A combined system or line for producing and converting a continuous web-like material, and method

Abstract

The combined line for producing and converting a continuous web-like material, comprises a production line, adapted to produce a continuous web-like material. Downstream of the production line there is provided for a converting line, adapted to convert the continuous web-like material, directly supplied from the production line to the converting line, in a product. Furthermore, a path for supplying the continuous web-like material from the production line to the converting line is provided.

Description

A COMBINED SYSTEM OR LINE FOR PRODUCING AND CONVERTING A CONTINUOUS WEB-LIKE MATERIAL, AND METHODDESCRIPTIONTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for producing cellulosic articles, for example made of paper, in particular tissue paper. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing cellulosic articles.BACKGROUND ART

[0002] To produce articles made of tissue paper, such as toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, paper napkins, and others, it is known to convert a continuous web-like material, dispensed by one or more master reels unwound in one or more unwinders, through several operations carried out in a converting line, up to the packaging of the finished products For example, toilet paper or paper towel rolls are produced by supplying one or more tissue paper plies to a converting line, where the web-like material is wound into rolls that are axially very long, which are subsequently cut into axially shorter rolls , intended for packaging and for sale.

[0003] Generally, the master reels are produced in paper factories using large machines of the so-called continuous type, which transform an aqueous suspension of cellulosic fibres into a tissue paper ply, which is wound into master reels, with a large diameter. The master reels represent the starting material for separate converting systems.

[0004] The process for producing and converting paper, especially tissue paper, into articles intended for sale is therefore a complex process which involves various persons and which requires the transfer of semi-finished material from one plant to the other, which may even be many kilometres away.

[0005] Besides entailing logistics problems and complexity, this aspect is also disadvantageous for the preservation of master reels. As a matter of fact, the latters are stored awaiting to be transformed into finished products. The master reels are generally stored in warehouses wrapped in polymeric films, and this method of storage canlead to the formation of moulds or other degrading agents which can form due to the residual moisture contained in the master reels. The use of the polymeric film for winding the reels entails the waste of material, waste of time and complication and generally an increase in the costs of the production process.

[0006] Also other processes for producing and converting web-like materials of different kind, for example non-woven fabric, have similar characteristics in terms of complexity and a subdivision between the step for producing large diameter master reels, and step for converting the large diameter reels into packages of finished articles intended for distribution and sale to the end consumer.SUMMARY

[0007] Herein described are a system and a method which allow a simplification in the systems and in the process for producing articles made of sheet material, for example made of cellulosic material, in particular articles made of tissue paper.

[0008] A combined system or line according to the invention is defined in claim 1. A method according to the present invention is defined in claim 13. The dependent claims relate to advantageous features of possible embodiments.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The invention will be clearer from the description and the attached drawings, which illustrate an embodiment provided by way of non-limiting example of the invention. More particularly, in the drawing:Figs.1 A and IB show two subsequent portions of a system or combined line for producing a continuous web-like cellulosic material, for example a tissue paper layer, and its direct transformation into finished articles, as described below.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] Basically, the combined line produces, in a first line orportion of production line, a continuous web-like material starting from starting components, for example cellulosic fibres and water. The continuous web-like material is not wound into master reels, intended for the subsequent conversion, but is directly supplied to a converting line, which is part of the combined line. This allows to obtain a substantialsimplification of the process. Particularly advantageous embodiments provide for configurations which allow to release the production line from the converting line, for example when the converting line stops.

[0011] Described below is a combined line for producing and converting a web-like material consisting of a layer of cellulosic material, typically a tissue paper layer. Therefore, reference will also specifically be made to “paper” instead of generally a web-like material. Therefore, as indicated above, a combined line of the type described herein may also be used for producing and converting other types of continuous weblike materials, such as for example non-woven-fabrics, which are currently wound into master reels at the exit of a production line and subsequently unwound from the master reels and supplied to a separate converting line.

[0012] Turning now to the drawing, according to the schematic of Fig.1 , a combined system, or combined line, is provided, which is indicated with 1 as a whole, for producing and converting a continuous web-like material, and which substantially comprises two sections or portions. The first portion comprises a production line 3, and the second portion, indicated with 5, comprises a converting line

[0013] The first portion or production line 3 is adapted to produce a continuous weblike material through a process of a known type, for example a wet process. Systems or lines of this type are disclosed for example in W02010033072, WO2013015739. The option that the production line 3 be based on a different process, for example a process of the air-laid type, is not excluded. In the case of a wet process, the production line 3 may be a TAD (Through Air Drying) line, or another equivalent line, which provides a layer of cellulosic web-like material that has a high thickness and a high grammage, preferably with a surface texture, for example generated due to the interaction between the cellulosic slurry and the forming wires.

[0014] Generally, the production line may be based on various paper production technologies, in particular tissue paper production technologies. In addition to TAD and eTAD (efficient Through Air Drying) technology, in other embodiments, the production line 3 may be based on one of the following technologies: New Tissue Technology (NTT, registered trademark); Advanced Tissue Molding System (ATMOS, registered trademark); Un-Creped Through-Air Drying (UCTAD); Creped Through-Air Drying (CTAD); Structured Tissue Technology (STT, registered trademark); Quality Rush Transfer (QRT, registered trademark), DCT and AdvantageDCT (registered trademark), Dry Crepe Tissue (DCT).

[0015] A line for producing structured, for example TAD, web-like material is characterised for the production of a layer made of material which, with respect to a web for example produced with the DCT technique (that is by pressing and drying the weblike material being formed on the wires), has a high thickness, is much more resistant and has superior softness characteristics. Furthermore, when leaving the production line a TAD layer of web-like material or the like has a background texture or drawing, which does not require further processing (such as for example embossing) to improve the absorption capacity, the tactile characteristics, and / or the aesthetic appearance thereof. Therefore, a TAD layer of web-like material is particularly suitable to be wound individually in a paper converting line, i.e. to be wound as a single layer in finished products for example paper towel rolls, toilet paper rolls, folded products.

[0016] In the combined line described herein, it is therefore advantageous to use a system for producing paper web-like material based on the TAD technology, because on the one hand it allows to produce a sufficiently thick single-layer finished article, and on the other hand it can allow to avoid the presence, in the converting line, of an embossing unit or another machine adapted to impart a surface texture and increase the overall thickness of the web-like material.

[0017] Continuous paper production machines of this type may have a feed rate comprised between 500 m / min and 2000 m / min and they can produce web-like materials with a width comprised between 1.4 m and 6 m. These values are indicated by way of non-limiting example.

[0018] It cannot be ruled out that the production line 3 be configured to produce a web-like material of another type, different from paper, and in particular different from tissue paper. For example, the production line 3 may produce a continuous web-like material made of non-woven fabric.

[0019] Hereinafter, for the sake of simplicity, reference will be exclusively made to a tissue paper production and converting line. However, it is understood that this is provided solely by way of non-limiting example.

[0020] Downstream of the production line 3 there is placed a converting line 5, adapted to convert the continuous web-like material, continuously directly supplied from the production 3 to the converting line 5, in a finished product. The converting line 5 may be complete up to a packaging station. However, it cannot be ruled out that the product obtained from the converting line 5 be further processed and converted, before being packaged.

[0021] The combined line 1 further comprises a path for supplying the continuous web-like material N, from the production line 3 to the converting line 5, as described in greater detail below.

[0022] In the illustrated embodiment, the production line 5 comprises by way of example one or more headboxes 7, one or more forming wires 9A, 9B, a possible cylinder or pair of cylinders, TAD (not shown) and / or other means or systems for drying or treating a continuous web-like material N formed on the forming wires 9A, 9B.

[0023] The head box 7 delivers to the forming wires 9A, 9B a layer of a water suspension of cellulosic fibres, for example with a dry content of around 2-5% by weight. In the illustrated embodiment above, the headbox 7 delivers the cellulosic fibre aqueous suspension in a forming space, defined between the forming wires 9A, 9B, which are guided around a guide roller 12. Due to the centrifuge force, part of the water of the aqueous suspension is removed through the forming wire 9A and at the exit of the space between the forming wires 9A, 9B, the layer of cellulosic fibre slurry remains adhered to the forming wire 9B and is transferred from the latter towards other water draining and removal systems. By way of example, these systems may comprise one or more suction boxes 11, one or more suction rollers 13, a cylinder or cylinders, a TAD system, not shown, and a Yankee cylinder 15. Suction hoods 17 are arranged around the Yankee cylinder 15. The Yankee cylinder 15 is heated internally to dry the cellulosic web which is transferred from the forming wire 9B to the cylindrical surface of the Yankee cylinder 15, which rotates (arrow fl 5) to transfer the cellulosic web towards the converting line 5 and / or to other members, described below.

[0024] The cellulosic layer which adheres to the Yankee cylinder 15 is detached from the Yankee cylinder 15 using a scraper or a doctor blade 19 and forms a web-like material N intended for the subsequent conversion in the converting line 5. Examplesof machines of this type are example.g. disclosed in WO2011076268. Besides the doctor blade 19, one or more cutting blades are associated with the Yankee cylinder 15, one of which is indicated with 19A, for severing the web-like material, for example concurrently with a stop of the converting line 5.

[0025] Basically, from the production line 3 to the converting line 5 there extends a path for supplying the continuous web-like material.

[0026] The converting line 5 comprises at least one machine for converting the continuous web-like material N which is supplied from the first portion of the combined line 1, i.e. from the production line 3, to the second portion of the combined line 1, i.e. to the converting line 5.

[0027] For example, the converting machine may comprise one or more of the following: an embosser, a printing machine, a rewinder for producing rolls, a cutting machine for cutting rolls transversely to the axis thereof, a roll storage unit, a tail sealer, a folding machine, a packaging machine, a bagging machine, a palletising machine, a combination thereof.

[0028] In the diagram of Fig. 1 the converting line 5 comprises a rewinder 21, which winds, sequentially, preferably automatically and continuously, a plurality of rolls winding the continuous web-like material N coming from the production line 3 around tubular winding cores. In other embodiments, the rewinder 21 may be a coreless rewinder, that is adapted to produce rolls without a tubular winding core, for example rolls wound around a spindle which is subsequently removed, or fully solid paper rolls, i.e. without a central through hole, also referred to as “SOLID” in the field.

[0029] Downstream of the rewinder 21 a tail sealer 23 may be arranged, which closes the tail of the rolls R produced by the rewinder 21. The glued rolls may be transferred to a log saw 27, which cuts the rolls transversely, that is orthogonally to the axis of the rolls, to produce small rolls, i.e. axially shorter rolls which are intended for packaging and distribution to the end consumer. Between the tail sealer 23 and the log saw 27 an accumulator or storage unit 25 may be interposed, which accumulates the rolls produced by the rewinder 21, so as to release the production rate of the rewinder 21 from the production rate of the log saw 27.

[0030] The converting line 5 may continue with other machines or stations downstream of the log saw, not shown, for example a packaging machine or section. The machines of the converting line 5 are of known type and will not be described in detail.

[0031] In the diagram of Fig.l, the storage unit 25 is arranged downstream of a winder 35, described below, and the rolls are transferred from the tail sealer 23 to the storage unit through a conveyor 26, an inclined plane, or other transfer system. In other embodiments, the storage unit 25 may be arranged in a lateral position with respect to the rewinder 21 and the tail sealer 23 and may be supplied with rolls combing from the tail sealer 23 and transferred to the storage unit 25 with a movement orthogonal to the plane of figure, i.e. parallel to the axis of the rolls. Generally, the storage unit 25 and of the machines downstream thereof may be placed in any position, , which does not interfere with the operation of other machines of the combined line 1, described below.

[0032] Other machines or stations, for example a calender 29, a quality control unit 31 and other ancillary equipment, not shown, may be arranged upstream of the converting line 5.

[0033] The combined line 1 described so far operates as follows. A layer of cellulosic slurry is formed through the headbox 7 and the forming wires 9A, 9B , wherefrom most of the water is removed through sequential draining and dewatering operations, to leave a continuous layer of cellulosic material forming the continuous web-like material N. This latter is continuously supplied to the converting line 5 and converted (in the shown example) into paper rolls.

[0034] The production line 3 must produce continuously and shall not be interrupted if the converting line 5 be stopped. Therefore, in order to avoid operating problems in the event of accidental or scheduled stop of the converting line 5, the combined line 1 may comprise several machines which on the one hand allow the production line 3 to continue to produce continuously, and on the other hand the converting line 5 to resume the processing of the web-like material N once the cause of the stop has been removed.

[0035] In the illustrated embodiment, the combined line comprises an unwinder 33, adapted to unwind a spare continuous web-like material N2 from a reel B 1 arrangedin the unwinder 33. In Fig.1, the reel Bl is shown in two alternative positions (Bl and Blx).

[0036] The combined line 1 further comprises a winder 35, adapted to receive a continuous web-like material from the production line 3 and wind the continuous weblike material N in a reel B2, contained in the winder 35, when the converting line 5 is inoperative, as will be clarified in greater detail below. The winder 35 comprises a winding roller 36, which acts on the reel B2 driving it in rotation and guides the weblike material to wind it around the reel B2, in the steps (described below) in which the winder is running.

[0037] Between the Yankee cylinder 15 and the winder 35 there is arranged a transfer device 37, configured to controllably transfer a continuous web-like material produced by the production line 3 up to the winder 35. The transfer device 37 may be as disclosed in WO2011076268. The transfer device 37 may therefore comprise devices adapted to generate a laminar air motion which stably supports the web-like material N up to the winder 35 and more specifically up to the winding roller 36.

[0038] With the unwinder 33 and the winder 35 there is associated a splicing device 39, configured to splice to one another: a continuous web-like material N, coming from the production line 3 and supplied to the winder 35, and a spare continuous web-like material N2, coming from the unwinder 33 and for cutting off the supply of the spare continuous web-like material N2 to the converting line 5 and stop the supply of the continuous web-like material N, coming from the production line 3, to the winder 35. In some embodiments, the continuous web-like material N, coming from the production line 3 to the winder 35 is cut off in an area downstream of the splicing area in which the continuous web-like material N coming from the production line 3 and supplied to the winder 35, and the spare continuous web-like material N2 are spliced to one another, while the supply of the spare continuous web-like material N2 to the converting line 5 is cut off upstream of the splicing area.

[0039] More particularly, in the embodiment of Fig.1, the splicing device 39 is positioned along the advancement path of the continuous web-like material N coming from the production line 3, between the unwinder 33 and the winder 35.

[0040] In the illustrated embodiment, a unit of the converting line 5, moreparticularly for example the rewinder 21, is arranged between the splicing device 39 and the winder 35.

[0041] Furthermore, the production line 3 may comprise a pulper 41, arranged along the production line or between the production line 3 and the converting line 5. The pulper is adapted to receive the continuous web-like material N coming from the production line 3 in transient steps during time ranges in which the converting line 5 is not running.

[0042] The combined line 1 operates as follows. During the normal operation, the production line 3 produces a continuous web-like material N which is supplied by the Yankee cylinder 15 towards the converting line 5 and converted into single articles, such as tissue paper rolls, which pass through the storage unit 25 and continue towards other stations or machines of the converting line 5, for example through the log saw 27.

[0043] During the normal operation of the combined line 1, the unwinder 33 and the winder 35 are inoperative.

[0044] In the event of temporary stop of the converting line 5, due to a failure, for example the breaking of the web-like material N in one of the machines of the converting line, the production of the web-like material N cannot stop. Therefore, the following operations are carried out. The scraper or cutting blade 19A, cooperating with the Yankee cylinder 15, cuts the web-like material N in the area of detachment from the Yankee cylinder 15, generating a leading end and a tail end. The leading end of the continuous web-like material N advances towards the pulper 41 and as a result the web-like material N which continues to be produced by the production line 3 is recovered in the pulper 41 , from which the cellulosic material can be recovered and recycled. The scraper or cutting blade 19A is positioned upstream of the scraper or doctor blade 19 in the advancement direction of the web-like material N.

[0045] In order to avoid an excessive loss of web-like material, immediately after cut off using the cutting blade 20, the winder 35 may be started, in which a mandrel or an empty winding core, or a reel partially formed in a previous transient stopping phase of the converting line 5, may be present. When the winding rate of the winder 35 has reached the speed of the production line 3, threading of the web-like material N fromthe Yankee cylinder 15 to the winder 35 can be carried out by the transfer device 37. The threading has the effect of transferring a leading edge of the web-like material N, generated once again by a cut through the cutting blade 19A or other blade associated with the Yankee cylinder 15, or other device such as a cut with waterjets, from the Yankee cylinder 15 to the winder 35, interrupting the delivery of web-like material N to the pulper 41.

[0046] To this end, with the transfer device 37 there is associated a drawing-in device which may comprise a conveying device 38 formed by a conduit cross-sectionally shaped to form a cylinder open on one side, e.g. C-shaped, or cross-sectionally shaped to form a rectangle open on one side. In the conveying device there is housed a strip of web-like material cut by a lateral edge of the continuous web-like material N in an area upstream of the Yankee cylinder 15. The conveying device 38 has an inlet end 38A in proximity of the Yankee cylinder 15 and an outlet end 38B arranged on the winder 35 and more specifically adjacent to the winding roller 36. The inlet end 38A of the conveying device 38 may comprise an inlet opening facing in proximity, or terminating at, the Yankee cylinder 15, adapted to capture the leading end of the edge strip. To facilitate the insertion of an initial strip of the web-like material, compressed air drawing-in nozzles, not shown for the sake of simplicity, can be provided, which are adapted to detach or facilitate the detachment of the flap of web-like material from the Yankee cylinder 15 and adapted to direct it towards the inlet opening of the conveying device.

[0047] In order to facilitate the transport of the strip of web-like material in the conveying device 38, the latter comprises air systems for generating an airflow which is guided into the conveying device 38 in the direction for supplying the web-like material N for example towards the winder 35. The air systems may be of the suctioned type or more preferably they may comprise compressed air nozzles, Coanda-effect nozzles or can be of another type.

[0048] The outlet end 38B of the conveying device 38 may preferably terminate on the winder 35 for example so as to pass through the strip of web-like material on the winding roller 36. The winding roller 36 may be a suctioning roller to facilitate the transfer of the initial flap of the web-like material thereon.

[0049] In some embodiments, an adhesive may be used, so as to attach the strip of web-like material N to the winding mandrel or winding core of the reel B2 at the beginning of the winding, or so as to attach the strip of web-like material N to a partially formed reel B2 loaded in the winding area of the winder 35.

[0050] The strip of web-like material N may be obtained from the continuous weblike material N, by cutting it along a longitudinal edge using a cutting device, for example a water cutting device comprising one or more nozzles for dispensing pressurized water towards the forming wires 9B on which the continuous web-like material N being dried is placed. The activation of the water cutting device therefore generates the strip of web-like material which, before the activation of the compressed air nozzles for the transfer thereof to the conveying device 38, is discharged into the pulper 41 together with the remainder of the continuous web-like material N. At least one dispensing nozzle of the water cutting device is preferably movable in the direction transversal to the advancement direction of the web-like material N being formed and being dried on the forming wires 9B.

[0051] Operatively, the threading is carried out as follows. Once the winder 35 has reached the required rate, the water cutting device is activated to generate a strip of web-like material through the thrading nozzles, not shown, the longitudinal strip of web-like material is inserted, through the inlet end 38A, into the conveying device 38 of the threading device. The strip of web-like material is therefore transferred up to the outlet end 38B of the conveying device 38 and adhered to the rod or empty winding core, or to a partially formed reel B2 found in the winder 35. The surface of the winding mandrel or of the partially formed reel B2 is rotating at a peripheral speed equal to the feed rate of the strip of web-like material which advances along the threading device and therefore the strip of web-like material may start to wind. At this point, the water cutting device which is generating the longitudinal strip of web-like material is translated in the direction transversal to the advancement of the web-like material N being formed on the forming wire 9B to progressively widen the strip of web-like material until it reaches the width equal to the width of the final format of the web-like material N. The entire web-like material N at this point advances, supported by the transfer device 38, towards the winder 35.

[0052] The transfer device 37, which during the supply of the web-like material N tothe converting line 5 supports and transfers the web-like material N up to the splicing device 39 and through it, is activated to support and transfer the web-like material also along the remaining path from the splicing device 39 up to the winder 35.

[0053] The threading step may also provide for the step of closing the scraper or doctor blade 19 if previously opened before opening the scraper or cutting blade 19A.

[0054] It should be noted that the supply of the web-like material N towards the calender 29 is cut off by closing the scraper or cutting blade 19A (that is moving such blade to contact with the cylindrical surface of the Yankee cylinder 15). The blade 19A transversely cuts the web-like material N being supplied on the Yankee cylinder 15 throughout its width, forming a leading edge of the web-like material N which is directed towards the pulper 41. The scraper or doctor blade 19 may remain closed, i.e. in contact with the Yankee cylinder 15 or it may remain open. When the scraper or cutting blade 19A is opened, the web-like material N on the Yankee cylinder 15 therefore continues towards the scraper or doctor blade 19.

[0055] In this step, the strip of web-like material and the remainder of the web-like material N is detached from the Yankee cylinder 15 by the scraper or doctor blade 19 and directed towards the pulper 41. The subsequent activation of the threading nozzles allows the strip of web-like material to be inserted into the inlet end 38A of the conveying device 38 and threaded towards the winder 35.

[0056] This allows to easily threading in even very wide web-like material N, for example wider than five metres, given that threading is carried out with a thin strip, for example measuring 20 cm, which widens progressively and continuously up to the final format by implementing the latter step.

[0057] The operations for the transversal cutting of the web-like material N and the subsequent threading cycle described above, with which the supply of the web-like material N is temporarily cut off downstream of the Yankee cylinder 15 and subsequently winding of the web-like material N on the reel B2 in the winder 35 is started, are substantially the same used in the tissue paper continuous production lines of the known type in which the paper formed is wound on master reels and then transferred to other converting systems. In these lines, the cutting off of the supply of the web-like material and the subsequent recovery of this supply are required for example when awound paper reel is to be removed and replaced with a new winding rod in the winder. Unlike the prior art, in the combined line described herein, the step of cutting off the supply and starting the winding of the web-like material in the winder 35 is carried out following the stop of the converting line 5, maintaining the production line 3 in operation at standard operating speed.

[0058] Once the threading step has been completed, throughout the time in which the converting line 5 is not running, the web-like material N continuously produced by the production line 3 is wound on the reel B2.

[0059] Once the cause of the stop of the converting line 5 has been removed, the supply of the continuous web-like material N coming from the production line 3 to the converting line 5 may be resumed when the converting line resumes operation.

[0060] To this end, the following steps may be carried out. The converting line 5 may resume operating gradually accelerating from zero speed to a speed equal to or close to the standard operating speed, i.e. for example the production rate of the web-like material N. In this step for accelerating the converting line 5, the latter may be temporarily supplied with a spare continuous web-like material N2 coming from the reel Bl found in the unwinder 33. This spare web-like material N2 is threaded into the converting line 5 in a known manner not described herein, through suitable threading members, not shown.

[0061] Subsequently, the converting line 5 is accelerated while supplying it with the spare continuous web-like material N2. When the supplying speed of the spare continuous web-like material N2 is approximately equal to the suppling speed of the continuous web-like material N coming from the production line 3 and supplied to the winder 35, the spare continuous web-like material N2, coming from the reel Bl in the unwinder, and the continuous web-like material N coming from the production line 3 are spliced together. Splicing between the continuous web-like material N coming from the production line 3 and the spare continuous web-like material N2 is performed by the splicing device 39. The splicing device 39 may comprise cutting members, not shown, adapted to cut off the continuous web-like material N supplied to the reel B2 of the winder 35, in a point downstream of the splicing. The splicing device 39 may also comprise further cutting members, adapted to cut off the spare continuous web-like material N2 upstream of the spicing. This allows to resume the supply of the continuous web-like material N coming from the production line 3 towards the converting line 5.

[0062] Advantageously, a control unit is connected to the drive systems provided for each device described heretofore so as to be able to control and carry out the operating steps. In particular, in the event of an unscheduled stop of the converting line 5, for example due to jamming or tearing of the web-like material N, or a jamming in the rewinder, the control unit commands the immediate cut off of the supply of the weblike material N by closing the scraper or cutting blade 19A and simultaneously activating the winder 35 so as to lose the least time possible from the time of detection of a cut off in the converting line 5, to the time when the web-like material can be wound on the winder 35. In this case the converting line 5 may be provided with sensors adapted to detect malfunctions, jamming, breakage of the web-like material, or any other event leading to the stopping, even in emergency, if need be, of the converting line 5.

[0063] Should the stopping of the converting line 5 be scheduled or commanded by an operator without alarms going off or malfunctions in the converting line 5, the control unit may activate the winder 35 before commanding the closure of the scraper or cutting blade 19A, so as not to lose production during the step for accelerating the winder 35. In this case, the scraper or cutting blade 19A are closed when the speed of the winder 35 is equal to the production rate of the production line 3.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A combined line for producing and converting a continuous weblike material, comprising: a production line, adapted to produce a continuous web-like material; a converting line, adapted to convert the continuous web-like material, directly supplied from the production line to the converting line, in a product; a path for supplying the continuous web-like material from the production line to the converting line; an unwinder adapted to unwind a spare continuous web-like material from a reel arranged in the unwinder.

2. The combined line of claim 1, wherein the unwinder is positioned between the production line and the winder and it is adapted to dispense the spare continuous web-like material in transient operating steps of the production line.

3. The combined line of claim 1 or 2, wherein the production line comprises a continuous paper production machine, in particular for producing tissue paper, preferably with a wet method.

4. The combined line of claim 3, wherein the production line comprises a headbox, a forming wire, and a system for drying a continuous web-like material formed on the forming wire by dispensing a layer of an aqueous suspension containing cellulosic fibres.

5. The combined line of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the converting line comprises at least one machine for converting the continuous web-like material coming from the production line.

6. The combined line of claim 5, wherein the converting machine is selected from the group comprising: an embosser, a printing machine, a rewinder for producing rolls, a log saw for cutting rolls transversely to the axis thereof, a roll storage unit, a tail sealer, a folding machine, a packaging machine, a bagging machine, a palletising machine, a combination thereof.

7. The combined line of any of the preceding claims, further comprising a winder adapted to receive a continuous web-like material from the productionline and wind the continuous web-like material in a reel contained in the winder, when the converting line is inoperative.

8. The combined line of claim 2, comprising: a winder adapted to receive a continuous web-like material from the production line and wind the continuous web-like material in a reel contained in the winder, when the converting line is inoperative; a threading device, configured to draw-in a continuous web-like material produced by the production line up to the winder; a splicing device, combined with the unwinder and the winder, configured to splice together: a continuous web-like material, coming from the production line and supplied to the winder, and a spare continuous web-like material, coming from the unwinder; and for cutting off the supply of the spare continuous web-like material to the converting line and stop the supply of the continuous web-like material coming from the production line to the winder.

9. The combined line of claim 8, wherein the splicing device is positioned along an advancement path of the continuous web-like material coming from the production line, between the unwinder and the winder.

10. The combined line of claim 9, wherein a unit of the converting line is arranged between the splicing device and the winder.

11. The combined line of any of the preceding claims, wherein the production line comprises a Yankee cylinder, adapted to dry the continuous web-like material produced by the production line.

12. The combined line of any of the preceding claims, comprising a pulper arranged along the production line or between the production line and the converting line, the pulper adapted to receive the continuous web-like material coming from the production line in transient steps concomitant with an interruption of the converting line.

13. A method for producing products from a continuous web-like material, wherein the method comprises the following steps: producing a continuous web-like material in a production line;supplying the continuous web-like material from the production line to a converting line, along a path for supplying the continuous web-like material; in the converting line, converting the continuous web-like material into said products; wherein, if the converting line is cut off, the following steps are carried out cutting off the continuous web-like material coming from the production line and generate a leading edge of the continuous web-like material; accelerating a winder; threading the head of the continuous web-like material into the winder and winding the continuous web-like material into a reel in the winder.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of converting the continuous web-like material comprises at least one of the following steps: winding the continuous web-like material into rolls; cutting the continuous web-like material into sheets and form a pile of sheets; embossing the continuous web-like material; printing the continuous web-like material.

15. The method of claim 13 or 14, comprising the step of resuming the supply of the continuous web-like material coming from the production line to the converting line when the converting line resumes the operation thereof.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of resuming the supply of the continuous web-like material to the converting line comprises the following steps: starting to dispense a spare continuous web-like material from a reel in an unwinder towards the converting line; accelerating the converting line by supplying it with the spare continuous web-like material; when the supplying velocity of the spare continuous web-like material is approximately equal to the supplying velocity of the continuous web-like material supplied from the production line to the winder, splicing the spare continuous web-like material and the continuous web-like material coming from the production line to each other generating a splice between the continuous web-like material coming from the production line and the spare continuous web-like material; cutting off the continuous web-like material supplied by the reel of winder downstream of the splice and cutting off the spare continuous web-like materialupstream of the splice, so as to resume the supply of the continuous web-like material coming from the production line to the converting line.

17. The method of any of claims 13 to 16, wherein the continuous weblike material is a tissue paper layer.

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