Abstract: A hypocycloidal drive unit converts rotary to linear motion for use in high speed, high volume repetitive operations such as folding and lifting operations in the fiberglass insulation production industry. The drive unit is of low cost and low maintenance construction using a ring assembly with an inner planet wheel. An eccentric arm extends from the planet wheel and connects to crank arms joined to a lift arm which linearly and reciprocatingly slides in guides. The drive unit is characterized by the absence of gear teeth on the inner surface of the ring and on the planet wheel outer diameter. Various embodiments are disclosed including a circumferential chain around the ring and an inner planet wheel sprocket engaging the chain, a smooth inner ring circumferential surface and rubber faced planet wheel or tire traveling around the inner ring and an elastomeric cog belt and toothed planet wheel.

Abstract: In an insulation blanket-packaging machine and method for continuously packaging insulation blanket in the form of batts there is a continuous: infeed of batts into a loading station; movement of batts from the loading station into a transfer station that also functions as a batt-stacking station; formation of a batt stack in the transfer station; compression of a batt stack in a compression station; envelopment of a compressed batt stack within sheet material in a packaging station to form a package; and removal of a package from the machine. The machine can also be used to package insulation blanket in roll form.