An apparatus supports a convolutely wound log of web material during cutting of the convolutely wound log, and includes a bottom support link operatively pivotally coupled to a support frame and a side support link operatively pivotally coupled to the support frame and the bottom support link. A flexible member operatively coupled to a distal end of the side support link extends tangentially from the side support link and curves away from the side support link and the bottom support link so that a portion of the flexible member is spaced away from the side support link and the bottom support link. The spaced away portion of the flexible member together with the side support link and the bottom support link at least in part define a support surface for supporting the convolutely wound log when the log is directed into the apparatus.

A machine forms a roll of convolutely wound web material. The machine includes a winding apparatus configured to receive a mandrel and the web material and wind the web material around the mandrel. A pulling device pulls the mandrel longitudinally to remove the mandrel from the roll after forming the roll. The machine further includes a restraint that engages the peripheral surface of the roll when the mandrel is pulled longitudinally to remove the mandrel from the roll. A method is also provided. In one aspect of the method, a web material is wound around a mandrel to form a roll of convolutely wound web material. The mandrel is pulled longitudinally after the step of winding the web material around the mandrel. The periphery of the roll is restrained from moving axially when the mandrel is pulled longitudinal. The mandrel is then removed from the roll.

A machine forms a roll of convolutely wound web material. The machine includes a winding apparatus configured to receive a mandrel and the web material and wind the web material around the mandrel. A pulling device pulls the mandrel longitudinally to remove the mandrel from the roll after forming the roll. The machine further includes a restraint that engages the peripheral surface of the roll when the mandrel is pulled longitudinally to remove the mandrel from the roll. A method is also provided. In one aspect of the method, a web material is wound around a mandrel to form a roll of convolutely wound web material. The mandrel is pulled longitudinally after the step of winding the web material around the mandrel. The periphery of the roll is restrained from moving axially when the mandrel is pulled longitudinal. The mandrel is then removed from the roll.

Flat wound tape article with a flat core and tape wound around the core. The article is configured so that it can help protect the edges of the tape from adhering to dirt, dust, lint, etc. while maintaining a convenient shape for use.

A bushing for a web material roll including a body sized to be fitted into the web material roll; the bushing further including a wall extending across the central cavity of the web material roll when the bushing is in the central cavity of the web material roll and defining an opening for receiving a roll support therethrough, the opening being bordered by a roll support contacting surface, the bushing having one or more bearing surfaces for contacting the roll support and supporting the web material roll, the one or more bearing surfaces including at least the roll support contacting surface bordering the opening. A web material roll, a web material roll retention assembly and a method for placing a web material roll in a web material roll dispenser are also provided.

A web material dispenser includes a housing and a pivotable roll support assembly provided therein. A first mandrel is provided at a first attachment location of the roll support assembly to support a first roll of web material. A second mandrel is provided at a second location of the roll support assembly to support a second roll of web material. The web material dispenser permits one-handed operation to replace the rolls of web material and to change positions of the mandrels within the dispenser. The roll support assembly may have a linkage arm and/or a roll support arm. Positions of the first and second mandrels relative to the dispenser's opening can be switched by pivoting the linkage arm relative to the housing and by pivoting the roll support arm relative to the linkage arm. A method for switching positions of rolls in the web material dispenser is also provided.

The present invention provides rolled products, such as spirally wound rolls of bath tissue comprising a plurality of separably joined sheets, that may be repeatably and reliably dispensed by a user with a single hand. Single handed dispensing of the rolled products is facilitated by the web having a ratio of detach strength, typically having units of grams (g) to cross-machine direction (CD) tensile, having units of grams per 76.2 mm, of 0.65 or less, such as from about 0.10 to 0.65. In this manner rolled bath tissue products may have a CD tensile from about 400 to about 1,000 g/76.2 mm and a detach strength from about 100 to about 500 g.

The present invention provides rolled products, such as spirally wound rolls of bath tissue comprising a plurality of separably joined sheets, that may be repeatably and reliably dispensed by a user with a single hand. Single handed dispensing of the rolled products is facilitated by the web having a ratio of detach strength, typically having units of grams (g) to cross-machine direction (CD) tensile, having units of grams per 76.2 mm, of 0.65 or less, such as from about 0.10 to 0.65. In this manner rolled bath tissue products may have a CD tensile from about 400 to about 1,000 g/76.2 mm and a detach strength from about 100 to about 500 g.

A web material dispenser includes a housing and a pivotable roll support assembly provided therein. A first mandrel is provided at a first attachment location of the roll support assembly to support a first roll of web material. A second mandrel is provided at a second location of the roll support assembly to support a second roll of web material. The web material dispenser permits one-handed operation to replace the rolls of web material and to change positions of the mandrels within the dispenser. The roll support assembly may have a linkage arm and/or a roll support arm. Positions of the first and second mandrels relative to the dispenser's opening can be switched by pivoting the linkage arm relative to the housing and by pivoting the roll support arm relative to the linkage arm. A method for switching positions of rolls in the web material dispenser is also provided.

Winding apparatuses for winding sheet material and related methods are disclosed herein. The winding apparatuses can include a set of winding drive rollers. Each drive roller of the winding drive rollers can have drive wheels spaced apart along the respective drive roller with a winding zone between the winding drive rollers. The winding apparatus can also include a feed system positioned before the set of the winding drive rollers for moving sheet material along a travel path in a machine direction into the winding zone.