Abstract: A method includes, using at least one processing device, obtaining position measurements and/or tilt angle measurements associated with a tissue web and identifying a stretch measurement associated with the tissue web using the obtained measurements. Identifying the stretch measurement could include using one or more mathematical formulas to calculate the stretch measurement associated with the tissue web using the obtained measurements. The one or more mathematical formulas could be defined using laboratory stretch values of multiple training webs. Different mathematical formulas can be associated with training webs having different characteristics, and the method may further include selecting at least one of the mathematical formulas based on one or more characteristics of the tissue web.

Abstract: A sensor is described for a regulating system in a vehicle, having a sensor element and an interface element. The interface element is set up for the communicative connection of the sensor element to a control device in a vehicle. The interface element is fashioned as a two-contact interface element.

Abstract: Provided herein are various suspension devices and associated methods and apparatus to open loops (or form opened loops) in a chain of linked products suspended from one or more suspension devices in a conveyor system. In one implementation, a suspension device for a chain of linked products includes a link support portion pivotally coupled to a conveyor, the link support portion configured to suspend a portion of the chain of linked products therefrom and comprising a lower portion downwardly extending from the link support portion. The lower portion is configured to engage a portion of a respective link of the chain upon a pivoting motion of the link support portion about a pivot axis in order to open a respective loop suspended from the link support portion to an unloading orientation for unloading.

Abstract: Provided herein are various suspension devices and associated methods and apparatus to open loops (or form opened loops) in a chain of linked products suspended from one or more suspension devices in a conveyor system. In one implementation, a suspension device for a chain of linked products includes a link support portion pivotally coupled to a conveyor, the link support portion configured to suspend a portion of the chain of linked products therefrom and comprising a lower portion downwardly extending from the link support portion. The lower portion is configured to engage a portion of a respective link of the chain upon a pivoting motion of the link support portion about a pivot axis in order to open a respective loop suspended from the link support portion to an unloading orientation for unloading.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a product comprises movement means able to move the product in a direction of feed through at least a treatment sector, the treatment being temporally defined by a predetermined duration. The movement means comprise at least a conveyor belt closed in a ring that supports the product and extends along a path between an entrance and an exit of the treatment sector. The conveyor belt is at least partly made of flexible material and is able to be disposed along the path in a plurality of loops, which develop in a direction substantially transverse with respect to the direction of advance, so that the product follows the loops along the path.

Abstract: A method and system for feeding a continuous rod of elastomeric material automatically to a user unit along a feed line having at least one powered portion and extending between an extruder, for forming the rod, and the user unit, and wherein, upstream from the powered portion, the rod is fed along a supporting device defining, for the rod and when at rest, a first path of given fixed length; and wherein, once the rod reaches and is engaged by the powered portion, a movable part of the supporting device is withdrawn from the first path to feed the rod along a second path, one portion of which is a bend of variable length.

Abstract: A loading system is provided for loading an elongated strand of food product of given diameter on a moving transport conveyor. First and second loading conveyors are separated by a gap of dimension less than or equal to the diameter of the food product strand and convey the strand to a transfer ramp by an indexed drive.

Abstract: A storage carriage for longitudinal components. The storage carriage has a pair of continuous belts. The belts are arranged to form a nested zigzag pattern. As the component is feed through the nested zigzag pattern, substantially the entire length of the component within the storage carriage is subjected to the same tension and compression. The component is fed into one corner of the carriage and is removed from the opposing corner of the carriage. The component travels through the carriage in a “first-in/first-out” system.

Abstract: Prewetting yarn by applying a liquid spray to the yarn before applying size to the yarn. A yarn sheet comprising a plurality of yarns is moved past one or more sprayers for directing a spray of prewetting liquid to the surface of the yarn. The amount of prewetting liquid sprayed onto the yarn is determined by various yarn parameters, and is adjusted in response to the speed of the moving yarn sheet so that variations in speed do not affect the amount of prewetting liquid sprayed onto the yarn. The amount of time elapsing between spraying the yarn with prewetting liquid and applying size to the yarn may be varied, to adjust the time for the prewetting spray to penetrate the yarn.

Abstract: A horizontal conveyor for linked sausage strands has a frame (10) having a horizontal operating platform (12) with opposite first (16) and second ends (18), opposite sides, a top surface (20), and a continuous perimeter wall (14) extending along the sides and first and second ends. The perimeter wall (14) is substantially semi-circular at the first end (16); and has a substantially parallel side portions at a midsection; and has end portions that converge towards each other from the side portions to meet at a semi-circular end portion (18A) at the second end (18). A channel (24) is located in the top portion in uniform inwardly spaced relation to the perimeter wall, and a continuous conveyor chain (26) is in the channel. A plurality of spaced hook members (28) are secured to the conveyor chain and have a shank (30) slidably engaging the top of the perimeter wall, and a hook portion extends downwardly and outwardly with respect to the perimeter wall.

Abstract: Steamer for treating, dyeing, washing, etc. at least one running band of narrow fabric, tape or the like, and including at least one pair of rollers consisting of an upper deflection roller and a lower deflection roller around which the band is guided criss-cross in a figure of eight, with the rollers rotating in opposite directions.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for producing photographic copies of film negatives on a web-shaped endless material which includes a device for the shining through or scanning of picture originals, whereby a first device for producing the copies on the web-shaped endless material is provided and a second device for producing data or image data fields subsequent to the first device is provided, whereby a material storage (58) is provided between the first and second device, whereby in accordance with the invention the material storage is a space in which the material web with the copies is randomly laid down through an input and removed through an output on demand. (FIG.

Abstract: A conveyor station for a pair of sausage producing machines, has a pair of sausage producing machines capable of discharging a rope of sausages through a discharge end thereof. A pair of spaced elongated substantially parallel horizontal conveyors having one end of each adjacent the discharge ends of the machines, with the conveyors having adjacent sides. The conveyors have a continuous conveyor assembly adapted to rotate in a substantially horizontal plane to pick up and carry away the rope of sausage discharged from each machine. A power drive for rotating the conveyor assemblies in either a first or second rotational direction is operatively connected to the conveyor assemblies.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing high quality products of cloth strip by the improvement of working efficiency and the equalization of treatment conditions, wherein the cloth strip (2) is subjected to a predetermined treatment while passing through one treatment zone (3) along a spiral path. A plurality of metallic surface rollers (5-2 to 5-4), surfaces of which are formed with metal, are used as at least part of conveying rollers consisting of metallic rollers (5-2 to 5-4) for guiding the cloth strip (2), provided in at least one of entrance and exit parts for the introduction/withdrawal of cloth strip (2) to the treatment zone (3). The metallic surface rollers (5-2 through 5-4) are arranged in a non-contacted state with each other and positively driven to rotate via a suitable drive mechanism (6).

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a cloth strip comprising a treatment zone with an entrance and exit for the cloth strip. The cloth strip is treated while running along a predetermined spiral path through a treatment zone. A plurality of conveying rollers are provided in the treatment zone. The conveying rollers have portions which are fixed to a rotary shaft and portions which are loosely connected to the rotary shaft such that the loosely connected portion may rotate about the shaft.

Abstract: Apparatus for festooning a traveling length of textile fabric or other web-like material comprises a frame supporting a pair of opposed spaced endless conveyor chains across which a plurality of fabric support rods are removably carried by the conveyor chains in succession with one another for supporting an individual festoon of the fabric depending between each successively adjacent pair of the rods. A secondary conveyor arrangement at the fabric entrance end of the frame is operative to temporarily remove each succeeding fabric support rod from the conveyor chains and, after a selected dwell time, to replace each removed rod onto the conveyor chains to control the festooning accumulation of the fabric on the support rods.

Abstract: In the suspending method, a signal of a value proportional to the amount of movement of the conveying device for conveying a chain of products is generated, and suspending members are controlled on the basis of that signal in such a manner as to suspend the chain of products for each desired number of links to be suspended. Meanwhile, the suspending apparatus has a signal generating device for generating a signal of a value proportional to the amount of movement of the conveying device for conveying the chain of products. A suspending device is connected to a controlling device for controlling the movement of the suspending members, and on the basis of that signal the controlling device causes the suspending members to move in such a manner as to suspend the chain of products for each desired number of links.

Abstract: An unloading process and apparatus for a cable finishing system. The process is characterized in that finished cables are each picked up, during finishing, at a locally determined point of the cables by the controlled conveying operation and are pulled across a depository (10), whereafter the picked up cable point is released in a specific position.

Abstract: A fabric accumulation apparatus including a housing defining a fabric entrance, a fabric exit and a generally vertical fabric storage area therebetween. A gate is located along the fabric housing, being moveable between a closed and an open position. First sensors are located along the path of travel of the gate and are operatively associated with apparatus for opening and closing the gate. Second sensors are located along the path of gate travel and are operatively associated with fabric feed to control the rate of fabric feed dependent upon the height of a fabric column in the housing.Initially, in a filling mode and with the gate closed, fabric is fed into the housing at a high rate of speed relative to fabric withdrawal speed and a fabric bundle is produced thereabove, which ultimately forces the gate to start to open. The gate is then rapidly fully opened and closed, permitting the fabric bundle to drop into the fabric storage area.

Abstract: An apparatus for encoding magnetic data and printing on a plurality of closely spaced labels releasably mounted on a supply roll of carrier strip, includes a magnetic head for encoding the labels and a printer for printing on the labels. The carrier strip extends from the supply roll past the magnetic head and to the printer, and forms a variably sized loop between the head and the printer. The variably sized loop has a gap, across which an encoded label may be transferred so that movement of a label past the printer is independent of movement of the supply roll. The magnetic head is movable parallel to the carrier strip so that the plurality of labels may be encoded and printed without reversing the supply roll, thus increasing the speed at which labels may be encoded and printed. The speed of the movable head may be precisely controlled to ensure accurate encoded. The encoded data is verified when the magnetic head moves over the label back to its original position.

Abstract: A system is provided for handling a strip of pocketed coil springs in an organized manner. An accumulator bin receives the strip from a conveyor assembly which oscillates about a pivot axis to feed the strip evenly across the width of the bin. The bin is designed to urge the first manufactured portions of the strip to the front portion thereof where it may be removed by a second conveyor assembly. Photosensitive devices may be provided to control the feeding of the strip to the bin and its removal therefrom.

Abstract: A looper device of the horizontal type for forming a loop of strip for storage and intended to be used in a strip material processing line. Rollers for separating the upper strip from the lower strip of a loop formed by a moving cart are stored on the cart and are successively placed in position onto and removed from two cooperating stationary frames by a device mounted on the frames and which device is activated by a cam track located on the sides of the cart.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously treating strand-like textile material includes a cubic or quadratic liquid container, and an endless chain which is guided in the vicinity of the container bottom and the container end walls and is provided with transverse rods or bars of greater width than that of the textile strand to be treated. The apparatus further includes an air permeable and liquid permeable stationary support or overlay which is inclined relative to the horizontal from the textile strand inlet or entry side to the textile strand outlet or discharge side of the container. The apparatus also includes a pair of rails in the vicinity of the container bottom for the transverse rods or bars, of the endless chain, moved thereon, and upwardly directed nozzles located below the support or overlay, as well as a device for generating the transverse flow.

Abstract: A looper used in the manufacture of asphaltic roofing felt comprising a driven endless belt of spaced tubes adapted to carry loops of felt between adjacent tubes, a track inclined toward said loops, a trolley having fingers adapted to contact the foremost loop in the looper, rollably mounted on the track wherein the improvement comprises a chain driven at the same rate and in the same direction as said endless belt and means on said trolley to interlock with said chain actuated when said fingers have contacted the foremost loop whereby the trolley travels with the foremost loop and the fingers maintain a constant pressure or contact on the foremost loop, until the loop is pulled out of the reach of the fingers, whereby the fingers drop and deactuate the interlock means, allowing the trolley to roll by force of gravity until the fingers again contact the foremost loop and the operation is repeated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the speed of a traveling web being driven along a path by means of first and second drive rollers located at spaced positions along the path. An emitter device is provided for directing a radiation signal at the traveling web at a predetermined location along the path between the first and second drive rollers so as to be reflected thereby, and a detector device is provided for detecting the reflected radiation signal and for generating a position indication signal indicative of the position of the detector relative to the traveling web at the predetermined location. In response to the position indication signal, the detector device is caused to move so as to maintain a predetermined position with respect to the traveling web at the predetermined location.

Abstract: Continuous printing collator apparatus for printing, handling, collating and final processing of multiple-page printed items such as business forms, booklets, small newspapers, and magazine is provided which includes structure for storate-in-process and/or drying of elongated, printed webs, and aligns a plurality of such webs in a continuous, in-line non-interrupted operation. The apparatus preferably includes a plurality of elongated, individual, shiftable web-supporting bars oriented for receiving and supporting printed webs in a draped fashion thereon; the bars are mounted on a continuous, track (which may be serpentine, closed loop, or open loop) such that individual webs can be received seriatim and, after all webs have been received and aligned on the bars, the complete set thereof can be further processed. The bars may include respective pins for insertion into corresponding web apertures or other means of holding the webs in position so as to facilitate initial and continuing alignment of the webs.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus suitable to be used in an installation ensuring the progression of long, flexible and deformable products, said apparatus comprising means for limiting, at will, the size of the turns, which means are adjustable by displacement in a direction substantially perpendicular to that of the progression of the products.

Abstract: An improved web-splicing apparatus for automatically splicing the beginning of one roll of papers onto the approximate end of a second roll of paper without discontinuing the flow of paper to a utilizing device. The apparatus is provided with speed sensing means, electrical eye, and control means. The speed sensing means get activated at a predetermined speed of the exhausting roll, which in turn activates electrical eye which energizes the control means to activate the braking device to stop the web at the same spot.

Abstract: A sausage loop forming machine that includes a series of hooks of novel configuration on an endless horizontal conveyor. The operation of the conveyor is controlled by a novel sensor that senses the number of sausage joints which pass the sensor, thereby controlling the number of sausage links in the loop formed on each hook, i.e., the size of the loop on each hook. A rotating wheel feeder mechanism cooperates with the conveyor and the sensor to supply continuously a link sausage chain in vertical fashion to the conveyor's hooks.

Abstract: In an installation comprising a chain of rods from which woven material in strip form is suspended in folds, the discharge of hot air or steam through a blowing nozzle is subjected to the cyclic action of a regulating device for progressively reducing the nozzle discharge from a predetermined maximum value during commencement of formation of a fold to a zero value after only a fraction of the time required for complete formation has elapsed. The installation is primarily intended for use in steaming machines.

Abstract: An apparatus for the continuous wet treatment of an endless material, such as a textile web, having a certain width and made of textured polyester fabric or knit, includes a vessel or container having a treatment liquor at a liquid level therein, an endless conveying means for transporting the endless material within the container in the form of suspended loops from an inlet to an outlet of the container, a partition vertically arranged within said container for defining a treatment chamber and a liquor recycling chamber separated from each other, said chambers being in communication with one another above as well as below the partition, means for producing liquid circulation from the treatment chamber to the liquor recycling chamber, the liquor being directed from the top portion of the treatment chamber to the bottom portion and then into the liquor recycling chamber, and take-off means arranged at the outlet of the container and being positioned at the liquid level whereby the endless material is transport

Abstract: A process for the formation of loops freely suspended over a plurality of supporting means for the conveyance of textile material, particularly web-shaped material, which is sensitive to longitudinal tension through a treatment chamber, e.g. a steamer, slowly traversed by the supporting means, e.g. supporting rollers, supported by an endless conveying means, e.g. an endless conveyor chain includes the steps of maintaining supporting means coming into contact with the material constantly in rotation during the formation of the loops, and effecting the loop formation by the relative motion of successive supporting means with respect to one another.