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Reel unwinder and unwinding method

  • US 9,670,020 B2
  • Filed: 11/15/2012
  • Issued: 06/06/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An unwinder for unwinding reels of web material comprising:

  • a first unwinding position, in which a first reel is positioned during at least a part of an unwinding cycle;

    a second unwinding position, to which said first reel is transferred when said first reel is to be replaced with a second reel;

    a stand-by position, in which said second reel is kept in stand-by;

    a first unwinding member associated with said stand-by position, adapted to start rotation of said second reel when the first reel is to be replaced with the second reel;

    a first transfer device adapted to move between the first unwinding position and the second unwinding position for transferring the first reel from the first unwinding position to the second unwinding position; and

    a second transfer device adapted to transfer the second reel from the stand-by position to the first unwinding position;

    wherein a second unwinding member, comprising at least one endless flexible element, extends from the first unwinding position to the second unwinding position, and is adapted to maintain the first reel in contact with said second unwinding member and in rotation by said second unwinding member in said first unwinding position, in said second unwinding position and while said first reel is transferred from said first unwinding position to said second unwinding position.

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