Rewinder mandrel system for winding paper
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsPaul B. Kury, Craig D. Lacount, Steve G. Sukowatey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rewinder mandrel system for winding paper into rolls on a mandrel that includes a turret assembly having at least one mandrel affixed thereto. The rewinder mandrel system can also include a gas circulation system that can aid in the positioning, loading, and removing of paper or paper cores located on the mandrel. In particular, the gas circulation system can contain one or more gas flow control devices configured to provide positive pressure and a suction force. In one embodiment, a gas flow control device rotatably affixed to the turret interacts with a second stationary gas flow control device to provide air circulation to the mandrels.
Claims33
A mandrel system for winding paper comprising:
- a turret capable of indexing about a longitudinal axis;
- a mandrel rotatably affixed to said turret, said mandrel defining a longitudinal channel substantially extending the length of said mandrel, said mandrel further comprising a plurality of perforations in communication with said longitudinal channel, said plurality of perforations being distributed along a radial axis of said mandrel in a manner such that said perforations extend less than 360° around a cross-section of said mandrel, wherein said mandrel is configured to receive a suction force.
A mandrel system for winding paper onto a core comprising:
- a turret capable of indexing about a longitudinal axis;
- a mandrel rotatably affixed to said turret, said mandrel defining a longitudinal channel substantially extending the length of said mandrel, said mandrel further comprising a plurality of perforations distributed along a radial axis of said mandrel in communication with said longitudinal channel, wherein said mandrel is configured to receive a suction force and a pressurized force;
- a first gas flow control device, said first gas flow control device defining a vacuum passageway and a pressurized air passageway, said first gas flow control device being positioned such that said first gas flow control device remains stationary with respect to said turret;
- a second gas flow control device, said second gas flow control device being in rotational communication with said turret such that said second gas flow control device is moveable in conjunction with said turret, said second gas flow control device defining an air passageway in communication with said longitudinal channel of said mandrel, wherein said second gas flow control device is positioned adjacent to said first gas flow control device.
A method of winding paper onto a core, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a turret capable of indexing about a longitudinal axis;
- providing a mandrel rotatably affixed to said turret, said mandrel defining a longitudinal channel substantially extending the length of said mandrel, said mandrel further comprising a plurality of perforations in communication with said longitudinal channel, said plurality of perforations being distributed along a radial axis of said mandrel in a manner such that said perforations extend less than 360° around a cross-section of said mandrel, wherein said mandrel is configured to receive a suction force for holding a roll of paper thereon;
- and
- loading a core onto said mandrel;
- and
- flowing air through said plurality of perforations and said longitudinal channel of said mandrel such that a suction force is formed therefrom for holding said core on said mandrel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.