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.

Disclosed is an unwinder with system for loading and unloading reels. The unwinder includes a rotating support with a rotation axis and provided with engaging members for engaging the reels. The unwinder further includes a positioning system for loading the reels onto the rotating support and an unloading system for unloading the reels from the rotating support. The positioning system includes a first conveyor for the reels and a pusher configured and arranged to push the reels from the first conveyor towards abutment members defining a pick-up position where the reel is taken by the rotating support. The positioning system and the unloading system are arranged at opposite sides of the rotating support.

Disclosed is an unwinder with system for loading and unloading reels. The unwinder includes a rotating support with a rotation axis and provided with engaging members for engaging the reels. The unwinder further includes a positioning system for loading the reels onto the rotating support and an unloading system for unloading the reels from the rotating support. The positioning system includes a first conveyor for the reels and a pusher configured and arranged to push the reels from the first conveyor towards abutment members defining a pick-up position where the reel is taken by the rotating support. The positioning system and the unloading system are arranged at opposite sides of the rotating support.

Winder for an endless lane of a plastic web (2), with a revolving unit (6, 6, 55, 90), which is constructed so as to be rotatable about its axis (16) and has at least two winding shafts (10 to 12, 10 to 12) running parallel to its axis, onto which winding cores (17) can be loaded, then wound with the web (2) to a roll (18), finally unloaded therefrom again as finished rolls (18), wherein on both sides of the revolving unit (6, 6, 50, 90) support arrangements are arranged, in which the winding shafts (10 to 12, 10 to 12) are supported at their corresponding ends therein, and wherein the support for one end of the winding shafts (10 to 12, 10 to 12) is constructed so as to be detachable, such that the respective winding shaft (10 to 12, 10 to 12), with released support, can be loaded and unloaded from this end, characterized in that the detachably constructed support arrangements each have a gripper arrangement (36 to 38) with a two-armed scissor unit (39 to 41), the scissor arms (42, 43) of which surround the winding shaft (10 to 12, 10 to 12) in the closed position and are pivoted away therefrom in the open position.

An automatic core-charging and bobbin-discharging group in a plastic film winding machine, positioned partially juxtaposed and partially below a winding reel includes a core charging portion having a motorized linear actuator carrying a guide-support which houses a certain number of cores suitable for receiving plastic film, the guide-support being movable, backwards and forwards, between a position associated with a core charger and a juxtaposed position, axially parallel to a spindle of the winding reel, with the cores inserted on the spindle, the linear actuator also being vertically liftable with a variation in an external diameter of the cores, and a bobbin discharging portion having a motorized conveyor belt, equipped with an extendable portion, movable between a position below a spindle carrying the wound bobbins and a discharging portion of the bobbins, the conveyor belt being vertically liftable with a variation in an external diameter of the bobbins.

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.