i.e., in the case of a passive paper 62 threaded into the splicer 10 according to Figure 7a, for example, above the level of the support surface 28, and in the case of a passive paper 62 threaded into the splicer 10 according to Figure 8a, for example, below the level of the support surface 28.The splicer 10 can be reloaded with a roll of new paper immediately after the end of a respective roll and its removal, thus it can carry a roll of active paper 60 and a roll of passive paper 62 at the same time.

[0122] The illustration in Figure 9 (with parts of the illustration in Figure 7a) shows a schematically simplified location of two roller receptacles 80, 82, which are referred to as first roller receptacle 80 and second roller receptacle 82 for differentiation.

[0123] The roll holders 80, 82 are shown as exemplary and schematically simplified discs, each having a pin (dome) in the center that is perpendicular to the plane of the discs. A roll containing the paper to be used in the respective process is placed onto each of these pins. When the paper on one of the rolls runs low, splicing takes place as described here—that is, the connection to the paper on the other roll. Other roll holders 80, 82 are expressly not excluded by the exemplary representation and the mention of a disc and a pin.

[0124] The rolls are shown in Figure 9 as concentric circles, each representing individual layers of wound paper. In practice, the number of layers on a roll is usually significantly higher than shown here in the simplified schematic representation.

[0125] Each roll holder 80, 82 is provided for holding a roll of paper 60, 62 (a strip of material 60, 62). In the situation shown in Figure 9, the first roll holder 80 holds the roll of active paper 60, and the second roll holder 82 holds the roll of passive paper 62.

[0126] As described above, after splicing, the previously passive paper 62 becomes the active paper 60 and the roll on the second roll holder 82 is the roll from which the paper runs into the process. The roll with the previously active paper can be removed after splicing and the first roll holder 80 can be loaded with a new roll. The paper from this new roll is threaded into the splicer as passive paper 62 (Figure 8) and now the first roll holder 80 is the roll holder 80 with the roll of passive paper 62 and the second roll holder 82 is the roll holder 82 with the roll of active paper 60. Here too, after splicing, the previously passive paper 62 becomes the active paper 60 and now the roll on the first roll holder 80 becomes the roll from which the paper runs into the process.The roll with the previously active paper can be removed after splicing and now the second roll holder 82 can be loaded with a new roll and so on.

[0127] The location of the roll holders 80, 82 and thus also the location of the respective rolls always remains the same in the embodiment of the splicer 10 proposed here; at least, no change in the location of the roll holders 80, 82 is necessary for splicing according to the approach proposed here and using the splicer 10 proposed here. This eliminates, for example, the need to rotate the roll holders 80, 82 relative to each other, which was often necessary after splicing. Thus, the guidance of the respective paper 60, 62 from the respective roll (from the respective roll holder 80, 82) to the splicer 10 also remains unchanged; at least, no change in the paper guidance is necessary.

[0128] In other words, the splicer 10 proposed here is a splicer 10 with positions of the respective roll holders 80, 82 that are relatively unchanging, in particular absolutely unchanging (stationary), during splicing and during several consecutive splicing processes. Absolutely unchanging positions of the respective roll holders 80, 82 are not absolutely necessary. Relatively unchanging positions of the respective roll holders 80, 82 are understood to mean—with at least one movable roll holder position—for example, those roll holder positions in which (imaginary) tangents to the outer circumference of each roll, originating from the same point on the adhesive region 68, do not intersect at any time (during splicing and during several consecutive splicing processes).

[0129] A splicer 10 according to the approach proposed here is therefore, in an advantageous embodiment with a comparatively simple design with regard to the roll receptacles 80, 82, a splicer 10 in which a location of a roll receptacle 80, 82 for each roll of material for the old and the new material strip 60, 62 remains unchanged during operation of the splicer 10. In general, a splicer 10 according to the approach proposed here is a splicer 10 with positions of the respective roll receptacles 80, 82 that are fixed relative to one another, in particular positions of the respective roll receptacles 80, 82 that are fixed relative to one another, such that (imaginary) tangents to the outer circumference of each roll, which originate from the same point on the adhesive area 68, do not intersect at any time (during splicing and during several successive splicing processes).The latter is the case, for example, when - as shown in Figure 9 - the axes of rotation of the rollers and roller holders 80, 82 are located on both sides of a plane defined by the surface of the support surface 28.

[0130] Control program 100

[0131] The illustration in Figure 10 shows, in the form of a schematically simplified structure diagram, the splicing process using the device 10 proposed here. The structure diagram is a simplified representation of a control program 100 with an implementation of a method for operating the splicer 10. The structure diagram represents the method in the form of a sequence of a plurality of method steps. Each method step or a systematically related group of method steps is shown in the form of a block, and each block comprises program code instructions for executing the steps described above in connection with the explanation of the illustrations in Figures 7a to 7h and 8a to 8h / 8i. In the interest of simplicity, only the numbers of the figures mentioned are repeated in the illustration in Figure 10 as labels for the individual blocks.Execution of control program 100 begins at the point labeled "Start" and then requires the establishment / achievement of the initial state explained above in connection with the explanation of the representation in Figure 7a (active paper 60 below, passive paper 62 threaded above active paper 60). Then, the papers 60, 62 are secured (Figure 7b), cut (Figure 7c), and so on. After an initial splicing process (step sequence: Figure 7a to Figure 7h), the system waits until new passive paper 62 is threaded, namely below the active paper 60 (Figure 8a). Then, the splicing sequence begins with securing the papers 60, 62 (Figure 8b), cutting the papers 60, 62 (Figure 8c), and so on. After this further splicing process (step sequence: Figure 8a to Figure 8h), the control program 100 branches to its beginning and waits until the state referred to as the initial state is restored (Figure 7a).The control program 100 then runs again with the described sequence of steps.

[0132] The control program 100 is an implementation of a method for the automatic operation of the splicer 10 and is loaded into a memory 110 of a control device 120 during its operation and is executed by the control device 120 in a manner known per se during the automatic operation of the splicer 10.

[0133] The control program 100 causes the papers 60, 62 to be fixed as intended by controlling (either by activation or by activation together with a direction specification) the corresponding drives 50, 52, 54, namely in particular the drives of the clamping fingers 40, 42, 44. The control program 100 also determines the respective time for each such control. As a result, the control program 100 causes the splicing process to proceed automatically by means of the splicer 10.

[0134] Some of the most important aspects of the description submitted here can be briefly summarized as follows:

[0135] A device 10—splicer 10—is specified for connecting a new material strip 62 to an old material strip 60. The splicer 10 comprises fixing means / a fixing functional unit, a cutting functional unit, and an adhesive functional unit. The special feature is that the fixing functional unit comprises at least three clamping fingers 40, 42, 44, or at least three clamping fingers 40, 42, 44 act as fixing means. To connect the two material strips 60, 62, they can be fixed by means of the fixing functional unit / fixing means and are fixed by means of the fixing functional unit / fixing means. The material strips 60, 62 can be severed by means of the cutting functional unit and are severed, i.e., cut, by means of the cutting functional unit. The material strips 60, 62 can be connected to one another by means of the adhesive functional unit and are connected to one another by means of an adhesive strip 70 by means of the adhesive functional unit.

[0136] In other words, the splicer 10 proposed here comprises means for fixing the two material strips 60, 62 on the support surface 28 (fixing functional unit), means for severing the material strips 60, 62 fixed on the support surface 28 (cutting functional unit), and means for pressing an adhesive strip 70 onto the severed material strips 60, 62 and optionally for laterally cutting off the adhesive strip 70 (adhesive functional unit).In the described embodiment, the at least three clamping fingers 40, 42, 44 on both sides of the adhesive area 68 function as a means for fixing the two material strips 60, 62 on the support surface 28 (or a support surface 28 / a segment of a support surface 28 or each support surface 28 / a segment of a support surface 28) and as a fixing functional unit, namely or in other words at least one clamping finger 40 in the direction of travel of the material strips 60, 62 in front of the adhesive area 68 and at least one clamping finger 44 in the direction of travel of the material strips 60, 62 behind the adhesive area 68, in particular at least two clamping fingers 40, 42 (first clamping finger 40, second clamping finger 42) in front of the adhesive area 68 and at least one clamping finger 44 (third clamping finger 44) behind the adhesive area 68.In the described embodiment, the first punch 20 and the blade 72 thereon function as a means for severing the material strips 60, 62 fixed on the support surface 28 and as a cutting function unit. In the described embodiment, the second punch 22 and the blades 74 thereon function as a means for pressing the adhesive strip 70 onto the severed material strips 60, 62 and for optionally cutting the adhesive strip 70 laterally and as an adhesive function unit. List of reference numerals.

[0137] 10 Device, Splicer

[0138] 12-18 (free)

[0139] 20 (first, inner) stamp, cutting stamp

[0140] 22 (second, outer) stamp, adhesive stamp

[0141] 24 Drive (of the stamp 20)

[0142] 26 Drive (of the piston 22)

[0143] 28 support surface

[0144] 30 guide (for carrier 32)

[0145] 32 carriers (for stamps 20, 22 and respective drives 24, 26)

[0146] 34 Drive (for moving the carrier 32)

[0147] 36, 38 (free)

[0148] 40 Fixing agent, clamping finger, first clamping finger, roller-side clamping finger

[0149] 42 Fixation device, clamping finger, second clamping finger, middle clamping finger

[0150] 44 Fixing agent, clamping finger, third clamping finger, process-side clamping finger, outlet-side clamping finger

[0151] 46 hold-down device, roller-side hold-down device

[0152] 48 hold-down device, process-side hold-down device

[0153] 50 Drive, clamping finger drive; drive of the roller-side clamping finger 40

[0154] 52 drive, clamping finger drive; drive of the middle clamping finger 42

[0155] 54 Drive, clamping finger drive; drive of the process-side clamping finger

[0156] 44

[0157] 56, 58 (free)

[0158] 60 material strips, paper, old material strip, active material strip, active paper, lower material strip

[0159] 62 material strip, paper, new material strip, passive material strip, passive paper, upper material strip

[0160] 64 roller-side direction

[0161] 66 process-side direction, drain-side direction

[0162] 68 Adhesive area

[0163] 70 adhesive strips 72 blade (on the first stamp 20)

[0164] 74 blade (on the second stamp 22)

[0165] 76 Puller

[0166] 78 Surface element (of the splicer) 80 (first) roll holder

[0167] 82 (second) roll holder

[0168] 100 control program

[0169] 110 storage

[0170] 120 Control device

Claims

Patent claims 1. Device (10) for joining a new material strip (62) to an old material strip (60), wherein the device (10) comprises a support surface (28) over which the old material strip (60) runs, wherein the support surface (28) comprises an adhesive area (68), wherein the device (10) comprises clamping fingers (40, 42, 44) which can be lowered onto the support surface (28) on both sides of the adhesive area (68), namely a first or roll-side clamping finger (40), a second or middle clamping finger (42) and a third or process-side clamping finger (44).

2. Device (10) according to claim 1, with a lowerable, roll-side hold-down device (46) in the run-off direction of the material strips (60, 62) between the first or roll-side clamping finger (40) and the second or middle clamping finger (42) and with a lowerable, process-side hold-down device (48) in the run-off direction of the material strips (60, 62) between the adhesive area (68) and the third or process-side clamping finger (44).

3. Device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the roller-side hold-down device (46) is assigned to the first or roller-side clamping finger (40) and the process-side hold-down device (48) is assigned to the third or process-side clamping finger (44) and can be lowered together with the respective clamping finger (40, 44).

4. Device (10) according to claim 3, wherein each hold-down device (46, 48) is connected to the respective clamping finger (40, 44).

5. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims with roll holders (80, 82) for one roll each with material for the old and the new material strip (60, 62), wherein locations of the axes of rotation of the roll holders (80, 82) are located on both sides of a plane defined by the surface of the support surface (28) during operation of the device (10).

6. Device (10) according to claim 5, wherein the location of the roller receptacles remains unchanged during operation of the device (10).

7. Device (10) for connecting a new material strip (62) to an old material strip (60), in particular a device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, with fixing means (40, 42, 44) for fixing an old material strip (60) and a new material strip (62), wherein the device (10) comprises a support surface (28) with an adhesive area (68), wherein during operation of the device (10) for connecting the material strips (60, 62), the old and the new material strips (60, 62) are located above the support surface (28) and even in different planes one above the other and extend on both sides of the adhesive area (68), wherein the old material strip (60), in the case of a position below the new material strip (62), can be fixed by means of the fixing means (40, 42, 44) on both sides of the adhesive area (68) and the new material strip (62), in the case of a position above the old material strips (60) by means of at least one of the fixing means (40, 42,44) is fixable at least on one roll side of the adhesive area (68), and wherein the new material strip (62), in the case of a layer below the old material strip (60), is fixable on both sides of the adhesive area (68) by means of the fixing means (40, 42, 44), and the old material strip (60), in the case of a layer above the new material strip (62), is fixable at least on one process side of the adhesive area (68) by means of at least one of the fixing means (40, 42, 44).

8. Device (10) according to claim 7, with hold-down devices (46, 48) on both sides of the adhesive area (68) for lowering a section of the old or new material strip (60, 62) not fixed by means of the fixing means (40, 42, 44) onto a section of the new or old material strip (62, 60) fixed by means of the fixing means (40, 42, 44).

9. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims with inclined side surfaces on the roller-side clamping finger (40) and on the process-side clamping finger (44).

10. Use of at least three clamping fingers (40, 42, 44) for fixing an old material strip (60) and a new material strip (62) during operation of a device (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

11. Method for operating a device (10) for joining a new material strip (62) to an old material strip (60), in particular for operating a device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the device (10) comprises fixing means (40, 42, 44) for fixing an old material strip (60) and a new material strip (62) and a support surface (28) with an adhesive area (68), wherein during operation of the device (10) for joining the material strips (60, 62), the old and the new material strips (60, 62) are located above the support surface (28) and even in different planes one above the other and extend on both sides of the adhesive area (68), wherein the old material strip (60), in the case of a position under the new material strip (62), is fixed by means of the fixing means (40, 42,44) is fixed on both sides of the adhesive area (68) and the new material strip (62) in the case of a layer above the old material strip (60) is fixed by means of at least one of the fixing means (40, 42, 44) at least on one roll side of the adhesive area (68) and wherein the new material strip (62) in the case of a layer below the old material strip (60) is fixed by means of the fixing means (40, 42, 44) on both sides of the adhesive area (68) and the old material strip (60) in the case of a layer above the, new material strip (62) is fixed by means of at least one of the fixing means (40, 42, 44) at least on one process side of the adhesive area (68).

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the device (10) comprises hold-down devices (46, 48) on both sides of the adhesive area (68), and wherein by means of the hold-down devices (46, 48) a section of the old or new material strip (60, 62) which is not fixed by means of the fixing means (40, 42, 44) is lowered onto a section of the new or old material strip (62, 60) which is fixed by means of the fixing means (40, 42, 44).

13. A method for joining an old material strip (60) to a new material strip (62) by means of a device (10) according to one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the joining is carried out starting from an initial state, wherein in the initial state the new material strip (62) lies flush over the old material strip (60), wherein the old material strip (60) runs under all clamping fingers (40, 42, 44) and hold-down devices (46, 48) and the new material strip (62) runs over the roll-side clamping finger (40), under the roll-side hold-down device (46), under the middle clamping finger (42), under the process-side hold-down device (48) and over the process-side clamping finger (44), and wherein the flow of the old material strip (60) is stopped for the joining,wherein the middle clamping finger (42) and the process-side hold-down device (48) as well as the process-side clamping finger (44) are lowered and thus the old material strip (60) is fixed by means of the middle clamping finger (42) and the process-side clamping finger (44) on both sides of the adhesive area (68) and the new material strip (62) is fixed on one side, namely on one roll side of the adhesive area (68), wherein both material strips (60, 62) are cut in the area of ​​the adhesive area (68), wherein of the new material strip (62) fixed only on one side, the not, fixed end is removed from the area of ​​the adhesive area (68), namely is pulled out from under the process-side hold-down device (48), wherein the roll-side end of the new material strip (62) is connected to the process-side end of the old material strip (60) by applying an adhesive strip (70) to the abutting ends of the two material strips (60, 62).

14. A method for joining an old material strip (60) to a new material strip (62) by means of a device (10) according to one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the joining is carried out starting from an initial state, wherein in the initial state the old material strip (60) lies flush over the new material strip (62), wherein the new material strip (62) runs under all clamping fingers (40, 42, 44) and hold-down devices (46, 48) and the old material strip (60) runs over the roll-side clamping finger (40), under the roll-side hold-down device (46), under the middle clamping finger (42), under the process-side hold-down device (48) and under the process-side clamping finger (44), and wherein the flow of the old material strip (60) is stopped for the joining, wherein the roll-side clamping finger (40),the roll-side hold-down device (46) and the process-side clamping finger (44) are lowered and thus the new material strip (62) is fixed on both sides of the adhesive area (68) by means of the roll-side clamping finger (40) and the process-side clamping finger (44), and the old material strip (60) is fixed on one side, namely on a process side of the adhesive area (68), by means of the process-side clamping finger (44), wherein both material strips (60, 62) are cut in the area of ​​the adhesive area (68), wherein the unfixed end of the old material strip (60) which is only fixed on one side is removed from the area of ​​the adhesive area (68), namely is pulled out from under the roll-side hold-down device (46), wherein the roll-side end of the new material strip (62) is connected to the process-side end of the old material strip (60) by, an adhesive strip (70) is applied to the abutting ends of the two material strips (60, 62).

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