Method and a machine for winding a web onto spools to form a succession of web reels

A winding machine (1) for winding a web (W) of tissue paper or a non-woven material onto spools (2) to form a succession of web reels on the spools (2), the winding machine (1) comprising:

• a first supporting drum (4) arranged to act against a web reel (3) in a winding nip (5), the first supporting drum (4) being moveable upwards and downwards in the vertical direction,
• a first actuator (6) functionally connected to the first supporting drum (4) to be capable of moving the first supporting drum (4) in the vertical direction,
• a guide rail structure (7) along which web reels (3) can move in a horizontal direction as their diameter increases,
• a second supporting drum (9) arranged to be capable of acting against the web reel (3) and form a nip (10) against the web reel (3), the second supporting drum (9) being moveable both horizontally and vertically, the second supporting drum (9) being either functionally connected to a second actuator (11) that is capable of causing the second supporting drum (9) to move vertically and horizontally or the second supporting drum (9) being functionally connected to the first actuator such that the first actuator (6) can cause the second supporting drum (9) to move vertically and horizontally,
• a logic control unit (13) connected to the first actuator (6) and capable of controlling the first actuator (6) and at least one winding nip force sensor (14) arranged to measure the force in the winding nip (5) and send a signal to the logic control unit (13) which is indicative of the force in the winding nip (5), wherein the logic control unit (13) comprises software with an instruction to compare a set value for the winding nip force in the winding nip (5) with the signal from the at least one winding nip force sensor (14) and send an instruction to the first actuator (6) to move the first supporting drum (4) in the direction necessary to correct any deviation from the set force if the signal from the winding force nip sensor (14) indicates that the winding nip force in the winding nip (5) deviates from set force or is outside the range of a predetermined lower value and a predetermined higher value for said winding force.