Method and apparatus for wrapping rolls of paper

A receptacle for translating a generally cylindrical roll of material through a wrapping machine,

• said receptacle including a body portion and at least a pair of finger portions extending from said body portion,
• said finger portions each having an arcuate internal surface corresponding to the arcuate surface of said roll of said material,
• wherein said body portion includes a first plurality of formations extending in a longitudinal direction and defining a series of support surfaces on each side of the body portion, lines connecting corresponding portions of said support surfaces on each side of said body portion forming an angle of substantially 45.degree. with a line bisecting said body portion, and a plurality of corresponding support surfaces formed on each of said finger portions whereby each of said finger portions is engageable with one of said plurality of support surfaces whereby each finger portion may be adjustably supported on said body portion in a plurality of positions which define said 45.degree. angle on said body portion, such that in each successive position on the body the arcuate surfaces of the finger portions are placed in successive positions which define a line extending 45.degree. downwardly from the center of curvature of the finger portion whereby the axes of different sized rolls of material supported in the receptacle will all lie in the same position, and means for releasably securing each of said finger portions in each of said positions.

In a wrapping machine for wrapping a product roll having a hollow core, said machine including:

• wrapping material feed means,
• application means connected to said feed means, for applying the wrapping material received from said feed means to form a coaxial cylinder around a generally cylindrical product roll,
• means for folding the wrapping material as applied to said product roll around the ends of said rolls,
• means for inserting a substantial amount of the wrapping material at the ends of said roll into the core of said roll, and
• final tucking and wrapping disc means distinct and separate from said inserting means and engageable with the opposite ends of said roll, said tucking and wrapping disc means comprising:
• an opposing pair of generally circular, planar faces having an area greater than the area of the ends of said roll,
• a projecting portion on each of said faces, said projecting portion concentrically attached to each of said faces,
• means for simultaneously moving said disc means into engagement with said roll, and
• means for rotating said disc means while engaging said roll so as to force the remaining wrapping material into the core of said roll and tighten the wrapping material on the ends of said roll.