Abstract: The invention involves a method of wrapping a roll wherein a sleeve wrap having a width substantially equal to the width of the paper roll is wraped around the cylindrical portion of the roll. A head of the same size as the end of the roll is coupled to each end of the roll. A stretch wrap is then wrapped around the ends of the roll so that approximately one-half of the stretch wrap covers a portion of the end of the roll and the other one-half lies in the same plane as the head. An end band may also be wrapped over the stretch wrap at each end of the roll. The invention also involves an apparatus that includes a trim slitter for trimming the sleeve wrap to the same size as the width of the roll.

Abstract: The invention involves a method of and apparatus for transferring rolls of various sizes from a roll delivery vehicle to a spindle of a reel stand. A transfer table with articulated arms lifts the roll off of the vehicle and aligns the roll both in the vertical and horizontal directions so that the longitudinal axis of the roll coincides with the axis of the spindle. A unique clam shell linkage of the articulated arms allows the transfer table to handle different diameter rolls and position the different diameter rolls on spindles of different heights.

Abstract: A mobile vehicle is provided with a cradle that can be tilted or rotated. The cradle can also be raised and lowered. The cradle has leaves which are upwardly and outwardly sloping to handle a large cylindrical paper roll by allowing the roll to roll down and center itself in the cradle.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method of inserting a lightweight, oversized, inside head to the end of a partially wrapped roll. An inside head is attached to multiple articulated arms extending from a spider assembly. The spider is moved toward the end of the roll until the articulated arms engage the end of the roll. The spider assembly opens the articulated arms radially outwardly until adjacent a wrapper tube extension. A heating clamp then welds the outer edge of the inside head to the wrapper tube extension.

Abstract: A low-profile, automatically guided vehicle is provided with a vertically raisable cradle which can carry a roll either in a bilge position or an upright position. The vehicle is used in a roll-handling system which enables the vehicle to pass beneath the spaced, parallel arms of a storage rack that can be holding a roll either in the upright or bilge position. The vehicle can pass beneath a set of rolls on the storage racks so that passage of the vehicle either for depositing a paper roll or lifting a paper roll from the storage rack can be in a single, common direction. A transfer table is provided which has articulated arms that can be vertically raised. The arms can be moved lengthwise to the direction of the lengthwise axis of the roll in a bilge position, the arms can be raised vertically, or the arms can be carried moved to the lengthwise axis of the roll on the transfer table.