Patent ID: 6176670
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: B21C,B65H,Y10S

Abstract:
Roll handling and transport assemblage, comprising:means for retrieving the roll from a first roll storage and then moving said roll to a flexibly, movable roll support member, said flexible movable roll support member providing free floating alignment of said roll and comprising a plurality of spaced biased compression heads, each of said compression heads comprises a plurality of springs biased between a top cover and a frame for flexibly supporting said roll;a first sensor for sensing the elevation of the roll on the first roll storage, said sensor producing a first signal corresponding to said elevation;means for moving said movable roll support member to a second roll storage having a fixed centerline, said second roll storage having a preferred orientation for receiving said roll;a second sensor for sensing said fixed centerline of said second roll storage, said second sensor generating a second signal corresponding to said fixed centerline of said second storage; andmeans for comparing said first signal to said second signal such that any difference between said first and second signals causes said support member to movably align relative to said fixed centerline of said second storage.