In a winder which sequentially produces a plurality of small rolls of paper from larger rolls of single or multi-ply webs, a small roll of web material of finite length and diameter in said winder, and a control system which ensures the uniformity of the overall diameter of the small rolls from roll-to-roll while maintaining within pre-established tolerances and pre-established limits the length of the web of the paper in each small roll, said control system including:
- means for pre-setting desired diameter and length data into the control system, and
- means for detecting the outer periphery of the small roll once it has been formed, and
- means for detecting the length of the web in the small roll as it is being wound, and
- means for comparing the pre-set diameter and length data with the detected diameter and length data, and
- means for automatically correcting and adjusting the system only at the end of the winding of each small roll so that subsequent diameters of small rolls will conform to the pre-set diameter data, based on data coming from said means for comparing the pre-set diameter and length data with the detected diameter and length data,
- said periphery detecting means including a small roller for contacting the outer periphery of the small roll and moving with the small roll while it increases in diameter as it is being formed.