Machine for unrolling and laterally aligning ribbons

Abstract

A machine for unrolling and aligning ribbons of fabrics, synthetic materials and the like, particularly for conveyor-belt cutting units and the like, comprising a supporting element that supports a roll of ribbon, a motorized device for unrolling the roll constituted by the ribbon, the machine further comprising a first assembly for reading the tension of the unrolled ribbon in order to adjust the motorized device so as to eliminate the tension of the unrolled ribbon, means for the lateral sliding of the unrolled ribbon, which is substantially free from tensions, for its alignment on a worktable, and a second assembly for reading the lateral deviation of the unrolled ribbon.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A machine for unrolling and aligning ribbons of fabrics, synthetic materials and the like, particularly for conveyor-belt cutting units and the like, comprising a supporting element that supports a roll of ribbon, a motorized device for unrolling the roll constituted by said ribbon, further comprising a first assembly for reading the tension of said unrolled ribbon in order to adjust said motorized device so as to eliminate the tension of said unrolled ribbon, means for lateral sliding of said unrolled ribbon, which is substantially free from tensions, for its alignment on a worktable, and a second assembly for reading the lateral deviation of said unrolled ribbon. 
     
     
         10 . The unrolling and aligning machine according to  claim 9 , wherein said motorized device comprises an unrolling roller whose axis is parallel to the axis of said roll and on which said unrolled ribbon is partly wound, first motor means which are associated with said unrolling roller by means of a belt drive, said unrolling roller being able to rotate about its own axis. 
     
     
         11 . The unrolling and aligning machine according to  claim 10 , wherein said first reading assembly comprises at least one redirection roller whose axis is parallel to the axis of said roll and on which said ribbon, unrolled in output from said unrolling roller, is partly wound, at least one lever for supporting said redirection roller, which is pivoted at an end to said redirection roller and at the other end is rotatably associated with a fixed portion of the machine, and a sensor for measuring the angular deviation of said supporting lever under the action of said ribbon with respect to a reference position for the actuation of said first motor means. 
     
     
         12 . The unrolling and aligning machine according to  claim 9 , wherein said means for lateral sliding comprise a first idle roller and a second idle roller, whose axes are parallel with a variable center distance and through which said unrolled ribbon in output from said redirection roller is inserted, said first idle roller being associated rotatably with a fixed portion of said machine and said second idle roller being pressed toward said first idle roller by a piston for closing and opening said second idle roller on said first idle roller. 
     
     
         13 . The unrolling and aligning machine according to  claim 12 , wherein said first and second idle rollers are associated with a system of substantially straight guides for their axial sliding. 
     
     
         14 . The unrolling and aligning machine according to  claim 12 , comprising second motor means for the movement of said first and second idle rollers on said system of guides by means of a screw-and-nut coupling. 
     
     
         15 . The unrolling and aligning machine according to  claim 9 , wherein said second reading assembly comprises a set of photocells for detecting the position of the edge of said ribbon on the plane of said worktable. 
     
     
         16 . The unrolling and aligning machine according to  claim 12 , wherein said second reading assembly comprises a vision system for detecting repetitive markings on said unrolled ribbon in output from said first and second idle rollers.