Abstract: A rewinder having a first winding roll that transports and supports the web, at least one core support plate that is curved for receiving and guiding cores adjacent the first winding roll, and a web separator adjacent the first winding roll and movable into pressing relationship with the web at a velocity at least equal to that of the web. The rewinder of exemplary embodiments winds a web of material a nip defined by the first winding roll, a second winding roll and a rider roll. The web separator of exemplary embodiments comprises a rotatable plurality of fingers that rotates about a common shaft. Because the web separator contacts the web moving at a velocity at least equal to that of the web, the web is effectively separated upstream of the web separator, between the core and the web separator.

Abstract: A log packaging apparatus for packaging logs using a turret or a shuttle. The turret or shuttle can be used in conjunction with a wrap conveyor. The turret system can include a rotatable turret with at least one clamp movable into different positions in the apparatus, a log station at which logs are received, and a log ejector for ejecting logs from the log station into clamps of the turret. Logs can be ejected from the log station, through wrap material, and into the turret clamps. In other embodiments, a wrap conveyor inserts wrap material between a shuttle and a log station at which logs are received. Logs in such embodiments can pass from the log station to the shuttle through the wrap material.

Abstract: A flying web splice apparatus and method for splicing a moving web of material to another web of material without tape or adhesives being used at the splice. Two splicer assemblies are provided which each have a rotatable parent roll feeding web material into the splicer apparatus. Each splicer assembly has a series of substantially parallel vacuum belts and a series of vacuum boxes therein. The vacuum boxes for each splicer assembly are evacuated by a vacuum blower, which creates a vacuum causing a suction through holes within a portion of the vacuum belts in order to hold web material to the vacuum belts. The series of belts for each splicer assembly are preferably rotatable about a top pivot to bring a bottom portion of each series of belts together.

Abstract: The conveyor product transfer apparatus of the present invention includes at least one product transfer member mounted for translational (and preferably reciprocating) movement between product conveying surfaces or between a discharge or receiving station and a conveying surface separated by a distance sufficient to provide equipment clearance for an operation performed upon product transferred by the transfer member. Preferably, each transfer member is mounted for reciprocating translational movement between ends of conveying surfaces that are separated a distance apart, and has a sliding member in sliding engagement with a track to facilitate such movement. Each transfer member is coupled to an actuation assembly for movement thereof. The actuation assembly is preferably a camshaft assembly. To support the conveyed product during product processing operations (e.g.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously folding a plurality of webs of material such as paper or the like, cutting the webs into segments of predetermined length, combining the segments into a group and then stacking the groups together until a desired number of segments are present in the stack after which the stack is discharged while a new stack is being started.

Abstract: A method and means is provided for folding material such as paper hand toweling in either a single "V-fold" or multiple "Z-fold" configuration. In either case, the paper is forced by a tucker into a vise which consists of one stationary jaw and one movable jaw operated by a cam on opening and a spring mechanism on closing. The movable vise is leading through the roll nip. The tucker blade may be split into individual segments, the width of one towel rather than the full width of the machine. Further, leaf springs such as two leaf springs per segment rather than extension springs on each end of the blade are adapted to be used.

Abstract: A sheet overlap device or apparatus that includes an improved and novel method and means for overlapping of sheets and in particular for overlapping hand towels at high speeds using a vacuum arrangement. The transfer from one vacuum roll to the other is made at the same surface velocity so as to provide better register of the overlap and wherein there will be less likelihood of jamming occurring. The unit includes feed rolls, a fly knife roll, vacuum fed bed roll, pinch or pressure roll, vacuum fed lap roll, vacuum fed tail roll, and retard rolls. In one form of the invention, there is a generally horizontal feed, while in another form of the invention the feed occurs vertically rather than horizontally. By utilizing a vertical rather than a horizontal discharge of the machine, there is the added advantage to gravity helping the discharge from the folding rolls.