Apparatus for processing a flexible material

1. An apparatus for processing a flexible material ( 14 ), comprising:

a first roller ( 5 ) extending along a main axis (A 1 );

a second roller ( 6 ) extending along a longitudinal axis (A 2 ), the first roller ( 5 ) and the second roller ( 6 ) being mutually co-operating to carry out an operation on the flexible material ( 14 ), an interspace ( 37 ) being defined between the first roller ( 5 ) and the second roller ( 6 ) so that the flexible material ( 14 ) may pass through the interspace ( 37 );

a pressing device for pushing the first roller ( 5 ) and the second roller ( 6 ) one towards another;

a position adjustment device for adjusting the relative position of the first roller ( 5 ) and the second roller ( 6 ), the position adjustment device being distinct from the pressing device;

a pair of contact elements ( 17 , 20 ) mounted at a front end respectively of the first roller ( 5 ) and second roller ( 6 ), and a further pair of contact elements ( 27 , 30 ) mounted at a rear end respectively of the first roller ( 5 ) and second roller ( 6 ), the contact elements ( 17 , 20 ) of said pair being arranged in mutual contact, and the contact elements ( 27 , 30 ) of said further pair being arranged in mutual contact, so as to define said interspace ( 37 );

wherein the pressing device comprises at least two pressing elements ( 53 ) which are arranged in contact with angularly spaced zones of a contact element ( 17 , 20 ) of said pair, and at least two further pressing elements ( 63 ) which are arranged in contact with angularly spaced zones of a contact element ( 27 , 30 ) of said further pair;

characterised in that said pressing device comprises a pair of pneumatic cylinders ( 56 ) to which corresponding pivoting rocker arms ( 57 ) are connected, each rocker arm ( 57 ) being connected to a pair of support elements ( 54 , 64 ) in a tiltable manner the support elements ( 54 , 64 ) supporting said pressing elements ( 53 ) or respectively said further pressing elements ( 63 ).

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the position adjustment device is configured to change the distance between said main axis (A 1 ) and said longitudinal axis (A 2 ), so as to vary the height (H) of the interspace ( 37 ).

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the position adjustment device comprises a front adjustment device ( 15 ), which is associated with respective front ends of the first roller ( 5 ) and of the second roller ( 6 ), and a rear adjustment device ( 16 ), which is associated with respective rear ends of the first roller ( 5 ) and of the second roller ( 6 ).

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the front adjustment device ( 15 ) and the rear adjustment device ( 16 ) are operable independently of each another, so that the main axis (A 1 ) and the longitudinal axis (A 2 ) may be arranged in an oblique position relative to one another.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a contact element ( 17 , 20 , 27 , 30 ) of said pair and/or of said further pair comprises an eccentric element ( 17 , 27 ) included in the position adjustment device, the eccentric element ( 17 , 27 ) being in contact with the other contact element ( 20 , 30 ) of said pair and/or of said further pair so that, by rotating the eccentric element ( 17 , 27 ) about the axis of the roller to which the eccentric element ( 17 , 27 ) is associated, there is a change in the position of the axis of the roller to which the contact element ( 20 , 30 ), co-operating with the eccentric element ( 17 , 27 ), is associated.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 , and further comprising a drive system for rotating the eccentric element ( 17 , 27 ) about the axis of the roller to which the eccentric element ( 17 , 27 ) is associated.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the drive system comprises a toothed wheel ( 39 , 46 ) which is fixed relative to the eccentric element ( 17 , 27 ), a further toothed wheel ( 40 , 47 ) being provided for engaging with said toothed wheel ( 39 , 46 ), so as to rotate the eccentric element ( 17 , 27 ) about the axis of the roller to which the eccentric element ( 17 , 27 ) is associated.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 , and further comprising a control element ( 42 , 49 ) associated with a shaft ( 41 , 48 ) on which said toothed wheel ( 39 , 46 ) is mounted, the control element ( 42 , 49 ) being manually rotatable for rotatingly driving the shaft ( 41 , 48 ).

9. An apparatus according to claim 7 , and further comprising a control element associated with a shaft ( 41 , 48 ) on which said toothed wheel ( 39 , 46 ) is mounted, the control element comprising a motor for rotating the shaft.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said pressing elements ( 53 ) and said further pressing elements ( 63 ) may be pressed pneumatically against the corresponding contact elements ( 17 , 20 , 27 , 30 ).

11. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first roller ( 5 ) supports a cutting die ( 8 ) for cutting the flexible material ( 14 ), the second roller ( 6 ) being a counter roller for supporting the flexible material ( 14 ) during cutting.