Apparatus for assembling a core for receiving wound sheet material

1. An Apparatus for assembling a core for receiving wound sheet material: which core comprises a tube, a first end member inserted in a first end of the tube, and a second end member inserted in a second end of the tube; and the apparatus comprising a base, first chuck means mounted on the base and for insertion in the first end member, second chuck means mounted on the base and for insertion in the second end member, a ram mounted on the base and for applying axial pressure on one of the first and the second end members such that the first end member is forced into the first end of the tube and the second end member is forced into the second end of the tube thereby to ensure that the first and the second end members are accurately fitted in the tube, first drill means for drilling at least one fixing aperture in the first end of the tube and the first end member thereby to enable the fixing of the first end member in the first end of the tube, second drill means for drilling at least one fixing aperture in the second end of the tube and the second end member thereby to enable the fixing of the second end member in the second end of the tube, and monitor means for sensing ambient temperature and enabling the length of the core to be measured at the time of the assembly of the core in the ambient temperature and thereby to ensure that the length of the core falls in temperature and length parameters set for subsequent winding of the sheet material on the core.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which the first chuck means has a first abutment portion which abuts against the first end member, in which the second chuck means has a second abutment portion which abuts against the second end member, and in which the ram applies the axial pressure via the abutment portion on the first or the second end member.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which the ram applies the axial pressure on the first end member.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which the first drill means comprises a sequence-controlled drilling motor, and in which the second drill means comprises a sequence-controlled drilling motor.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which the first drill means comprises a ram for moving the first drill means into and out of a drilling position, and in which the second drill means comprises a ram for moving the second drill means into and out of a drilling position.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 in which the rams are pneumatic rams.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which the monitor means enables the length of the core to be measured after the ram has applied the axial pressure, and before the first and the second drill means have drilled the fixing apertures.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which the monitor means comprises an ambient temperature sensor, and a length measuring sensor.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 and including screw fixing means for screwing screws into the fixing apertures.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 and including tag sensing means for sensing if the core has an identity tag for use in identifying the core.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 and in which there are two of the tag sensing means, there being a first one of the tag sensing means positioned adjacent the first end member for sensing a first tag on the first end member, and a second one of the tag sensing means positioned adjacent the second end member for sensing a second tag on the second end member.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10 in which the tag sensing means is mounted on the base.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10 and including antenna sensing means.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which the core is made of aluminlum.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which the first and the second end members are made of a plastics material.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which the end members are disposable end members or re-usable end members.