APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COUPLING AND DRIVING A REEL SHAFT

摘要

A device (10) for rotating a web material roll (13) supported on a reel shaf t (38) having a pair of ends. The rotating device includes a female drive memb er (37) coupled to one end of the reel shaft and defining an opening (50) havin g a non-circular perimeter, such as a square opening. Also included is a male drive device having a rotatably powered drive shaft (25) having an end that is congruent to the non-circular perimeter of the opening in the female drive member. The non-circular perimeter allows the reel shaft, and web material roll, to be positively rotated during unwinding. A telescoping assembly of t he male drive device (35) is capable of extending the drive shaft into the opening so as to allow co-rotation of the shaft and female member. An option al roll supporting cart (100) may be employed to rotatably support the web material roll when aligning the male and female drive members.