Disclosed are a method and a device (1) for handling individual intermediate layers (5). The method involves removing from each of at least two separate stacks of intermediate layers (7) an individual intermediate layer (5) arranged topmost on the particular stack of intermediate layers (7). The removed individual intermediate layers (5) are moved into a detection range of a sensor system (13) of its own and the particular own sensor system (13) identifying, preferably by means of optical detection, an outer edge (6) of the particular intermediate layer (5). Subsequently, the removed individual intermediate layers (5) move toward a particular target location (Z1, Z2), the particular, preferably optical detection thereby being taken into account, such that the intermediate layers (5) reach their particular target location (Z1, Z2) in a predetermined position.

The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for transporting a web through a web processing apparatus. In one aspect, a web tension adjustment unit for guiding a web. The web tension adjustment unit includes a first guide roller. The first guide roller includes an adjustment unit. The web tension adjustment unit further includes one or more first non-contact sensors positioned to measure displacement data of the web at a first location. The web tension adjustment unit further includes a system controller for controlling the adjustment unit based on the measured displacement data.

A first shaft control section controls a first support shaft so that a sheet is unwound from the first roll at a predetermined running speed. A second shaft control section executes an adjustive control of adjusting at least one of a rotation start time and a rotational acceleration of the second support shaft so that, when a first joining target mark on the sheet of the first roll moves to a first reference position, a second joining target mark on an outer peripheral surface of the second roll arrives at a second reference position in a rotational direction thereof, and a peripheral speed of the second roll coincides with the running speed of the sheet of the first roll.

A controller includes a shaft control unit that controls driving of a shaft drive source such that a standby side roll is rotated, and a unit control unit that presses a pressing roller against an outer peripheral surface of the standby side roll via a sheet of a supply side roll by performing torque control on a unit drive source in a state in which the pressing roller is positioned in an area from a control switching position to the outer peripheral surface of the standby side roll together with performing position control on the unit drive source in a state in which the pressing roller is positioned in an area farther away from the standby side roll than the control switching position away from the outer peripheral surface of the standby side roll by a preset distance while the standby side roll is rotated by the shaft control unit.

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 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 device for detecting the flatness of a sheet material includes a conveyor, a gantry, a beam, an industrial camera unit, a speed measurement unit, a vibration measurement unit, a multi-line laser, a cable carrier, an industrial controller, and a control cabinet. The conveyor is disposed beneath the gantry and includes a plurality of pinch roll assemblies for feeding a sheet material. The beam is disposed on the gantry and includes a first side and a second side. The industrial camera unit is disposed on the first side of the beam and includes at least two industrial cameras. The speed measurement unit is disposed between the at least two industrial cameras. The vibration measurement unit is disposed on the second side of the beam and includes at least two distance measurement devices. The multi-line laser is disposed between the at least two distance measurement devices.

A first shaft control section controls a first support shaft so that a sheet is unwound from the first roll at a predetermined running speed. A second shaft control section executes an adjustive control of adjusting at least one of a rotation start time and a rotational acceleration of the second support shaft so that, when a first joining target mark on the sheet of the first roll moves to a first reference position, a second joining target mark on an outer peripheral surface of the second roll arrives at a second reference position in a rotational direction thereof, and a peripheral speed of the second roll coincides with the running speed of the sheet of the first roll.

A controller includes a shaft control unit that controls driving of a shaft drive source such that a standby side roll is rotated, and a unit control unit that presses a pressing roller against an outer peripheral surface of the standby side roll via a sheet of a supply side roll by performing torque control on a unit drive source in a state in which the pressing roller is positioned in an area from a control switching position to the outer peripheral surface of the standby side roll together with performing position control on the unit drive source in a state in which the pressing roller is positioned in an area farther away from the standby side roll than the control switching position away from the outer peripheral surface of the standby side roll by a preset distance while the standby side roll is rotated by the shaft control unit.

A sheet supply method includes an unwinding step of supplying a sheet to a downstream location at a predetermined conveyance speed and a joining step of joining the sheet from a first roll to the sheet of a second roll and cutting the sheet from the first roll at an upstream position of a joining section. In the joining step, the running speed of the sheet run from the first roll is made lower than the predetermined conveyance speed in the unwinding step, and different from a supply speed of the sheet from a supply part in the joining step. An accumulating mechanism decelerates or accelerates the sheet running to counterbalance an excess or a deficiency of the sheet which is caused by a speed difference between the running speed and the supply speed.