Abstract: Cargo assemblages including a pallet, a load of packages arranged in one or more layers, and a support layer, in which the support layer is sized and positioned within the cargo assemblage to support and/or stabilize the cargo, thereby providing improved pallet efficiency, improved shipping efficiency, and/or improved stability.

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 conveying system and method for rotating conveyed product. The system can have a conveyor on which is conveyed a rolled product in a machine direction. The system can have conveyor having a first portion on which is conveyed a rolled product having an axis oriented in the machine direction, and the rolled product being partially wrapped in an open ended tube of polymer film. The system has a second portion on which the rolled product is rotated in a horizontal plane such that its axis is oriented in a cross machine direction, and a third portion on which the rolled product is conveyed while oriented in the cross machine direction to a sealing operation that seals the open ends of the tube of polymer film.

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 conveying system and method for rotating conveyed product. The system can have a conveyor on which is conveyed a rolled product in a machine direction. The system can have conveyor having a first portion on which is conveyed a rolled product having an axis oriented in the machine direction, and the rolled product being partially wrapped in an open ended tube of polymer film. The system has a second portion on which the rolled product is rotated in a horizontal plane such that its axis is oriented in a cross machine direction, and a third portion on which the rolled product is conveyed while oriented in the cross machine direction to a sealing operation that seals the open ends of the tube of polymer film.

Abstract: A conveying system and method for rotating conveyed product. The system can have a conveyor on which is conveyed a rolled product in a machine direction. The system can have conveyor having a first portion on which is conveyed a rolled product having an axis oriented in the machine direction, and the rolled product being partially wrapped in an open ended tube of polymer film. The system has a second portion on which the rolled product is rotated in a horizontal plane such that its axis is oriented in a cross machine direction, and a third portion on which the rolled product is conveyed while oriented in the cross machine direction to a sealing operation that seals the open ends of the tube of polymer film.

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 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: 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 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 conveying system and method for rotating conveyed product. The system can have a conveyor on which is conveyed a rolled product in a machine direction. The system can have conveyor having a first portion on which is conveyed a rolled product having an axis oriented in the machine direction, and the rolled product being partially wrapped in an open ended tube of polymer film. The system has a second portion on which the rolled product is rotated in a horizontal plane such that its axis is oriented in a cross machine direction, and a third portion on which the rolled product is conveyed while oriented in the cross machine direction to a sealing operation that seals the open ends of the tube of polymer film.

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 convolutely wound material having a tail and a body. The tail is bonded to the body with foamed adhesive.

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: A convolutely wound material having a tail and a body. The tail is bonded to the body with foamed adhesive.

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.