Process for improving the convertibility of convolutely wound web material parent rolls

Abstract

A process for improving the convertability of parent rolls of convolutely wound web materials is disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for improving the convertability of parent rolls of convolutely wound web materials, the process comprising the steps of:
 a) producing a web material with a paper machine;   b) forming a parent roll of said web material by convolutely winding said web material about a core to form said parent roll;   c) operatively engaging an end effector having a first core plug and a second core plug operatively connected thereto with said core of said parent roll, said first core plug engaging a first end of said core and said second core plug operatively engaging a second end of said core, said second end being distal from said first end, said end effector being operatively connected to a motivator to form a parent roll transport device;   d) transporting said parent roll with said parent roll transport device to a parent roll converting apparatus;   e) operatively disposing said parent roll in said converting apparatus; and,   f) converting said parent roll.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said step of forming a parent roll of said web material by convolutely winding said web material about a core to form said parent roll further comprises the step of forming said parent roll of said web material by convolutely winding said web material about said core to form said parent roll having a first eccentricity. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2  wherein said step of operatively disposing said parent roll in said converting apparatus further comprises the step of operatively disposing said parent roll in said converting apparatus with a second eccentricity, said first and second eccentricities being equal. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising the step of cooperatively engaging a platform with said second core plug and said end effector, a first end of said parent roll being engaged with a surface of said platform when said first core plug is engaged with said first end of said core and said second core plug is engaging with said second end of said core. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 4  further comprising the step of disengaging said platform from said end effector after said parent roll is engaged with said surface of said platform and after said first core plug and said second core plug are removed from said core. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 4  further comprising the step of providing said platform with a conveyor, said conveyor traversing about said surface of said platform, said conveyor conveying said parent roll from a first position to a second position providing cooperative alignment of said core of said parent roll with said first core plug and said second core plug. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 4  further comprising the step of disengaging said platform and said second core plug from said end effector after said parent roll is engaged with said surface of said platform and after said first core plug is removed from said core, said second core plug remaining operatively engaged with said second end of said core. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 4  wherein said step of engaging said first end of said parent roll with said surface of said platform further comprises the steps of engaging said first end of said parent roll having a first eccentricity with said surface of said platform and operatively disposing said parent roll having a second eccentricity in said converting apparatus, said first and second eccentricities being equal. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 4  wherein said step d) further comprises the step of directly transporting said parent roll from said paper machine to said converting apparatus. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 4  further comprising the steps of, after said step c), disengaging said platform from said end effector after said parent roll is engaged with said surface of said platform and after said first core plug and said second core plug are removed from said core, and subsequently re-engaging said platform with said end effector. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said step d) further comprises the step of directly transporting said parent roll from said paper machine to said converting apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising the step of, after said step c) rotationally reorienting said core from a first position to a second position with said end effector. 
     
     
         13 . A process for improving the convertability of parent rolls of convolutely wound web materials, the process comprising the steps of:
 a) producing a web material with a paper machine;   b) forming a parent roll of said web material by convolutely winding said web material about a core to form said parent roll;   c) operatively engaging an end effector having a first core plug, a second core plug, and a platform disposed about said second core plug operatively connected thereto with said core of said parent roll, said first core plug engaging a first end of said core, said second core plug operatively engaging a second end of said core, and a first end of said parent roll being engaged with a surface of said platform when said first core plug is engaged with said first end of said core and said second core plug is engaging with said second end of said core, said second end being distal from said first end, said end effector being operatively connected to a motivator to form a parent roll transport device;   d) transporting said parent roll with said parent roll transport device to a parent roll converting apparatus;   e) operatively disposing said parent roll in said converting apparatus; and,   f) converting said parent roll.   
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13  further comprising the step of providing said platform with a conveyor, said conveyor traversing about said surface of said platform, said conveyor conveying said parent roll from a first position to a second position providing cooperative alignment of said core of said parent roll with said first core plug and said second core plug. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 13  further comprising the step of, after said step c) rotationally reorienting said core from a first position to a second position with said end effector. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 13  further comprises the steps of during said step b), forming said parent roll of said web material by convolutely winding said web material about said core to form said parent roll having a first eccentricity and said step e) further comprises the step of operatively disposing said parent roll in said converting apparatus with a second eccentricity, said first and second eccentricities being equal. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 13  further comprising the steps of after said step c), disengaging said platform from said end effector after said first core plug and said second core plug are removed from said core and subsequently re-engaging said platform with said end effector. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 13  wherein said step d) further comprises the step of directly transporting said parent roll from said paper machine to said converting apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 13  further comprising the step of, after said step c) rotationally reorienting said core from a first position to a second position with said end effector. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 13  further comprising the steps of:
 g) forming a second parent roll of said web material; 
 h) operatively engaging said end effector with a core of said second parent roll; 
 i) transporting said second parent roll with said parent roll transport device to said parent roll converting apparatus; 
 j) operatively disposing said second parent roll in said converting apparatus; and, 
 k) converting said second parent roll.