Abstract: Winding cores for elastically stretched or shrinkable materials are designed to significantly reduce the amount of roll strain energy developed during winding. This is accomplished by building into the core an energy-absorbing zone that can be collapsed by a substantial amount and in a relatively controlled fashion over a substantial period of time under the influence of a continued radially inward pressure exerted by the roll of wound material. The energy-absorbing zone is formed by one or more collapsible layers having repeated atomic regions projecting out of a plane of the sheet and each defining a plurality of normal vectors in different sub-regions of the atomic region, wherein the normal vectors, when projected onto the two-dimensional plane of the sheet, are in a plurality of different directions in the plane.

Abstract: A paper-based plant pot comprises a container formed from a sheet of paper-based material wrapped about an axis, opposite edge portions of the sheet being secured to each other, the container having a side wall that encircles the axis and a bottom wall formed by a plurality of bottom panels of the sheet folded inwardly from a lower edge of the side wall and engaging one another. The sheet comprises a paperboard substrate formed of natural cellulose fibers, an internal sizing composition incorporated into the paperboard substrate so as to render the paperboard substrate substantially resistant to saturation by liquid water, and a thermoplastic polymer layer on one of the major surfaces of the paperboard substrate. The thermoplastic polymer layer faces an interior of the container and forms an inner surface thereof for contact with soil or other growing medium placed in the container.

Abstract: A paper-based plant pot comprises a container formed from a sheet of paper-based material wrapped about an axis, opposite edge portions of the sheet being secured to each other, the container having a side wall that encircles the axis and a bottom wall formed by a plurality of bottom panels of the sheet folded inwardly from a lower edge of the side wall and engaging one another. The sheet comprises a paperboard substrate formed of natural cellulose fibers, an internal sizing composition incorporated into the paperboard substrate so as to render the paperboard substrate substantially resistant to saturation by liquid water, and a thermoplastic polymer layer on one of the major surfaces of the paperboard substrate. The thermoplastic polymer layer faces an interior of the container and forms an inner surface thereof for contact with soil or other growing medium placed in the container.

Abstract: A wound paperboard tube having enhanced burst strength in high-moisture conditions up to and including complete and prolonged submersion in liquid water comprises a plurality of paperboard plies formed from a pulp comprising papermaking furnish and an effective amount of a size such that the paperboard plies have reduced moisture add-on when submerged in water, relative to paperboard plies formed from a pulp comprising the identical furnish but without the size. The plies are wound one upon another about an axis of the tube and adhered together with a water-resistant adhesive comprising a polyvinyl composition containing a cross-linking agent for inducing cross-linking of the adhesive.

Abstract: Winding cores for elastically stretched or shrinkable materials are designed to significantly reduce the amount of roll strain energy developed during winding. This is accomplished by building into the core an energy-absorbing zone that can be collapsed by a substantial amount and in a relatively controlled fashion over a substantial period of time under the influence of a continued radially inward pressure exerted by the roll of wound material. The energy-absorbing zone is formed by one or more collapsible layers having repeated atomic regions projecting out of a plane of the sheet and each defining a plurality of normal vectors in different sub-regions of the atomic region, wherein the normal vectors, when projected onto the two-dimensional plane of the sheet, are in a plurality of different directions in the plane.

Abstract: A winding core, a winding core assembly for winding web materials, and a method are provided. The winding core includes a hollow cylindrical core member having an inner surface, an outer surface, and first and second ends. A chuck-engaging layer is located on the inner surface of the core member, wherein the chuck-engaging layer is softer than the core member.

Abstract: A stackable winding core in accordance with the invention has a male end and an opposite female end. The ends are configured in such a manner that they do not hinder or prevent the insertion of chucks or mandrels into the core for winding or unwinding of web material about the core. The male end of one core is receivable into the female end of another core so that the cores can be axially stacked end-to-end, the engagement between the ends of the cores keeping the core coaxially aligned with each other. The ends are also configured to support axial loads exerted between the cores.

Abstract: A tubular core and associated method of manufacture are provided. The tubular core includes at least one inner ply and at least two plastic plies disposed thereon. The inner ply, which can be paper or plastic, has an inner surface upon which identifying indicia are printed, for example, before the tube is formed and while the inner ply is in a flat configuration. The first and second plastic plies are disposed on the inner ply and adhered so that the second plastic ply substantially covers the inner ply and the first plastic ply.

Abstract: In a wound paperboard tube, adhesive is applied between two or more structural paperboard layers in a partial-coverage pattern characterized by spaced regions of adhesive interspersed with adhesive-free portions of the facing surfaces of the layers. The pattern can comprise islands of adhesive spaced apart in both circumferential and longitudinal directions of the tube, or intersecting lines of adhesive spaced apart in both circumferential and longitudinal directions and forming a grid, or the like. The tubes can be spirally wound, convolutely wound, or formed by a linear draw process. Tube strength is not substantially compromised by reducing adhesive coverage substantially below 100%, on a surface area basis.

Abstract: There is provided a paperboard tube structure with an intermediate ply having cut-and-folded tabs to increase the effective thickness of the intermediate ply. The paperboard tube includes a plurality of paperboard plies wrapped one atop another about an axis with the intermediate ply positioned between an interior paperboard ply and an exterior paperboard ply. A plurality of cut-and-folded tabs are each created by a nonlinear incision in the intermediate ply that extends from a first endpoint to a second endpoint thereby creating a folding axis along a line from the first endpoint to the second endpoint. The tab is folded about the folding axis to overlie a region of the intermediate ply adjacent the folding axis. The tabs increase the effective thickness of the wall of the paperboard tube.

Abstract: A winding core, a winding core assembly for winding web materials, and a method are provided. The winding core includes a hollow cylindrical core member having an inner surface, an outer surface, and first and second ends. A chuck-engaging layer is located on the inner surface of the core member, wherein the chuck-engaging layer is softer than the core member.

Abstract: There is provided a paperboard tube structure with an intermediate ply having cut-and-folded tabs to increase the effective thickness of the intermediate ply. The paperboard tube includes a plurality of paperboard plies wrapped one atop another about an axis with the intermediate ply positioned between an interior paperboard ply and an exterior paperboard ply. A plurality of cut-and-folded tabs are each created by a nonlinear incision in the intermediate ply that extends from a first endpoint to a second endpoint thereby creating a folding axis along a line from the first endpoint to the second endpoint. The tab is folded about the folding axis to overlie a region of the intermediate ply adjacent the folding axis. The tabs increase the effective thickness of the wall of the paperboard tube.

Abstract: Paper mill cores of the invention are structured to allow winding and unwinding chucks to distort the interior diameter and shape of the interior body wall of the core while resisting distortion of the core exterior to prevent center burst failure. The paper mill cores of the invention include a multi-ply zone of high strength, but relatively compliant, paperboard plies within the outer 70% (based on the total body wall thickness) of the body wall having a thickness of at least about 4 mm. An interior zone constituting at least about 25% of the total thickness of the body wall is formed from extremely high strength, extremely high density paperboard plies. The overall wall thickness of the core is preferably at least about 15 mm, and is thus preferably increased, as compared to the wall thickness of conventional high strength wide paper mill cores formed entirely of extremely high strength, extremely high density, non-compliant paperboard plies.

Abstract: A concrete column forming tube is provided for receiving poured concrete therein to produce a concrete column and which eliminates spiral seam lines and other undesirable characteristics on the outside surface of the formed concrete column and provides a construction which may be easily removed from the concrete column. The forming tube includes a spirally-wound cylindrical paper tube including multiple plies of paper adhered together, a centrifugally-cast plastic coating sprayed on an inside wall surface of the spirally-wound paper tube for producing an inside coated surface having a thickness and smoothness sufficient to eliminate spiral seam lines and other undesirable characteristics, and a tear strip positioned between the inside surface of the cylindrical paper tube and the plastic coating before centrifugal-casting and extending longitudinally of the forming tube over the entire length thereof and having a predetermined width and readily detachable from the plastic coating.

Abstract: Paper mill cores of the invention are structured to allow winding and unwinding chucks to distort the interior diameter and shape of the interior body wall of the core while resisting distortion of the core exterior to prevent center burst failure. The paper mill cores of the invention include a multi-ply zone of high strength, but relatively compliant, paperboard plies within the outer 70% (based on the total body wall thickness) of the body wall having a thickness of at least about 4 mm. An interior zone constituting at least about 25% of the total thickness of the body wall is formed from extremely high strength, extremely high density paperboard plies. The overall wall thickness of the core is preferably at least about 15 mm, and is thus preferably increased, as compared to the wall thickness of conventional high strength wide paper mill cores formed entirely of extremely high strength, extremely high density, non-compliant paperboard plies.

Abstract: A concrete column forming tube and method of making same for receiving poured concrete column therein to produce a concrete column is characterized by a smooth inside coated surface in the forming tube to eliminate spiral seam lines and other undesirable characteristics on the outside surface of the formed concrete column. The tube is formed from spirally-wound plies of paper adhered together and has a centrifugally-cast epoxy resin coating sprayed onto the inside surface of the spirally-wound tube while the tube is rotating to produce a smooth inside coated surface on the forming tube.