Wrapped material, and method and apparatus for wrapping and unwrapping such material

A wrapped cold-flowable material, comprising:

• an elongate mass of cold-flowable material including an outer peripheral surface;
• and
• a liner including an inside surface, an outside surface, a first edge, and a second edge, wherein said first and second edges are opposite to one another;
• wherein said liner includes a first region extending along said first edge, a second region extending along said second edge, and a center region between said first and second regions;
• wherein said liner is wrapped around said cold-flowable material with said liner inside surface at said center region facing said peripheral surface of said cold-flowable material, said liner first and second regions extending away from said cold-flowable material with said liner inside surface of said first region in unbonded contact with said liner inside surface of said second region so as to enclose said cold-flowable material with said liner.

A wrapped cold-flowable material, comprising:

• an elongate mass of cold-flowable material including an outer peripheral surface;
• and
• a liner including an inside surface, an outside surface, a first edge, and a second edge, wherein said first and second edges are opposite to one another;
• wherein said liner includes a first region extending along said first edge, a second region extending along said second edge, and a center region between said first and second regions;
• wherein said liner is wrapped around said cold-flowable material with said liner inside surface at said center region facing said peripheral surface of said cold-flowable material, said liner first and second regions extending away from said cold-flowable material with said liner inside surface of said first region in unbonded contact with said liner inside surface of said second region so as to enclose said cold-flowable material with said liner;
• wherein said mass of cold-flowable material and said center region of said liner together form a core of said wrapped mass of cold-flowable material, and wherein said first region and said second region together form a tab of said wrapped mass of cold-flowable material;
• and
• wherein said wrapped mass of cold-flowable material includes a first portion and a second portion and wherein said wrapped mass of cold-flowable material is arranged such that said tab of said first portion and said core of said second portion contact one another so as to maintain said mass of cold-flowable material enveloped by said liner at said first portion.

A wrapped hot melt adhesive, comprising:

• an elongate mass of cold-flowable hot melt adhesive including an outer peripheral surface;
• and
• a liner including an inside surface, an outside surface, a first edge, and a second edge, wherein said first and second edges are opposite to one another;
• wherein said liner includes a first region extending along said first edge, a second region extending along said second edge, and a center region between said first and second regions;
• wherein said liner is wrapped around said cold-flowable hot melt adhesive with said liner inside surface at said center region facing said peripheral surface of said cold-flowable hot melt adhesive, said liner first and second regions extending away from said cold-flowable hot melt adhesive with said liner inside surface of said first region in unbonded contact with said liner inside surface of said second region so as to enclose said cold-flowable hot melt adhesive with said liner;
• wherein said mass of cold-flowable hot melt adhesive and said center region of said liner together form a core of said wrapped mass of cold-flowable hot melt adhesive, and wherein said first region and said second region together form a tab of said wrapped mass of cold-flowable hot melt adhesive;
• and
• wherein said wrapped mass of cold-flowable hot melt adhesive includes a first portion and a second portion and wherein said wrapped mass of cold-flowable hot melt adhesive is arranged such that said tab of said first portion and said core of said second portion contact one another so as to maintain said mass of material enveloped by said liner at said first portion.