Tail Free Transfer Winder

Abstract

Transferring a moving web from a winding roll to a new core is effected by cutting the web to form a downstream web end portion and an adjacent upstream web end portion; splicing the cut web with a tape; moving the spliced web to a position adjacent to the new core; and adhering the downstream web end portion to the new core with the tape.

1 . A method of transferring a moving web from a winding roll to a rotating new core, the method comprising the steps of:
 cutting the moving web to form a downstream web end portion and an adjacent upstream web end portion;   splicing the moving cut web with a tape;   moving the spliced web to a position adjacent to the rotating new core; and   adhering the downstream web end portion while moving to the rotating new core with an adhesive.   
   
   
       2 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the tape is a double faced tape, the cut web is spliced with an adhesive that is on a first face of the double faced tape, and the downstream web end portion is adhered to the new core with an adhesive that is on a second face of the double faced tape. 
   
   
       3 . A method as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the splicing step includes applying the double faced tape to the cut web so that a first portion of the double faced tape overlies the downstream end portion of the web and a second portion of the double faced tape overlies the upstream end portion of the web, each one of the first and second tape portions having an exposed adhesive surface. 
   
   
       4 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the tape is a single faced tape, the cut web is spliced with an adhesive that is on the single faced tape, and the downstream web end portion is adhered to the new core with an adhesive that is on the new core. 
   
   
       5 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the cutting step includes the step of wrapping the moving web about a pull roll having a surface portion that is configured as a cutting surface for receiving a knife to cut the web. 
   
   
       6 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the step of adhering the downstream web end portion to the new core includes the step of positioning a bump/pack/gap roll to position the splice on the moving web against the new core to cause the downstream end portion of the web to adhere to the new core. 
   
   
       7 . A method as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the bump/pack/gap roll is positioned in a nip position with the new core. 
   
   
       8 . A method as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the bump/pack/gap roll is not positioned in a nip position with the new core. 
   
   
       9 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 the tape is a double faced tape, the cut web is spliced with an adhesive that is on a first face of the double faced tape, and the downstream web end portion is adhered to the new core with an adhesive that is on a second face of the double faced tape; and   the splicing step includes applying the double faced tape to the cut web so that a first portion of the double faced tape overlies the downstream end portion of the web and a second portion of the double faced tape overlies the upstream end portion of the web, each one of the first and second tape portions having an exposed adhesive surface; and   the cutting step includes the step of wrapping the moving web about a pull roll having a surface portion that is configured as a cutting surface for receiving a knife to cut the web; and   the step of adhering the downstream web end portion to the new core includes the step of positioning a bump/pack/gap roll to position the splice on the moving web against the new core to cause the downstream end portion of the web to adhere to the new core.   
   
   
       10 . A method of transferring a moving web from a winding roll to a rotating new core, the method comprising the steps of:
 cutting the moving web on a first roll to form a downstream web end portion and an adjacent upstream web end portion;   transporting the web end portions from the first roll to a position that is spaced apart from the first roll and adjacent to a rotating new core;   maintaining the downstream web end portion adjacent to the upstream web end portion during the transporting step; and   adhering the moving downstream web end portion to the rotating new core without forming a tail.   
   
   
       11 . A method as set forth in  claim 10  wherein the maintaining step includes applying a tape to the web end portions after cutting the web to maintain the web end portions adjacent to each other during the transporting step. 
   
   
       12 . A method as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the tape is a double sided tape having a first layer of adhesive that maintains the web end portions adjacent to each other during the transporting step and a second layer of adhesive that adheres the downstream web end portion to the new core. 
   
   
       13 . A method as set forth in  claim 10  wherein the transporting step includes moving the web end portions through space between the first roll and the new core. 
   
   
       14 . Apparatus for transferring a moving web from a winding roll to a rotating new core, the apparatus comprising:
 a pull roll on which the moving web is wrapped;   a knife roll that is movable and cuts the web while the moving web is wrapped on the pull roll;   a tape roll on which a tape is adhered and which is movable relative to the pull roll to apply the tape to the moving cut web while the moving cut web is wrapped on the pull roll to splice the cut web; and   a bump/pack/gap roll that causes the moving spliced web to engage the rotating new core so that the cut web adheres to the new core.   
   
   
       15 . Apparatus for transferring a moving web from a winding roll to a rotating new core, the apparatus comprising:
 means for cutting the moving web to form an upstream web end portion and a downstream web end portion;   means for applying an adhesive layer to the moving cut web to hold the web end portions in a spatial relationship; and   means for moving the downstream web end portion into contact with the rotating new core to adhere the downstream web end portion to the new core.   
   
   
       16 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the means for applying includes a tape roll on which is disposed a double faced tape, the tape roll being movable into a nip position with the moving web to apply the double faced tape to the cut web. 
   
   
       17 . Apparatus for transferring a moving web from a winding roll to a rotating new core, the apparatus comprising:
 a first mechanism that cuts the moving web;   a second mechanism that splices the moving cut web with a tape; and   a third mechanism that transports the spliced web to the rotating new core to adhere the tape to the rotating new core.   
   
   
       18 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 17  wherein the first mechanism includes a pull roll on which the moving web is wrapped prior to being cut. 
   
   
       19 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 18  wherein the pull roll is a vacuum pull/anvil roll. 
   
   
       20 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 17  wherein the second mechanism includes a tape roll on which the tape is adhered before being applied to the cut web, the tape roll forming a nip with the pull roll to cause the tape to adhere to the cut web on both sides of the cut. 
   
   
       21 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 17  wherein the first mechanism cuts the web to form a downstream end portion of the web and an adjacent upstream end portion of the web, the tape adhering the downstream web end portion to the new core while the upstream web end portion peels away from the tape. 
   
   
       22 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 17  wherein the second mechanism is operative to apply the tape to the cut web so that a first portion of the tape overlies a downstream end portion of the web and a second portion of the tape overlies an upstream end portion of the web, each one of the first and second tape portions having an exposed adhesive surface presented away from the web. 
   
   
       23 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 17  wherein the third mechanism includes a bump/pack/gap bump roll.