A sheet feeding device includes a sensor, a roller, a support, circuitry, and a spool. The sensor detects a step at a leading end of a sheet roll. The roller and the sensor are disposed at different positions in a circumferential direction of the sheet roll. The support supports the sensor and the roller to bring the sensor and the roller into contact with the sheet roll. The circuitry acquires a sensor signal. The spool is insertable through a sheet tube of the sheet roll to rotate the sheet roll. The sensor and the roller face an axial center of the spool. The support is pivotable within a range in which the sensor does not contact the spool. The circuitry detects first and second inclinations of the sensor signal when the leading end passes by the roller and the sensor, respectively, to determine whether the leading end is present.

A reeling shaft transfer rail system has two parallel substantially horizontal or slightly sloped rails for supporting the ends (25) of a reeling shaft (20). Hoses are arranged on each of the transfer rails (15) and filled or drained to move and hold the reeling shaft (20). In a method of transferring reeling shafts on transfer rails, the reeling shafts (20) are transferred on two parallel, substantially horizontal or slightly downstream of a main transfer direction inclined transfer rails (15) for supporting each of the supporting ends (25) of a reeling shaft (20). The reeling shafts (20) are transferred or positioned in the reeling shaft transfer rail system (10) by pressurizing hoses (17) arranged on each of the transfer rails. The hoses are arranged so fluid added to or withdrawn from the hoses pushes or holds the reeling shaft (20) on the transfer rails (15).

A reeling shaft transfer rail system has two parallel substantially horizontal or slightly sloped rails for supporting the ends (25) of a reeling shaft (20). Hoses are arranged on each of the transfer rails (15) and filled or drained to move and hold the reeling shaft (20). In a method of transferring reeling shafts on transfer rails, the reeling shafts (20) are transferred on two parallel, substantially horizontal or slightly downstream of a main transfer direction inclined transfer rails (15) for supporting each of the supporting ends (25) of a reeling shaft (20). The reeling shafts (20) are transferred or positioned in the reeling shaft transfer rail system (10) by pressurizing hoses (17) arranged on each of the transfer rails. The hoses are arranged so fluid added to or withdrawn from the hoses pushes or holds the reeling shaft (20) on the transfer rails (15).

A roll sheet with a continuous sheet wound in a roll form is rotated in a forward direction to supply the sheet to a printing unit. A sensor whose output is changed in accordance with a distance between the sensor and the sheet is used. A rotation direction of the roll sheet is switched from an opposite direction to the forward direction on the basis of the output of the sensor during rotation of the roll sheet in the opposite direction.

Techniques for processing a web with a laser are provided. In an example, an apparatus for processing web material can include multiple processing stages and a laser assembly. Each of the multiple processing stages can be configured to process a moving web of material along a web path. The laser assembly can be configured to process the moving web of material with a laser at a first stage of the multiple stages. The laser assembly can include a laser configured to generate a laser beam, a gimble assembly configured to direct the laser beam along a cut path at a position of a web path of the moving web of material, and a servo driven mirror assembly configured to provide an adjustable field of view for the laser stage at the position of the web path.

The unwinder includes an unwinding station, in which to arrange a reel to be unwound. In the unwinding station there is arranged a series of guide rollers, defining a feed path of the web material. There are also provided: a cutting member adapted to cut a web material coming from an exhausted reel, and splicing members, to splice a trailing edge of a first web material coming from an exhausted reel to a leading edge of a second web material coming from a new reel. A pick-up device is configured to pick up the leading edge of the second web material from a temporary retaining element, carried by a transfer unit to transfer reels to the unwinding station.

A method and an apparatus for preparing an edge of a reel of web material wherein it is envisaged to grip any portion of an external layer of web material of a new reel, removing damaged web material forming loops of the reel, and arranging a leading edge of the new reel to be joined with a tail edge of the reel close to finishing,

A splice tape is provided. The splice tape includes two internal support layers bonded at interface between opposing inner surfaces of the internal support layers. The support layers are formed utilizing a process and/or materials that ensure that the two internal support layers separate cleanly and consistently along the interface of the two internal support layers.

Devices, methods, and systems for splicing a trailing edge of an outgoing roll with a leading edge of a replacement roll with a lapless butt splice on-the-fly during converting and printing production. A first strip of adhesive tape may be placed partially under the leading edge, such that a portion of the adhesive tape remains exposed beyond the leading edge. The replacement roll may be accelerated to match the speed of the outgoing web's movement, a trailing edge of the outgoing web may be cut free from the outgoing roll, and the trailing edge of the outgoing roll may be positioned over the exposed portion of the adhesive tape. A second strip of adhesive tape may be applied over the leading edge and trailing edge using a splicer roller timed to apply the tape when the edges pass proximate to the splicer roller.

When a remaining amount of a sheet on one original sheet roll is equal to or less than a predetermined remaining amount, a pair of holding pads is brought into a first posture where holding surfaces are opened, and the holding surface of one holding pad is pressed to a joining end portion from the outside of the original sheet roll in a radial direction of another original sheet roll. Further, the holding pad is moved such that the joining end portion is separated toward the outside of the original sheet roll in the radial direction. Further, the posture of the pair of holding pads is changed into a second posture where the holding surfaces approach each other, and the joining end portion is conveyed to a joining part in a state where the joining end portion is sandwiched between the holding surfaces of the pair of holding pads.