Method and apparatus for replacing a roll of polystyrene foam sheet with empty core roll

Claim 1

In an arrangement for forming mill rolls of polystyrene foam sheet material, the method for replacing a full mill roll with a core roller and transfer of a severed end of said sheet material to said core roller which comprises a. automatically actuating rotating drives connected to a full roll of sheet material and a core roll arranged opposite one another in the turret of a winder frame when the full roll reaches a preselected diameter and without interrupting the winding of the sheet material, b. rotating the turret to replace the full roll winding position with said core roller, (b-1) bringing continuously advancing sheet into contact with said core roller, c. raise a driven sheet material lay-on roller in nipping engagement with said core roll and thereafter sever the web of the sheet material with a horizontal knife sufficiently encompassing the core roller to direct a severed end of said sheet material in nipping engagement between said lay-on roller and said core roller, d. retracting the horizontal knife from contact with said sheet material during winding of a full roll thereof and, e. initiating the sequence of step (a) above when a preselected roll diameter of sheet material is formed.

Claim 6

The method of claim wherein the lay-on roller is positioned with respect to the core roller and the knife blade partically circumscribing thereof to bring the severed end of the sheet material in nipping engagement with the core roller.