Abstract: A converting line for coreless roll products includes a rewinding machine and a controller. A log of convolutely wound web material is wound in the rewinding machine during a wind cycle. A diameter of the log, a caliper of the web material, and an amount of tension of the web is determined at a plurality of time points during a time period of the winding cycle. The controller is enabled to generate a signal to change an operating condition of the converting line based upon at least one of a diameter determination at a time point during the wind cycle, a caliper determination at a time point during the wind cycle, a wound web amount determination at a time point during the wind cycle, and a tension determination at a time point during the wind cycle.

Abstract: A method includes a bag forming process with a bag wicketing machine having a sideweld seal head that receives plies of web material, conveys the plies through the sideweld seal head, seals the plies together, cuts the plies to form a bag blank, and moves the bag blank onto an exit conveyor. Pressurized air from nozzles of a pneumatic blow down bar is directed at the bag blank. With an energized laser operatively mounted on the pneumatic blow down bar, the position of the pneumatic blow down bar relative to the bag blank and the exit of the sideweld seal head is adjusted so that a beam emanating from the laser is positioned against the bag blank at a desired location where pressurized air from the nozzles of the pneumatic blow down bar is directed against the bag blank and forces the bag blank into engagement with the conveyor.

Abstract: A rewinding machine winds a web material into a log about a core. The web material to be wound is directed about a rotating winding drum. A continuous loop is spaced from the winding drum and with the winding drum defines a nip through which the core is inserted and through which the web material is directed. A surface of the continuous loop opposite the winding drum across the nip is configured to move in a direction generally opposite of the winding drum for winding the web material about the core. A rider roll defines a winding space with the winding drum and the continuous loop. The rider roll is movable relative to the continuous loop and the winding drum to allow for an increase in a diameter of the log in the winding space during winding of the web material about the core.

Abstract: A method for producing a laminated embossed web includes the steps of: (a) providing a first web and at least a further web, (b) embossing the first web with a first pattern of embossments, each embossment comprising a top and a side, (c) providing an adhesive with an electrostatic charge, (d) directing the adhesive to the tops of the embossments, and (e) combining the webs.

Abstract: A processing line processes logs of convolutely wound web material and has upstream and downstream sections. A main accumulator has buckets that receive, hold, and release logs. An input feeder receives logs from the upstream section and conveys them to a bucket of main accumulator. A loader has a loader accumulator and loader buckets that receive, hold, and release logs. A transfer conveyor between the main accumulator and the loader receives a log from the main accumulator bucket and conveys the log a loader bucket independently of the input feeder. The loader receives a log from the transfer conveyor. The loader conveys the log in the loader bucket to a discharge of the loader. The loader discharge discharges the log from the loader bucket to the downstream section of the processing line.

Abstract: A control system is provided for a converting line. The converting line has an unwinder for unwinding web material from a roll of web material and at least one independently driven roll for directing the web material unwound from the unwinder to the converting line. The control system has a controller and a tension sensor configured to be arranged downstream of the at least one driven roll. The tension sensor is configured to sense a tension in the web as the web is passed downstream of the driven roll, generate a signal indicative of sensed web tension, and transmit the signal of sensed web tension to the controller. The controller is configured to a generate and transmit to the unwinder a signal to change the speed of the unwinder based upon the tension sensed by the tension sensor.

Abstract: A core end engagement assembly is provided for a rewinding machine. The core end engagement assembly is configured to engage an end of the core and transmit rotational movement to the core during winding of the web material about the core. The assembly may include a drive housing. A chuck may project from a first end of the drive housing and may be configured to engage the end of the core. A first actuator may reciprocate the drive housing along a central axis of the core between an engagement and disengagement position of the chuck relative to the core. A second actuator may be mounted on the drive housing. The second actuator may be configured and adapted to move the chuck between release and hold positions. A flexible drive shaft operatively connects with and rotationally drives the chuck.

Abstract: A device and a method is disclosed to maintain plate and anilox mandrel position stability in print decks of a flexographic printing press. In one aspect, the mandrel bearings associated with at least one of the plate roll and the anilox roll are preloaded for the purpose of eliminating backlash and increasing the positional stiffness of the bearings, and thus the mandrel. In another aspect, the roll drive motor control system is enabled to provide a torque additive command the torque profile to maintain rotational consistency and otherwise overcome torque transients experienced by the motor during print bounce. Accordingly, the problem commonly referred to as print bounce and or print banding is alleviated.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a blade of a log saw of a converting line comprises applying a cleaning agent to a saw blade. The saw blade is adapted to cut a log of web material into rolls as the log of web material advances on a conveyor. In an another step of the method the log is advanced on the conveyor for cutting with the saw blade. In another step of the method, the saw blade is cleaned by cutting the log with the saw blade with the cleaning agent applied to the saw blade.

Abstract: An apparatus supports a convolutely wound log of web material during cutting of the convolutely wound log, and includes a bottom support link operatively pivotally coupled to a support frame and a side support link operatively pivotally coupled to the support frame and the bottom support link. A flexible member operatively coupled to a distal end of the side support link extends tangentially from the side support link and curves away from the side support link and the bottom support link so that a portion of the flexible member is spaced away from the side support link and the bottom support link. The spaced away portion of the flexible member together with the side support link and the bottom support link at least in part define a support surface for supporting the convolutely wound log when the log is directed into the apparatus.

Abstract: A machine forms a roll of convolutely wound web material. The machine includes a winding apparatus configured to receive a mandrel and the web material and wind the web material around the mandrel. A pulling device pulls the mandrel longitudinally to remove the mandrel from the roll after forming the roll. The machine further includes a restraint that engages the peripheral surface of the roll when the mandrel is pulled longitudinally to remove the mandrel from the roll. A method is also provided. In one aspect of the method, a web material is wound around a mandrel to form a roll of convolutely wound web material. The mandrel is pulled longitudinally after the step of winding the web material around the mandrel. The periphery of the roll is restrained from moving axially when the mandrel is pulled longitudinal. The mandrel is then removed from the roll.

Abstract: A rewinding machine winds web material into a log. The machine has a winding drum that is rotatable about a center axis and about which the web material to be wound is directed. A continuous loop is spaced from the winding drum and with the winding drum defines a nip through which the web material is directed when winding the web material into the log. The continuous loop is configured to move in a direction generally opposite of a direction of the winding drum at the nip. The continuous loop is configured to change speed relative to a speed of the winding drum during winding the web material into the log about a lead edge of the web material. The continuous loop is positionable relative to the winding drum at the nip to accommodate winding the web material into the log about the lead edge of the web material and to sever the web material.

Abstract: A blade guard assembly for a circular saw blade of a saw house includes a blade cover with a face panel and an edge portion that extends from the face panel. An actuator is mountable the blade cover and the structure of the saw house. When the blade guard assembly is mounted in saw house, the blade cover is movable with the actuator between a covered position and an exposed position. In the covered position, the face panel and edge portion at least partially surround the saw blade. In the exposed position, the face panel is spaced from the saw blade.

Abstract: A converting line includes a rewinding machine for winding web material into a log. For time points during a time period of the log wind cycle, predictive information representative of a log to be wound is generated and stored in a memory of a control of the rewinding machine. An image capture device is enabled to capture a plurality of images of the log being wound in the winding nest at the plurality of corresponding time points during the time period. Log image capture information is generated based upon the plurality of captured images and corresponding time points during the time period. The log image capture information is compared with the generated predictive log image information to determine a difference in log image. Revised predictive log image information is generated based at least in part upon a difference in the log image capture information relative to predictive log image information.

Abstract: A control system for a converting line has a sensor configured to sense a distance between the sensor and a surface of a roll of web material as the roll of web material is unwound from an unwinder and directed to the converting line. The controller is configured to: (i) determine a diameter measurement of the roll as the roll rotates based upon the sensor signals; (ii) store a plurality of data structures in a memory of a controller of a control system wherein the data structures comprise a plurality of data items associated together as the diameter measurements of the roll of the web material; (iii) process by a statistical regression analysis the data structures associated with the diameter; and (iv) generate signals for controlling the converting line based upon the processed diameter measurements.

Abstract: A core end engagement assembly is provided for a rewinding machine. The core end engagement assembly is configured to engage an end of the core and transmit rotational movement to the core during winding of the web material about the core. The assembly may include a drive housing. A chuck may project from a first end of the drive housing and may be configured to engage the end of the core. A first actuator may reciprocate the drive housing along a central axis of the core between an engagement and disengagement position of the chuck relative to the core. A second actuator may be mounted on the drive housing. The second actuator may be configured and adapted to move the chuck between release and hold positions. A flexible drive shaft operatively connects with and rotationally drives the chuck.

Abstract: A device and a method is disclosed to maintain plate and anilox mandrel position stability in print decks of a flexographic printing press. In one aspect, the mandrel bearings associated with at least one of the plate roll and the anilox roll are preloaded for the purpose of eliminating backlash and increasing the positional stiffness of the bearings, and thus the mandrel. In another aspect, the roll drive motor control system is enabled to provide a torque additive command the torque profile to maintain rotational consistency and otherwise overcome torque transients experienced by the motor during print bounce. Accordingly, the problem commonly referred to as print bounce and or print banding is alleviated.

Abstract: An overwrap feed station wraps a product with an overwrap material by drawing the overwrap material around the product to form a tube around the product as the product moves through the feed station. The feed station is configurable in one of first and second configurations based upon a desired location of a longitudinal seal to be formed on the tube around the product. A first former is configured to guide the overwrap material through the entrance of the feed station so that longitudinal edges of the overwrap material overlap on a first side of the tube during wrapping of the product. The second former is configured to guide the overwrap material through the entrance of the feed station so that longitudinal edges of the overwrap material overlap on a second side of the tube during wrapping of the product. The second side is transverse to the first side.

Abstract: A system has first and second winding drums and a core feeder for inserting a core into a winding nest for forming a convoluted roll. The leading edge of the web is engaged with a threading belt and directed around the first winding drum and through the winding nest to a position where the leading edge is beyond where the core feeder inserts the core into the winding nest thus providing an excess portion of the web between the leading edge and the core feeder core insertion position. A thread-up core is inserted into the winding nest and rotated with the winding drums so that the excess portion moves around the thread-up core. The leading edge is separated from the threading belt, the excess portion of the web is wound around the thread-up core, and the web from the supply is wound around the thread-up core.

Abstract: An embosser/laminator machine has an adhesive unit releasably connectable with a main frame structure of the machine, and a roll extractor configured to move a roll between the main frame structure and an exchange position between the main frame structure and the adhesive unit when the adhesive unit is spaced from the main frame structure during removal and installation of the roll. The sub-frame comprising the adhesive unit may be formed with a bearing cap that cooperates with the main frame structure such that when the adhesive unit is connected with the main frame structure, the roll is operatively secured to the machine between main frame structure and the sub-frame of the adhesive unit for normal operation of the machine. When the sub-frame comprising the adhesive unit is released and spaced from main frame structure, the roll may be removed from and installed into the main frame structure.