Apparatus and method for the concurrent converting of multiple web materials

An apparatus adapted to wind a multitude of web materials comprising a first web material, a second web material, and a third web material, the apparatus comprising:

• a) a first winding station adapted to receive the first web material having a first width and to wind the first web material into a first wound product wherein the width of the first wound product is less than the width of the first web material,
• b) a second winding station adapted to receive the second web material having a second width and to wind the second web material into a second wound product, and
• c) a third winding station adapted to receive the third web material having a third width and to wind the third web material into a third wound product,
• wherein the first wound product is distinct from the second wound product, the second wound product is distinct from the third wound product the first wound product is distinct from the third wound product, and
• the first, second, and third winding stations are disposed such that the first web material being wound by the first winding station is less than twice the greatest of the first width, the second width and the third width from at least one of the second web material and the third web material being wound respectively by the second winding station and the third winding station.

A method for converting multiple web materials, the method comprising steps of:

• a) providing a first unwind station,
• b) unwinding a first web material comprising a first width from a roll of the first web material via the first unwind station,
• c) providing a second unwind station,
• d) unwinding a second web material comprising a second width from a roll of the second web material via the second unwind station,
• e) providing a web processing station,
• f) reducing an effective width of the first web material,
• g) routing the first web material from the first unwind station to the web processing station,
• h) routing the second web material from the second unwind station to the web processing station,
• i) winding the first web material into a first wound product via the web processing station, and
• j) winding the second web material into a second wound product via the web processing station,
• wherein at least a portion of the first web material in the web processing station is disposed less than twice the greater of the first width and the second width from at least a portion of the second web material in the web processing station.