Mandrel cupping assembly

A mandrel cupping assembly for releasably engaging unsupported ends of a plurality of mandrels disposed on a web winding turret assembly having a web winding turret assembly axis, each of said plurality of mandrels extending generally parallel to said web winding turret assembly axis, each of said mandrels being driven in a closed mandrel path about said web winding turret assembly axis, said mandrel cupping assembly comprising:

• a cupping arm turret having a cupping arm turret central axis;
• a mandrel cup and cupping arm cooperatively associated with each mandrel of said plurality of mandrels, each of said mandrel cups and cupping arms being disposed radially about said cupping arm turret;
• an outer ring guide disposed coaxially about said cupping arm turret;
• wherein each of said mandrel cups releasably engages said unsupported end of said mandrel against said outer ring guide, each of said mandrel cups having a hold-open position and a hold-closed position, each of said mandrel cups being carried in a radial orbital path about said cupping arm turret central axis while disposed in either of said hold-open position or said hold-closed position;
• and,
• a first actuator for disposing each of said mandrel cups and cupping arms from said hold-open position to said hold-closed position.