Winder with elevated spool support rail

A method of forming a traveling web into a wound paper web reel on a reel spool, the method utilizing a horizontally disposed support drum, comprising the steps of:

• moving a reel spool to an initial position over the apex of the upper surface of the support drum;
• rotatively supporting the reel spool in the initial position on a pair of spaced, substantially horizontally disposed parallel rails mounted to a frame for supporting the reel spool and a paper reel to be formed thereon beginning initially over the apex, the rails supporting the reel spool at a distance above the apex such that the reel spool supported on the rails over the apex is in nipping engagement with the support drum
• applying torque to the reel spool in its initial position to rotate and drive the reel spool;
• maintaining the support drum rotatively mounted in a fixed position by a fixed bearing to the frame
• bringing a traveling paper web onto the reel spool in its initial position to commence winding the paper web into a paper web reel on the reel spool;
• moving the paper web reel being wound substantially horizontally away from the initial position while maintaining the paper web reel rotatively supported and in nipping engagement with the support drum;
• and
• maintaining torque on the reel spool and nip pressure between the support drum and the wound paper reel in the winding position at desired levels until the paper web reel reaches a predetermined diameter.

An apparatus for reeling a traveling web into a wound paper web reel on a reel spool, comprising:

• a fixed frame;
• a pair of spaced, substantially horizontally disposed parallel rails mounted on the frame for supporting a reel spool and a paper reel formed thereon, the rails supporting the reel spool in substantially horizontal translational movement as the paper web reel is wound thereon;
• a reel support drum rotatively mounted by a fixed bearing to the frame, the support drum having an apex which is beneath the rails at a distance such that the reel spool supported on the rails over the apex is in nipping engagement with the support drum, wherein the support drum engages the reel spool and the paper web reel formed on the reel spool along a nip during the reeling process, said nip beginning over the said apex and migrating downstream on the support drum during the reeling process, and wherein the entire paper web reel is formed on the reel spool and supported by the reel drum while the reel spool is engaged with the rails;
• a first pivotally mounted pair of arms which selectively engage the reel spool, wherein the first pair of arms position the reel spool on the rails and control the position of the reel spool during formation of the paper reel on the spool;
• and
• a second pivotally mounted pair of arms which selectively engage the reel spool, wherein the second pair of arms receive the reel spool and the paper web reel formed thereon from the first pair of arms and control the positioning of the reel spool on the rails during at least the final formation of the paper web reel on the reel spool.