Winding Device

Abstract

A winding device generally includes a spool, which includes a shaft, a sleeve rotatably coupled to the shaft such that the sleeve and the shaft are capable of partial independent rotation relative to one another, with the sleeve adapted to receive thereon a core onto which a web of material may be wound, and one or more gripping members, which are adapted to engage the core upon relative rotation of the shaft in a first direction, and disengage the core upon relative rotation of the shaft in a second direction.

1 . A winding device comprising a spool, said spool comprising:
 a. a shaft;   b. a sleeve rotatably coupled to said shaft such that said sleeve and said shaft are capable of partial independent rotation relative to one another, said sleeve enclosing at least a portion of said shaft and adapted to receive thereon a core, onto which a web of material may be wound; and   c. one or more gripping members, which are adapted to engage the core upon relative rotation of said shaft in a first direction, whereby the core rotates with said shaft to allow the web to be wound onto the core, said gripping members being further adapted to disengage the core upon relative rotation of said shaft in a second direction, whereby said core may be removed from said sleeve.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said shaft is coupled to said sleeve via a rotary mounting bracket. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein
 said shaft is rotatably mounted in said bracket; and   said bracket is affixed to sleeve.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein
 said gripping members are attached to said shaft; and   part of each gripping member moves away from said shaft and into an engagement position, in which said gripping members engage the core, when said shaft rotates in said first direction.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein
 said gripping members are pivotally attached to said shaft;   said bracket includes one or more guide slots; and   each of said gripping members includes a guide pin, which is movable within one of said guide slots to facilitate movement of said gripping members into said engagement position.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said part of said gripping members that are in said engagement position move towards said shaft and into a disengagement position, in which said gripping members disengage the core, when said shaft rotates in said second direction. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein
 said gripping members have a proximal end and a distal end;   said proximal end is attached to said shaft;   said distal end moves away from said shaft and into said engagement position when said shaft rotates in said first direction; and   said distal end moves towards said shaft and into said disengagement position when said shaft rotates in said second direction.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein
 said sleeve has a diameter D 1 ;   said distal ends of said gripping members together form a diameter D 2 ;   D 2  is greater than D 1  when the distal ends of said gripping members are in said engagement position; and   D 2  is less than D 1  when the distal ends of said gripping members are in said disengagement position.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , further including a drive mechanism coupled to said shaft to drive the rotation thereof at a predetermined rotational speed. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , further including a controller and a sensor, wherein
 said sensor monitors the rotational speed of said shaft and sends a corresponding signal to said controller; and   based, at least in part, on said signal, said controller calculates a diameter of the web as it is wound onto the core.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein said controller is operative to stop the rotation of said shaft upon the occurrence of at least one of the following events:
 a. said diameter of the web on the core reaches a predetermined value; and   b. the rotational speed of said shaft exceeds, or falls below, a predetermined value.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein said controller is operative to vary the output of said drive mechanism in order to maintain a substantially constant tensional force on the web as it is wound onto the core. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein said device is adapted to wind a web comprising an inflated cushioning material onto the core. 
     
     
         14 . A winding device, comprising:
 a. a spool adapted to receive thereon a core, onto which a web of material may be wound, the web being supplied to said spool at a predetermined speed;   b. a drive mechanism coupled to said spool to drive the rotation thereof at a predetermined rotational speed;   c. a sensor, which monitors the rotational speed of said spool and generates a signal indicative of said rotational speed; and   d. a controller in communication with said sensor to receive said signal as a first input, said controller also receiving, as a second input, an indication of the speed at which the web is supplied to said spool, wherein, said controller calculates a diameter of the web as it is wound onto the core.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein said controller is operative to stop the rotation of said spool upon the occurrence of at least one of the following events:
 a. said diameter of the web on the core reaches a predetermined value; and   b. the rotational speed of said spool exceeds, or falls below, a predetermined value.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein
 said drive mechanism applies torque to said spool, thereby producing a tensional force on the web as it is wound onto the core; and   said controller is operative to cause said drive mechanism to increase said torque in proportion to an increase in the diameter of the web on the core to thereby control said tensional force.   
     
     
         17 . A winding device comprising a spool, said spool comprising:
 a. a shaft;   b. a sleeve rotatably coupled to said shaft such that said sleeve and said shaft are capable of partial independent rotation relative to one another, said sleeve enclosing at least a portion of said shaft and adapted to receive thereon a web of material such that the web may be wound onto said sleeve; and   c. one or more gripping members, which are adapted to engage the web upon relative rotation of said shaft in a first direction, whereby the web rotates with said shaft and is thereby wound into a roll on said sleeve, said gripping members being further adapted to disengage the web upon relative rotation of said shaft in a second direction, whereby the roll may be removed from said sleeve.