Assembly system and method for packaging web material in a roll

A system for packaging web material in a roll comprising:

• a feed assembly configured to carry a stream of web material;
• a rolling assembly proximate the feed assembly and configured to receive a stream of web material from the feed assembly, the rolling assembly comprising:
• a base member having a concave arcuate feed surface defining an upwardly-extending ramp;
• a first intermediate member moveably coupled to the base member;
• and
• a top member moveably coupled to at least one of the base member and the first intermediate member, the top member having a concave arcuate pressure surface facing the feed surface of the base member;
• wherein the base member, the first intermediate member and the top member collectively form an iris with a feed space defined between the feed surface and the pressure surface, the iris being moveable between a first condition and a second condition, the feed space having a first cross dimension in side view between the feed surface and the pressure surface in the first condition and a second cross dimension between the feed surface and the pressure surface in the second condition, the second cross dimension being greater than the first cross dimension, and
• the iris being configured in the first condition to receive web material along the feed surface from the feed assembly and direct the web material upwardly toward the top member to form a roll within the feed space, the iris moving toward the second condition as the roll of web material increases in cross dimension against the pressure surface of the top member.

A method for packaging web material in a roll, the method comprising:

• providing a rolling assembly configured to receive a stream of web material, the rolling assembly comprising:
• a base member having a concave arcuate feed surface defining an upwardly-extending ramp;
• a first intermediate member moveably coupled to the base member;
• and
• a top member moveably coupled to at least one of the base member and the first intermediate member, the top member having a concave arcuate pressure surface facing the feed surface of the base member;
• wherein the base member, the first intermediate member and the top member collectively form an iris with a feed space defined between the feed surface and the pressure surface, the iris being moveable between a first condition and a second condition, the feed space having a first cross dimension in side view between the feed surface and the pressure surface in the first condition and a second cross dimension between the feed surface and the pressure surface in the second condition, the second cross dimension being greater than the first cross dimension;
• and
• delivering a stream of web material to the assembly, the iris receiving the web material along the feed surface and directing the web material upwardly toward the top member to form a roll within the feed space, the iris moving toward the second condition as the roll of web material increases in cross dimension against the pressure surface of the top member.