Core feeding method in a rewinding machine for making logs of sheet material

A method for rewinding a web of sheet material for making a log wound on a core comprising the steps of:

• feeding a web of paper in a winding zone formed between an upper winding roller and a lower winding roller, said lower roller having a support;
• arranging upstream of the winding zone a cradle for feeding the core,
• wherein said cradle is located beneath the upper winding roller and extends from a core feeding zone up to said lower winding roller, and
• wherein a portion of said cradle is rotatable about a point integral to the support of said lower roller and is capable of lowering and rising towards and away from said upper winding roller, and
• wherein a portion of said cradle is fixed and integral to the support of the lower winding roller;
• feeding a core in said core feeding zone of said cradle;
• displacing said rotatable portion from a first position that allows feeding the core into the cradle to a second position in which said core is caused to contact said upper roller,
• wherein when the rotatable portion is in said second position, the rotatable portion and the fixed portion form a substantially continuous surface,
• wherein upon contacting said upper roller said core moves first over said portion of the cradle that is rotatable and then over said fixed portion of the cradle that is integral to the support of the lower winding roller, and
• wherein when a core of different diameter is fed in said core feeding zone, said portion of said cradle that is rotatable is caused to further rotate about said point in such a way that during said displacind step said core of different diameter is caused to contact said upper roller, whereby a change of the feeding cradle is not necessary according to the different diameter of the core.