Web rewind apparatus with cutless web transfer

Abstract

A paper web rewind device includes a rewind turret having circumferentially spaced support members with end chucks for rotatably supporting tubular cores on which a web is rewound. Each set of supports is separately rotated and the turret is rotated to locate one core at a rewind station and the second core at an unload/load station. A rider roll at the rewind station is pivotally mounted and moves upwardly onto the core and then outwardly as the roll diameter increases. Just prior to completion of a rewound roll, the turret rotates and moves the rewinding roll while continuing to wind web thereon and also moves a new core to the loading station with rider roll moved to engage the new core. The moving web engages the new core which is rotated at winding speed. A sensor senses the turret position and is operable to decrease the winding speed of the wound roll to create a slack loop between the new core and the wound roll. The high speed rotating new core attracts the slack web onto the new core and the web wraps onto the new core and into the nip between the new core and rider roll. The rotation of the wound roll is stopped and the rotating new roll pulls on the slack loop and creates a sudden snap action force on the web. The snap action force separates the web immediately adjacent the rider roll on a line extending across the web and thereby frees the web for a continuous winding onto the new core.