Strip support and alignment device, particularly for strips to be cut in a cutting machine

Abstract

A strip support and alignment device, particularly for strips to be cut in a cutting machine, the device comprising: a sheet that is stretched between a station for feeding at least one strip and a station for processing said strip, which defines a support and alignment surface for the strip, first elements for fixing the sheet to the feeding station, second elements for fixing the sheet to the processing station, elements for winding and unwinding the sheet, which are adapted to wind or unwind the sheet in order to vary its length depending on the distance between the feeding station and the processing station.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A strip support and alignment device, particularly for strips to be cut in a cutting machine, comprising:
 a sheet that is stretched between a station for feeding at least one strip and a station for processing said at least one strip, which defines a support and alignment surface for said at least one strip,   first means for fixing said sheet to said feeding station,   second means for fixing said sheet to said processing station,   means for winding and unwinding said sheet, which are adapted to wind or unwind said sheet in order to vary its length depending on the distance between said feeding station and said processing station.   
     
     
         12 . The strip support and alignment device according to  claim 11 , further comprising means for tensioning said sheet. 
     
     
         13 . The strip support and alignment device according to  claim 11 , wherein said sheet comprises, on said alignment surface, a plurality of longitudinal marking lines which are parallel to an unwinding direction of said sheet, are equidistant with respect to a center of said surface and are mutually equidistant, for the centering and alignment of said at least one strip. 
     
     
         14 . The strip support and alignment device according to  claim 11 , further comprising means for cutting said at least one strip. 
     
     
         15 . The strip support and alignment device according to  claim 13 , wherein said marking lines are graduated numerically. 
     
     
         16 . The strip support and alignment device according to  claim 13 , wherein said longitudinal marking lines are colored, the pairs of marking lines that are symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal straight line that passes through the center of said surface being of a same color. 
     
     
         17 . The strip support and alignment device according to  claim 11 , wherein said means for winding and unwinding said sheet comprise a knob for manual winding and unwinding. 
     
     
         18 . The strip support and alignment device according to  claim 11 , wherein said means for winding and unwinding said sheet comprise motor means for a motorized winding and unwinding of said sheet. 
     
     
         19 . The strip support and alignment device according to  claim 11 , wherein said at least one strip is a strip of leather or hide, said processing station comprising a machine for cutting leather or hide. 
     
     
         20 . The strip support and alignment device according to  claim 11 , wherein said sheet can be wound completely onto said winding and unwinding means of said sheet.