A method of preparing a composite article including providing a first bias assembly with a first bias roll; providing a first non-bias assembly with a first non-bias roll; positioning the first bias assembly to a dispensing position; dispensing a bias ply from the first bias roll along a bias path on a mold; cutting the bias ply; positioning the first non-bias assembly to a dispensing position; dispensing a non-bias ply from the first non-bias roll; and cutting the non-bias ply; wherein the bias path and the non-bias path are substantially parallel.

Spindles and cover assemblies for dispensing sheet product for use with coreless sheet product rolls. The spindle may include a hollow cylindrical body, which may have an elongated channel in a sidewall; a rod which extends partially out of the body; and a spring disposed within the body in biasing contact with the rod. The rod may include a flexible tab matingly engaged within the channel, permitting the rod to translate within the hollow cylindrical body without falling out. The hollow cylindrical body may have an end with an opening bounded by an inward facing ledge, and the rod may include a radial ledge, such that the rod can translate within the body but cannot fall out due to interference between the inward facing ledge and the radial ledge. The spindle may include a friction hub disposed about and rotatable around the hollow cylindrical body between ends of the body.

Spindles and cover assemblies for dispensing sheet product for use with coreless sheet product rolls. The spindle may include a hollow cylindrical body, which may have an elongated channel in a sidewall; a rod which extends partially out of the body; and a spring disposed within the body in biasing contact with the rod. The rod may include a flexible tab matingly engaged within the channel, permitting the rod to translate within the hollow cylindrical body without falling out. The hollow cylindrical body may have an end with an opening bounded by an inward facing ledge, and the rod may include a radial ledge, such that the rod can translate within the body but cannot fall out due to interference between the inward facing ledge and the radial ledge. The spindle may include a friction hub disposed about and rotatable around the hollow cylindrical body between ends of the body.

The invention relates to a method and a robot system (23) for producing transformer cores (12), sheets of metal (16) from which a transformer core is constructed being received on at least two stacking tables (18) by means of a multiaxial robot (22) of the robot system, the sheets of metal being supplied to the robot and stacked adjacent to the robot in at least two storage positions (31) for different sheets of metal by means of a conveyor device (29), the robot and the conveyor device being controlled by a control device (17), sheets of metal being collected from the storage positions and being stacked on the stacking tables by means of the robot disposed between and above the stacking tables.

An apparatus for exchanging paper rolls includes a paper supply mechanism having an inclined arm and a clamp assembly for receiving and holding a first paper roll; a second-roll hanger assembly arranged above the paper supply mechanism for receiving and holding a second paper roll; a slide rail arranged between the paper supply mechanism and the second-roll hanger assembly; an elevating assembly movably mounted to the slide rail; and a driving assembly for driving the elevating assembly to move along the slide rail. The elevating assembly picks up the second paper roll from the second-roll hanger assembly. To exchange the first paper roll with the second paper roll, the clamp assembly pushes the first paper roll away from the paper supply mechanism, and the elevating assembly lowers down along the slide rail to place the second paper roll in the paper supply mechanism.

A bushing for a web material roll including a body sized to be fitted into the web material roll; the bushing further including a wall extending across the central cavity of the web material roll when the bushing is in the central cavity of the web material roll and defining an opening for receiving a roll support therethrough, the opening being bordered by a roll support contacting surface, the bushing having one or more bearing surfaces for contacting the roll support and supporting the web material roll, the one or more bearing surfaces including at least the roll support contacting surface bordering the opening. A web material roll, a web material roll retention assembly and a method for placing a web material roll in a web material roll dispenser are also provided.

A transport device unwinds a medium from a roll body to which a shaft member is mounted and transports the medium. The transport device includes an accommodation portion configured to accommodate the roll body, a main body portion to which the accommodation portion is mounted, and a roller pair configured to nip the medium. The accommodation portion and the main body portion are relatively movable. The main body portion includes a rack configured to engage with a gear of the shaft member. The rack is engaged with the gear when the accommodation portion moves relative to the main body portion to be pulled out of the main body portion.

A transport device unwinds a medium from a roll body to which a shaft member is mounted and transports the medium. The transport device includes an accommodation portion configured to accommodate the roll body, a main body portion to which the accommodation portion is mounted, and a roller pair configured to nip the medium. The accommodation portion and the main body portion are relatively movable. The main body portion includes a rack configured to engage with a gear of the shaft member. The rack is engaged with the gear when the accommodation portion moves relative to the main body portion to be pulled out of the main body portion.

A feed device includes: a feed tray configured to accommodate a roll, in which a medium is rolled in a roll shape, rotatably; a housing configured to support the feed tray installable; and a pull-back mechanism configured to pull back the medium unrolled from the roll in a direction orthogonal to a rotation axis of the roll in conjunction with an outward movement of the feed tray from the housing in the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis of the roll.

In general, according to one embodiment, a paper sheet storage device that is capable of accurately detecting a near end of a stored roll paper sheet is provided. A paper sheet storage device in an embodiment includes a storage unit configured to store a roll paper sheet obtained by winding a long paper sheet, a near end detection unit configured to detect a near end since a diameter of the roll paper sheet stored in the storage unit becomes smaller, and a pressing unit configured to press the roll paper sheet stored in the storage unit in a direction of the near end detection unit.