System and method for stabilizing web position during splicing of transversely wound material rolls

A method of splicing a running web from a running web material roll with a waiting web of a new web material roll, each of the running web and the waiting web having a web width less than a roll width of the running web material roll and the new web material roll, respectively, and being transversely wound thereon, the method comprising:

• operating a turret unwind unit to unwind a running web from a running web material roll mounted on a first end of a turret arm of the turret unwind unit such that a transverse position of the running web on the running web material roll varies as the running web is unwound therefrom;
• monitoring an amount of running web remaining on the running web material roll;
• and
• upon the amount of running web remaining falling below a pre-determined amount, performing a splicing sequence to selectively splice the running web with a waiting web of a new web material roll mounted on a second end of the turret arm, wherein performing the splicing sequence comprises:
• moving a web retaining assembly of a web diverter unit from a first position to a second position, with the web retaining assembly contacting the running web being unwound off of the running web material roll when in the second position and temporarily holding the running web a constant transverse position along the running web material roll;
• and
• operating a web splicing unit to selectively splice the running web of the running web material roll with the waiting web of the new web material roll while the running web is held at the constant transverse position.