Compact Machine for Unwinding Multiple Strands of Material

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to machines for unwinding strands of material from wound packages. As discussed in more detail below, machines for continuously unwinding multiple strands of material from wound packages according to the present disclosure may be arranged to be relatively more compact machines, wherein open areas are more efficiently used space, leading to a smaller and more compact footprint for the machines.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A machine comprising:
 a first apparatus having first package unwind stations, a first downstream infeed location, and a first centerline, wherein the first apparatus is configured to unwind a first strand from a first package in one of the first unwind stations to the first downstream infeed location, and the first strand follows a first overall direction; and   a second apparatus having second package unwind stations, a second downstream infeed location, and a second centerline, wherein the second apparatus is configured to unwind a second strand from a second package in one of the second unwind stations to the second downstream infeed location, and the second strand follows a second overall direction; and   a downstream apparatus, which is downstream from the first apparatus and the second apparatus, and which uses the first strand and the second strand in a machine process;   wherein the first centerline and the second centerline are substantially parallel, and the first overall direction is opposite from the second overall direction.   
     
     
         2 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first centerline and the second centerline are completely parallel. 
     
     
         3 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first centerline and the second centerline are completely horizontal. 
     
     
         4 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first centerline is disposed at a first vertical elevation, the second centerline is disposed at a second vertical elevation, and the first vertical elevation is equal to the second vertical elevation. 
     
     
         5 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first centerline is disposed at a first elevation, the second centerline is disposed at a second elevation, and the first elevation is greater than the second elevation;   the first apparatus has a first footprint, the second apparatus has a second footprint, and the first footprint overlaps the second footprint; and   the first centerline is horizontally offset from the second centerline.   
     
     
         6 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein:
 one of the first package unwind stations is a first closest package unwind station, which is closest to the second apparatus, and which has a first strand unwind outline with a first overall shape that is substantially conical;   one of the second package unwind stations is a second closest package unwind station, which is closest to the first apparatus, and which has a second strand unwind outline with a second overall shape that is substantially conical; and   a portion of the first overall shape and a portion of the second overall shape are substantially parallel.   
     
     
         7 . The machine of  claim 6 , wherein a portion of the first overall shape and a portion of the second overall shape are completely parallel. 
     
     
         8 . The machine of  claim 6 , wherein the first overall shape is separated from the second overall shape by an offset distance that is less than or equal to 30 centimeters. 
     
     
         9 . The machine of  claim 6 , wherein:
 each of the first package unwind stations is configured to hold a first package with a first maximum diameter;   the first overall shape is separated from the second overall shape by an offset distance that is less than or equal to the first maximum diameter.   
     
     
         10 . The machine of  claim 6 , wherein:
 each of the first package unwind stations is configured to hold a first package with a first maximum diameter;   the first overall shape is separated from the second overall shape by an offset distance that is less than or equal to half of the first maximum diameter.   
     
     
         11 . The machine of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a third apparatus having third package unwind stations, a third downstream infeed location, and a third centerline that is centered on and perpendicular to the third downstream infeed location, wherein the third apparatus is configured to unwind a third strand from a third package loaded into one of the third unwind stations to the third downstream infeed location, and the third strand follows a third overall direction; and   a fourth apparatus having fourth package unwind stations, a fourth downstream infeed location, and a fourth centerline that is centered on and perpendicular to the fourth downstream infeed location, wherein the fourth apparatus is configured to unwind a fourth strand from a fourth package loaded into one of the fourth unwind stations to the fourth downstream infeed location, and the fourth strand follows a fourth overall direction; and   the downstream apparatus, which is downstream from the third apparatus and the fourth apparatus, and which uses the third strand and the fourth strand in the machine process;   wherein the first, second, third, and fourth centerlines are substantially parallel, and the first and third overall directions are opposite from the second and fourth overall directions.   
     
     
         12 . A machine comprising:
 a first apparatus having first package unwind stations, a first downstream infeed location, and a first centerline that is centered on and perpendicular to the first downstream infeed location, wherein the first apparatus is configured to unwind a first strand from a first package loaded into one of the first unwind stations to the first downstream infeed location, and the first strand follows a first overall direction; and   a second apparatus having second package unwind stations, a second downstream infeed location, and a second centerline that is centered on and perpendicular to the second downstream infeed location, wherein the second apparatus is configured to unwind a second strand from a second package loaded into one of the second unwind stations to the second downstream infeed location, and the second strand follows a second overall direction; and   a third apparatus having third package unwind stations, a third downstream infeed location, and a third centerline that is centered on and perpendicular to the third downstream infeed location, wherein the third apparatus is configured to unwind a third strand from a third package loaded into one of the third unwind stations to the third downstream infeed location, and the third strand follows a third overall direction; and   a downstream apparatus, which is downstream from the first apparatus, the second apparatus, and the third apparatus, and which uses the first strand, the second strand, and the third strand in a machine process;   wherein the first centerline, the second centerline, and the third centerline are arranged in a substantially radial array, and the first overall direction, the second overall direction, and the third overall direction are directed inward toward a center of the array.   
     
     
         13 . The machine of  claim 12 , wherein the first centerline, the second centerline, and the third centerline are arranged in a completely radial array. 
     
     
         14 . The machine of  claim 12 , wherein the first centerline, the second centerline, and the third centerline are completely horizontal. 
     
     
         15 . The machine of  claim 12 , wherein the first centerline is disposed at a first elevation, the second centerline is disposed at a second elevation, the third centerline is disposed at a third elevation, and the first, second, and third elevations are substantially equal. 
     
     
         16 . The machine of  claim 12 , wherein the first apparatus has a first footprint, the second apparatus has a second footprint, the third apparatus has a third footprint, and the first, second, and third footprints do not overlap. 
     
     
         17 . The machine of  claim 12 , wherein:
 one of the first package unwind stations is a first closest package unwind station, which is closest to the second apparatus, and which has a first strand unwind outline with a first overall shape that is substantially conical;   one of the second package unwind stations is a second closest package unwind station, which is closest to the first apparatus, and which has a second strand unwind outline with a second overall shape that is substantially conical; and   a portion of the first overall shape and a portion of the second overall shape are substantially parallel.   
     
     
         18 . The machine of  claim 17 , wherein a portion of the first overall shape and a portion of the second overall shape are completely parallel. 
     
     
         19 . The machine of  claim 17 , wherein the first overall shape is separated from the second overall shape by an offset distance that is less than or equal to 30 centimeters. 
     
     
         20 . The machine of  claim 17 , wherein:
 each of the first package unwind stations is configured to hold a first package with a first maximum diameter;   the first overall shape is separated from the second overall shape by an offset distance that is less than or equal to the first maximum diameter.