VORRICHTUNG UND VERFAHREN ZUM AUFWINDEN STREIFENFOERMIGEN MATERIALS

Strip products such as mineral wool blankets are wound on a mandrel having two elongate elements extending generally across the width of the strip and generally paralleling the winding axis of the strip. The strip is inserted between the elongate elements to develop an initial securing tuck of material when they are rotated around the winding axis and the projecting free end of the strip is carried and secured against one of the elements by the succeeding wrap of the strip. Wheels positioned normal to the winding axis support the elongate elements of the mandrel. Peripheral drive for winding is provided by a drive cradle which engages the wheels as the coil of strip is started and engages the outer periphery of the coil when its diameter exceeds that of the wheels. Mandrel indexing means position the elongate elements to receive the leading edge of strip to start the wind. The method and apparatus are of particular value in winding operations requiring an end tuck to be carried upward and against gravitational forces as where an upper surface of a horizontally fed strip is to be wound outermost although the positive control of the end tuck is advantageous in many winding orientations.