Method for detecting the position of a web supply roll and for positioning the roll

A method for detecting the lateral position of a web supply roll and for locating the web supply roll in a roll changer including:

• providing a roll changer having roll support arms;
• providing first and second lateral frames spaced apart by a width greater than a width of a full width web supply roll;
• supporting said roll changer on and between said first and second lateral frames;
• providing first and second sensors on said first and second lateral frames, respectively, of said roll changer;
• providing a conveying cart capable of movement in a first direction toward and away from said roll changer and in a second direction transversely to said first direction and to said first and second lateral frames;
• placing a partial width web supply roll on said conveying cart off-centered with respect to said first and second lateral frames;
• moving said conveying cart and said off-centered partial width web supply roll supported on said conveying cart to said roll changer and positioning said conveying cart and said partial width web supply roll between said first and second sensors on said first and second lateral frames respectively of said roll changer;
• measuring a first actual lateral distance from said first sensor to a first lateral face of the partial width web supply roll;
• measuring a second actual lateral distance, different from said first actual lateral distance, from said second sensor to a second lateral face of the partial width web supply roll;
• providing an evaluation unit;
• providing first and second reference values of first and second different lateral reference distances from first and second lateral faces, respectively of a reference partial width web supply roll;
• storing said first and second reference values, as functions of reference partial web supply roll widths, in said evaluation unit;
• supplying said measured first and second actual lateral distances to said evaluation unit;
• comparing said measured first and second actual lateral distances with said first and second reference values of said first and second lateral distances in said evaluation unit;
• using said evaluation unit to determine any deviations between said measured first and second actual values and said first and second reference values;
• moving said conveying cart laterally along said second direction in response to said deviations between said measured first and second actual lateral distances and said first and second reference lateral distances and eliminating any said deviations;
• and
• positioning the partial width web supply roll in said roll changer off-centered laterally between said first and second lateral frames after eliminating said deviations.