Method and apparatus for fabricating stretch film rolls

1. An apparatus for fabricating a stretch film roll, comprising:

a device configured to fold a stretch film web to yield a folded stretch film web comprising at least one longitudinal band of increased thickness, each band of increased thickness being spaced from the longitudinal edges of the folded stretch film web;

at least one component configured to be oscillated for oscillating the folded stretch film web; and

a driven winding shaft for winding the folded stretch film web into a roll,

wherein the at least one component configured to be oscillated is one or more of: at least one roller, at least one additional guide, the device, and the winding shaft.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each band of increased thickness comprises a plurality of longitudinal folds.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one band of increased thickness comprises a longitudinal band of wrinkled or bunched stretch film web.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one band of increased thickness comprises a longitudinal pleat.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the pleat comprises at least two longitudinal folds.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises:

a member having at least one folding edge, and

at least one guide, each guide configured to cooperate with a respective folding edge to form a respective longitudinal band of increased thickness.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein each guide is a generally conically-shaped tip.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein each guide is generally disc-shaped.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein each generally disc-shaped guide is configured to be rotatable.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the member is:

a form defining at least one longitudinal channel, or

at least one guide member.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one component is configured to be oscillated along an axis that is generally orthogonal to a direction of travel of the folded stretch film web.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the winding shaft supports a core onto which the folded stretch film is wound.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the winding shaft is a coreless winding shaft onto which the folded stretch film is wound.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the stretch film web is fabricated by the apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein stretch film web is provided to the apparatus as a supply of previously-fabricated stretch film web.