Manufacturing machine (9) and method for manufacturing a cylindrical electrochemical cell (2) consisting of a spiral winding of a composite material (8) comprising at least two conductor bands (4, 6) and at least two separator bands (5, 7) overlapping one another. They are provided: a plurality of winding heads (13), each of which supports a holding device (14) which is configured to grab an end of the composite material (8) and to rotate on itself around a first rotation axis (15) so as to obtain a spiral winding of the composite material (8); a drum (11) which supports the winding heads (13) and is rotatably mounted to rotate with a continuous law of motion about a second rotation axis (12) so as to move the winding heads (13) along a processing path (P2); a feeding unit (10) configured to feed the composite material (8) to the winding heads (13); and a cutting device (28) which is configured to cut the composite material (8) and thereby create a new free end of the composite material (8) while the composite material (8) is still being wound by a first winding head (13). A second winding head (13), which follows the first winding head (13) along the processing path (P2), is configured to grab the new free end of the composite material (8) and start the winding of the composite material (8) while first winding head (13) is still completing the winding of its own composite material (8).

In the present invention a web processing apparatus is provided comprising a web transport station and a web processing station. Said web transport station is arranged to transport, in a single mode of the web processing apparatus, a first web in a process direction towards or away from the web processing station, and to transport, in a tandem mode of the web processing apparatus, the first web and a second web in the process direction towards or away from the web processing station.

The web transport station comprises a web tension control assembly, which comprises a first tensioning device and a second tensioning device. Said first tensioning device is movably arranged for controlling tension of a first web. Said second tensioning device is movably arranged for controlling tension of a second web independently of the tension of the first web. Said first tensioning device comprises a first interior space and the first tensioning device is arranged with respect to the second tensioning device such that the first interior space at least partly accommodates the second tensioning device.

Manufacturing machine (9) and method for manufacturing a cylindrical electrochemical cell (2) consisting of a spiral winding of a composite material (8) comprising at least two conductor bands (4, 6) and at least two separator bands (5, 7) overlapping one another. They are provided: a plurality of winding heads (13), each of which supports a holding device (14) which is configured to grab an end of the composite material (8) and to rotate on itself around a first rotation axis (15) so as to obtain a spiral winding of the composite material (8); a drum (11) which supports the winding heads (13) and which is mounted in a rotary manner so as to rotate with a continuous law of motion around a second rotation axis (12) in order to move the winding heads (13) along a processing path (P2); and a feeding unit (10) configured to feed the composite material (8) to the winding heads (13).