Spreading device, method for spreading a flat material web, spreading roller, and use of an individual spreading element on such a spreading roller

An expander roller (1;

• 40) for laterally spreading a flat material web (33) in axial spreading directions (5, 7, 8) with a peripheral surface (9A) by means of which the expander roller (1) can be brought into operative contact with the flat material web (33), with a rotation axis (60) around which the expander roller (1) can rotate, and with spreading devices (4, 4A, 4B, 40) comprising a plurality of individual spreading elements (11) which form the peripheral surface (9A), characterized In that the expander roller (1) comprises a spreading device which comprises an elastically deformable support part (12) for arranging on a rotational body (3) and with a number of elastically deformable individual spreading elements (11;
• 30, 31) to achieve a spreading effect directed in the main spreading direction (5, 7, 8), in which the respective individual spreading element (11;
• 30, 31) has a contact surface area (16) at its free end (11A) facing away from the carrier part (12) with a contact surface (13) to interact with the flat material web (33) on the one hand and is arranged on the carrier part (12) at its second end (11B) facing away from the free end (11A) on the other hand, characterized In that the spreading device (4, 4A, 4B, 4C) is designed such that the respective individual spreading element (11;
• 30, 31) can be tilted at least partially or entirely in the direction of the free end by means of centrifugal force (27).