Coreless winding method and apparatus

A method of coreless rewinding logs from a parent roll comprising the steps of

• providing first and second elongated winding mandrels and alternately winding a web directly on one of said mandrels to develop a predetermined diameter log while stripping a previously wound log from the other mandrel,
• said winding step including providing first arm means associated with said first mandrel and second arm means associated with said second mandrel, each arm means being arranged for carrying its said associated mandrel and supporting its said associated mandrel substantially along the mandrel length while rotating each mandrel by contacting the same with a surface drive,
• said stripping step including moving said first mandrel arm means from a winding position to a stripping position and then back to said winding position while said web is being wound on said second mandrel and
• transversely severing said log into a plurality of retail-sized products
• said step of providing arm means for carrying each mandrel including providing first and second pivotable arms, and a pair of driven rolls rotatably mounted on each of said pivotable arms and forming a cradle therebetween for rotatably supporting one of said mandrels.