A medium feeding unit that is configure to be mounted to an image forming apparatus provided with an image forming unit and feeds a medium to the image forming unit includes a medium introducing part that introduces the medium to the image forming unit and a medium holding part that holds the medium at a feeding position from which the medium is fed to the image forming unit. The medium holding part is configured to be positioned at one of at least two different feeding positions relative to the medium introducing part.

A fabric spreading machine has a chassis, an unspooling cradle of opposing proximal and distal drive belt assemblies and a tilting actuator interfacing the cradle and the chassis. The tilting actuator is configured to position the cradle in an unspooling position wherein the cradle is raised to provide clearance under the cradle for piled fabric lengths as the chassis traverses the fabric spreading table in use and in a loading position wherein the cradle is lowered and a proximal drive belt assembly is lowered towards the fabric spreading table to a lesser angle to allow a replacement spool to be more easily loaded into the cradle.

A method for unwinding includes loading a first reel of web material into a first unwind position where the web is unwound. A splicing unit is then moved in the machine direction toward the first unwind position until there is sufficient space to allow a further reel to be loaded into a second unwind position where the web from the second reel is unwound once loaded. Then, the web from the first reel is spliced to the second reel, and the web of the first reel is thereafter cut. The process continues in the opposite direction after removing the first reel from the first unwind position. The web of the second reel is unwound in the second position, the splicing unit is moved toward the second unwind position until there is sufficient space to allow a further reel to be loaded into the first unwind position.

Rolling assembly for packaging web material in a roll having a base member with concave arcuate feed surface defining an upwardly-extending ramp, first intermediate member movably coupled to base member, and top member moveably coupled to at least one of base member or first intermediate member, top member having a concave arcuate pressure surface facing feed surface of base member. The base member, first intermediate member and top member collectively forming an iris with a feed space, the iris moveable between a first condition and a second condition, and configured to receive web material along the feed surface and direct the web material upwardly toward the top member to form a roll within the feed space, the iris moving toward a second condition as the roll of web material increases in cross dimension against the pressure surface of the top member.

A support device includes: two support arms movably supported along an axial direction; a driver causing the support arms to approach and separate; and two chucks rotatably mounted on tip portions of the support arms for supporting a paper roll. The chucks include: a main body having an outer diameter decreasing toward a tip portion, and guide parts along the axial direction provided on an outer circumference; and a support members including a receiving part movably supported by the guide parts and for contacting an end of the paper roll, and a support part for contacting an inner circumference of the paper roll. A movement unit includes a movement member for contacting the support members and moves the support members to the tip portion side by the movement member. A force applying device applies force in such a direction that the support members and the movement member approach each other.

A coilbox is provided for winding a metal strip to form a coil and for unwinding the metal strip from the coil. In order to further develop a known coilbox in such a manner that the position of the coil is known at all times, in particular during its passive transfer from the winding station to the unwinding station, at least one additional roller rotatably mounted on the frame is provided.

The invention relates to a device (100) for unwinding a material web from a plurality of material web rolls (110), said device comprising: a machine frame (102); a main bearing point (105), which is located on and in particular fastened to the machine frame, for rotatably supporting a first shaft (109) for a first material web roll (110), wherein the material web roll can be unwound; a first drive shaft (121) for rotationally driving the first material web roll, wherein the first drive shaft can be placed directly or indirectly against the outer periphery of the first material web roll in order to transmit the drive force; a first pair of pivot arms, the pivot arms (122) of which are pivotably mounted in the machine frame, wherein one end of the first drive shaft is rotatably mounted in each pivot arm; a secondary bearing point which is located on the machine frame and which can take over the shaft from the main bearing point and/or is provided for supporting a second shaft for a second material web roll.