Apparatus for supporting convolutely wound logs of web material during cutting

1. An apparatus for supporting a convolutely wound log of web material during cutting of the convolutely wound log, the apparatus comprising:

a support frame,

a bottom support link being operatively coupled to the support frame, the bottom support link having a guide surface adapted to engage a region of a periphery of the convolutely wound log when the log is directed into the apparatus, and

a side support link being operatively pivotally coupled to the support frame, the side support link being operatively pivotally coupled to the bottom support link, the side support link having a guide surface adapted to engage a further region of the periphery of the convolutely wound log when the log is directed into the apparatus; and

a flexible member operatively coupled to a distal end of the side support link, the flexible member extending tangentially from the guide surface of the side support link and curving away from the side support link and the bottom support link so that a portion of the flexible member is spaced away from the guide surface of the side support link and the guide surface of the bottom support link, the spaced away portion of the flexible member being adapted to engage a second further region of the periphery of the convolutely wound log when the log is directed into the apparatus, the spaced away portion of the flexible member together with the guide surface of the side support link and the guide surface of the bottom support link at least in part defining a support surface for supporting the convolutely wound log when the log is directed into the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flexible member is detachably mounted to the side support link.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the flexible member is detachably mounted such that the flexible member is flush with the guide surface of the side support link.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the side support link and the flexible member are operatively connected to an actuator, the actuator being adapted and configured to move the at least one of the side support link and the flexible member relative to the support frame.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the actuator is operatively electrically connected with a log sensor, the log sensor is adapted and configured to sense a diameter of a convolutely wound log directed into the apparatus, generate a signal representative of the log diameter, and transmit the signal to a control associated with the flexible member actuator.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a further bottom support link being operatively pivotally coupled to the support frame, the further bottom support link having a guide surface adapted to engage a third further region of the periphery of the convolutely wound log when the log is directed into the apparatus, and

a further side support link being operatively pivotally coupled to the support frame, the further side support link being operatively pivotally coupled to the further bottom support link, the further side support link having a guide surface adapted to engage a fourth further region of the periphery of the convolutely wound log when the log is directed into the apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a further flexible member, the further flexible member being operatively coupled to a distal end of the further side support link, the further flexible member extending tangentially from the guide surface of the further side support link and curving away from the further side support link and the further bottom support link, a section of the flexible member overlapping the further flexible member, the further flexible member together with the spaced away portion of the flexible member, the guide surface of the side support link, the guide surface of the bottom support link, the guide surface of the further side support link, and the guide surface of the further bottom support link at least in part defining a support surface for supporting the convolutely wound log when the log is directed into the apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the further flexible member is detachably mounted to the further side support link.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the flexible member and the further flexible member are of different lengths.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising a second further flexible member overlapping the flexible member.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the second further flexible member has sufficient resiliency such that the flexible member conforms to the shape of the second further flexible member.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the side support link is operatively slideably connected to the support frame.

13. An apparatus for supporting a convolutely wound log of web material during cutting of the convolutely wound log, the apparatus comprising:

a support frame,

a first bottom support link being operatively pivotally coupled to the support frame, the first bottom support link having a guide surface adapted to engage a first region of a periphery of the convolutely wound log when the log is directed into the apparatus,

a second bottom support link being operatively pivotally coupled to the support frame, the second bottom support link having a guide surface adapted to engage a second region of a periphery of the convolutely wound log when the log is directed into the apparatus;

a side support link being operatively pivotally coupled to the support frame, the side support link being operatively pivotally coupled to one of the first and second bottom support link, the side support link having a guide surface adapted to engage a third region of the periphery of the convolutely wound log when the log is directed into the apparatus; and

a flexible member operatively coupled to a distal end of the side support link, the flexible member extending tangentially from the guide surface of the side support link and curving away from the side support link and the respective one of the first and second bottom support link so that a portion of the flexible member is spaced away from the guide surface of the side support link and the guide surface of the respective one of the first and second bottom support link, the spaced away portion of the flexible member being adapted to engage a fourth region of the periphery of the convolutely wound log when the log is directed into the apparatus, the spaced away portion of the flexible member together with the guide surface of the side support link and the guide surface of the respective one of the first and second bottom support link at least in part defining a support surface for supporting the convolutely wound log when the log is directed into the apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the side support link and the flexible member are operatively connected to an actuator, the actuator being adapted and configured to move the at least one of the side support link and the flexible member relative to the support frame.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the actuator is operatively electrically connected with a log sensor, the log sensor is adapted and configured to sense a diameter of a convolutely wound log directed into the apparatus, generate a signal representative of the log diameter, and transmit the signal to a control associated with the flexible member actuator.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a second side support link being operatively pivotally coupled to the support frame, the second side support link being operatively pivotally coupled the second bottom support link, the second side support link having a guide surface adapted to engage a fifth region of the periphery of the convolutely wound log when the log is directed into the apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising a further flexible member, the further flexible member operatively coupled to a distal end of the second side support link, the further flexible member extending tangentially from the guide surface of the second side support link and curving away from the second side support link and the second bottom support link, a section of the flexible member overlapping the further flexible member, the further flexible member being adapted to engage a sixth region of the periphery of the convolutely wound log when the log is directed into the apparatus, the further flexible member together with the spaced away portion of the flexible member, the guide surfaces of the first and second side support links, and the guide surfaces of the first and second bottom support links, at least in part defining a support surface for supporting the convolutely wound log when the log is directed into the apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the flexible member and the further flexible member are of different lengths.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising a second further flexible member overlapping the flexible member.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the second further flexible member has sufficient resiliency such that the flexible member conforms to the shape of the second further flexible member.

21. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the side support link is operatively slideably connected to the support frame.

22. An apparatus for supporting a convolutely wound log of web material during cutting of the convolutely wound log, the apparatus comprising:

a support frame,

a bottom support link being operatively coupled to the support frame, the bottom support link having a guide surface adapted to engage a region of a periphery of the convolutely wound log when the log is directed into the apparatus, and

a flexible member operatively coupled to a distal end of the bottom support link, the flexible member extending tangentially from the guide surface of the bottom support link and curving away from the bottom support link so that a portion of the flexible member is spaced away from the guide surface of the bottom support link, the spaced away portion of the flexible member being adapted to engage a further region of the periphery of the convolutely wound log when the log is directed into the apparatus, the spaced away portion of the flexible member together with the guide surface of the bottom support link at least in part defining a support surface for supporting the convolutely wound log when the log is directed into the apparatus.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the flexible member is detachably mounted to the bottom support link.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the flexible member is detachably mounted such that the flexible member is flush with the guide surface of the side support link.

25. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein at least one of the bottom support link and the flexible member are operatively connected to an actuator, the actuator being adapted and configured to move the at least one of the bottom support link and the flexible member relative to the support frame.

26. The apparatus of claim 22 , further comprising a second bottom support link, the second bottom support link having a guide surface adapted to engage a further region of a periphery of the convolutely wound log when the log is directed into the apparatus.