A generally continuous string of container carriers are positioned on a base (35) wherein container carriers are housed on multiple reels (40) and are spliced together between adjacent reels to form the generally continuous string and the multiple reels are arranged on at least one axle (55) for dispensing.

A sealing tape roll comprises a sealing tape of flexible, compressible foam with at least one interior barrier layer. The sealing tape is wound up into the sealing tape roll in such a way that a top surface of one turn rests against a bottom surface of an adjacent turn of the sealing tape roll, and side surfaces of the sealing tape form end surfaces of the sealing tape roll. The sealing tape comprises a plurality of foam plies, which are arranged one above the other in a thickness direction between the bottom and top surfaces of the sealing tape. A barrier layer is between each pair of adjacent foam plies. The at least one barrier layer extends over at least 50% of the width of the sealing tape roll between the opposite end surfaces of the sealing tape roll and in a longitudinal direction of the sealing tape.

A sealing tape roll comprises a sealing tape of flexible, compressible foam with at least one interior barrier layer. The sealing tape is wound up into the sealing tape roll in such a way that a top surface of one turn rests against a bottom surface of an adjacent turn of the sealing tape roll, and side surfaces of the sealing tape form end surfaces of the sealing tape roll. The sealing tape comprises a plurality of foam plies, which are arranged one above the other in a thickness direction between the bottom and top surfaces of the sealing tape. A barrier layer is between each pair of adjacent foam plies. The at least one barrier layer extends over at least 50% of the width of the sealing tape roll between the opposite end surfaces of the sealing tape roll and in a longitudinal direction of the sealing tape.

Provided is a roll body capable of effectively suppressing the occurrence of a telescope phenomenon even if the ambient temperature during transportation and storage of the roll body becomes higher than that during production of the roll body. A roll body RB according to the present invention configured by winding a belt-shaped web around a winding core that thermally expands or contracts due to an influence of a surrounding environment is characterized in that a linear expansion coefficient of the web in a thickness direction is in a range of 60 to 150 times a linear expansion coefficient of the web in a longitudinal direction, and the winding core has a linear expansion coefficient in a range of 20×10.sup.−6/K to 100×10.sup.−6/K and a Young's modulus in a range of 0.2 GPa to 0.5 GPa.

Provided is a roll body capable of effectively suppressing the occurrence of a telescope phenomenon even if the ambient temperature during transportation and storage of the roll body becomes higher than that during production of the roll body. A roll body RB according to the present invention configured by winding a belt-shaped web around a winding core that thermally expands or contracts due to an influence of a surrounding environment is characterized in that a linear expansion coefficient of the web in a thickness direction is in a range of 60 to 150 times a linear expansion coefficient of the web in a longitudinal direction, and the winding core has a linear expansion coefficient in a range of 20×10.sup.−6/K to 100×10.sup.−6/K and a Young's modulus in a range of 0.2 GPa to 0.5 GPa.

A method and/or a machine is for tabbing a free end on a roll of sheet material. Converting a master roll of sheet material to the roll of sheet material and winding a first roll of sheet material onto a spindle at a winding position. Tabbing the free end of the roll of sheet material at a tabbing position. Where a tabber carrying a joiner are both in an initial position away from the first roll of sheet material, moving the tabber to a second position adjacent the roll of sheet material, moving the joiner into an engagement position where the joiner is engaged with the free end of the roll of sheet material. The joiner creates a tab with a combination of mechanical entanglement and heat welding. Returning the tabber and joiner to the initial positions. Doffing the tabbed roll of sheet material. The roll produced by the foregoing.

A method and/or a machine is for tabbing a free end on a roll of sheet material. Converting a master roll of sheet material to the roll of sheet material and winding a first roll of sheet material onto a spindle at a winding position. Tabbing the free end of the roll of sheet material at a tabbing position. Where a tabber carrying a joiner are both in an initial position away from the first roll of sheet material, moving the tabber to a second position adjacent the roll of sheet material, moving the joiner into an engagement position where the joiner is engaged with the free end of the roll of sheet material. The joiner creates a tab with a combination of mechanical entanglement and heat welding. Returning the tabber and joiner to the initial positions. Doffing the tabbed roll of sheet material. The roll produced by the foregoing.

The invention provides a heat-shrinkable polyester film roll containing a paper tube and a heat-shrinkable polyester film wound around the paper tube to form the heat-shrinkable polyester film roll, wherein (1) the film winding length is 2000-20000 m, (2) the film width is 400-2500 mm, (3) the film thickness is 5-30 μm, (4) unevenness in thickness in the film widthwise direction in a film roll surface layer part is 12% or less, (5) the paper tube has an inner diameter of 3 inches, a difference in clearance of the paper tube in a widthwise direction after removal of the film from the film roll is 0.5 mm or less, and a flat compressive strength of the paper tube after removal of the film is 1700 N/100 mm or more, and (6) the average value of winding hardness in the widthwise direction in the film roll surface layer part is 500-850.

The invention provides a heat-shrinkable polyester film roll containing a paper tube and a heat-shrinkable polyester film wound around the paper tube to form the heat-shrinkable polyester film roll, wherein (1) the film winding length is 2000-20000 m, (2) the film width is 400-2500 mm, (3) the film thickness is 5-30 μm, (4) unevenness in thickness in the film widthwise direction in a film roll surface layer part is 12% or less, (5) the paper tube has an inner diameter of 3 inches, a difference in clearance of the paper tube in a widthwise direction after removal of the film from the film roll is 0.5 mm or less, and a flat compressive strength of the paper tube after removal of the film is 1700 N/100 mm or more, and (6) the average value of winding hardness in the widthwise direction in the film roll surface layer part is 500-850.

A core for winding sheet material is proved. The core comprises a cylindrical tube having a longitudinally oriented slot formed therein, and a strip of soft material located in the slot. Because of the geometry of the slot and the strip, the strip may be softer (less compressed) in the central region but firmer where the core transitions from the relatively soft strip to the relatively hard tube. The leading edge of the sheet material imbeds itself into the soft central region of the strip as additional layers are wound around the core.