Web accumulator

Abstract

Disclosed is a web accumulator for accumulating and discharging a reserve portion of a continuous web passing through the accumulator. The accumulator, which is particularly useful for handling weak webs such as sanitary or tissue paper, includes first and second sets of rotatably mounted web rolls, each of which is partially wrapped by the web when the web is looped alternately from a roll of the first set to a roll of the second set in consecutive order. The second set of web rolls is mounted for movement towards and away from the first set of web rolls to discharge and accumulate the reserve portion of the web, and the accumulator preferably includes drive means separate from the web for driving each web roll at the speed of the web passing over it at all times including when it is accumulating or discharging. The drive means is preferably provided by a drive pulley operably connected to each web roll and preferably having the same size as its respective web roll, an endless flexible belt engaging the drive pulleys in the same sequence that the web engages the web rolls, inlet drive means for rotating the first web roll, exit drive means for rotating the exit web roll, and take-up means for taking up and releasing slack in the drive belt occurring when the second set of rolls moves towards or away from the first set.