Web processing device and web processing method

A web processing device for receiving a tip portion of a continuous web at a receiving position, for carrying a cut-off web cut out from the tip portion to a hand-over position downstream of the receiving position while changing an attitude of the cut-off web, and for handing over the cut-off web to a downstream transfer device at the hand-over position, the web processing device comprising a rotating unit and a cutter, wherein:

• the rotating unit includes a plurality of pads and a plurality of anvils, which are arranged alternately around the rotating unit and which revolve generally in a circumferential direction of the rotating unit;
• the cutter is capable of cutting off a tip portion of the continuous web, together with the anvil, at a cutting position downstream of the receiving position;
• a level of a surface of the anvil between two adjacent pads is set to be a first relative level close to a level of surfaces of the two adjacent pads at the cutting position so that the cutter, together with the anvil, can cut out a cut-off web of a predetermined length from the tip portion of the continuous web being held by the two adjacent pads;
• each pad is turned about a line extending generally in a radial direction of the rotating unit;
• and
• the level of the surface of the anvil adjacent to the turning pad is set to be at a second relative level more retracted inward of the rotating unit than the first relative level with respect to the surface of the pad while the pad moves from the cutting position to the hand-over position downstream of the cutting position, so as to allow the attitude of the cut-off web to be changed by turning of the pad.

A web processing method for receiving a tip portion of a continuous web at a receiving position, for carrying a cut-off web cut out from the tip portion to a hand-over position downstream of the receiving position while changing an attitude of the cut-off web, and for handing over the cut-off web to a downstream transfer device at the hand-over position, the method using a rotating unit and a cutter,

• wherein the rotating unit includes a plurality of pads and a plurality of anvils, which are arranged alternately around the rotating unit and which revolve generally in a circumferential direction of the rotating unit, and the cutter is capable of cutting off a tip portion of the continuous web, together with the anvil, at a cutting position downstream of the receiving position, the method comprising:
• a step in which the pad receives the continuous web;
• a step in which the cutter cuts the continuous web at the cutting position, together with the anvil positioned at a first relative level with respect to a surface of the pad adjacent to the anvil such that the anvil is brought into contact with the cutter;
• a step in which the pad revolves around an axis of the rotating unit while changing an attitude of the pad by turning about a line extending generally in a radial direction of the rotating unit, thereby carrying the cut-off web while changing an attitude of the cut-off web;
• and
• a step in which, when the pad changes its attitude, the anvil adjacent to the turning pad is relatively moved to a second relative level, different from the first relative level, with respect to the surface of the pad so as not to hinder the pad changing its attitude.