Supply roll stand with payout and roll changing

Abstract

A supply roll stand for loading first and second supply rolls each including a core and dispensing material therefrom. The supply roll stand broadly comprises a frame, a lift support, an unwind assembly, and a transfer support. The lift support receives the first supply roll and raises the first supply roll. The unwind assembly unwinds the first supply roll as the lift support raises the first supply roll. The transfer support receives the first supply roll so that the first supply roll is transferred from the lift support. The lift support receives the second supply roll after the first supply roll is transferred to the transfer support. The transfer support dispatches the core of the first supply roll when the first supply roll is depleted of material. The unwind assembly unwinds the second supply roll when the first supply roll is depleted of material.

1 . A supply roll stand for loading first and second supply rolls and dispensing material from the first and second supply rolls, each including a core, the supply roll stand comprising:
 a first support configured to receive and move the first supply roll;   an unwind assembly configured to unwind the first supply roll; and   a second support configured to receive the first supply roll so that the first supply roll is transferred from the first support,   the first support being configured to receive the second supply roll after the first supply roll is transferred to the second support,   the unwind assembly being further configured to unwind the second supply roll.   
     
     
         2 . The supply roll stand of  claim 1 , wherein the first support is L-shaped for engaging the cores of the first and second supply rolls. 
     
     
         3 . The supply roll stand of  claim 1 , wherein the second support is J-shaped for engaging the cores of the first and second supply rolls. 
     
     
         4 . The supply roll stand of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuator configured to drive the first support. 
     
     
         5 . The supply roll stand of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuator configured to drive the second support. 
     
     
         6 . The supply roll stand of  claim 1 , wherein the unwind assembly is pivotably attached to the frame. 
     
     
         7 . The supply roll stand of  claim 1 , wherein the unwind assembly includes a roller configured to engage the first and second supply rolls. 
     
     
         8 . The supply roll stand of  claim 7 , wherein the unwind assembly includes an unwind actuator configured to drive the roller. 
     
     
         9 . The supply roll stand of  claim 1 , wherein the first support is configured to move diagonally. 
     
     
         10 . The supply roll of  claim 1 , wherein the supply roll stand further comprises a frame forming a bay for positioning at least the second supply roll on the first support. 
     
     
         11 . A method of loading first and second supply rolls and dispensing material from the first and second supply rolls, each including a core, the method comprising steps of:
 receiving the first supply roll via a first support;   actuating the first support to move the first supply roll;   unwinding the first supply roll via an unwind assembly;   receiving the first supply roll via a second support so that the first supply roll is transferred from the first support;   receiving the second supply roll via the first support; and   unwinding the second supply roll via the unwind assembly.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of receiving the first supply roll via the first support includes moving the first support along a first member. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of moving the first support includes driving the lift support along the first member via an actuator. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising a step of pushing the first supply roll until the first supply roll contacts the first member before receiving the first supply roll. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of receiving the first supply roll via the second support includes moving the second support along a second member. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of moving the second support includes driving the second support along the second member via an actuator. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the unwinding steps include pivoting the unwind assembly relative to a frame to ensure a constant unwind speed. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the unwinding steps include engaging the supply rolls via a roller and driving the roller via an unwinding actuator. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of moving the first support includes moving the first support diagonally. 
     
     
         20 . A supply roll stand for loading first and second supply rolls and dispensing material from the first and second supply rolls, each including a core, the supply roll stand comprising:
 a frame including:
 a diagonally oriented first member including a first slot; and 
 a second member including a second slot; 
   a first support in the first slot and configured to receive the first supply roll and move along the first member to move the first supply roll;   a first actuator configured to drive the first roll support along the first member;   an unwind assembly configured to unwind the first supply roll as the first support moves the first supply roll, the unwind assembly including:
 a roller configured to engage the first and second supply rolls; and 
 an unwind actuator configured to drive the roller; 
   a second support suspended from the second member in the second slot and configured to receive the first supply roll so that the first supply roll is transferred from the first support; and   a second actuator configured to drive the second support along the second member,   the first support being configured to receive the second supply roll after the first supply roll is transferred to the second support,   the second support being further configured to move along the second member for dispatching the core of the first supply roll when the first supply roll is depleted of material,   the unwind assembly being further configured to unwind the second supply roll when the first supply roll is depleted of material.