Apparatus for applying a strip P comprising at least one microcreped paper to a carrier material T, where the apparatus comprises the strip P, wound to a reel S, and rotatably mounted rollers R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 for guiding the strip P at least partly unwound from the reel, where the at least one microcreped paper comprised in the strip P wound to the reel has a tensile strength of at least 8 kN/m, an extensibility of at least 4% and a tearing resistance of at least 1200 mN.

A retarding roller (a roller) is formed of a synthetic rubber (an industrial rubber material) such as ethylene propylene diene M-class rubber (EPDM) or polyurethane, or alternatively, silicone. The roller core of the retarding roller is cylindrical. M arc-shaped long holes (where M is an integer greater than or equal to 4) are formed in each of N layers (where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2) from a first layer (an outermost layer) to an Nth layer (an innermost layer) which are circular and concentric to a center axial line. In each layer, long holes are formed such that spokes in adjacent layers (an ith layer and an i+1th layer, where i is an integer from 1 to N−1) do not overlap in the circumferential direction.

A winding core with improved beam and hoop strength and diminished friability and method for manufacturing such a core are provided, the method for making the winding core comprising: providing a wood fiber core, applying an adhesive to the wood fiber core, and sliding a tube or sheath onto the wood fiber core.

A reel for carrying cable, wire or other wound materials is provided. The reel comprises a paperboard drum and molded flanges. The drum forms a friction fit with a hub located on each flange and forms an adhesive bond at an annular groove defined by each flange. The friction fit and the adhesive bond secure the flange to the drum sufficiently to eliminate the need for bolts or other attachment means.

A pre-feed system and method for a liner-less label printer includes a drive roll that is configured to peel liner-less labels from a reel and pass the labels to an in-line label printer at a consistent rate. An idler roll disposed in proximity to the drive roll creates a nip for pulling labels from the reel. The idler roll is comprised of silicone which prevents the adhesive side of the liner-less label from sticking. A print controller monitors a non-contact reflective object sensor disposed in proximity to the path of the liner-less labels between the drive roll and the in-line printer. The print controller adjusts the speed of the drive roll to maintain a consistent rate for labels entering the print feed of the in-line label printer and reduces the amount of force required to feed labels into the printer.

A winding core with improved beam and hoop strength and diminished friability and method for manufacturing such a core are provided, the method for making the winding core comprising: providing a wood fiber core, applying an adhesive to the wood fiber core, and sliding a tube or sheath onto the wood fiber core.

Press-bonded sheets such as a crimped post card are manufactured by forming a composite layer of an adhesive layer laminated on a toner image formed on a base sheet, then opposing the composite layer and another composite layer formed on the same sheet or a different sheet, and press-bonding the opposed composite layers under heat. The difference in solubility parameter (SP value) between the printing toner and the powder adhesive is 1.0 (cal/cm.sup.3).sup.1/2 or more.

A retarding roller (a roller) is formed of a synthetic rubber (an industrial rubber material) such as ethylene propylene diene M-class rubber (EPDM) or polyurethane, or alternatively, silicone. The roller core of the retarding roller is cylindrical. M arc-shaped long holes (where M is an integer greater than or equal to 4) are formed in each of N layers (where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2) from a first layer (an outermost layer) to an Nth layer (an innermost layer) which are circular and concentric to a center axial line. In each layer, long holes are formed such that spokes in adjacent layers (an ith layer and an i+1th layer, where i is an integer from 1 to N1) do not overlap in the circumferential direction.

A contact interface includes a first contact member including a first contact surface with a first material subsurface and a second material subsurface. The second material subsurface protrudes transversely above the first material subsurface. A second contact member includes a second contact surface to slide in contact with the first contact surface. The first material subsurface comprises a first material. The second material subsurface comprises a second material. The second material has a lower hardness than the first material.

A wire pulling guide includes a body and multiple hardened rods spaced apart on the body, the rods positioned to contact a wire being guided by the guide.