A turret splicer includes various novel features that enable it to reliably splice web from different rolls at any speed between (and including) zero and the line speed of a down-stream web consuming machine, such as a printing press. The turret splicer includes a large accumulator for supplying web while the splice is being made at less than line speed. In addition, the splicer has translatable roll support carriages which enable each roll to be mounted independently onto the turret, and moved laterally within the turret. The turret is rotatable by an improved drive arrangement that places the turret motor near the floor, and uses a mechanical linkage to communicate the output of the motor to journal shafts on which the turret is mounted. Thus, the large, central turret shaft of conventional turret splicers has been eliminated. Acceleration of the rolls is achieved by conical drive elements which only contact the rolls along their sides, and do not contact the surface of the web. The splicing mechanism includes an improved, cushioned pressure roll, and a pivotally mounted knife. A computer is used to control roll loading, roll accelerating, web splicing and the other features and operations of the turret splicer.
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