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.

Rolled absorbent paper products and methods for making are provided. The rolled paper products comprise a hollow cylindrically shaped tube having a visible indicia of bleached cellulose fibers on the tube and a length of an absorbent paper product wound upon the tube. Methods for making the tube employing a laser to bleach cellulose fibers is also provided.

Rolled absorbent paper products and methods for making are provided. The rolled paper products comprise a hollow cylindrically shaped tube having a visible indicia of bleached cellulose fibers on the tube and a length of an absorbent paper product wound upon the tube. Methods for making the tube employing a laser to bleach cellulose fibers is also provided.

A system for managing a paper roll includes an IC tag for long distance that is a non-contact passive type mounted on each of a plurality of paper rolls; a transmitter that transmits a radio wave toward the plurality of paper rolls; a receiver that receives a response radio wave from each of the paper rolls for the transmitted radio wave; a control device including a tag position calculation unit that calculates a three-dimensional position of the IC tag which has emitted the response radio wave, based on information regarding the received response radio wave; and a storage unit that stores three-dimensional position information of each of the plurality of paper rolls from information regarding the calculated three-dimensional position and paper information, which is specific to each of the paper rolls, as linked information.

A roll (2) of dispensable sheet material (4), wherein the roll (2) has an inner bore (6), the dispensable sheet material (4) is such that it has a free end (8) which is difficult to find for manual dispensation of the dispensable sheet material (4) from the roll (2), the roll (2) comprises assist means (10) for assisting in the finding of the free end (8) of the dispensable sheet material (4), the assist means (10) comprises a device (12) which extends at least transversely over the width of the roll (2), and the device (12) is movable around the roll (2) such that the device (12) is locatable on the roll (2) at a place to receive an end portion (14) of the dispensable sheet material (4) which contains the free end (8), whereby the device (12) indicates the position of the free end (8) and thereby facilitates the manual dispensation of the dispensable sheet material (4) from the roll (2).

A roll (2) of dispensable sheet material (4), wherein the roll (2) has an inner bore (6), the dispensable sheet material (4) is such that it has a free end (8) which is difficult to find for manual dispensation of the dispensable sheet material (4) from the roll (2), the roll (2) comprises assist means (10) for assisting in the finding of the free end (8) of the dispensable sheet material (4), the assist means (10) comprises a device (12) which extends at least transversely over the width of the roll (2), and the device (12) is movable around the roll (2) such that the device (12) is locatable on the roll (2) at a place to receive an end portion (14) of the dispensable sheet material (4) which contains the free end (8), whereby the device (12) indicates the position of the free end (8) and thereby facilitates the manual dispensation of the dispensable sheet material (4) from the roll (2).

Medicine packaging apparatuses and methods for accurately determining a remaining sheet amount of a medicine packaging sheet are described. The apparatus includes: a roll support section to which a core tube of a medicine packaging sheet roll is attached; a sensor disposed in the roll support section for outputting a count value according to a rotation amount; a wireless reader-writer unit for writing information to a core tube IC tag and reading said information; an information generation section for generating information to be written to the core tube IC tag; a remaining sheet amount estimation section for estimating a current amount of remaining sheet based on the information and dimensional information of the core tube; and a controller which selectively performs an operation if a reference time-point count value is not yet written to the core tube IC tag and another operation if the count value is already written thereto.

Medicine packaging apparatuses and methods for accurately determining a remaining sheet amount of a medicine packaging sheet are described. The apparatus includes: a roll support section to which a core tube of a medicine packaging sheet roll is attached; a sensor disposed in the roll support section for outputting a count value according to a rotation amount; a wireless reader-writer unit for writing information to a core tube IC tag and reading said information; an information generation section for generating information to be written to the core tube IC tag; a remaining sheet amount estimation section for estimating a current amount of remaining sheet based on the information and dimensional information of the core tube; and a controller which selectively performs an operation if a reference time-point count value is not yet written to the core tube IC tag and another operation if the count value is already written thereto.

A stress tearable tape includes an elongated film and a hand tearing arrangement. The film has a non-adhesive surface and an opposed adhesive surface, and defines a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction. The hand tearing arrangement includes a plurality of pinholes formed along the longitudinal direction of the film. With the combination application of internal force, shear tension, compression tension, pinhole arrangement, and material's biaxial structure, and users' habit together, each of the pinholes enables the film being torn by hand with a force starting at one of the pinholes, such that the film is hand tearable at any section in the transverse direction thereof.

A carrier for reversibly immobilizing one or more objects is disclosed. The carrier comprises a frame having a major axis, a top surface, a bottom surface, and one or more openings through the frame along the major axis. The carrier also comprises a film comprising a thermoplastic elastomer material and having a top surface and a bottom surface. The film is attached to the frame based on thermal bonding of the top surface of the film to the bottom surface of the frame, is under tension along the major axis, and is free to flex at the openings. The top surface of the film comprises one or more exposed top surface portions that are accessible through the openings. The exposed top surface portions exhibit a holding force on stainless steel as per ASTM D1000 that is greater than that of the bottom surface of the film.