Importance

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Abstract

A relatively wide strip of paper is slitted longitudinally into a plurality of strips that are fed to a rotating relatively wide main roller. A plurality of pairs of support heads are arranged in two rows extending along the main roller with the rows spaced angularly from each other. Each pair of support heads is spaced in the respective row axially from the other support heads of the respective row and each pair is adapted to engage in an end of a roll core about which a respective one of the strips is wound. A drive rotates the main roller and thereby winds the strips up on the respective roll cores. Two respective vertically movable unloading beams extend axially along the main roller underneath the respective rows of support heads substantially the full length of the main roller. Respective guides extend along each of the beams substantially the full length of the main roller and respective carriages associated with the holder pairs can travel along the guides of the respective beams. A respective blower box on each of the carriages has an upwardly open mouth snugly engageable with the roll held in the respective pair of holders. Each such box can be individually raised to fit the respective mouth to the respective roll. Air is ejected from the mouths of the blower boxes to at least partially support the respective rolls via respective air cushions on the respective blower boxes.

First Claim