Line for processing a continuous web material and related method

A line for processing a continuous web material comprising:

• a feed path advancing a continuously extending web material therealong;
• along said feed path, a stationary cutting station comprising a transverse cutter for cutting said continuous web material into scraps;
• a plurality of rollers located along said feed path, one of said rollers being located at a spaced location from another one of said rollers, wherein said another one of said rollers is located downstream of said one of said rollers with respect to a feed direction of said continuously extending web material, said plurality ofrollers being located downstream of said transverse cutter with respect to said feed direction of said continuously extending web material;
• a system for removing scraps of web material cut by said cutter, said removing system comprising rails and a scrap accumulator member, said feed path extending above and beyond said system for removing scraps, wherein said accumulator member is movably connected to said rails such that the accumulator member moves under the feed path between a position for receiving scraps, wherein a distance between said accumulator member and the cutter is such that scraps generated by the cutter are collected by the accumulator member, and a standby position, distanced from said cutter such that scraps generated by said cutter are collected in a scrap collection space between the cutter and the accumulator member when the accumulator member is in said standby position, said position for receiving scraps and said standby position being located between said one of said rollers and said another one of said rollers, said space being located downstream of the cutter with respect to said feed direction of said web material along said feed path, said standby position being located downstream of said position for receiving scraps with respect to said feed direction of said web material along said feed path, said position for receiving scraps being located downstream of said cutter with respect to said feed direction of said web material along said feed path, wherein said scrap accumulator member moves with respect to said scrap collection space when moving from said position for receiving scraps to said standby position and when moving from said standby position to said position for receiving scraps such that said scrap accumulator member is positioned in said scrap collection space when in said position for receiving scraps, said scrap accumulator member being carried on a slide movable under said feed path in a direction substantially parallel to said feed path, said scrap accumulator member and said slide being configured to load said scrap accumulator member on said slide and unload said scrap accumulator member from said slide with a movement transverse to said feed path, said scrap accumulator member comprising scrap accumulator member wheels, said slide having guides arranged perpendicular to said direction substantially parallel to said feed path, said scrap accumulator member wheels engaging said guides when said scrap accumulator member is arranged on said slide, said standby position being distanced from said cutter in a direction of said feed path, said slide being provided with at least one motor-driven wheel to be moved parallel to said feed path.

A line for processing a continuous web material comprising:

• a straight feed path for advancing a continuous web material therealong;
• along said feed path, a stationary cutting station comprising a transverse cutter cutting said continuous web material into scraps;
• a first roller located downstream of said transverse cutter with respect to a feed direction of said continuous web material;
• a second roller located downstream of said first roller and said transverse cutter with respect to said feed direction of said continuous web material, wherein said second roller is located at a spaced location from said first roller, said first roller and said second roller defining a portion of said feed path;
• a system for removing scraps of web material cut by said cutter, said removing system comprising a slide and a scrap accumulator member, said scrap accumulator member comprising scrap accumulator member wheels, said feed path extending above and beyond said system for removing said scraps, said scrap accumulator being mounted to said slide, said slide being mounted for movement such that said scrap accumulator and said slide move under said feed path between a scrap receiving position and a standby position, said slide comprising guides extending in a direction perpendicular to a direction of movement of said slide, said scrap accumulator member wheels engaging said guides when said scrap accumulator is mounted to said slide, whereby said scrap receiving position and said standby position are located under said feed path, said scrap receiving position and said standby position being located between said first roller and said second roller, said scrap receiving position being located at a spaced location from said standby position, wherein said scraps generated by the cutter are collected by the accumulator member with said slide and said accumulator member in said scrap receiving position, said accumulator member and said scrap receiving position being located completely downstream of said transverse cutter with respect to said feed direction of said continuous web material along said feed path, wherein scraps generated by said cutter are collected in a scrap collection space between said first roller and said accumulator member with said slide and said accumulator member in said standby position, said space being located downstream of said transverse cutter with respect to said feed direction of said web material along said feed path, said standby position being located downstream of said scrap receiving position with respect to said feed direction of said web material along said feed path, wherein said scrap accumulator member moves with respect to said scrap collection space when moving from said scrap receiving position to said standby position and when moving from said standby position to said scrap receiving position such that said scrap accumulator member is positioned in said scrap collection space when in said scrap receiving position, said scrap accumulator member being carried on a slide movable under said feed path in a direction substantially parallel to said feed path, said scrap accumulator member and said slide being configured to load said scrap accumulator member on said slide and unload said accumulator member from said slide with a movement transverse to said feed path, said standby position being located at a spaced location from said cutter in a direction of the feed path, said slide being provided with at least one motor-driven wheel to be moved parallel to said feed path.