Abstract: A high speed apparatus for sealing the tail of a wound roll of sheet material. A pair of parallel rotatable rollers define a tail separation station and a tail wind-up station that are disposed longitudinally along the length of the rollers. An entry station is located parallel to the tail separating station and a pivotable kicker is positioned to engage a roll at an over-center position to impart rotation to the roll and transfer the roll to the tail separation station. Air jets located at the tail separation station act to separate the tail from the body of the roll. The separated tail is drawn across a supporting surface and a sensor associated with the surface senses the end of the tail and acts to stop rotation of the rollers. As rotation of the roll stops, the separated tail falls onto a generally horizontal apron and the roll with the separated tail supported on the apron is then moved longitudinally along the non-rotating rollers to the wind-up station.