Apparatus for automatically mounting a web roll on a mill roll stand

An apparatus for automatically mounting a roll of web material on a mill roll stand having at least one pair of roll supports, said apparatus comprising:

• a first driving means for moving said roll supports toward and away from each other,
• a second driving means for moving said web roll in a vertical direction,
• a third driving means for moving said web roll in a direction parallel to the axis of said roll supports,
• a fourth driving means for moving said web roll in a direction transverse to the axis of said roll supports;
• a first pulse generator for generating a signal which is proportional to the amount of rotation of said second driving means;
• a second pulse generator for generating a signal which is proportional to the amount of rotation of said third driving means;
• and
• a control means for providing signals to said first, second, third, and fourth driving means so as to control said third driving means on the basis of a comparison of the signal from said second pulse generator with the width of said web roll, and so as to move said web roll to a position halfway between but sideways of said roll supports, and so as to control said fourth driving means to move the web roll for a predetermined horizontal distance between the axis of the web roll and the axis of said roll supports, and simultaneously control said second driving means on the basis of comparison of the signals from said first pulse generator with the diameter of said web roll so as to move said web roll in a vertical direction, and so that the axis of said roll supports will be in alignment with the center hole in said web roll, and so as to control said first driving means so as to move said roll supports toward each other until they are inserted into said center hole of the web roll, wherein the web roll is supported by said roll supports.