WO2004080867A2

WO2004080867A2 - An automatic and continuous unwinder device for supplying web-like material from reels

Info

Publication number: WO2004080867A2
Application number: PCT/IT2004/000090
Authority: WO
Inventors: Angelo Benvenuti; Roberto Morelli; Romano Maddaleni
Original assignee: Fabio Perini S.P.A.
Priority date: 2003-03-13
Filing date: 2004-02-27
Publication date: 2004-09-23
Also published as: US20060175457A1; CN1777554B; EP1601600B1; WO2004080867A3; JP4452714B2; JP2007528330A; CN1777554A; EP1601600A2; CA2518975A1; BRPI0408309A; KR20050106101A; IL170827A; ITFI20030064A1; ES2338877T3; RU2005131611A; DE602004025678D1; RU2335446C2; US7350740B2; ATE458686T1

Abstract

The unwinder device includes an unwinding station (7), with unwinding members for unwinding reels and a splicing device (151) for splicing together web-like materials (N1 and N2) coming from a first reel (B1) and from a second reel (B2). At least two supports (49, 51) are arranged in the unwinding station for the respective reels of web-like material, associated with respective unwinding members (83, 99). The supports are constructed and arranged to simultaneously support two reels being unwound, during at least a phase of the unwinding, and each of said supports is able and constructed to load a new reel in an engagement position, support it during the unwinding and unload it in a release position.

Description

An automatic and continuous unwinder device for supplying web-like material from reels.

Description Technical field

This invention concerns an unwinder device for unwinding reels of web-like mate- rial wound around a central spindle for supplying web-like material to a converting or processing line.

The invention also concerns a method for unwinding reels of web-like material and for feeding the unwound material to a converting or processing line. State of he art In many industrial applications, there is a requirement to feed a production line with a web-like material that is unwound from a reel or multiple reels in parallel. Typically, the feeding of web-like material is requested in the paper industry. For example, for the production of paper serviettes, rolls of toilet paper, kitchen rolls or the like, converting lines are provided in which a web-like material is supplied from a reel of large diameter and very long axial length to a series of stations downstream, at the end of which the finished product is obtained. In the case of rolls of toilet paper and similar products, the weblike material is supplied from one or more large-diameter mother reels and wound onto rolls or logs of smaller diameter, which are successively¹ cut orthogonally to their own axis to obtain the' finished rolls. In certain cases, the web-like material supplied by the large- diameter reel ^"or reels is cut longitudinally to 'forni in' parallel a number of rolls of minor height, i.e. of minor axial length.

In the case of serviette production, web-like material is fed from one or more large- diameter reels that, cut in longitudinal strips if necessary, is folded longitudinally, cut, and folded traiisversely. The production of rolls; serviettes or other articles is performed at high speed and iii' a continuous manner, requiring the' periodic substit tion of the large-diameter reels' 'as they run out; In many case; it¹ is necessary to stop the production line or at least -drastically reduce the speed thereof, to allow the empty reels to be replaced by new reels. This opera- tion reduces the overall productivity of the lirie with evident economic damage. There is therefore a need to provide unwinder devices that permit a rapid and reliable substitution of empty reels with new reels. These devices must also handle the splicing, that is the joining, of the web-like materials coming from consecutive reels¹. The purpose of this is to obtain a substantial continuity iii the supply 'of the web-like¹ material to the downstream production line. The web-like^: portiόri containing the splice is normally discarded. When the line pro- duces rolls, the splicing portion will end up on a roll or log that is subsequently discarded and recycled.

In WO-A-9534497 an unwinder device is describes that permits the automatic, rapid and reliable splicing of, two web-like materials coming respectively from an empty reel and a new reel in substitution. On this device, a shuttle or carriage is provided that travels between a loading station and an unwinding station, each time to transfer a reel from the loading station to the unwinding station and to remove the empty tubular core from the unwinding zone to an unloading zone. Means are provided on the shuttle for the preparation and restraint of the free leading edge of web-like material wound on the reel loaded on the shuttle itself. In the unwinding station, a cutting member and a retainer member are provided that serve to produce a free tail edge on the web-like material supplied from the previous supplying reel and to retain this free edge for subsequently producing the splicing with the free leading edge of web-like material on the reel inserted in the unwinding station by the' shuttle. To perform the substitution ofthe empty reel with a new reel it is therefore necessary to stop the supply of web-like material, even though- the splicing operation is rendered particularly rapid by the innovative arrangement of the cutting and splicing means described in this publication.

In WO-A-0056644 another unwinder device is described that can use the same type of mechanism for the splicing two web-like materials coining from two successive eels. In this ease as well, the substitution of the reels' takes place ^'after halting the feeding of weblike material to the downstream production line'. Although it 'is possible to provide a certain accumulation of web-like material frdfri'the unwinder' to the production line, via a festoon accumulator for example, this is not always suitable due to the characteristics of the web- like material, which may not be particularly resistant to traction, or due to the high speed of the production line, which' would require' a excessively large accumulator. In addition, the tortuo'us^: path defined by the festoon can cause the detachment of fibres from the web-like of

In EP-A-1136406 an unwinder with a shuttle that transfers the reels from one or the other of two loading and unloading positions to an intermediate unwinding position is described: The shuttle has a motorized taiϊstόck for unwinding the reel: The substitution of an empty reel with a hew reel requήes' halting the feed: ' '

^• Studies' have been made' or the realization of an unwinder that permits the auto- matic and continuous substitution of the reels, i.e. without halting the supply of the weblike material to the converting or production line downstream of the unwinder. Examples of unwinders that should operate continuously are described in US-A-5.906.333, US-A- 6.030.496, EP-A-1.270.470, EP-A-0872440 and WO-A-9846509. In these publications, an unwinder is described in which the reel is supported by a pair of oscillating arms in the supply phase. When the reel is nearly empty, the arms deposit it on a cradle formed by two rollers, one of which is motorized, to continue the rotation of the reel and thus the supply ofthe web-like material. Successively, the pair of oscillating arms pick up a new reel from a shuttle and starts to unwind the leading edge with the aid of a suction belt. The free lead- ing edge ofthe new reel is made to fall on top ofthe web-like material being unwound on the first reel, at this point nearly empty. The contact between the two web-like materials should provoke the transport of the free leading edge of web-like material wound around the second reel and its feeding together with first web-like material until a nip formed by two embossing or laminating cylinders is reached, which should splice the two webs to- gether. '

The operation of this unwinder device is extremely insecure as precisely in the initial, and most critical, phase of feeding the new web-like material its transport is entrusted to the simple contact between two extremely light materials. Nothing guarantees that the web-like material coming from the' new reel effectively follows the path defined by the first web-like material coming from the reel that is running out. hi addition, since the splicing of the two layers must occur when they have the same feed speeds, it is necessary to arrange the cylinders that perform the splicing at a considerable distance from the reel unwinding zone. In fact, the amount of web-like material unwound by the new reel in the ac- celefϋtiόn phase until the speed reached is the same as that ofthe material coming from the first reel is considerable. The distance' between the reel and the splicing cylinders must be at least equal to the length of the web-like material unwound in this phalse of acceleration. The position of the cylinders that perform the splicing ^: of the two web-like materials must be situated at the point in which the head of the second web-like material finds itself at the moment of splicing and not further back, because otherwise the head ofthe web-like mate- rial will remain free and will accidentally wrap itself around one of the rollers of the production line with the consequent jamming of the entire production line. Objects and summary ofthe inventio ¹

In accordance with a first aspect, the^: object of this invention is to provide an unwinder device that permits the substitution of an empty reel with, a new reel of web-like material in a rapid and reliable manner, without significantly slowing the feed speed ofthe web-like material itself to the production line downstream ofthe unwinder, and in any case without halting the feeding.

This, and other objects and advantages, which will appear clear to those expert in the field from reading the text that follows, are essentially achieved with an unwinder device of the type including an. unwinding station, with unwinding members for unwinding the reels and a splicing device for splicing together the web-like materials coming from reels driven in sequence. Characteristically, in accordance with the invention, two supports are arranged in the unwinding station for two respective reels of web-like material, associ- ated with unwinding members. The supports are constructed and arranged to simultaneously support two reels being unwound, during at least one phase of unwinding, and each one is mobile from an engagement position for a new reel to a release position for an empty reel. Each support is controlled and arranged such that it can receive a reel in a loading position, maintain it in a main unwinding position and transfer it to an unloading zone, separate from the loading zone, where it is removed.

In this way, it is possible to initiate the rotation of a new reel before a reel that is running out is completely empty. When the peripheral speeds ofthe due reels, and thus of the two web-like materials are the sattie or substantially the same, the two web-like materials are Spliced to obtain 'a continuous feed of material to the downstream production' line. In this way, continuous operation is achieved, with a consequent increase in production rate, and with a high level of operational reliability.

The reels can be inserted on the unwinding station via a shuttle that moves parallel to the axis ofthe reels from a loading station to the unwinding Station;, the two stations being situated side by side. Unlike usual unwinder devices, the device in accordance with the invention does not require a two-position shuttle and two loading and unloading stations on opposite sides ofthe intermediate unwinding station. In fact, once the reel has been passed from the shuttle to the respective support; the shuttle can leave the unwinding station and pick up a new reel, which will subsequently be passed to the other ofthe two supports. The shuttle, unlike usual devices.; is not equipped with supports that hold the reel during un- winding. This function is integrally transferred to the two supports of the unwinding station, which do not move to and'froiή the loading station' at the side ofthe unwinding station. This permits the space occupied by the production line in which the unwinder device is inserted to be significantly reduced. ^:

' The supports for the reels can each be formed by a single arm, or by a pair of arms, depending on the dimensions and weight ofthe reels. The arms can be mobile with an oscillating or, preferable traverse, movement from the engagement position to the release position ofthe reels.

In a possible and advantageous embodiment, the unwinding members and the sup- ports are controlled in a manner such that while the unwinding members associated with a first of said two supports keeps a first reel in rotation in the supply phase, a second reel is engaged by a second of said supports and made to rotate.

Since the new reel is advantageously made to rotate before performing the splicing ofthe respective web-like material with the web-like material coming from the reel that is running out, for the purpose of simplifying the running operations of the device, at least one accumulator member could be provided for accumulating the web-like material supplied by said second reel prior to splicing it to the material coming from the reel that is running out. ^;

The accumulator member can limit itself to receiving the web-like material and holding it, cutting it after splicing is performed, so that the initial portion of the web-like material of each reel is then recouped by extracting it from the accumulator member. However, in a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, the accumulator member is reversible, in the sense that the web-like material temporarily accumulated during the splicing phase of the two web-like materials corning from the two reels can^'be fed, after splicing, to the pro- duction line, from where it can be discarded together with the portion containing the splice.

The accumulator member can be carried y the shuttle or can be arranged in a fixed position on the unwinding station. In the' first case, a system that requires the operator to anchor the free leading edge of the web-like material could be adopted for the accumulator member. This is because this operation can be performed in total safety when the shuttle is at the loading station. In the second* case, the accumulator member can, for example, be a suction member, which does not require the coupling or fixing of the free leading edge of the web-like material.¹

In a possible and advantageous embodiment ofthe unwinder device, for each ofthe reel supports provided in the unwinding station there are associated unwinding members including, for each support, a central' unwinding member, "which supplies the rotary motion to the respective reel. The central unwinding member can be formed, for example, by a spindle or motorized tailstock'that engages in a hole of a tubular core around which the reel is formed. In general, the term central unwinding member is intended as an unwinder that provides the unwinding motion through the spindle ofthe reel. Alternatively, for each of the reel supports in the unwinding station there could be an associated surface unwinding member, comprising, for example, one or two unwinding rollers carried by said supports and held in contact with the respective reel. As an alternative, unwinding members could be provided that act on the frontal surface of the reel, or combinations of different types of unwinders .

For the object of achieving optimal unwinding even of reels of large diameter and/or with modest winding density, that is to say soft reels, a surface unwinding member, which could act on the surface ofthe reel, carried on one or the other of the two supports without distinction, could be provided to advantage in the unwinding station. With a device of this type, each reel is unwound for the greater part of its length by the surfce unwinding member, and only when it reaches a reduced diameter will unwinding continue via the unwinding member, preferably of a central type, associated with the respective support. The surface unwinding member can also be used to advantage in the initial acceleration phase ofthe reel before the two web-like materials are spliced. In certain situations, it may be useful for the surface unwinding member to act on the reel being unwound in combination and in a coordinated manner with the unwinding member associated with the respective support. This is particularly appropriate when the reel being unwound has a low -winding density, because in this case there is the risk that the unwinding torque applied exclusively via the surface unwinding member could provoke reciprocal slippage ofthe turns ofthe material wound on the reel. To avoid this happening, it could be advantageous to provide for the unwinding torque to be supplied by the' combined effect of the surface unwinding member and the central unwinding member associated with the support ofthe reel.

The term' surface unwinding member means any kind of system that applies rota- tional torque to the reel¹ via a frictional force applied to its otiter cylindrical surface. It can be composed of one or more motorized rollers or, preferable, by one or more belts held in contact with the cylindrical surface ofthe reel. Surface unwinders of this type are known to the experts in this field.

In principle, it would also be possible to provide two surface unwinding members, associated with the two sUppόrts'fot the reels, but in accordance with a preferred Embodiment ofthe invention, a single surface unwinding member is provided, for reasons of cost, bulk, and simplicity of construction and operation.

To simplify the transfer of the reels from the loading station or stations to the unwinding station, it is advantageous to ensure that both supports for the reels are always brought in the same engagement position. In this way, each reel must always be transferred from the shuttle to the same position inside the unwinding station, independently of which of the two supports is destined to engage it. For this purpose, the supports are advantageously provided with a variable geometry, to avoid collision between the supports when they change position in the phase of substituting an empty reel with a new reel. The geometrical configuration is changed when the support passes from the release position of an empty reel to the engagement position of a new reel.

The supports can each include one or two arms, including a main body and an end that is mobile with respect to the main body and carrying a gripper device for the reel. The mobility ofthe end carrying the gripper device confers the possibility of changing the geometric set-up ofthe support. For example, the end carrying the gripper device can provided with a translational motion or can be telescopically extensible. In a preferred and particularly simple embodiment, the movement is an oscillatory motion around an axis integral with the body of the respective arm. The gripper device can be composed of a spindle or tailstock that is inserted into the axial hole of a winding core, or a chuck that externally grips an axial shaft ofthe reel. The possibility ofthe gripper device having a different configuration is not excluded, for example it could be composed of a jaw that grips an idling support running onto a shaft or spindle ofthe reel.

When the gripper devices consist of spindles or tailstocks it is advantageous for them to be provided with an axial movement of insertion and extraction from the reel.

To simplify the insertion operations of new reels of web-like material in the unwinding station when tile previous reel is still in the supply phase, a deviator member could be provided to advantage in said unwinding station, which deviates the path of the weblike material supplied by the reel that is nearly empty to allow the insertion of a new reel in the unwinding station without impediment.

In order to prepare the free leading edge of a new reel while the shuttle is at least partially outside of unwinding station,' said shuttle may include at least a retainer member for the free leading edge ofthe web-like material of a reel placed on said shuttle. Advantageously, in the unwinding station a guide roll can be provided for the web-like material in the supply phase. In order to avoid this hindering the insertion of new reels carried by the shuttle; the latter can be provided with members that define a path for free leading edge of web-like material, extending from the retainer member to the reel, which passes over the position of the axis of said guide roll.

In accordance with a> second aspect, the object of this invention is to provide a method of feeding a web-like material to a downstream production line that permits the rapid and reliable substitution of empty reels with new reels of web-like material, so as to ensure substantially continuous production on the line downstream ofthe unwinder. ^' This object is achieved with a method comprising the following phases: - arranging a first reel in an unwinding station, engaging the first reel oh a first support associated with first unwinding members, supplying a first web-like material from the first reel to the processing line, placing a second reel with a second web-like material in said unwinding station, engaging the second reel on a second support associated with second unwinding members, making the second reel rotate, unwinding an initial portion of the second web-like material from it, splicing the first and the second web-like materials together when the speeds of the two web-like materials are substantially the same. Further advantageous characteristics and embodiment of the method and the device in accordance with the invention are indicated in the attached claims and will be described in the following with reference to a specific example of embodiment. Brief description of drawings

The invention will be better understood following the description and the enclosed drawings, which illustrates a practical, non-limitative embodiment ofthe invention. In particular, in the drawings: figures 1A-1K show side views of the unwinding station in a series of successive positions during reel changing,

^' figure 2 shows a'platt view, partially sectional along II-II of figure 1A, with parts removed, figure 3 show a lateral' view, partially sectional along III-III of figure 4, ofthe shuttle separately from the unwinding station, figure 4 shows a plan view along IV-IV of figure 3, figures 5A and 5B show a lateral view one ofthe means of support for the reels in two different positions, figure 6 shows a sectional view along VI- VI of fig. 5B of one ofthe means of support ofthe reel, figures 7A and 7B show an enlarged schematic lateral view of the splicing device and the accumulator member, in two different positions during splicing ofthe two web-like materials coming from the two reels, and figures 8A and 8B show an enlarged schematic lateral view of a modified embodiment for the accumulator member in two different conditions. Detailed description ofthe preferred embodiments ofthe invention The unwinder device in accordance with the invention, generically indicated by reference 1, in the illustrated example includes a loading station 3 arranged at the side of an unwinding station 7. A shuttle or carriage 9 (see figure 2 in particular) is provided with reciprocating translatory motion in the directions of the double arrow f9 for moving between the loading station 3 and the unwinding station 7. With specific reference to the plan view in figure 2, by moving the shuttle 9 to the right it can transfer the reel B2 to the unwinding station 7.

As can be seen in figures 3 and 4 in particular, where the shuttle 9 is shown separately from the other members of the unwinder device, the shuttle has a structure or frame 11 equipped with wheels 10 driven by a motor 12 that provides motion in the directions of the double arrow f9. On the frame 11, support belts 15 with a V-shaped arrangement are provided to create a support cradle for the reels. Each reel placed on the shuttle 9 is oriented with its own axis parallel to the direction of movement of the shuttle 9 itself. A retainer member is associated with the support cradle for the free leading edge of every reel each time one is placed on the shuttle, this member indicated as a whole by reference 17 in figure 4. The retainer member 17 has a pair of sides rigidly bound to the structure or frame 11 of the carriage or shuttle 9, approximately shaped like an inverted V, and indicated by references 19 and 21.^' As can be seen in the enlargements of figures 7 A and 7B in particular, a bar 23 runs between the sides 19 and 21 parallel to the direction of movement ofthe shuttle 9 arid which has an edge destined to facilitate the straight cutting of the leading edge ofthe web-like material wound on each reel placed onboard the trolley or shuttle 9.

The bar 23 is applied close to the lower ends ofthe respective, substantially vertical arms ofthe sides 19 and 21. These substantially vertical arms are connected at the top to an inclined arm integral with the frame 11 of the shuttle 9. In the zone of convergence, corresponding to the vertex ofthe inverted V, the two sides define an empty space for purposes that will be shortly become clear. A pivot axis 25 passes slightly below the zone of convergence ofthe two arms forøiing'the sides 19 and 21, around which axis a pair of semicircular members 27 and 29 associated to each side 19 arid 21' rotate. Rollers or rods 31 and 33 are constrained to each pair of semicircular' members 27 or 29. Respective cylinder- pistori actuators 35 and 37 are associated with the sides 19 and 21 for controlling the oscil- lation of the semicircular members 25 and 27 for purposes that will become clear in the following.

The vertical arms of the sides 19 and 21 carrying the bar 23 also support a suction roll 24, motorized via a motor 26, the purpose of which will be explained in the following in reference to the principle of operation ofthe unwinder device.

The, unwinding station 7 (see figure 1 A in particular) includes a pair of vertical uprights 41 and 43 joined by a horizontal tie beam 45. Inside this portal-like structure 41, 43 and 45, a space is delimited through which the shuttle 9 transits in its movement of transferring reels from the loading stations 3 and 5 to the unwinding station 7. Actually, each upright 41 and 43 is double, as can be seen in figure 2 in particular. Two arms, indicated as a whole by reference 49, slide vertically on the double upright 41, defining a first support for a first reel in the unwinding position in the station 7. The two arms 49 are shown separately in the enlargement in figure 6 and will be described in greater detail further on. A similar pair of arms 51 is vertically mobile along the double upright 43 and defines a sec- ond support for a second reel inside the unwinding station 7. The raising and lowering movement of each pair of arms 49 arid 51 is driven by respective motors 53 and 55, via horizontal shafts 57 and 59. The shafts 57 and 59 transmit the drive via angle transmissions and auxiliary shafts, each to a pair of vertical threaded rods 60 for the arms 49 and 61 for the arms 51 (see figure 2 in particular). ■ The arms 49 are substantially identical to the arms 51 and therefore only the arms

49 will be described in reference to figure 6. Each of said arms has a pair of sides 65 constrained by a cross beam 67 that carries a nut screw 69 engaged on the respective threaded rod 59. The sides 65 are integral with support plates 71 (see figure 5A and figure 5B) carrying guide rolls 73 along the uprights 41.' As can be seen in figure 6 in particular, at the opposite ends ofthe sides 65 with respect to the position ofthe rolls 73, shafts 77 are provided for each arm 49, with horizontal axes' A-A around which the groups 79 oscillate, each of which carries a respective spindle or tailstock 81, 83. The spindle-carrier or tailstock-carrier groups 79 can assume two positions,¹ shown in figures 5 A and 5B. In the position shown in figure 5A, the axis of the tailstocks 81 and 83, indicated by B-B and parallel to the oscillation axis A-A of the tailstock-carrier groups 79, is above the oscillation axis A-A. Conversely, in figure 5B, the axes B-B and A-A 'are aligned on a horizontal plane. This position is defiried by a fixed stop 85 integral with the sides 65 and by a mobile stop 87 integral with the respective tailstock-carrier group 79. The oscillating movement of the tailstock-carrier groups 79 is controlled by a respective cylinder-piston actuator 89 carried by each arm 49 (figures 5A and 5B).

As can be seen in the cross section of figure 6 in particular, the tailstock 81 is freely mounted on a sleeve 91 sliding inside the tailstock-carrier 79 and the translatory motion of which along the axis B-B of the tailstock itself is driven by a motor 93 via a rack and pin- 5 ion transmission 95 and 97. A similar arrangement, indicated with the same reference numbers, is provided for driving the translatory motion ofthe sleeve 92 ofthe tailstock 83 along its own axis. However, to the contrary of tailstock 81, the tailstock 83 is not idle, but driven in rotation around its own axis by a motor 99 and transmission including a first belt 101, a pulley 103 on the A-A axis, a second pulley 105, a second belt 107 and a pulley 109

10 fitted on the axis ofthe tailstock 83.

Between the two elements forming the double upright 41, a surface unwinding member, indicated as a whole by reference 110, is arranged for the purpose (as will be described in greater detail further on), of unwinding the reels of web-like material for a significant part of the unwinding cycle, possibly in combination with the central unwinding

15 members associated with ti two reel support arms. The surface unwinding member 110 includes oscillating arms 111 hinged around a horizontal axis 113 parallel to the direction of translation ofthe shuttle 9. The surface unwinding member 110 is substantially removed from the view in figure 2 for drawing clarity, but is clearly illustrated in figures 1A-1K. The pair of oscillating arms 111 carries three rolls 114, 115 and 116 with parallel axes that 0 are also parallel to the axis of oscillation 113 ofthe arms 111, around which belts 117 are run to form the means of transmission of the unwinding motion to the reels. A guide roll 116, coaxial with the axis of oscillation 113 of the arms 111, is driven in rotation by a belt

"^{■ ■}' Ϊ19 that i driven by a rriotor Ϊ2l.^! The oscillatory movement of the arms 111 is imparted by a cylinder-piston actuator 123, -while the tensidn of the" belts 117 is controlled by a cyl- 5 inder-piston actuator 125 carried by the arms 111, hinged at one end to said arms 111 and at the other end to auxiliary arms 112 carrying the transfer roll 114 and hinged around an axis of oscillation 112A carried by the arms 111. The tensioning of the belts 117 and the movement ofthe arms 111 are controlled using known methods and are not described.

A collection device 131 for empty reels can be moved along the tie beam 45, in the 0 directions indicated by the double arrow fl31 The collection device 131 has a vertically mobile cradle 133 which can riiove in the directions indicated by the double arrow fl33 between two end positions shown in figures 1 A and IB for discharging empty reels onto a conveyor 135 or other removal device. The collection device 13 T and the respective cradle 133 also have a horizontal movement up to the position shown in figure IK. A pair of curved oscillating arms 139 is hinged on the tie beam 45, around an axis 137, parallel to the direction of translation ofthe shuttle 9. The opposite ends ofthe arms 139 in correspondence to those hinged on the tie beam 45, support a roll 141 (possibly motorized) destined to make contact with the web-like material to deviate the path thereof during the phases of changing a reel that has almost run out with a full reel, as will be described in detail further on. The curved arms 139 form a loop so as to encircle the axis of a reel that is running out.

On the side of unwinding station 7 outputting the web-like material, there is a guide roll 143 (see figs. 7A and 7B in particular), to which the web-like material unwound from the reel is transferred. The roll 143 can be idle or motorized. Along the path of the web- like material supplied from the unwinding station, downstream of the guide roll 143, a splicing device is provided, indicated generically and as a whole by reference 151, the function of which is that of splicing a web-like material coming from an almost empty reel to the web-like material coming from a new reel waiting and destined to substitute the one running out. The splicing device 151 includes a counter-pressure roll 153 with which rollers 155 and 157 of two respective ply-bonding groups 159 and 161 cooperate. The rollers 155 oscillate around an axis .163 parallel to the axis of the counter-pressure roll 153 and press against the latter under the effect of a pusher member consisting, in this example, of pressure bellows 165. The rollers 157 oscillate around an axis 167 under the force of the pressure bellows 169 or another pusher member. The ply-bonding groups 159 and 161 are known per se and operate in the known manner, and so do not require any additional description in this context.

An interruption member 171 is arranged above the splicing device 151 for cutting the web-like material coming from the reel that is running out after splicing with the web- like material coming from a new full reel. In the illustrated example, the interruption device 171 consists of a bar 173 carrying a toothed blade 175 and constrained by a pair of oscillating arms 177. The oscillation of the arrns^' 177 around the axis' of oscillation 179 is controlled by a cylinder-piston actuator' 181.

The operation of the unwinder device that has been described up to this moment will now be illustrated with specific reference to the series of figures 1 A- IK. In figure 1A,. the support formed by the two parallel arms 51 is in a raised position on the double upright 43, which will be indicated as the release position. The tailstock-carrier groups 79 associated with the two arms 51 are oriented in a manner such that the axes B-B ofthe tailstocks are located above the axis A-A of oscillation of the tailstock-carrier groups themselves. The pair of arms 49 forming the other reel support is situated in a lowered position on the double upright 41.

Bl indicates a first reel from which a first web-like material Nl is unwound for feeding a downstream production line, generically and summarily indicated by L. The po- sition of the arms 49 is such that the reel being unwound Bl is slightly raised from the shuttle 9, which has been inserted in the space delimited by the uprights 41 and 43 to bring the reel Bl into the correct position for being grasped and raised by the arms 49 and by the tailstocks they carry. The surface unwinding member 110 is kept with its own belts 117 in pressure contact with the external surface of the reel Bl and the motor 121, driving the belts 117 in rotation, provokes the rotation and thus the unwinding ofthe reel Bl to supply the web-like material Nl. The rotation can also be controlled in combination with the central unwinding member associated with the arms 49, i.e. via motor 99. This is particularly advantageous when the reel has a low density.

The collection device 131 is at the extreme left (in the drawing) ofthe tie beam 45, i.e. on the other side from where the web-like material is supplied to the processing line L. The cradle 133 ofthe collection device 131 is in the lower position, for releasing an empty reel indicated by B0, onto the conveyor 135. The latter can be formed, for example, by a series of rubber wheels or the like.

In figure IB, the axis of reel Bl in the supply phase is still in the same position of figure 1A, i.e. in the position defined by the axis B-B of the tailstocks 81 and 83 of the support formed by the arms 49. The surface unwinding member 110 has rotated in a clockwise direction with respect to the previous figure in order to remain in contact with the reel and to continue to transmit the necessary torque for unwinding it. The curved arms 139 have rotated, with respect to the previous figure, in an anticlockwise direction, while the cradle 133 of the collection device 131 has been brought to a raised position, directly beneath the tie beam 45.

In the unwinding phase illustrated in figures 1 A and IB the torque for maintaining the reel Bl in rotation can be supplied solely by the surface unwinding member 110, or also in combination with the central unwinding member constituted by the motorized tail- stock^' 83. For example, in a known manner- torque could be applied via a surface unwinding system and also via a central unwinding system, these being coordinated to optimize the conditions of unwinding. For particularly small and/or particularly compact reels it is also possible to imagine using directly and exclusively the central unwinding system via the tailstock 83, thereby eliminating the surface unwinding member 110. Already in this phase, the shuttle 9 that has brought the reel Bl to the unwinding station 7 can be transferred to_. the loading station 3, to receive a new reel which shall be inserted in the unwinding station in the successive cycle. It can thus be appreciated that the shuttle does not necessarily have to be a double one, as in traditional machines, although the possibility is not excluded. In the successive figures, the shuttle 9 is always shown in the same position, but it should be understood that it could have been removed from the unwinding station.

Figure IC shows the start of the phase of exchanging reel Bl that is running out with a new reel B2, which must be inserted by the shuttle 9. The insertion takes place with a translational movement ofthe shuttle 9 in the direction orthogonal to the plane ofthe figure. The surface unwinding member 110 has been made to swing in the anticlockwise direction to move it away from the reel Bl. In this phase the reel Bl is kept in rotation only by the motorized tailstock 83, to continue supplying the web-like material Nl in a substantially continuous manner to the downstream production line. The pair of aπris 49 has started to move upwards towards the tie beam 45.

In the successive figure ID ^; the pair of arms 49 has reached the position of maximum lift, also designated as the release position, because in this position (after the web- like material wound on the reel Bl has run out) the tailstocks 81 and 83 will be extracted from the central axis ofthe empty reel to release it to the collection device 131. The pair of curved arms 139 has been rotated to bring it into the angular position illustrated in figure 1A. The distance between the two curved arms 139 is greater than the width of the web- like material wound on the reel so that they can be brought close to the axis ofthe reel itself. In this position, all ofthe space between the uprights 41 and 43 is free and the shuttle 9 can transit for inserting in this space a new reel destined to substitute the reel Bl in the phase of running out. In fact, the path ofthe web-like material Nl from the reel Bl to the transformation line has been deviated by the action ofthe oscillating curved arms 139, the function of which is exactly that of moving the web-like material being supplied away from the space in which a newreel must be inserted.

As can be seen in figure ID, thanks to the fact that the tailstocks 81 and 83 of the pair of arms 51 are made to swing in an clockwise direction around the axis A-A to bring their axes B-B into vertical alignment above the axis A-A, the rising motion ofthe arms 49 does not cause collision between the tailstocks ofthe two pairs of arms 49 and 51. The reel Bl does not collide with the tailstocks of the arms 51 as the latter are in an axially retracted position, i.e. at maximum reciprocal distance. In this position, the distance between the tailstocks is greater than the height, i.e. the axial length, of the reels handled by the unwinder device.

Figure IE shows the device ύi the same conditoin as the previous figure, but after the translation of the shuttle 9 that has brought a new reel, indicated by B2, between the uprights 41 and 43, and on which a second web-like material indicated by N2 is wound. The free leading or head edge ofthe web-like material N2 has been trimmed and prepared while the reel was in the loading station 5 or 3. As previously mentioned, for tiimming the web-like material a bar 23 is provided that constitutes a guide for the cutting blade or other cutting tool used by the operator for creating a clean edge on the web-like material. This edge is then fixed to the roll 24. As mentioned, this can be a suction roll, for holding the free edge of web-like material. The semicircular members 27 and 29 are in the position shown in figure IE in order to support the initial section ofthe web-like material above the fixed-axis guide roll 143. This permits the shuttle 9 to travel from the loading position to the unwinding position without the web-like material prepared on it interfering with the guide roll 143. Once the reel B2 has reached the position in figure IE, the semicircular members 27 and 29 can be returned to the retracted position shown in figure 7A, so that the web-like material N2 rests on the guide rbll 143.

In the folio wing' figure IF, the pair of arms 51, forming the second support for the reels in the unwinder device has been brought into the lower position on the uprights 43. This position is also called the engagement position, because it is the position in which the reel is engaged by the tailstocks. The tailstock-carrier groups 79 have been made to swing in the anticlockwise direction to bring the axes ofthe tailstocks 81 and 83 associated with the arms 51 into a position horizontally aligned' with the axis A-A of oscillation ofthe tailstock-carrier groups 79. Iti this coriditioh, the axis B-B ofthe two' tailstocks 81 and 83 car- ried by the aims 51 is in the same position in 'which the "'a es of the tailstocks 81 arid 83 carried by the arms 49 were in the previous phase of taking the reel Bl from the shuttle 9. This allows just a translational movement to be given to the shuttle 9 in the direction orthogonal to the plane of the figure. Alternatively, if changing the geometric set-up of the tailstocks with respect to the arms 49 e 51 that carry them were riot contemplated, it would be possible to arrange these arms at a reciprocal distance sufficient to avoid collisions, and give an additional translational movement to the reel insertion system, for example by equipping the shuttle 9 with a slide' providing a movement orthogonal to the insertion and extraction direction of the shuttle 9 with respect to the unwinding station 7.

In figure 1G the pair of arms 51 has been slightly raised to bring the axis ofthe reel B2 into the same position assumed in figure 1A by the axis of reel Bl. In this way, as reel B2 has lost contact with the support belts 15 provided on the shuttle 9, it is possible to start rotation ofthe reel B2.

As can be seen in figure IH, at this point the surface unwinding member 110 is made to swing in the clockwise direction to bring the belts 117 into contact with the outer cylindrical surface ofthe reel B2, to start the unwinding ofthe reel itself. The motor 121 is started with a suitable acceleration ramp and starts to make the reel B2 rotate. It is angularly accelerated until the speed ofthe web-like material N2 (and thus the peripheral speed of the reel) reaches the feed speed of the web-like material Nl coming from reel Bl. The feed speed ofthe web-like material Nl can be temporarily reduced if appropriate.

The time necessary for bringing the peripheral speed ofthe second reel B2 up to the peripheral speed of the first reel Bl is relatively short. The web-like material N2 that is supplied by the reel B2 in this phase is collected around a motorized roll 24 to which the leading edge ofthe web-like material has been attached beforehand. To that end, the motor 26 is operated, the speed of which is suitably controlled accordmg to the peripheral speed of the reel B2. Before performing the splicing of the web-like material N2 with the web- like material Nl, said two materials pass through the rollers 155 ofthe ply-bonding group 159 and the counter-pressure roll 153, which also serves as a guide and idle roll for the web-like material fed to the downstream production line, before these two elements are pressed against each other.

In the successive figure II the splicing phase of the web-like material Nl coming from the almost empty reel Bl with the web-like material N2 coming from the reel B2 is shown. To this end, the ply-bonding groups 159 and 161 are operated to bring the respective rollers 155 and 157 to press against the counter-pressure roll 153. The position taken by these members in this phase is illustrated in figure 7A. The two series of ply-bonding rollers 155 and 157 splice under pressure the two web-like materials, which are fed in parallel and at the same speed.

As part o the web-like material N2 was wound around the roll 24 during the phase of acceleration of the reel B2, to automatically retrieve this portion of web-like material, 6ric'e"thb abbve-described ispliόiήg; opeϊkti'ori "ha⁴S 'cόnifiieϊiced via 'the closure " f the ply- bonding groups it is possible to slow down and then invert the direction of rotation of the motor 26 and the roll 24 to output the head ofthe web-like material N2 to the transformation line L together with the web-like material Nl still in the phase of supply from the reel Bl and the web-like material N2 being unwound from the reel B2. This situation is shown in detail in figure 7B.

At a suitable moment in this phase of operation, the web-like material Nl coming from the first reel Bl is cut via the interruption member 171. The cutting or interruption phase of web-like material coming from the almost empty reel Bl is shown in figure 1J. After the start ofthe splicing operation and up to the passage ofthe tail ofthe web-like material Nl and the head of the material N2 through the splicing device 151, a material formed of three layers is fed from the splicing device 151, i.e. the web-like material Nl and the web-like material N2; doubled. After the passage ofthe head ofthe web-like material N2 that detaches itself from the roll 24 and the tail ofthe web-like material Nl through the nip formed by the counter-pressure roll 153 and the ply-bonding rollers 157, at the output ofthe splicing device 151 there will again be material composed of a single layer only, i.e. the web-like material N2, that starts the regular feed to the downstream converting line. The section in which the splice was formed will be discarded downstream by known systems and recycled. In the successive figure IK it is shown how the collection device 131 retrieves the empty reel Bl that is released by the tailstocks 81 and 83 on the cradle 133. The collection device then moves to a position similar to that in figure 1A, with the cradle 133 in the low position for discharging the residue ofthe reel Bl .

As can be seen comparing figures ϊA and IK,' the supply of the web-like material N2 continues with the unwinder device in a setup substantially symmetrical to that shown in figure 1 A. When the reel B2 runs out, the device will perform a substitution cycle substantially symmetrical to that described, where the arms 49 and 51, with the respective members that they carry, will perform partially inverted operations with respect to that described above. From the above, it will be appreciated that the above-described unwinder device is capable of performing the substitution of an almost empty reel with a new reel and splicing the web-like material coming from the almost empty reel with the web-like material coming from the new reel without halting supply to the downstream production^' line and also retrieve all ofthe web-like material unwound from the new' reel during the splicing phase, for simplifying the recyclirig operations. No residues of web-like material remain on the shuttle 9. The portion of web-like material Nl partially unwound from the emptied reel Bl (between this and the interruption device 171), is recovered around the tubular core ofthe reel Bl b inverting the direction of rotation of the tailstock 83 of the respective pair of arms 51, such that it cannot hamper unloading operations. As the reel Bl that is gunning out must be slowed down until it stops after the cutting of the web-like material Nl has been performed, this continues to be unwound for a certain length until the direction of rotation ofthe reel Bl is inverted to permit its retrieval. To avoid this residual portion of web-like material Nl interfering with other members, of the machine, and in particular with the members of the splicing device, a collection element is advantageously provided, in the form of a curved surface 172 or other system of containment.

The usage of two ply-bonding groups 159 and 161 as described above ensures that on the portion of material where the splice is made between the web-like materials Nl and N2 there are no free edges that can hamper the feedmg ofthe material itself. In fact, when the first ply-bonding group 159 closes to make the splice, a ply-bonding spliced zone between the two web-like materials Nl and N2 starts to be created. Without the second ply- bonding group 161, the portion of web-like material temporarily accumulated on the roll 24 would simply be dragged by the material after splicing, remaining free with the risk of running astray. The presence ofthe second ply-bonding group makes sure that this portion of web-like material N2 is caused to adhere by ply-bonding to the material that advances in a controlled and not a free manner to the downstream converting line L. The second ply- bonding group also guarantees a more reliable splicing of the layers, exerting sufficient traction on the portion of material temporarily wound and accumulated on the roll 24, to facilitate retrieval.

The particular arrangement of the roll 24 for the temporary accumulation of the web-like material N2 coming from the reel B2 downstream ofthe position ofthe first ply- bonding group 159, i.e! of the zone in' hich the^' web-like materials Nl and N2 are spliced, allows the second reel B2 to be accelerated significantly before performing the splicing, and thus essentially of not excessively reducing the feed speed ofthe web-like material. At the same time, contrary to known devices, it is not necessary to have a large distance between the splicing members and the position of the reels being unwound. As can. be observed in the drawings, the splicing occurs in a position very close to the reels and this permits better control of the web-like material and greater compactness of the production line.

From that described above, it is also clear that one ofthe advantages ofthe device in this embodiment is represented by the possibility of retrieving, without manual intervention, the head ofthe web-like material of the new reel that will substitute the empty reel. This requires the utilization ofthe motorized roll 26. However, other configurations are also possible for realizing an accumulation member for the initial portion of web-like material coming from the new reel. An alternative configuration is illustrated in figures 8A and 8B. The same or equivalent parts to those ofthe previous figures (in particular figures 7A and 7B) are indicated with the same refer- ence numbers. In this case, the roll 24 and the respective motor 26 are absent and the bar 23 is hollow and equipped with suction slots or holes that hold the head of the web-like material N2 in the preparation phase until the respective reel B2 is inserted inside the unwinding station 7.

During the acceleration phase ofthe reel B2, the initial portion of web-like material N2 is sucked inside a chamber 200 provided in the unwinding station 7. Thanks to a suction-pipe 202, the pressure inside the chamber 200 is slightly less than that of the atmosphere. Suction through the hollow bar 23 is interrupted. The web-like material that in the previous example of embodiment was wound around the roll 24 thus accumulates in the chamber 200. To avoid the web-like material that accumulates in the suction chamber 200 from obstructing the suction, a basket 204 is placed inside the chamber to hold the web- like material.

Once the splicing ofthe two web-like materials is completed, the suction inside the chamber 200 can be interrupted and all ofthe material that has accumulated is retrieved as shown in figure 8B in a similar manner to that previously described for the material tempo- rarily wound around the roll 24.

With this arrangement, or with that which uses the roll 24, a temporary accumulation of web-like material is realized, which will subsequently be fed to the production line, and included on the roll containing the splice between the two layers. This roll is destined, in any case, to be recycled. In this Way, the need' to remove web-like material dross from the unwinding station 7 or the Shuttle 9 by han or with other systems is 'avoided.

It is understood that the drawings only show possible embodiments of the invention, which' can vary in form and arrangement without however departing from the scope ofthe concept underlying the invention. Any reference numbers in the attached claims are provided only in order to facilitate the reading of the claims reference being made to the foregoing description and the enclosed drawings, and do not limit the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. An unwinder device for unwinding reels of web-like material (Nl, N2) comprising an unwinding station (7), with unwinding members for unwinding said reels and a splicing device (151) for splicing together web-like materials (Nl and N2) coming from a first reel (Bl) and from a second reel (B2), wherein in said unwinding station at least two supports (49; 51) are arranged for respective reels of web-like material, associated with respective unwinding members (83 99), said supports being constructed and arranged to simultaneously support two reels being unwound, during at least one phase of unwinding, and each of said, supports being arranged and constructed for loading a new reel in an engagement position, supporting it during unwinding and discharging it in a release position.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said engagement position and said unloading position are mutually distinct.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, including a shuttle (9) mobile along a di- rection of translation between at least one loadmg station (3) and said unwinding station

(7).

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said shuttle carries members for the support of a single reel and moves between a single loading station and said unwinding station in a direction parallel to the axis ofthe reels.

5. An unwinder device according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein said unwinding members and the supports are controlled in a' manner such that while the unwmding members associated with a first one of said two supports maintain a first reel (Bl) of a first web-like material (Nl) in otation in the supply phase, a second reel (B2) of a second web-like material (N2) is engaged by the second of said supports and made to rotate.

6. An unwinder device according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein the splicing device (151) is arranged and controlled for splicing together a first Web-like material (Nl) coming from a first reel (Bl) carried by a first of said supports (49 or 51) and a second web-like material (N2) coming from a second reel (B2) carried by a second of said supports when the peripheral speed of said two reels is substantially the same.

7. A device according to one or more ofthe previous claims, wherein each of said supports (49 and 51) has an engagement position in which the reel is engaged by said supports and a mam unwinding position, distinct from the engagement position, in corre- spondence of which the major part of unwinding ofthe reel takes place.

8. An unwinder device accordmg to one or more of the previous claims, including at least one accumulator member (24; 200) for accumulating the web-like material (N2) supplied by said second reel (B2) before it is spliced to said first web-like material (N2).

9. An unwinder device according to claim 8, wherein said accumulator member (24; 200) is reversible, and returns the web-like material accumulated after splicing between the first web-like material and the second web-like material.

10. An unwinder device according to claims 3 and 8 or 3 and 9, wherein said accumulator member is carried by said shuttle (9).

11. An unwinder device according to one or more of claims 8 to 10, wherein said accumulator member mcludes at least one roll (24) to which the free leading edge of said second web-like material (N2) is anchored, the second web-like material winding itself around said roll when the second reel (B2) is made to rotate and before the second web-like material is spliced to the first web-like material.

12. A device according to claim 11, Wherein said roll (24) is motorized.

13. A device according to claims 11 or 12, wherein said roll (24) is a suction roller.

14. An unwinder device according to one or more ofthe claims 8 to 10, wherein said accumulator member mcludes a suction chamber (200).

15. An unwinder device according to one or more of the claims 8, 9, 11 or 14, wherein said accumulator' member is permanently arranged iri the unwinding station.

16. An unwinder device according to one or more ofthe claims 8 to 15, wherein during splicing of the first web-like material and the second web-like material said accu- mulator member is downstream of the initial splicmg zone between said first and second web-like materials with respect to the feed direction of said web-like materials.

17. An unwinder device according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein said unwinding members (83, 99) include, for each support (49, 51), a central unwinding member, which provides the rbtatiorial motion to the respective reel.

18. An unwinder device according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein in said unwinding station (7) a surface unwinding member (110) is arranged.

19. An unwinder device according^' to claim 18, wherein said unwinding members (83, 99) associated With said supports (49, 51) and said surface unwinding member (110) are arranged and controlled in such a way that while a first reel (Bl) in output and supported by the first of said supports is maintained in rotation by the unwinding members associated with said first support, said surface unwinding member and/or the central unwinding member ofthe second of said supports start to rotate a second reel (B2) carried by the second of said supports (49, 51).

20. An unwinder device according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein said supports (49, 51) each include at least one arm, mobile from said engagement position to said release position, the geometric configuration of said arms being changeable to permit said two supports to exchange positions.

21. An unwinder device according to claim 20, wherein each of said at least two arms mcludes a main body (65) and an end (79) that is mobile with respect to said main body and carries a gripper device (81 and 83) for the respective reel.

22. An unwinder device according to claim 21, wherein the arms and the gripper devices are constructed arid arranged such that in said engagement position the gripper devices of both the arms are aligned on the same position for gripping the reel, correspond- ing to the position ofthe axis of each reel transported by said shuttle (9) in said unwinding station (7).

23. An unwinder device according to claims 21 or 22, wherein said mobile end (79) of each support oscillates with respect to the body of the respective arm between an extracted position for gripping the reel and a retracted position.

24. An unwinder device according to one or more of the claims 21 to 23, wherein said gripper devices each include at least one tailstock ( 1 and 83).

25. An unwinder device according to claim 24, wherein at least one tailstock for each of said two supports is motorized.

26.^' An unwinder device according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein each of said supports moves vertically from said engagement position to said release position.

27. An unwinder device accordmg to one or more of the previous claims, wherein each of said ' supports includes a pair of parallel arms (49, 49; 51, 51), each equipped with a gripper device (81 and 83) for the respective reel.

28. An unwinder device according to at least claim 26, wherein said tailstocks

(81 , 83) are provided with an axial insertion and extraction movement on the reel.

29. An unwinder device according to one or more of the previous claims, including a deviator member (139) in said unwinding station (7), which deviates the path of the web-like material supplied by a first^' reel in the supply phase to permit a second reel to be inserted in said unwinding station.

30. An unwinder device according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein in said unwinding station (7) two uprights (41 and 43) are arranged along which said supports (49, 51) can move, a space between the two uprights for the passage of said shuttle (9) being provided.

31. - An unwinder device according to claims 29 and 30, wherein said uprights are connected by a tie beam (45) and wherein said deviatόr member (139) is oscillatingly hinged to said tie beam.

32. An unwinder device according to claims 29 or 30 or 31, wherein said devia- tor member includes a curved oscillatmg arm, hinged at one end to an axis of oscillation and with the opposite end contacting the web-like material to deviate its path, and wherein between said two ends the arm forms a loop that surrounds the axis of the reel, the web- like material of which is deviated by said oscillating arm.

33. A device accordmg to claim 32, wherein said deviator member includes a pair of arms between which a.contact roller for the web-like material is supported.

34. A device according to claim 33, wherein said contact roller is motorized.

35. An Unwinder device according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein in said unwinding station a device is provided for collecting and discharging empty reels alternately from one and the other of said supports.

36. An unwinder device according to claims 31 and 36, wherein said collection device (131, 133) is mobile along said tie beam (45).

37. An unwinder device accordmg to claims 35 or 36, wherein said collection device (131, 133) includes a cradle (133) on which empty reels are deposited.

38. A device according to claim 37, wherein said cradle is provided with a ver- tical motion for discharging empty feels onto a conveyor (135).

39. An unwinder device according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein said shuttle includes at least one retainer member (24, 23) for the free leading edge of Web-like material (Nl; N2) of a reel (Bl; 2) positioned on said shuttle.

40. An unwinder device according to claim 39, wherein in said unwmding sta- tion a guide roll (143) for the. web-like material is arranged, the axis of which is parallel to the direction of motion of said shuttle (9), and wherein on said shuttle a path is defined for the initial portion of said web-like material extending from said retainer member to the reel, which passes over the position of the axis of said guide roll.

41. ^' An unwinder device according to claims 39 or 40, wherein said retainer member (23) is a suction member.

42. An unwinder device accordmg to claims 11 and 39 or 11 and 40, wherein said retainer member is associated with said motorized roll (24).

43. An unwinder device according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein in said unwinding station a web-like material interruption member (171) is arranged.

44. A device according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein said splicmg device is double.

45. A device according to claim 44, wherein said splicing device includes two ply-bonding groups (159, 161) arranged in series along the path ofthe web-like material.

46. A method for continuously feeding a web-like material from reels being unwound to a processing line, comprising the following phases: placing a first reel (Bl) in a loading position, engaging said first reel (Bl) on a first support (49) associated with first unwinding members (83, 99), supplying a first web-like material (Nl) from said first reel to the processing line, placing a second reel (B2) with a second web-like material (N2) in said loading position, ' • . ^{■ ■ ■ • .} engaging said second reel on a second support (51) associated with second unwind- ing members (83, 99), making said second reel (B2) rotate, unwinding an initial portion of the second web-like material (N2) from it, splicmg the first and the second web-like materials together when the peripheral speed of said first and of said second reel are substantially the same.

47. A method according to claim 46, comprising the following phases: transferring said first reel from a loading position to an unloading position distinct from the loading position.

48. A method accordmg to claim 46, comprising the following phases: transferring said first reel from the loading position to^' a main unwinding position and from said mam unwinding position to an unloading position distinct from said loading position.

49. A method accordmg to one or more ofthe claims 46 to 48, wherein said first and said second web-like materials are brought into reciprocal contact when said first and said second reel rotate at peripheral speeds that are substantially the same.

50. A method according to one or more ofthe claims 46 to 49, wherein said mi- tial portion of the second web-like material (N2) is accumulated by an accumulator member (24, 200).

51. A method according to one or more ofthe claims 46 to 50, wherein said initial portion of the second web-like material (N2) is temporarily accumulated and subse- quently retrieved, supplying it to said processing line.

52. A method according to claims 50 or 51, wherein said initial portion of web- like material is accumulated in a position downstream, with respect to the feed direction, of the position in which the first and the second web-like materials are brought into reciprocal contact for splicing.

53. A method according to one or more of the claims 46 to 52, wherein said second reel is made to rotate while said first reel (Bl) is maintained in rotation by said first unwinding members (83, 99).

54. A method according to one or more ofthe claims 46 to 53, wherein said first and second unwinding members are central unwinding members.

55. A method according to one or more of the claims 46 to 54, wherein said second reel is made to rotate via a surface unwinding member (110) and/or via said second unwinding member associated with ti e respective second support, while said first reel (Bl) is maintained in rotation by the first unwinding member (83 and 99) associated with the first support.

56. A method according to one or more ofthe claims 46 to 55, wherein said first reel is transferred from a loading position to a release position, and said second reel (B2) is placed in the unwinding station in the loading position after said first reel has been removed from said loading position.

57. A method accordmg to one or more ofthe claims 46 to 56, wherein each of said first and second supports are mobile between a reel loadmg position and a reel release position, and wherein: said first reel (Bl) is transferred by said first support to the release position, said second reel (B2) is engaged by said second support m the loading position, when said first web-like material (Nl) has been spliced to said second web-like ma- terial (N2), the first reel is unloaded from the first support, said second support is brought to said release position and said first support is brought to said loading position for engaging a successive reel.

58. A method according to one or more ofthe claims 46 to 57, wherein each of said first and second supports are mobile between a reel loading position and a reel release position, and wherein:

- said first reel (Bl) is transferred by said first support to the release position,

- said second reel (B2) is engaged by said second support in the loading position and transferred to a main unwinding position where it is made to rotate, - when said first web-like material (Nl) has been spliced to said second web-like material (N2), the first reel is unloaded from the first support,

- said second support is brought to said release position before the second reel runs out and said first support is brought to said loadmg position for engaging a successive reel.

59. A method according to one or more ofthe claims 46 to 58, wherein said first and second web-like materials are spliced by ply-bonding.

60. A method according to one or more ofthe claims 46 to 59, wherein said first and said second web-like materials are spliced in two distinct points along the feed path.