AU2011226952A1 - Web waste disposal - Google Patents

Abstract

C .RPrbl\DCC\CAB09OS( 9_ .DOC-29A)9/2011 A system for disposal of a waste web including: a spindle onto which a roll of web is wound; a cutting station for cutting the web; an ejector for ejecting the roll off the spindle for disposal, to free the spindle to be re-loaded with another roll of web. The invention also relates to a method of forming and removing a roll of web material from a rotatable device.

Description

Australian Patents Act 1990- Regulation 3.2 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Web waste disposal The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: P/00/0 11 5951 C \NRPonbDCC\CAB090549 I DOC-29/92011 WEB WASTE DISPOSAL 5 Related Application This is a divisional application of Australian Patent Application No. 2011213902, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. 10 Field of the Invention This invention relates to web waste disposal particularly, but not exclusively, disposal of a web or backing layer for adhesive labels. 15 Background of the Invention A labelling machine which applies labels to containers or the like can run continuously by splicing a tail end of one reel to a leading end of another reel. Conventional systems 20 remove the backing layer or waste web from the labelling machine area via a human operator, which generally requires the machine to be stopped when the operator is carrying out that task. Object of the Invention 25 The invention seeks to provide for alternative waste disposal. Summary of the Invention 30 In accordance with the invention, there is provided a system for disposal of a waste web including: C WP blDCC\CAB\3%5049. DOC-29/092011 -2 a spindle onto which a roll of web is wound; a cutting station for cutting the web; an ejector for ejecting the roll off the spindle for disposal, to free the spindle to be re-loaded with another roll of web. 5 Preferably, the system includes a loop control zone upstream of the cutting station which buffers the web while the web is cut and the roll is ejected off the spindle. Preferably, the loop control zone includes a set of rollers, over which the web passes, the 10 position of the rollers being variable so as to vary the distance of travel of the web, depending on the degree of buffer required. Preferably, the system includes a clamp with jaws which grip the web and pass the web through a gap in the spindle, so that the web is loaded onto the spindle when the spindle is 15 rotated. Preferably, the spindle is formed of projecting arms and the gap is defined between the arms, so as to initially align with the clamp, in order to load the web onto the spindle. 20 Preferably, the jaws of the clamp are arranged to open a distance sufficient to clear the spindle during return to the cutting station. Preferably, the clamp carries a cutter for cutting the web at the cutting station 25 Preferably, the system includes a second clamp which is engaged to hold the web prior to the jaws of the first clamp being opened to return to the cutting station, the second clamp being released when the spindle is rotated to load the web onto the spindle. Preferably, the ejector is in the form of a plate which is pushed outwardly along the arms 30 until the reel is ejected.

C.1NRPonb\DCCCAB\3905049 DOC-29A9/2011 -3 Preferably, the system includes a chute into which the rolls of web are ejected for collection in a waste disposal bin. In another aspect, there is provided a method of forming and removing a roll of web 5 material from a rotatable device, the method including loading a quantity of web material onto the rotatable device, clamping and cutting the web being wound onto the rotatable device when a predetermined quantity of web material has been wound onto the rotatable device, pushing the wound web off the rotatable device, re-attaching the cut end of the web to the rotatable device and winding a next quantity of web onto the rotatable device. 10 A preferred form of the method includes loop control in the path of the web material upstream of the clamping and cutting. The provision of loop control of the web material enables the web material to be cut and removed from the rotatable device while an upstream process, such as the operation of a labelling head, continues and provides web 15 material which is temporarily stored in the loop by operation of the loop control. Preferably, the method is employed in forming a roll of waste web material from a labelling machine and pushing the roll from the rotatable device. 20 Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 25 Fig. I is a front elevation view of label web unwinding and waste web winding-up assemblies; Fig. 2 is a magnified view of the major functional elements of Fig 1; 30 Figs 3a and 3b are front elevation views showing alternate positions for the splicing head depending upon whether a label web is being fed from one unwind reel or the other; C :4RPoribl\DCC\CAB\3905-9_ I DOC-299/211 I -4 Fig. 4 shows two plan views and a front elevation view of the waste web take-up/ejection spindle; 5 Fig. 5a is an isometric view of a reel of adhesive tape suited for use as a splicing tape in association with an adhesive label supporting web; Fig. 5b is an end elevation view of the tape of Fig. 5a; 10 Fig. 5c is an end elevation of a second example of a tape of the kind of Figs. 5a and 5b; Fig. 6 shows side elevation and plan views of a web supporting successive self-adhesive labels and incorporating an adhesive portion of the tape of Fig 5; 15 Fig. 7 shows a preferred web mounting arrangement on the hub of a reel; Fig. 8a is a front elevation of another example of adhesive label web-unwinding and waste web winding-up assemblies; 20 Fig. 8b is a close-up view of the second embodiment of Fig. 8a; Fig. 9 is a front elevation view of a waste web take-up station as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 8a and 8b; 25 Figs. 10a and 10b are front elevation views showing alternate positions for the splicing head of Figs. 8a and 8b depending upon whether a label web is being fed from one unwind reel or the other; Figs. 1 Ia and 1 b are magnified views of the splicing station of Figs. 1Oa and lOb, 30 respectively, detailing the splicing operation that takes place between two webs as a transition occurs from the feeding of the end of one web and the start of another web; C \NRPorblDCC\CAB59O49_l DOC-29/9/2011 -5 Figs. 12a and 12b show an alternate arrangement to that of Fig. 9 for loading a web wind up spindle; 5 Fig. 12c is an isometric view of a modified portion of web material; Fig. 13a is a perspective view of a labelling machine; Fig. 13b is a front view of the labelling machine of Fig. 5a; and 10 Fig. 14 is a front perspective view of a section of the labelling machine of Fig. 13. Detailed Description 15 Figs I and 2 show an apparatus 10 which is adapted to feed a self-adhesive label applying web to a label applying head (not shown) located at position 11 and to collect the waste web from that label applying head which is fed to apparatus 10 from position 12. At the commencement of operation an operator feeds a label web from one of the loaded 20 unwind reels 13 and 13'. As shown in Figs I and 2 unwind reel 13 is tracked through rollers 14 before passing through interchangeable splicing zone 15. After leaving zone 15 the label web 16 passes through a first loop control zone 17 then into a second loop control zone 18 before entering a web turning bar 19 which leads to a labelling head (not shown). Suitable labelling heads for use with the present invention are well known in the art and 25 will not be described herein. The present example is concerned with the feeding of a label supporting web to and removal of the waste web from any desired form of label applying head adapted to fix self-adhesive labels releasably supported on a backing sheet or web of release paper. 30 Waste web 20, being web 16 with the self adhesive labels removed, enters loop control zone 21 before passing clamping and cutting station 22 then on to be wound to waste take- C :NRPortbl\DCCiCABU905O49_ .DOC-29/(9/2011 -6 up reel or spindle 40. It will be appreciated that there are substantial safety issues relating to operation of machinery of the type shown in the drawings. In particular, access to various sections of 5 the equipment will result in pausing the motion of moving parts so as to allow an operator to carry out appropriate operations in a safe manner. Detailed discussion of those safety aspects will not be provided here, as they do not form an essential inventive aspect of the present invention, as such, which are disclosed herein. 10 SPLICING Operation of the apparatus 10 as shown in Fig 1 is ready to commence with feeding of labels from reel 13 to a label applying station (not shown). At this time reel 13' is in a full condition with its label containing web 24 passing around rollers 25 and stopping at a splicing position on table 26 to be held there by a vacuum head ready to be spliced to the 15 trailing end of web 16 when reel 13 is exhausted. The operation of the splicing head is more clearly depicted in Fig. 3. Fig. 3a displays feeding from reel 13 while Fig. 3b displays feeding from reel 13'. The transition from reel 13 to reel 13' is effected as follows: 20 To initiate a splice between the end of web 16 and the beginning of web 24, an end of web 16 is detected by a scanner 27 which activates web clamp 70 ready to execute a splice between the end of web 16 and the beginning of web 24. This occurs in conjunction with controlling a loop control motor for the first loop in zone 17 whereupon web clamp 70 and 25 bladder clamp 74 on a carriage moves downwardly as shown between Figs. 3a and 3b to affix the end of web 16 to a leading portion of web 24 at the lowermost splicing position. The preferred form of splicing tape and its function is shown in Figs 5 and 6 and will be described later. 30 In more detail, a splice is executed in the following manner: C :NRPonbl\DCC\CAB\3905049_t DOC.29/9/2011 -7 To initiate a splice the reel in use (13 or 13') must see an end of web (16 or 24) condition on scanner 27. Once the end of web (16 or 24) is sensed, the end of web is positioned and clamped by clamping cylinder 70 ready to execute a splice. This positioning movement is made by loop control drive 31. 5 Once the end of web is gripped in the correct location by clamping cylinder 70, the horizontal cylinder 71 extends to displace the carriage supporting the end of web, clamp 70 and clamp 74 and thereafter the vertical cylinder 72 changes location. The horizontal cylinder 71 retracts the carriage to the position for the splice to be made. A splice effected 10 by extending splice bladder clamp 74 toward table 26 with webs 16 and 24 therebetween and removing web bladder clamp 73. After clamp 74 is released the newly spliced web (16 to 24 or 24 to 16) is ready to be run to the labelling head (not shown) once clamping cylinder 70 is also released. 15 During the splicing of web 16 to web 24 the label applying head consumes labels on web material looped in zones 17 and 18. If both loops become exhausted before a splice is made the label applicator is controlled to shut down. Control of the size loops in each of zones 17 and 18 is achieved by control signals provided by respective sensors 29,30. In this embodiment sensors 29,30 are ultrasonic devices that measure the distance between 20 each sensor and its associated loop of label web 16. Once a splice is successfully made, web clamp 73 is released to allow feeding of web material 24 as shown in Fig 3b with loop control drive 31 being reactivated to draw web 24 off reel 13'. 25 Preferably control of the above-described splicing operation is automatically achieved by means of air cylinder or motor movements. Once emptied reel 13 stops operating and 'feed of a new web 24 from reel 13' is under way, reel 13 can be replaced by a fully loaded reel and readied to be in the position shown by Fig. 3b. As the splicing operation happens 30 without operator intervention it is only necessary for the operator to put replacement reels in position as and when they empty following a splicing change over to the full reel of the C INRPoblDCCABU90509_I DOC-29AN/201 I -8 pair 13,13'. Desirably, the design of the equipment is such that the fitting of a replacement reel in no way interferes with web feeding from the unwinding reel so that label applying continues while each replacement reel is fitted. 5 It will be appreciated that while two loops of web material 16 or 24 are shown in zones 17 and 18 of this embodiment, the number of loops that are required are up to the designer and very much depend upon the rate of feed of labels to a label applying head as compared with the time taken to effect a splice between webs 16 and 24 or 24 and 16, as the case may be. 10 WASTE REMOVAL The operation of an automatic waste removal system as shown in the drawings is as follows: 15 In Figs. I and 2 waste backing paper web 20 exits a labelling head (not shown) along pathway 12 and around turning bar 32 before passing through loop control zone 21 and on through waste loading clamp 34. Web 20 is manually pulled through open jaws 35 of clamp 34 then through the gap between fork arms 41 of waste spindle 40 and on to be gripped by jaws 38 of clamp 39 upon a first loading. The correct positioning of fork arms 20 41 to allow feeding of web 20 therebetween is controlled by position sensor 47. For subsequent automatic reloading of spindle 40 the clamp 34, with jaws 35 gripping web 20, is moved via strut 36 in air cylinder 37 so that web 20 passes through the gap between the arms of the spindle 40 and between jaws 38 of start-up clamp 39. Clamp 34 is forward mounted of waste spindle 40 while clamp 39 is mounted rearwardly of spindle 40. 25 Jaws 35 are in the form of forks or arms that project in a direction into the page of drawing Figs 1 and 2. Jaws 38 of clamp 39 are in the form of forks or arms that project in a direction out of the page of drawing Figs I and 2. Jaws 35 are sized, when clamped together, to pass horizontally between arms or forks 41 of waste spindle 40, when oriented 30 as shown in Figs I and 2, and also between open jaws 38.

C \NRPr\DCC\CAB\390549_1 DOC-29/09/2011 -9 After jaws 35 holding web 20 have travelled through forks 41 and open jaws 38, the latter are clamped together to hold web 20 while jaws 38 are retracted to release web 20 and allow open clamp 34 to be returned to its position as shown in Figs 1 and 2. 5 Spindle 40 is then activated to wind-up web 20 to form a roll of waste release paper with its winding-up rate being controlled in harmony with the rate of consumption of labels by the labelling head (not shown). When the reel of waste web 20 on spindle 40 reaches a predetermined size for ejection 10 from spindle 40, clamp 34 is operated to clamp and cut web 20. Clamp 34 includes a cutting knife 23 which cuts web 20 as jaws 35 come together to clamp web 20. As the labelling head is still operating and producing waste web material 20 during clamping cutting and ejection, the waste web loop control 21 operates to take up the web material 20 which is output during the ejection of the reel of material 20 off spindle 40. Air cylinder 42 15 moves its strut 43 to the right as shown in Figs 1 and 2, which in turn draws the left hand column roller set of loop control 21 to the right so as to increase the distance of travel for the web material 20 as it passes between the left and right hand columns of rollers of loop control 21. 20 Once cutting knife 23 cuts the waste web material, the rotational speed of spindle 40 is slowed, air operated waste spindle expansion cylinders 44 retract and waste ejection cylinder 45 is activated to drive waste ejector 46 against the reel of waste material and push that reel along and off fork arms 41. 25 After each reel of waste material has been ejected off fork arms 41 the waste spindle is stopped in its homed position as shown in Figs 1 and 2, thereafter spindle 40 is re-loaded by movement of web 20, clamped between jaws 35 of clamp 34 travelling between fork arms 41 of spindle 40 then through open jaws 38 of clamp 39 and so on as discussed above in relation to a first loading, thereby completing a cycle of the waste removal operation. 30 C RPorblOCC\CAB\3905N4 9 DOC.29//2011 -10 SPLICING TAPE Fig 5a shows a roll 50 of single-sided adhesive tape with the adhesive surface being outermost and covered by separate portions of release paper 51, 52. 5 The manner of use of the adhesive tape of the embodiment of Fig.5 as a splicing element in an embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 6. A portion 60 of the tape of Fig.5 is separated from roll 50. One of release papers 51 and 52 is removed and the exposed adhesive surface is adhered to the underside 61 of label backing paper 62 supporting labels 63. The release paper portion 64 remains in place until the underlying 10 adhesive is to be exposed to adhere to another label backing paper and splice two label webs (16, 24) together. The embodiment of Fig. 5c is of a tape with a first removable release paper 52 having an extension reaching across and above release paper 51. This arrangement makes it easier to 15 remove release paper 52 than is the case with the embodiment of Figs. 5a and 5b. UNWINDING HUB Fig 7 shows an embodiment of a mode of affixing a label supporting web to the hub of an unwinding reel (13 or 13'). In Fig 7 hub 80 has a portion of double-sided adhesive tape 81 20 thereon. The stickability of the adhesive on each side of the tape differs with the tape 81 adhering to the hub more strongly than the label carrying web 16 or 24 adheres to the tape 81. In addition, the web 16,24 is adapted to release from tape 81 at the complete unwinding of web 16, 24 from reel 13,13'. This clean release from tape 81 leaves a sharply defined end 82 on web 16 or 24 which provides a reliable end of web trigger for activation of a 25 splicing method in accordance with the invention herein or otherwise described. The clean release of a label carrying web from the hub of a reel (13 or 13') facilitates use of the last label on that web by a labelling head irrespective of splicing that web with another web or not. This contrasts with existing systems which suffer problems in achieving a clean release from a hub so as to allow use of a last label on a reel of label supporting web 30 material.

C \NRPorbDCC\CABu3905049.1 DOC-29/09/201 l - 11 The assemblies shown in Figs. 8a and 8b have corresponding reference numerals applied to the same or like elements as depicted in drawing Figs. 1-4. In Fig. 8 control loop 17 has been varied from the form shown in Figs. I and 2 and is now 5 comprised of a pendulum arm, having its movement detected by sensor 29, acting as a buffer for the web as splicing is carried out in zone 15 while the labelling head (not shown) continues to operate. This buffer 17 is required to provide a reserve supply of label supporting web during the time that splicing occurs. Should proximity switches 30 not detect web within zone 18 the apparatus is designed to stop and manual splicing will be 10 required before continuing. For initial loading of spindle 40 of Fig. 9 it is not necessary to clamp web 20 in jaws 38 but only in jaws 35 for loading through fork arms in an arrangement where a web buffer is provided upstream of jaws 35. Clamp 34 is movable back and forth along track 36 15 mounted on arms 37. In an alternative mode, the sequence for reloading of spindle 40 is reversed where clamp 39 functions to be the web moving clamp and clamp 34 with knife 23 at cutting station 22 is fixed. In this version the initial loading of web 20 is held by jaws 35 of clamp 34. Clamp 20 39 with jaws 38 open are moved to the upstream side of side of clamp 34 and then jaws 38 clamp web 20. Clamp 34 is then opened and jaws 38 gripping web 20 passes through forks 41 and the winding up is commenced. Figs. 10a and 10b are equivalent to the arrangements shown in Figs. 3a and 3b, 25 respectively. In this embodiment, however, a locating pin 48 secures the carriage supporting the bladder clamp 70 at each splicing and web feeding position relative to respective splicing tables 26. In this embodiment the carriage, comprising splice bladder clamp 70, vacuum head 74 30 coupled to mounting arm 75, position cylinder 76 and locating pin 48, is movable between the positions shown in Figs. 10a and lOb and also in Figs. I la and 1 b under the operation C \NRPorbl\DCC\CAB\3905049_I DOC-29/09/2011 - 12 of air cylinders 71 and 72. Referring to Figs. 1Oa, I Ia the end of web 16 is detected by sensor 27. That detection initiates the splicing operation. Prior to the end of web 16 reaching its position to be 5 clamped ready for splicing with the leading edge of web 24, position cylinder 76 extends downwardly to create tension in web 16. Once the trailing end of web 16 has reached its desired final position it is clamped by the action of web clamp 70 moving to grip web 16. Thereafter position cylinder 76 is retracted, the trailing edge of web 16 is raised by vacuum and clamping head 74 via movement of mounting arm 75 to the position as is shown in 10 Fig. I Ia. Cylinder 71 then moves the carriage to the right, as shown in Fig. I la, so that pin 48 becomes disengaged from the uppermost splicing table. Cylinder 72 is then activated to move the carriage down to the position shown in Fig. 1 Ib; cylinder 71 then moves the carriage to the left so that it locks with lowermost splicing table 15 26 as pin 48 engages with the complementary recess in that table as shown in Fig. I1 b. Vacuum head 74 with the trailing edge of web 16 attached is lowered on mounting arm 75 so that the underside of the trailing end of web 16 is brought into contact with adhesive surface 78 at the leading end of web 24. 20 Once adhesive contact has been made between webs 16 and 24 the splice is complete and vacuum and clamping head 74 is released so that the last of web 16 with the front of web 24 attached is then allowed to continue feeding web to a desired station. 25 To go from the position of Fig. II b to that of Fig. II a, the above described splicing steps are reversed. By having sufficient web material with a variable length feeding loop or loops 17,18 it is possible to maintain continuity of web delivery to a downstream station while the splicing 30 operation is being effected.

C .NRPorblCC\CAB\39)5049_1 DOC-29/9/2011 - 13 Figs. 12a and 12b show an alternate mode of loading web material 20 onto a wind-up spindle 40. In these cases the web 20 is oriented to pass vertically down between forks 41 under the action of drive 33. Thereafter spindle 40 is spun to wind up web 20. All other operations being handled in a similar way as described with regard to Figs. 4 and 9. 5 In the embodiment of Fig. 12b the web material 20 is shaped by drive rollers 33 by applying fold lines to web 20 to give the material more structural rigidity than if left flat as shown in Fig. 12a. This stiffening of the web 20 by applying folds or ribs enables web 20 to traverse a greater distance without being easily diverted from its path of travel than if it 10 were a planar sheet. Fig. 12c is an isometric view of a portion of ribbed or folded web material as employed in the embodiment of Fig. 12b. 15 Referring now to Figs. 13a and 13b, another example of a labelling machine 90 is shown, where like parts are denoted with like reference numerals. The machine 90 has supporting spindles 91 which are adapted to carry the above described reels 13 and 13' for feeding a web (not shown) through an apparatus 92 where labels are 20 removed from the web and applied to containers or the like. The resultant waste web (also not shown) is then fed into waste disposal system 92' for subsequent removal. The system 92' includes a loop control zone 21 which feeds the waste web into a cabinet 93, where web is wound onto a spindle or rotatable device 40. The cabinet 93 is mounted 25 to a frame 94 of the machine 90 so as to form a chute 95 from which waste material is ejected into a waiting bin 95'. Fig. 14 shows the other components of the system 92' in more detail. The loop control zone 21 is upstream of the spindle 40 and comprises a set of rollers 96 over which the waste 30 web passes. The rollers 96 can be adjusted along tracks 97 so as to vary the position and thereby the distance of travel for the web. As such, the loop control zone 21 can buffer web C .WRPnbl\DCC\CAB9050049_ .DOC-29K9/2011 -14 material to varying degrees, as required, for subsequent feeding to the spindle 40 when needed. The spindle 40 is shown as comprising an ejector 98, through which spindle arms 41 5 project. A sensor 99 is positioned between two of the arms 41 to detect when waste material is wound onto the spindle. A gap 100 is defined between the arms 41. A clamp 34, which jaws 35, is positioned to the right of the spindle 21, at a cutting station 102 adjacent feed-in rollers 101, which deliver the web from the upstream loop control 10 zone. The jaws 35 are provided with a cutter 103 to cut the web although a cutting operation may be undertaken using a separate cutter. The clamp 34 is mounted to a carriage 104 which is attached to an overhead track 105 for sliding movement between the cutting station 102 and an opposite end 106 of the track 15 105. A second clamp 39 is positioned on an opposite side of the spindle 20 to the clamp 34, toward the end 106 of the track 105. The clamp 39 is illustrated with jaws 38 in a closed configuration. 20 In use of the system 90, waste web is fed from the loop control zone 21 to the feed-in rollers 101 where the web is gripped by the clamp 34. In that arrangement, the jaws 38 of clamp 39 are open and the gap 100 is aligned with the jaws of the clamp 34. The carriage 104 is then moved along the track 105, in a direction indicated by arrow 'A' so that the 25 jaws 35 pass between the arms 41, in order to thread the web through the spindle 40, and also between the jaws 38 of the clamp 39. The clamp 39 is then engaged to grip the web. The jaws 35 can then be opened along the extent of the carriage 104 by a distance sufficient to avoid obstruction from either the 30 clamp 39 or the spindle 40, as the carriage 104 and clamp 34 are returned back to the cutting station 102.

C :NRPorib1DCC\CAB995(49_ I DOC-29/09/201 I - 15 While the web is held by the clamp 39, the spindle 40 is rotated so that the web, which extends between the rollers 101 and clamp 39, is wound onto the arms 41 to thereby load the web onto the spindle 40. The sensor 99 provides confirmation the web is loaded onto 5 the spindle 40, after which the jaws 38 release the web. The speed of the spindle is controlled to take up any excess web material which needed to be buffered in the loop control zone, while the web was loaded onto the spindle 40. When a roll of web material on the spindle 40 reaches a predetermined size, the clamp 34 10 is engaged together with the cutter 103 to cut and hold the web at the cutting station 102. The ejector 98 is then actuated. The ejector 98, in this example, includes a plate 107 which is simply pushed outwardly along the arms 41 until the roll is ejected off the spindle 40, down the chute 95 and into the waiting bin. 15 Once the roll of waste web material has cleared the spindle 40, the ejector 98 returns to its original position and the spindle can again be re-loaded in the manner described above. As may be appreciated then, the waste disposal system 92' can provide discrete, well bundled rolls of waste web material continuously, without needing to interrupt operation of 20 the upstream labelling process. The rolls of waste material are disposed of into a chute for collection in a bin, remote from the spindle loading and wrapping process so a human operator does not need to be in an area of moving machine parts and, as a result, operation of the system 92' does not need to shut down while waste is collected. 25 It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the inventions as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims (13)

1. A system for disposal of a waste web including: a spindle onto which a roll of web is wound; a cutting station for cutting the web; an ejector for ejecting the roll off the spindle for disposal, to free the spindle to be re-loaded with another roll of web.

2. The system of claim 1, further including a loop control zone upstream of the cutting station which buffers the web while the web is cut and the roll is ejected off the spindle.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the loop control zone includes a set of rollers, over which the web passes, the position of the rollers being variable so as to vary the distance of travel of the web, depending on the degree of buffer required.

4. The system of claim 1, further including a clamp with jaws which grip the web and pass the web through a gap in the spindle, so that the web is loaded onto the spindle when the spindle is rotated.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the spindle is formed of projecting arms and the gap is defined between the arms, so as to initially align with the clamp, in order to load the web onto the spindle.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the jaws of the clamp are arranged to open a distance sufficient to clear the spindle during return to the cutting station.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the clamp carries a cutter for cutting the web at the cutting station. C \NRPo \DCC\CABJ90549I DOC-29/09/20Il - 17

8. The system of claim 7, further including a second clamp which is engaged to hold the web prior to the jaws of the first clamp being opened to return to the cutting station, the second clamp being released when the spindle is rotated to load the web onto the spindle.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the ejector is in the form of a plate which is pushed outwardly along the arms until the reel is ejected.

10. The system of claim 10, further including a chute into which the rolls of web are ejected for collection in a waste disposal bin.

11. A method of forming and removing a roll of web material from a rotatable device, the method including loading a quantity of web material onto the rotatable device, clamping and cutting the web being wound onto the rotatable device when a predetermined quantity of web material has been wound onto the rotatable device, pushing the wound web off the rotatable device, re-attaching the cut end of the web to the rotatable device and winding a next quantity of web onto the rotatable device.

12. The method of claim 11, further including loop control in the path of the web material upstream of the clamping and cutting.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the loop control includes accommodating an oversupply of web material upstream of the rotatable device so as to store web material while clamping, cutting and ejecting a wound web off the rotatable device is carried out.