Method and apparatus for producing coreless rolls of paper

A method of forming a roll of convolutely wound web material comprising the steps of:

• a) winding a web material around a mandrel to form a roll of convolutely wound web material;
• b) pulling the mandrel longitudinally after the step of winding the web material around the mandrel;
• c) restraining the periphery of the roll in a manner to maintain a length of the roll constant when the mandrel is pulled longitudinally;
• and
• d) removing the mandrel from the roll.

A method of forming a roll of convolutely wound web material comprising the steps of:

• a) winding a web material around a mandrel to form a roll of convolutely wound web material;
• b) pulling the mandrel longitudinally after the step of winding the web material around the mandrel;
• c) restraining the periphery of the roll in a manner to maintain a shape of the roll constant when the mandrel is pulled longitudinally;
• and
• d) removing the mandrel from the roll.

A machine for forming a roll of convolutely wound web material, the machine comprising:

• a winding apparatus adapted and configured to receive a mandrel and a web material, the winding apparatus being adapted and configured to wind the web material around the mandrel to form the roll of convolutely wound web material;
• a mandrel puller adapted and configured to pull the mandrel longitudinally to remove the mandrel from the roll after forming the roll;
• and
• a restraint adapted and configured to engage the peripheral surface of the roll when the mandrel is pulled longitudinally during removal of the mandrel from the roll.