Patent ID: 7950602

Claim:
A device for moving paper reels in an unwinder of the type in which a nearly empty reel is moved along a predetermined path between operating stations in each of which the reel is free to rotate about a longitudinal reel axis thereof, the device being disposed and acting between the operating stations, the device comprising: a carriage for supporting a nearly empty reel, said carriage being mounted for movement such that said carriage is movable between one of said operating stations and another one of said operating stations, said carriage receiving said nearly empty reel at said one of said operating stations, said nearly empty reel being rotatable about said longitudinal reel axis on the carriage; a structure supporting said carriage; a means for moving said carriage between said operating stations; and a means for controlling said means for moving the carriage, wherein said carriage comprises a first side and a second side, each of said first side and said second side comprising a brake and two wheels, said brake acting on said at least one of said wheels when said carriage is at said another one of said operating stations such that said brakes slow down the rotation of said reel about said longitudinal reel axis from a first rotational speed to a second rotational speed, said first rotational speed being greater than said second rotational speed.