An arrangement for controlling longitudinal forces acting on a web of packaging material being wound from a first reel to a second reel, said arrangement comprising a first roller having a first rotational axis and a second roller having a second rotational axis, wherein the first rotational axis is fixed while the second rotational axis is movable.

A machine for producing disposable products anticipates when a current run of a product size is coming to an end, and therefore begins loading of material rolls intended for the next product size or code that will be run. An integrated production facility layout automatically orders and stocks raw material based on production plans, and commands a production machine to produce specific products of differing configurations, and automatically loads appropriately sized raw materials into the process.

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.

Device and method for controlling axial forces acting upon a moving web comprises first, second and third rotatable rollers. The third roller is between the first and second rollers and is movable in a circular path in the vertical plane between lower and upper positions in response to axial forces acting at any moment upon the web. To enable a simple manual installation of the web, the upper position of the third roller is at a sufficient vertical distance above the first and second rollers to form an open horizontal passage through which the web can pass freely between the first and second rollers and the above-situated third roller. Axial forces are controlled by biasing the third roller with a force which counters the motion of the third roller in the direction of the upper working position and which is less than the ultimate tensile strength of the web.

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for passing a web tail being threaded from one paper machine section to another by way of guiding the tail with the help of an air jet from a transfer plate. An essential feature of the invention is to employ a construction rising from the surface of the transfer plate to a height with the shape of a linear ramp or a droplet for guiding the web tail in its travel direction thereby minimizing the contact area between the web tail and the transfer plate.

In order to thread a web material in a converting machine a system is provided, with a first continuous flexible member and a second flexible member. An anchoring element, to which there can be fixed the web material leading edge, may be transferred from one to the other of the two flexible members so as to facilitate the threading operations.

Automatic unwinder of flexible materials comprising feeding means for feeding the operating machine with at least a flexible material, defining a mouth, susceptible of being traversed in the advancement direction of the material, and at least a slide guide, extended between a first end, in proximity to the mandrels, and a second end, in proximity to the mouth, and a rack, at which portions of flexible materials can be retained. The automatic unwinder further comprises at least a carriage, provided with a retention gripper, and movement means in order to move the carriage along at least a slide guide between a grip position, in which the carriage is at the first end and the gripper is susceptible of grippingly receive a free flap of the flexible material, and a release position, in which the carriage is at the second end to release the free flap at the rack.

A sheet supply device includes a supporter, a rotation device, a guide, a support shaft, a biasing member, a sensor, a roller, and control circuitry. The sensor is disposed to protrude from the facing portion toward the roll and biased in a direction to contact the outer peripheral surface of the roll. The sensor outputs a detection signal at a level corresponding to an amount at which the sensor protrudes from the facing portion. The roller is supported by the facing portion, to contact the outer peripheral surface of the roll at a position different from a position of the sensor in a circumferential direction of the roll. The control circuitry controls the rotation device based on a signal change rate that is a change amount of the level of the detection signal per unit time. The control circuitry causes the rotation device to rotate the spool in the winding direction, and stops an operation of the rotation device when the signal change rate based on a change in relative positions between the outer peripheral surface and the sensor without passage of a leading end of the sheet through the position of the sensor does not exceed a predetermined reverse set threshold value.