Abstract: A guard for a cast cutter includes a first member securable to a cast cutter and a second member securable to a guard member. The second member is freely movable relative to the first member during operation along a support axis. Stops limiting movement in either direction along the support axis. This cast cutter guard has only one setting which accommodates variations thickness. Pressure exerted upon the cast cutter during operation results in movement of the second member relative to the first member, rather than pressure upon the injured area.

Abstract: A downstacker assembly in which paperboard blanks, received from a die cutter station, are passed sequentially through a trim removal station, a feed station, a stacker assembly partially disposed in a pit, and a stack retrieval assembly. The stacker assembly is disposed in a drop chute beneath a vacuum conveyor assembly which drops the blanks from the feed station into the drop chute, assisted by a pair of twin blank striker assemblies which selectively separate the blank therefrom. The stacking blanks are tamped using a semiflexible tamper plate assembly against flexible curtains on a descending elevator assembly. A stack staging assembly serves as a temporary cradle to catch the falling blanks once a predetermined stack height is achieved until the stacks can be removed via the stack retrieval assembly. A dunnage holding assembly provides multiple-tier load forming as the stacks are discharged from the downstacker assembly.

Abstract: A slip sheet removal apparatus for removing a dunnage sheet disposed beneath a paperboard blank stack conveyed by a conveyor assembly, the slip sheet removal apparatus comprising a dunnage sheet removal assembly having a stationary subassembly with roller driven drive belts and a retractable subassembly with guide belts thereon. Fluid actuators selectively raise and lower the retractable subassembly to engage a leading edge of the dunnage sheet as it advances on the conveyor assembly to pull the dunnage sheet underneath the conveyor assembly for storage and later removal. Also, a pivot conveyor assembly receives the paperboard stack from the conveyor assembly to alter the direction of travel thereof if required.

Abstract: An improved downstacker assembly in which paperboard blanks, received from a die cutter station, are passed sequentially through a trim removal station, a feed station, a stacker assembly partially disposed in a pit, and a stack retrieval assembly. The stacker assembly is disposed in a drop chute beneath a vacuum conveyor assembly which drops the blanks from the feed station into the drop chute, assisted by an impacting assembly which selectively separates the blanks therefrom. The stacking blanks are tamped against flexible curtains on a descending elevator assembly. A stack staging assembly serves as a temporary cradle to catch the falling blanks once a predetermined stack height is achieved until the stacks can be removed via a stack retrieval assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting predetermined lengths of panels from a continuous strip of flexible material and for forming the lengths of panel members to have a preselected panel profile. The strip is reel fed to a first strip driving station which drives the strip through a shearing station, over a hump table, to a second strip driving station and through a strip forming station. In sequence, the second strip driving station brakes the leading portion of the strip to effect a strip hump over the hump table, which is detected by a protoelectric sensor for hump height and signals the first strip driving station to vary its feed rate to maintain the hump; the second driving station is then signaled to commence driving the lead portion of the strip to the strip forming station.