System, apparatus and method for unloading and loading winder shafts

A method of unloading and loading a winder shaft, comprising:

• providing an unloading and loading apparatus, comprising:
• a frame, said frame being movable between first and second positions,
• a core loader connected to said frame, said core loader including a core loading rack,
• a roll conveyor connected to said frame, said roll conveyor being positioned proximate said core loader,
• a core carriage adapted to contain cores, said core carriage being operable to dispense cores from within said core carriage to said core loader when said frame is in said first position, and
• a roll remover positioned in operative relationship with said shaft of said winder;
• providing one or more rolls on said shaft;
• positioning said frame so that said roll conveyor is axially aligned with said shaft and so that a row of cores are dispensed from said core carriage to said core loading rack;
• axially moving said rolls from said shaft onto said roll conveyor with said roll remover;
• positioning said frame so that said core loading rack is axially aligned with said winder shaft;
• and
• axially moving said cores from said core loading rack onto said shaft with said core loader.

A winder shaft unloading and loading apparatus, comprising:

• a frame having a first end and a second end defining a first axis therebetween, said frame being movable between first and second positions in a reciprocating direction in relation to said frame first axis;
• a core loader connected to said frame in generally parallel relationship with said first axis of said frame, said core loader including a core loading rack;
• a roll conveyor connected to said frame in generally parallel relationship with said first axis of said frame, said roll conveyor being positioned proximate said core loader;
• a core carriage adapted to contain cores, said core carriage having a core opening defined therein, said core opening operable to dispense cores from within said core carriage to said core loader when said frame is in said first position;
• and
• a roll remover positioned in operative relationship with said shaft of said winder.

A method of unloading and loading a winder shaft, comprising:

• providing an unloading and loading apparatus, comprising:
• a frame having a first end and a second end defining a first axis therebetween, said frame being movable between first and second positions in a reciprocating direction in relation to said frame first axis,
• a core loader connected to said frame in generally parallel relationship with said first axis of said frame, said core loader including a core loading rack,
• a roll conveyor connected to said frame in generally parallel relationship with said first axis of said frame, said roll conveyor being positioned proximate said core loader,
• a core carriage adapted to contain cores, said core carriage having a core opening defined therein, said core opening operable to dispense cores from within said core carriage to said core loader when said frame is in said first position, and
• a roll remover positioned in operative relationship with said shaft of said winder;
• providing one or more rolls on said shaft;
• positioning said frame so that said roll conveyor is axially aligned with said shaft and so that a row of cores are dispensed from said core carriage through said core opening to said core loading rack;
• axially moving said rolls from said shaft onto said roll conveyor with said roll remover;
• positioning said frame so that said core loading rack is axially aligned with said winder shaft;
• and
• axially moving said cores from said core loading rack onto said shaft with said core loader.

A winder shaft unloading and loading apparatus, comprising:

• a frame having an upper end and lower end, said frame being pivotable about its lower end and having an axis of pivot;
• a core loader connected to said frame in generally parallel relationship with said axis of pivot of said frame, said core loader including a core loading rack;
• a roll conveyor connected to said frame in generally parallel relationship with said axis of pivot of said frame, said roll conveyor being positioned proximate said core loader;
• a core carriage adapted to contain cores;
• a core feeder operable to dispense cores from within said core carriage to said core loader;
• and
• a roll remover positioned in operative relationship with said shaft of said winder.

A method of unloading and loading a winder shaft, comprising:

• providing an unloading and loading apparatus, comprising:
• a frame having an upper end and lower end, said frame being pivotable about its lower end and having an axis of pivot,
• a core loader connected to said frame in generally parallel relationship with said axis of pivot of said frame, said core loader including a core loading rack,
• a roll conveyor connected to said frame in generally parallel relationship with said axis of pivot of said frame, said roll conveyor being positioned proximate said core loader,
• a core carriage adapted to contain cores,
• a core feeder operable to dispense cores from within said core carriage to said core loading rack, and
• a roll remover positioned in operative relationship with said shaft of said winder;
• and
• providing one or more rolls on said shaft;
• positioning said frame about its pivot axis so that said roll conveyor is axially aligned with said shaft;
• axially moving said rolls from said shaft onto said roll conveyor with said roll remover;
• removing a row of cores from said core carriage and placing said cores on said core loading rack with said core feeder;
• positioning said frame about its pivot axis so that said core loading rack is axially aligned with said winder shaft;
• and
• axially moving said cores from said core loading rack onto said shaft with said core loader.

A winder shaft loading and roll conveying apparatus, comprising:

• a core loader comprising a core mechanical displacement device operable to mechanically move cores onto a first end of said shaft;
• a roll conveyor operable to mechanically transport rolls away from said first end of said shaft;
• and
• wherein said core loader and said roll conveyor are disposed in operative relationship such that said core loading rack and said roll conveyor may be alternately axially aligned with said first end of said winder shaft.

A core storing and dispensing apparatus, comprising:

• a core carriage, said core carriage configured to hold at least two columns of cores stacked on their sides in generally parallel relation;
• and
• a core feeder positioned in operative relationship with said core carriage and adapted to simultaneously remove one core from each of said columns and to simultaneously dispense said cores removed from each of said columns in end to end relationship;
• wherein said core feeder comprises a conveyor belt.

A core storing and dispensing apparatus, comprising:

• a core carriage, said core carriage configured to hold at least two columns of cores stacked on their sides in generally parallel relation;
• and
• a core feeder adapted to simultaneously remove one core from each of said columns and to simultaneously dispense said cores removed from each of said columns in end to end relationship;
• wherein said core feeder comprises a conveyor belt positioned in operative relationship with said core carriage;
• or
• wherein said core feeder comprises a core opening defined in said core carriage, a reciprocating frame positioned beneath and adjacent to said core opening and movable between first and second positions, and a core recess defined in said reciprocating frame, said core recess adapted to receive a single row of cores by gravity feed from said core opening when said frame is in said first position, and wherein said reciprocating frame her comprises a top which prevents additional cores from being dispensed from said core opening when said frame is moved from said first position to said second position.