Abstract: Printed products delivered in imbricated product formation by a conveyor having individually releasable grippers are deposited upon a belt conveyor also in imbricated product formation. This imbricated product formation is delivered to a turning device in which the printed products are singled by acceleration and are also inverted. After leaving this turning device, the printed products are conveyed against a fixed stop. After impinging upon this stop, the printed products fall upon a belt conveyor, respectively upon an already formed imbricated product formation. In this imbricated product formation the leading edges are exposed, just as they are in the arriving imbricated product formation. However, the now leading edges are formed by those edges of the printed product which formed the trailing edges in the arriving imbricated product formation. Furthermore, in the newly formed imbricated product formation the originally upper side of the printed products now lies on the underside.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for packaging flexible compressible strips of mineral fibers into rolls comprises an endless belt, means for supporting the belt in a manner to define a loop inside which the strips can be rolled, and a compression member from maintaining the strip in compression upstream from the loop, where the compression member is mounted for movement toward and away from the loop.

Abstract: A method of temporarily densifying a bulky non-woven matting or fabric for handling and storage is disclosed, wherein the non-woven is heated, preferably to a temperature above 100.degree. C. but below the softening temperature while in a compacted state, then immediately cooled in the compacted state. Means for reducing stiffness of the compacted matting are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for packaging bags wherein the bags are permitted to accumulate from the outlet of a bag making machine onto a slotted plate.First and second sets of fingers grasp the bags that accumulate after a desired number of bags accumulate on the plate. The bags are transported to a bailing station where the stack of bags is rolled into a bundle, tied and knotted. The fingers travel between the bag making machine and the bailing station along non-intersecting paths of motion.

Abstract: The invention provides the combination of a dispenser and a series of incontinent or catamenial pads that are connected by easily severably areas. These pads may be rolled without harmful effects to the pad. The rolled pads that are connected by severably means are suitable for combination with a dispensing container that allows them to be withdrawn a single pad at a time.In a particularly preferred embodiment an incontinent pad having elasticized edges and double baffle is connected in series by severably portions at the ends. The pad is placed into a generally cubical box and withdrawn either from the center of the roll at the top of the box or from the end of the roll at the side of the box. The container is provided with a removable section at either the top or side for the withdrawal of pads.

Abstract: A method for minimizing twist in large plastic bags to be center-dispensed from a wound coreless roll of sequentially attached plastic bags. The roll is flattened or collapsed and folded at least once into a U, C, S, M, W, or accordion shape. The method is particularly effective for minimizing twisting of center-dispensed bags when the bags are at least as long as the inner core circumference. The method is also useful for imparting selected dimensions to the horseshoe folded roll that enable the roll to be inserted into a dispensing carton having dimensions preferred by users of the bags, such as cartons having square ends.

Abstract: A first subformation of an arriving imbricated product formation is sub-divided into an initial section, an intermediate section and a terminal section. There is also subsequently formed from the arriving imbricated product formation a second subformation adjunct to the first subformation. These subformations are formed by releasing the grippers of a delivery device at one release point or another. The intermediate section is wound up to form an intermediate coil or wound package, while the initial and terminal sections are first conducted into a branch conveying path. The initial and terminal sections are then adjoined to the front and rear ends of the intermediate section wound off the intermediate coil to complete the first subformation. The initial, intermediate and terminal sections of the first subformation are wound up together with the second subformation to form a storage coil or wound package upon a winding mandrel or core.

Abstract: The printed products leaving the product coil or wound package are delivered to an inlet of a conveying channel adjacent to a product transfer or release location of the wound package. A conveying channel is formed by two effectively conveying runs of two belt conveyors. In a section of this conveying channel following this inlet the unwound imbricated formation is inverted. The imbricated formation is subsequently conveyed toward an outlet of the conveying channel where it is transferred to a discharge conveyor. Both belt conveyors are arranged in a pivotable frame construction which is held in contact or coacting relationship with the product coil or wound package by a contact or pressing mechanism. The design of the conveyor arrangement formed by the two belt conveyors permits a compact construction and a free choice of the route of the conveying channel.

Abstract: A rope (21) is packed into a container (31) in such a manner as to permit easy extraction therefrom in that the rope by means of a winding head (25) is coiled with the coil center situated between the center line and periphery of the container (31). For this purpose a rope supply reel (20) is mounted on a supporting device (15) which is rotatable about a fixed vertical shaft (30). The rope (21) is pulled from the reel (20) down into the container (31) by means of the winding head (25) which is connected to the supporting device (15) for rotation with it. The winding head (25) is arranged in the space between the center line and periphery of the container, and means (30, 34-42) are provided to rotate the container (31) about its axis and at the same time axially displace the container so that layer after layer of line coils are placed upon each other.

Abstract: Apparatus for temporary storage of partially overlapping paper sheets has a first rotor driven by a first variable-speed motor and a second rotor driven by a second variable-speed motor. The first and second ends of an elastic band are connected to the respective rotors and a conveyor system delivers successive sheets onto the band ahead of the location where the unconvoluted portion of the band merges into the outermost convolution when the first rotor is driven in a direction to collect the band. The radius of the growing roll of sheets and convolutions of the band on the first rotor is monitored by a first detector which transmits corresponding signals to a signal processing circuit further receiving signals which denote the speed of the conveyor system. Such signals are processed to form a third signal denoting the desired angular speed of the roll on the first rotor, and the third signal is compared with a fourth signal which denotes the actual angular speed of the first rotor.

Abstract: The printed products to be wound up are delivered by one belt conveyor of a conveying arrangement. The latter comprises two belt conveyors which conjointly form a conveying channel with a defined inlet and outlet. Conveyor belts of both of these two belt conveyors are guided such that the conveying channel has a curved path directed toward a rotatable winding mandrel. The conveying arrangement is pivotable about an axis of rotation of a drive drum of the innermost conveyor belt of the two conveyor belts and is pressed against the winding mandrel, respectively against the product coil or wound package forming on the winding mandrel, by a winding strap capable of being placed under tension and which is withdrawn from a winding strap supply roll and runs through a portion of the conveying channel and is connected with the winding mandrel. A separate contact or pressing mechanism can be forgone.

Abstract: A scalloped stream of paper sheets is intermittently transported from a feeding unit to a reservoir wherein one portion of a flexible elastic band convolutes the sheets around a core. The sheets are then transported over a switchover device and onto another portion of the band which convolutes the sheets around a hub while the core pays out the one portion of the band. If the sheets are needed at one or more consuming stations, the hub pays out the other portion of the band and the switchover device directs successive sheets from the other portion of the band to a removing unit. The switchover device and the one portion of the band define a first station where the sheets arriving from the feeding unit reach the one portion of the band and where the sheets leave the one portion of the band on their way to the other portion of the band. The other portion of the band and the switchover device define a second transfer station. The elasticity of the band is such that its length is increased by at least 0.

Abstract: Firstly, a leading first portion of the continuously arriving stream of printed products is stored in the form of an intermediate package present on a winding core journaled for rotation. Subsequently the printed products are again unwound from the intermediate package and joined with a successive second portion of the stream of printed products. In so doing the products in the second portion come to lie in superimposed fashion upon the printed products withdrawn from the intermediate package. Both of the superimposed imbricated product streams are conjointly wound-up upon a rotationally driven winding core to form a primary product package. During exchange of the completed primary product package against a further winding core, the printed products arriving within the period of time needed for this exchange operation are again fed to the intermediate winding core which has now been emptied. These printed products are then wound-up to form an intermediate product package.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously producing photographic film, comprises perforating film strip, applying characters to the perforated film strip as latent images, and cutting it into sized film strips. The photographic film strip withdrawn from a roll of film is perforated along its longitudinal margins and then provided with characters as latent images such as frame numbers, symbols and the like. After the provision of characters, the photographic film strip is cut into sized film strips which are thereafter wound into containers. The film moves continuously lengthwise from the time it is withdrawn from the supply roll, to the time it is rewound in the containers as sized film strips. In this way, the cost of equipment and labor is reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus which can store successive sheets of a stream of sheets between the convolutions of bands which are wound onto successive cores has a transporting unit defining for the sheets an elongated path, and a pair of feed screws which are disposed above and extend longitudinally of the path and serve to simultaneously support a core as well as a fully grown roll including a core, a band which is convoluted therearound and a supply of sheets which are confined between the convolutions of the band. The feed screws can be rotated to move the core and/or the roll thereon lengthwise of the path through a distance which at least matches the radius of a core plus the radius of a roll. A lever which is indexible through angles of 180 degrees is mounted below the path and carries a full reel and an expiring or empty reel for the band.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for producing a compressed, rolled package of resilient foam material, wrapped with a flexible sheet material which is divided into a plurality of sections separated by pre-weakened areas along its length. The flexible sheet material is advanced by an upstream set of clutch-brake nip rolls and a downstream set of drive nip rolls. The two sets of nip rolls are operated in such a manner as to separate a single wrapping sheet from the length of flexible sheet material and to advance the single sheet into contact with the foam piece for feeding to a rolling and compressing packaging apparatus.

Abstract: Successive sheets of a stream of partially overlapping or immediately following paper sheets are fed onto the upper side of an elastic band whose leader is attached to a horizontal core so that, when the core is driven, the band is convoluted therearound from below and its convolutions confine the sheets. The width of the band is a fraction of the axial length of the core, and that portion of the band which immediately precedes the outermost convolution on the core is caused to swivel back and forth continuously between two end positions which are mirror symmetrical to one another with reference to a plane that is normal to the axis of and halves the core. This ensures that the convolutions of the band are placed immediately next to or partially overlap each other.

Abstract: The precursive or leading portion of printed products or other processed articles arriving in an imbricated formation is first wound up on an auxiliary winding drum or core to form an intermediate coil or package defining a first subformation. The subsequent, second portion of the imbricated formation defining a second subformation is then deposited on this first subformation as the latter is wound off the intermediate coil or package. Both superposed subformations are now jointly fed to a rotatable and driven main winding drum or core and wound up thereupon to form a main storage coil or product package. In order to obtain a compact main storage coil, the two superposed subformations are fed to the main winding drum such that the leading edges of both subformations lie on the upper sides thereof, i.e. the sides oriented towards the main winding drum.

Abstract: An apparatus for rolling elongated tubular fabric surgical drapes and the like comprising an arrangement of at least four opposed drive belts mounted on a support frame for receiving an open end of the tubular article engageable with longitudinal runs of the belts to propel the article along the frame and into engagement with a second set of belts having longitudinal runs disposed at acute angles with respect to the direction of the runs of the primary drive belts. Propulsion of the end of the article along the primary drive belts and into engagement with the secondary drive belts results in forming the article into a toroidal rolled configuration. A support frame for the primary drive belts is mounted on a linear actuator which provides for movement of the support frame with respect to the secondary drive belts in response to operation of a control circuit to complete the rolling process.

Abstract: Two superimposed product formations wound upon a winding core in the form of a primary product package are conjointly unwound therefrom. The product formations are separated from each other at a branching or branch location. The first product formation is immediately removed by means of a conveyor belt arrangement. The second product formation is supplied to an intermediate winding core to be wound-up thereon so as to form an intermediate product package. After emptying the primary product package the second product formation is unwound from the intermediate winding core and supplied to the conveyor belt arrangement via a deflecting roller. By means of the conveyor belt arrangement the second product formation is also consecutively removed following the previously removed first product formation.

Abstract: Successive sections of a long stream of partially overlapping paper sheets are transferred onto the upper side of a relatively wide flexible elastic band which is indexed stepwise so that it is gradually withdrawn from a first reel and wound onto a second reel. Each section has two or more partially overlapping sheets, and successive sections can be deposited on the band in such a way that they partially overlap one another, i.e., that the band supports and confines between its windings a scalloped stream consisting of partially overlapping sections of partially overlapping sheets. In order to remove the stored sheets, the conveyor which is used to transfer sections of the scalloped stream onto the band is used to remove successive sections from the band while the latter is driven stepwise to be withdrawn from the second reel and wound back onto the first reel.

Abstract: The inherent tendency of printed products, especially newspapers, to change their shape, for instance, because of residual stresses or a restoring action, is to be annihilated by subjecting the printed products to a pressing or compression action. By winding-up the printed products arranged in an imbricated formation and by rewinding the same in the opposite winding sense the products are initially curved in a first direction and then in another direction and pressed into a flat condition. Already during the time that the products are wound into a product package the products become more uniform, as such possibly would be otherwise attainable due to the action of pressure forces over longer periods of time with the utilization of a great amount of equipment expenditure.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for packing cut pickle spears in a jar in predetermined positions and orientations by laying the spears side-by-side on a flexible resilient belt, rolling up the belt with the spears on it to form a cylinder, and pushing the cylindrical array of spears out of the rolled up belt into the jar.

Abstract: By means of winder gearing maintaining essentially constant the winding speed a drive motor drives a winding mandril. Operatively associated with the winding mandril is a winding band which is paid-off of a freely rotatable supply roll. Engaging at this supply roll is a jaw brake. The winding or wind-up band is guided over a balance or rocker arm which is upwardly and downwardly pivotable about a pivot axis. By means of a contact or pressing mechanism the balance arm is pressed against the winding mandril. The imbricated printed product stream, infed from a band conveyor, arrives at the balance arm or rocker and the winder band and is supported thereat. The thus supported imbricated printed products are infed from below to a winder gap and in conjunction with the winder band wound-up on the winder mandril. The winder band separates the individual wound layers or plies from one another.

Abstract: A method and a package are described for the takeup, shipment, storage and individual dispensing of a plurality of rolls of flat elongated material, for example, conveyor belting. The package includes a plurality of side-by-side rolls of flat elongated material, each roll being wound on its own shell. Between each pair of shells there is provided a pair of divider plates. The divider plates are joined at their radially outermost ends to an upper frame member. The upper frame member is joined to a pair of side members which are joined to the outer ends of the assembled shells and to a central member which extends axially through the assembled shells. At least two .hoarfrost.-shaped tie members are provided which extend axially across the rolls and are joined at their radially inner ends to the outer ends of the assembled shells. Methods assembling and dissembling the package are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus for rolling chain link fence including an endless belt including a free loop portion and with the endless belt moved in a particular direction and with the movement of the endless belt producing rotative motion in the free loop portion, and with progressive portions of the chain link fence fed into the free loop portion and with at least the free loop portion of the endless belt supporting the progressive portions of the chain link fence to have the individual links of the chain link fence collapse against each other to provide for a tight configuration of the chain link fence within the free loop portion, and with the rotative motion of the free loop portion of the endless belt producing a rolling of the progressive portions of the chain link fence with the individual links collapsed against each other to form a roll of chain link fence with a tight configuration and a small diameter.

Abstract: A strip (11) of pairs of orthogonally projecting fragile terminals (14 and 16) with components (10) bonded therebetween is wound in a trackway (58) formed by a helical fin (57) extending from a cylinder (51). The cylinder (51) is mounted on a drum (52) that is intermittently driven by a constantly energized motor (36). Facilities (59) are provided to permit axial loading of the cylinder on the drum. A drive pin (67) arrangement provides a positive drive from the drum to the cylinder. The height of the helical fin is designed to be higher than the height of the strip of terminated components so that the confined strip of components may be transported without danger of damage.

Abstract: Filamentary members, music strings for example, are automatically coiled and the coils captured on a sheet of packaging material by feeding the members into an annular groove against a surface of a sheet of heat sealable material and subsequently shearing tabs from the sheet of material and folding the tabs over the coiled member. Coiling of the members is accomplished by feeding a first end of each member, preferably with the aid of pneumatic pressure, into the annular groove, capturing the end in the groove and thereafter causing relative rotation between the groove and member to draw the member into the groove.

Abstract: The present invention relates to production and packaging of seasoned rice rolled in laver. A laver is fixed on a long strip of packing sheet for blocking the moisture and seasoned rice of cylindrical shape is situated at the center of said packing sheet. The packing sheet is then folded back in order to pack the laver and the seasoned rice separately, preventing the direct contact of them. When eating, said seasoned rice is rolled on the laver by pulling one end of the packing sheet, stripping the seasoned rice which rolls over the laver on the packing sheet. Thus, the flavor of laver can be secured from damage by moisture of said seasoned rice even long after production. In addition, said seasoned rice rolled in laver can be packed surely and cleanly for selling at a drive-in store or at a station.

Abstract: This invention relates to a package for an elongated rice-ball or bread and butter comestible together with a laver in an isolated manner until the comestible is wrapped with the laver. The package includes a long moisture-proof sheet such as vinyl or paraffin-coated paper doubled by folding it at the center thereof. The leading edge of the folded back surface may be again folded back in the opposite direction to form a short tongue. The comestible is placed on the single-layered end portion of the sheet and a laver is interposed between the juxtaposed portions of the sheet. The comestible can be wrapped together with the laver without laver becoming moist and the laver can be removed from between the juxtaposed portions of the sheet and wrapped around the comestible.

Abstract: A method and a device for cutting up a tobacco leaf into portions suitable for use as binders or wrappers, in which cutting members are employed, which have a cutting edge matching uninterruptedly the desired circumference of a wrapper or binder wherein a plurality of cutting members are arranged on a carrier in an arbitrary configuration, the tobacco leaf is spread across said number of cutting members, the tobacco leaf is divided up by the corresponding number of cutting edges and the leaf portions located within the cutting edges are removed from the cutting members, whereby the tobacco leaf is completely divided up in one run into usable and waste portions which considerably enhance the production of binders and wrappers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packaging compressible fibrous batts and a package of same are provided. The batts are formed by severing a longitudinally-extending strip of compressible fibrous material into batts of discrete lengths with the batts then being collected in end-to-end relationship. The batts are then moved into a loop of a packaging machine, which loop is formed by a belt maintained under controlled tension. The batts are fed longitudinally in abutting, end-to-end relationship into the belt loop which places them under compression as they are wound into a package, with the loop gradually expanding in diameter as the package size increases. Tapes are placed directly around the outermost batt to hold the package in the compressed state and the completed package is then discharged from the machine.

Abstract: A mechanical method of manufacturing magnetic tape cassettes, wherein the magnetic tape is loaded into the cassette during assembly of the cassette parts, and a support controllable by a mechanical conveyor system and having an intermittently rotatable winding disc for the magnetic tape.

Abstract: An apparatus for rolling chain link fence including an endless belt including a free loop portion and with the endless belt moved in a particular direction and with the movement of the endless belt producing rotative motion in the free loop portion, and with progressive portions of the chain link fence fed into the free loop portion and with at least the free loop portion of the endless belt supporting the progressive portions of the chain link fence to have the individual links of the chain link fence collapse against each other to provide for a tight configuration of the chain link fence within the free loop portion, and with the rotative motion of the free loop portion of the endless belt producing a rolling of the progressive portions of the chain link fence with the individual links collapsed against each other to form a roll of chain link fence with a tight configuration and a small diameter.