APPARATUS FOR SPLICING A FIRST RIBBON TO A SECOND RIBBON TO PERFORM A REEL CHANGE IN ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL PRODUCTION

An apparatus (10) for splicing a first ribbon (100) to a second ribbon (101) comprises a first and a second retaining device (17, 20) movable between respective operating conditions in which they directly face a splicing area (GA) and respective non-operating conditions in which they are not directly facing the splicing area (GA), wherein in the operating condition they operate according to a first retaining condition in which they respectively retain a first ribbon (100) and a second ribbon (101) in the splicing area (GA) and according to a second retaining condition in which they retain both the second ribbon (100) and the first ribbon (101); a cutting device (40) for cutting the first ribbon and the second ribbon (101); a first and a second splicing device (18, 21), for splicing the first ribbon (100) to the second ribbon (101), comprising a respective pad (28, 37) for receiving and applying a piece of splicing ribbon (102), movable between a waiting condition in which it is not directly facing to the splicing area (GA) and an application condition in which it directly faces the splicing area (GA). When the first and second retaining device (17, 20) operate according to the first retaining condition, the pads (28, 37) are in the waiting condition. When the pad (28) is in the application condition, the first retaining device (17) is in the non-operating condition and the second retaining device (20) operates according to the second retaining condition.