US3854677A

US3854677A - Web feeding apparatus with guide arm

Info

Publication number: US3854677A
Application number: US00337996A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Martin; R Chesley
Original assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
Current assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
Priority date: 1973-03-05
Filing date: 1973-03-05
Publication date: 1974-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-17

Abstract

A device for threading the leading end of a web material from a roll or coil of such material to drive rollers or other advancing means of a motion picture projector, or the like, includes a hook member adapted to engage a perforation in the web and guide the web material away from the roll. A bifurcated guide arm is provided to cooperate with the hook member to accurately position the hook member for engaging the perforation in the web member.

Description

' 22 Filed:-

jjun ted states atent 1 Martin et a1;

' [54] WEB FEEDING APPARATUSWITHCUIDE ARM I [75] Inventors: William Allen Martin, Fairport;

Richard Carleton Chesley, Spencerport, both of NY.

[7 3] Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company,

. Rochester, N.Y.

' Mar. 5, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 337,996

51 lm. c|..; G03b1 /04,G 11b 15/32 58 FieldofSearch.; 242/l9 5,206-2l0; 226/91, 92; 332/157, 158

" [56] v g References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,l97,l 50 7/1965" Camras '242/195 US. Cl..; 242/195,,226/92, 352/157 1 3,604,657 9 1971 lgarashietalu ..'242/195 Primary Examiner--Leonard D. Christian Attorney, Agent, or Firm-J. Morrow [57.] ABSTRACT.

A device for threading the leadingen d of a web material from a roll or coil of such material to drive rollers or other advancing means of a motion pieture projector, or the like, includes a hook member adapted to engage a perforation in the web and guide the web material away from the roll. A bifurcated guidearm is provided to cooperate with the hook member to accurately position the hook member for engaging the perforation in the web member.

13 Claims, 7 Drawing Fignres PAIENT 2521 7 I974 sum 2 or retracted position. i

. 1 WEB FEEDING APPARATUS WITH GUIDE ARM cRoss REFERENCE o RELATED APPLICATIONS 113,922 entitled,, FlLM FEEDING APPARATUS? filed Feb. 9, I971 in the name of Edward S. McKee,

and United States Patent application Ser. No. 250,940 entitled, THREADING DEVICE filed May 8, 1972 in'the'nameof Clemens Hopfner et a1.

' BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Y 1. Field of The Invention web material.

2. Description Of The Prior Art I the hook'with respect to the leading end of the film.

The guide members are placed on the hookrnember 'to assure correct alignment and-engagement between the hook and the opening in the web and, as a result, minimize the size of the opening requiredin thefilm so that the opening does not significantly impair operation with other types of film feeding mechanisms. While such guide-membersfare satisfactoryfor applications where solid flanges are provided on the film reels, they are not as well suited for use where the flanges contain enlarged openingsor where theflanges are'not used.

' The present invention is suitable even in these applica-,

mechanism for threading a web material from a'supply It is known to provide hook members toengage a perforation in a web material for engaging and extracting the web material from a roll or coil. For example, see US. Pat No. 3,604,657 and the before-mentioned with, the outer'convolution of any one of various sizes of film rolls that are rotatable about a spindleflAs shown and described in that application, the film has 'a' free end portion with an elongate opening therein, and

the film is engaged by the hook entering that opening when the film is rotated'in a'take-upjdirection and the hook is extended to a position adjacent the film roll. After engagement of the film by the hook, the hook is moved to drawthe leading end of thefilm away from *mechanismis tobe engaged.

, Another objectof the invention is to provide a struc turally simple'guide arm for accurately guidi'nga" hook tions to guide a hook memberof the type previously disclosed for the guide mechanism of the present invention does not depend upon the flanges for assisting in accurately positioning the hook member with respect 7 r to the web. I This invention relatesgenerally to threading devices for web materials and more particularly ma guide arm for accurately positioning a hooked member relative to a roll or coil of web material so as to accurately align the hook for engaging'aperforation near the end of the SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide an improved roll which can be either enclosed in acartridge or unenclosed, and more specifically, to provide a threading mechanism'which is highly reliable in operation and which functions reliably with webmaterialshaving relat-ively small openings-through which a portion of the member which is adapted to engage an opening near an end of a supply of film, wherein the opening in the film can be small enough to permit operation without significantly impairing reliability of operation of the rest of the feeding mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to providea struc-i turally simple mechanism that doesnot'require cooper ation with flanges of a reel for accurately locating a. hooked member with respect to the end of a roll or coil of web material. I

In accordance'withthe present'invention, apparatus,

is provided for feeding aleading end portion of a strip Y of web material from a roll whichis-rotat'able in a direction for winding the web materialonto the'rolL'Theapthe roll and furnish it to a threading mechanism of a motion picture projector or the like.

paratus includes abifurcated guide arm which cooper-- 1 ates with'a hook memberto guide it during movement of themember from aposition wherein the hook portion is spaced from the roll'to a position wherein the Copending Patent application Ser. No. 250,940 similarly discloses a threading device which-is especially suitable for use with a roll of web material which may be contained within a cartridge. The threading device includes a pivotable member having secured thereto a hook portion that is adapted to be moved into close proximity 'with a roll of film containedina cartridge.

After the hookengages the opening in the'leading end of a rotating roll, the hook extracts theleading end of the film from the cartridge and delivers it to transport apparatus of the projector wherein the hook is disen gaged from the film and the hook is then returned to a Aforementioned copending Patent application Ser. No. l l3,922 discloses an improvement suitable for use hook portion is adjacent the roll of web material for entering the opening the strip to couple the hook portion to the strip in response to rotation of the roll in a I take-up direction. I

The inventionand its objects a d advantages will -b'ecome more apparentin the detailed description of preferred embodiment presented below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS tially broken away, illustrating a preferred embodiment I I' of a feeding apparatus-of this'invention in a variety of operating positions;

FIG. 2'is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

' FIG. 6 is a'view similar .to a portion of FIG. 2 showing a preferred embodiment of the guide member cooperating with the withdrawalhook of'the apparatus to guide the withdrawal hook into engagement with a web material having an opening therein; and,

FIG. 7 is a view taken generally along line 7-7 of FIG..6 showing the guide member cooperating with the withdrawal hook to guide the withdrawal hook between the flanges of a reel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Because photographic apparatus are well known, the present description will be directed in particular to elements forming part of, or cooperating more directly with, the present invention, apparatus not specifically shown' or described herein being understood to be selectable from those known in the art.

In order to more clearly understand the present 'invention, certain structures will now be described which are of a similar nature to the structures disclosed in the beforementioned United States Patent application Ser. Nos. 77,959 and 250,940, reference being made to those applications for a more complete explanation of I such apparatus and their modes or operation.

Referring now to-the drawings, the apparatus of the present invention is operable to feed a strip of web material, such as film F,- from a roll 10 of such film. The film roll may be wound on a conventional film supply reel 12 having spaced reel flanges 14 and 16 (FIG. 7)

at opposite sides '.of roll 10, or the roll may be woundupon a core without flanges. Also, as shown .in FIG. 1,

gage and extract the film F for guiding it to threading apparatus. i

In the prefe'rred embodiment,a sector-shaped arm 24 is pivotally mounted under mechanism plate 22 by a pivot pin 26 or otherv suitable means. Asupportmember .34 is affixed to arm 24 and extends through an arcuate opening 23 in plate 22 wherei'nit supports a plate 36 which has a pivot pin'38'secured thereto. Finger member 30 is pivotally mounted about pivot pin 38 such that hook 32 is mounted in the same plane in which end 11 of film roll is-caused to rotate. As viewed in FIGS. 1,3 and 4, finger member 30 is urged in a counterclockwise.direction about pivot -pin- 38by a spring 40 which is affixed to plate 36and an extension portion 30b of finger member 30. Spring 40 urges the hook portion 32 toward film roll 10 for bringing the hook portion into close proximity withthe outer periphery of the film roll. This mounting of the finger member allows it to remain in contact with the film roll after the hook 32 contacts the film roll, the arm .24 continues to be driven toward thefilmroll. As will be explained in detail later, the hook is guided accurately into a position with-respect to the film so that an elongate slot 11a in film end portion 11 is in register with hook 32 once during eachrevolution of a for engaging the hook and the film.v

A rotatable drive member 28 is mounted by any filmroll known manner for movementin an a'rcuate slot 27in the flangesjof the reel may have openings 14a therein without affecting the operation'of the apparatus. The

reel (or core) has an opening 12a in a hub portion thereof for positioning the reel on a spindle 20 of a mo- -tion pictureprojector (for example). Reel 12 may be furnished to the projector in a cartridge 13, but it is not essential to the operation of the apparatus.

Spindle 20 extends from'a recessed portion22a of a mechanism plate 22. As is well'known in the art, the spindle can be driven in a film take-up direction indicated by thearrow 21 in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 through a suitable tendency or friction drive (not shown) and, if

desired, .it may be positively driven'in the same direc- "tion at high speed to facilitate rewinding of film onto the reel. Also, as is well known, either the spindle or the threading apparatus may be movable to each of a plurality of positions so that the projector can receive reels of both large and small film capacities in corresponding sized film cartridges. Movement of the spindle for accommodation of various sizes of film rolls and car'- tridges is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,583,655 entitled,-

CARTRIDGE LOADED PROJECTOR OR THE LIKE issuedJune 8, 1971 in the name of Robert J.

32 secured to portion 30a of finger member 30 is guided into a position with respect to end 11 and an opening 11a in the end portion 11 (shown in FIG. 6)

-. such that the hook 32 can enter the opening 11a to enarm 24 so that it can be brought into-driving engagement with either

side edge

27a or 27b of the slot. Al-" I though in the preferred embodiment, drive member 28 x is made of a resilient material having a high coefficient of friction so as to drive arm-24, it is also poss'iblel for member 28 to include teeth to engage with teeth positioned along side edges27a, 27b. Also, instead of drive member 28 being movable relative to arm 24, the arm 24 could be made movable relative to drive 2 8'similar to the. embodiment disclosed in the aforementioned commonly-assigned copending U.S. Pat. application Ser; No. 250,940. The movement of drive member 28 'intoengagemeh't with surface 27a while the member is' being driven constantly in a counterclockwise direction causes arm 24 to bedriven about pivot pin'26, from a position wherein finger member 30 is retracted or withdrawn from the roll 10 (FIG.'1) toward an extended position, as shown in solid in FIG. 4 wherein the hook is moved in close proximity to, or in engagement with the outer convolution of any of several sizes of film rolls that may be positioned on spindle 20. Similarly, when member 28 is engaged with surface 27b (as shown in FIG. 5) the hook is driven from its extended to its retracted position. Drive member 28 may be driven by any suitable means such, as thatdisclosed in the aforementioned commonly-assigned'- copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. Nos. 77,959 and 250,940.

In U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 77,959, alignmentbetween the hook portion of the finger and the opening inthe film is achieved by moving the finger inv a path whichbrought the hook portion between the flanges of the reel. While this has proved to be satisfactory in operation, it is very desirable to provide quite accurate positioning of the hook portion with respect to the film roll in order to attempt to maximize the reliability of the film feeding apparatus, minimize the size of film openings, 11a, and to make it suitable for use with film rolls that also may be used on apparatus having film feeding mechanisms of the type described in U.S. Pat.

application Ser. No. 77,959.

reels. that are only partially filled with'film .FIG. 4). a l

Referring once again to FIG. 2, an arm 48 is secured :No. 3,552,683. Also, manufacturing tolerances, wear and deviations in'alignment, etc. in filmreels, the spindle and'finger can adversely affect reliability of a film feeding mechanism of the .typedisclosed in the earlier Many of the problems previously encountered were overcome by the invention disclosed in commonly- -assigned copending US. Pat. application Ser. No.

1 13,922 wherein the finger member was provided with 'wings or flanges thatflco'operate with reel flanges to guide the member relative to the reel flanges. However, 3 current use of flanges having enlarged openings and cores'without flanges indicate a need for means to accurately .position the hook portion with respect to the film roll without being dependentupon the reel flanges. This is achieved by the preferred embodiment of the present invention in a manner which will now be described in greater detail.

Referring now. in detail to FIG. 2, a rotatably mounted shaft 42 projects through an opening in mechanism plate 22. Shaft 42 issecured-to abushing 44 which is suitably mounted in a boss portion of the pro j ector housing (not shown). Secured to shaft 42, above 1 the mechanism plate 22, is a guide arm 46 which has asuitably-shaped bifurcated end portion which defines arm portions 46a and-46b for receiving the hook portion 32 of finger member 30 therebetween; As the separation between

arm portions

46a and 46b isonly guiding finger member 30 to be more'readily received between the arm portions 46a and 46.12 as shown in greater detail in FIG. 6. As is best shown in FIG. 7, arm portion46b includes an extension 47 that. has a tapered surface 47a which is suitably inclined for positioning arm 46 relative to reel flange 16 to thereby assure that

arm portions

460 and 46b are readily aligned between reel flanges I4 and 16. The dimension between the outside surface of

arm portions

46a and 46b is slightly less than the inside dimension between

reel flanges

14 and 16 of a standard film reel such that the arm portions can be insertedbetween the'the flanges whenever a reel having flanges is mounted upon spindle 20. This is desirable since it permits the invention to work with film (as shown in to shaft 42 immediately below mechanism plate 22.

Arm 48 includes a rounded end portion 48a comprising a cam follower which follows-the surface of a cam 1 member secured to arm 24. A spring 50 is secured to arm 48 and a portion (not shown) of the mechanism plate 22 to urge the surface of a cam follower 48a into resilient contact with cam member 25 such that movement of cam member'25 through arm 24 causes rela? tive movement of cam follower 48a. In operation of the mechanism, drive member 28 is engaged with surface 270 of the arcuate slot 27 (FIGS. 1 and 3) and, as it is driven, it causes arm 24 to bepivoted 'infa' counterslightly greater than the-thickness of the finger member 30, the ends of

arm portions

46a and 46b include tapered

surfaces

46c and 46d, respectively, to permit the clockwise direction about pivot 26 such that hook 32 is moved toward its extendedtFIG. 4) position. As arm 24 is moved, cam member 25 is shifted relative to the I rounded end 48a of arm 48. The relative contour of surface 48a and a member'25 is such that arm 48' remains substantially stationary during initial movement of member 25. However,'after the left end 25a of memwithdrawn from the roll 10.

ber 25 passes the rounded surface 48a as shown the bottom position in FIG. 4, spring'50 moves arm 48 in a counterclockwise direction, simultaneously moving shaft 42-and arm 46in the same. direction. Continued movement of arm 24 in the counterclockwise directionto the upper position indicatedin solid in FIG; 4 causes the bifurcated guide arm 46 also to be moved through a corresponding range of positions as shown in phantom in FIG. 3 and in solid in FIG-4.

After the hook portion 32 has been guided into position by guide arm 46 and the film has been engaged as shown in FIG. 5, drive member 28 is shifted'into' with cam followerv 48a and thereby overcomes the force applied to arm 48 by spring 50:causingclockwise direction of 'arm 48, shaft 42 and arm 46. The continued movement of arm 24in this direction results in arm 48 returning to its initial withdrawnv (FIG. 1)v position. The movement of the finger member 30 away from the film roll feeds the'endportion 11 of film F toa film drive which-includes a driven roller or puck 52 and-a pressure roller or puck 54 that jointly define a nip therebetween into which the film is delivered by the finger member. The cooperation of roller 52 and roller" 54,.When they-are drivenin the directions-indicated, is

effective to strip the film from the finger and to deliver the film toother portions of a self threading mechanism of a projector, such as a guide channel 56 or thelike.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference we preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that. variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim: s a 1. Apparatus for feeding a 'Ieadingend portion of a strip of webmaterialfrom'aroll of such-materiahsaid Y roll being rotatable in a plane in a'direction for taking up web'material onto said roll, and said strip having an opening in its leading end portion; the apparatus comprising:

a. amember having shank portionand a hook portion, the hook portionbeing engageable with said strip through said opening for feeding said strip ofweb materialfrom said roll; I

b. means mounting said inemberfor movement be-. tween l) a'firstposition wherein said hook portion is separated from said roll, and (2) a second position wherein said hook portionis located" in said plane adjacent said roll of web'material for enter ing and opening in said strip to couplesaid hook portion to said strip in response torotationof said roll in a take-up direction;

0. means coupled to said member for moving said member between said first and-second positions;

and

(1. guide means selectivelyengageable with said memher for guiding movement of saidhook portion transversely relativeto said plane of said roll and the direction of movement of said memberduring movement of said member from'its first position to s its second position so that said hook portion of said member is aligned with said opening in said web material when said member is in its second position, thereby to insure coupling of said hook por- V tion of said member with said strip of web materialduring rotation of said roll in a take-up direction.

2. Apparatus asset forth in claim 1 wherein said guide means includes an arm having a surface adapted to engage said member for guiding movement of said member. v i i I 4' 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said shank portion of said member is of a predetermined width, and wherein said arm includes bifuracted portion which defines first and second sections which are spaced by a distance which exceeds said predetermined width of said shank portion, said sh ank'portion being i is movable between (1) a first position wherein said arm is spaced from said member, and (2).a second position wherein said arm is effective 'to, receive said shank portion of said member between 'said first and second sections for guiding movement of said member.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means coupled tosaid member is operatively coupled to said guide means for effective conjoint movement of said member and said arm between their respective,

first and second'positions. e

7. Apparatus as set forthin claim Swherein said apparatus is adapted for receiving said strip ofweb material wound upon a reel having at least one flange located adjacent to said film 'roll and wherein said first section" includes an inclined surface for assuring that said arm is received between said sections as said arm' moves toward said second position, said first section is positioned on the side of said flange which is nearest to said roll such that said first section is effective for guiding movement of said member relative to said flange and said roll.

' suring that as said arm mov'ed toward said-second position, said first section is positioned on the side of saidflange which is adjacent to said roll,-such that said firstsection is effective for guiding'movement of said mem- 8. Apparatus for feeding a leading end portion of a b. means'mounting said member for movement between l a first position wherein said hook portion is separated from said roll, and (2) a second position wherein said hook portion is adjacent said roll of web material for entering said opening in said strip to couple said hook portion to said strip in response to rotation of said roll in a take-up direction;

. 6 c means coupled to said member for moving said member between its first position and its second position;

v d. a guide arm positionable for contacting saidjshank portion of said member to guide movement of said hook portion during movement of .said member from its first to its second position so that said hook portion of said member is aligned with saidopening in the web material when the member is in its sec ond position, thereby to insure coupling of the hook portion of said member with the strip of web material during rotation of the roll in a take-up direction; i g e. means mounting said guide arm for movement between (1) a first position wherein said guide arm is spaced from said 'member, and (2) a second position wherein said guide arm is effective to cooperh ate with said member for guiding movement of said I member; and

f. means coupled to said guide arm and said member for effecting conjoint movement of. said member and said guide arm between'their respective first and second positions. V 9. Apparatus asset forth width, and wherein said guide arm includes bifurcated portion which defines first and second sectionswhich are spaced by a distance which exceeds saidpredetermined width of said shank portion such that said shank portion can be received 'between said first and second sections to cooperate therewith for guiding themovement of said member. j I

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said first section includes an inclined surface at an outer end thereof for guiding said shank portion between said first and second sections.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim lt lwherein said first section further includes an inclined surface for as ber relative to saidflange and saidroll, Y

12. in combination with apparatusfor receiving and rotatably supporting a rollof web material, engaging means-adapted tothread a leading end portion of said web material along a path directed away from said received roll, said engaging means beingmovable between l a first position wherein said means is engageable with said leading end portion of said web material through an opening therein in response to rotation of said roll, and (2) a second position wherein said means is separated from said'roll, and guide means comprisa guide arm supported by said apparatus, said guide arm having a bifurcated portion defining two sections having an opening therebetween, said guide arm being movablefin response to said movement of said engaging means between (1)"a first position wherein said bifurcated portion-of said guide arm receives said engaging means in said opening and aligns said engagingmeans relative to' said opening in said web materiahand (2) a second position wherein said bifurcated portion of said guide arm in claim 8- wherein said 7 shank portion of said member is of a predetermined v I 3,854,677; I

a pivot member pivotally supported by said apparatus said first and second position as said guide means and coupled to said guide arm; a follower member secured to 'said pivot member for v following a portion of said engaging means for P Q Y- causing pivoting motion of said guide arm between 5 v is moved between its first andsecond positions, re-

Claims

1. Apparatus for feeding a leading end portion of a strip of web material from a roll of such material, said roll being rotatable in a plane in a direction for taking up web material onto said roll, and said strip having an opening in its leading end portion, the apparatus comprising: a. a member having shank portion and a hook portion, the hook portion being engageable with said strip through said opening for feeding said strip of web material from said roll; b. means mounting said member for movement between (1) a first position wherein said hook portion is separated from said roll, and (2) a second position wherein said hook portion is located in said plane adjacent said roll of web material for entering and opening in said strip to couple said hook portion to said strip in response to rotation of said roll in a take-up direction; c. means coupled to said member for moving said member between said first and second positions; and d. guide means selectively engageable with said member for guiding movement of said hook portion transversely relative to said plane of said roll and the direction of movement of said member during movement of said member from its first position to its second position so that said hook portion of said member is aligned with said opening in said web material when said member is in its second position, thereby to insure coupling of said hook portion of said member with said strip of web material during rotation of said roll in a take-up direction.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said guide means includes an arm having a surface adapted to engage said member for guiding movement of said member.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said shank portion of said member is of a predetermined width, and wherein said arm includes bifuracted portion which defines first and second sections which are spaced by a distance which exceeds said predetermined width of said shank portion, said shank portion being received between said first and second sections and cooperating therewith for guiding the movement of said hook portion of said member.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first section includes an inclined surface at an outer end thereof for assisting in receiving said shank portion between said first and second sections.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said arm is movable between (1) a first position wherein said arm is spaced from said member, and (2) a second position wherein said arm is effective to receive said shank portion of said member between said first and second sections for guiding movement of said member.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means coupled to said member is operatively coupled to said guide means for effective conjoint movement of said member and said arm between their respective first and second positions.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said apparatus is adapted for receiving said strip of web material wound upon a reel having at least one flange located adjacent to said film roll and wherein said first section includes an inclined surface for assuring that said arm is received between said sections as said arm moves toward said second position, said first section is positioned on the side of said flange which is nearest to said roll such that said first section is effective for guiding movement of said member relative to said flange and said roll.

8. Apparatus for feeding a leading end portion of a strip of web material from a roll of such material, the roll being rotatable in a direction for taking up web material onto the roll, and the web having an opening in its leading end portion, the apparatus comprising: a. a member comprising a shank portion and a hook pOrtion, said hook portion being adapted to enter said opening in said web strip for feeding strip material from said roll; b. means mounting said member for movement between (1) a first position wherein said hook portion is separated from said roll, and (2) a second position wherein said hook portion is adjacent said roll of web material for entering said opening in said strip to couple said hook portion to said strip in response to rotation of said roll in a take-up direction; c. means coupled to said member for moving said member between its first position and its second position; d. a guide arm positionable for contacting said shank portion of said member to guide movement of said hook portion during movement of said member from its first to its second position so that said hook portion of said member is aligned with said opening in the web material when the member is in its second position, thereby to insure coupling of the hook portion of said member with the strip of web material during rotation of the roll in a take-up direction; e. means mounting said guide arm for movement between (1) a first position wherein said guide arm is spaced from said member, and (2) a second position wherein said guide arm is effective to cooperate with said member for guiding movement of said member; and f. means coupled to said guide arm and said member for effecting conjoint movement of said member and said guide arm between their respective first and second positions.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said shank portion of said member is of a predetermined width, and wherein said guide arm includes bifurcated portion which defines first and second sections which are spaced by a distance which exceeds said predetermined width of said shank portion such that said shank portion can be received between said first and second sections to cooperate therewith for guiding the movement of said member.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said first section further includes an inclined surface for assuring that as said arm moved toward said second position, said first section is positioned on the side of said flange which is adjacent to said roll, such that said first section is effective for guiding movement of said member relative to said flange and said roll.

12. In combination with apparatus for receiving and rotatably supporting a roll of web material, engaging means adapted to thread a leading end portion of said web material along a path directed away from said received roll, said engaging means being movable between (1) a first position wherein said means is engageable with said leading end portion of said web material through an opening therein in response to rotation of said roll, and (2) a second position wherein said means is separated from said roll, and guide means comprising: a guide arm supported by said apparatus, said guide arm having a bifurcated portion defining two sections having an opening therebetween, said guide arm being movable in response to said movement of said engaging means between (1) a first position wherein said bifurcated portion of said guide arm receives said engaging means in said opening and aligns said engaging means relative to said opening in said web material, and (2) a second position wherein said bifurcated portion of said guide arm is separated from said engaging means.

13. The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said guide arm is moved between said first and second positions by control means which cooperate with said engaging means, said control means comprising: a pivot member pivotally supported by said apparatus and coupled to said guide arm; a follower member secured to said pivot member for following a portion of sAid engaging means for causing pivoting motion of said guide arm between said first and second position as said guide means is moved between its first and second positions, respectively.