Winding apparatus

Abstract

According to the invention, winding apparatus comprises means for rotatably mounting a parent roll of web material, a mandril adapted to receive a hollow core sleeved thereon, means for driving the mandril in rotation, clutch means for providing limited torque transfer between the driving means and the core on the mandril, a core co-operating roll mounted for rotation, the core co-operating roll and mandril being relatively movable between an adjacent co-operating web feeding position to feed web led from the parent roll between the core co-operating roll and the core on the mandril to be nipped thereby and a separated position (constituting a loading and unloading station) to allow for sleeving of the core on and removal of the core from the mandril, and means for guiding the leading edge of the web nipped by the core co-operating roll and the core on said mandril around the core. Further according to the invention, core feed means are provided comprising an open ended cradle adapted to accept and support an individual core while allowing axial core transfer endwise thereof mounted for movement between a substantially upright core pick-up position and a loading position displaced therefrom in which the cradle is oriented to support a core therein in axial alignment with the loading and unloading station of the winding apparatus, and core delivery means operating from a position clear of the cradle endwise through the said cradle and axially of the core supported therein with the cradle at the loading position to deliver the core and to thereafter return to its said position clear of the cradle.