Abstract: A flexible conversion method of a reversible rolling mill having at least one rolling stand erected on first civil works foundations and a first production capacity, into an upgraded rolling mill having more than one rolling stand and a second production capacity, the second production capacity being higher than the first production capacity, the reversible rolling mill including: an uncoiling device or pay-off reel and a first recoiling device or entry tension reel on a first side or entry side of the stand; a second recoiling device or delivery tension reel on a second side or delivery side of the stand; standard auxiliary and operation equipment necessary for normal operation and control of the reversible rolling mill, the standard auxiliary and operation equipment necessary for normal operation and control of the reversible rolling mill including mainly or at least a roll coolant tank, pumps, filters, heat exchangers and piping.

Abstract: Disclosed is an air filter using high density filter paper. The filter paper may include a thermally bonded non-woven fabric filter paper 10 having air permeability to filter foreign materials of passed polluted air and change the polluted air to fresh air. The non-woven fabric filter paper includes wrinkled portions 10-1 and 10-N that are folded at a predetermined interval. A thickness of the wrinkle portions 10-1 and 10-N are provided with dense layers 15 and 17 comprising a first polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber 20-2 that can shrink by heat and a second polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber 20-1 that deforms upon by heat treatment.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a conveyance roller pair that has a roller with a uniform diameter in a sheet width direction and that is configured to pinch and convey a sheet, and a guide unit that is provided on an upstream side of the conveyance roller pair and that is configured to regulate a position of an edge of the sheet, wherein the conveyance roller pair conveys the sheet in a state in which the sheet is bended by the guide unit so that on a roller side with a uniform diameter in a sheet width direction, the sheet convexly bends.

Abstract: A carrying apparatus carries a battery electrode member (an electrode material film web or an electrode film). The carrying apparatus includes a carrier for holding while curving, and then carrying the electrode member. The carrier is configured to hold the electrode member at a position that doesn't cause a contact with components for another process at a downstream along a carrying direction. Since the electrode member is curved, its stiffness along the carrying direction is strengthened and thereby sagging down is prevented. In addition, the holding position by the carrier is the position that doesn't cause a contact with components for another process at a downstream along a carrying direction. Therefore, according to the carrying apparatus, it is possible to carry the electrode member (an end of an electrode material web or an electrode) to a target position reliably.

Abstract: A system for dispensing tabs from a carrier substrate, each of the tabs having an adhesive backing for securing the tabs in spaced-apart relation to the carrier substrate. The system includes an input mechanism operative to supply an input stream of the tab stock and an output mechanism operative to accept and take away an output stream of carrier substrate from the tab stock supplied by the input mechanism. The system further includes a peeler bar having first and second surfaces disposed on the periphery of the peeler bar. The peeler bar, furthermore is interposed between the input and output streams such that the underside surface of the carrier substrate slideably engages the first and second peripheral surfaces. The first peripheral surface has an arcuate shape along an elongate axis of the peeler bar and is oriented relative to the second peripheral surface so as to effect an abrupt directional change with respect to the input and output streams.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of discharging a cover tape. The apparatus includes a tape collector including an inlet through which a top cover tape is introduced into the tape collector, an outlet through which the top cover tape is discharged from the tape collector, and a passage formed inside the tape collector to receive the top cover tape from the inlet and guide the top cover tape to the outlet; and a discharge guide rotatably installed inside the tape collector, the discharge guide being rotated to open the outlet by a pushing force exerted by the top cover tape fully filled in the passage, the discharge guide returning to an original position to close the outlet after the top cover tape filled in the tape collector is discharged through the outlet.

Abstract: A rotary printing machine, in particular in a reel-fed newspaper offset rotary press is provided with a device for correcting the web width. A rotatively mounted rotational body configuration is arranged in the path of the web between two print printing nips (2, 3) on one side of the web. The rotational body configuration (5; 6) has a wave-like profile that is transverse to the running direction of the web.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for transversal drawing a film (2) in motion, has a pair of rollers (3, 4) rotating on parallel axes and fitted with toothed surface profiles (5, 6) that overlaps without touching each other. The profiles define a wavy passage (7) for the film, and rounded tips of the toothed profiles (5, 6) of the two rollers (3 and 4) define the points of application of the drawing action on the film (2).

Abstract: A device for conveying a carrier tape by holding both sides with pressing rollers and drive rollers that rotate in opposite directions. The drive rollers have large-diameter portions and small-diameter portions so that the large-diameter portions are formed on inner sides of the circumferential surfaces of the drive rollers and the small-diameter portions are formed on outer sides thereof; and the pressing rollers have small-diameter portions and large-diameter portions so that the small-diameter portions are formed on inner sides of the circumferential surfaces of the pressing rollers and the large-diameter portions are formed on outer sides thereof. Both side edges of the carrier tape are pressure-held and conveyed by the pressing rollers and drive rollers with the large-diameter portions of the pressing rollers pressing the side edges onto the small-diameter portions of the drive rollers, thus curving the carrier tape in its width direction and preventing sagging of the carrier tape across the width.

Abstract: Bowed spreader apparatus for laterally stretching, or stressing, a web of material carried in a selected direction along a conveyor path includes an elongate stationary spreader bar extending laterally of the path. The spreader bar has a web support face which is convexly curved both about the longitudinal axis of the bar and along the longitudinal axis. The bar includes a formed elongate support body having a degree of flexibility allowing the body to be bent in a bowed configuration. A face surface of the body is formed in a convex curve about the longitudinal axis of the body and a plurality of hardened elements are individually secured to and cover the face surface of the support body. An underlying interchangeable profiling support having a convexly curved upper surface forms the spreader bar into a selected bowed configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising two lateral guide devices guiding the paper web at the longitudinal edges of the endless paper web, and a deflection means is provided. With the aid of the deflector the paper web is deflected at least once from its direction of movement to increase the stiffness of the paper web while the paper web is moving between the lateral guide devices. Because of that, the paper web is prevented from ascending the lateral guide devices and a damage to the paper web is avoided when the paper web comes into lateral contact with the lateral guide device.

Abstract: A device for automatically catching a torn material web running through a rotary printing machine includes a pair of clamping rollers, respectively, disposed beneath and above the material web, the rollers being rotatingly entrainable and being able to clamp the web when a web tear is detected, at least one of the clamping rollers having variable outer main dimensions, and an actuator connected to the at least one clamping roller for causing the outer main dimensions thereof to increase upon detection of a web tear, so as to clamp the torn material web between the clamping rollers.

Abstract: In an energy-supplying, signal-transmitting and/or material-supplying apparatus for a linearly-traveling mechanism comprising a movable section reciprocating along traveling guides and supplying-cables/hoses, which is guided and held by a flexible support member, for supplying energy from a non-moving section corresponding to the movable section and/or transmitting and receiving signals to and from the non-moving section and/or supplying/discharging materials from the non-moving section, the support member is composed of a band-shaped solid member formed to an arc-shape which is curved in a lateral direction with one end of the support member fixed to the movable section and the other end thereof fixed to the non-moving section and travels while forming parallel portions which are parallel with the fixed portion of the movable section and the fixed portion of the non-moving section and a curved portion having an approximately constant radius of curvature with the convex direction of the lateral-arc-shaped por

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus (1) for the transversal drawing of a film (2) in motion, comprising a pair of rollers (3, 4) rotating on parallel axes, fitted with toothed surface profiles (5, 6) capable of compentrating without touching each other and defining a wavy passage (7) for the film, where the rounded tips of the toothed profiles (5, 6) of the two rollers (3 and 4) define the points of application of the drawing action on the film (2).

Abstract: An apparatus having a base for automatically opening interdigitated tab fingers formed on a hang strip. The base includes an item advancement station and an item attachment station is disposed at an edge of the base. A supply of hang strip material is provided at a base edge opposite the item attachment station. The hang strip supply is mounted to the base and is fed through the advancement station and across and through a tab retainer that maintains at least one of the interdigitated tab fingers open until the tab station is guided to the item attachment edge of the base. At the item attachment edge, perpendicular transversal of a corner or edge of the base causes one set of the interdigitated fingers to open, while at least one interdigitated tab finger opened at the item advancement station clears the back edge of the retainer.

Abstract: A paper sheet supplying apparatus comprises a transfer guide unit, a register unit and a paper sheet sending-out unit. The supplying apparatus supplies a paper sheet through the transfer guide unit to the register unit from the paper sheet sending-out unit. The guide unit has a straight portion and a curved portion, and guides the paper sheet from the sending-out unit to the register unit. An inwardly indented curved surface of the curved portion, on which the paper sheet is in contact, has a plurality of ribs separated from each other. Not more than three ribs of the plurality of ribs are arranged in a center region of the curved surface in the transfer direction, and the remaining ribs of the plurality of ribs are arranged in each side region located proximate the center region. Each of the ribs in the center region has a first height, and each rib in each side region has a height which is smaller than the first height.

Abstract: A method for transporting a flexible resilient strip longitudinally within a processing station so that a nominally curved lateral cross section of the strip is substantially flattened wherein the strip is advanced along an arcuate path to bend longitudinally and by that bending cause the nominally curved lateral cross section to collapse to a substantially flat lateral cross section without longitudinal tensioning of the strip.

Abstract: A system and method for utilizing web that is free of tractor pin feed holes comprises the driving of the web along a predetermined path within the utilization device. A web guide is provided in an upstream location from a utilization device element. The guide engages width-wise edges of the web and forms the web into a trough to stiffen the web. A drive roller and a follower roller impinge upon opposing sides of the web and rotate to drive the web through the guide. The drive roller is located adjacent to the guide according to a preferred embodiment. A registration controller is utilized to synchronize the movement of the web with the operation of the utilization device element. The controller includes a drive controller that controls the speed of either the drive roller or the utilization device element to maintain the web and the utilization device element in appropriate synchronization.

Abstract: A method for dispensing a ribbon of tape from a roll by using guide and feed rolls to apply a significantly higher tension to the ribbon along the longitudinal central portion of the ribbon than along the longitudinal side edge portions of the ribbon so that forces tending to tear the tape adjacent to the side edges of the tape are significantly less than those normally applied in drawing a ribbon of tape from a roll whereby breakage of the tape is minimized.

Abstract: A system for utilizing web that is free of tractor pin feed holes comprises the driving of the web along a predetermined path within the utilization device. A web guide is provided in an upstream location from a utilization device element. The guide engages width-wise edges of the web and forms the web into a trough to stiffen the web. A drive roller and a follower roller impinge upon opposing sides of the web and rotate to drive the web through the guide. The drive roller is located adjacent to the guide according to a preferred embodiment. A registration controller is utilized to synchronize the movement of the web with the operation of the utilization device element. The controller includes a drive controller that controls the speed of either the drive roller or the utilization device element to maintain the web and the utilization device element in appropriate synchronization.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing tape, particularly a ribbon of tape, from a roll uses guide and feed rollers to define the path of the ribbon, at least sufficient of these rollers are shaped to apply a significantly higher unit tension to the ribbon along a central longitudinal portion of the ribbon than is applied along the longitudinal side edge portions of the ribbon on opposite sides of the longitudinal central portion so that forces tending to tear the tape adjacent to the side edges of the tape are significantly less than the forces in the center whereby breakage of the tape is minimized.

Abstract: A negative film supplying device for successively supplying a plurality of negative films to a printing device including: a guide path connected to a negative film guide path of the printing device; a negative film holding member for holding superposed negative films, including guide portions and a base portion interposed between the guide portions, both side portions of the negative films being interposed between the guide portions, and as opposing surfaces of the guide portions move away from the base portion, the opposing surfaces are inclined in directions of approaching each other, and a length of the base portion between said guide portions is smaller than a width of the negative film so that the negative films are curved into convex shapes in the negative film holding member; moving means for moving the negative film holding member by rotating the negative film holding member between a guiding position, at which the base portion of the negative film holding member is disposed on the guide path, and a w

Abstract: A system for establishing the lateral position of a web without requiring the web path to change direction. The system utilizes a support surface that is curved in its transverse direction concave towards the web, a guide extending longitudinally along the surface, and a roller that is positioned against the support surface so that the web will be urged laterally against the guide and will conform to the curvature of the surface, thereby increasing the lateral column strength of the web.

Abstract: A filter unit is made of two portions (14) of rigid corrugated material secured together along lands (50,52) extending parallel with the corrugations and, if desired, intermediate them, and also along lands (54) formed along one end of the corrugations, thus closing the passages formed when the two portions (14) are secured together. Suitable fastenings are adhesive bonding, and metallic fasteners, e.g. eyelets, or stitching. Further flanges (56) may be provided for facilitating a connection with a suitable suction or other air-drawing source; also if desired, such further lands (56) may be out-flanged for facilitating such connection. Apparatus for forming the sheet material is also provided whereby material from a continuous supply is progressively formed between two sets of blade members (102), the blade members being moved sequentially and alternately (as between the two sets) into forming engagement with the sheet material.

Abstract: A trough structure is provided for bending a web of paper widthwise to provide beam strength and controllability to the web of paper, for aiding in guiding the web of paper in a straight path. The trough structure causes the paper to curl widthwise to conform with the shape of the trough structure. The trough structure comprises a concave or convex lower wall upon which the paper flows, open ends through which the paper flows, and shoulders which attach to both sides of the lower wall and extend substantially horizontally from the sides of the lower wall to symmetrical positions above the lower wall. The shoulders act to contain the paper in the trough structure and guide the paper through the trough structure. A drive roll is provided for driving the paper through the trough structure. No buckling of the paper is caused when any slight misalignment occurs between the paper and the drive roll, and this slight misalignment is self-correcting due to the edge guiding function of the trough structure.

Abstract: An entrance structure for introducing a continuous form paper from a paper feeder into a printer, and comprises an entrance forming member disposed above a front end of the paper feeder and having a sloped guide surface defining an entrance opening for the paper. The sloped guide surface is constituted such that although a leading edge portion of the paper set in the paper feeder is pushed upward, the raised leading edge portion thereof can pass smoothly through the entrance opening.

Abstract: Side registering a sheet during forward movement of the sheet with lateral movement of the sheet causing one side edge of the sheet to engage a registration edge guide, by moving the sheet with skewed rollers providing a sheet engaging and driving nip, wherein the registration edge guide is substantially in one plane but has a small localized arcuate deformation out of that plane adjacent the nip, causing localized arcuate deformation of the sheet, the nip also being spaced from the plane by a corresponding amount, the localized arcuate deformation of the edge guide and the spacing of the nip providing localized bending of a portion of the sheet at the nip for improved side registering. The registration edge guide is preferably substantially linear V-shaped slot engaging one edge of the sheet therein and directing it toward a smooth bottom comprising only a small portion of the slot and lying substantially in the plane except at the localized arcuate deformation.

Abstract: A spreader bar shoe mounted on the spreader bar of a paper making machine to smooth the sheet or web of paper prior to it being wound onto the takeup reel at the end of the paper machine. The spreader shoe is in the form of an elongated base of plastic material mounted on the spreader bar with segmental inserts forming a wear resistant strip in the outer surface of the base for engagement by the paper sheet with the segmental inserts being secured in a recess by a resilient interface material in the form of silicone to permit limited relative movement between the brittle insert segments and the plastic base due to differences in thermal expansion of the dissimilar materials of the brittle ceramic inserts and the plastic base.

Abstract: A bale wrapping mechanism for wrapping a large round bale with a wrap material such as plastic sheet material or net, is mounted to the rear of a bale discharge gate. Drive rolls are located rearwardly of the gate and are selectively drivable for dispensing wrap material onto the rear end of a guide pan extending beneath and engaged with a portion of bale-forming belts extending between lower rear and lower front belt support rolls carried by the discharge gate. A guide finger assembly is secured to the front of the pan and includes a plurality of fingers located in gaps between the bale-forming belts and including forward end portions curved arcuately about the lower front belt support roll for directing wrap material about the roll and into a pinch point defined between the belts and a bale desired to be wrapped by the material.

Abstract: A device for feeding and cutting a strip of labels, on which strip the labels are joined integral with one another along lines at least a center portion of which consists of a slit. The labels are fed successively in two stages towards a cutting position; in the first of which stages, the label, is fed forward by means of a feeding device 051570752which, positively engaging the rear edge of the label, brings it into the vicinity of the cutting position; and in the second of which stages, the cutting position of the label is regulated by means of a conveyor roller which engages the uncut label by means of suction and feeds it forward so as to cause the front edge of the following label to be brought into "gentle" impact with stop elements on a fixed cutting blade.

Abstract: A manual label applicator is provided for use in a commodity weighing and labeling station. As a preprinted label is advanced from a printing station in a cantilever fashion, a label applicator having a roll with knife edges thereon causes said label to be creased in the direction of travel. Creasing of the label tends to keep it rigid and reliably hold it in a orientation suitable for manual application either through impact or by physically removing the label by hand. The knife edges or ridges on the roll further cooperate with fluting provided in a sliding surface for facilitating the partial creasing of the label as it advances through the label applicator.

Abstract: An overhead unit used with a printer having a platen for feeding continuous, fan-folded, edge perforated forms. Tractors engage the feed perforations on the forms. The unit automatically bursts the side perforations by the use of flexural members which extract energy from the forms feed and oscillate to burst the side perforations. Bursting of the cross perforations is carried out by a pivotally mounted, lever actuated bar which engages the platen and forms a toggle therewith to engage the successive forms against the platen just below the cross perforations; the toggle being arranged to tighten and increase the clamping force, as the form is pulled away from the platen when bursting the cross perforations. A roller assembly including rollers engaging the outside of the loop on the infeed or upstream side of the platen removes any platen wave due to differential displacement of the forms as they travel with linear motion through the tractors and with rotational motion around the platen.

Abstract: A fiberscope inspection system for a nuclear steam generating plant includes an optical unit and a transport unit respectively coupled to opposite ends of the fiberoptic cable and mounted at spaced-apart points on a trolley beneath the tube sheet, with the fiberoptic cable hanging freely in a catenary between the two units, both of which are coupled by cable to a remote control station. The optical unit is self-contained and includes a light source, a video camera and a focusing mechanism and chain and sprocket remotely-controlled drive means for controlling the focusing mechanism. The transport unit includes a cartridge comprising a coil of a steel drive tape, the leading end of which is welded to a split-sleeve coupling disposed in clamping engagement with the leading end of the fiberoptic cable, the tape being engageable by a drive sprocket for driving same to feed and retract the fiberoptic cable. Position sensing means are provided for monitoring the position of the fiberscope probe.

Abstract: A packaging apparatus for bulk material is disclosed having a former transforming packaging film into a tube, interdigitating means engaging and advancing the film over the former, delivery means for providing a charge of material or product to the package at the bottom of the tube and sealing and cutting jaws to complete the package. The interdigitating means for feeding the new length of material includes idler rollers mounted on support arms. The rollers engage the sides of the tube, flatten the tube and upon continued movement form an elongated zig-zag path to provide the next package length. Before feeding the film F, stripping action can be initiated by initial film feed movement. An upstream brake is engaged to hold the film during the stripping action and released during the film feeding action. Springs on the upper and lower rollers assure alignment of the film and prevent over stressing of the tube.

Abstract: A strip (10) of delicate foil is advanced longitudinally along a substantially flat path such as along a platen (104) for printing patterns of lead clusters (12) in photoresist on the foil. A margin (28) of strip (10) is formed into a guiding member such as a standing ridge (98), leaving a residue portion (29) in a desirably flat condition. Ridge (98) has a convenient reference edge (102) and a structural angle is formed by ridge (98) with adjacent foil portions. Such angle is sufficiently strong that advancing strip (10) receives no unacceptable deformation as the reference edge (102) is contacted such as to a reference wall (100) for guidance. Strip (10) is biased so the reference edge (102) maintains contact with guiding apparatus so located that the strip follows the desired path. For example, a flat member (122) is biased downward upon the residue portions (29) of strip (10) and the flat path while a side of member (122) is biased against ridge (98) and the reference wall (100).

Abstract: A continuous web of paper has a longitudinally extending marginal part folded over onto an adjacent longitudinally extending second part of the web. The web is in tension, and the second web part has a transverse slit. During the folding step, the marginal part is folded out of the plane of the web thereby increasing the tension on the second web part. A ribbon of flexible material is disposed beneath, and conformed to the contours of, the second web part during the folding step, to absorb some of the tension on the second part so as to prevent transverse tearing from the transverse slit across the second part of the web.

Abstract: A conveyance system incorporated in photographic treatment equipment or apparatus in which various photographic treatments are performed for an exposed but undeveloped long length photosensitive material comprising a conveyance passage which is formed with guiding grooves, through which the travelling photosensitive material is conveyed forward with its edges on both sides fit into said guiding grooves, a group of conveyance members having a distance shorter than the length of the travelling photosensitive material and protruding into the both guiding grooves of the conveyance passage so as to clamp the travelling photosensitive material at its edges on both sides, and photosensitive material curving members located along the central position between both guiding grooves so as to ensure increased resistibility against longitudinal warping of the travelling photosensitive material by pressing the same along the central position thereof and positively bending it to a certain circular arch with the aid of the af

Abstract: The device records images in the form of dots on electrical discharge-sensitive paper. A plurality of styli are mounted on a rotor. The paper is in strip form and is fed continuously through a curved guide in a direction perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the rotor, so that the paper is wrapped part-way around the rotor as it moves past. Characters are formed from a 5 dot by 7 dot matrix. This divisional patent is directed to the feature whereby the paper is pushed towards the rotor by means of a drive roller located closely adjacent the platen, at a location in which the paper is curved to form an arc. The drive roller is much narrower than the width of the paper, and the stiffness of the paper column which the roller pushes is relatively great. The curved exterior of the housing is used both as a housing and as a curved paper guide. A hinged guide co-acts with the housing in guiding the paper and forming it into an arc.

Abstract: In a magnetic tape cassette, closely spaced support pins for guiding and holding a magnetic recording tape in contact with a recording and reproducing head are provided with a V-shaped concave guide surface. The V-shaped guide surface of each support pin bends the tape along its transverse axis when the head is inserted into the cassette and the tape is pressed thereon, thereby aligning the center of the tape with the center of the guide surface so that the tape is always maintained in a predetermined position with respect to the magnetic head, at the same time increasing the stiffness of the tape portion between the pins. The pins at their rear face also support a spring plate having a pad to contact the tape.

Abstract: A ticket dispenser automatically advances a continuous web of lottery tickets, one ticket length, halts the advance, and severs the end most ticket to drop into a delivery chute upon actuation. The dispenser is capable of handling ticket webs which are difficult to tear or have poor perforations, by pre-breaking the web along its transverse lines of perforation, in opposite angular directions by means of a set of three cylindrical rolls, and by moving a breaker bar upwardly into a slot between an inclined bed plate and a horizontal bed plate to slice each successive, prebroken perforated line. The printed indicia can thus be on the upper surface of the web and the tickets delivered face-up.

Abstract: A portable paper hole punch and hole reinforcement tape applicator comprising a housing including operating mechanism for feeding a pressure sensitive tape over a sheet of paper. Punch means and a pressure pad are provided for punching a hole through the tape and paper and applying pressure to seal or bond the tape to the paper. Tape feed means are provided and include means for imparting a transverse curl to the tape so that the latter is stiffened lengthwise to prevent bunching or jamming during the hole punching operation.The surfaces of all parts of the device contacted by the adhesive side of the tape are coated with "Teflon" or other suitable material, so that the tape will not adhere thereto as it is moved thereover.

Abstract: A dispense edge member for detaching a pressure-sensitive label from a backing strip is shaped to impart a transverse curvature to the label during detachment from the backing strip. The curvature increases the rigidity of the label and prevents drooping of the label.

Abstract: A photographic apparatus in which strip-shaped material is to be advanced by means of a travelling leader tape, has a carrier for the strip-shaped material, the carrier being formed with a channel. An arrangement is provided by means of which the leader tape can be sprung into the channel in response to a command signal so that a mechanical connection becomes established between the leader tape and the carrier and the latter is taken along by the travelling leader tape.

Abstract: An applicating machine for applying short lengths of flexible fibrous material having an adhesive coating to a surface. The applicator uses a pair of fingers to hold the fibrous material onto the surface of an applicating pad and a rod to strip the material from the fingers. The fingers are initially spaced from the pad to permit a measured length of flexible material to be moved between the pad and the fingers. The fingers are then retracted to a closed holding position. The fingers support the length of material during the severing of a short length of material by cutting means and while the applicating pad transports the severed strip to the surface for application. The measured length of the flexible material to be dispensed and applied, the applicating pad, and the fingers are moved downward the severed length of fibrous material being applied to a product.

Abstract: Slit registry apparatus and method for registry of flexible, generally planar stock as for stencilling thereon, involving formation of periodic transverse slits and adjacent edges in the stock, at least one of the edges and the adjacent stock zone or area being offset from the plane of the stock for engagement of this offset edge by a registration surface.

Abstract: A trough structure is provided for bending a web of paper widthwise to provide beam strength and controllability to the web of paper, for aiding in guiding the web of paper in a straight path. The trough structure causes the paper to curl widthwise to conform with the shape of the trough structure. The trough structure comprises a concave or convex lower wall upon which the paper flows, open ends through which the paper flows, and shoulders which attach to both sides of the lower wall and extend substantially horizontally from the sides of the lower wall to symmetrical positions above the lower wall. The shoulders act to contain the paper in the trough structure and guide the paper through the trough structure. A drive roll is provided for driving the paper through the trough structure. No buckling of the paper is caused when any slight misalignment occurs between the paper and the drive roll, and this slight misalignment is self-correcting due to the edge guiding function of the trough structure.