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.

There is provided an image recording apparatus having a housing having a front wall and a rear wall, and a right wall and a left wall defining an internal space of the housing, a sheet roll holder configured to hold a sheet roll, a supporting member configured to support the sheet roll, the supporting member extending in an axial direction of the sheet roll and being supported by the sheet roll holder, a sheet conveyer arranged in an internal space of the housing, the sheet conveyer being configured to convey a sheet unwound from the sheet roll, and a recording device configured to record an image on the sheet unwound from the sheet roll and conveyed by the sheet conveyer. The sheet roll holder is configured to be slidable with respect to the housing so as to be detachable from and attachable to the housing.

There is provided an image recording apparatus having a housing having a front wall and a rear wall, and a right wall and a left wall defining an internal space of the housing, a sheet roll holder configured to hold a sheet roll, a supporting member configured to support the sheet roll, the supporting member extending in an axial direction of the sheet roll and being supported by the sheet roll holder, a sheet conveyer arranged in an internal space of the housing, the sheet conveyer being configured to convey a sheet unwound from the sheet roll, and a recording device configured to record an image on the sheet unwound from the sheet roll and conveyed by the sheet conveyer. The sheet roll holder is configured to be slidable with respect to the housing so as to be detachable from and attachable to the housing.

Systems for processing material, taping stations to apply tape to one or more rolls of material, and methods of processing material are disclosed herein. A system for processing material includes a winding station and a taping station. The winding station includes a winder to wrap material around a mandrel to produce one or more rolls of material. The taping station is arranged downstream of the winding station to receive the one or more rolls of material therefrom and apply tape to the one or more rolls of material.

Systems for processing material, taping stations to apply tape to one or more rolls of material, and methods of processing material are disclosed herein. A system for processing material includes a winding station and a taping station. The winding station includes a winder to wrap material around a mandrel to produce one or more rolls of material. The taping station is arranged downstream of the winding station to receive the one or more rolls of material therefrom and apply tape to the one or more rolls of material.

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed to an unwinding mandrel for connecting to an unwinding apparatus for unwinding elongate materials and/or an unwinding system. In one example embodiment, an unwinding mandrel is disclosed including: a main part positioned in the center of a bundle of elongated materials; a connecting portion detachably connecting the unwinding mandrel to the unwinding apparatus; and at least one movable body pivotably connected by at least one joint to the main part, transversely to a main extension axis of the main part.

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed to an unwinding mandrel for connecting to an unwinding apparatus for unwinding elongate materials and/or an unwinding system. In one example embodiment, an unwinding mandrel is disclosed including: a main part positioned in the center of a bundle of elongated materials; a connecting portion detachably connecting the unwinding mandrel to the unwinding apparatus; and at least one movable body pivotably connected by at least one joint to the main part, transversely to a main extension axis of the main part.

A roll accommodation unit includes: a roll support shaft; a pair of side walls; and a pair of roll bearings that are attached to the pair of side walls, recessed portions are formed at upper ends of the pair of side walls, the pair of rolling bearings are attached to the side walls at positions corresponding to bottoms of the recessed portions such that the rolling bearings project upward beyond inclined surfaces of the recessed portions, the roll support shaft includes a support shaft main body, and a pair of small-diameter portions that are provided at both ends of the support shaft main body, and the roll support shaft is supported with the small-diameter portions abutting on outer circumferential surfaces of the pairs of rolling bearings in a state in which the support shaft main body is located at an interval from the recessed portions.

A roll accommodation unit includes: a roll support shaft; a pair of side walls; and a pair of roll bearings that are attached to the pair of side walls, recessed portions are formed at upper ends of the pair of side walls, the pair of rolling bearings are attached to the side walls at positions corresponding to bottoms of the recessed portions such that the rolling bearings project upward beyond inclined surfaces of the recessed portions, the roll support shaft includes a support shaft main body, and a pair of small-diameter portions that are provided at both ends of the support shaft main body, and the roll support shaft is supported with the small-diameter portions abutting on outer circumferential surfaces of the pairs of rolling bearings in a state in which the support shaft main body is located at an interval from the recessed portions.