Abstract: A mechanism is provided for receiving a web with intermittent motion and converting it to uniform motion, particularly for severed carton items. A reciprocating carriage has first and second adjacent idler rollers and a third idler roller spaced away from the first two. A driven roller has a fixed axis and is located with respect to the third idler roller such that the web when strung between the first and second rollers and thence around the third roller and thence around the driven roller, assumes a quasi-boustrophedonic configuration such that the portion of the web between the third idler roller and the driven roller decreases when the carriage moves in the direction which decreases the distance between them. Upper an lower endless belts pass partially around the first and second rollers, thence around the third idler roller, thence around the driven roller, thence along different respective return paths.

Abstract: A device for the inspection and repair of a roll of web material includes an unwind mandrel, a rewind mandrel, an inspection area and a splice area. A flaw in the web is detected at the inspection area, whereupon the web is braked to a halt. Where the splice area is adjacent to or coincident with the inspection area, the flawed portion of the web can pass well beyond the splice area before the web comes to a halt. Provided herein is a web-indexer device that includes a reciprocating indexer shuttle having idler rolls mounted thereon, with further idler rolls mounted to the machine such that the web material can be between them in a substantially boustrophedonic configuration. Control is provided to allow the operator who has caused the web to be braked to a halt upon detecting a flaw, to move the indexer frame so as to retrieve a portion of the web so as to bring the flaw back to the splicing station for repair, without having to reverse the rotational direction of the unwind mandrel or the rewind mandrel.