System and method for unwinding tissue webs

An unwind system for unwinding rolls of a web of material comprising:

• a frame defining a primary unwind location;
• a first drive device adapted to engage a center portion of a web of material to be unwound, said first drive device being positioned to engage said roll of material when said roll of material is in the primary unwind location;
• and
• a secondary drive device adapted to engage an outside surface of said roll of material when said roll of material is in the primary unwind location, said second drive device operating in conjunction with said first drive device to unwind said roll of material, said second drive device applying a tangential force and supplemental torque to said roll of material at least during initial rotation of said roll.

A method of unwinding a soft, high bulk tissue web comprising the steps of:

• providing a frame assembly having a primary unwind location and a secondary unwind location;
• placing a roll of material comprising a tissue web in the primary unwind location, the roll of material including a center portion;
• unwinding said roll of material by applying a torque to the center portion of said roll of material and by applying a tangential force and supplemental torque to an outside surface of said roll of material;
• after unwinding a portion of the roll of material, transferring the roll of material to the secondary unwind location;
• and
• further unwinding said roll of material at said secondary unwind location.

An unwind system comprising:

• a frame defining a primary unwind location and a secondary unwind location;
• a first drive device adapted to engage a center portion of a roll of material to be unwound, said first drive device being positioned to engage said roll of material when said roll of material is in the primary unwind location;
• a second drive device adapted to engage an outside surface of said roll of material when said roll of material is in the primary unwind location, said second drive device operating in conjunction with said first drive device to unwind said roll of material;
• a transfer mechanism that transfers said roll of material from the primary unwind location to the secondary unwind location after a portion of said material has been unwound from said roll, the secondary unwind location being located below the primary unwind location;
• and
• a third drive device positioned at the secondary unwind location, the third drive device for further unwinding said roll of material.