Tabbed roll of sheet material and method of making same

A method for tabbing a free end on a roll of sheet material comprises the steps of:

• 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 by simultaneously mechanically entangling and heat welding the sheet material, and returning the tabber and joiner to the initial positions, and
• doffing the tabbed roll of sheet material by removing the roll of sheet material from the spindle, and
• repeating the foregoing steps.