Continuous center-winding apparatus and method

Apparatus for continuously center-winding a web into a plurality of rolls, comprising a rotatable turret having a plurality of winding core locations arranged generally parallel to an axis of rotation of said turret, said plurality of winding core locations including a first winding core location and a second winding core location;

• indexing means for indexing said turret such that winding cores carried by said turret are moved successively from said second winding core location to said first winding core location;
• first cutting means movable between a first position on a side of said second winding core location remote from said first winding core location and a second position between said first winding core location and said second winding core location;
• moving means for moving said first cutting means between said first position and said second position;
• second cutting means positioned between said first winding core location and said second winding core location so as to cooperate with said first cutting means to sever a web being wound onto a winding core arranged at said first winding core location when said first cutting means is in said second position;
• first controlling means for controlling said indexing means such that said indexing means moves a winding core from said second winding core location to said first winding core location immediately after a winding operation is commenced at said second winding core location;
• and second controlling means for controlling said moving means such that said moving means moves said first cutting means from said first position to said second position immediately after the movement of a winding core from said second winding core location to said first winding core location.