Abstract: A winding apparatus for web material with severing device comprising a pair of power driven endless cutter chains wherein the tension of the cutter chains is adjusted during operation of the winding apparatus and thereby avoids the need for periodic manual adjustment and the problems attendant thereto. The device for adjusting the tension comprises a force applying fluid cylinder to move one of the sprockets carrying each chain to a position which increases the tension. A cooperating latch device serves to secure the sprocket in any adjusted position.

Abstract: A roll of web material is initially supported at a first winding station and in engagement with spaced-apart first and second rolls which are driven at different peripheral speeds to provide a "tight" initial wind. The roll of web material is then transferred to a second winding station and supported in engagement with first and second winding rolls with the second winding roll being movable away from the first winding roll and further away from the first winding station as the size of the roll of web material increases so that large or jumbo size rolls may be wound on the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus and method in which lengths of web material joined by widthwise seams are guided along a path of travel and between a pair of rolls arranged to form a nip. In accordance with this invention, a plurality of seam detectors are provided and the rolls are separated in response to and in predetermined relation with sensing of a seam by all of the detectors, in order to avoid damage to the rolls or to the seam portion of the fabric during handling.

Abstract: An apparatus and method in which lengths of web material joined by widthwise seams are guided along a path of travel adjacent a shear, either for decorative shearing or for roll winding. In the instance of decorative shearing, the web material surface is sheared to produce a particular desired effect, such as velour fabric. In winding, web material is wound into a roll of up to a first diameter at a starting winding position and then transferred to a second winding position at which winding continues to a larger diameter. The web material is controllably sheared or severed between the starting and second winding positions upon the material roll being wound at the second position reaching a desired diameter. In accordance with this invention, a plurality of seam detectors are provided and shear movement occurs in response to and in predetermined relation with sensing of a seam by all of the detectors, in order to avoid severing a seam in decorative shearing or to sever through a seam in winding.

Abstract: A winding apparatus of the type in which a roll of web material is supported at a first winding position and in engagement with one of a plurality of driving rolls during initiation of winding and is then supported at a second winding position and in engagement with another driving roll during continuation of winding, the apparatus having an arrangement for folding a leading end portion of web material and tucking the folded web material about a winding core positioned at the first winding position for initiation of winding of web material thereon.

Abstract: A winding apparatus and method in which a roll of web material is supported at a first winding position during winding to a predetermined initial size and at a second winding position during continuation of winding to a final size, the apparatus having mechanism for feeding winding cores along a predetermined path of travel to the first winding position and a pair of transfer arms which move along a path intersecting the path of travel of winding cores fed to the first winding position for engaging a winding core of a roll of web material in the first winding position and displacing the roll to the second winding position, with the movement of winding cores and the pair of transfer arms occuring in sequential timed relation so as to avoid interference therebetween.