Abstract: A knife folding machine comprises: a support surface (4) for supporting a lower surface of a sheet (S); a knife blade (5); a pair of folding rollers (6a, 6b) opposed to the knife blade (5) at a fold position with the support surface (4) therebetween. The knife blade (5) is reciprocated between first and second positions by a knife drive unit 7. The first position is away from an upper surface of the support surface, and the second position is adjacent a gap between the folding rollers. The reciprocal movement of the knife blade (5) effects a folding operation every time the sheet (S) is set at the fold position. The sheet (S) is conveyed to the fold position by the conveyer belt (13). The conveyer belt (13) is driven by a first servomotor (11). The control unit (12) controls the rotation of the first servomotor (11) so as to decelerate the sheet (S) before its abutment against the stopper (14) without its rebounding against the stopper (14).

Abstract: A system and method for making bags in a continuous in-line process includes a central processing unit and a camera oriented to take an image of a bag based on a triggering signal. The camera provides an image to the central processing unit. The central processing unit is programmed to process the image and calculate a timing signal based on the image. A cylindrical rotatable drum having at least one seal bar provides a triggering signal to the central processing unit, to trigger when the camera should take the image. A perforation knife is controlled by a servo drive. The perforation knife is downstream of the drum. The servo drive receives the timing signal for activating the perforation knife from the central processing unit. The CPU uses the image and based on the distance between the seal region and the perforated line, counts pixels to result in an actual pixel count. The CPU then calculates a pixel count error by subtracting the actual pixel count from a predetermined pixel count setpoint.

Abstract: A system and method for making bags in a continuous in-line process includes a central processing unit and a camera oriented to take an image of a bag based on a triggering signal. The camera provides an image to the central processing unit. The central processing unit is programmed to process the image and calculate a timing signal based on the image. A cylindrical rotatable drum having at least one seal bar provides a triggering signal to the central processing unit, to trigger when the camera should take the image. A perforation knife is controlled by a servo drive. The perforation knife is downstream of the drum. The servo drive receives the timing signal for activating the perforation knife from the central processing unit. The CPU uses the image and based on the distance between the seal region and the perforated line, counts pixels to result in an actual pixel count. The CPU then calculates a pixel count error by subtracting the actual pixel count from a predetermined pixel count setpoint.

Abstract: A machine for treating sheets, said machine comprising drive means (14, 16, 18) for driving the sheets, treatment tooling (52, 62) for forming cutouts or folds in said sheets that extend transversely to the drive direction (F) in which the sheets are driven. The treatment tooling is carried by at least one carrier shaft (52, 62) driven by a shaft motor (M52, M62). The sheets are driven at a substantially constant drive speed through the machine, and said machine further comprises a control unit (UC) which, as a function of said drive speed, and of information relating to the position of a sheet in the machine, control the shaft motor (M52, M62) such that, for treating said sheet, the tooling is in contact with a predetermined region of the sheet and is driven at a treatment speed whose tangential component is equal to the drive speed at which the sheet is driven.

Abstract: A machine for and a method of manufacturing folded containers, especially folded blanks. The machine has a mechanism for applying adhesive, a folding station, and a pressure-application station with pressure-application mechanisms for forcing the adhesive-coated seams together to seal them. The invention ensures that, when the machine is stopped, all the blanks to which adhesive has been applied but which have not yet been folded to form sealed seams are automatically marked or rejected. The machine has both a marking or rejecting mechanism downstream of the pressure-application station and computerized controls that, when the machine is stopped, determine the number of folded blanks in the production line between the adhesive-application mechanism and a first pressure-application mechanism in the pressure-application station and, once the machine is started again, control the marking or rejecting mechanism.

Abstract: An automatic paper board tube reamer apparatus includes a tube index and feed assembly and a pair of tube end reamers. The reamers automatically simultaneously square the tube end surfaces and ream the internal diameter of each end of a tube aligned therewith by the feed assembly. The feed assembly automatically feeds the tube to the reamers and ejects the reamed tubes. The reamers and feed assembly operate alternatively and continuously to recycle damaged tubes fed thereto.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a filter rod having a hollow tube extending longitudinally through the filter rod. The apparatus includes a supply reel of hollow tubing, a supply of filter material web, and a garniture funnel into which the filter material web and hollow tubing are continuously, concurrently fed for wrapping the filter material web into a cylindrical configuration enclosing the hollow tube longitudinally therein. The apparatus also includes a plasticizer or adhesive applicator for coating the outside wall surface of the tube with a plasticizer or adhesive before it is fed into the garniture funnel, and a tube guide nozzle located at the inlet to the garniture funnel for positioning and guiding the hollow tube into the garniture funnel.

Abstract: An automatic slow down setting device for a signature prior to folding thereof in chopper forders for web fed printing presses comprises a single detector of abutment of the signature, relay timing means connected to said detector and having an opening contact means and closing contact means, and two different phase setting motor control circuits, i.e. a "more advance" circuit with relay means and said closing contact, and a "less advance" circuit with relay means and said opening contact, and by means of which the signature can be precisely adjusted to abutment.

Abstract: Control apparatus controls the operation of a trailing edge folder in a carton blank folding machine. The folding machine has conveyor means for continuously advancing blanks in a predetermined direction in untimed relationship to one another along a generally horizontal path. The trailing edge folder has a rotatable shaft mounted below and transverse to the path. The shaft has mounted thereon for rotation therewith one or more arms which extend outwardly from the axis of the shaft. Folding heads extend from the distal ends of the arms. The control apparatus has a sensor which produces a trailing edge signal indicating the departure of the trailing edge of a blank from a first location along the path upstream of the folder. At the end of a determined interval after the trailing edge signal the shaft is rotated in the direction in which the carton is travelling so that a head on the shaft comes into contact with the trailing panel of the blank, and folds it over about 180.degree..

Abstract: A case sealing machine, wherein the position of cases moving through the machine is continuously monitored by a programmable controller that uses information about case position to control the operation of various flap folding and glue applying mechanisms, is disclosed. Cases are moved through the machine by a chain-driven flight bar conveyor mechanism. Case entry is prevented by a raised gate until the flight bar conveyor mechanism is synchronized. Thereafter, the gate is lowered and a power roller feeds the case into the machine. After entering the machine, a case is pushed through the machine by the flight bar conveyor mechanism. The programmable case sealing machine can be programmed to seal the top and/or bottom of the case. If the bottom is to be sealed, the bottom major flaps of the case are separated from the bottom minor flaps by a T-deck mechanism as the case enters the machine. If the bottom of the case was previously sealed, the T-deck is rendered inoperative by the program.