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Title: Method and apparatus for handling large fabric rolls for slitting
Claims: What is claimed is: 1. A method of handling a roll comprising a length of web material wound around a cylindrical spool, particularly a roll of a large size having a width of the order 144 inches and a diameter of the order of 45 inches, for slitting into a plurality of rolls of equal diameter and lesser width by rotating said roll and a circular cutter about their axes in parallel relation at an initial slitting position wherein the exterior periphery of the cutter is exterior to the exterior periphery of the web material of the roll and effecting a relative lateral movement between said roll and said cutter from said initial slitting positions to final slitting positions wherein the exterior periphery of the cutter is interior of the interior periphery of the spool of said roll, said handling method comprising the steps of moving a roll into an initial handling position wherein its axis is disposed generally parallel with the axis of rotation at said initial slitting position, supporting the weight of the roll along its lower exterior periphery at said initial handling position, disposing a spindle of a size to fit said spool with end portions extending outwardly thereof in an initial position spaced longitudinally from said roll with the axis of said spindle generally aligned with the axis of said roll, supporting the weight of said spindle at said initial position along the lower periphery thereof at a first position adjacent the end portion thereof adjacent said roll and at a longitudinally spaced second position at the remote end portion thereof, applying longitudinally opposed forces to said roll and to the remote rear end portion of said spindle acting in a direction toward one another to effect a relative longitudinal movement of said roll and spindle together from said initial positions to interengaged positions wherein said spindle is engaged within the spool of said roll and the end portions thereof extend outwardly of said roll, maintaining the aforesaid support of said roll throughout the aforesaid relative longitudinal movement, maintaining the aforesaid support of said spindle at said second position through said relative longitudinal movement, progressively changing the support of said spindle at said first position longitudinally along the lower periphery of the spindle in a direction toward said second position during an initial portion of said relative longitudinal movement wherein the adjacent end portion of said spindle is engaged within said roll, removing the changing support of said spindle during a final portion of said relative longitudinal movement, removing the application of force to said remote spindle end after said relative longitudinal movement, transferring the aforesaid support of said roll to said spindle by supporting the outwardly extending end portions of said spindle and laterally translationally moving said roll into said initial slitting position through the support of the end portions of said spindle. 2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said roll is held substantially stationary during said relative longitudinal movement. 3. A method as defined in claim 2 including the steps of handling the plurality of rolls formed by slitting in side-by-side relation by substantially reversing the aforesaid handling procedural steps. 4. A method as defined in claim 1 including the steps of handling the plurality of rolls formed by slitting in side-by-side relation by substantially reversing the aforesaid handling procedural steps. 5. Apparatus for handling a roll comprising a length of web material wound around a cylindrical spool, particularly a large roll having a width of the order of 144 inches and to a diameter of the order of 45 inches, for slitting into a plurality of rolls of equal diameter and lesser width by rotating said roll and a circular cutter about their axes in parallel relation at an initial slitting position wherein the exterior periphery of the cutter is exterior to the exterior periphery of the web material of the roll and effecting a relative lateral movement between said roll and said cutter from said initial slitting positions to final slitting positions wherein the exterior periphery of the cutter is interior of the interior periphery of the spool of said roll, said handling apparatus comprising means for supporting the weight of a roll along its lower exterior periphery at an initial handling position wherein its axis is disposed generally parallel with the axis of rotation at said initial slitting position, first and second means for supporting the weight of a spindle of a size to fit the spool of the roll with end portions extending outwardly thereof at an initial position spaced longitudinally from the roll with the axis of the spindle generally aligned with the axis of the roll along the lower periphery thereof respectively at a first position adjacent the end portion thereof adjacent said roll and at a longitudinally spaced second position at the remote end portion thereof, means removably engageable with the remote end portion of said spindle for applying longitudinally opposed forces to said roll and to the remote rear end portion of said spindle acting in a direction toward one another to effect a relative longitudinal movement of said roll and spindle together from said initial positions to interengaged positions wherein said spindle is engaged within the spool of the roll and the end portions thereof extend outwardly of the roll, said first spindle supporting means including means for progressively changing the support of the spindle at said first position longitudinally along the lower periphery of the spindle in a direction toward said second position during an initial portion of said relative longitudinal movement wherein the adjacent end portion of the spindle is engaged within the roll and for removing the changing support of the spindle during a final portion of said relative longitudinal movement, and means operable after said relative longitudinal movement and the removal of the engagement of said force applying means with the remote spindle end portion for transferring the support of the roll by said roll supporting means to the spindle by supporting the outwardly extending end portions of the spindle so that the roll can be laterally translationally moved into said initial slitting position through the support of the end portions of the spindle. 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said roll supporting means includes a fork lift truck. 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said support transferring means comprises a pair of arms mounted for power operated pivotal movement between spindle end receiving and operative slitting positions, said arms having openings in the outer ends thereof for engaging beneath cooperative grooved sections of the end portions of the spindle and cap members mounted on the outer ends of said arms for movement between an open position when said arms are in said receiving position and a closed position encircling said grooved sections when said arms are in said operative slitting position. 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said second spindle supporting means comprises an elongated frame structure, a carriage structure mounted on said frame structure for horizontal longitudinal reciprocating movement with respect thereto, said carriage structure having a member for supportingly engaging the remote end portion of the spindle. 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein force applying means includes a power driven endless chain mounted on said frame structure so as to provide a longitudinally extending operative flight, and means connecting said operative flight with said carriage structure. 10. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said carriage structure includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs of transversely spaced rollers, said frame structure including a pair of longitudinally extending oppositely facing channel members receiving said rollers. 11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the progressive support changing and removing means of said first spindle supporting means comprises roller means for engaging the lower periphery of the spindle and power operated means for effecting a vertical movement of said roller means between an upper progressive support changing position and a lower support removing position. Other info: Inventors: Lewey, Ernest L. (Greensboro, NC, US) Sharpe, Ned K. (Burlington, NC, US) Sloan, James F. (Greensboro, NC, US) Application Number: 497032 Filing Date: 1974-08-13 Publication_date: 1976-02-17 Assignee: Burlington Industries, Inc. (Greensboro, NC) Primary Class(es): 414/684 82/47, 414/14, 414/740, 414/746.5, 414/815, 414/910, 414/911 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs: Primary Examiner: Werner, Frank E. Assistant Examiner: Attorney: Cushman, Darby & Cushman |
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