Traverse winding apparatus

An apparatus for traverse winding web materials in strip form comprising:

• (a) a reciprocating carriage assembly,
• (b) a core load and unload assembly,
• (c) a tension controlled drive and lay down assembly, and
• (d) a control system wherein
• the reciprocating carriage assembly (a) comprises (a)(1) a stationary base having a length and width corresponding to a major axis and a minor axis, respectively, and an upper surface;
• (a)(2) a sled having a length and width corresponding to a major axis and a minor axis, respectively, parallel to the major and minor axes of the base, an upper surface, a front surface, a back surface, and an undercarriage, the front and back surfaces corresponding to the faces of the sled along and perpendicular to the minor axis of the sled, said sled set upon the surface of the base and adapted to move in an oscillating or reciprocating motion along the major axis of the base, and (a)(3) a carriage motor assembly for effecting the movement of the sled along the major axis of the base;
• the core load and unload assembly (b) comprises (b)(1) a superstructure mounted on or set upon the upper surface of the sled and adapted to receive and release a rotatable core element, said superstructure comprising or having (b)(2) parallel support railings or arms having upper and lower ends, the lower ends associated with the upper surface of the sled and the upper ends removed from or extending away from the upper surface of the sled, the railings or arms having (b)(3) opposing chuck elements at or near their upper ends for securely, yet releasably, receiving opposing ends of the core element whose axis, when mounted on the chucks, is parallel to the major axis of the sled, said chuck elements allowing for the free rotation of the core element about its axis, said railings or arms adapted to effect a movement of the core element along the minor axis of the sled from a first position intermediate the front and rear surfaces of the sled to a second position at or proximate to the rear surface of the sled, while maintaining the core element axis parallel to the major axis, the first position corresponding to the point at which winding of the flexible web material on the core element begins and the second position corresponding to the point where the core element is released from the chucks and the core load and unload assembly;
• the tension controlled drive and lay down assembly (c) comprises (c)(1) a lay down assembly mounted on or co-stationary with respect to the stationary base forward of and removed from the front surface of the sled comprising a lay down roller element, whose axis is parallel to the major axis of the base, on a pivoting armature biased, in use, to be in contact with or proximate to, preferably biased to or against, the core element or the surface of the flexible web material as it is wound, (c)(2) a drive roller, whose axis is parallel to the major axis of the sled, aligned with and, in use, biased to be in contact with the core element or the surface of the flexible web material on the core element as it is being wound, the drive roller, effecting rotation of the core element through surface contact, and (c)(3) a drive motor for effecting rotation of the drive roller, the drive roller and drive motor being mounted on or set upon the sled intermediate the core element in its first position and the front face of the sled;
• and
• the control system comprises one or more sensors associated with the lay down assembly for detecting changes in the tension of the flexible web material and a processor for assessing the changes in the tension of the flexible web material and adjusting the speed of the drive motor to maintain a substantially constant tension in the flexible material.