Mandrel cupping assembly

A mandrel cupping assembly for releaseably engaging unsupported ends of a plurality of mandrels disposed on a web winding turret assembly having a web winding turret assembly axis, each of said plurality of mandrels extending generally parallel to said web winding turret assembly axis, each of said mandrels being driven in a closed mandrel path about said web winding turret assembly axis, said mandrel cupping assembly comprising:

• a cupping spider having a cupping spider axis;
• a mandrel cup cooperatively associated with each mandrel of said plurality of mandrels, each of said mandrel cups being disposed radially about said cupping spider, each of said mandrel cups comprising a pair of cupping arms configured as a first-class double-lever with a pivot acting as a fulcrum;
• wherein each of said mandrel cups is capable of releaseably engaging said unsupported end of said mandrel cooperatively associated thereto, each of said cupping arms having at least one roller disposed thereupon and distal from said fulcrum, each of said mandrel cups having a hold-open position and a hold-closed position, each of said mandrel cups being carried in a radial orbital path about said cupping spider central axis while disposed in either of said hold-open position or said hold-closed position;
• and,
• a first actuator for disposing said cupping arms from said hold-open position to said hold-closed position;
• and,
• a second actuator for disposing said cupping arms from said hold-closed position to said hold-open position.