Patent ID: 7124979

Claim:
A turret winder comprising: first and second rotatable end support members; two pairs of first and second spindle support assemblies that are movable along respective guide tracks that are disposed outside of the first and second rotatable end support members, each spindle support assembly having a spindle bearing housing that extends through an opening formed in one of the first and second end support members, each of the spindle bearing housings has a drive feature disposed therein for coupling with and for driving a spindle that supports one core for winding rolls thereon, the first and second spindle support assemblies of each pair being drivable along the guide tracks in directions both toward and away from the end support members to accommodate spindles of varying lengths; and two pairs of pack roll support assemblies that are disposed concentric with and rotatable about the spindle bearing housings, one for each spindle end, each of the pack roll support assemblies having a carriage that controllably travels along a length thereof, the carriage rotatably carrying one pack roll that is pivotably movable into contact with one core with a winding roll thereon so that a web leading onto the core from a roll changer contacts the associated pack roll at or prior to winding thereof on the winding roll for excluding entrapped air prior to forming of convolutions on the roll in a winding position.