Mandrel supports for automatic web rewinder

Abstract

In an automatic web rewinding machine having core supporting mandrels carried by an indexingly rotated turret, the chuck arm for supporting the free end of each mandrel is swung between a closed mandrel engaging position and an open position by a reversible pneumatic rotary actuator controlled by a two-position valve. Each actuator and its valve are constrained to rotate with the turret, and they receive pressure air through a hollow turret shaft. A cam follower plunger of the valve is biased to an extended condition at which the actuator tends to hold the chuck arm closed. When a mandrel is established at the unloading station at which wound cores are removed from it, a signal from a turret position sensor causes extension of a first movable cam segment at said station, retracting the plunger and thus opening the chuck arm. As the turret carries the mandrel to the core loading station the valve plunger engages a fixed cam segment, and then an extended second movable cam segment at the loading station, to keep the chuck arm open. A condition for retraction of the second movable cam segment, to effect chuck arm closing, is issuance by a core detector of an output signifying proper loading of a core onto the mandrel. A core loading wheel moves into engagement with the mandrel when it arrives at the loading station, to damp vibration of its free end, and also serves for loading a core onto the mandrel.