Abstract: A cutting device for cutting labels includes a cutting element for cutting into individual labels a label strip that is provided with a plurality of labels arranged one behind the other in the direction of the length of the label strip. The cutting element has a cutting tool in a first axis, about which the cutting element is rotatable. A counter-pressure roller which serves for the placement of the label strip is rotatable about a second axis arranged parallel to the first axis and has at least one counter-cutting bar which is provided on the outer surface of the counter-pressure roller essentially parallel to the second axis.

Abstract: A rotary forming apparatus of the type having a pair of central rotors, and one or more die carriers swingably mounted on the rotors, for repeatedly forming a sheet metal work piece moving along a linear path, rotor bearing supports for supporting the rotors at least at one end thereof, die carrier guides on the die carriers at an end thereof adjacent to the rotor bearing supports, and, at least two cam plates adjacent to each the rotor bearing support, for guiding the die carriers guides.

Abstract: A punching station for a web includes a web transport system that operates to advance the web in a first direction at a first rate. A clamp intermittently grips a portion of the web to advance the portion in the first direction at a second rate. A punch is coupled to the clamp such that the punch moves in the first direction together with the clamp. A punch block cooperates with the punch. The punch block is coupled to the clamp such that the punch block moves in the first direction in unison with the clamp. A punch actuator causes the punch to penetrate the web and then to be withdrawn from the web while the web is gripped by the clamp.

Abstract: A method of cross-cutting a moving web uses a cutting knife operably mounted on a knife cylinder having a circumferential distance LZ where LZ is smaller than a cut length, LA. The knife cylinder for revolving in a first and a second opposite direction is powered by a drive motor in either direction. The method includes revolving the knife cylinder in a first direction, cutting the web with the cutting knife, and completing a first cut. The knife cylinder is then reversed to retard progress in the first direction and then accelerated to the speed of the moving web until starting the second cut.

Abstract: A structure in which length-measuring roll including an elastic body is rotated by movement of a continuously fed web is employed, an amount of deformation of the length-measuring roll changes according to changes in a web speed, and a circumference of the length-measuring roll changes as a result. An error is generated in length measurement of the web, and therefore, web cutting accuracy by a cutter cannot be maintained. Therefore, timing of cutting by the cutter is controlled according to a fed length of the web and web speed information to maintain web cutting accuracy.

Abstract: A variable length rotary cutting system for cutting sheet material in various desired cut lengths, including a knife roll and an anvil roll between which the sheet material is passed for cutting. A drive system drives the knife roll at varying speeds during a cycle of rotation and includes a drive gear and an offset gear mounted in an off-center mounting so as to be rotated at varying speeds by the drive gear. The rotation of the offset gear is transmitted to the knife roll so as to cause the knife roll to rotate at varying speeds about a cycle of rotation to enable the knife roll to cut varying lengths of the sheet material.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting, including an anvil cylinder which may have a plurality of cut rubbers strips affixed around the anvil cylinder and a cut cylinder which is mounted for rotation about an eccentric axis. Two knife boxes may be mounted on the cut cylinder, each knife box having a knife and cheekwood for securing the knife to the cut cylinder. A paper tape guides the material to be cut between the cut cylinder and the anvil cylinder. When one knife box degrades, a knife sleeve on the cut cylinder can be indexed so that the other knife box takes the place of the degraded knife box. When a cut rubber strip degrades, the anvil cylinder can be indexed so that another cut rubber strip takes the place of the degraded cut rubber strap. Either of these functions can occur while the apparatus is still running. The anvil cylinder can also use a cut rubber sleeve.

Abstract: A rotary punching device for punching a hole on a sheet includes: a first rotary shaft having an outer peripheral surface; a punch mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the first rotary shaft; a second rotary shaft arranged in parallel with the first rotary shaft, the second rotary shaft having an outer peripheral surface; a die mounted on the outer peripheral surface of second rotary shaft; a motor connected to the first and second rotary shafts to synchronously drive the first and second rotary shafts such that the punch and the die are engaged with each other within a predetermined rotational angle range; a sheet feeding mechanism for feeding the sheet into between the first and second rotary shafts at a constant sheet feeding speed to punch the sheet by the punch and the die; and controller for controlling the rotation speed of the motor referring to the sheet feeding speed.

Abstract: Transversal perforating apparatus of paper for printers fed by a continuous strip of paper (1) without lateral dragging holes. The apparatus (12) comprises a perforator roller (13) holding a blade (16) substantially transversal to and engaging on a pressure roller (14) rotating in synchronism with the perforator roller (13). Means for varying the speed of the perforator roller (13) are provided for as well as means for measuring the position of the blade (16) with respect to the paper which communicate with a central processor. It is possible, therefore, to make transversal perforations coincident with the beginning and the end of each page printed by printing heads (2,3) being able to also vary the interval between two successive perforations during the course of printing.

Abstract: A direct drive cut-off has a pair of cylinders, each having a helical knife blade. The path of the knife blade around the cylinder defines a synchronous length. A corrugated board is passed in a board path direction between the cylinders at a production rate. The knife blades move in proximity to each other in the board direction to cut the continuous board into sheets. The knife blades enter the board path and engage the continuous board at a beginning of engagement position of a knife blade entering edge and depart the board path at an end of engagement position of a knife blade exiting edge. The sheets are accelerated downstream of the cylinders. The cylinders are controlled by a control unit for accelerating and decelerating the rotational speed of the cylinders so that the knife blades engage the continuous board at the specific length cutting the board into sheets. The control unit is responsive to the production rate, and the sheet length.

Abstract: The present invention is an epicycle dual drive apparatus comprising a frame supporting an input shaft, an output shaft and an epicycle drive coupling the input shaft and the output shaft. The apparatus has dual clutches means coupled individually to the input shaft and output shaft. The epicycle drive means includes an epicycle rack pivotally secured to said output shaft at one end and a crankshaft journaled for rotation at a second end. The output shaft may have a varying rate of rotation depending on the position of the center of the crank shaft on the epicycle rack with respect to the center of the input shaft. A Cam arrangement is used for coupling the input shaft and the crankshaft. The first clutch coupled to the output shaft allows for selective engagement of the output shaft and the second clutch is coupled to the crankshaft for selective engagement of the crankshaft. Only one clutch can be engaged at a time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for vertically scoring a tamper-indicating plastic closure includes a rotatably-driven carousel which includes mandrel assemblies at the periphery thereof. Each mandrel assembly includes a rotatable mandrel on which a respective closure is positioned in operative association, so that the mandrel and closure are moved relative to an associated scoring mechanism. The scoring mechanism includes at least one, and preferably a plurality, of rotatably driven scoring blades, with each blade arranged to engage and cut the pilfer band of a respective closure. Significantly, the system can be operated so as to closely approximate the preferred radial movement of the blade with respect to the closure, thus minimizing "digging" of the scoring blade into the plastic of the closure.

Abstract: A chopper and corner rounder (10) for a web material includes tool pairs (14, 16; 18, 20) driven by two double eccentrics (22, 24), the first double eccentric driving the upper knife by a first eccentric and the upper punch by a second eccentric, the first and second eccentrics being 180.degree. out of phase; the second double eccentric driving the lower knife by a third eccentric and the lower die by a fourth eccentric, the third and fourth eccentrics being 180.degree. out of phase. The first double eccentric is driven at the same speed but in the opposite direction as the second double eccentric.

Abstract: Transversal perforating apparatus of paper for printers fed by a continuous strip of paper (1) without lateral dragging holes. The apparatus (12) includes a perforator roller (13) holding a blade (16) substantially transverse to and engaging a pressure roller (14) rotating in synchronism with the perforator roller (13). The speed of the perforator roller (13) is varied and the position of the blade (16) is measured with respect to the paper. Encoders communicate with a central processor. Transverse perforations are made coincident with the beginning and the end of each page printed by printing heads (2,3). Intervals between two successive perforations can be varied during the course of printing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for moving workstations to perform work on a workpiece, includes moving workstations through a first path generally parallel to the workpiece and performing work on the workpiece. The workstation then returns along a second return path spaced further from the workpiece than the first path. The spacing between the plurality of workstations may be controlled such that sequential workstations work on the workpiece at predetermined intervals. Several embodiments of conveyors meeting the above-described broad features may be used.

Abstract: Hydraulic sawing cycle control system for an undercut swing saw. Hydromotor 5 with crankshaft 7 fitted thereon without play drives the sawing lever arm 2 via a connecting rod 3. One revolution of the hydromotor corresponds to one saw cut. The hydromotor 5 is thereby controlled via a proportional valve. The path of movement of the sawing cycle can advantageously be regulated.

Abstract: Cutter apparatus to cut accurately a composite label without cutting the backing of the composite and a system that includes the cutter apparatus. The cutter apparatus includes a transporter mechanism positioned to receive the composite, which typically includes the backing, many labels on the backing and laminate covering the surfaces of the labels, the transporter mechanism being precisely operable to move the composite translationally in a direction (i.e., the X-direction herein). A detector ascertains the precise location of individual labels on the composite and is interconnected to provide control signals to the transporter mechanism to enable that mechanism to move the composite precisely along the X-direction.

Abstract: A continuous motion packaging machine which forms packages from overlying webs advanced along a path at a constant speed. A tooling carriage traverses a repetitive path which includes an "on-line" increment during which the tooling carriage matches web movement and package operations are performed. The tooling carriage is driven by linkage including a power input shaft operated at varying speeds throughout each cycle to maintain carriage position relative to the webs. Two brushless servo motors are used. One drives the webs, the other drives the tooling carriage. A computer program compares relative motor positions at points throughout each cycle to a pre-established position pattern and adjusts motor controller output to maintain one motor position relative to the sensed position of the other motor.

Abstract: A perforating apparatus wherein two rolls define a nip for a running web of paper which is provided with rows of transverse perforations by tools at the periphery of one of the rolls. The rolls are driven in opposite directions by a timing shaft through the medium of a system of gears including an intermediate gear which indirectly drives the one roll and is directly or indirectly mounted on an eccentric. The eccentric is driven by a power train including a differential one output shaft of which carries the eccentric and another output shaft of which is normally held against rotation but can be turned by a worm to thereby change the phase of the one output shaft relative to the input shaft of the differential to thus compensate for eventual inaccuracies in the distribution of perforating tools at the periphery of the one roll.

Abstract: A die-cutting machine comprises two form-carrying rolls (10,12) operable in timed relation to produce alternate blanks, with minimum wastage between the blanks, from a web fed at constant speed by a conventional feed mechanism (14). The rolls (10,12) are driven by computer-controlled variable speed high impulse duty D.C. motors (28,30) supplied with electrical power from thyristor controlled power supplies (36,38). Sensors (18, 24, 26) provide feedback signals representing web speed and instantaneous roll positions and speeds to the programmable computer units (32,34). The use of the computer-controlled D.C. motors avoids backlash problems in previously proposed mechanical drives and allows greater flexibility, especially in maintaining registration between the rolls and preprinted areas on the web. A flywheel arrangement is employed to reduce the loading on the motors during large variations in roll speed.

Abstract: A collating apparatus having a collating unit, a perforating unit and a fan-folding unit, all gear driven by a single main drive gear, and having a gear assembly driven by the drive gear which includes a gear having an adjustable rotational eccentricity and an adjustable phase of eccentricity relative to the other gears. In a preferred embodiment, the adjustable gear includes an inner hub mounted on a rotatable shaft, an intermediate hub having an eccentric bore rotatably receiving the inner hub, a gear ring having an eccentric bore rotatably receiving the intermediate hub and a clamp bar attached to the gear ring and to the shaft. The bar includes an adjustment mechanism for varying the orientation of the gear ring, intermediate hub and inner hub relative to each other.

Abstract: A device for monitoring the tractive force generated by a cylinder-piston assembly on a member to be moved thereby comprises a spring mounted between the cylinder assembly and the member to be moved such that the force generated by the cylinder-piston assembly is transmitted to the spring to effect movement of a first portion thereof with respect to a second portion thereof. An actuatable switch comprises the first switching element mounted for movement with the first portion of the spring and a second switching element fixedly mounted to the second portion of the spring, the two switching elements configured to actuate the switch when a predetermined path of travel of the first portion of the spring is exceeded.

Abstract: A cylindrical, rotating knife is positioned to cut a moving body of flat sheet into predetermined lengths. An electric motor rotates the cylindrical knife. The knife motor is controlled by a system responsive to the travel of the sheet passing under the knife and the rotation of the knife, itself. The two measurements are fed to a control circuit to produce an output analog electrical signal to the knife motor which varies the rotational speed of the knife during the cutting cycle to avoid wastage of the sheet as it is cut.

Abstract: A sliding block with a female die acts in conjunction with a four bar linkage mounted block with a male die to punch indexing holes in a moving metal strip. The block with male die continually seeks to rotate, but is held in position by the sliding block. The sliding block is programmed to periodically move forward at the speed of the moving metal strip and to return to starting position. This frees the male die to rotate to punch out the hole, and to continue to rotate back into the starting position to be held by the returned sliding block.

Abstract: The drum drive in a rotary shear includes a pair of driving and driven surge gears and a coupling of which the driving and driven companion members are drivingly connected with the driven surge gear and with one of the drums. The shear is adjustable for varying the length of stock cut on each revolution of the drums, and such adjustment also requires shear synchronization with the fed stock which is accomplished by disconnecting the coupling members and angularly adjusting the surge gears relative to the drums. The coupling of featured lock type has companion members with cylindrical surfaces which are normally in such an interference fit with each other as safely to transmit without slippage torque in excess of the maximum required for stock-cutting operation of the shear, yet these coupling members are disconnectible for shear synchronization by applying pressurized fluid to their cylindrical interface.

Abstract: Non-uniform drive comprising a flywheel disc for balancing masses and a slide crank drive in which the crank pin is guided in a slideway provides for an adjustable spacing between the crank shaft and the shaft of the slideway. A second crank pin lies opposite the first crank pin at substantially the same spacing from the axis of the shaft of the slideway and drives the freely rotatable flywheel disc.

Abstract: Die cutter and process for die cutting blanks by a blade unit and an anvil opposed to each other are proposed in which either the blank feed speed or the horizontal component of speed of the blade and the anvil is controlled mechanically or electronically to make them equal to each other during the cutting operation.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus with two cooperating rotatable cutting knives is driven by a driving shaft rotating at a constant speed and includes a speed controller in the form of an interlocking rotatable pin and slot drive connection, the input and output shafts of that connection offset from each other, and acceleration and deceleration compensating means including a compensating flywheel and an interlocking rotatable pin and slot drive connection having the input and output shafts offset from each other, the input shafts of both slot drive connections being coupled to the driving shaft, the output shafts of both of the connections being held against bodily movement while the input shafts are mounted for parallel bodily displacement, and means for adjusting the position of the input shafts of the slot drives. Preferably, the input shafts have a common axis of rotation.

Abstract: Apparatus for distributing lining material in cap shells where the apparatus has a lining material extrusion means including an extrusion passage positioned above a path of cap shells moving through the apparatus and a rotatable knife positioned above the exit end of the extrusion passage for cutting lining material as it is extruded from the passage. A drive means is provided for rotating the knife and is connected to the knife by means of a transmission means. The transmission means includes at least two sets of non-circular gear pairs with the relative angle between the sets being adjustable whereby the rotational speed of the knife may be varied.

Abstract: A system for setting the sheet length on a cross-cutter for webs of material includes a computer which delivers to the positioning element of a speed changing mechanism, the positioning signal for one speed corresponding to the desired sheet length and to a controlled group for the positioning element of an irregular motion mechanism and to a control loop for the positioning element of a continuously variable speed transmission. The desired values correspond to the desired sheet length and the control loop for the continuously variable speed mechanism receives as a actual value, the sheet length and specifies to the positioning element, the positioning time on the basis of the deviation of the actual value from the desired value and of the speed selected. Another comparison of actual value with desired value is made only at the completion of each positioning operation.

Abstract: The rotary heat cutter comprises a heating element adapted to be rotated into engagement with a taut section of plastic web to sever the web transversely while the web is traveling in a straight path. Means are provided for constraining the heating element to move at the same speed as the plastic web when the heating element engages the web.

Abstract: A first drive apparatus for a thermoplastic web operates at an automatically adjusted, substantially constant, speed to deliver the thermoplastic web to a welding tool which rotates with a second pair of rollers. The second pair of rollers are driven at a cyclically variable speed in which the minimum speed is attained at the time when the welding tool is in contact with the thermoplastic web. An automatic control system adjusts the speed of the feed rollers to correspond to the speed of the welding tool at the instant during which welding is performed. Adjustment of the ratio of the maximum to the minimum speed of the cyclically variable speed of the second pair of rollers controls the length of thermoplastic web between welds without changing the speed of the driving input to the second pair of rollers.

Abstract: Apparatus for subdividing a running paper web into sections of desired length has a first motor which drives the web at a constant speed and a D.C. motor which drives an orbiting knife at a speed which varies during each angular movement of the knife through 360 degrees. A detector which monitors the speed of the web transmits signals which are utilized to insure that the speed of the knife matches the speed of the web during that stage of each orbital movement when the knife cuts the web. The length of intervals between successive cutting operations is adjustable by connecting the knife with any one of several graduated disks whose graduations are monitored by a second detector which controls the speed of the knife during intervals between successive cutting operations.

Abstract: A device for severing a continuous rod-like member into separate elements during axial movement along a predetermined path through a severance zone comprising a ledger for engaging and maintaining said member in said path during its passage though said zone, means for causing a cutting knife to move along an endless course substantially at right angles to said path, and said course intersecting transversely with said path to sever the member and means for causing the knife to move at a greater speed while it is travelling across said path than in other parts of its movement.

Abstract: Apparatus for severing a running web at different intervals to subdivide the web into sections of desired length has two advancing rolls which transport the web lengthwise at a constant speed toward the nip of two rotary cutters having blades which sever the web in predetermined angular positions of the cutters. The cutters are driven in opposite directions by a stepping motor which receives stepping signals at a first frequency when the blades are about to sever and while the blades sever the web to thereby rotate the cutters at the speed of the web, and at any one of different second frequencies in other angular positions of the cutters. The system which transmits stepping signals has an exchangeable indicia-bearing disk which is driven by the advancing rolls through the medium of a variable-speed transmission or through one of several transmissions having different ratios.

Abstract: A safety system for the drive of a cross cutter for a web of material, having an electrical or mechanical synchronizing system between the drives of the feed and cutting mechanism which is adjustable for the size of the piece to be cut and which consists of an adjustable asymmetrical mechanism and has speed control associated with the drive of the feed mechanism to limit the speed of the feed means on the basis of a signal corresponding to the setting of the asymmetrical mechanism. A function generator generates a signal to be applied to the speed control which is directly dependent thereon to define the speed value for the drive of the feed mechanism and wherein the function generator is responsive to the asymmetrical mechanism for size-related, maximum permissible web velocity.

Abstract: A rotary shear machine is described having a plurality of oppositely rotating hollow cylinder pairs carrying helical blades for transversely shearing several continuously moving webs perpendicular to their directions of travel. Each cylinder pair includes a separate reversible DC motor drive and an electronic digital control system regulating the motor drive for cutting sheets of predetermined lengths from the respective webs. A unique feature of the machine is a web feed and pull roller system having an independent drive for engaging and feeding the continuously moving webs into the respective helical blade shears and pulling sheets from the respective shears as they are cut from the continuously moving webs. The upstream feed roller system includes means for sensing web velocity and generating electronic pulses for input into the control means regulating the respective reversible DC motor drives driving the respective helical blade shears.

Abstract: A muffin splitter having a muffin conveyor and tining assemblies located to either side of the conveyor for tining the muffins as they move along the conveyor. The tining apparatus may be deactivated to permit muffins to be passed along the conveyor without tining.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for effecting automatic adjustments of the rotational position of a slotting head of a conventional container blank slotting machine, as required to accommodate the machine to handle container blanks of a length in excess of the maximum length of blank for which the machine was originally designed.

Abstract: A wrapping machine for cigarette packets has a cyclic drive for cutting the wrappers and feeding them towards cigarette bundles to be wrapped. The drive, which may take the form of a cyclic gearbox having an eccentric gear, passes through a clutch which can be disengaged at the minimum drive speed, for example when a bundle is missing or the wrapper web is being spliced.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing predetermined amounts of lining material into cap shells, particularly of the deeply recessed type, includes a conveyor including a passage for conveying cap shells at predetermined speeds, an extruder provided above and along the shell-conveying passage for extruding predetermined quantities of a lining material through a discharge passage, a blade fitted adjacent to the exit end of the discharge passage and rotatably across it for cutting the lining material, and a drive for rotating the blade in response to the conveying of the cap shells. The drive is adapted to rotate the blade at a non-uniform speed in response to the speed of shell conveyance so that its speed gradually decreases as the exterior end of the blade in its radial direction approaches the shell-conveying passage, and gradually increases as it departs from it, whereby collision between the tip of the blade and the cap shells can be completely avoided.

Abstract: An improved cut-off control for operating a cut-off mechanism to cut sheets of uniform length from a moving web. The cut-off control comprises means for computing actual sheet length and sheet length error and for generating separate signals indicative thereof. Digital means cylically increment and decrement the actual sheet length signal. Digital means determine whether the sheet length error is within prescribed limits of the uniform sheet length in response to the cylically incremented and decremented actual sheet length signal. A positioning motor corrects the sheet length error if it is determined to be outside the prescribed limits. Digital means simulate the correction of sheet length error effected by the positioning motor and correct the actual sheet length signal as a function thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus for driving a web crosscutting roller with knife blade. A variable speed motor drives the roller which also is of variable speed. A control device is operable on the motor to effect selective change of the rotative speed thereof. A spring is connected to the roller to alternatively impart retardation or acceleration energy to the roller during a revolution thereof by alternate tensioning and release of the spring.

Abstract: Apparatus for the control and regulation of the cutting interval for a strip advanced by a roll feed device and of the synchronism of a cutting mechanism effecting the cutting operation with the strip material during the cutting step. A common main drive serves for effecting movements of the cutting mechanism and of the strip material along its travel path and an auxiliary drive is effective on movements of one of the cutting mechanism and the strip material by way of a superposed gear system.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a side weld plastic bag manufacturing machine. The machine having a pair of drive rollers adapted to drive folded plastic toward a heat seal roller and a heat seal bar which is continuously rotated to engage the folded plastic and to seal at spaced positions. Means is provided to operate the heat seal bar and the heat seal roller at a rate common to that of the drive rollers, and further means is provided for quickly rotationally advancing the heat seal bar and the seal roller at a higher rotational rate than the drive rollers to separate the plastic at its welded portion from the surface of the heat seal roller while held between the drive rollers.

Abstract: The cutoff mechanism repetitively cuts a moving web into sheets by at least one cutting blade movable in the direction of travel of the web at web speed at the instant of cutting. The cutting blade is controlled by a cyclic mechanism. The cyclic mechanism has a uniform input speed or a cyclic input speed. When the cyclic mechanism is driven with a cyclic input speed, the normal range of sheet length is doubled.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for cutting a moving web of paper comprising a cutting blade mounted on a rotary shaft at an angle to the axis of the shaft and a stationary cutting bar cooperating with the cutting blade to cut the web into paper of predetermined lengths. The apparatus is particularly suitable for cutting paper into predetermined lengths at high speeds as it is discharged from the printing system of a high-speed computer.