Patent ID: 7819355

Claim:
A web processing machine allowing inspection and repair of a roll of web material, the machine comprising: (a) an unwind mandrel for receiving a roll of web material for processing, (b) a rewind mandrel for receiving a roll of processed web material, (c) an inspection zone for inspecting web passing from said unwind mandrel to said rewind mandrel, (d) a splicing zone for splicing repair of at least one flaw in the web passing from the unwind mandrel to said rewind mandrel, (e) guide rolls for directing the web along a path from the unwind mandrel, past the inspection zone, downstream to the splicing zone, and to the rewind mandrel, (f) first control means for causing the web to move past said inspection zone and said splicing zone and to allow an operator to brake the web to a standstill upon the detection of a flaw in the web, and wherein said inspection zone is retractable from a position substantially juxtaposed to said splicing zone and comprises: (i) an inspection zone support structure, (ii) a plurality of idler rolls mounted to said support structure in said machine, and so positioned along the web between the inspection zone and the splicing area so that web material can be strung therearound in substantially boustrophedonic configuration, and (iii) control means adapted, upon detection of a flaw at the inspection zone, and upon braking of the web to a standstill, to move said support structure away from its substantially juxtaposed position with respect to the splicing area in such a fashion as to expose the splicing area for use by the operator to perform a repair, verification, or any type of modification, without having to substantially move physically from the position in which the operator was located to perform inspection while the machine is running.