A web handling system is disclosed. The web handling system includes first dancer rollers coupled to engage and move a web of a print medium in a forward and backward direction upon stopping a printing operation and allow forward motion during the printing operation.

A web handling system is disclosed. The web handling system includes first dancer rollers coupled to engage and move a web of a print medium in a forward and backward direction upon stopping a printing operation and allow forward motion during the printing operation.

A web handling system and method for controlling tension in a web of material is disclosed. For instance, the web handling system is particularly well suited for maintaining web tension within predefined setpoints during temporary interruptions in the process, such as during splicing operations. The web handling system includes an accumulator or festoon that accumulates amounts of the material as the material is being fed downstream. At least one guide roll within the festoon is coupled to a drive device, such as a motor. The system also includes at least one tension sensing device. The drive device accelerates or decelerates the guide roll based upon information obtained from the tension sensing device. In one embodiment, the system further includes an electronic gearing configuration between a roll of material being unwound and the guide roll within the festoon for better synchronization and further minimizing tension swings. The electronic gearing can include a diameter calculator for the roll of material being unwound based on speed feedback of a driven guide roll.

A processing system and a device manufacturing method that can perform manufacturing of an electronic device without stopping the entire manufacturing system, even when the processing state actually implemented on a sheet substrate by a processing device differs from the target processing state. A processing system for sequentially conveying a long, flexible sheet substrate along a length direction to each of a first through a third processing device to form a predetermined pattern on the sheet substrate, wherein the first through the third processing devices implement a predetermined process relating to the sheet substrate according to setting conditions set to each processing device, and when at least one from among the states of the actual processing implemented on the sheet substrate by each of the first through the third processing devices exhibits a processing error relative to a target processing state, changes other setting conditions, separate from the setting conditions exhibiting the processing error, according to the processing error.

A processing system and a device manufacturing method that can perform manufacturing of an electronic device without stopping the entire manufacturing system, even when the processing state actually implemented on a sheet substrate by a processing device differs from the target processing state. A processing system for sequentially conveying a long, flexible sheet substrate along a length direction to each of a first through a third processing device to form a predetermined pattern on the sheet substrate, wherein the first through the third processing devices implement a predetermined process relating to the sheet substrate according to setting conditions set to each processing device, and when at least one from among the states of the actual processing implemented on the sheet substrate by each of the first through the third processing devices exhibits a processing error relative to a target processing state, changes other setting conditions, separate from the setting conditions exhibiting the processing error, according to the processing error.

The present invention relates to a machine for the production of a component for an aerosol generating article, the machine including: a buffer station, the buffer station including: # fixed sheet guides; # movable sheet guides which are movable in a reciprocating manner in a direction towards the fixed sheet guides and in a direction away from the sheet fixed guides; # an actuator for moving the movable sheet guides, wherein the fixed and movable sheet guides together define a zig-zag trajectory for the sheet having a variable length for varying the total length of the sheet of material in the buffer station; # supports for the sheet, the supports being arranged so that, when the movable sheet guides are moved towards the fixed sheet guides, at least one of the movable sheets guides is interposed between two different supports of the plurality; # an air system; # wherein the each of the supports defines an outer surface, at least one of the outer surfaces having a first portion in which a sucking action is exerted by the air system to attract the sheet towards the outer surface and a second portion in which a blowing action is exerted by the air system to push the sheet away from the outer surface.

Various apparatus embodiments include first, second, third and fourth shafts, and further include a first movable shaft having a first movable axis that is movable between a first axis position and a second axis position, and a second movable shaft having a second movable axis that is movable between a third axis position and fourth axis position. At least one linkage connects the first movable shaft to the second movable shaft. A motor linkage connects the at least one linkage to at least one motor for providing simultaneous movement of the first and second movable shafts.

Various apparatus embodiments include first, second, third and fourth shafts, and further include a first movable shaft having a first movable axis that is movable between a first axis position and a second axis position, and a second movable shaft having a second movable axis that is movable between a third axis position and fourth axis position. At least one linkage connects the first movable shaft to the second movable shaft. A motor linkage connects the at least one linkage to at least one motor for providing simultaneous movement of the first and second movable shafts.

The present invention relates to a converting machine, i.e., a machine for winding or unwinding a strip of material on coils, particularly configured to process a delicate material.

In particular, the invention is directed to a machine (1) for converting coils of a material into smaller coils, comprising a loading unit (2) for automatically loading a strip (N) of material into the machine (1), an accumulation unit (3) of the strip (N) being processed, and a winding unit (4) of the strip (N) on a winding shaft (5, 5) to form respective coils (B), characterized in that the loading unit (2) comprises an accompanying system (6) for the strip (N) from the loading unit (2) to the winding unit (4), said accompanying system (6) consisting of a double chain (7), comprising a first chain (7a) and a second chain (7b) and an accompanying bar (9) driven by said first and second chains (7a, 7b), wherein the double chain (7) develops in a loop along a path (P) and wherein the accompanying bar (9) is movable along the loop-shaped path (P) and is configured to drive the strip (N) from the loading unit (2) to the winding unit (4) and then, after releasing the strip (N), to return to the starting point in the loading unit (2).

The present invention relates to a converting machine, i.e., a machine for winding or unwinding a strip of material on coils, particularly configured to process a delicate material.

In particular, the invention is directed to a machine (1) for converting coils of a material into smaller coils, comprising a loading unit (2) for automatically loading a strip (N) of material into the machine (1), an accumulation unit (3) of the strip (N) being processed, and a winding unit (4) of the strip (N) on a winding shaft (5, 5) to form respective coils (B), characterized in that the loading unit (2) comprises an accompanying system (6) for the strip (N) from the loading unit (2) to the winding unit (4), said accompanying system (6) consisting of a double chain (7), comprising a first chain (7a) and a second chain (7b) and an accompanying bar (9) driven by said first and second chains (7a, 7b), wherein the double chain (7) develops in a loop along a path (P) and wherein the accompanying bar (9) is movable along the loop-shaped path (P) and is configured to drive the strip (N) from the loading unit (2) to the winding unit (4) and then, after releasing the strip (N), to return to the starting point in the loading unit (2).