Abstract:
Apparatuses and methods are provided for cutting a traveling web of paper that is being spooled on a full spool and transferring the paper web to spool on an empty spool by driving turn-up tape into a nip between the empty spool and the paper web. The apparatuses and methods provide a more problem free way of transferring a traveling paper web to an empty spool. The apparatuses include a drive and a transfer track for transporting the tape beneath the paper web and delivering the tape into the nip, the transfer track including, a horizontal section having a front end and a back end and a first groove running the length of the horizontal section, the first groove being defined by a first top wall, a first side wall, a first bottom wall, and a first flexible seal such that the turn-up tape travels substantially vertical in the direction of travel underneath the paper web, and a turn-up section connected to the back end of the horizontal section, the turn-up section being curved upwardly from the horizontal section to a position adjacent to the empty spool, and the turn-up section having a second groove running the length of the turn-up section, the second groove being defined by a second top wall, a second side wall, a second bottom wall, and a second flexible seal, the turn-up tape traveling substantially perpendicular to the second bottom wall, whereby the drive is capable of driving the turn-up tape to the end of the transfer track. The methods including rotating an equal angle cam in contact with the turn-up tape to move the tape down the transfer track and into the nip.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to and the benefit of the prior filed copending and commonly owned provisional application entitled “Apparatus For Cutting and Spooling Paper,” filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Feb. 25, 1999, assigned Application No. 60/121,364, and incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The field of this invention is systems related to paper producing and methods of operating the same. More specifically, this invention relates to apparatuses and methods for cutting and spooling a traveling web of paper. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Paper is typically produced in wide, continuous sheets. As the sheet is produced, it is wound onto a spool. As each spool is filled it is necessary to transfer the sheet to an empty spool. However, because of the manner in which paper producing machines operate, it is difficult and expensive to shut down the machine while the sheet is cut and transferred to a new spool. Thus, methods for transferring the sheet from a full to an empty spool without interrupting the paper producing machines have been developed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,258 to Corbin (“Corbin”), entitled “Turn-up Tape,” discloses the manual application of a paper ribbon or “turn-up tape” to a spinning empty spool that is positioned above the moving sheet of paper. The trailing end of the turn-up tape is positioned underneath the sheet. As the turn-up tape is wound onto the spinning empty spool, it cuts across the moving sheet, thereby tearing the sheet and simultaneously holding the cut end of the sheet against the empty spool. In this manner, the sheet is transferred to the empty spool with no interruption or interference with the continuous production of the paper sheet. 
     Manual application of turn-up tape to empty spools presents certain disadvantages. For instance, the operator responsible for applying the turn-up tape is exposed to dangerous, high-speed equipment. Moreover, manual application is prone to errors in positioning and timing. Thus, machines for applying the turn-up tape to the empty spools have been developed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,029 to Rodriguez, entitled “Apparatus and Method for Cutting and Spooling a Web of Paper,” discloses a turn-up tape machine having a hand or motor driven tape-feeding mechanism, a tape-cutting mechanism, an open guideway and a brake. The turn-up tape is fed by the tape-feeding mechanism into the guideway. The open guideway travels under the paper sheet and curves up and around so that the exit of the guideway is positioned adjacent to the “nip” or the point where the paper sheet is tangent to the empty spool. The turn-up tape is forced through the guideway and into the nip. When the turn-up tape is pushed into the nip, it sticks to the spool, is pulled out of the guideway and tears the sheet as described above. 
     In this prior art system, the turn-up tape is pushed through the entire length of the guideway by a roller mechanism located at one end of the guideway and the guideway fits relatively snugly around the turn-up tape to prevent bunching or kinking that would jam the guideway. In other words, this approach is the equivalent of pushing a rope; thus, a close fit is required to keep the “rope” or turn-up tape straight as it is pushed through the guideway. At the same time, however, at least one of the walls, typically the top, of the guideway is open to allow the turn-up tape to be drawn out of the guideway and around the spool. The combination of the open top of the guideway and the close fit between the guideway and the turn-up tape creates additional problems. Moisture and debris can fall into the guideway, damaging the turn-up tape and fouling the guideway, thus creating the kinks and jams the close-fitting guideway is intended to prevent. Covered guideways, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,937 to Rodriguez et al., entitled “Track Assembly For A Cutting Tape,” have been used, but the fact that the turn-up tape must be pushed over relatively long distances through a relatively snug channel results in the tape jamming or bunching in the channel. 
     Also, the configuration of this type of guideway requires that a full twist be placed in the turn-up tape as it travels through the curved portion of the track. This twist not only interferes with the smooth motion of the tape through the track, but also interferes with the extraction of the turn-up tape from the track as it is wound onto the spool. 
     Other turn-up tape machines have used a shuttle that grips the turn-up tape as it leaves the feed unit and carries it along a track that goes under the sheet and up and around to the nip. The shuttle feeds the free end of the tape into the nip. The turn-up tape, which may hang freely or be draped over extensions protruding from the track, is then drawn up and spooled on the empty spool as described above. This approach resolves the “rope pushing” problem by pulling the tape along its intended path. Nonetheless, the shuttle approach presents other difficulties. For example, the mechanism to motivate the shuttle must take the shuttle through an upwardly curving track—this complex path makes the motivating mechanism complex. Thus, this portion of the track is expensive to manufacture. Moreover, as a result of this complexity, the shuttle may have a tendency to jam in the upwardly curving portion. This portion of the track extends beside and above the traveling web. Thus, to repair or un-jam the shuttle exposes the worker to a dangerous environment. Moreover, this arrangement places the shuttle in close proximity to the nip. Consequently, the shuttle could get drawn into the nip causing severe damage to the turn-up tape machine as well as the paper-making machinery. In addition, this arrangement leaves the turn-up tape exposed to the environment which may allow the turn-up tape to become wet causing it to tear or break when tension is applied, thereby interrupting the cutting process. 
     Moreover, earlier turn up tape machines typically combined two different devices to deliver the turn-up tape to the nip of the paper machine. For example, a powered drive roller was used to move the tape to the nip by clamping the tape between the powered drive roller and an idler roller. One device, such as an air cylinder, was used to move the two rollers together so as to clamp the turn-up tape. Another device, such as an expensive rotary actuator, was used to power the powered drive roller to move the turn-up tape toward the nip. 
     SUMMARY 
     Apparatuses and methods are provided for cutting a traveling web of paper that is being spooled on a full spool and transferring the paper web to spool on an empty spool by driving turn-up tape into a nip between the empty spool and the paper web. The apparatuses and methods provide a more problem free way of transferring a traveling paper web to an empty spool. The apparatuses include a drive and a transfer track for transporting the tape beneath the paper web and delivering the tape into the nip, the transfer track including, a horizontal section having a front end and a back end and a first groove running the length of the horizontal section, the first groove being defined by a first top wall, a first side wall, a first bottom wall, and a first flexible seal such that the turn-up tape travels substantially vertical in the direction of travel underneath the paper web, and a turn-up section connected to the back end of the horizontal section, the turn-up section being curved upwardly from the horizontal section to a position adjacent to the empty spool, and the turn-up section having a second groove running the length of the turn-up section, the second groove being defined by a second top wall, a second side wall, a second bottom wall, and a second flexible seal, the turn-up tape traveling substantially perpendicular to the second bottom wall, whereby the drive is capable of driving the turn-up tape to the end of the transfer track. 
     The methods including rotating an equal angle cam in contact with the turn-up tape to move the tape down the transfer track and into the nip. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, disclose the principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is an illustration of the turn-up tape machine; 
     FIG. 2 is an illustration of the turn-up tape machine as it may be placed in use; 
     FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the looper bin door assembly; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the looper bin door assembly; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional side view of one embodiment of the camming unit; 
     FIG. 6 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the camming unit; 
     FIG. 7 illustrates the mechanics of the equal angle cam; 
     FIG. 8 illustrates the critical force properties associated with the equal angle cam; 
     FIG. 9 illustrates one embodiment of the transfer track assembly; 
     FIG. 10 illustrates a side view of the horizontal section of the transfer track; 
     FIG. 11 illustrates an isometric view of the horizontal section of the transfer track; 
     FIG. 12 illustrates an isometric view of the transition section of the transfer track; 
     FIG. 13 illustrates the components of the transition section of the transfer track; 
     FIG. 14 illustrates a side view of the turn-up section of the transfer track; 
     FIG. 15 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the transfer track; 
     FIG. 16 illustrates an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the horizontal section of the transfer track; 
     FIG. 17 illustrates a side view of an alternative embodiment of the horizontal section of the transfer track; 
     FIG. 18 illustrates an isometric view of the first transition section of an alternative embodiment of the transfer track; 
     FIG. 19 illustrates the components of the first transition section of an alternative embodiment of the transfer track; 
     FIG. 20 illustrates an isometric view of the turn-up section and the second transition section of an alternative embodiment of the transfer track; 
     FIG. 21 is a sectional side view of another embodiment of the camming unit; and 
     FIG. 22 is an isometric view of another embodiment of the camming unit. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS. 1-20 illustrate an improved turn-up tape machine for spooling and cutting a paper web. Referring to FIG. 1, the turn-up tape machine  100  consists of a conventional drive  102 , a cutter assembly  103 , a looper bin  104  with a looper bin door assembly  105 , a brake assembly  114 , a camming unit  106 , and a tape transfer track  107  with a horizontal section  108  and a turn-up section  109  and a transition section. The operation of the turn-up tape machine  100  may be controlled automatically by a computer (not shown), manually by an operator activating the appropriate control switches at the appropriate times, or combination of automatically and manually. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the turn-up tape machine as it would be positioned in relation to a paper web, a empty spool  201 , a reel drum  205 , and a full spool  202 . The path of the paper web is represented by arrow  203 . The paper web is approximately the width of the spools. The turn-up tape machine  100  receives the turn-up tape at the drive  102 . Turning back to FIG. 1, the drive  102  moves the turn-up tape along the machine  100  over the looper bin door assembly, through the camming unit, through the horizontal section  108  underneath the paper web and to the end of the turn-up section  109 . In one embodiment, adhesive is applied to the forward end of the turn-up tape so that when placed in the nip  204  it sticks to the new spool. This application can be done manually or can be done by a machine. A brake in the brake assembly  114  is then actuated to apply pressure to the turn-up tape. The looper bin door of the looper bin door assembly  105  is then opened. This allows turn-up tape to gather in the looper bin  104 . The brake ensures that the tape goes in the looper bin  104  and prevents turn-up tape from passing the looper bin door assembly  105 . After an appropriate amount of turn-up tape has collected in the looper bin  104 , the cutting assembly  103  cuts the turn-up tape, the brake is released, and the drive turns off. As explained more fully below, the camming unit  106  when signaled at the appropriate time causes the turn-up tape to move into a nip  204  between the empty spool  202  and the paper web (shown in FIG.  2 ). After operation of the camming unit, the brake of the brake assembly  114  is again actuated to apply pressure to the turn-up tape. The turn-up tape is then wound around the empty spool causing the tape to pull out of the track  107 , cut the paper web, and start the paper web spooling on the empty spool. 
     Turning back to FIG. 1, the conventional drive  102  receives turn-up tape between a lower powered drive roller  110  and an upper idler roller  111  and forces the tape along the turn-up tape machine  100  as explained above. The top roller of the conventional drive  102  is a measurement roller  112  that measures the amount of turn-up tape currently being fed through the turn-up tape machine  100  by tracking revolutions of the idler roller  111  and provides the computer with this information. 
     Once the end of the turn-up tape has been fed through the tape transfer track  107  to the end of the turn-up portion  109 , the computer signals a looper bin door of the looper bin door assembly  105  to open. Additional tape then collects in the looper bin  104 . This provides for additional length of turn-up tape to allow for the rotation of the empty spool as it draws the turn-up tape around itself and the paper web. FIGS. 3 and 4 provide a more detailed illustration of the looper bin door assembly  105 . Turning to FIG. 4, a looper bin door  302  hinged in a cylinder mount  402  is opened and closed via an air cylinder  304 . With the looper bin door  302  closed, the turn-up tape travels freely over the looper bin door  302 . The looper bin door  302  is connected to a door attachment link  401  which is connected to an air cylinder rod  403 . The air cylinder rod  403  is moved by the air cylinder  304 . When the air cylinder rod  403  is moved in direction A by the air cylinder  304  the looper bin door  304  is pulled down and in direction A such that it comes to rest in a notch  405  in a cylinder mount  402 . When the looper bin door is opened the turn-up tape  301  falls into the looper bin  104 . When the air cylinder rod  403  is moved in direction B by the air cylinder  304  the looper bin door  302  is closed. Turning again to FIG. 1, once an appropriate amount of turn-up tape has passed through the drive  102  and has collected in the looper bin  104 , as determined by the measurement roller  112 , the computer signals a solenoid driven cutting blade that is part of the cutting assembly  103  to cut the turn-up tape. 
     The turn-up tape machine  100  utilizes the camming unit  106  to move the tape at a rapid speed from the end of the turn-up portion  109  of the track into the nip  204 . FIGS. 5 and 6 provide a more detailed description of one embodiment of the camming unit  106 . Turning now to FIG. 6, the camming unit  106  contains two actuators  510 A and B that are attached to a camming unit frame  602  by two blocks  603 A and B. Each actuator contain a piston (not shown) and a piston rod  601 . Looking by example at actuator  510 A, the piston rod  601  goes through the bottom of the actuator  510 A and through the block  603 A and is attached to a shaft  511 . The shaft  511  is connected to two arms of a clevis  505  and is rotatably connected to an equal angle cam  503 . The clevis  505  assists in keeping the equal angle cam  503  aligned in the correct position. FIG. 5 illustrates the camming unit at its start position and FIG. 6 illustrates the camming unit approximately halfway through the rotation of the equal angle cam  503 . 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the turn-up tape  301  is positioned between the equal angle cam  503  and a roller  502 . When the appropriate amount of turn-up tape has accumulated in the looper bin and it is desired to change spools the camming unit  106  is signaled to actuate the actuators  510 A and B which move the pistons and the piston rods  601  in a downward direction. This causes the shaft  511  and the equal angle cam  503  to move toward the roller  502  and the turn-up tape  301  to be clamped between the roller  502  and the equal angle cam  503 . As the pistons move down, the equal angle cam  503  rotates and moves in direction C. This moves the turn-up tape  301  down the tape transfer track  107  in direction D. The turn-up tape  301  is moved down the tape transfer track  107  in the direction D by the length of the equal angle cam&#39;s  503  circumference. The groove  504  and pin  601  of the equal angle cam  503  assist in positioning the cam  503  before actuation and assist in repositioning the cam  503  upon its retraction. 
     A second embodiment of the camming unit is shown is FIGS. 21 and 22. Turning to FIG. 21, the camming unit includes an actuator  501  that contains a piston and a piston rod (not shown). The piston rod is attached to a clevis  505 . The clevis has two arms and the arms are rotatably connected to an equal angle cam  503  by a pin  506 . The turn-up tape  301  is positioned between the equal angle cam  504  and a roller  502 . When the appropriate amount of turn-up tape has accumulated in the looper bin and it is desired to change spools, the camming unit is signaled to actuate the actuator  501  which moves the piston in a downward direction. This causes the clevis  505  and the equal angle cam  503  to move toward the roller  502  and the turn-up tape  301  to be clamped between the roller  502  and the equal angle cam  503 . As the piston moves down, the equal angle cam rotates and moves in direction C. This moves the turn-up tape down the tape transfer track  107  in direction D. The turn-up tape  301  is moved down the tape transfer track  107  by the length of the equal angle cam&#39;s  503  circumference. The groove  504  and pin  601  (shown in FIG. 22) of the equal angle cam  503  assist in positioning the cam  503  before actuation and assist in repositioning the cam  503  upon its retraction. While two embodiments of the camming unit are shown, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that a variety of techniques exist to move and rotate the equal angle cam. 
     FIG. 7 further illustrates the mechanics of the equal angle cam  503 . In mathematical terms the shape of the cam  503  is known as a logarithmic spiral or equal angle spiral. As such, at any point on the spiral that a tangential line is placed, this line will maintain the same angular relationship with the origin of the spiral. For example, FIG. 7 shows three different tangential lines, E, F, and G. All tangential lines maintain the same angular relationships to the origin of the spiral. In the two embodiments discussed above, the spiral has a 14.5 degree angle as shown by vector H in FIG. 8, but one skilled in the art would appreciate that a spiral with a variety of angles could be used. The design of the equal angle cam insures that as the cam is forced down onto the turn-up tape and the cam  503  rotates, the critical force being applied by the cam to the turn-up tape  301  is consistent as the cam  503  rotates. The formula for a logarithmic spiral is provided below.        R   =     e   aq                   R   =     the                 radius                 of                 the                 curve                 e   =     the                 natural                 log                   (   2.718   )                   a   =     the                 sine                 of                 the                 camming                 angle                 q   =     the                 angle                 of                 the                 radius                 in                 radians                                  
     FIG. 8 further illustrates the critical force properties that govern operation of the equal angle cam  503 . The single camming unit  106  performs both the clamping and pushing operations typically performed by two different devices in prior art turn-up tape machines. As shown in FIG. 8, Vector H is the vector along which the clevis  505  and shaft  511  travel when the camming unit  106  is operating. Vector H is at an angle of 14.5 degrees from a line perpendicular to the turn-up tape  301 . In one embodiment, the shaft  511  is driven down along vector H by the actuators. The actuator or actuators supply force in the direction represented by vector H. As force is transferred to the turn-up tape  301  via the cam  503 , the force is distributed in the form of a horizontal component, vector I, and a vertical component, vector J. The vertical component, vector J, will provide the majority of the force. This vertical force is responsible for clamping the turn-up tape  301  between the cam  503  and the roller  502  and thus, preventing the turn-up tape  302  from traveling in the wrong direction. The horizontal force provided by the horizontal component, vector J, is responsible for producing the lateral movement that pushes the turn-up tape  301  toward the nip. 
     When the equal angle cam has finished its rotation, the brake assembly  114  (shown in FIG. 1) is signaled to actuate the brake. The brake applies pressure to the turn-up tape to hold the end of the turn-up tape in place. The brake applies enough pressure on the turn-up tape so that as the turn-up tape begins winding around the empty spool  201  it causes the rest of the turn-up tape to be pulled out of the transfer track  107  and cut through the paper web. The brake applies controlled pressure to the turn-up tape so that it allows the turn-up tape that is in the looper bin slide to past and wind around the empty spool. The end of the turn-up tape then pulls out of the brake assembly  114  and continues to wind around the empty roller  201 . 
     FIGS. 9-14 provide a more detailed illustration of the track  107 . As shown in FIG. 9, the track  107  has a horizontal section  108  that is located underneath the paper web and a turn-up portion  109  that curves upwardly so that the end of the turn-up portion is adjacent to the nip  204  (shown in FIG.  2 ). As shown in FIG. 12 at the beginning of the horizontal section  108  is a transition section  113 . 
     FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate the horizontal section  108  of the tape transfer track  107 . The turn-up tape  301  travels on one of its narrow sides substantially vertical down the horizontal portion  108  in a groove  1001 . The groove is formed by a sideways U-shaped aperture in the track  108  and a flexible seal  1005 . The sideways U-shaped aperture is formed by a top wall  1002 , a concave side wall  1003 , and a bottom wall  1004  on which the turn-up tape  301  travels. The concave side wall  1003  is shaped such that when the front portion of the turn-up tape  301  with adhesive travels through the track, the adhesive does not adhere to the side wall  1003  and cause the turn-up tape to bind in the track. The groove  1001  in the horizontal portion  108  is shaped such that the turn-up tape does not bind or bunch up in the groove  1001  and can slide easily down the transfer track  108 . The top portion  1002  along with the flexible seal  1005  prevent moisture and debris from entering the groove  1001 . The flexible seal  1005  is kept in place by a clamp bar  1006  and a clamp bar fastener  1007 . The flexible seal  1005  allows the turn-up tape  301  to be pulled out of the track across the entire length of the horizontal portion  108  when the turn-up tape  301  is drawn upward by the empty spool  204  while protecting the groove  1001  from debris and moisture from the environment. 
     FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate the transition section  1201 . The transition section  1201  is attached to the front end of the horizontal portion  108 . As shown in FIG. 12, the turn-up tape  301  enters the transition  1203  at opening  1204 . As shown in FIG. 13, the tape  301  enters the transition  1203  at opening  1204  horizontally (with the wide side to the bottom of the track) and is gradually turned 90 degrees to be substantially vertical so it can travel along the horizontal section  108  as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. A transition insert  1202  fits in the groove of the transition section  1201  and helps to keep the turn-up tape from kinking or bunching during the transition from horizontal to substantially vertical. The transition section  1201  is covered by a cover  1205  that connects the transition section  1201  to the horizontal section  108 . 
     FIG. 14 illustrates a sectional view of the turn-up section  109  of the transfer track  107 . The tape  301  travels in the turn-up section  109  in much the same manner as the horizontal section  108 . The tape  301  travels in a groove  1401  made of a U-shaped aperture in the transfer track and a urethane cover  1402 . The U-shaped aperture is formed by a top wall  1405 , a concave side wall  1406 , and a bottom wall  1407 . The turn-up tape  301  travels substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall  1407  in the direction of travel. The urethane cover  1402  keeps the tape  301  in the groove  1401  and keeps debris and moisture out of the groove  1401 . The cover  1402  is held in place by a fastener bar  1403  and a fastener  1404 . A track stiffener  1408  is placed on the opposite side of the transfer track as the groove  1401  to help stabilize the turn-up portion  109 . As shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, the turn-up section  109  is slightly curved at the end so that the turn-up tape  301  may enter the nip  204  substantially horizontal. 
     The shape of the grooves in the transfer track  107  alleviates the twisting action that caused problems with the turn-up tape traveling through the transfer track and with extracting the turn-up tape from the transfer track in prior art machines. 
     FIGS. 15-20 provide a more detailed illustration of an alternative embodiment the tape transfer track  107 . As shown in FIG. 15, the tape transfer track  107  has a horizontal section  1503  that is located underneath the paper web and a turn-up section  109 . At the beginning of the horizontal section  1503  is a first transition section  1501  and at the end of the horizontal section  1503  before the turn-up section  1504  is a second transition section  1502 . 
     FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate the horizontal section  1503  of the tape transfer track  107 . Turning to FIG. 17, a V-shaped groove opening upwardly is formed in the horizontal section  1503 . The V-shaped groove is formed by a substantially vertical side wall  1703  and a second side wall  1704  at an acute angle from the substantially vertical side wall  1703 . The V-shaped groove  1702  is covered by a urethane seal  1701  on the top portion of the transfer track to prevent moisture and debris from entering the groove  1702 . The urethane seal  1701  is attached to the transfer track in such a manner so as to allow the turn-up tape to be pulled out of the track across the entire length of the horizontal portion when the turn-up tape is drawn upward by the empty spool. The V-shaped groove  1702  provides for ease of evacuation of the turn-up tape  301  while allowing the turn-up tape  301  to slide easily down the horizontal section  1503  without any bunching or kinking problems. 
     FIGS. 18 and 19 illustrate the first transition section  1501 . As shown in FIG. 19, the first transition section  1501  begins at one end with a horizontal slot  1801  (shown in FIG. 18) and gradually slopes to the align with the second side wall  1704  of the V-shaped groove  1702 . The slot  1801  is formed by a transition insert  1901  that fits into the first transition section and helps to keep the turn-up tape from kinking of bunching during the transition from the horizontal slot  1801  to the V-shaped groove  1702 . The purpose of the first transition section is to provide a transition from the horizontal position of the turn-up tape to the V-shaped groove of the horizontal section  1503 . The transition insert  1901  and first transition section  1501  are covered by an aluminum cover  1902  to help ensure that the turn-up tape stays in and to keep debris out of the first transition section  1501 . In this embodiment, the first transition section  1501  is approximately ten inches in length. 
     FIG. 20 illustrates the second transition section  1502  and the turn-up section  1504 . As is shown in FIG. 20, the turn-up section  1504  has a U-shaped groove  2004  formed by a top wall  2005 , a side wall  2003 , and a bottom wall  2002 . The turn-up tape travels substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall  2002  in the direction of travel. The U-shaped groove is enclosed by a second seal  2001 . 
     Although not shown in FIG. 20, the second transition  1502  section is covered on the top by the top wall  2005  and on the side by the second seal  2001 . The second transition section  1502  gradually transitions the V-shaped groove  1702  of the horizontal portion  1503  to the U-shaped groove of the turn-up portion  1504 . 
     The urethane seal  1701  and the second seal  2001  prevent moisture and debris from entering the grooves and also keeps the turn-up tape in the grooves. The seals are attached to the track in such a manner so as to allow the turn-up tape to be pulled out of the track across the entire length of the transfer track  107  when the turn-up tape is drawn upward onto the empty spool  201 . The use of the seals provides a solution to the problem of providing protection from the harmful environment of the paper mill. 
     The shape of the grooves in the transition sections combined with the shape of the grooves in the horizontal portion  1503  and the turn-up portion  1504  provide a smooth virtually twist free path for the turn-up tape. This virtually twist free path essentially alleviates the twisting action that caused problems with the,tape traveling through the track and with the extraction of the tape from the track in prior art machines 
     The foregoing description of exemplary embodiments of the invention has been presented only for the purpose of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and their practical applications so as to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.