Winder roll starting apparatus for thick webs

An apparatus for attaching a fiber web start to a winding core, the apparatus comprising:

• a winder drum having a cylindrical surface and an axis of rotation, wherein the direction in which the axis extends defines a cross machine direction;
• a winding core, having a cylindrical surface, the core being of a selected length and a selected winding core radius, wherein the cylinder surface forms a first cross machine direction extending nip with the cylindrical surface of the winder drum;
• a cross machine direction extending scraping and pressing structure, the structure being mounted above the winding core and having portions defining a flexible blade of a selected spring constant, wherein the scraping and pressing structure is mounted for movement with respect to the winder drum, so that the flexible blade moves along a portion of the cylindrical surface of the winder drum upstream of the first nip, towards the winding core, and is further mounted so the flexible blade comes into engagement with the cylindrical surface of the winding core and then moves across the winding core in a wiping action.

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the scraping and pressing structure is mounted for rotation about two spaced apart cross machine direction axes, which together are arranged to provide the motion such that the flexible blade comes into engagement with the cylindrical surface of the winding core and then moves across the winding core in the wiping action.

The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a second winder drum having a second cylindrical surface, wherein the second winder drum is mounted for rotation and positioned to engage the winding core to form a second cross machine direction extending nip with the cylindrical surface of the winding core.

The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a quantity of double-sided sticky tape mounted on the winding core cylindrical surface.

A method for starting a reel about a winding core in a twin drum winder comprising the steps of:

• moving an apparatus from a position above the twin drum winder to a position between a fibrous web start having a thickness greater than about 0.010 inches, and a surface of a rear winding drum of the twin drum winder;
• moving the apparatus so as to push the web start against a winding core positioned between the rear winding drum and a front winding drum of the twin drum winder;
• mechanically pressing with the apparatus the web start against a sticky portion of the winding core to bond the web start to the winding core.