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US 2003/0116674 A1Published application
Continuous motion coreless roll winder
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsGerald K. Sosalla, Joseph E. Cwiakala
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A coreless roll winder includes two sets of belts traveling in opposite directions. A cigarette of web material is formed, and the web is wound around the cigarette by the contact with the belts. The roll formed from the winding is transported to the downstream end of the belts and separated from the rest of the web.
Claims20
An apparatus for winding a web, comprising:
- an upstream end;
- a downstream end;
- a first set of belts, traveling within a first plane in a first direction from the upstream end to the downstream end;
- the belts spaced apart within the first plane;
- and
- a second set of belts, traveling within a second plane in a second direction from the downstream end toward the upstream end;
- the belts spaced apart within the second plane;
- the first and second sets of belts in close proximity at the upstream end and spaced apart at the downstream end;
- wherein a web, in contact with the first set of belts, traveling in the first direction, and comprising a cigarette comprising a leading edge of the web, is wound around the cigarette by contact with the second set of belts at the upstream end.
6 more elements
A method of forming a coreless roll of product, comprising:
- supporting a web on a first set of belts traveling in a first direction from an upstream area to a downstream area;
- forming a cigarette from the web;
- contacting the cigarette with a second set of belts traveling in a second direction from the downstream area toward the upstream area;
- and
- winding the web around the cigarette.
2 more elements
An apparatus for forming a coreless roll of product, comprising:
- means for transporting the web from an upstream end of the apparatus to a downstream end of the apparatus;
- means for separating the web into an upstream portion and a downstream portion, the upstream portion comprising a leading edge;
- means for forming a cigarette comprising the leading edge;
- means for rolling the cigarette onto the web;
- means for winding the web around the cigarette to form a roll;
- and
- means for transporting the roll to the downstream end.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.