Patent ID: 8210462
Filing Date: 2012-07-03
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. A winder for winding a web to produce a rolled product comprising: a web transport apparatus for conveying a web downstream, the web transport apparatus comprising a conveyor belt, the web transport apparatus having a first side and a second and opposite side; a plurality of winding modules positioned along the web transport apparatus, each winding module comprising: a) a mandrel in operative association with a driving device for center driving and rotating the mandrel, the mandrel having a length; and b) a positioning apparatus in operative association with the mandrel, the positioning apparatus being configured to move the mandrel into and out of engagement with the conveyor belt, wherein, when placed in engagement with the conveyor belt, a nip is formed between the mandrel and the conveyor belt; and wherein the mandrels are consecutively positioned along the web transport apparatus; each of the mandrels extending across the web transport apparatus from the first side to the second side, the nip between the mandrel and the conveyor belt is used to contact a web being conveyed on the conveyor belt in order to initiate winding of the web on the mandrel.