The machine (1) comprises: —an unwinding section (3) for unwinding parent reels (Ba, Bb) of web material (N; S); —at least one winding station (15) comprising a winding device (25) and further comprising: guide members for guiding the strip (S) of web material, configured to form at least a loop of web material between a guide roller (43) and a log (B); and a cutting device (61) for transversally cutting the strip (S) of web material in an intermediate position between the log (B) and the guide roller (43), thus generating a tail edge, remaining on the log (B) being formed, and a leading edge, remaining fastened to the guide roller (43).

In order to provide, to a roll-to-roll printing apparatus which seamlessly performs printing on a base material using a roll-to-roll method, performance for finely controlling the tension of the base material, the roll-to-roll printing apparatus includes a drive roll (74) that supplies a base material (B) to a plate cylinder, a drive roll actuator that rotates the drive roll (74), a dancer actuator (84) that changes a path line length of the base material (B) to vary the tension of the base material (B), a tension detection device (78) that detects the tension of the base material (B), and a tension control device (80) that controls the drive roll actuator and the dancer actuator (84) in accordance with a result of the detection by the tension detection device (78) to compensate for a variation in the tension of the base material (B). When compensating for the variation in the tension of the base material (B), the tension control device (80) uses the drive roll actuator to perform relatively rough control, while using the dancer actuator (84) to perform relatively fine control.

In order to provide, to a roll-to-roll printing apparatus which seamlessly performs printing on a base material using a roll-to-roll method, performance for finely controlling the tension of the base material, the roll-to-roll printing apparatus includes a drive roll (74) that supplies a base material (B) to a plate cylinder, a drive roll actuator that rotates the drive roll (74), a dancer actuator (84) that changes a path line length of the base material (B) to vary the tension of the base material (B), a tension detection device (78) that detects the tension of the base material (B), and a tension control device (80) that controls the drive roll actuator and the dancer actuator (84) in accordance with a result of the detection by the tension detection device (78) to compensate for a variation in the tension of the base material (B). When compensating for the variation in the tension of the base material (B), the tension control device (80) uses the drive roll actuator to perform relatively rough control, while using the dancer actuator (84) to perform relatively fine control.

A tape lamination head for applying composite tape onto a mold or mandrel amid the formation of a composite workpiece. The tape lamination head is but one component of a larger tape lamination machine and assembly. Among its components, the tape lamination head includes a tape supply reel, a backing paper take-up reel, and a tape tension control system. The tape tension control system has a first dancer roller assembly located downstream of the tape supply reel and has a second dancer roller assembly located upstream of the backing paper take-up reel. The first dancer roller assembly can include a first roller, a first guide, a first actuator, a first lock, and a first position sensor. The second dancer roller assembly can include a second roller, a second guide, a second actuator, a second lock, and a second position sensor.

A printer includes a medium supplier including a shaft support, to which a supply shaft of a roll medium is detachably attached, a medium temporary placement support located below the shaft support of the medium supplier and that receives and supports the roll medium prior to being attached to the medium supplier, and a conveyor that conveys a medium in a conveyance direction that is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to an axial direction of the supply shaft, the medium being unwound from the supply shaft. The medium temporary placement support includes a support bar that extends in the axial direction, and a placement seat supported by the support bar. The placement seat includes a placement surface on which the roll medium is placed and that extends in the conveyance direction, and a curved portion that includes a convex curve in an upstream end portion of the placement surface in the conveyance direction.

A system and method for non-contact measurement of remaining spooled material. The system comprises at least one optical signal source configured to illuminate spooled material with an optical beam having an optical beam width that illuminates the material remaining in the spool. The optical beam width and spacing are such that spooled material is illuminated by each optical signal source. The system includes drive circuitry configured to drive the at least one optical signal source using pulses. The system further includes at least one optical signal receiver configured to receive light reflected from each of said light pulses. The system still further includes a processor configured to: establish a number and drive strength of the pulses; and cause measurements to be performed of the remaining spooled material.

A tape lamination head for applying composite tape onto a mold or mandrel amid the formation of a composite workpiece. The tape lamination head is but one component of a larger tape lamination machine and assembly. Among its components, the tape lamination head includes a tape supply reel, a backing paper take-up reel, and a tape tension control system. The tape tension control system has a first dancer roller assembly located downstream of the tape supply reel and has a second dancer roller assembly located upstream of the backing paper take-up reel. The first dancer roller assembly can include a first roller, a first guide, a first actuator, a first lock, and a first position sensor. The second dancer roller assembly can include a second roller, a second guide, a second actuator, a second lock, and a second position sensor.

The invention relates to an apparatus for providing web-like interleaving sheet material on one track or on multiple tracks at a cutting zone in which products supplied on one track or multiple tracks are cut into slices and interleaving sheets are introduced that are cut off from the provided interleaving sheet material in the cutting zone, having a removal device that is configured to remove the material web from a material store, and having a loop store in which the material web forms a loop having a loop portion at the incoming side and a loop portion at the outgoing side, wherein the loop store provides a reception space for the loop whose one side forms a support for the one loop portion and whose side opposite the support forms a boundary for the other loop portion.

The invention relates to an apparatus for providing web-like interleaving sheet material on one track or on multiple tracks at a cutting zone in which products supplied on one track or multiple tracks are cut into slices and interleaving sheets are introduced that are cut off from the provided interleaving sheet material in the cutting zone, having a removal device that is configured to remove the material web from a material store, and having a loop store in which the material web forms a loop having a loop portion at the incoming side and a loop portion at the outgoing side, wherein the loop store provides a reception space for the loop whose one side forms a support for the one loop portion and whose side opposite the support forms a boundary for the other loop portion.

Webs include print patterns repeated at print pitches. The first web is intermittently fed at the print pitch of the first web by a first pair of feed rollers to a section. The second web is fed at the print pitch of the second web by a second pair of feed rollers to the section. The first web and the second web are fed in a superposed state by a downstream pair of feed rollers from the section. A first tension roller and a second tension roller engaging with the first web and the second web are biased by a biasing member via a linkage.