Reconfigurable wrapping mechanism

A method of reconfiguring a garniture bed in a wrapping mechanism for forming a substantially cylindrical wrapped element by wrapping a core within a web material, the wrapping mechanism comprising a reconfigurable garniture bed having an elongate formation channel for supporting a conveying belt extending along the length of the elongate formation channel for entraining the web material, and wherein the elongate formation channel has an elongate open side,

• wherein the garniture bed comprises a plurality of garniture bed sub-members, wherein, in a direction extending around the surface of the elongate formation channel perpendicular to the length of elongate formation channel, each garniture bed sub-member provides a portion of the surface of the elongate formation channel, and wherein at least one of the garniture bed sub-members is configured for movement transverse to the length of the elongate formation channel, and the method comprises relative movement of the garniture bed sub-members transversely to the length of the elongate formation channel to adjust the size of the elongate formation channel,
• wherein the elongate formation channel has a central axis extending along its length and the garniture bed sub-members and the method comprises relative movement of the garniture bed sub-members is substantially radially relative to the central axis, and
• wherein adjacent edges of the or a plurality of the garniture bed sub-members are interdigitated, and the method comprises the relative radial movement of the garniture bed sub-members to increase or decrease the level of interdigitation.

A method of manufacturing a substantially cylindrical wrapped element with a wrapping mechanism comprising:

• a reconfigurable garniture bed having an elongate formation channel for supporting a conveying belt extending along the length of the elongate formation channel for entraining the web material, and wherein the elongate formation channel has an elongate open side;
• wherein the garniture bed comprises a plurality of garniture bed sub-members,
• wherein, in a direction extending around the surface of the elongate formation channel perpendicular to the length of elongate formation channel, each garniture bed sub-member provides a portion of the surface of the elongate formation channel, and
• wherein at least one of the garniture bed sub-members is configured for movement transverse to the length of the elongate formation channel;
• and
• a conveying belt extending along the length of the elongate formation channel;
• and
• a drive mechanism for driving the conveying belt along the length of the elongate
• formation channel,
• the method comprising:
• driving the conveying belt and an entrained web material along the elongate formation channel with the drive mechanism;
• receiving a core onto the entrained web material;
• and
• wrapping the core within a web material,
• wherein the elongate formation channel has a central axis extending along its length and the garniture bed sub-members and the method comprises relative movement of the garniture bed sub-members is substantially radially relative to the central axis, and
• wherein adjacent edges of the or a plurality of the garniture bed sub-members are interdigitated, and the method comprises the relative radial movement of the garniture bed sub- members to increase or decrease the level of interdigitation.