Apparatus for independently rewinding slit strips in a web slitting and

Abstract

An apparatus for independently and simultaneously rewinding a plurality of slit strips into rolls is provided for a slitting and rewinding machine. The apparatus includes a single elongated contact roller and a plurality of rewinding cores. The rewinding cores are arranged side by side in at least one row parallel to the axis of the contact roller. Each rewinding core is independently supported for rotation by at least one vertically extending support arm. The support arms for the rewinding cores are in turn pivotally connected to a common support base which is adapted to be positively retracted horizontally away from the contact roller. During rewinding operation, as the diameter of strip rolls wound onto the rewinding core increases, the core support arms are moved angularly from their vertical position. The angular displacement of at least one core support arm is detected to automatically control the retractive movement of the support base in relation to the increasing roll diameter such that the core support arms are kept substantially in their vertical position while maintaining the wound rolls on the cores in constant engagement with the contact roller throughout a rewinding cycle regardless of a change in the diameter of each wound roll.