Apparatus for applying end caps to rolls of sheet stock

Claim 1

Apparatus for applying end caps to end faces at each of opposed ends of a roll of sheet stock, said apparatus comprising, a generally horizontally-extending, elongated frame, cradle means carried on said frame for supporting a roll of sheet stock thereon to extend longitudinally therealong, said cradle means includes low friction means to facilitate rotation of said roll about a longitudinal axis thereof while supported on said frame, a pair of longitudinally spaced end-cap-shaping assemblies including generally parallel end plate means having surfaces facing corresponding end faces of the roll and extending essentially normally to a longitudinal axis thereof, for abutment against the end faces of the roll, slide rail means carried on said frame and extending longitudinally between said end-cap-shaping assemblies, one of said assemblies being slidably shiftable along a substantial lineal expanse of said slide rail means, means for selectively adjusting lineal spacial separation between opposed said end-cap-shaping assemblies for accommodating rolls of different overall length on said frame, and means for locking said shiftable end-cap-shaping assembly in each of a plurality of selectible positions along said slide rail means, means supporting said end plate means on said frame endwise of, in alignment with, and generally paralleling respective corresponding end faces of the roll, means for releasably supporting end-cap-forming discs between said end plate means and end faces of the roll, preparatory to applying the discs as caps to the opposed ends of the roll, said means for releasable supporting said discs including vacuum plate means for contacting of said discs thereagainst, and aspirator means for controlling air passage through said vacuum plate means, means for shifting said end plate means longitudinally along said frame toward the roll to engage the end-cap-forming discs and to urge the discs to abut corresponding end faces of the roll, said means for shifting said end plate means including fluid controlled piston and cylinder means to move said end plate means selectively to approach and to recede from the ends of the roll, and valve means for fluid-flow control, means for deforming the discs at bounding margins thereof to overlie the end faces and peripheral annular end portions of the roll to provide caps therefor, said means for deforming the discs comprising annular flange means projecting normally of said end plate means, said flange means including a ring-like sector having a fixed internal radius substantially equal to but not less than a radius of the roll of sheet stock at ends thereof, said means for shifting said end plate means constituting means to urge said flange means against the discs and to position said ring-like sector into sleeve-like, encircling, stressing engagement over ends of the roll, to conform peripheral margins of the discs into contiguous contact with the roll at annular edge portions thereof, said annular flange means include an annular lip integral with and flared outwardly from said ring-like sector at an inwardly-directed roll-facing extremity thereof, thereby to guide and to center said ends of the roll into and within said ring-like sector, spring means resiliently supporting said annular flange means to permit shifting thereof in a plane paralleling said abutment surface of said end plate means thereby to facilitate alignment of said fixed ring-like sector with and entry of the end of a roll therewithin.