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A web unwind stand for obtaining, loading, splicing, and unwinding a web material from a plurality of convolutely wound rolls and forwarding the web material unwound from each of the convolutely wound rolls uninterruptedly to a downstream apparatus is disclosed. The unwind stand has a frame, a posit

A web unwind stand for obtaining, loading, splicing, and unwinding a web material from a plurality of convolutely wound rolls and forwarding the web material unwound from each of the convolutely wound rolls uninterruptedly to a downstream apparatus is disclosed. The unwind stand has a frame, a positionable roll grasping apparatus having a mandrel connectively engaged thereto and, splicing means. The positionable roll grasping apparatus is capable of obtaining and disposing the convolutely wound rolls proximate to the splicing means relative to the frame.

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1. A web unwind stand for obtaining, loading, splicing, and unwinding a web material from a plurality of convolutely wound rolls and forwarding said web material unwound from each of the convolutely wound rolls uninterruptedly to a downstream apparatus, said unwind stand comprising: a frame;a first

1. A web unwind stand for obtaining, loading, splicing, and unwinding a web material from a plurality of convolutely wound rolls and forwarding said web material unwound from each of the convolutely wound rolls uninterruptedly to a downstream apparatus, said unwind stand comprising: a frame;a first mandrel joined to said frame, wherein said first mandrel comprises a first plurality of elongate mandrel arms disposed radially about a longitudinal axis of said first mandrel and extending away from said frame, wherein each of the first plurality of elongate mandrel arms comprises an expansion element;a positionable roll grasping apparatus comprising a mount, a rocker, an extension arm, a wrist subassembly having three rotational axes, and an end effector having a second mandrel connectively engaged thereto for obtaining and disposing said convolutely wound rolls proximate to said splicing means relative to said frame, said mount, rocker, extension arm, wrist subassembly, and end effector providing said positionable roll grasping apparatus with at least six rotational axes, wherein said second mandrel comprises a second plurality of elongate mandrel arms disposed radially about a longitudinal axis of said second mandrel; and,splicing means, wherein said first mandrel is configured to interleave with said second mandrel such that the first plurality of elongate mandrel arms and the second plurality of elongate mandrel arms are disposed in adjoining relationship and disposed radially about a longitudinal axis. 2. The unwind stand of claim 1 wherein said positionable roll grasping apparatus is extendable from a first position where said second mandrel is in cooperative alignment with said splicing means and a second position proximate to a first of said plurality of convolutely wound rolls of web material, said first of said plurality of convolutely wound rolls of web material not being in operative connection with said splicing means at said second position. 3. The unwind stand of claim 2, wherein said positionable roll grasping apparatus further comprises roll grasping means attached thereto for grasping said first of said plurality of convolutely wound rolls of web material, said roll grasping means including an arm movable radially toward and radially away from said second mandrel. 4. The unwind stand of claim 2, wherein said positionable roll grasping apparatus further comprises means for operating said positionable roll grasping apparatus so as to effect engagement and disengagement of said positionable roll grasping apparatus with said first of said plurality of convolutely wound rolls of web material, including means for synchronously moving said roll grasping means relative to said second mandrel. 5. The unwind stand of claim 2, wherein said positionable roll grasping apparatus further comprises control means for controlling said positionable roll grasping apparatus so as to effect movement of said positionable roll grasping apparatus away from alignment with said splicing means and to effect coordinated movement of said positionable roll grasping apparatus while said second mandrel and said positionable roll grasping apparatus is engaged with said first of said plurality of convolutely wound rolls of web material so that said first of said plurality of convolutely wound rolls of web material is capable of being moved relative to said splicing means. 6. The unwind stand of claim 1 further comprising a second positionable roll grasping apparatus having a third mandrel associated thereto for disposing said convolutely wound rolls proximate to said splicing means. 7. The unwind stand of claim 6 wherein said second positionable roll grasping apparatus further comprises a mount, a rocker, an extension arm, a wrist subassembly having three rotational axes, and an end effector, said second positionable roll grasping apparatus being extendable from a second first position in cooperative alignment with said splicing means and a second second position proximate to a second of said plurality of convolutely wound rolls of web material, said second of said plurality of convolutely wound rolls of web material not being in operative connection with said splicing means at said second second position, said mount, rocker, extension arm, wrist subassembly, and end effector of said second positionable roll grasping apparatus providing said second positionable roll grasping apparatus with at least six rotational axes. 8. The unwind stand of claim 1 further comprising web forwarding means. 9. The unwind stand of claim 1 further comprising unwinding means including means for revolvingly mounting a plurality of said rolls proximate to said splicing means for unwinding them. 10. The unwind stand of claim 1 further comprising a web accumulator means intermediate said forwarding means and said splicing means. 11. The unwind stand of claim 10 wherein said accumulator means includes a moveable web loading dancer assembly comprising a plurality of idler rollers defining a looped path of variable length for said web, the length of said path being inversely related to the displacement of said dancer assembly above the lower end of its range of travel. 12. The unwind stand of claim 1 wherein a position of said convolutely wound rolls relative to said splicing means are adjustable while said convolutely wound roll is unwinding. 13. The unwind stand of claim 12 wherein said position of said convolutely wound rolls relative to said splicing means is adjustable in at least 3 axis. 14. The unwind stand of claim 13 wherein said convolutely wound rolls can be rotated positionably relative to said splicing means in at least 3 axis. 15. A web unwind stand for obtaining, loading, splicing, and unwinding web material from a succession of convolutely wound rolls of web material and forwarding said web material unwound from each of the convolutely wound rolls uninterruptedly to a downstream apparatus at substantially constant velocity under substantially constant tension, said apparatus comprising: a frame; a first mandrel joined to said frame, wherein said first mandrel comprises a first plurality of elongate mandrel arms disposed radially about a longitudinal axis of said first mandrel and extending away from said frame;splicing means; and,a positionable roll grasping apparatus having a second mandrel associated thereto for engaging a first convolutely wound roll of said convolutely wound rolls, wherein the second mandrel comprises an end effector extending from a mandrel shaft, wherein said end effector comprises one or more expansion elements positioned about a longitudinal axis, wherein said one or more expansion elements are configured to engage said first convolutely wound roll, wherein said second mandrel comprises a second plurality of elongate mandrel arms disposed radially about a longitudinal axis of said second mandrel,wherein said first mandrel is configured to interleave with said second mandrel such that the first plurality of elongate mandrel arms and the second plurality of elongate mandrel arms are disposed in adjoining relationship and disposed radially about a longitudinal axis,wherein said first convolutely wound roll is disposed proximate to said splicing means relative to said splicing means, andwherein said web material is provided to said downstream apparatus by unwinding said first convolutely wound roll relative to said downstream apparatus while said first convolutely wound roll is disposed upon said mandrel. 16. The unwind stand of claim 15 wherein a position of said convolutely wound rolls relative to said splicing means is adjustable in at least 3 axis and rotated positionably relative to said splicing means in at least 3 axis. 17. The unwind stand of claim 15 further comprising a web accumulator means intermediate said forwarding means and said splicing means. 18. The unwind stand of claim 15 wherein said positionable roll grasping apparatus further comprises an articulable arm having said second mandrel disposed thereon, said articulable arm being extendable from a first position where said second mandrel is in cooperative alignment with said splicing means and a second position proximate to a first of said plurality of convolutely wound rolls of web material, said first of said plurality of convolutely wound rolls of web material not being in operative connection with said splicing means at said second position. 19. The unwind stand of claim 18 wherein said positionable roll grasping apparatus further comprises control means for controlling said positionable roll grasping apparatus so as to effect movement of said positionable roll grasping apparatus away from alignment with said splicing means and to effect coordinated movement of said positionable roll grasping apparatus while said second mandrel and said positionable roll grasping apparatus is engaged with said first of said plurality of convolutely wound rolls of web material so that said first of said plurality of convolutely wound rolls of web material is capable of being moved relative to said splicing means. 20. The unwind stand of claim 18, wherein said positionable roll grasping apparatus further comprises means for operating said positionable roll grasping apparatus so as to effect engagement and disengagement of said positionable roll grasping apparatus with said first of said plurality of convolutely wound rolls of web material, including means for synchronously moving said roll grasping means relative to said second mandrel.