Abstract: A snake feeding device comprises a base having opposite ends, an actuator pivotally mounted on the base, and first and second sets of drive rolls spaced apart in the direction between ends of the base. Each set includes a roll on the base and two rolls on the actuator for engaging a snake therebetween and displacing the snake relative to the base in the direction between the ends thereof in response to rotation of the snake. The actuator selectively displaces the rolls of each set relative to one another.

Abstract: A snake feeding device comprises a base having opposite ends, an actuator pivotally mounted on the base, and first and second sets of drive rolls spaced apart in the direction between ends of the base. Each set includes a roll on the base and two rolls on the actuator for engaging a snake therebetween and displacing the snake relative to the base in the direction between the ends thereof in response to rotation of the snake. The actuator selectively displaces the rolls of each set relative to one another.

Abstract: A printing apparatus having a mechanism for transporting continuous paper includes: a frictionally transporting section for frictionally transporting the continuous paper; a paper braking section provided on an upstream side of the frictionally transporting section; a paper-position restricting section constituted by a pair of rollers arranged between the frictionally transporting section and the paper braking section obliquely at a predetermined angle ? with respect to a paper transporting direction; a buffer device provided between the paper-position restricting section and the frictionally transporting section to absorb slack of the paper; and a printing section disposed on a downstream side of the frictionally transporting section.

Abstract: A tape printer includes a holder support member at one side end in a roll sheet holder storage part in a direction substantially perpendicular to a feeding direction. In the holder support member, a mounting piece which is substantially rectangular in section and formed protruding outward on a positioning holding member of a roll sheet holder is fitted. The tape printer further includes a flat portion formed substantially horizontally between a rear edge of an insertion opening through which a roll sheet is inserted into the tape printer. On the flat portion, a front portion of a guide member is placed. At a rear edge of the flat portion in the feeding direction, at plural positions corresponding to various kinds of the roll sheets having different widths, there are formed four second positioning grooves in which part of the guide member is fitted.

Abstract: In a cable processing equipment a cable changer stands perpendicularly relative to a base plate, at which a straightening unit and a cable transport unit are arranged. The cable changer is movable upwardly or downwardly and consists of a frame with horizontal frame members and vertical frame members. Cable guides are arranged at the vertical frame members. Cable guides which are at the inlet side as seen in cable transport direction are provided with clamping/retracting units, and cable guides at the outlet side are provided with clamping units. The clamping/retracting units at the inlet side are switchable by means of a first actuating device arranged at the base plate. The clamping units at the outlet side are switchable by means of a second actuating device arranged at the base plate. Cables which are not at the moment transported in the cable transport direction, are clamped by the clamping/retracting units and the clamping units.

Abstract: A friction drive apparatus includes an edge detection system for determining a lateral position of a strip material advancing in a longitudinal direction. The edge detection system includes a first sensor and a second sensor for monitoring the lateral position of the strip material. The friction drive apparatus also includes instructions for automatically aligning the strip material as the strip material is advanced a predetermined aligning distance and instructions for calibrating the second sensor with respect to the first sensor to compensate for any potential discrepancies therebetween. The apparatus and methods of the present invention ensure that the strip material is properly aligned in the friction drive apparatus and limit waste of strip material during those operations.

Abstract: A suitable tension is applied to a film-like printing body to be processed in a printing step or a parts mounting step. Further, the processed film-like printing body is automatically fed out by a predetermined stroke. In a state of a film-like printing body (9) being clamped by all the fixing clamps (19, 19, 29, 29), a tension clamp (12) in a rear side of a parts mounting apparatus (33) in a moving direction of the film-like printing body (9) is moved forward by a cylinder (17) while being kept open. Then, tension clamp (12) is pulled back by an operation of a tension coil spring (18) while the film-like printing body (9) being kept clamped. After mounting of the parts, the tension clamp (12) is opened. Next, the film-like printing body (9) is clamped by feeding clamps (20, 20), and at the same time, all of the fixing clamps (19, 19, 29, 29) are opened.

Abstract: During upper-stage recording (recording to rolled paper of an upper-stage roll folder) of upper/lower-stage continuous recording, if absence of the rolled paper on a spool is detected, the recording is suspended, and the rolled paper is then cut by a cutter at the suspended position, and the remaining rolled paper is taken up into the upper-stage roll folder. On one hand, during lower-stage recording (recording to rolled paper of a lower-stage roll folder), if absence of the rolled paper on a spool is detected, the recording is continued until absence of the rolled paper is detected by an in-path sensor, the recording is continued according to a remaining amount of the rolled paper after absence of the rolled paper was detected by the in-path sensor, and the remaining rolled paper is then discharged outside after the recording ended.

Abstract: A friction drive apparatus includes an edge detection system for determining a lateral position of a strip material advancing in a longitudinal direction. The edge detection system includes a first sensor and a second sensor for monitoring the lateral position of the strip material. The friction drive apparatus also includes instructions for automatically aligning the strip material as the strip material is advanced a predetermined aligning distance and instructions for calibrating the second sensor with respect to the first sensor to compensate for any potential discrepancies therebetween. The apparatus and methods of the present invention ensure that the strip material is properly aligned in the friction drive apparatus and limit waste of strip material during those operations.

Abstract: A strap driving device for looping machines has with a strap guiding channel for a looping strap and two pairs of drive rollers engaging in the strap guiding channel. Each pair of drive rollers has a driving roller driven in rotation and a pressing roller to be set to the latter for free running. For being set to the driving roller, the pressing roller is mounted on a rocker.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding a machine with a wire selected from a plurality of wires includes wire guides for supplying wires to a receiver device, a wire distributor for selecting one of the wires and moving the selected wire through an output guide to a machine, such as an electroerosion cutting device. The distributor includes shears for cutting the selected wire.

Abstract: An inventive apparatus for feeding rolled paper comprises rolled paper, a feed roller for feeding the rolled paper, a cutting unit for cutting the rolled paper, a driving source for actuating the feed roller and the cutting unit, a first gear train interposed between the driving source and the feed roller and a second gear train interposed between the driving source and the cutting unit. A reverse feed gear for transmitting driving force for a cutter gear to a feed gear is interposed between the first gear train and the second gear train and connects the first gear train with the second gear train when a movable cutter moves from a cutting position to a non-cutting position. Thereby, the feed roller is rotatively driven in the direction opposite to the feed direction by the driving force from the cutter gear.

Abstract: One or more porous air film rolls are used, in a system to support a flexible web during movement of the web, and selectively provide either compliant or rigid clamping of the web while performing processing operations on the web at a work station. The present invention is particularly suitable for punching holes on-the-fly, in both "X" and "Y" directions, in a flexible polyamide film. Up to a four-fold increase in punch tool productivity is provided by the present invention.

Abstract: A top of form setting apparatus for a printer, which has a printing device for printing on paper, a paper storage for storing the paper, a paper feeding device for feeding the paper in a forward direction toward the printing device and in a reverse direction toward the paper storage, a controller for controlling the printing device and the paper feeding device, a paper top detector for detecting a top of the paper fed by the paper feeding device, a paper reverse feeding device for reversely feeding the paper which has been set at a printing position until reaching a detecting position of the paper top detector, and further for reversely feeding the paper by a predetermined amount, and a paper forward feeding device for forwardly feeding the paper which has been fed in a reverse direction by the paper reverse feeding device until reaching the detecting position of the paper top detector, and further for forwardly feeding the paper by a predetermined amount, thereby setting the paper top at a predetermined posi

Abstract: A remotely controllable retractable lifeline extender having an electric motor attached thereto to provide powered payout and retraction of the lifeline to a user located below. The remote retractable lifeline extender may be fastened to the ceiling or rafter of a structure, or to some other sturdy structural component thereof having a great deal of clearance below the connection point. The device is actuated by a hand-held remote control unit used by the worker to be attached to the lifeline. By activating the remote control unit, the lifeline is lowered to the worker by the motor-powered unit. The lifeline is attached to the worker's safety belt or harness by a fastening member such as a locking snap hook or carabiner.

Abstract: An occurring positioning error is electronically corrected during the positioning of edge-perforated continuous form paper (10) in a print position (PP) relative to a print station (13) of a printing device (1). Edge perforation holes (EH1 . . . EHv) on the continuous form paper (10) are scanned for the electronic correction and the positioning error is determined for a block (B1 . . . Bm . . . Bu) of the continuous form paper (10). The positioning error is composed in this case for each block (B1 . . . Bm . . . Bu) of at least one slippage value (Sv-1, Sv) as well as of a residual error (RE1 . . . REm . . . REu). While the slippage value (SVv-1, SVv) for a block (Bm) is corrected immediately, a residual error (REm) is taken into consideration during the correction of the position error for a next following block (Bm+1). In addition to the electronic correction of the positioning error, determined for the block (B1 . . . Bm . . . Bu), the positioning process is surveyed relative to interventions (I).

Abstract: A printer that prints characters or graphics on tape by means of a thermal print head, having a cutting means that cuts the tape at predetermined positions, and control means which act to eliminate printing defects such as gaps, or spaces, between printed dot strings. Gaps between printed dot strings, caused by a tape cutting operation that pulls the tape past the print head, is eliminated by the control means which reverses the tape feed mechanism in order to slacken the tape just prior to cutting. After cutting, the control means forwards the tape by an amount less than or equal to the amount reversed and printing is resumed. Printer also provides means for entry of lead margin length, total tape length, character spacing and character string to be printed by means of a keyboard. Rear margin length is computed by the printer.

Abstract: A continuous strip of ticket stock from which individual tickets can be separated includes an elongated strip of a ticket stock material and, at each preselected ticket-separation location, a collinear transversely extending perforation, bursting slot, and slit at each end of the bursting slot. A ticket dispenser for dispensing individual tickets from such a strip of stock includes a drive mechanism that drives the strip of ticket stock in both a forward direction and a reverse direction through a bursting station. The bursting station includes a burst barb, and a guide that permits the strip of ticket stock to move past the burst barb when the strip of ticket stock is driven in the forward direction, and to engage the burst barb to the bursting slot when the strip of ticket stock is driven in the reverse direction. The burst barb propagates a separation from the bursting slot outwardly through the perforation to separate the individual ticket cleanly from the strip.

Abstract: An automatic document conveying device is applied to an image processor that has a transparent plate. The automatic document conveying device can convey a continuous document that has folding lines extending in the direction of width at stated intervals in the conveying direction and feed holes formed in both side edges thereof at stated intervals in the conveying direction. The automatic document conveying device includes a continuous document placing device on which will be placed the continuous document in a condition where it is folded along the folding lines, a conveying devices for conveying the continuous document passing on the transparent plate of the image processor, and a continuous document receiving device for receiving the continuous document conveyed passing on the transparent plate.

Abstract: A printer includes a printing portion and means for defining a sheet path along which a printing media passes through the printing portion. The sheet path defining means includes a pair of first feed rollers arranged upstream of the printing portion with respect to a normal feed direction of the printing media with the first rollers being adapted to be driven in the normal or a reverse direction. The first rollers further are driven at a predetermined speed with a predetermined speed force at least in a normal direction. A pair of second feed rollers is arranged downstream of the printing portion which are driven only in the normal direction at a feed speed slightly higher than the predetermined feed speed with a feed force slightly smaller than the predetermined feed force. The second rollers further are freely rotatable in the reverse direction.

Abstract: A ticket issuing machine having a stocker for containing a continuous form, a paper carrier device for carrying the continuous form supplied from the stocker to an inlet of a carrier line, a paper separating device for separating the continuous form at a score thereof in the carrier line, and a printing/recording device for printing or recording data on the continuous form. The paper separating device includes a blade retained so as to be movable toward and away from a score formed in the continuous form, which blade has a rounded bursting portion adapted to face the score, and a blade driving mechanism for driving the blade so as to bring the blade into abutment against the score for separation of the continuous form at the score. Accordingly, the continuous form can be reliably separated at the score with a small force.

Abstract: The crank assembly of the advancing apparatus is eccentrically supported in an intermediate shaft. This intermediate shaft is in turn supported in an oscillating slide. Accordingly, the oscillating movement of the slide is superimposed over such of the driving pivot of the crank assembly. The intermediate shaft includes a cam disk. Due to the cam disk the intermediate shaft oscillates in operation and causes in turn the oscillating movement of the slide, which oscillating movement proceeds oppositely to the oscillating movement of the driving pivot. The sum of these two movements in the zones of the end positions thereof is accordingly zero. Accordingly, the driving pivot is at rest over a prolonged time span. Due to this prolonged rest period between individual feeding steps, elastical deformations of working structures and of the workpiece being worked upon, can attenuate and fade out prior to the working proper, and at the same time the length of the advancing is not subjected to a change.

Abstract: A color printer according to the present invention includes a clutch means, an urging member and a positional alignment mechanism. The clutch means is used for engaging and disengaging a driving force used to move a paper holder means. The urging member (e.g., a spring) is used to urge the paper holder means in a direction opposite to the printing direction. The positional alignment mechanism is used for mechanically determining the position at which printing is to start on the paper when the paper holder means is disengaged from the driving force by the clutch means and is urged by the urging member in the direction opposite to the printing direction.

Abstract: A printer of the type in which printing is performed in response to data supplied from a host computer and the printer is selectively rendered in an on-line mode enabling to receive the data from the host computer and in an off-line mode disabling to receive the data therefrom. A recording paper is firstly moved beyond a reference line by desired length corresponding to a desired amount of upper margin of the recording paper. The recording paper is then moved backwardly by a distance between a print position and the reference line, whereby the desired amount of upper margin is reserved when printing is started. In another aspect of the invention, an elongated, web-like recording sheet is moved toward a cutting blade and is cut at an appropriate line on the sheet. Then, the sheet is backwardly moved by a predetermined distance toward the print position.

Abstract: A thermal printer comprises a pair of fixed frames for rotatably supporting a platen which is rotated by a motor and a head unit rotatably supported by the fixed frames through a pair of movable frames and for supporting a thermal head. A pair of pinch rollers are rotatably mounted on the fixed frames, which are selectively brought to a first operating state to feed a paper sheet to the region between the platen and the thermal head, and a second operating state to feed no paper sheet. The thermal head is selectively moved between a first position, in which it is pressed against the platen, and a second position in which it is disengaged from the platen. The thermal head is moved to the first position, at the same time the pinch rollers and moved to the second operating state, while the thermal head is moved to the second position, at the same time the pinch rollers are moved to the first operating state.

Abstract: The driving gear meshes with the gear on the web of a planetary gear. This planetary gear includes an arrestable sun wheel. The output sun wheel is rigidly connected to the drive shaft. It extends through a sleeve section of the web. A longitudinally displaceable shifting sleeve is located on the sleeve section, which shifting sleeve has a plurality of control disks. These control disks control via a roller the rocking movement of the upper feeding roller. Accordingly, the period of the rocking movement can be selected depending on a respective selected control disk.If the sun wheel is unlocked, the shifting sleeve may be moved such that it engages directly the drive shaft such that by properly selecting the number of teeth, it is possible to choose between a rotational speed transmission relation of 1:2 and 1:1.

Abstract: A printing press of a type that will operate with a continuous web has a device for taking up slack between the printing of each format. An electrically actuated sprocket drive is located at the opposite region for pulling the web forward from a blanket cylinder and press cylinder. A tube locates below the web in the input region. The tube has apertures and is connected to a continuous source of vacuum. The vacuum applies a force to cause the web to adhere to the tube. A web tightener will move the tube when pressure between the press and blanket cylinders releases. As the tube reaches the end of the web tightening position, the web tightener will expose a portion of the apertures to the atmosphere, bleeding off the vacuum.

Abstract: A printer includes improved paper feeding mechanism. A manual paper guide plate below an automatic paper feeding device can guide a thick piece of paper into a printing position on the platen without bending it hard around the platen. A pin tractor below the manual paper guide plate can feed a continuous web substantially straight into the printing position. A print head below the platen prints out on the lower surface of printing paper, whereby the printed individual cut sheets of paper being piled up one after another with the printed surface facing downward in a proper page order. A paper tray for holding the printed paper can alternatively change its position to reverse the discharge direction of the printed continuous web. The printed and reversed paper can be stacked on the upper surface of the manual paper guide plate.

Abstract: Strip feeding mechanism intended for use in a stamping and forming machine comprises an intermittently rotated sprocket wheel which is located adjacent to the operating zone of the machine in which the stamping and tooling is located. The strip material is held against the periphery of the sprocket wheel by a retaining shoe so that the sprocket teeth will enter pilot holes in the strip and advance the strip during feeding intervals. During non-feeding intervals, the pilot pins which are part of the stamping and forming tooling, will adjust the position of the strip relative to the tooling performing the operation thereon. The construction of the biasing shoe and the sprocket wheel is such that the strip is not firmly held by the feeding mechanism and can be moved by a very slight amount by the pilot pins in order to position the strip precisely in the operating zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting indicia from tape. A pair of rollers provided, each with an axis, first and second ends and roller surfaces. Support plates are included for supporting the second ends. Support plates are also included for supporting the first ends whereby the pair of rollers are oriented with the roller surfaces beside each other with parallel axes. The support plates comprise curved spring means having ends for biasing the roller surfaces together with respect to each other and a plate adjuster for separating the ends and for counteracting the biasing of the rollers. A die plate guide may be provided for guiding the die plates used to form the indicia. Tape pullback may also be provided for negative interletter spacing.

Abstract: The tape module for mounting in a mailing machine includes a tape track supported by a support means such that the tape track is supported in a generally cantilevered manner. A tape positioning means selectively positioning the support means in a first position and in a second position longitudinally removed from the first position. A tape feed means for selectively feeding one of a plurality of imprinting tapes to and through the tape track such that the fed imprinting tape resides within the tape track when the tape track is in the second position.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for severing packaging blanks, including a drive roller, a register roller at a location downstream of the drive roller and high-speed driving rollers downstream of the register roller for removing severed web portions. The drive roller is provided with a circumferential web-engaging surface and a knife located in a circumferential gap in the web-engaging surface. The drive roller cooperates with a counter roller, and a pendulum roller is located upstream of drive roller.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for moving a sheet to be machined in a step-by-step fashion. A continuously running machine, illustratively in the form of a printer, is disposed at a machine station. A motor drives a sheet mover to move the sheet in a first direction and in a second, opposite direction along a path past the machine station.

Abstract: A system is provided for intermittently processing successive definite lengths of flexible sheet material in continuous web form, e.g., tractor-fed computer printout paper, with nearly tensionless transport of the web through web feeding operations, cyclical web processing and driving operations, and web delivery operations, that are not speed-interdependent. For each processing cycle, with the web extended without slack through an upstream lead to a processing station where a certain length of the web is positioned to be next processed, an excess length of loose web is fed into that lead, typically forming a loop in it; then the certain web length is processed and driven forward a distance shorter than the length of loose web; and then web is retracted from the upstream lead to remove the residual loose web and leave a next certain web length in position to be processed.

Abstract: An impression cylinder (11) and a blanket cylinder (2) are made in contact with/separated from each other at prescribed timing. Continuous paper (12) inserted between the impression cylinder (11) and the blanket cylinder (2) is intermittently fed in association with the said timing for printing. A pin feed tractor (13) arranged on an inlet side of a printing position forward/reversely feeds and stops the continuous paper (12) at timing previously set in relation to the said timing for contact/separation. A suction conveyer (14) arranged on an outlet side of the printing position sucks and conveys the printed continuous paper (12) while switching its suction force in plural of stages in relation to the said paper feeding timing.

Abstract: A more space-effective method and device for the feeding of a material web (1) is obtained by making use of a web feeding unit (2) for feeding as well as correction of register. The web feeding unit (2) is provided for this purpose with two driving devices (14,15) which during operation are used alternately for feeding and register correction respectively of the material web.

Abstract: This relates to a dispenser for a hot melt material which is supplied in rod-like form from a spool and which is heated to the required semi-liquid dispensing state. The dispensing head is provided with a heating passage which provides for uniform heating of the rod-like hot melt material and there is further provided a special piston having a throughbore through which hot melt material is fed into a pumping cylinder as the piston retracts after a pumping stroke so as to eliminate in the dispensing head downstream of the piston any momentary voids. There is also a feed mechanism which will feed the hot melt material in accordance with the demand of the dispensing head and which will urge the rod-like hot melt material into the heating passage of the dispensing head under a preselected pressure so as to assure flow not only through the heating passage, but also through the piston.

Abstract: The delineating cylinder of the web apparatus of this invention has a cutout around one-third of its periphery to be out of contact with the web through an idle phase of its rotational cycle during which a web portion at that cylinder is drawn rearward through an adjustably variable distance. Through the remainder of that cycle that web portion is moved forward in step with delineating cylinder rotation. Upstream and downstream from that cylinder are feed roller pairs, driven through a variable ratio planetray transmission, whereby other portions of the web are moved forward steadily at the rate of one repeat interval length per delineating cycle. Between each pair of feed rollers and the delineating cylinder is a control roller around which there is a loop of web. Each control roller is moved bodily in an orbit whereby its loop is alternately increased and permitted to decrease. The radius of its orbit is adjustably variable for variation of repeat interval length.

Abstract: A captive film loop apparatus moves film through a film gate in a manner to increase the dwell time of each film frame in the gate over that normally available with presently known captive film loop apparatus. Film loops on either side of the gate are held captive by first and second rollers which are moved in unison along a given path for a first given period during which the first roller takes up all film fed to it and the second roller releases all film taken from it. The rollers are then moved in unison along a return path to their original positions during a second given period substantially less than the first given period. Film in the film gate is stationary during the first given period and moved through the gate from one frame to the next within the second given period. The construction is such as to provide for a very smooth acceleration and deceleration of the film so that rapid projection of large film formats is possible without damaging the film perforations.

Abstract: An automated bag filling mechanism particularly adapted to handle reclosable zipper lock-type plastic bags fed into the machine in a bag chain has a bag opening station, a filling station, a bag reclosing station, and a bag separation station, all successively serially arranged in the machine along a transport path in which the bag chain is conducted through the machine. Mechanical means are provided at each station to perform the functions of that station. The mechanical means are sequentially actuated and controlled by the movement of individual cam members keyed for rotation to a continuously driven rotary driveshaft. Means are provided to assure proper alignment or registration of each bag of the chain before the various work stations of the filling mechanism, despite tolerance variations in bag size, slippage in the drive devices, and/or slack development in the chain.

Abstract: An automated bag filling machine particularly adapted to handle reclosable fastener strip profile-type plastic bags fed into the machine in a bag chain employs stations for opening, filling, reclosing, and separating filled and closed bags from the remainder of the chain. The drive means for conveying the chain through the filling mechanism include stroke control devices which enable the operation of the machine to be changed over for handling bags of different width sizes. Means are also provided for automatically preventing the bags in the chain from excessively over traveling their proper registration points with the various work stations.

Abstract: A roll feed apparatus suited for use in automatic manufacturing machines, in feeding a sheet-like material intermittently. The apparatus comprises a main sector roll and a sub-sector roll adapted to cooperate with each other in clamping therebetween the sheet-like material and in feeding the same. The main sector roll and the sub-sector roll are operatively connected to each other through sector gears. The main sector roll is operatively connected to a rocker shaft which is adapted to be rocked in rotational direction so that the main sector roll and, hence, the sub-sector roll are made to rock as the rocker shaft makes a rocking rotation. A connection device is provided for operatively connecting the main sector roll to the rocker shaft in such a manner that the rocking angle of the main sector roll for a given rocking angle of the rocker shaft is changeable.

Abstract: When feed stock is pulled from storage and a portion cut off for use by an operator, such as a builder of tires, the remaining portion of feed stock not used by the operator for the tire he is building ("unused stock"), interferes with the tire building process. Therefore, the tire builder must take the time, and make the additional effort to move the unused stock out of his way, usually by pulling the end of the unused stock into a retaining clip on the tray of the `servicer` which presents appropriate stocks to the tire builder. To avoid the inconvenience to the tire builder who must move the unused stock out of his way, and to save the time required for him to do so, a spring actuated cam roller is used to release the feed stock to the tire building machine when the operator pulls on the stock. After the operator cuts off a predetermined portion, a controlled reverse rotation of the cam is automatically spring actuated so as to retract the end of the unused stock and keep it out of the operator's way.

Abstract: A bi-directional film transport device includes an upper and lower plate member having a separation gap between a first and second pair of drive rollers, the bytes of which are positioned adjacent the gap. A single drive motor is rigidly rotationally coupled to drive the first and second pair of drive rollers and the plate members function to eliminate the tendency of the film to buckle, which in turn maintains the film in the proper plane of focus. As a result of this simple arrangement, complex clutch mechanisms which are otherwise employed to maintain tension during bi-directional operation have been eliminated. Side walls coupled between the plates parallel to the path of film travel prevent skewing of the film driven by the short low inertia high speed drive rollers.

Abstract: In die cutting the impression roll is maintained at constant peripheral velocity and the web, while engaged by the die, travels at the peripheral velocity of the impression roll. As the trailing edge of the die approaches the nip formed by the impression and complementary rolls, one or both of the feed rolls driven by the web is clutched into a cam mechanism for positive driving at a constant velocity equal to the die-induced velocity of the web. This constant velocity driving of the web jointly by the die and feed rolls continues until the die releases the web beyond the aligned centers of the treatment rolls when the web comes under exclusive control of the feed rolls.

Abstract: A thread feed arrangement particularly suitable for use in an embroidery machine for feeding and tightening a thread includes a drive mechanism for rotating a thread roller in the machine about its axis so as to tighten the thread a desired amount after the thread is formed into a stitch or loop. The drive mechanism is controlled by a control device in corresponding relationship with the formation of the stitch or loop, such as by a punched card control system which controls the entire operation of the machine. When using the feed arrangement, thread breakage is significantly reduced and a substantial number of commonly used reciprocating machine parts such as thread guides are no longer required.

Abstract: The invention relates to the movement of a web through a printing machine.The web is caused to move forward during each cycle, alternately at the printing speed during printing and at a take-up speed which is at most equal to the printing speed, the excess length arising from the difference between the printing speed and the take-up speed, in the case where the latter is less than the printing speed, being re-absorbed by pulling the web backwards without stopping the web. A typical device comprises, downstream of the printing cylinder 2, a first endless rotary member 9 for conveying the web at the printing speed, and a second endless rotary member 12 for conveying the web at the take-up speed.Application to paper in the form of webs of widely varying substances and quality.

Abstract: Apparatus for printing and applying pressure-sensitive labels carried on a release liner of supporting material where the label stock advancement mechanism is a feed wheel which advances the release liner. A brake prevents movement of the label stock during application of a label. A ratchet and pawl arrangement incrementally advances the feed wheel each time a hand lever is returned to its rest position. At the same time, a second ratchet and pawl arrangement is effective to remove the brake during the incremental label stock advancement. The feed and brake release ratchets are preferably integrally connected to opposite sides of the feed wheel. Mechanisms are also provided for ensuring removal of the brake prior to incremental label stock advancement and for manually latching the brake in its released position during loading of label stock in the apparatus.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for cutting and sealing a two-ply web of thermoplastic material of tubular, flexible stock includes a sheet member formed of a non-stick material interposed between an intermittently advancing web of thermoplastic material and a sealing pad, and apparatus for moving the non-stick sheet member in the downstream direction subsequent to a blade severing the web downstream from the sealing pad and a heated sealing member sealing the plies of the portion of the web which overlie the sealing pad while the web is at rest between intermittent advancements thereof, so that any portion of the sealed portion of the web which may have become stuck to the sheet member is stripped therefrom.

Abstract: A tape printing device for printing characters on an elongated tape-like print medium and for cutting the print medium at a desired leading and trailing cutoff end positions. The device includes a tape feed mechanism for feeding an elongated tape-like print medium, printing means for printing the tape-like print medium, and tape cutting means positioned downstream of the printing means with respect to a tape feeding direction for cutting the tape-like print medium. The tape cutting means provides a predetermined tape cutoff execution position at which the tape-like print medium is subjected to cutting.