System and method for simultaneously unwinding multiple rolls of material

US6722606B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. · US

Inventors

• John R. Hanson · Appleton, US
• Robert J. Seymour · Wellesley, US
• Mike Daniels · Neenah, US
• James Leo Baggot · Menasha, US
• Randy LeValley · Neenah, US
• Edward Marksman · Menasha, US
• Preston O'Connor · Appleton, US
• Kenneth Allen Pigsley · Greenville, US
• Douglas C. Thomas · Appleton, US
• Jeffrey H. Greiner · Valencia, US
• David Robert Gruber · Neenah, US
• Matt Storm · Appleton, US
• Steve Weiland · Appleton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 18, 2001
• Grant date: Apr 20, 2004
• Expiry date: Jan 12, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65H2801/84
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A system and process for unwinding rolls of material is disclosed. The system is particularly well suited for unwinding soft, high-bulk tissue webs. In one embodiment, the system includes the combination of a center unwind device and a surface unwind device to unwind the roll of material in a primary unwind location. Once the roll of material is partially unwound, the roll is then moved to a secondary unwind location while a new roll of material is moved into the primary unwind location. In this manner, multiple rolls of material can be continuously unwound without substantial downtime. The system of the present invention can be used to unwind a single roll of material or can be designed to unroll multiple rolls of material simultaneously.