Feeding unit for a tissue converting machine for converting a web of two-layer tissue

A feeding unit (10) for feeding a tissue converting machine for converting a web (W1, W2) of two-layer tissue, the feeding unit (10) comprising:

• support means (12) for rotatably supporting a first reel (R1) of two-layer tissue web and a second reel (R2) of two-layer tissue web for rotation about respective axes of rotation (x1, x2);
• cutting means (32, 42) for cutting the two layers (L1_1, L2_1) of the tissue web (W1) of one (R1) of said first and second reels (R1, R2), namely the reel in use, said cutting means (32, 42) being configured to cut the two layers (L1_1, L2_1) of the tissue web (W1) along two cut lines spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of the web (W1);
• joining means (44_1, 44_2) for joining each of the two layers (L1_2, L2_2) of the tissue web (W2) of the other one (R2) of said first and second reels (R1, R2), namely the new reel, to a respective layer (L1_1, L2_1) of the tissue web (W1) of the reel (R1) in use;
• and
• tissue web accumulation means (30) for accumulating a given amount of tissue web (W1) downstream of the cutting means (32, 42) and of the joining means (44_1, 44_2) so as to ensure that the machine is fed with the tissue web (W1) while the portion of tissue web (W1) on which the cutting means (32, 42) and the joining means (44_1, 44_2) act is kept temporarily still to allow cutting of the two layers (L1_1, L2_1) of the tissue web (W1) in use and joining of these layers to the two layers (L1_2, L2_2) of the new tissue web (W2),
• wherein said cutting means (32, 42) comprise a first cutting blade (32) for cutting an inner layer (L1_1) of the tissue web (W1) in use and a pair of second cutting members (42) which are placed on opposite sides of the first cutting blade (32) with respect to a plane parallel to the web (W1) in use and are arranged to cut an outer layer (L2_1) of the tissue web (W1) in use, said second cutting members (42) being positioned at a distance from said first cutting blade (32) in the longitudinal direction of the tissue web (W1) in use,
• wherein said first cutting blade (32) is placed downstream of said second cutting members (42) with respect to the feeding direction of the tissue web (W1) in use, and wherein each of said second cutting members (42) comprises a separating element (47) adapted to be inserted between the two layers (L1_1, L2_1) of the tissue web (W1) in use to keep said layers (L1_1, L2_1) detached from each other along a side edge of the tissue web (W1) in use.