A method is provided for removing mandrels from successive rolls of convolutely wound web material. In one aspect, a roll of web convolutely wound around a mandrel is moved to a position in which the mandrel is aligned with a clasp with the clasp spaced apart from the mandrel. The clasp is then moved along a path toward the roll. Movement of the clasp toward the roll is stopped only when the clasp is in a position to engage the mandrel. The mandrel is engaged with the clasp. The clasp and the mandrel are moved away from the roll to withdraw the mandrel from the roll. The mandrel is released from the clasp when the mandrel is removed from the roll. The mandrel is removed from the path of the clasp. The steps are repeated for a subsequent roll.

A coreless roll of an absorbent sheet product, such as napkins, toilet paper, towels etc., including a spirally wound continuous web of absorbent material having a first end and a second end and a coating composition comprising a specific polymer coated onto the second end is disclosed. The coreless roll has excellent resistance to collapsing, as well as excellent flexibility and elasticity. Moreover, the coreless roll has excellent disintegrability in water and can be used along its whole length. Also disclosed is a process for the manufacture of the coreless roll.

A clasp is configured to engage an end of a tube. The clasp has a shaft that is insertable into a tube. The clasp includes a housing with clamping blocks that are spaced circumferentially around the shaft. The clamping blocks are moveable between a disengaged position in which the clamping blocks are spaced radially outwardly from the shaft at a distance sufficient such that a tube is insertable between the shaft and the clamping blocks, and an engaged position in which the clamping blocks are positioned radially inward of the disengaged position toward the shaft and are configured to press a tube disposed between the blocks and the shaft against the shaft. The clasp has at least one actuator engageable with at least one clamping block of the plurality of clamping blocks to move the at least one clamping block between the disengaged position and the engaged position.

Embodiments of a compressed and coreless roll of sheet product having a center indicator are disclosed. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a compressed coreless roll of sheet product is provided. The compressed coreless roll of sheet product includes a sheet product having a first end and a second end. The sheet product is wound about an axis beginning with the first end and ending with the second end to partially define an axial cavity along the axis. The first end includes an indicator that is visible when the sheet product roll is compressed such that the axial cavity is substantially collapsed.

The invention describes a sleeve for sliding onto and removing from a winding shaft, which comprises a one-piece workpiece defining a cylinder, which workpiece comprises two edge regions each having an edge, the edge regions overlapping one another, the sleeve having a first diameter in a relaxed state, the sleeve in a clamped state having a second diameter which is different from the first diameter, the sleeve in the clamped state experiencing an elastic deformation as compared to the relaxed state.

A method of forming a roll of convolutely wound web material. The method includes applying adhesive to an elongated mandrel, winding web material around the mandrel to form a roll of convolutely wound web material, rotating the mandrel relative to the roll to smear the adhesive, and removing the mandrel from the roll. The smearing can be in a circumferential direction. The adhesive can be applied longitudinally along the mandrel. The adhesive preferably has a viscosity within the range of 3000 to 18,000 cps. Preferably, the method includes pulling the mandrel longitudinally before the step of removing the mandrel from the roll. The pulling can reduce the mandrel diameter and/or can increase its length. The rotating can be conducted before the pulling, during the pulling or during the winding. The rotating can be conducted before or during the removing. The web material can be bathroom tissue or kitchen towel.

A method of forming a roll of convolutely wound web material. The method includes winding web material around an elongated mandrel to form a roll of convolutely wound web material. The mandrel is substantially axially elastic and formed of material having a tensile yield strength divided by elastic modulus greater than 2.0%, and more preferably 2.5%. The mandrel is preferably radially complaint. The method further includes removing the mandrel from the roll. A further method includes winding web material around an elongated mandrel to form a roll of convolutely wound web material, the mandrel being comprised of material having a tensile yield strength divided by elastic modulus greater than 2.0%, and then longitudinally elongating the mandrel.

A clasp has a prong and a housing with clamping wedges and actuator wedges. The clamping wedges are spaced circumferentially around the prong within the housing and moveable within the housing via the actuator wedges. In a disengaged position, the clamping wedges are spaced radially outwardly from the outer surface of the prong at a distance sufficient such that a tube is insertable between the prong and the clamping wedges. In the engaged position, the clamping wedges are positioned radially inward of the disengaged position so as to press the tube against the prong. Each actuator wedge is slidingly engageable with the corresponding clamping wedge along complementary and cooperating wedge-shaped surfaces of the actuator wedge and the corresponding clamping wedge. The wedge-shaped surfaces include cooperating elongated protrusions and elongated slots.

A method for extracting a core (1) from a reel (2) of paper is described, where the reel (1) has been wound in a winding station upstream of an extraction station (100) of the core (1); the method comprises the steps of providing an extraction element (3) having an expandable element (4), shaped to enter, when in the non-expanded form, within a cavity (5) defined by the inner wall (6) of the core (1) of the reel (2), the core (1) extends according to a central axis (X) which is substantially horizontal when the reel (2) is positioned for extraction; inserting the expandable element (4) of the extraction element (3) in the cavity (5) of the core (1) on which a roll of paper (20) is wound; expanding the expandable element (4) until it engages the inner wall (6) of the core (1); pulling the extraction element (3) in the opposite direction to that of insertion, to extract the core (1) from the reel (2); bring the expandable element (4) back to the non-expanded form; extracting the expandable element (4) from the core (1). A machine (10) for extracting a core (1) from a reel (2) of paper by means of such method and an extraction station (100) for extracting a core (1) from a reel (2) of paper comprising such machine (10) are further described.

A roll body taking-out unit that takes out a roll body from a reel that holds a carrier tape storing components in a state of the roll body and stores the roll body in a case is provided. The roll body taking-out unit includes a separation unit that separates the roll body from the reel, and a roll body storage unit that stores the roll body separated from the reel by the separation unit in a case. Further, the roll body storage unit includes a case holding part that holds an empty case, and a chute part that stores the roll body separated from the reel by the separation unit one by one in the empty case held by the case holding part.