Abstract: A method of transferring items, such as rolled absorbent product. The method includes the steps of feeding one or more input streams of items toward a turret having a longitudinal axis and arms for engaging the items, the arms being rotatable about the longitudinal axis. The arms can engage at least one of the items from at least one of the one or more input streams and rotate away from the input streams and into a position aligned with one or more output streams. The number of input streams can be different than the number of output streams. The items can be fed onto the one or more output streams.

Abstract: A collection of stackable articles is disclosed. Each stackable article of the collection of stackable articles has a bottom, at least one sidewall, and a top. The collection of stackable articles comprises a supporting medium, a first slip sheet disposed upon a surface of the supporting medium, and a first plurality of the stackable articles arranged in a first layer upon the first slip sheet.

Abstract: A nonadhesive phase-change material application apparatus for bonding the tail of a convolutely wound log to the body is provided. The nonadhesive phase-change material application apparatus has at least one nonadhesive phase-change material applicator that defines a cavity conveying a volume of nonadhesive phase-change material from a reservoir to an application site.

Abstract: A system for depositing a fluid on a substrate is disclosed. The system can include a sleeve having a sleeve exit and an inner region and a rotating roll disposed within the inner region. A vascular network can be disposed within the rotating roll, the vascular network being configured for transporting the fluid in predetermined paths from the interior region to the exterior surface through a substantially radial path, the substantially radial path ending at an exit point of a fluid exit, wherein the exit point is associated with a sleeve exit.

Abstract: An absorbent paper product. The absorbent paper product can be in a non-circular shape when unfolded and flattened, and folded in a stackable, non-planar form for dispensing. The absorbent paper product can be non-circular in shape when unfolded and flattened, and can be a tessellating shape or a non-tessellating shape.

Abstract: A rewinding machine for convolutley winding a web material onto a core to is disclosed. The rewinding machine comprises a first winding drum rotatable at a first peripheral velocity, a second winding drum opposed to the first winding drum and rotatable at a second peripheral velocity, and a core support for gripping opposing ends of the core. The core support grips opposing ends of the core during winding of the web material about the core. The core support has first and second rotatable pins each having corresponding first and second ends capable of insertion into a respective end of the core. The first rotatable pin has a channel that provides fluid communication between a source of positive pressure disposed external to the first rotatable pin and the second end of the first rotatable pin to provide positive pressure to the interior portion of the core.

Abstract: A system for depositing a fluid on a substrate is disclosed. The system can include a sleeve having a sleeve exit and an inner region and a rotating roll disposed within the inner region. A vascular network can be disposed within the rotating roll, the vascular network being configured for transporting the fluid in predetermined paths from the interior region to the exterior surface through a substantially radial path, the substantially radial path ending at an exit point of a fluid exit, wherein the exit point is associated with a sleeve exit.

Abstract: A deflection member. The deflection member can be a unitary structure having a plurality of discrete primary elements and a plurality of secondary elements. At least one of the secondary elements can be an elongate member having a major axis having both a machine direction vector component and a cross machine direction vector component. In an example, the secondary elements can be arranged in a Voronoi pattern.

Abstract: A deflection member. The deflection member can be a unitary structure having a plurality of discrete primary elements and a plurality of secondary elements. At least one of the secondary elements can be an elongate member having a major axis having both a machine direction vector component and a cross machine direction vector component. Each discrete primary element can be an open structure having at least two linking segments, with at least one of the plurality of linking segments having a Z-direction vector component. In an example, either of the secondary elements or the linking segments can be arranged in a Voronoi pattern.

Abstract: A surface winder for winding a web material around a core to obtain a log is disclosed. The surface winder provides a core inserter for inserting a core into an introductory portion of a winding cradle defined by an upper winding roller, a concave cradle, a lower winding roller, and a third oscillating roller. The concave cradle has a leading edge device having a surface with at least one channel disposed therein. The at least one channel has a single entry point and a single exit point and extending from a position external to the leading edge device and a first location disposed upon the surface capable of receiving a fluid from the at least one channel. The fluid is fluidically displaced onto the core from the at least one channel when the core is in contacting engagement with the first location disposed upon the surface.

Abstract: An introductory portion for a surface winder is disclosed. The introductory portion comprises a surface. The surface has at least one channel disposed therein. The at least one channel has a single entry point and a single exit point and extends from a position external to the introductory portion and a first location disposed upon the surface. The first location is disposed upon the surface and is capable of receiving a fluid from the at least one channel. The fluid is fluidically displaced onto the core from the at least one channel when the core is in contacting engagement with the first location disposed upon the surface.

Abstract: A leading edge device for incorporation into an introductory portion a concave cradle is disclosed d. The concave cradle is associated with an upper winding roller of a surface winder to form a winding cradle for winding a web material having a velocity, v, around a core having a radius, R, inserted therein to obtain a log. The leading edge device has a surface having a texture provided thereto for contacting the core.

Abstract: A system for printing 7 or more inks on a substrate is disclosed. The system can include: 6 or less rotating rolls disposed in operative relationship with a substrate, wherein each of the rotating rolls can comprise a vascular network configured for transporting at least one of the 7 or more inks in a predetermined path from an interior region to an exterior surface of the rotating roll. The vascular network can have at least one main artery, at least one capillary and a plurality of fluid exits on the exterior surface. At least one capillary is attached to a main artery and is in fluid communication with at least two fluid exits through a substantially radial fluid path to form a tree.

Abstract: A method for printing 7 or more inks on a substrate. The method can include the steps of: providing a substrate; providing 7 or more inks; and providing a print system, the print system comprising 6 or less rotating rolls. Each of the 6 or less rotating rolls can be disposed in an operative relationship to transport at least one of the 7 or more inks to a vascular network in one of 6 or less rotating rolls. The method includes contacting the substrate with the at least one of the 7 or more inks.

Abstract: A system for depositing a fluid on a substrate is disclosed. The system can include a sleeve having a sleeve exit and an inner region and a rotating roll disposed within the inner region. A vascular network can be disposed within the rotating roll, the vascular network being configured for transporting the fluid in predetermined paths from the interior region to the exterior surface through a substantially radial path, the substantially radial path ending at an exit point of a fluid exit, wherein the exit point is associated with a sleeve exit.

Abstract: A surface winder for winding a log of web material convolutely about a core is disclosed. The surface winder has a frame providing the web material with a path therethrough, a first winding roll rotatably mounted in the frame on one side of the path, a stationary finger mounted on the frame on the other side of the path adjacent the first winding roll and spaced therefrom a distance sufficient to receive the core to be wound in the path, the first winding roll cooperating with the stationary finger means to rotate the core, a cam-controlled core insertion device for a surface winder, and a second winding roll rotatably mounted in the frame on the other side of the path and downstream in the direction of web advance from the stationary finger means and forming a nip with the first winding roll.

Abstract: A rotating roll for depositing a fluid on a substrate is disclosed. The rotating roll can have a central longitudinal axis, wherein the rotating roll rotates about the central longitudinal axis. The rotating roll can have an exterior surface defining an interior region and a vascular network configured for transporting the fluid in predetermined paths from an interior region to the exterior surface of the rotating roll. The vascular network can have a main artery, a first capillary and a plurality of fluid exits on the exterior surface. The main artery can have an inlet and is substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the rotating roll. Fluid enters the vascular network at the inlet and exits through substantially radial fluid paths to form a first tree.

Abstract: A method of depositing a fluid onto a substrate. The method can include the steps of: providing a substrate; providing a fluid; providing a rotating roll comprising an exterior surface wherein the rotating roll rotates about the central longitudinal axis and an exterior surface defines an interior region; providing a vascular network to supply the fluid from the interior region to the exterior surface of the rotating roll in a predetermined path; transporting the fluid to the vascular network; controlling the flow of the fluid to move the fluid at a predetermined flow rate to at least one of the at least two fluid exits; and contacting the substrate with the fluid.

Abstract: A collection of stackable articles is disclosed. Each stackable article of the collection of stackable articles has a bottom, at least one sidewall, and a top. The collection of stackable articles comprises a supporting medium, a first slip sheet disposed upon a surface of the supporting medium, and a first plurality of the stackable articles arranged in a first layer upon the first slip sheet.

Abstract: A laminar air flow development device for use with stationary web material testing equipment is disclosed. The laminar air flow development device has a machine direction, a cross-machine direction orthogonal thereto, and a Z-direction orthogonal to both the machine and cross-machine directions. The stationary web material testing equipment has a first web material support having a Z-direction thickness, D. The device has first and second surfaces contactingly and matingly engaged to form an airfoil having a machine direction length, L, a cross-machine direction width, a leading edge, and a trailing end. The airfoil has a chord disposed between the first and second surfaces. The trailing end has a width equal to the Z-direction thickness, D. The device has a ratio of L/D ranging from about 1 to about 70 and provides machine direction laminar air flow to at least one surface of the first web material support.