Improved machine for lifting and loading web rolls

An improved machine for lifting and loading a web roll, that has substantially parallel ends and a central core opening extending from one end to the other, from an unloaded position, where the web roll is disposed on a relatively fixed surface adjacent to the machine and is spaced from the machine in a first predetermined direction, to an unwind position, where the web from the web roll may be unwound by rotation of the web roll about the longitudinal axis of its central core opening, the improved lifting and loading machine comprising:

• a frame for supporting the web roll in its unwind position;
• a lift arm having a first end and a second end;
• a spindle that is mounted on and cantilevered from the first end of the lift arm, with the longitudinal axis of the spindle being substantially perpendicular to the plane of the lift arm and extending in the first predetermined direction and toward the one end of the web roll when the web roll is in its unloaded position, and that is adapted to be received within the central core opening of the web roll;
• means for mounting the lift arm on the frame so that the first end of the lift arm may be selectively pivoted, with respect to its second end, about a first axis that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spindle and so that the lift arm may be moved along a path of travel that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spindle, with the mounting means including:
• a first rod that is mounted on the frame so that its longitudinal axis is co-axial with the first axis and is substantially parallel to the path of travel of the lift arm;
• and first bearing means connected with the second end of the lift arm and engaging the first rod so that the second end of the lift arm may be moved along the first rod and so that the first end of the lift arm may be pivoted about the longitudinal axis of the first rod;
• means for moving the lift arm between a first position where the web roll, mounted on the spindle, is in its unwind position and a second position where the spindle is inserted into the central core opening of the web roll when the web roll is in its unloaded position;
• and
• side-lay sensing means, mounted on the frame, for sensing the position of a side edge of the web, with respect to a fixed reference position, as the web is being unwound from the web roll, while the web roll is in its unwind position;
• slide-lay motor means for driving an output shaft;
• the motor means being mounted on the frame and being adapted to rotate its output shaft in a clockwise direction or counterclockwise direction in response to the position of the side edge of the web, with respect to the reference position, as sensed by the side-lay sensing means;
• and means for connecting the output shaft of the motor means with the second end of the lift arm, when the lift arm is in its first position, and for causing the lift arm, and thus the web roll, to be moved in one direction or in the opposite direction, along the path of travel, in response to clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation of the output shaft of the motor means.

An improved machine for lifting and loading a web roll, that has substantially parallel ends and a central core opening extending from one end to the other, from an unloaded position, where the web roll is disposed on a relatively fixed surface adjacent to the machine and is spaced from the machine in a first predetermined direction, to an unwind position, where the web from the web roll may be unwound by rotation of the web roll about the longitudinal axis of its central core opening, the improved lifting and loading machine comprising:

• a frame for supporting the web roll in its unwind position;
• a lift arm having a first end and a second end;
• a spindle that is mounted on and cantilevered from the first end of the lift arm, with the longitudinal axis of the spindle extending in the first predetermined direction and toward the one end of the web roll when the web roll is in its unloaded position and that is adapted to be received within the central core opening of the web roll;
• means for mounting the lift arm on the frame so that the first end of the lift arm may be selectively pivoted, with respect to its second end, about a first axis that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spindle and so that the lift arm may be moved along a path of travel that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spindle;
• and
• means for moving the lift arm between a first position where the web roll, mounted on the spindle, is in its unwind position and a second position where the spindle is inserted into the central core opening of the web roll when the web roll is in its unloaded position, the moving means including an idler roller assembly having an idler roller that is spaced vertically upwardly from the lift arm and that is mounted, at one end, for rotation about an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spindle;
• and a handle that is disposed adjacent the other end of the idler roller and that serves as a means to manually move the lift arm along the path of travel.

An improved machine for lifting and loading a web roll, that has substantially parallel ends and a central core opening extending from one end to the other, from an unloaded position, where the web roll is disposed on a relatively fixed surface adjacent to the machine and is spaced from the machine in a first predetermined direction, to an unwind position, where the web from the web roll may be unwound by rotation of the web roll about the longitudinal axis of its central core opening, the improved lifting and loading machine comprising:

• a frame for supporting the web roll in its unwind position;
• a lift arm having a first end and a second end;
• a spindle that is mounted on and cantilevered from the first end of the lift arm, with the longitudinal axis of the spindle being substantially perpendicular to the plane of the lift arm and extending in the first predetermined direction and toward the one end of the web roll when the web roll is in its unloaded position and that is adapted to be received within the central core opening of the web roll;
• means for mounting the lift arm on the frame so that the first end of the lift arm may be selectively pivoted, with respect to its second end, about a first axis that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spindle and so that the lift arm may be moved along a path of travel that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spindle, the mounting means including:
• a first rod mounted on the frame so that its longitudinal axis is co-axial with the first axis and is substantially parallel to the path of travel of the lift arm;
• first bearing means connected with the second end of the lift arm and engaging the first rod so that the second end of the lift arm may be moved along the first rod and so that the first end of the lift arm may be pivoted about the longitudinal axis of the first rod;
• means for moving the lift arm between a first position where the web roll, mounted on the spindle, is in its unwind position and a second position where the spindle is inserted into the central core opening of the web roll when the web roll is in its unloaded position, the moving means including an idler roller assembly having an idler roller that is spaced vertically upwardly from the lift arm and that is mounted, at one end, for rotation about an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spindle;
• a handle that is disposed adjacent the other end of the idler roller and that serves as a means to manually move the lift arm along the path of travel;
• a power cylinder having its one end pivotably connected with the first end of the lift arm and having its other end pivotably connected with the frame;
• a second rod mounted on the frame so that the longitudinal axis of the second rod is substantially parallel to the path of travel;
• and second bearing means connected with the other end of the power cylinder and engaging the second rod so that the other end of the power cylinder may be moved along the longitudinal axis of the second rod and may be pivoted about the longitudinal axis of the second rod.