A clasp is configured to engage an end of a tube. The clasp has a shaft that is insertable into a tube. The clasp includes a housing with clamping blocks that are spaced circumferentially around the shaft. The clamping blocks are moveable between a disengaged position in which the clamping blocks are spaced radially outwardly from the shaft at a distance sufficient such that a tube is insertable between the shaft and the clamping blocks, and an engaged position in which the clamping blocks are positioned radially inward of the disengaged position toward the shaft and are configured to press a tube disposed between the blocks and the shaft against the shaft. The clasp has at least one actuator engageable with at least one clamping block of the plurality of clamping blocks to move the at least one clamping block between the disengaged position and the engaged position.

Provided are a winding mandrel, a winding machine, and a battery cell winding method. The winding mandrel includes a first connecting member and a second connecting member configured to be combined with the first connecting member. The second connecting member and the first connecting member are arranged coaxially, and length of the combined first connecting member and second connecting member is greater than length of the first connecting member or the second connecting member. Changing a structure of a winding mandrel improves stiffness of the winding mandrel and improves the efficiency and quality of a winding operation.

A method of forming a roll of convolutely wound web material. The method includes applying adhesive to an elongated mandrel, winding web material around the mandrel to form a roll of convolutely wound web material, rotating the mandrel relative to the roll to smear the adhesive, and removing the mandrel from the roll. The smearing can be in a circumferential direction. The adhesive can be applied longitudinally along the mandrel. The adhesive preferably has a viscosity within the range of 3000 to 18,000 cps. Preferably, the method includes pulling the mandrel longitudinally before the step of removing the mandrel from the roll. The pulling can reduce the mandrel diameter and/or can increase its length. The rotating can be conducted before the pulling, during the pulling or during the winding. The rotating can be conducted before or during the removing. The web material can be bathroom tissue or kitchen towel.

The invention relates to a roll making apparatus comprising spindles optionally having apertures for pressurized air and/or for applying a vacuum, the spindles being movable between a retracted position and an extended position; a roll engaging face configured to engage a roll carried by a spindle, upon the spindle carrying said roll moving to said retracted position, to move the roll relative to the spindle.

A method of forming a roll of convolutely wound web material. The method includes winding web material around an elongated mandrel to form a roll of convolutely wound web material. The mandrel is substantially axially elastic and formed of material having a tensile yield strength divided by elastic modulus greater than 2.0%, and more preferably 2.5%. The mandrel is preferably radially complaint. The method further includes removing the mandrel from the roll. A further method includes winding web material around an elongated mandrel to form a roll of convolutely wound web material, the mandrel being comprised of material having a tensile yield strength divided by elastic modulus greater than 2.0%, and then longitudinally elongating the mandrel.

A clasp has a prong and a housing with clamping wedges and actuator wedges. The clamping wedges are spaced circumferentially around the prong within the housing and moveable within the housing via the actuator wedges. In a disengaged position, the clamping wedges are spaced radially outwardly from the outer surface of the prong at a distance sufficient such that a tube is insertable between the prong and the clamping wedges. In the engaged position, the clamping wedges are positioned radially inward of the disengaged position so as to press the tube against the prong. Each actuator wedge is slidingly engageable with the corresponding clamping wedge along complementary and cooperating wedge-shaped surfaces of the actuator wedge and the corresponding clamping wedge. The wedge-shaped surfaces include cooperating elongated protrusions and elongated slots.

Registration and inspection systems and methods for use on a winder are disclosed. The systems and methods include scanning a region proximate a winding module with one or more sensors to determine a product defect. The product defect is then associated with a winding process parameter, such as percent roll build information or the identity of the particular sensor to first detect the defect. The winding process parameter is used to classify the defect into one or more defect profiles. The defect profiles can be based at least in part on segmenting the roll build of a web onto a winding module into a plurality of inspection windows and segmenting a plurality of sensors into a plurality of inspection sensor segments.

A roll body taking-out unit that takes out a roll body from a reel that holds a carrier tape storing components in a state of the roll body and stores the roll body in a case is provided. The roll body taking-out unit includes a separation unit that separates the roll body from the reel, and a roll body storage unit that stores the roll body separated from the reel by the separation unit in a case. Further, the roll body storage unit includes a case holding part that holds an empty case, and a chute part that stores the roll body separated from the reel by the separation unit one by one in the empty case held by the case holding part.