Apparatus and method for cleanly breaking a continuously advancing cellulose web

A method of cleanly breaking a continuously advancing cellulose web comprising the steps of:

• a) advancing said cellulose web to a wind up zone on a closed loop transfer fabric which is driven at a desired speed;
• b) moving said cellulose web into contact with a high pressure liquid emanating from a plurality of spray nozzles aligned transversely across said cellulose web, said liquid perforating said advancing cellulose web;
• c) directing said cellulose web onto a first hollow core and accumulating said cellulose web to form a filled roll;
• d) activating said spray nozzles in timed sequence to the speed of said transfer fabric such that said perforations occur at a location such that said filled roll has said predetermined diameter;
• e) moving a second hollow core into contact with said advancing cellulose web at a location upstream of said filled roll while simultaneously withdrawing said filled roll, said contact increasing the tension on said advancing cellulose web and causing said advancing cellulose web to break at said perforations and form a leading edge;
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• f) applying a vacuum to said second hollow core which causes said leading edge of said advancing cellulose web to wrap onto said second hollow core.

An apparatus for cleanly breaking a continuously advancing cellulose web comprising:

• a) a transfer fabric which supports and advances said cellulose web to a wind up zone, said transfer fabric forming a closed loop and being driven at a desired speed by a drive roll;
• b) at least two spray nozzles arranged transversely across said advancing cellulose web carried on said transfer fabric, said spray nozzles capable of emitting a liquid under high pressure against said advancing cellulose web to form perforations across the width thereof;
• c) a plurality of hollow cores independently and sequentially moveable into position at said wind up zone to receive said advancing cellulose web, said hollow cores being located downstream of said spray nozzles, each of said hollow cores capable of accumulating a predetermined amount of said cellulose web;
• d) control means for activating said spray nozzles in timed sequence to the speed of said transfer fabric such that a predetermined amount of cellulose web can be accumulated on each of said hollow cores to form filled rolls having a predetermined diameter;
• e) assembly means for moving each of said filled rolls away from said advancing cellulose web while simultaneously moving a second hollow core into contact with said advancing cellulose web upstream of said filled roll, said contact increasing the tension on said advancing cellulose web and causing said advancing cellulose web to cleanly break at said perforations and form a leading edge;
• and
• f) vacuum means for causing said leading edge of said advancing cellulose web to wrap onto said second hollow core, said vacuum means being applied to said second hollow core.

An apparatus for cleanly breaking a continuously advancing cellulose web comprising:

• a) a transfer fabric having an outer surface which supports and advances said cellulose web from a forming zone to a wind up zone, said transfer fabric forming a closed loop and being driven at a desired speed by a drive roll, said transfer fabric following a predetermined path around said drive roll, a reel drum and one or more guide rolls;
• b) a plurality of spray nozzles arranged transversely across said advancing cellulose web, said spray nozzles capable of emitting a liquid under high pressure against said advancing cellulose web to form perforations across the width thereof;
• c) a plurality of hollow cores independently and sequentially moveable into position at said wind up zone to receive said advancing cellulose web, said hollow cores being located downstream from said spray nozzles and adjacent to said reel drum, each hollow core capable of accumulating a predetermined amount of said cellulose web;
• d) control means for activating said spray nozzles in timed sequence to said speed of said transfer fabric such that a predetermined amount of cellulose web can be accumulated on each hollow core to form a filled roll having a predetermined diameter;
• e) assembly means for moving each of said filled rolls away from said advancing cellulose web while simultaneously moving a second hollow core into contact with said advancing cellulose web upstream of said filled roll, this contact increasing the tension on said advancing cellulose web and causing said advancing cellulose web to cleanly break at said perforations and form a leading edge;
• and
• f) vacuum means for causing said leading edge of said advancing cellulose web to wrap onto said second hollow core, said vacuum means being applied to said second hollow core.