The device (9) includes a feed path (P) of the logs (R), configured to feed the logs in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the logs; and one or more pick-up members (27) spaced from one another in a direction transverse to the feed path (P) of the logs (R). The pick-up members are adapted to pick up individual logs (R) from a pick-up position along the feed path (P); and transfer each log (R) from the measuring position back to the feed path substantially in the position in which it was picked up.

Apparatus is provided for manufacturing a wipe in a three dimensional form out of an essentially flat piece of material. The apparatus produces a blank (12) of essentially flat planar form with a pleat folded on each side. The folded blanks are fed by a conveyor belt (21) to an opening station (22). The opening station comprises a pair of movable pinch rollers (34, 35) which selectively grab individual blanks from the conveyor belt and feed them via belts (32, 33) to a pair of counter-rotating drums (30, 31). The blanks are ejected from the drums, which partially opens them up in the process. The partially open blanks are fed onto a shaped former (37), where the final process of forming the wipe into its chosen three dimensional form is completed.

A system and control method are provided for determining an amount of a product dispensed from or added to a product formation. At defined intervals, a mark is projected with a light source imager onto an aspect of the product formation that changes as the amount of product is depleted or added to the product formation. A digital image is taken of the aspect of the product formation that captures the projected mark and is transmitted to a digital imager processor, wherein a feature of the projected mark is analyzed that changes as the product formation decreases or increases in size as the product is dispensed or added. The analyzed feature is compared with a predetermined value of the feature at a predefined size of the product formation to determine an actual amount of the product on the product formation, or amount of product depleted from or added to the product formation.

A web processing system is provided. The web processing system supplies a processed continuous web of material to a cutting arrangement. The cutting arrangement forms sheets from the continuous web of material. The sheets are then supplied to multiple folding arrangements such that a single web of material is used to supply sheets to multiple folding arrangements.

An unwinder for web material includes: a first and second reel holder, a dynamic storage device, a junction device arranged between the first or second reel holder and the dynamic storage device and configured to join an end portion of web material running out on the first reel to an initial portion of web material of the second reel, an actuator configured to pull the web material. The dynamic storage device includes: a plurality of first return rollers, a carriage mounted on a guide and free to move along the guide approaching or moving away from the first return rollers, a plurality of second return rollers mounted idly on the carriage. The return rollers define a zigzag path for the web material. The dynamic storage device includes a plurality of motorized shafts and each first return roller is mounted by means of two rolling bearings on a respective motorized shaft.

A method for handling (flat) objects (10), in particular sanitary articles such as diapers, sanitary napkins or the like, wherein the objects (10) are conveyed along a transport section (12) in a product flow and are then put together in a grouping station to form groups of objects (10). The objects (10) are introduced into the product flow in the region of an inlet station (23) before the objects (10) are put together to form groups.

Described is a log ejection group in a rewinding machine that includes an unloading plane of wound logs and a means for slowing down the logs associated with the unloading plane. The slowing down means includes a motorized upper inlet roller to intercept the logs arriving on the unloading plane and a pair of motorized handling rollers located downstream of the upper inlet roller. The pair includes an upper handling roller and a lower handling roller. The lower handling roller is integrated into the unloading plane. The upper inlet roller and the upper handling roller are arranged on an upper structure, which is adjustable in height. The angular speed of the upper inlet roller is greater than the angular speed of the upper handling roller. A method for ejecting a log using the log ejection group is also described.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for making adjustments to the web converting machinery based upon the measured web caliper. Generally the web caliper is measured without contacting the web and in real time while the web is being conveyed at high rates of speed. The web caliper measuring system may be employed in the web converting system to improve web caliper control and improve winding. The web caliper measurement may be fed back to a calendering system to improve the caliper of web fed into a winding system, or the caliper may be fed forward to the web winding system to improve web tension and winding performance.

The line comprises: an unwinding section (3) for unwinding parent reels (Ba, Bb, Bm) of web material (Na, Nb), with at least a first unwinding station (5; 7); at least a winding station (15) downstream of the unwinding section (3); a feed path from the unwinding section (3) toward the winding station (15);
The unwinding section (3) is associated with a loading arrangement of the parent reels (Bm), which comprises: an upender (253; 306) configured to upend the parent reels (Bm) positioning them with their axis horizontal; and a loading robot (263; 313), configured to position a parent reel (Bm; Ba, Bb) on an unwinding mandrel (9) of the unwinding section (3).

The machine (1) comprises: an unwinding section (3) of parent reels (Ba, Bb) of web material (Na, Nb); a cutting station (13), comprising a plurality of cutting members (201, 203) to divide the web material (Na, Nb) into longitudinal strips (S); a plurality of winding stations (15); in each winding station (15), a guide arm (31) to guide the longitudinal strip (S), adjustable parallel to the rotation axis (C-C) of the winding mandrel (51). The cutting station (13) comprises sensor members (213, 214) to detect the position of the cutting members (201, 203). A control unit (216) is interfaced with the sensor members (213, 214) of the cutting station (13) and the positioning actuators (27), to position the guide arms (31) parallel to the rotation axis (C-C) of the respective winding mandrel (51) as a function of the position of the corresponding cutting member (201, 203).