Process and apparatus for loading and unloading an unwinding machine
AssigneeAutomatic Handling, Internatioanl
InventorsDaniel J. Pienta, David M. Pienta
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This core plugging station relates generally to preparing rolls of previously wound material for an unwinding machine. The core plugging station improves the automation of moving rolls of sheet form material and the like to be loaded in preparation for unwinding. When a previously loaded roll has been unwound a spent core station disposes of the remaining core. The process sequentially moves rolls of material having cores from a core plugging station to an unwinding station and sequentially moves spent rolls of material from the unwinding station back to a spent core station.
Claims12
A process for sequentially moving rolls of material having cores from a core plugging station to an unwinding station and for sequentially moving spent rolls of material from the unwinding station back to a spent core station comprising the steps of sequentially:
- (a) feeding unplugged rolls of material having cores to a core plugging station;
- (b) automatically aligning at least one core plug with a core of a roll of material in the core plugging station;
- (c) automatically inserting the at least one core plug into the core of the roll of material;
- (d) feeding the plugged roll of material to an unwinding station;
- (e) removing a spent roll of material from the unwinding station;
- and
- (f) automatically removing the at least one core plug from the spent core;
- and
- (g) feeding the spent roll of material to a spent core station.
An apparatus for sequentially moving rolls of material having cores from a core plugging station to an unwinding station and for sequentially moving spent rolls of material from the unwinding station back to a spent core station comprising:
- (a) a core plugging station;
- (b) a roll conveyor station for feeding unplugged rolls of material having cores to the core plugging station;
- (c) a means for automatically aligning at least one core plug with a core of a roll of material in the core plugging station;
- (d) a means for automatically inserting the at least one core plug into the core of the roll of material;
- (e) a means for feeding the plugged roll of material to an unwinding station;
- (f) a means for removing a spent roll of material from the unwinding station;
- (g) means for removing the at least one core plug from the spent roll of material;
- (h) a spent core station;
- and
- (i) a means for feeding the spent roll of material to the spent core station.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.