Patent ID: 8181335

Claim:
An Apparatus for assembling a core for receiving wound sheet material: which core comprises a tube, a first end member inserted in a first end of the tube, and a second end member inserted in a second end of the tube; and the apparatus comprising a base, first chuck means mounted on the base and for insertion in the first end member, second chuck means mounted on the base and for insertion in the second end member, a ram mounted on the base and for applying axial pressure on one of the first and the second end members such that the first end member is forced into the first end of the tube and the second end member is forced into the second end of the tube thereby to ensure that the first and the second end members are accurately fitted in the tube, first drill means for drilling at least one fixing aperture in the first end of the tube and the first end member thereby to enable the fixing of the first end member in the first end of the tube, second drill means for drilling at least one fixing aperture in the second end of the tube and the second end member thereby to enable the fixing of the second end member in the second end of the tube, and monitor means for sensing ambient temperature and enabling the length of the core to be measured at the time of the assembly of the core in the ambient temperature and thereby to ensure that the length of the core falls in temperature and length parameters set for subsequent winding of the sheet material on the core.