Paper turn-up system and method

A method for severing and turning up a web of paper in the absence of a knife-like tool for severing the web, the web moving in a tensioned condition across the surface of a rotating reel at a winder of a paper making machine from a first drum about which the paper web is being wound to a second drum wherein the first drum is disposed adjacent the reel and the second drum is superposed upon the reel so as to overlie the paper web moving thereacross toward the first drum, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a conduit disposed to one side of the reel for initiating a separation of one edge portion of the web and another air conduit disposed to an opposite side of the reel for initiating a separation of an edge portion of the web opposite the one edge portion, each of said conduit for receiving air from a pressurized air source and having a discharge end through which pressurized air from the source exits the conduit in an air stream, each of said conduit being supported by a support means disposed to the one side and the opposite side of the reel for supporting said conduit for movement of the conduit between a non-operative, out-of-the-way position to an operative position;
• moving each of said conduit from the non-operative, out-of-the-way position to the operative position so that the discharge end of each conduit is disposed adjacent and is directed toward an edge portion of the web which overlies the surface of the reel at a location generally between the first and second drums and wherein the air stream which exit the discharge end of each conduit moves toward a portion of the web adjacent each edge along a path having one directional component which is directed generally upstream of the web, having a second directional component which is directed generally toward the reel surface and having a third directional component which is directed generally across the web;
• and
• initiating a sudden stream of air through each of said conduits so that the stream of air which exits the conduits severs the web into upstream and downstream sections of web and urge the upstream section of web away from the surface of the reel and toward the second drum for winding thereabout, the upstream and downstream sections of web being disposed on opposite sides along a path of separation extending from the corresponding portion adjacent the edges of the web, whereby the tension to which the web is exposed completes severance of the web along the formed path of separation to provide the web with a severed edge extending between the opposite side edges of the web.