Patent ID: 6877943

Claim:
A device for conveying at least one supply roll comprising: a roll feeding surface, said roll feeding surface adapted to support a supply roll, with a longitudinal axis of the supply roll being horizontal, and with a surface of the supply roll being rollable on said roll feeding surface in at least a first supply roll conveying direction; at least first and second driving mechanisms positioned in said roll feeding surface; at least first and second conveying elements in each of said driving mechanisms, each said conveying element including an upper surface positioned to cooperate with a surface of a supply roll from beneath the supply roll, each said upper surface having a width, a leading end and a trailing end, said at least first and second conveying elements in each said driving mechanism being parallel to each other and extending in said at least first roll conveying direction; means for driving each of said at least first and second conveying elements in each of said driving mechanisms in at least a first driving direction parallel to said at least first supply roll conveying direction; a lateral offset between said trailing end of said upper surface in said first driving mechanism and said leading end of said upper surface in said second driving mechanism; and an overlap between said trailing end of said upper surface in said first driving mechanism and said leading end of said upper surface in said second driving mechanism, said overlap being arranged in said at least first supply roll conveying direction.