Method and apparatus for unwinding web materials

A method of unwinding a web material, comprising:

• providing a roll of web material defining a plurality of integral lanes with a separator disposed between the lanes;
• tearing the web material along the separator to disconnect at least one lane from at least one other lane;
• unwinding the one lane from the roll while continuing to tear the web material along the separator;
• and
• maintaining the other lane on the roll while the one lane is unwound;
• wherein the web material comprises a multi-lane mechanical fastener.

A method of unwinding a web material, comprising:

• providing a roll of web material defining a plurality of integral lanes with a separator disposed between the lanes;
• tearing the web material along the separator to disconnect at least one lane from at least one other lane;
• unwinding the one lane from the roll while continuing to tear the web material along the separator;
• and
• maintaining the other lane on the roll while the one lane is unwound;
• further comprising separating the at least one lane into a plurality of strips after the at least one lane is unwound from the roll.

A method of unwinding a mechanical fastener material, comprising:

• providing a roll of mechanical fastener material comprising a base and a plurality of engaging elements projecting from the base, the mechanical fastener material defining at least 3 integral lanes containing engaging elements with separators disposed between the lanes, the lanes having a width of about 5 cm. or less;
• tearing the mechanical fastener material along a separator to disconnect at least one lane from a plurality of other lanes;
• unwinding the one lane from the roll while continuing to tear the mechanical fastener material along the separator;
• and
• maintaining the plurality of other lanes on the roll while the one lane is unwound.

A method of unwinding a roll of web material having first and second integral lanes, comprising:

• mounting the roll of web material on a shaft that is operatively connected to a drive mechanism adapted to rotate the shaft;
• positioning a repositioning device at a first position corresponding to the position of the first lane, the repositioning device adapted to redirect a lane as it is unwound;
• initiating separation of the first lane from the integral second lane;
• feeding the first lane onto the repositioning device;
• operating the drive mechanism to rotate the shaft and the roll of web material mounted thereon;
• unwinding the first lane from the roll while tearing the first lane from the second lane and maintaining the second lane on the roll;
• moving the repositioning device to a second position corresponding to the position of the second lane;
• feeding the second lane onto the repositioning device;
• and
• rotating the roll to unwind the second lane.

An apparatus for unwinding a roll of web material having first and second integral lanes, comprising:

• at least one roll unwind stand comprising a shaft defining an unwind axis and a drive mechanism adapted to rotate the shaft;
• a repositioning device adapted to redirect a lane as it is unwound, the repositioning device being movably mounted and positionable at a plurality of positions along an axis generally parallel to the unwind axis, the plurality of positions corresponding to different lane positions;
• and
• a control system adapted to move the repositioning device to a first location corresponding to at least one first lane, rotate the drive mechanism to unwind the at least one first lane, move the repositioning device to a second location corresponding to at least one second lane, and rotate the drive mechanism to unwind the at least one second lane;
• wherein the second lane remains on the roll while the first lane is unwound.

An apparatus for unwinding rolls of web material having a plurality of integral lanes, comprising:

• first and second roll unwind stands each comprising a shaft defining an unwind axis, the roll unwind stands also comprising one or more drive mechanisms adapted to rotate the shafts;
• a repositioning device associated with each roll unwind stand and adapted to redirect a lane as it is unwound, the repositioning devices being movably mounted and positionable at a plurality of positions along an axis generally parallel to the respective unwind axis, the plurality of positions corresponding to different lane positions;
• a sensing device associated with each roll unwind stand and adapted to provide roll diameter information, the sensing devices being movably mounted and positionable at a plurality of positions along an axis generally parallel to the respective unwind axis, the plurality of positions corresponding to different lane positions;
• and
• a control system adapted to move the repositioning and sensing devices of the first roll unwind stand to a first location corresponding to at least one first lane, rotate the drive mechanism of the first roll unwind stand to unwind the at least one first lane, move the repositioning and sensing devices of the first roll unwind stand to a second location corresponding to at least one second lane, rotate the drive mechanism of the first roll unwind stand to unwind the at least one second lane, move the repositioning and sensing devices of the second roll unwind stand to a first location corresponding to at least one first lane, rotate the drive mechanism of the second roll unwind stand to unwind the at least one first lane, move the repositioning and sensing devices of the second roll unwind stand to a second location corresponding to at least one second lane, rotate the drive mechanism of the second roll unwind stand to unwind the at least one second lane;
• wherein the second lanes remains on their corresponding roll while the first lanes are unwound.