Abstract: A paper stacker for use with a printer which prints connected sheets that are to be stacked in a folded relationship having a surface for receiving the paper with a frame surrounding the paper that is raised in relationship to the paper in order to maintain paper within the confines of the frame as the frame moves upwardly. The frame is balanced by a constant force spring, and is indexed by optical sensors. The frame includes two adjustable fences for variously sized paper which adjustably moves with paddles to press the paper edges downwardly in the stack. Pinch rollers for driving the paper include low inertia drive rollers formed of a relatively low density plastic material with a pair of idler rollers. To improve stacking, ironing tractor idler rollers iron the tractor perforations, and chains orient the catenary stacking movement.

Abstract: An existing box-making machine is retrofitted by first removing the pull rolls and impression cylinder and other associated parts and cross-ties. However, the heavy duty side frames and drums, including the print cylinder are left intact in the box-making machine. A vacuum transfer machine is then inserted in the box-making machine and mounted to the existing frame to replace the pull rolls that were removed. The vacuum transfer machine includes a hood enclosure having an impression cylinder for printing, and transport rolls on opposite sides of the impression cylinder for conveying the corrugated boards through the impression and print cylinders and to the die cutter. The boards are held against the transport rolls and the impression cylinder by vacuum generated in a vacuum chamber in the hood which also contains the transport rolls and the impression cylinder. The vacuum chamber contains a plurality of vacuum dampers for controlling the vacuum area in accordance with the size of the boards being processed.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus for converting sheets of paper into cushioning dunnage. The apparatus includes a supply assembly, a conversion mechanism, a cutting assembly and a cutting assembly interlock device. The supply assembly supports the paper which is to be converted. The conversion assembly crumples single ply paper into cushioning dunnage and the cutting assembly cuts the newly formed dunnage into desired lengths, where the dunnage is allowed to fall into a container to cushion an item within the container. The cutting assembly interlock device permits activation of the cutting assembly only when the cutting assembly has fully moved into the proper, cutting position.

Abstract: Moving paper webs are treated by having a cross-groove or crease pressed into them prior to being transversely cut and folded. The cross-groove or crease is produced by a radially vibrating, rail-like pressure tool that cooperates with a counter-pressure tool. These tools cooperate to form a sharp, folded crease, even in thick products. The crease is formed along the to be formed cross fold line.

Abstract: A cushioning conversion machine (20) including conversion assemblies (24) which convert a sheet stock material into a relatively low density cushioning product. The conversion assemblies (24) include a feed/cut assembly (26) having a feed device (100), a cut device (200), and a drive device (300). The drive device (300) is operable in two opposite directions and alternately drives the feed device (100) and the cut device (200). Clutch (134) and/or clutch (234) are provided which allow reverse operation of the feed device (100) and/or the cut device (200). A brake (238) prevents inadvertent movement of the moving components (220, 222) of the cut device (200). The power transmission from the drive device (300) to the feed device (100) and the cut device (200) includes a gear train (136, 236, 306) . These and other features of the feed/cut assembly (26) improve operating efficiency and/or simplify assembly procedures.

Abstract: Pouches of flexible packaging material exhibit a tearing zone in the form of a weakness such as perforations or a separation in the material, this in order to be able to remove the contents easily. The packaging material is covered over by at least one film-forming mass, at least in the region of weakness, in order that the package remains closed until the contents are to be used. The film-forming mass may be the decorative printing on the pouch. After packaging, the contents are protected by the pouch and, in order to remove the contents, the pouch may be opened readily by a pulling or snapping movement which causes the covering of film-forming mass to break.

Abstract: A cushioning conversion machine and method for converting sheet stock material into a cushioning dunnage product and wherein the tension in the stock material is controlled to avoid problems associated with improper tension. A conversion assembly draws the stock material from a stock supply and converts the stock material into a strip of cushioning, and a controller controls the operation of the conversion assembly. The conversion assembly is powered by a motor and the controller controls the operation of the motor in response to a sensed parameter related to the tension in the paper. In another embodiment, a torque control is interposed between the feed motor and feed components that engage the stock material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a carton from a blank sheet of material, in line, and wrapping it about articles of a predetermined size including cutting and scoring blades which are automatically preset according to parameters previously stored, for these particular articles, in a programmable controller.

Abstract: A cushioning conversion machine (20) including a converting assembly (52, 54) which converts a sheet-like stock material (22) into a strip (31) having at least one pillow-like portion (33) and another portion (34), and a severing assembly (56) which severs the leading section of the strip (31) to form a cushioning pad (32). The cushioning conversion machine 20 is characterized by a pad-transferring device (300, 400, 500, 600, 700) which transfers the cushioning pad (32) away from the severing assembly (56) by applying a transferring force to the cushioning pad (32) that is concentrated at the other portion (34) of the cushioning pad (32). The other portion (34) of the cushioning pad is preferably a compressed portion, a connecting portion which maintains the geometry of the pillow-like portion, and/or a central portion.

Abstract: A device and method for cutting and re-attaching film for wrapping groups of palletized products are provided. Following the wrapping of a pack, the width of the section of film extending between a reel and the pack is reduced, using an assembly that defines a band of film with minimum width that, at least at one point, is coplanar with a rotating platform. The section of film is then gripped by a gripper and cutting unit. The gripper and cutting unit are attached to the outer edge of the platform. The section of film is then cut by the cutting unit following rotation of the platform.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for sensing the position of the top of a stack of material in a stacking apparatus. The mechanism includes, a hub assembly, an arm, a stop, a torsion device that biases the arm toward the stop, a first trigger and a second trigger. The hub assembly has a hollow center portion configured to accept a shaft that is rotatably and driveably mounted to a stacking apparatus. The hub assembly includes a hub having a first form and a second form each mounted to a respective hub end. The arm has a first end pivotally mounted to the first form, and a second end configured to removably contact the stack of paper. The first trigger is configured to trigger a height sensor. The height sensor is mounted to the stacking apparatus, and the height sensor is configured to provide a first signal to a central processing unit to lower a collection table when the arm triggers the height sensor. The stop is mounted to the first form below the arm, the stop configured to stop the pivoting movement of the arm.

Abstract: A roller or belt correction device for lateral alignment, during converting, of partly folded workpieces in a folder-gluer, consists of a lower structure above which is mounted an upper structure pivoting in the horizontal plane. This upper structure comprises a row of conveying elements which are in contact with the lower plane surface of the workpieces and which are driven by a distinct means at adjustable speed. The device comprises a guiding element which is parallely movable to a axis materializing the initial virtual line against which the workpieces have been previously supported in their upstream conveying path before being rotated in a conveying device.

Abstract: A ticket dispenser has a dispenser body with an internal chamber, and a lid for closing the chamber. The lid has an external ticket-receiving surface. A roll of paper or the like is contained in the chamber, and is fed between a rotating drum and an upright support surface. The lid defines a substantially upright wall with an upper edge, the wall being offset with respect to the support surface when the lid is closed. A passive retainer mechanism on the body retains against the upright wall any part of the paper web rising from between the drum and the support surface. A relatively stiff deflector bends the web material around the edge by virtue of a deflector surface located so as to be intersected by the projection of the operative part of the upright wall portion. A cutter is provided to cut the paper web into discrete tickets.

Abstract: A sleeve label is fabricated from a sheet of polymeric material which is folded upon itself along at least three longitudinal fold lines, with the resulting four overlying layers then being joined together along a longitudinal seal line. The two outermost layers are longitudinally slit along the third fold line. The resulting structure forms a closed tube formed by the first two overlying layers, and two overlying separate flaps formed by the two outermost layers. By adding additional fold lines and additional slits, additional separate flaps can be formed to result in a structure in the nature of a multi-paged booklet.

Abstract: A battery of rod making machines of the tobacco processing industry (such as plain or filter cigarette makers or filter rod makers) is separated from a battery of processing machines (such as cigarette packing or filter tipping machines) by a magazine which is provided with compartments for discrete containers. Articles which are turned out by the making machines are introduced into so-called trays, and groups of filled trays are introduced into containers which are delivered into the compartments of the magazine for temporary storage, or directly to the processing machines, A container which is to furnish articles to a processing machine is relieved of filled trays, and the contents of the filled trays are conveyed to one or more selected processing machines. The thus emptied trays are returned into containers, and such containers are thereupon delivered into the magazine or directly to one or more selected rod making machines.

Abstract: A folder for a rotary printing press, having at least one copy-guiding cylinder and, on the one copy-guiding cylinder, gripping devices for gripping one end of a copy, includes a cutting cylinder cooperating with the one copy-guiding cylinder, and copy-guiding devices provided on the cutting cylinder, the gripping devices of the one copy-guiding cylinder and the copy-guiding devices of the cutting cylinder being retractably and extensibly movable substantially parallel to normals to axes of rotation of the one copy-guiding cylinder and the cutting cylinder; and a method of operating the folder.

Abstract: A method enabling the selective packaging of a product comprising a plurality of items of varying weights, such as chicken parts, and subsequent even-weight scannable packaging of the same. The method includes the steps of weighing each individual part; sorting each individual parts into a holding bin; accumulating a plurality of parts in each bin until a predetermined weight of parts is reached in a first of the bins; emptying the first bin of its parts; and packaging the parts in the appropriate package. The steps of emptying and packaging the parts in accord with the method of the present invention would be repeated as the bins were determined to hold the appropriate weight of product.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compactly folding an airbag of an airbag apparatus adapted for use in motor vehicles. One side of the airbag has a central opening for connection to a gas generator, with a reinforcement preferably around the central opening. The airbag is laid out flat, is held at its center and the zones lying radially outside of the center are turned in around an axis extending at least substantially perpendicular to the flatly laid out gas bag through the central firm holding zone in at least one direction of rotation until a compact airbag package is formed. One embodiment of the invention includes radially disposed axial shifting members, which leave a reception space radially inward and which displace the flexible material of the flatly laid out airbag alternatively, as seen in the circumferential direction in the one or other axial direction before the airbag is wound up.

Abstract: A heating device for heat-sealing bottom portions of containers has a hot air nozzle 62. The nozzle 62 is positionable as opposed to a bottom forming end portion 14 of a tubular blank 11 of square cross section as fitted around an intermittently drivable mandrel 52 for heating a region of the blank end portion. The nozzle 62 is movable toward or away from the end portion 14 on the axis of the blank 11. The nozzle 62 has orifices 101, 102, 131, 132, 133 directed toward a plurality of parts within the region when the nozzle is positioned close to the end portion. Among the orifices 101, 102, 131, 132, 133 of the nozzle 62, those 101, 131 directed toward the part of the region remote from an extremity of the blank when the nozzle is so positioned have a greater open area ratio than those 102, 133 directed toward the part of the region proximate to the blank extremity when the nozzle is so positioned.

Abstract: An airbag (1) for a vehicle safety restraint and particularly a method of folding an airbag comprising laying the airbag (1) generally flat, making folds in the flat airbag to form a polygon (such as a square) in plan view, folding all of the sides of the polygon upwardly and inwardly of the polygon considered in plan view so that at least one point on each side meets a point on at least one other side at a position generally above the centre of the polygon so that the corners of the polygon form upstanding ears (7), and subsequently rolling (E) the upstanding corner ears of the polygon to form the airbag into a cylindrical shape. An airbag folded in this way is very compact and will fit into a housing of smaller diameter than was hitherto possible. The invention applies particularly to a driver's side airbag.