Method and apparatus for producing coreless roll products
AssigneeBW Converting, Inc.
InventorMichael E. Techlin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method is provided for removing mandrels from successive rolls of convolutely wound web material. In one aspect, a roll of web convolutely wound around a mandrel is moved to a position in which the mandrel is aligned with a clasp with the clasp spaced apart from the mandrel. The clasp is then moved along a path toward the roll. Movement of the clasp toward the roll is stopped only when the clasp is in a position to engage the mandrel. The mandrel is engaged with the clasp. The clasp and the mandrel are moved away from the roll to withdraw the mandrel from the roll. The mandrel is released from the clasp when the mandrel is removed from the roll. The mandrel is removed from the path of the clasp. The steps are repeated for a subsequent roll.
Claims13
A method of removing mandrels from successive rolls of convolutely wound web material comprising the steps of:
- a) moving a roll of web convolutely wound around a mandrel to a position in which a longitudinal center axis of the mandrel is aligned with a center axis of a clasp, wherein the clasp is spaced apart from the mandrel along a path parallel to the longitudinal center axis of the mandrel,
- b) moving the clasp along the path parallel to the longitudinal center axis of the mandrel toward the roll from a puller stop position to a mandrel engagement position, the puller stop position being spaced away from the mandrel engagement position to allow the mandrel to be removed from the roll,
- c) stopping the movement of the clasp toward the roll only when the clasp is in the mandrel engagement position to engage the mandrel,
- d) engaging the mandrel with the clasp,
- e) moving the clasp and the mandrel away from the roll along the path parallel to the longitudinal center axis of the mandrel to withdraw the mandrel from the roll,
- f) releasing the mandrel from the clasp when the mandrel is removed from the roll,
- g) removing the mandrel from the path of the clasp, and
- h) repeating steps (a) through (g) for a subsequent roll.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.