Abstract: Apparatus for winding webs of photographic film like onto the hub of a reel in a cassette has a flexible band one end of which is secured to the hub and the other end of which is connected to a coupling unit having a normally closed clamping mechanism for the leader of a web. The leader can be threaded through an inlet opening of the cassette and into the coupling unit when the clamping mechanism is held in open position by a permanent magnet which is installed in the cassette adjacent to the opening. When the hub is rotated in a direction to convolute the band and thereupon the web therearound, the coupling unit is withdrawn from the field to the permanent magnet and is confined in a peripheral recess of the reel. If the web is thereupon unwound, the coupling unit is withdrawn from the recess and is advanced toward the opening so that the magnet opens the clamping mechanism and the latter permits withdrawal of the leader of the web therefrom.

Abstract: Novel and improved methods and apparatus for processing liquid or viscous materials. Essentially, the methods and apparatus involve feeding liquid materials to an annular processing passage for controlled processing. The annular processing passage is provided by two elements. One is a rotatable element carrying at least one processing channel. The other element is stationary and provides a complementary coaxial surface arranged with the channel to provide the enclosed processing passage. Also associated with the stationary element are an inlet for feeding material to the passage, an outlet for discharging material from the passage, an element near the outlet providing a material collecting end wall surface and an element positioned between the inlet and outlet providing a liquid material spreading surface.

Abstract: A weight assembly adapted for use with a polymeric reel to approximately match the moment of inertia of the polymeric reel to that of a similar metal reel. The weight assembly includes attachment assemblies adapted to enter apertures in a side wall of the reel, which attachment assemblies include pendulums automatically moved by gravity or centrifugal forces to releasably attach the weight assembly to the side wall of the reel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously mixing a liquid and a powder to form a substantially homogenous mixture. The liquid and powder are fed, via separate lines (22,21) to a cavity (7) in a rotating wheel (3,4) and to powder-accommodating spaces (13) respectively in said rotating wheel (3,4) and are thrown therefrom by centrifugal force outwardly towards the periphery of the wheel. The liquid is pressed from the cavity (7) via a gap (8,9) arranged in the wheel in a direction towards the upper side of said wheel and forms a mist curtain as it exits from the gap. The mist curtain captures the powder particles thrown by centrifugal force from the powder-accommodating spaces (13) and is mixed with said particles.

Abstract: A web finishing system which includes a web rewinder 10, an accumulator 64 and a log saw 80 includes means for automatically controlling the speed of the rewinder 10 based on the status of equipment in the system.

Abstract: An apparatus for guiding web-like materials is provided with a hollow suction box having a surface for making a contact with a continuously running web-like material. A plurality of bores are formed in the surface of the suction box within a region corresponding to the maximum sheet width at a suitable pitch. Each of the bores have a smaller diameter at its inner side than at its outer side. A sucking mechanism of adjustable pressure is provided in communication with the cavity of the hollow suction box. A damper is disposed at the duct of the sucking mechanism and is used for adjusting the pressure in suction box.

Abstract: A paper feed system for a photographic printer which includes a motor driven takeup spool which pulls paper from a supply reel across a paper deck to the takeup spool. An encoder is turned by the paper, and provides encoder pulses which indicate incremental rotation of the encoder, and thus incremental movement of the paper. Prior to each paper feed cycle, a slow-down count is subtracted from a total feed length count to provide a high speed count. The motor is initially operated at high speed until the encoder has produced pulses equal to the high speed count. The motor is then switched to the low speed for the remaining portion of the paper feed corresponding to the slow-down count. During each paper feed cycle, the encoder pulses during the high speed portion of the paper feed are monitored to provide an indication of the average velocity of the paper during the high speed feed. The slow-down count for each paper feed cycle is a function of the average velocity from the previous paper feed cycle.

Abstract: An improved magnetic tape reel for computers is taught which comprises a central part carrying a driving hub having a first set of spokes extending radially outward from the outer surface of the hub and a support ring concentric with the hub and having a second set of spokes extending radially inwardly from the inner surface of the ring. Two side flanges are ultrasonically welded to the central part along the spokes forming a box-like structure having a high resistance to compression produced by tape being wound thereon.

Abstract: A continuous winding device for webs of paper, such as toilet paper, comprises a first drum which is drivable at a peripheral speed equal to the speed at which the material to be wound is fed during the winding phase, and a second drum spaced from the first by a distance corresponding to the diameter of winding cores for the formation of spools of the material. The second drum is driven at a peripheral speed equal to that of the first, and to that of the material being guided along the second drum. A mechanism for temporarily varying the speed of the first drum during a phase of core replacement and for tearing the material is provided as is a mechanism for inserting a core between the two drums. A displaceable presser drum is also used which bears against the spool being formed and thus holds the spool between the two first and second drums and the presser drum during winding.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for continuously center-winding a web into a plurality of rolls utilize a pair of cutting blades which cooperate to sever the web after it has been wound into a roll. One of the cutting blades assumes a cutting position at the inception of a winding operation. The other cutting blade is moved into a cutting position at the termination of the winding operation.

Abstract: A web cutting blade is secured to an articulated arm which moves the blade towards and away from the web to be severed. The blade is moved to a position adjacent a free span of the web and is held in a stationary position during the severing of the web. A web guide shoe is also mounted on the articulated arm and captures the severed end of the web and directs it around a new core so that it will envelop the core and begin winding on the core so that the roll change can be effected during a continuous web movement. A web defelector member positioned on an opposite side of the web from the cutting blade is also mounted on an articulated arm which can move the deflector towards and away from the web. After the blade has been positioned adjacent the web, the deflector member urges the web into engagement with the blade so that the web will be cut due to the movement of the web across the blade.

Abstract: A web cutter for a surface winder provides a cutting blade which is moved into position adjacent the web and held stationary during cutting of the web. A web deflector is mounted for rotation about the axis of the drive drum on the opposite side of the web from the knife and when in the cutting position, deflects the web into the knife for severing the web. The device includes a guide shoe supported adjacent the knife for deflecting the severed edge of the web around the new core to be wound.

Abstract: A roll paper holder having two L-shaped brackets spaced apart and fixed to a wall. One bracket has a rigid arm extending towards the opposite bracket and terminating in an aperture. The other bracket has a cylindrical roll paper holder fixed to the arm by a flexible cable, the opposite end of the cylindrical holder having a hook to cooperate with the aperture. The cylindrical holder can be moved up, bending the flexible cable, so a roll of paper can be placed over the cylindrical holder; then, the cylindrical holder can be moved down to cause the hook to snap into the aperture. The hook and aperture are accessible at the side of a roll of paper on the cylindrical holder.

Abstract: Kaolin suspension homogenizing and storage tank provided with at least a single mixing device mounted on its side wall. The mixing device includes a propeller or paddle impeller with inclined blades, the diameter of which is 1/15 to 1/30 of the diameter of the tank and the velocity of the blade tips of the impeller range from 6 to 12 m/s. The arrangement includes an alternative circulation pump and at least a single jet.

Abstract: A core clamp mechanism serves to grip a core on a winder shaft by means of a plurality of ring elements and an expandable elastomer tube. A spacer sleeve abuts at one end with the free end of the core and receives, at its other end, a locking disc in preformed engagement spaces which cooperate with lugs formed on the disc. The elastomer tube is positioned upstream of the disc and supplied with air pressure for expansion of the tube against the disc which serves to compress the sleeve against the core. Shrinkage and other adjustments during the clamping operation are automatically accommodated by axial expansion of the tube under pressure. To remove a wound core, pressure is released through a valve from the tube and the disc moved clear from engagement with the sleeve. Cutouts corresponding to the disc lugs are formed on the sleeve so that, by aligning the cutouts with the disc lugs, the sleeve can be pulled off the shaft and the core removed and replaced.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for intermittently dispensing sheet material from a roll to an operating apparatus. The apparatus includes means for accumulating sheet material from the roll which does not require the roll to be motor driven and means for preventing pull back of the sheet material through the dispensing apparatus and permitting low force advancement of the sheet material.

Abstract: Apparatus suitable for supporting the trailable loop of an irrigation hose in an irrigation system where a hose trailing irrigator moves towards and usually past a source of water to such a trailable hose, the apparatus comprising a trailable carriage having means mounted on said carriage capable of supporting the loop off the ground and guide means capable of guiding the trailed locus of said carriage under the urging of the trailing loop. The means mounted on said carriage preferably comprises a wheel but can take other forms. The invention also consists in a method of supporting the trailed loop of an irrigation hose.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns a double-drum winder for winding and for then ejecting a wound roll of web material and transferring the same to a delivery table. Adjacent to the double-drums on which the roll is wound there is a transfer table which is movable between a horizontal position where it can receive the wound roll from the double drums and a vertical position where the upstanding table blocks undesired movement of the wound roll past the transfer table. An ejecting device moves the wound roll to the transfer table. The transfer table is on a swivel mount so placed that the transfer table pivots away from the drums as it swivels up from its horizontal to its vertical positions. The swivel axis of the transfer table is on a swivel mount that is supported for limited vertical movement. A lock holds the swivel mount vertically up and it is spring-biased down against the lock.

Abstract: A roller apparatus for winding and unwinding a pool cover is provided which comprises a telescoping roller section which can be adjusted in length, wheel or pedestal supports to support the roller above a pool edge, axle members connecting the roller to the wheel or pedestal supports, the latter containing ball bearings to permit axle rotation and means, such as a crank or motor, connected to one of the axle members for rotating the roller to collect the pool cover, the latter being connected to the roller. Once the pool cover is taken up, the apparatus can be rolled on its wheels, or carried where pedestal supports are used, to a storage area.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing photographic materials is disclosed and more specifically equipment for turnaround during processing of an elongated web of photographic material at the midportion of a processing operation, the web being guided in part by inner and outer rollers with interposed hollow vanes for liquid delivery through openings on one face to guide the web in an arcuate path.