Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing recyclable paper pallets utilizes spool-shaped laminated supports which are wound on a spool-shaped mandrel utilizing adhesive coated paper strips. In one aspect of the invention, the spool-shaped laminated supports can be glued to conventional upper and lower pallet skin sheets also made of paper material, such as corrugated paperboard. In another aspect of the invention, the spool-shaped pallet supports are utilized in a system in which the pallet is integrated directly into a pre-strapped load. In this system, a slip sheet is strapped directly to the bottom of a load and the slip sheet is glued directly to the upper faces of an array of pallet supports, sufficient to support the load and to provide the spacers or standoffs for subsequent insertion of lifting equipment, such as a lifting fork, beneath the load. The inherent rigidity of the strapped load may be sufficient to compensate for the lack of rigidity of the thin paper slip sheet.

Abstract: A variable load ballast system for the double facer of a corrugator includes a number of rows of holddown belt engaging ballast members positioned in side-by-side relation transversely across the belt, with the rows extending over the full heating section of the double facer. Each of the rows is divided into a number of longitudinal segments, each of which segments is controlled by a vertical actuator to move the segment between a lower full load ballast position on the belt and an upper no load position off the belt. The rows may comprise a series of ballast rollers or a continuous flexible membrane and either embodiment provides the ability to vary the ballast load on the holddown belt longitudinally, laterally and in any pattern of symmetry or asymmetry to accommodate a wide range of operating conditions and problems typically arising in the operation of a double facer.

Abstract: A system for coordinating the splices in each of the component webs used in making a composite corrugated paperboard web independently measures on a dynamic real time basis the length of each component web between the splicer where it is supplied and a downstream cutoff apparatus where the synchronized splices are cut out in a short length of web in which they are contained. The real time measurement of each component web includes continuous monitoring of web lengths subject to change while running through variable length storage areas, and an initialization procedure whereby an initially unknown length of component web in its respective storage is determined. The system also includes a calibration procedure by which the various devices used to measure running web lengths throughout the system are all calibrated to a master device which controls the total web length for each order.

Abstract: An air bearing assembly for supporting a running web in a paper slitting apparatus is particularly adapted for use in slitting a corrugated paperboard web and includes a flat web-supporting plate which is slotted to receive a thin annular slitting blade rotatably supported above the web. The flat supporting plate includes a series of apertures for directing a flow of compressed air upwardly through the plate to support the web on an air bearing or cushion as it travels over the plate and through the slitting blade. The air apertures are preferably concentrated along the edges of the slot. The slot is contoured to the shape of the cross sectional profile of the blade such that the slot tapers to an upstream point where the blade passes through the web and into the slot and where blade load on the web is greatest. Additional air bearing support may be provided at this point as well, and across the entire supporting surface of the plate.

Abstract: A stack of folded and glued corrugated paperboard boxes is slit in unison with a thin cutting blade having a linear cutting edge disposed parallel to the plane of the boxes and moved through the stack in an angular direction to slit essentially one box at a time. The stack is squared before slitting to align the box edges, however, the force of the blade on the stack as it moves therethrough holds the receding stack together such that the cut halves of each box may part laterally as the blade passes therethrough to avoid any crushing of the corrugated paperboard media.

Abstract: A lockdown apparatus for releasably locking a coaxially mounted series of tool heads in a slitter-scorer machine includes an elongate locking member movable into simultaneous engagement with locking surfaces on each of the tool heads and a flexible membrane interposed directly between the locking member and the locking surfaces which membrane is flexed into and out of direct locking engagement with the locking surfaces by movement of the locking member. The flexible membrane may be used with either a rotary or reciprocal locking member and, in either case, the flexible membrane may be secured against movement with respect to the tool heads when they are locked such that unavoidable longitudinal movement of the locking member will not disrupt the critically accurate locked positions of the tool heads. The rotary lockdown apparatus utilizes an elongate cam of the type known in the prior art and, in the reciprocal lockdown apparatus, the locking bar comprises the armature of a solenoid.

Abstract: A system for aligning and squaring folded and glued boxes being conveyed serially in line or in a shingle utilizes a fixed set of alignment wheels positioned parallel to and on one side of the shingle and a set of adjustable alignment wheels positioned on the opposite lateral edge of the shingle. The adjustable alignment wheels can be adjusted as a unit to pivot on a vertical axis and to move laterally slightly into the path of the shingle. The pivot arm on which the adjustable wheels are mounted accommodates major misalignment of the initially incoming shingle, but is pivoted to an aligned position in the direction of shingle movement by the force of the moving shingle.

Abstract: A roller assembly for supporting a running web of corrugated paperboard in a slitting apparatus includes a pair of rollers which define therebetween a slot for receipt of a rotary slitting blade. The rollers are mounted on separate rotational axes which are angled slightly with respect to one another so that the axially inner edge portions of the rollers where the blade enters the slot therebetween actually engage the blade edge and the diametrically opposite edge portions of the rollers are maximally spaced to define between the adjacent roller faces a downwardly divergent slot. Roller contact with the blade faces helps prevent paperboard adhesive build up and the entry of scrap into the slot. The downwardly divergent shape of the slot allows scrap which does enter therein to be discharged readily with rotation of the rollers. The roller assembly is adapted to be carried with the slitting blade and automatically positioned with the mechanism used to drive and lock the slitting blade in operating position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for longitudinally slitting a continuously moving shingle of sheets of corrugated paperboard includes a thin, circular rotary slitting blade cooperating with a lower roller assembly which supports the underside of the moving shingle and provides a firm surface to support the shingle against the upper rotating slitting blade. The roller assembly includes an annular circumferential slot in its outer surface through which an edge portion of the upper cutting blade travels with the shingle firmly supported by the roller surfaces on each side of the slot. In an embodiment of the invention for slitting a shingle of preformed knocked down boxes, the lateral edges of the advancing shingle are aligned and the shingle is held for movement into the slitting blade, resulting in extremely good registration and slit quality.

Abstract: An apparatus for installing a selectively reopenable shut-off valve into an oil well casing of the type having an outer production casing and an inner production pipe suspended therein including a laterally installed casing plug to which independent flow diversion apparatus are attached after the casing is plugged and flow is initially stopped to allow temporary diversion and continued separated and independent flow from the annulus between the outer casing and inner pipe and from the pipe itself. The apparatus is particularly adapted to shut off a well which is burning or flowing out of control so that suitable repairs may be effected at the wellhead, while production is continued via the separately diverted flows.

Abstract: Knocked down boxes made of corrugated paperboard are slit longitudinally in an on-line process directly downstream from the folder/gluer in which the boxes are formed. The boxes are first reoriented 90.degree. in a horizontal plane from the positions in which they are formed in the folder/gluer to a reoriented position for movement in a direction transverse to the box fold lines, the boxes are formed into a shingle in the direction of movement, and the shingle is conveyed in that direction into an alignment station. In the alignment station, the lateral edges of the boxes in the shingle are aligned vertically, while the shingle moves through the alignment station, by shifting the boxes transversely to the direction of movement.

Abstract: A lift locking assembly for the vertically movable platform in a stacking apparatus includes toothed locking devices at each corner of the platform which are triggered simultaneously into engagement with correspondingly toothed racks by a triggering cable assembly attached in a manner to directly simulate movement of the platform lift chains. The triggering cables always remain taut, but become more highly loaded in tension as a result of platform movement without a corresponding movement in the lift chain or the hydraulic cylinder operating the lift chain, as a result of chain and/or hydraulic system failure. The four locking devices at the corners of the lift platform are interconnected by a common actuating linkage which may also be manually operated to separately lock the lift platform in any desired position for servicing or the like.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing longitudinal, laterally spaced slits in a continuously moving sheet or web of corrugated paperboard or the like includes a plurality of upper tool heads each supporting a thin, circular rotary slitting blade. The blades are coaxially mounted and driven by a common drive shaft and each blade-carrying tool head is independently positionable across the width of the paperboard sheet. Each slitting assembly includes a lower tool head or counterhead carrying a roller assembly which supports the underside of the moving board and provides a firm surface to support the board against the upper rotary slitting blade. The roller assembly includes a circumferential radially extending slot in its outer surface through which an edge portion of the upper cutting blade travels with the sheet firmly supported by the roller surfaces on each side of the slot.

Abstract: A system for changing the speed of conveyed sheets while maintaining the sheets in register including a speed changing belt operating at a constant speed to present a radial outer surface portion which travels over a cylindrical guide and into tangent contact with the surface of the sheet traveling at a speed equal to the velocity of the incoming sheets. A portion of the speed changing belt includes an acceleration lobe positioned to engage the trailing portion of the sheet and to provide a continuously increasing radius at the tangent contact portion as the belt travels around the pulley whereby the outer surface velocity of the lobe and the sheet in contact therewith continuously increase from the incoming speed to a desired second speed.

Abstract: An apparatus for installing a reopenable shut-off valve into a flowing high pressure pipe, such as the production pipe in an uncontrolled flowing well, utilizes a cylindrical outer saddle member attached around the production pipe and providing a housing for the drilling, finishing and plugging assembly. The saddle is welded directly to the pipe section or attached via an intermediate layer of epoxy to add rigidity and strength to the pipe section. A rotary drill is advanced completely through the surrounding saddle and the internal production pipe and is followed axially by a valve plug. Sealing engagement of the valve plug in the cut hole may be attained by expanding the plug with internal fluid pressure or by utilizing a tapered plug held in sealing engagement with the similarly tapered hole by the application of an axial sealing force. A method for accessing the production pipe at an underground location for attaching the pipe plugging apparatus a safe distance from the well head is also disclosed.

Abstract: An in-line strapping system which is particularly adaptable for strapping a compressible stack of sheet material includes a stack feeding mechanism which captures and holds the stack with its vertical side faces squared through the strapping cycle. A pair of vertically disposed compression belts captures the stack fed from an upstream squaring mechanism and feeds the stack into a strapping station to partially encircle the stack with a strap disposed in the path of movement. Only one lateral side of the stack is captured between the compression belt such that the stack is held in cantilevered fashion in the strapping station with the opposite lateral side unsupported. A rotary strap arm supports the partially wrapped strap and carries it around the unsupported rear portion of the stack to a sealing position overlapping the free end of the strap beneath the stack.

Abstract: A system for changing the speed of conveyed sheets while maintaining the sheets in register includes a speed changing belt operating at a constant speed to present a radial outer surface portion which travels over a pulley and into tangent contact with the surface of the sheet traveling at a speed equal to the velocity of the incoming sheets. A portion of the speed changing belt includes an acceleration lobe positioned to engage the trailing portion of the sheet and to provide a continuously increasing radius at the tangent contact portion as the belt travels around the pulley whereby the outer surface velocity of the lobe and the sheet in contact therewith continuously increase from the incoming speed to a desired second speed.

Abstract: An apparatus for stripping the scrap portion from a die cut blank includes a stripper pin carrier providing a pattern of stripper pins supported in a resilient compressible material layer in which the stripper pins are demountably embedded. The stripper pins may be inserted into the resilient layer to provide a pattern or patterns which will accommodate virtually any size, shape and location of scrap portions to be stripped from a blank. The stripper pins can be removed and reinserted in a different pattern to accommodate a different run of blanks of corrugated paperboard or the like. Programmable robotic control may be used for pin placement and removal. A unique positive stripping apparatus includes a resilient soft-covered roll beneath the blank at the point of stripping and into which the leading edge of the scrap portion is pressed by the stripper pins on the upper rotary pin-carrying roll.

Abstract: A shingle handling and squaring device (18) is disposed between a sheet shingler (5) and stacker (9) and mounted above a stack infeed conveyor (19). The device includes a pair of side carriages (23,24), each of which carries a pair of freely rotatable longitudinally in-line tamping rollers or wheels (29-32), the peripheries of which are adapted to engage an edge of the traveling sheet material (6). The wheels are mounted for rotation about generally vertical but slightly inclined axes (48) and have tapered peripheries (51) so that the wheels nevertheless present truly vertical faces to the sheet material. The wheels are counterbalanced (56). In addition, when the stacker infeed nip roll (17) is raised by the entry of shingled sheets, a device (57-60) is provided to release the nip roll from the sheets to prevent binding.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing longitudinal, laterally spaced slits in a continuously moving sheet or web of corrugated paperboard or the like includes a plurality of upper tool heads each supporting a thin, circular rotary slitting blade. The blades are coaxially mounted and driven by a common drive shaft and each blade-carrying tool head is independently positionable across the width of the paperboard sheet. Each slitting assembly includes a lower tool head or counterhead carrying a roller assembly which supports the underside of the moving board and provides a firm surface to support the board against the upper rotary slitting blade. The roller assembly includes a circumferential radially extending slot in its outer surface through which an edge portion of the upper cutting blade travels with the sheet firmly supported by the roller surfaces on each side of the slot.