Machine and method for installing a coating sheet over welded end sections of pipeline

A machine for coating a pipe, or a pipe joint between welded end stubs of coated sections of a pipe for a pipeline, the coating including a sheet to apply circumferentially around the pipe, the machine comprising:

• a mounting frame mountable on adjacent sections of the pipeline to span the pipe joint;
• a transport carriage rotatably movable on the mounting frame to move circumferentially about the pipe joint;
• a sheet application roller movable around the pipe, the roller being supported by an axis linked to the transport carriage, the roller being free to rotate around this axis;
• a push system pressing radially the roller against the pipe to obtain a rotatory-revolutionary movement of the roller against the pipe;
• a mat configured to receive a sheet to be coated onto the pipe;
• a feed table to transfer the mat covered with the sheet from an oven in vicinity of the pipe;
• a mat pusher to hold and maintain a first part of the mat in the vicinity of the pipe, when the roller is applying a second part of the mat against the pipe, wherein the mat pusher comprises an out feed table movable between a closed position and a retracted position such that the roller has room to support the mat when the out feed table is in the retracted position, and wherein the feed table is movable to allow passage of the roller, when the roller is applying the first part of the mat against the pipe.