Patent Publication Number: US-9896316-B2

Title: End effector for a transport device for the movement of parent rolls of convolutely wound web materials

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure is directed to improvements in the devices used for the handling of parent rolls of wound web materials. In particular, the present disclosure relates to an end effector suitable for use with devices capable of moving large parent rolls of convolutely wound web materials from a first location to a second location. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Clamps are normally required to handle paper rolls of widely-varying diameters in both vertical and horizontal orientations. A typical clamp comprises a pair of clamp arms either slidably or pivotally mounted upon a clamp frame and movable with respect to such frame selectively toward and away from each other to engage or release paper rolls of different diameters. 
     In the papermaking industry, it is generally known that paper to be converted into a consumer product such as paper towels, bath tissue, facial tissue, and the like is initially manufactured and wound into large rolls. By way of example only, these rolls, commonly known as parent rolls, may be on the order of 10 feet in diameter and 100 inches across and generally comprise a suitable paper wound on a core. In the usual case, a paper converting facility will have on hand a sufficient inventory of parent rolls to be able to meet the expected demand for the paper conversion as the paper product(s) are being manufactured. 
     However used, the compressive-type clamps, discussed supra, have numerous draw-backs. The most significant of these is the use of a compressive-type clamp for the pick-up and transport of convolutely wound web materials (e.g., a parent roll of paper) is the deformation of the cylindrical surface of the parent roll by the compressive-type clamp. 
     There are several factors that can contribute to the deformation of a parent roll of paper. First, because of the soft nature of the paper used to manufacture paper towels, bath tissue, facial tissue, and the like, it is common for parent rolls to become out-of-round. Second, not only the soft nature of the paper, but also the physical size of the parent rolls, the length of time during which the parent rolls are stored, and the fact that roll grabbers using these compressive-type clamps used to transport parent rolls grab them about their circumference can contribute to this problem. For example, because the weight of a parent roll is typically quite substantial, the compressive-type clamps must necessarily exert a significant amount of force upon the surface of the roll in order to maintain control of the roll during movement of the roll from one location to another. 
     As a result, by the time many parent rolls are placed on an unwind stand they have changed from the desired cylindrical shape to an out-of-round shape. An exemplary un-compressed parent roll is shown in  FIG. 1A . An exemplary compressed parent roll due to contacting engagement of the parent roll with a compressive-type clamp is shown in  FIG. 1B . As mentioned, this artifact of surface deformation is particularly exacerbated upon convolutely wound parent rolls of tissue and towel substrates such as bath tissue and paper toweling. Since these products tend to be of low basis weight and can have decorative surface architectures, any compressive force applied to the surface thereof tends to distort the shape of the parent roll. An out-of-round parent roll may not be perfectly oblong or elliptical but, rather, they may assume a somewhat flattened condition resembling a flat tire, or an oblong or egg-shape, or any other out-of-round shape depending upon the amount of force required to securely hold the parent roll. 
     Even only slightly out-of-round parent rolls present considerable problems. In an ideal case with a perfectly round parent roll, the feed rate of a web material coming off of a rotating parent roll can be equal to the driving speed of a surface driven parent roll. However, with an out-of-round parent roll the feed rate can likely vary from the driving speed of a surface drive parent roll depending upon the radius at the web takeoff point at any moment in time. If the rotational speed remains substantially constant, the feed rate of a web material coming off of an out-of-round parent roll will necessarily vary during any particular rotational cycle depending upon the degree to which the parent roll is out-of-round. In practice, however, parent rolls are surface driven which means that if the radius at the drive point changes, the rotational speed can also change generally causing variations in the feed rate. Since the paper converting equipment downstream of the unwind stand is generally designed to operate based upon the assumption that the feed rate of a web material coming off of a rotating parent roll will always be equal to the driving speed of the parent roll, there are problems created by web tension spikes and slackening. 
     Additionally, it is believed that an out-of-round parent roll produces finally wound consumer products having inconsistent desired physical characteristics. Without desiring to be bound by theory, it is believed that a compressive-type clamp used for the conventional pick-up of a parent roll of wound web material effectively removes any caliper that may have been built into the product being produced for the parent roll. It is believed that this lost caliper cannot be recovered to any large degree due to the early stage of the life of the web material that is being so compressed. This lost and unrecoverable caliper can have a deleterious effect on the finally converted web material because the desired target values of the chosen parameters will be out of range even before the converting process has begun. Net—this clearly undesirable effect on the end product can be noticed by an end user of the product. 
     Regardless of the amount of pressure exerted by the compressive-type clamps on the parent roll, at least one point in the rotation of the parent roll exists where the relationship between the web take off point radius and the parent roll drive point radius that results in the minimum feed rate of paper to the line. At this point, the web tension can spike since the feed rate of the web material is at a minimum and less than what is expected by the paper converting equipment downstream of the unwind stand. Similarly, there can exist at least one point in the rotation of the parent roll where the relationship between the web take off point radius and the parent roll drive point radius results in the maximum feed rate of paper to the line. At this point, the web tension can slacken since the feed rate of the web material can be at a maximum and more than what is expected by the paper converting equipment downstream of the unwind stand. Since neither condition is conducive to efficiently operating paper converting equipment for manufacturing paper products such as paper towels, bath tissue and the like, and a spike in the web tension can even result in a break in the web material requiring a paper converting line to be shut down, there clearly is a need to overcome this problem. 
     In particular, the fact that out-of-round parent rolls create variable web feed rates and corresponding web tension spikes and web tension slackening has required that the unwind stand and associated paper converting equipment operating downstream thereof be run at a slower speed in many instances thereby creating an adverse impact on manufacturing efficiency. 
     Thus, there is a long-felt need to provide a better manner for the handling of parent rolls that eliminates the problems experienced and observed by manufactures using current roll-handling technology such as the aforementioned typical compressive-type clamp arms. It would be beneficial if the long-felt need was resolved by equipment that assists in maintaining the desired cylindrical parent roll shape. It would also be beneficial if the new parent roll handling equipment also maintained better control of the parent roll during movement. Further, it would be beneficial if the new parent roll handling equipment provided greater flexibility in the options required by paper product manufacturing operations by providing a more direct interface with the dry end of parent roll production, the ability to manipulate parent roll orientation for parent storage, as well as the ability to manipulate parent roll orientation for insertion of the parent roll into a converting process. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure provides for an end effector for a transport device for the movement of parent rolls of convolutely wound web materials. The end effector comprises a frame, a first radial member operably connected to the frame, a second radial member operably connected to the frame, a first core plug operably connected to the first longitudinal member, and a second core plug operably connected to the second longitudinal member. The first radial member has a first longitudinal member operably connected thereto and extending therefrom. The second radial member has a second longitudinal member operably connected thereto and extending therefrom so that the first radial member and the second radial member being rotatable about an axis of rotation. The first core plug is extensible from a first position to a second position relative to the first longitudinal member and the second core plug is extensible from a first position to a second position relative to the second longitudinal member. The first and second core plugs are capable of cooperative and penetrating engagement with a core of the parent roll when the first core plug is disposed proximate to a first portion of the core of the parent roll and the second core plug is disposed proximate to a second portion of the core of the parent roll disposed distal from the first portion of the core of the parent roll. When the first and second core plugs are cooperatively engaged with the first and second portions of the core of the parent roll respectively, the end effector is capable of changing an orientation of the core and the parent roll from a first position to a second position by rotating the parent roll about the axis of rotation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a photograph of an exemplary prior art paper roll clamp having a pair of pivoted clamp arms mounted on a lift truck mast prior to contacting engagement with a parent roll of a typical web material used for the production of consumer products such as bath tissue, facial tissue, and/or paper toweling; 
         FIG. 1B  is a photograph of an exemplary prior art paper roll clamp having a pair of pivoted clamp arms mounted on a lift truck mast in contacting engagement with a parent roll of a typical web material used for the production of consumer products such as bath tissue, facial tissue, and/or paper toweling, the photograph showing significant deformation observed in the parent roll due to the compressing engagement of the paper roll clamp with the parent roll; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a platform capable of having a parent roll disposed thereupon and suitable for connection to an end effector where the platform has a core plug disposed therein; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the platform of  FIG. 2  where the core plug disposed therein protrudes from the surface of the platform and can engage the core of a parent roll; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the platform of  FIG. 2  having a parent roll disposed thereon; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a platform capable of having a parent roll disposed thereupon and suitable for connection to an end effector where the platform is a pallet and has a core plug disposed therein; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a the platform of  FIG. 5  where the core plug disposed therein protrudes from the surface of the platform and can engage the core of a parent roll; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the platform of  FIG. 5  having a parent roll disposed thereon; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the exemplary platform of  FIG. 1  engaged with the end effector and motivator providing a parent roll transporter and having an incoming parent roll of web material to be handled with the core plug disposed beneath the surface of the platform; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the exemplary platform of  FIG. 1  engaged with the end effector and motivator providing a parent roll transporter and having an incoming parent roll of web material to be handled with the core plug extending above the surface of the platform; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the exemplary platform of  FIG. 1  engaged with the end effector and motivator providing a parent roll transporter and having a parent roll of web material disposed upon the surface of the platform; 
         FIG. 11  is an alternative perspective view of the exemplary platform of  FIG. 1  engaged with the end effector and motivator providing a parent roll transporter and having a parent roll of web material disposed upon the surface of the platform; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the exemplary platform of  FIG. 1  engaged with the end effector and motivator providing a parent roll transporter and having a parent roll of web material disposed upon the surface of the platform and a core plug disposed within the core of the parent roll; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the exemplary parent roll transporter of  FIG. 12  depicting the end effector and motivator re-orienting a parent roll disposed upon the surface of the platform; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the exemplary parent roll transporter of  FIG. 1  depicting the end effector and motivator with a re-oriented parent roll disposed upon the surface of the platform; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of another exemplary parent roll transporter showing a parent roll disposed upon the platform of the end effector where the platform is in the form of a pallet and where the first and second core plugs are in complete engagement with the core; and, 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of another exemplary parent roll transporter of  FIG. 15  showing a parent roll disposed upon the platform of the end effector where the platform is in the form of a pallet and where the first and second core plugs are in complete engagement with the core and the end effector has rotated the parent roll about the rotational axis of the end effector and changed the orientation of the longitudinal axis of the core of a parent roll. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     When the parent roll produced by any papermaking process (including a through-drying process for making un-creped through-dried tissue sheets) has reached its final predetermined diameter, the new reel spool is lowered into position against the incoming sheet at some point along the free span of web material disposed between web material support rolls. At the appropriate time, the sheet of web material is severed and the incoming end of the severed web material is directed back toward the new reel spool in order to attach the sheet to the new reel spool. As the sheet is transferred to the new reel spool, the finished parent roll is kicked out to continue the winding process with a new reel spool. 
     Next, an up-ender (not shown) can then “upend” each parent roll downstream of the reel spool. Generally, an up-ender upends each parent roll typically onto a conveyor (not shown) to position the longitudinal axis of each parent roll vertically, i.e. orthogonal, to the plane of the winding process. In practice, rolls with small axial dimensions can be upended spontaneously, while those with larger axial dimensions can be upended by an up-ender. 
     The upended rolls can be fed via a conveyor system towards a parent roll conveyor from which they can be singly picked up by a parent roll transporter. Generally a parent roll transporter will comprise a motivator having an end effector operatively, cooperatively, and pivotably connected thereto. An end effector suitable for cooperative and associated engagement with a motivator to provide a parent roll transporter suitable for translating and/or transporting a parent roll will be provided in greater detail infra. 
       FIG. 2  provides an exemplary platform  1110  suitable for association with an end effector of the present disclosure. Platform  1110  can be provided in a plurality of envisionable formats. In a first embodiment, platform  1110  can be provided as a conveyor comprising at least one conveyor belt  1170 . It is envisioned that each of the at least one conveyor belts  1170  of platform  1110  can rotate about and be supported by a plurality of rollers  1120 . 
     Additionally, platform  1110  can be provided with at least one secondary conveyor belt  1175 . A parent roll  125  disposed upon parent roll conveyor  150  can be continuously conveyed from a first position external to parent roll transporter  1000  and end effector  1100  and into contacting engagement with the at least one conveyor belt  1170  and the at least one secondary conveyor belt  1175  of platform  1110 . It is envisioned that each of the at least one secondary conveyor belts  1175  can rotate about and be supported by a plurality of rollers  1120 . Secondary conveyor belts  1175  can assist with the ability to present the parent roll  125  at any orientation relative to parent roll transporter  1000 . This can be beneficial by, for example, providing motive force to the portion of the parent roll disposed within the region disposed between adjacent conveyor belts forming the at least one conveyor belt  1170 . This can reduce the overall drag experienced by the parent roll  120  in the region disposed between adjacent conveyor belts thus reducing any observed surface deformities of parent roll  125 . 
     Alternative, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the region disposed between adjacent conveyor belts forming the at least one conveyor belt  1170  can be provided as a trough  1175 ′. This can eliminate the need for any additional mechanical needs required by the positioning of any secondary conveyor belts  1175  in the region disposed between adjacent conveyor belts forming the at least one conveyor belt  1170 . This may be suitable if the parent roll  125  has sufficient roll integrity and physical characteristics that do not require complete support of the end of the parent roll  125  disposed upon platform  1110 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2-3 , a first core plug  1130  can be disposed within platform  1110 . In this manner, the first core plug  1130  can engage the corresponding end of core of a parent roll and the corresponding end of the parent roll can be placed into contacting and supporting engagement with platform  1110 . Such contacting and supporting engagement can provide columnar stability to a parent roll when platform  1110  is disposed under the parent roll so that the core of the parent roll is disposed orthogonal to the surface of platform  1110 . Upon the positioning of the respective end of the parent roll and core proximate to first core plug  1130 , first core plug  1130  can then be extended orthogonal to, and relative to, the surface of platform  1110  as shown in  FIG. 3  into the core of the parent roll as may be required. In any regard, one of skill in the art will readily recognize the benefits associated with the flexibility of the above-described arrangements possible for the first core plug  1130  for cooperative association and engagement with the core of a parent roll. 
     As would be readily recognized by one of skill in the art, the system shown can facilitate the transport of parent rolls to locations distal from the papermaking operation and/or the dry end of a paper machine. A parent roll provided in contacting engagement with platform  1110  and/or first core plug  1130  can be conveyed to a location for storage of the parent roll and then disengaged from any of first core plug  1130  and conveyed off platform  1110  by the at least one conveyor belt  1170 . One of skill in the art will recognize the viability of such a unique core transport system. 
     The parent roll transporter can be utilized to transport the cooperatively engaged parent roll to a storage area with the parent roll core oriented in either a horizontal or vertical orientation. Upon reaching the storage area, the parent roll while disposed upon platform  1110  can be disassociated from the first core plug  1130 . Platform  1110  can then be operatively disconnected from either the end effector or the parent roll transporter to provide a storage means for the upright storage of the parent roll. This can result in a combined parent roll/platform  1110  assembly as shown in  FIG. 4 . The first core plug  1130  can be positioned within the surface of platform  1110  and either operably attached and permanently associated with platform  1110 . Thus, the platform  1110  and the first core plug  1130  associated thereto would operably disconnect from the end effector. Alternatively, the first core plug  1130  can be operably attached and temporarily associated thereto. Thus, the first core plug  1130  and the end effector could operably disconnect from platform  1110  while the first core plug  1130  would be removed from cooperative engagement with platform  1110  and remain in operative and connecting engagement with the end effector. 
     Alternatively, if a parent roll is to be picked up directly from the dry end of a paper machine and taken directly to a parent roll storage facility, the parent roll transporter can be provided with a motivator operatively connected to an end effector having a platform  1110 A in the form of a pallet  1170 A as shown in  FIG. 4 . Here, the parent roll transporter can approach the dry-end of the paper machine directly. The parent roll is typically positioned so that the core of the parent roll is horizontally oriented so that the web material produced by the papermaking equipment is wound about the core is co-planar and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the parent roll and core. 
     By way of example, a parent roll transporter can approach a parent roll disposed in the reel-up section of the dry end of the papermaking equipment so that the end effector presents the first core plug  1130  to cooperatively and insertingly engage the horizontally oriented core of the wound parent roll. As shown, the first core plug  1130  is preferably provided with any length desired to effect the desired insertion engagement into the respective end of the core cooperatively associated thereto in order to provide the required support, lifting ability, and the like for the parent roll. 
     Parent roll transporter can then transport the cooperatively engaged parent roll to the storage area with the parent roll core oriented in either a horizontal or vertical orientation. Upon reaching the storage area, the parent roll while disposed upon platform  1110 A can be disassociated from the first core plug  1130 . Platform  1110 A can then be operatively disconnected from either the end effector or the parent roll transporter to provide a storage means for the upright storage of the parent roll. This can result in a combined parent roll/platform  1110 A assembly as shown in  FIG. 7 . The first core plug  1130  can be positioned within the surface of platform  1110 A and either operably attached and permanently associated with platform  1110 A. Thus, the platform  1110 A and the first core plug  1130  associated thereto would operably disconnect from the end effector. Alternatively, the first core plug  1130  can be operably attached and temporarily associated thereto. Thus, the first core plug  1130  and the end effector could operably disconnect from platform  1110 A while the first core plug  1130  would be removed from cooperative engagement with platform  1110 A and remain in operative and connecting engagement with the end effector. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8-12 , a parent roll  125  disposed upon parent roll conveyor  150  can be continuously conveyed from a first position external to parent roll transporter  1000  and end effector  1100  and into contacting engagement with the at least one conveyor belt  1170  of platform  1110 . Further platform  1110  can be provided with the ability to translate rotationally, r, about an axis formed by first core plug  1130  and second core plug  1135  in order to present the parent roll  125  at any orientation relative to parent roll transporter  1000 . This can be beneficial by, for example, facilitating the ability of an end-user of the parent roll transporter  1000  to place the parent roll  125  disposed upon platform  1110  at any location relative to parent roll transporter  1000  desired without the need to move and/or reposition parent roll transporter  1000 . 
     Platform  1110  can be operatively and cooperatively connected to an end effector  1100  and/or parent roll transporter  1000 . The end effector  1100  generally comprises a frame  1145  comprising opposed first and second collinear radial members  1150  and  1155  and parallel longitudinal members  1160  and  1165  secured together orthogonally thereto. In a preferred embodiment, first and second radial members  1150  and  1155  and longitudinal member  1160  can be secured together as by welding. In another preferred embodiment, longitudinal member  1165  can be extensibly connected to second radial member  1155  so that longitudinal member  1165  is provided with an adjustable displacement, H, relative to longitudinal axis  1140  (also referred to herein as axis of rotation  1140 ). 
     End effector  1100  is generally provided with the ability to rotate about axis of rotation  1140  in a radial direction, R, relative to motivator  1200 . Having end effector  1100  rotate about axis of rotation  1140  can provide with the ability to orient radial members  1150  and  1155  and longitudinal members  1160  and  1165  into virtually any opposed relationship for the cooperative placement of radial members  1150  and  1155  and longitudinal members  1160  and  1165  relative to parent roll  125  and/or core  175 . An end effector  1100  with the ability to rotate about axis of rotation  1140  can provide with the ability to orient parent roll  125  from a first position to any desired second orientation relative to the axis of rotation  1140 . Further, providing the second radial member  1155  with an adjustable displacement, H, relative to longitudinal axis  1140  can facilitate the positioning of longitudinal member  1165  relative to parent roll  125  to accommodate a parent roll  125  having any longitudinal length. The desired adjustable displacement, H, can be provided by any means understood by one of skill in the art for providing such adjustment. This can include linear actuators, pneumatic actuators, hydraulic actuators, mechanical actuators (such as chain drives, gear drives, rack-and-pinion drives), combinations thereof, and the like. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8-12 , the distal ends of parallel longitudinal members  1160  and  1165  are provided with a first core plug  1130  and second core plug  1135  respectively. It is envisioned that first core plug  1130  and second core plug  1135  are separately engageable and/or mutually cooperatively engageable with a respective end of core  175  of parent roll  125  and displaceable within the respective end of core  175 . First core plug  1130  can be fixably attached to the distal end of longitudinal member  1165  where such attachment of second core plug  1135  is being made rigid by welding to longitudinal member  1165 , for example. Longitudinal member  1165  can be provided with any length desired for example as longitudinal member  1165 A. The length of longitudinal member  1165  may be advantageously lengthened as provided by longitudinal member  1165 A in order to provide control of the web material disposed about the core  175  of parent roll  125  if the web material may have a low coefficient of friction or some other attribute that may enhance the ability of one layer, or layers, of parent roll  125  to slidably translate relative to a succeeding layer, or layers, of parent roll  125 . Further, second core plug  1135  can be provided with any length desired to effect the desired insertion engagement into the respective end of core  175  cooperatively associated thereto in order to provide the required support, lifting ability, and the like for the parent roll  125 . For example, if parent roll  125  is heavy or is fairly long (i.e., parent roll  125  has a relatively long longitudinal axis, for example, a parent roll of paper used for the manufacture of tissue and towel products), then it may be appropriate to provide second core plug  1135  with a fairly long length as opposed to a parent roll  125  having a relatively light weight or short length (i.e., parent roll  125  has a relatively short longitudinal axis, for example, a parent roll of web material used for the manufacture of diaper products). 
     Alternatively, if space constraints require minimizing (or even restraining) the extension of radial member  1155  relative to longitudinal axis  1140 , one of skill in the art may desire to provide second core plug  1135  in a manner that permits the extensible displacement of second core plug  1135  relative to the distal end of parallel longitudinal member  1165 . In a first position, second core plug  1135  can be positioned to have a profile that is flush with the surface of parallel longitudinal member  1165  in order to present second core plug  1135  to the respective end of parent roll  125  and core  175 . Upon the positioning of second core plug  1135  at the respective end of parent roll  125  and core  175 , second core plug  1135  can then be extended relative to the distal end of parallel longitudinal member  1165  into core  175  as may be required. In any regard, one of skill in the art will readily recognize the benefits associated with the flexibility of the above-described arrangements possible for the second core plug for cooperative association and engagement with the core  175  of parent roll  125 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8-12 , disposed across from second core plug  1135  and parallel longitudinal member  1165  is a first core plug  1130  disposed upon the distal end of parallel longitudinal member  1160 . As presented in  FIG. 8 , first core plug  1130  can be disposed within platform  1110 . In this manner, both the first core plug can engage the corresponding end of core  175  of parent roll  125  and the corresponding end of parent roll  125  can be placed into contacting and supporting engagement with platform  1110 . Such contacting and supporting engagement can provide additional columnar stability to parent roll  125  when platform  1110  is disposed under parent roll  125  so that core  175  of parent roll  125  is disposed orthogonal to the surface of platform  1110 . Upon the positioning of the respective end of parent roll  125  and core  175  proximate to first core plug  1130 , first core plug  1130  can then be extended orthogonal to, and relative to, the distal end of parallel longitudinal member  1160  and the surface of platform  1110  as shown in  FIG. 9  into core  175  as may be required. In any regard, one of skill in the art will readily recognize the benefits associated with the flexibility of the above-described arrangements possible for the first core plug  1130  for cooperative association and engagement with the core  175  of parent roll  125  represented in  FIGS. 10-12 . 
     Without desiring to be bound by theory, it is believed that an end effector  1100  having the spaced-apart core plugs (i.e., first core plug  1130  and second core plug  1135  discussed supra) helps maintain any caliper that may have been built into the product being produced for the parent roll because the spaced-apart core plugs of end effector  1100  do not actually contact the surface of the web material disposed about the core  175  of parent roll  125 . This is quite the opposite of the prior art compressive-type parent roll clamps. In this manner, it is reasonably believed that a round parent roll handled by the end effector  1100  of the present disclosure will produce a finally wound consumer products having consistent desired physical characteristics. As discussed supra, it is believed that a compressive-type clamp used for the conventional pick-up of a parent roll of wound web material effectively removes any caliper that may have been built into the product being produced for the parent roll. This lost caliper cannot be recovered to any large degree due to the early stage of the life of the web material that is being so compressed. This lost and unrecoverable caliper can have a deleterious effect on the finally converted web material because the desired target values of the chosen parameters will be out of range even before the converting process has begun. Net—this clearly undesirable effect on the end product can be noticed by an end user of the product. Clearly, the parent roll transporter  1000  having the end effector  1100  of the present disclosure eliminates and clearly remedies this awful and detrimental side-effect. 
     Additionally, the end effector  1100  of the present disclosure, when operatively connected to a parent roll transporter  1000 , can eliminate any eccentricity developed by the parent roll due to the handling caused by previous parent roll transport mechanisms. Eccentricity is a parameter associated with every conic section. It can be thought of as a measure of how much the conic section deviates from being circular. For example, a desirable parent roll that causes minimal disruptions during a converting operation will be perfectly cylindrical and have a circular cross-section where the eccentricity is zero (or nearly zero). Previous roll transport devices using end effectors that effectively compressed the parent roll introduce a degree of eccentricity to the cross-section of the parent roll—i.e., the eccentricity is greater than zero. For purposes of this disclosure, a parent roll having any cross-sectional shape other than a circle has an eccentricity of greater than zero. Thus, a parent roll having, for example, a cross-sectional shape resembling a flat tire, a figure-eight, a polygon, or any other non-circular cross section, has an eccentricity of greater than zero. In certain cases, the eccentricity can be significantly greater than zero. 
     Thus, another goal of the present disclosure is to provide a process that can provide for an increase in the convertibility of a convolutely wound parent roll by reducing the eccentricity in the parent roll caused by end effectors (such as the exemplary prior art paper roll handling clamp shown in  FIGS. 1-2 ). In other words the parent roll is produced by a papermaking process and has a first eccentricity (preferably about zero) and is transported to a converting process by a parent roll transporter  1000  having the end-effector  1100  described herein that effectively maintains its eccentricity. Alternatively, the process can also be expressed as method to improve the convertibility of parent rolls by using a parent roll transport process that transports a parent roll, using the end-effector  1100  described herein, having a first eccentricity from a papermaking process to a converting process at a second eccentricity, where the first and second eccentricities are about the same value. Still further, the process relationship can be expressed in terms of a comparison of the eccentricity of a parent roll that has been transported by a previous parent roll transport mechanisms and by a parent roll conveyor  150  operably connected to an end-effector  1100  described herein where the previous parent roll transport mechanisms provides the parent roll  125  to a converting operation at a first eccentricity and the presently described parent roll conveyor  150  using the end-effector  1100  described herein provides the parent roll  125  to a converting operation at a second eccentricity where the second eccentricity is less than the first eccentricity. 
     As parent roll  125  assumes contacting engagement with the at least one conveyor belt  1170  upon exiting contacting engagement with parent roll conveyor  150 , the at least one conveyor belt  1170  can transport and position the parent roll  125  into a region proximate to the centroid of platform  1110  so that the core  175  is disposed coaxially relative to first core plug  1130 . This positioning will then facilitate the insertion of first core plug  1130  into the corresponding end of core  175  as required. 
     Alternatively, it may be advantageous to transport a parent roll  125  from the dry end of a papermaking process directly to a parent roll converting operation as discussed supra. To satisfy this need, one of skill in the art will recognize that parent roll transporter  1000  can provide the end effector  1100  cooperatively attached thereto can effectively rotate, R, parent roll  125  about the axis of rotation  1140 . As shown in  FIGS. 13-14 , the longitudinal axis of parent roll  125  can be changed from a substantially vertical orientation as shown in  FIG. 12  through the axis of rotation  1140  into a substantially horizontal orientation as shown in  FIGS. 13-14 . 
     Also as shown in  FIG. 14 , the parent roll transporter can then position the end effector  1100  laterally, z, relative to motivator  1200  as required. Any lateral, z, movement can be used assist in aligning the parent roll  125  with the converting equipment. For example, a degree of lateral movement, z, may be required in order to align and dispose the parent roll  125  upon an unwind stand used by the converting equipment unwind. It is believed that the control of such lateral movement, z, can be provided by the motivator or by any device understood by one of skill in the art for providing such adjustment. This can include linear actuators, pneumatic actuators, hydraulic actuators, mechanical actuators (such as chain drives, gear drives, rack-and-pinion drives), combinations thereof, and the like. 
     Thus, in practice, a parent roll  125  disposed upon parent roll conveyor  150  can be continuously conveyed from a first position external to parent roll transporter  1000  and end effector  1100  and into contacting engagement with the at least one conveyor belt  1170  of platform  1110 . As parent roll  125  assumes contacting engagement with the at least one conveyor belt  1170  upon exiting contacting engagement with parent roll conveyor  150 , the at least one conveyor belt  1170  can transport and position the parent roll  125  into a region proximate to the centroid of platform  1110  so that the core  175  is disposed coaxially relative to first core plug  1130 . This positioning will then facilitate the insertion of first core plug  1130  and second core plug  1135  into the corresponding end of core  175  as required. The parent roll transporter can then rotate, R, end effector  1100  about the axis of rotation  1140  as required. The rotated parent roll  125  can then be disposed as required by the converting process. As the parent roll is positioned for the converting process desired, first core plug  1130  and second core plug  1135  can then be retracted (e.g., withdrawn) from inserted engagement within core  175  thereby removing contacting engagement of parent roll  125  from end effector  1100 . The disengaged roll can then be processed as required. 
     Alternatively, the parent roll transporter  1000  can be destined to transport the cooperatively engaged parent roll  125  to a storage area with the parent roll core  175  disposed thereon. Upon reaching the storage area, the parent roll  125  while disposed upon platform  1110  can be disassociated from the first and second core plugs. Platform  1110  can then be operatively disconnected from either end effector  1100  or parent roll transporter  1000  to provide a storage means for the upright storage of parent roll  125 . This can result in a combined parent roll  125 /platform  1110  assembly as shown in  FIG. 4 . A first core plug can be positioned within the surface of platform  1110  and either operably attached and permanently associated with platform  1110 . Thus, the platform  1110  and the first core plug associated thereto would operably disconnect from end effector  1100 . Alternatively, a first core plug can be operably attached and temporarily associated thereto. Thus, the platform  1110  would operably disconnect from platform  1110  while the first core plug would be removed from cooperative engagement with platform  1110  and remain in operative and connecting engagement with end effector  1100 . 
     Alternatively, if the parent roll  125  is to be picked up directly from the dry end of a paper machine and taken directly to a parent roll  125  storage facility, the parent roll transporter  1000 A can be provided with a motivator  1200  operatively connected to end effector  1100 A having platform  1110 A in the form of a pallet as shown in  FIGS. 15-16 . Here, the parent roll transporter  1000 A can approach the dry-end of the paper machine directly. The parent roll  125  is typically positioned so that the core  175  of the parent roll  125  is horizontally oriented so that the web material produced by the papermaking equipment is wound about the core  175  is co-planar and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the parent roll  125  and core  175 . 
     Parent roll transporter  1000 A can approach parent roll  125  disposed in the reel-up section of the dry end of the papermaking equipment so that the end effector  1100 A presents the first core plug (not shown) and second core plug  1135  to cooperatively and insertingly engage the horizontally oriented core  175  of the wound parent roll  125 . As shown, first core plug (not shown) is preferably fixably attached to the distal end of a longitudinal member (not shown) and second core plug  1135  is rigidly affixed to longitudinal member  1165 . The first and second core plugs are preferably provided with any length desired to effect the desired insertion engagement into the respective end of core  175  cooperatively associated thereto in order to provide the required support, lifting ability, and the like for the parent roll  125 . 
     Parent roll transporter  1000 A can then transport the cooperatively engaged parent roll  125  to the storage area with the parent roll core  175  oriented in either a horizontal or vertical orientation. Upon reaching the storage area, the parent roll  125  while disposed upon platform  1110 A can be disassociated from the first and second core plugs. Platform  1110 A can then be operatively disconnected from either end effector  1100 A or parent roll transporter  1000  to provide a storage means for the upright storage of parent roll  125 . This can result in a combined parent roll  125 /platform  1110 A assembly as shown in  FIG. 13 . A first core plug can be positioned within the surface of platform  1110 A and either operably attached and permanently associated with platform  1110 A. Thus, the platform  1110 A and the first core plug associated thereto would operably disconnect from end effector  1100 . Alternatively, a first core plug can be operably attached and temporarily associated thereto. Thus, the platform  1110 A would operably disconnect from platform  1110 A while the first core plug would be removed from cooperative engagement with platform  1110 A and remain in operative and connecting engagement with end effector  1100 A. 
     One of skill in the art will recognize that the parent roll transporter  1000  of the present disclosure, as discussed supra, can be operatively connected or associated with a motivator  1200 . One of skill in the art will appreciate that motivator  1200  could be provided as an automatic guided vehicle (AGV), as a more traditional forklift, or with some other form of robotic systems. In any regard, the motivator  1200  is used to move the end effector  1100 , with or without a parent roll  125  cooperatively engaged thereto, between various points along a desired route in a manufacturing process. 
     The parent roll transporter  1000  of the present disclosure is especially suitable with a motivator  1200  provided as an AGV. A plurality of AGVs can function as a system having a number of battery powered, wheeled, operatorless vehicles (i.e., AGV) which are automatically guided along the floor in a warehouse or other commercial or industrial site, where guide path wires are embedded in the floor, and under the control of on-board computers. Each AGV can be provided with accurate and reliable guidance and routing where a controller may be operated either on-board or remotely from the vehicle. 
     It is the purpose of the motivator  1200  to move material between various points along a route on vehicles which can be programmed to follow a preset choice of routes and to carry out various operations along the route, such as stops and turns. Most systems which have been proposed use induction guidance where the guide path is defined by a wire embedded in the floor. An AC current, fed through the wire, generates an electromagnetic field which is detected by coils on the vehicle which track the wire. Two coils are used in most cases which provide a differential current when the vehicle deviates from the wire which is used to control the steering of the vehicle so as to return it to its proper track. The guide path is usually in the form of a loop. By using two or more different frequencies of the AC current for different legs of the route, complex routes can be built up. Route selection is, in some systems, controlled by a computer on board each vehicle which programs the vehicle to follow a preset route. Typically, permanent magnets or electromagnetic loops and floor controllers installed in the floor divide the route into sections. In a typical installation, the program control computer instructs the vehicle to count its way along the route and to respond to different frequencies so as to follow different legs of the route. 
     An exemplary AGV suitable for use as a motivator  1200  can travel along a track formed on a floor by a white line or aluminum foil while detecting the track by means of an optical track sensor. In this type of conventional vehicle having, for example, three wheels, one front wheel and a pair of rear wheels, the front wheel can be driven through a connection to a driving system and can be automatically steered by a steering system while the rear wheels are freely rotatable but incapable of being driven by any driving system being steered. 
     Another exemplary AGV suitable for use as a motivator  1200  is a four-wheel vehicle having front and rear wheels and on the opposite sides of a center axis having left and right wheels each of which is provided with a driving motor. In this example, all wheels are set in the forward direction and the left and right wheels are driven by the driving motors so as to perform the ordinary travelling operation of the vehicle. The vehicle moves straight by equalizing the speeds of rotation of the left and right wheels and turns left or right by changing the speed ratio therebetween. At least the direction of the front wheels among the front and rear wheels can be freely changed so as to follow the motion caused when the left and right wheels are steered by changing the speed ratio therebetween. If the front and rear wheels are rotated in the reverse directions at the same rotational speed while the front and rear wheels are being fixed such as to be perpendicular to the direction of the front and rear of the vehicle body, the body of the vehicle can be turned about the point of intersection of the lines which connect the front wheel to the rear wheel and the left wheel to the right wheel. 
     Alternatively, the parent roll transporter  1000  of the present disclosure is also suitable with a motivator  1200  provided as a forklift truck. An exemplary forklift truck could comprise a forklift truck known in the art for the moving of large and/or heavy objects such as articles commonly found in warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and/or the like. 
     An exemplary forklift would comprise an undercarriage with an operator cabin including an operator seat unit pivotally supported therein. A load lifting unit including a lifting frame and a lifting fork is mounted to the front end of the undercarriage. Two front wheels and two steerable rear wheels and further a rear box structure with a lid can also be mounted to the under carriage. The forklift truck can be operated by an electric motor, natural gas, propane, gasoline, diesel fuel, and the like. The forklift can be energized by a battery, which can be disposed in a box structure that also serves as a counterweight for loads lifted by the load lifting unit. 
     In any regard, the motivator  1200  is operatively and cooperatively engaged with end effector  1100  to form parent roll transporter  1000 . Such cooperative and operative engagement can be provided by a mechanical, electrical, and/or hydraulic latching mechanisms. It may be preferred to use pneumatic connections since pneumatic systems due to the ease of installation, maintenance, low cost, and light weight. Hydraulic systems may be preferred if the parent roll transporter  1000  will necessarily be used to lift and/or move large and/or heavy parent rolls  125 . Electric systems can prove for more quiet connections. 
     Suitable means for attaching end effector  1100  to motivator  1200  can be provided by a mounting plate attached at a position suitable for cooperative engagement between end effector  1100  and motivator  1200 . The mounting plate can contain threaded or clearance holes arranged in a pattern for suitable attachment with a coupling device. An adapter plate can be used for interconnection with a common lock-in position for pick-up by the motivator  1200 . The coupling device may also contain the power source for the end effector  1100  and may automatically connect the power when the motivator  1200  picks up and connects to the end effector  1100 . Alternatively, the end effector  1100  may have a power connection permanently connected thereto and the motivator  1200  simply picks up the end effect  1100  by connecting to an appropriate adapter plate with common lock-in points. 
     As would be recognized by one of skill in the art, any of the parent roll transporter  1000 , motivator  1200 , end effector  1100 , and/or parent roll  125  can be provided with an RFID device, such as a tag, in order to assist with the transport, storage, connection, placement, location, etc. of any of parent roll  125  or platform  1110  or motivator  1200 , or end effector  1100  or parent roll transporter  1000  relative to any of the initial pick-up of the parent roll  125  or storage or transport of parent roll  125  relative to the papermaking, storage, and/or parent roll converting processes. 
     Such an RFID system can assist with and is known and understood by those skilled in the art, and a detailed explanation thereof is not necessary for purposes of describing the method and system according to the present invention. As discussed above, RFID or other smart tag technology is finding increasing uses in material handling and processing environments, particularly in warehouse or other storage facilities wherein articles are stored and moved in the process of converting raw materials to finished products. RFID tags containing any manner of information related to the articles may be attached directly to the articles (such as parent roll  125 ), or associated with pallets, racks, bins, or any type of article packaging. 
     EXAMPLES 
     
         
         A. An end effector for a transport device for the movement of parent rolls of convolutely wound web materials, said end effector comprising:
       a frame;   a first radial member operably connected to said frame, said first radial member having a first longitudinal member operably connected thereto and extending therefrom;   a second radial member operably connected to said frame, said second radial member having a second longitudinal member operably connected thereto and extending therefrom said first radial member and said second radial member being rotatable about an axis of rotation;   a first core plug operably connected to said first longitudinal member, said first core plug being extensible from a first position to a second position relative to said first longitudinal member;   a second core plug operably connected to said second longitudinal member, said second core plug being extensible from a first position to a second position relative to said second longitudinal member, said first and second core plugs being capable of cooperative and penetrating engagement with a core of said parent roll when said first core plug is disposed proximate to a first portion of said core of said parent roll and said second core plug is disposed proximate to a second portion of said core of said parent roll disposed distal from said first portion of said core of said parent roll;   wherein when said first and second core plugs are cooperatively engagable with said first and second portions of said core of said parent roll respectively, said end effector being capable of changing an orientation of said core and said parent roll from a first position to a second position by rotating said parent roll about said axis of rotation.   
     
         B. The end effector of A further comprising a platform operably connected to and in complementary engagement with said second longitudinal member and said second core plug, said second core plug being extendable through said platform. 
         C. The end effector of any of A through B wherein said platform further comprises at least one conveyor, said conveyor orbiting about a periphery of said platform, said parent roll being conveyable from a position external to said platform to a position upon said platform in cooperative alignment with said first and second core plugs. 
         D. The end effector of any of A through C wherein said platform further comprises a pallet. 
         E. The end effector of any of A through D wherein said platform is disassociatively disengageable from said end effector. 
         F. The end effector of E wherein said second core plug remains in operable engagement with said platform and is disengageable from said second longitudinal member when said platform is disassociatively disengaged from said end effector. 
         G. The end effector of any of A through F wherein said platform is cooperatively engageable with said end effector. 
         H. The end effector of any of A through G wherein said end effector is operably, cooperatively, and pivotably engagable to a motivator, said operably, cooperatively, and pivotably engaged motivator and end effector providing an apparatus for the non-compression transportation of a convolutely wound web material parent roll. 
         I. The end effector of H wherein said motivator and said end effector operably, cooperatively, and pivotably engaged thereto moves said parent roll cooperatively engaged thereto from a first position proximate to a papermaking process to a second position proximate to a parent roll converting operation. 
         J. The end effector of I wherein said motivator moves said parent roll cooperatively engaged thereto from said a first position proximate to said papermaking process to said second position proximate to said parent roll converting operation via a programmed preset choice of routes. 
         K. The end effector of any of A through J wherein said end effector rotates radially about an axis of rotation relative to said motivator. 
         L. The end effector of any of A through K wherein said end effector is fixably engaged to said motivator. 
         M. The end effector of any of A through L wherein said first radial member is extensible relative to said axis of rotation, wherein said extensible first radial member provides said first longitudinal member with an adjustable displacement, H, relative to said longitudinal axis. 
         N. The end effector of M wherein said adjustable displacement, H, is provided by a device selected from the group consisting of linear actuators, pneumatic actuators, hydraulic actuators, mechanical actuators, chain drives, gear drives, rack-and-pinion drives, and combinations thereof. 
         O. The end effector of any of A through N wherein said first longitudinal member is provided with a length, said length being at least about equal to a diameter of said parent roll, said first longitudinal member preventing the slidable translation of a first layer of said parent roll relative to a succeeding layer of said parent roll. 
         P. The end effector of any of A through O wherein when said first and second core plugs are cooperatively engagable with said core when said core and said parent roll are disposed horizontally. 
         Q. The end effector of any of A through P wherein when said first and second core plugs are cooperatively engagable with said core when said core and said parent roll are disposed vertically. 
         R. The end effector of any of A through Q wherein said first and second core plugs are cooperatively engageable with a parent roll conveyor, said parent roll conveyor conveying said parent roll from a first position relative to a papermaking process to a second position relative to said papermaking process, said first position being disposed proximate to a papermaking process reel-up section and said first and second core plugs cooperatively engaging said core at said second position. 
         S. The end effector of any of A through R wherein said second core plug is provided with a profile, said profile providing said second core plug with a first position flush with a surface of said second longitudinal member and a second position wherein said second core plug is extended relative said surface of said second longitudinal member. 
         T. The end effector of any of A through S wherein said first core plug is fixably attached to a distal end of said first longitudinal member. 
       
    
     The dimensions and/or values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension and/or value is intended to mean both the recited dimension and/or value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that dimension and/or value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm”. 
     Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern. 
     While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.