Abstract: A method for reorienting products includes providing one or more products in a first orientation on a surface; advancing the one or more products in the machine direction at a nominal advance rate; and retracting an end of the surface in a reverse machine direction at a nominal retract rate, such that the one or more products are advanced beyond said end into a landing region. Said end is disposed at a first elevation. The method further comprises deflecting a leading end of at least one product, such that the at least one product lands in a second orientation on a landing surface disposed in the landing region at a second elevation. The first orientation is different than the second orientation, and the first elevation is higher than the second elevation.

Abstract: An apparatus for reorienting and/or stacking products includes a frame and a telescopic infeed associated with the frame. The telescopic infeed has a receiving end and a transfer end. The transfer end is disposed at a first elevation and moveable in a machine direction and in a reverse machine direction. The telescopic infeed advances one or more products in the machine direction; and a landing surface receives the one or more products. The landing surface is disposed in a landing region proximate to the transfer end and at a second elevation. The first elevation is higher than the second elevation. A deflector is operatively engageable with the transfer end, such that the deflector is capable of deflecting a leading end of at least one of the one of more products.

Abstract: A modular manufacturing system for wrapping and bundling or case packing rolled product. The modular manufacturing system includes a first end and a second end, a first module comprising a first piece of equipment, a second module comprising a second piece of equipment, and a third module comprising a third piece of equipment. The first piece of equipment comprises a wrapper. The second piece of equipment comprises a bundler. The third piece of equipment comprises a case closer. The first, second, and third modules are three of a plurality of additional modules arranged in a series configuration for metered product flow of the rolled product from the first end to the second end.

Abstract: A package containing rolled products. The package has an upper side, a lower side opposite and generally parallel to the upper side and four side walls. The sidewalls connect the upper side to the lower side. The package has at least first and second polymer films, the first polymer film forming the upper side and at least a portion of the four side walls, the second polymer film forming at least a portion of the lower side.

Abstract: A method of processing rolls of fibrous materials. The method includes the steps of providing a module comprising an internal adjustment mechanism; attaching a first piece of equipment to the module to enable the module to perform a first function; adjusting the module for the first piece of equipment using the internal adjustment mechanism of the module; removing the first piece of equipment from the module; attaching a second piece of equipment to the module to enable the module to perform a second function; and adjusting the module for the second piece of equipment using the internal adjustment mechanism of the module, wherein the first piece of equipment is different than the second piece of equipment, and wherein the first function is different than the second function.

Abstract: An apparatus for laning rolled products is disclosed. The apparatus can include an infeed section having one or more adjacent infeed lanes. Each infeed lane can convey a plurality of rolled products in a first direction. The infeed section can feed rolled product to a transfer section, the transfer section receiving one or more of the plurality of rolled products from each lane of the infeed section. The transfer section can convey the one or more rolled products in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction to a discharge section. The discharge section can have one or more adjacent discharge lanes for receiving the one or more rolled products from the transfer section. The discharge section can convey the one or more rolled products in a third direction substantially parallel to the first direction. A displacement device can transfer rolled products from the transfer section onto the discharge section.

Abstract: A conveying system for conveying rolled absorbent products. The system can include a first conveyor and a second conveyor for moving rolled absorbent products. The rolled absorbent products can be either partially wrapped or naked. The first and second conveyors can each have aligned centerlines parallel to a direction of movement. A first transfer device can be coupled to the first conveyor for diverting at least a portion of the partially wrapped rolled absorbent products in a direction substantially orthogonal to the centerline of the first conveyor to another conveyor for moving the diverted rolled absorbent products to a subsequent unit operation. The un-diverted portion of the conveyed rolled absorbent products can be conveyed to the second conveyor. In operation rolled absorbent products can be conveyed in a generally straight path from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, or in a path that diverts away from the first conveyor to the subsequent unit operation.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed, in part, to a method of transporting rolls of a fibrous material. The method comprises providing a V-shaped conveying mechanism, stacking a plurality of the rolls of the fibrous material on the V-shaped conveying mechanism, and transporting the plurality of the rolls of the fibrous material between a first position and a second position.

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: An apparatus for laning rolled products is disclosed. The apparatus can include an infeed section having one or more adjacent infeed lanes. Each infeed lane can convey a plurality of rolled products in a first direction. The infeed section can feed rolled product to a transfer section, the transfer section receiving one or more of the plurality of rolled products from each lane of the infeed section. The transfer section can convey the one or more rolled products in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction to a first or second discharge section. The first or second discharge sections can each have one or more adjacent discharge lanes for receiving the one or more rolled products from the transfer section. The first or second discharge sections can convey the one or more rolled products in a third direction substantially parallel to the first direction. A displacement device can transfer rolled products from the transfer section onto the first or second discharge sections.

Abstract: An apparatus for laning rolled products is disclosed. The apparatus can include an infeed section having one or more adjacent infeed lanes. Each infeed lane can convey a plurality of rolled products in a first direction. The infeed section can feed rolled product to a transfer section, the transfer section receiving one or more of the plurality of rolled products from each lane of the infeed section. The transfer section can convey the one or more rolled products in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction to a first or second discharge section. The first or second discharge sections can each have one or more adjacent discharge lanes for receiving the one or more rolled products from the transfer section. The first or second discharge sections can convey the one or more rolled products in a third direction substantially parallel to the first direction. A displacement device can transfer rolled products from the transfer section onto the first or second discharge sections.

Abstract: An apparatus for laning rolled products is disclosed. The apparatus can include an infeed section having one or more adjacent infeed lanes. Each infeed lane can convey a plurality of rolled products in a first direction. The infeed section can feed rolled product to a transfer section, the transfer section receiving one or more of the plurality of rolled products from each lane of the infeed section. The transfer section can convey the one or more rolled products in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction to a discharge section. The discharge section can have one or more adjacent discharge lanes for receiving the one or more rolled products from the transfer section. The discharge section can convey the one or more rolled products in a third direction substantially parallel to the first direction. A displacement device can transfer rolled products from the transfer section onto the discharge section.

Abstract: A method of transferring items comprises feeding items toward a carrier mechanism from one or more input streams and engaging void areas in the items with one or more rods extending from the carrier mechanism. The method further comprises manipulating the carrier mechanism relative to the one or more input streams into a position substantially aligned with one or more output streams and feeding the items to the one or more output streams. The configuration of items in each input stream is different than the configuration of items in each output stream.

Abstract: A transfer mechanism for transferring items between one or more input streams and one or more output streams is disclosed. The transfer mechanism comprises a turret, an arm extending from the turret, and a carrier mechanism engaged with the arm. The carrier mechanism comprises a base and a plurality of rods extending from the base. At least one of the rods is movable relative to at least one other rod. The rods are configured to engage void areas in the items.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed, in part, to a method of transporting rolls of a fibrous material. The method comprises providing a V-shaped conveying mechanism, stacking a plurality of the rolls of the fibrous material on the V-shaped conveying mechanism, and transporting the plurality of the rolls of the fibrous material between a first position and a second position.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed, in part, to a module for a modular manufacturing system comprising a frame and a carriage movable relative to the frame. The carriage is movable in directions that are generally perpendicular to the direction of product flow through the module. The carriage comprises a base comprising a first equipment mount movably engaged with the base and a second equipment mount movably engaged with the base. The first and the second equipment mounts are moveable relative to each other in directions generally perpendicular to the direction of product flow through the module and generally perpendicular to the directions of movement of the carriage.

Abstract: A large count package of rolled products comprises six sides. The sides are arranged in three pairs of generally parallel opposing sides. The large count package comprises an overwrap enclosing a plurality of individually wrapped packages of rolled products. Each package of the rolled products comprises at least two rolled products, each having a core defined therethrough. The individually wrapped packages are disposed in the large count package with a longitudinal axis of each core of each of the rolled products being generally parallel with a plane of each of a front, back, left, and right side of the large count package. The overwrap is sealed with two seals, one seal being disposed on a top side and a bottom side of the large count package.

Abstract: A conveying system for conveying rolled absorbent products. The system can include a first conveyor and a second conveyor for moving rolled absorbent products. The rolled absorbent products can be either partially wrapped or naked. The first and second conveyors can each have aligned centerlines parallel to a direction of movement. A first transfer device can be coupled to the first conveyor for diverting at least a portion of the partially wrapped rolled absorbent products in a direction substantially orthogonal to the centerline of the first conveyor to another conveyor for moving the diverted rolled absorbent products to a subsequent unit operation. The un-diverted portion of the conveyed rolled absorbent products can be conveyed to the second conveyor. In operation rolled absorbent products can be conveyed in a generally straight path from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, or in a path that diverts away from the first conveyor to the subsequent unit operation.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed, in part, to a method of transporting products. The method comprises providing a V-shaped conveying mechanism and positioning a plurality of the products on the V-shaped conveying mechanism such that a first portion of the plurality of the products engages a first side of the V-shaped conveying mechanism, and such that a second portion of the plurality of the products engages a second side of the V-shaped conveying mechanism.

Abstract: A method of transferring items comprises feeding items toward a carrier mechanism from one or more input streams and engaging void areas in the items with one or more rods extending from the carrier mechanism. The method further comprises manipulating the carrier mechanism relative to the one or more input streams into a position substantially aligned with one or more output streams and feeding the items to the one or more output streams. The configuration of items in each input stream is different than the configuration of items in each output stream.