Abstract: An automatic machine is provided for slicing non-rigid products, such as foodstuffs or meats. The machine includes a carriage with a plate supporting the product to be sliced. This carriage is mobile in relation to the cutting assembly which permits the product to be sliced. The machine further including a device for removing the cut slices. A control circuit is provided for receiving information from a detector. An input terminal controls the angle between the plate of the carriage thereby making the angle between the plate and the carriage adjustable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the reduction of paper waste in a web fed printing machine utilizes one or more cutting mark reading heads and a strip cutting register device to vary the path of travel of a stack of part web strips in accordance with deviations in tension of the part web strips from a nominal value. Elongation or reduction of the length of the path of strip travel is used to properly register the strip stacks with respect to a strip cross-cutting device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for the slicing of bacon bellies or the like in a manner such that each draft of bacon is of the same weight, irrespective of the topography and density of the belly from which the draft is sliced. A dimensioner assembly has a plurality of pivotally mounted fingers having one end which engages the belly and another end which is a cam surface for transmitting movement of the fingers to a receptor such as an electromicrometer. The finges engage the top, bottom and both longitudinal sides of the belly, and the data thus collected are then transformed into a topography schematic which is particular for each specific belly passing through the dimensioner assembly. These topography data and data concerning the make-up of the particular belly are used for controlling movement of feed into a bacon slicer. Included is a feed assembly which positively and precisely feeds the belly into the slicer.

Abstract: A lumber workpiece charger system for an edger wherein transfer of a workpiece occurs under rapid non-jolting control for pieces positioning, with the workpiece, throughout its delivery, clamped in proper orientation for hand-off to the edger.

Abstract: A method serves for flattening logs (10) showing a curved longitudinal center line (10a). The logs (10) are conveyed in horizontal position in their longitudinal direction, with their convex side (11) up and their concave side (12) down. The concave side (11) of the logs (10) is flattened from below in the area of their butt ends (27). In order to optimize the yield in wood, the logs (10) are measured before carrying out the flattening step, in a position where they are supported on a reference plane (13) by the end points (20, 22) of their concave side (12) only. The geometrical position of a first point (26) of the log (10) is determined on the convex side (11) as its elevation above the reference plane (13).

Abstract: A lumber processing apparatus provided with a woodworking router for cutting and processing a material to be processed into a predetermined shape by a cutting edge subjected to numerical control, includes a carriage for removing a material to be processed from a storage area and storing a processed product into the storage area, a supplying table lifter for receiving the material to be processed from the carriage, a first robot for transferring the material to be processed on the supplying table to a sending-in conveyor, a woodworking router for automatically processing the material to be processed, a conveyor for carrying the product processed by the woodworking router, a second robot for transferring the product carried by the conveyor to a carrying-out table lifter, and a control unit for controlling these systems.

Abstract: Apparatus for sizing and bandsaw cutting of meat, wherein the pieces of product to be cut are mounted in a magazine for rotation around a path which intercepts a sensor means and a bandsaw, with the pieces resting on a vertically adjustable horizontal table, the sensor means being disposed in the surface of the table to sense the area of the lower face of the product, thereby to enable automatic adjustment of the level of the table so that the bandsaw cuts a slice of product of required size from the lower end of the pieces.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for cutting drawings from a web that has emerged from a computer controlled graphics plotter. The apparatus includes a support for holding the spool of paper from the plotter and a drive means for pulling the paper through the apparatus. Photocells serve as sensors for detecting the presence of the four borders of each drawing. In response to signals generated by the photocells, the transverse borders are cut by a rotary scissor during pauses in the advance of the web. The side or "longitudinal" borders of each drawing are cut by a pair of knives that pierce the paper and cut the borders as the web is being advanced through the apparatus.

Abstract: The invention is a cutting machine and its method of operation. The machine contains a vise, a feed mechanism for positioning a workpiece toward the cutting position, a mechanism for detecting the front end of the workpiece, a mechanism for detecting the transfer distance of the front end of the workpiece, a mechanism acting in conjunction with the last two referenced mechanisms to reduce the feed speed of the workpiece, a mechanism to control the feed velocity of the workpiece, a mechanism to contact the first end of the workpiece, and a mechanism to halt the speed of the workpiece.

Abstract: A method is described for obtaining constant weight portions or slices from sliced food products wherein in each case individual slices or portions of several slices with exactly predeterminable weight can be formed in real time operation during the cutting process by detecting the cut surface area, taking account of the specific weight and computing the required feed of the product.

Abstract: The thickness of slices cut by an automatic slicing machine is controlled to produce a draft of slices having a predetermined weight. Desired thickness is determined in accordance with the cross-sectional density of the food product being sliced, which is obtained from the weight and thickness of the most recently cut slice or slices. This information is combined with a desired weight for each of the remaining slices to be cut in the draft to control the rate of advance of the food product into a continuously rotating knife so as to obtain the proper thickness.

Abstract: An alignment and cutting system for use with textile materials, such as terry cloth toweling fabric, to process either a single width of fabric or to simultaneously process in a side-by-side manner, a plurality of fabrics having the same or different widths. The system will also align each of that plurality of fabric regardless of whether the fabrics have the same or different lengths of nap-less bands or lanes separating the terry pile areas and can cut the same or different lengths of fabric from each of the plurality of fabrics being processed.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking and cutting rolls of paper, in particular end rolls from the newspaper industry. The apparatus includes a rack assembly for stacking and unrolling the end rolls, and a cutting assembly including a pair of cylindrical rollers, at least one cutting device for cutting the paper into predetermined lengths, and preferably at least one cutting device for cutting the paper into predetermined widths.

Abstract: The system includes a veneer lathe, a conveyor or apron (50) onto which the veneer from the lathe is initially directed, followed by a combination of an anvil roller (54) and a rotating clipper knife (62), which in turn is followed by a trash gate (72). The speed and rotation of the knife (62) is controlled such that the veneer material produced by operation of the lathe is first cut upon recognition of the start of random veneer and then again upon the recognition of the start of ribbon veneer. The trash gate (72) is controlled synchronously with the operation of the knife (62) such that the trash gate (72) is open up to the point in time where the veneer trash is cut from the remainder of the veneer material, at which point the trash gate (72) is closed.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding sheets comprises a variable speed conveyor for feeding a sheet cut from a web. A high speed conveyor receives the sheet fed by the variable speed conveyor, and feeds it at a high speed v1. A cutting completion detector detects the separation of the sheet from a cutter and generates a detection signal. A controller adjusts the feeding speed of the variable speed conveyor to a feed speed v2 as long as the leading portion of the web is being fed to the cutter, adjusts the feeding speed to a speed v0 (v0<v1, v2), at which the sheet is kept stationary with respect to the cutter, during the time from when the cutter starts cutting the web to when the cutting is finished and the cut sheet separates from the cutter, and increases the feeding speed from the speed v0 to the speed v1 during the time from when the detection signal is generated to when the sheet arrives at the high speed conveyor.

Abstract: A web cutting position control system capable of cutting a web having a print pattern thereon in such a manner as to match the print pattern without limiting the mounting position of a synchronizing mark detecting means for detecting synchronizing marks on the web is disclosed. A counter for counting the rotational pulses, for example, of a cutting cylinder for cutting the web is provided so as to compare the pulse count at the time of synchronizing mark detection with the reference value representing a value at the moment when the web and the cutting cylinder are in normal relative positions, and to control the relative positions of the web and the cutting cylinder to the normal relative positions by controlling the movement of a compensating roller until the two values become equal to each other.

Abstract: A control system for a web cutting line has a cutter for cutting a web of indeterminate length advanced along a web cutting line into sheets, and an end cutting shear for severing that part of the web that extends along the web cutting line from the major or upstream part of the web that has not yet reach the cutting line. A first defect sensor is disposed near the end cutting shear for detecting surface defects in the web, and a second defect sensor is disposed near the first-mentioned cutter for detecting a defective part of the web that includes a surface defect. The number of acceptable sheets that is expected to be obtainable from that part of the web that extends along the cutting line is estimated, based on the distribution of surface defects detected by the first defect sensor, and the number of acceptable sheets already cut off from the web is added to this estimated number.

Abstract: An automated multiple rip sawing apparatus is disclosed, wherein the boards are inspected at an inspection station to identify the lateral boundaries of the maximum usable clear area of each board. Each board is then delivered to an elongated saw feeding table which includes a transversely movable guide fence, and the board is then fed through a multiple rip saw having blades of differing separations, to thereby form a plurality of separate wood components. The transverse movement of the fence is automatically adjusted by a computer control, which includes the stored value of the boundaries of the maximum clear area of the board, and so that the board is ripped into the number and size of wood components which achieves a maximum yield from each board. Also, the saw feeding table includes a fixed support frame, and guide means for supporting the transverse movement of the fence while maintaining a high degree of accuracy in its alignment with respect to the fixed support frame.

Abstract: A print cutter suitable for use in an order finishing station or as a stand-alone unit includes a reel mount for accepting a reel of photographic prints formed in a continuous web. An automatic threader threads the leading end of the web through a loop guide into the first set of drive rollers. A leading end sensor senses the leading end of the web as it is automatically threaded through the loop guide to stop the threading process when the leading end of the web reaches the feed rollers. The same sensor is utilized to monitor the size of the loop of the print web present in the loop guide and to feed additional prints from the reel into the loop guide as required to maintain predetermined loop size. An accurate measure of print length is maintained by feeding the prints to the cutter using a roller pair including a nondeformable roller engaged with the undersurface of the prints and a deformable roller engaging the upper surface of the prints. The nondeformable roller is driven by a stepper motor.

Abstract: The thickness of slices cut by an automatic slicing machine is controlled to produce a draft of slices having a predetermined weight. Desired thickness is determined in accordance with the cross-sectional density of the food product being sliced, which is obtained from the weight and thickness of the most recently cut slice or slices. This information is combined with a desired weight for each of the remaining slices to be cut in the draft to control the rate of advance of the food product into a continuously rotating knife so as to obtain the proper thickness.

Abstract: A feed speed control for band saws avoids overfeeding and underfeeding of logs or cants to allow higher initial input feeds and takes into account varying cutting depth throughout a log or cant length. The method comprises the steps of positioning a log or cant in preparation for sawing in a saw line, projecting a first light line onto the surface of the log or cant at the projected saw entry line, and a second light line onto the surface of the log or cant at the projected saw exit line and the second light line to determine depth of cut, and controlling the feed speed of the log or cant during the sawing step past the saw blade, to a predetermined feed speed for the measured depth of cut to avoid overfeeding and underfeeding.

Abstract: In a ham loaf slicing machine having a rotary cutter supported for cyclical orbital movement into and out of a slicing station, a ham loaf size sensing mechanism is provided in a collar having an aperture for supporting a ham loaf in position at the entrance to the slicing station to control the speed of ham loaf feed toward the slicing station. In the inner wall of the collar which defines the aperture, an annular groove and a draw-out passage for a flexible strap-like member which leads to a location outside the collar are provided. The strap-like member is disposed in the annular groove, one end of the member being fixed at a suitable location in the groove. The other end of the strap-like member is positioned outside the collar past the draw-out passage and is connected to a sensor.

Abstract: A punch apparatus for punching hole patterns in thin sheet material. The apparatus includes a housing having a liquid-cooled cavity therein; a coil mounted in the liquid-cooled cavity; a driver disk made of a highly conductive material mounted in the liquid-cooled cavity, the driver disk mounted adjacent to the coil; a driver button located outside of the liquid-cooled cavity but in communication with the driver disk; and a punch element for perforating thin sheet material aligned with the driver button. Finally, the apparatus includes an electrical source for energizing the coil with a pulse of electrical energy for generating flux linking the driver disk and the coil to repel the driver disk from the coil, thereby translating the driver button and the punch element, causing the punch element to perforate a thin sheet of material.

Abstract: Automatic cutting of pieces of material for obtaining a cut portion having a predetermined weight is performed by an apparatus and process in which the pieces to be cut are first weighed and then cut to obtain a portion having a predetermined weight. The pieces to be cut are transported on adjacent parallel conveyors adapted to travel in the same direction at substantially the same speed, a portion of each piece being transported on each conveyor. At least one of the conveyors includes at least one load-bearing platform, each load-bearing platform being associated with a weighing machine for performing, at least once, weighing of at least a portion of each piece to be cut at least once.

Abstract: A system that rotatively orients and skew positions a log for lumber processing. A log is placed in centering V's and rough centered. Rotatable scan spindles rotate the log while scanners obtain measurements at spaced locations along the log length and at selected rotative positions. Each angular position is analyzed for an optimum cutting pattern and the spindles are rotated to rotate the log into the most desirable angular position. The log is skew adjusted by the scan spindles and/or knee clamps in a carriage and conveyed to a saw array. A computer controls the cutting action to achieve the selected cutting pattern.

Abstract: A system for maximizing the board width fitting to a flitch wherein grade lumber rules permit a designated percentage of wane area. The side edges of the minor face of the flitch are assumed to be straight edge line segments. Each line edge segment is established at designated vertical distances. The beginning and end of each line edge segment is thus determined and the relative longitudinal and lateral positions as between the beginning and end of each line segment determines a rectangular area that is assumed to be half surface area and half wane area. The side edge of a board is then computed to include the allowable wane area. Boards may also be force fit from visual examination by designation of the board width that will separate the flawed portion from the non flawed portion.

Abstract: A tandem sawmill assembly is disclosed having two linearly spaced sawing stations. A conveyor system moves the log through the first sawing station and up an inclined ramp for rotating the log ninety degrees prior to moving the log through the second sawing station. An overhead roller engages the re-oriented log and advances it to a centering platform where centering arms engage the log to orient the log axially with respect to the second sawing station. The conveyor then moves the aligned log through the second sawing station while a second overhead roller applies presssure to the upper surface of the log.

Abstract: A punch apparatus for punching holes in thin sheet material including a frame, a punch element mounted on the frame for rectilinear movement, which further includes a planar element of conductive material mounted on the punch element, a coil on the frame mounted adjacent to the planar element, a carriage for supporting and positioning the sheet in the path of the punch element, leads connected to a source of electric current to energize the coil, a mechanical arrangement to rebound the punch element, and a programmable apparatus to selectively move the carriage and energize the coil to thereby produce a punched hole pattern in the sheet.

Abstract: A ribbon cutting apparatus which solves the problems of lateral shifting, stretching and shrinking of a printed web of material by providing a plurality of blade carrying blocks each of which may be independently positioned with respect to a travelling web. Each blade carrying block supports between 2 and 9 circular blades. Each of the blades in turn is connected to a small pneumatic cylinder which presses the blades against a platen roller so as to crush cut the web of material passing through. An electric eye detects the location of a registration line that is located substantially near the center of the web. The blade carrying blocks are normally located symmetrically on opposite sides of the registration line. If the web is out of registration the take-off roll is driven horizontally to compensate for the mis-positioning. Each of the blade carrying blocks is independently positionable by a manual adjustment mechanism, such as a wheel connected through a gearing mechanism to each blade carrying blocks.

Abstract: The invention provides a trim waste reduction process for wood fingerjointing operations. It normally includes the following steps: (1) Automatic determination if the end profile of each block is acceptable with less or no trim (2) Displacing acceptable wood blocks from path of trim saw as desired.

Abstract: The method of the present invention comprises scanning a piece of lumber proximate its end to determine which side of its longitudinal center line its fibers are oriented toward. The piece of lumber then is oriented such that the tangent of the cutting circle of a rotary cutter, which is used to machine finger joints in its end, is offset from the fiber direction by at least 90.degree.. Finger joints then are machined in the end of the piece of lumber by the cutter. The apparatus includes a conveyor which transports a plurality of pieces of lumber normal to their longitudinal axes. A scanner, which determines the fiber direction of each piece of lumber, transmits this information along with the location of the piece of lumber on the conveyor to a microprocessor. An orienter then is annunciated by the microprocessor to rotate those pieces of lumber having fiber direction which is oriented improperly before they are fed through a finger jointer.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for cutting a chain of longitudinally joined elongate products into pieces of a desired length, the chain of elongate products is intermittently fed by a feed unit through a first distance equal to the length of each piece to be severed, along a path through a detector and a cutting unit downstream of the detector and the chain is cut successively into pieces of the desired length at the cutting unit while the feed unit is inoperative. As the chain is advanced, the joint portion of each adjacent pair of the elongate products is detected by the detector. Upon detection of the joint portion, a control unit computes the number of prospective pieces of the desired length producible by severing from a longitudinal portion of the chain which extends from the present leading end of the chain toward the detected joint portion and terminates short of the detected joint portion.

Abstract: A method of measuring camber in a sheet of metallic material comprises the steps of displacing the sheet between fixed guides in a plane perpendicular to the width of the sheet such that a point on a center of the sheet travels a predetermined distance, measuring the length of the sheet adjacent a first longitudinal edge thereof which moves past a datum line when the sheet is displaced the predetermined distance and generating a signal having a value A proportional to the length, measuring a length of the sheet adjacent to a second, opposite longitudinal edge which moves past the datum line when the sheet is displaced the predetermined distance and generating a signal having a value B proportional to the second edge length, and calculating camber at the first edge, expressed as a radius of curvature R.sub.C of the sheet, by the equation: ##EQU1## where W equals the width of the sheet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dividing metal logs into billets is disclosed. The apparatus includes a furnace, a shear spaced from the furnace, and a guide-pusher system for moving the logs relative to the furnace and shear. Using this apparatus, a first log is cut into a plurality of billets each having a predetermined length. As a result, the remaining end of the first log will be unacceptably short. Instead of discarding this portion, it is selectively divided to form the first part of a combination, two-part billet. The second part of the two-part billet is severed from the end of a second log to be processed in the apparatus. As a result, a two-part billet is produced from materials which would normally be discarded, thereby resulting in considerable cost savings.

Abstract: A method of cutting a contour in an image film according to the present invention includes a rough contour-selecting and recording step in which a rough contour of required portions in the image film are memorized in the form of coordinates X, Y; and error-detecting step for establishing a true contour from a concentration-difference of an image taken by a picture-taking element, which is controllably driven by memory output of the recorded rough contour, by determining the magnitude of a deviation between the true contour and the rough contour and the direction of the deviation; a step of correcting the record of the rough contour by the determined value and memorizing the true contour in another memory medium as a collection of new X, Y coordinates; and a step of cutting the film by a cutter controlled by output from the memory medium.

Abstract: A system for spreading and severing material utilizing a roller movable over a lower substrate and carrying with it a loop of material for spreading without tension. One or two plies are spread as a function of roller travel prior to severing from a source. If two plies are spread, severing of the loop occurs at the roller by an element movable with the roller. A second severing element is located at one end of the substrate to separate material from the source. A top platen carries a removable substrate having thereon multiple patterns. The patterns are defined by a resistance wire having thermal expansion joints and carried by stand-off insulators mounted on the removable substrate. When the wires are brought into contact with the material on the lower substrate, severing occurs. Multiple cycles of spreading and severing may occur prior to removal of the lower substrate.

Abstract: Structural steel measuring apparatus comprises a reversible powered roller conveyor for advancing the structural member in opposite directions relative to a work station and a carriage movable alongside the conveyor and releasably clamped to the end of the structural member by an electromagnet. The carriage mounts a TV camera which reads an elongate scale extending alongside the conveyor. The reading is displayed on a monitor at the work station. The structural steel member can be positioned accurately with respect to the work station by driving the powered conveyor in either direction with the carriage magnetically coupled to its end. After the desired operation is performed, the carriage is decoupled from the structural steel member which is then advanced away from the work station by the conveyor.

Abstract: A conveyorized machine that operates to automatically advance objects of generally the same shape and weight, particularly breasts of turkey, to a scale platform which is retractable below the conveyor and elevatable above the conveyor. On the scale platform the object is automatically positioned to a desired location relative to a vertically running band saw blade. In one mode of the machine the desired location will result in the object being sawed or severed into two portions of equal weight. In another mode the desired location will result in the object being sawed or severed into one portion of a predetermined weight and a second portion being the remainder of the object. After the object has been positioned in the desired position on the scale platform, the platform retracts or lowers below the level of the conveyor and the object is then conveyed past the band saw blade and the resulting two severed portions are conveyed to the discharge end of the machine.

Abstract: An automatic ticket dispensing machine and a method for operating it to automatically adjust itself to the size of tickets being dispensed. A strip of tickets is fed forward with an advancing mechanism past an optical sensor which detects the perforations between tickets. The optical sensor is coupled to a controller which controls the advancing mechanism. The controller determines the length of the ticket by monitoring the distance the tickets are advanced between detections of perforations. In response to a request for a ticket, the controller advances the ticket strip by a distance corresponding to the predetermined ticket length of output.

Abstract: An automatic material loading, positioning and unloading system is disclosed in connection with a machine tool turret punch. The device includes a loader which receives a stack of sheets to be fed to the punch machine. The loader includes means for lifting the sheets one at a time from a storage area, means for transporting the sheets to a loading area of the punch worktable and means for unloading the sheets at the worktable area. The punch machine includes automatically controlled workpiece grippers which receive the sheets from the loader, properly position them with respect to the machine tool, move them in a predesired sequence through the machine and transport them to an unload area of the worktable. The unload area of the worktable is effective to discharge the punched sheets from the machine to an unload stacker. The unload stacker receives and stacks completed sheets.

Abstract: An automatic material loading, positioning and unloading system is disclosed in connection with a machine tool turret punch. The device includes a loader which receives a stack of sheets to be fed to the punch machine. The loader includes means for lifting the sheets one at a time from a storage area, means for transporting the sheets to a loading area of the punch worktable and means for unloading the sheets at the worktable area. The punch machine includes automatically controlled workpiece grippers which receive the sheets from the loader, properly position them with respect to the machine tool, move them in a predesired sequence through the machine and transport them to an unload area of the worktable. The unload area of the worktable is effective to discharge the punched sheets from the machine to an unload stacker. The unload stacker receives and stacks completed sheets.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a veneer piece into equal sections includes a main conveyer for feeding the veneer piece in a direction transverse to the wood fibers thereof and a cutter disposed in the main conveyer for cutting the veneer piece along the feeding direction thereof. A straightening unit is provided at the upstream position of the cutter for controlling the orientation of the veneer piece on the main conveyor in such a manner that the fibers precisely extend along the transverse direction of the main conveyer, the unit including a plurality of retractable stoppers capable of projecting from the main conveyer to stop the veneer piece for a predetermined time. A multiple conveyer system extends from the downstream end of the main conveyer to transport the sections of the cut veneer pieces to a single feeder at different timings, the feeder conveying the sections to an apparatus for forming seam plates.

Abstract: A sawmill in which a multi-log supporting mechanism is constructed wherein logs are grasped at spaced angular positions about the mechanism and rotated by it between an initial receiving position to a profile measurement position and then to a sawing position. The end-to-end axis of the supporting mechanism is adjustably oriented with respect to a saw in terms of profile measurements and size of lumber determined to be cut from a log. Directionally, this adjustment is made normal to the profile measurement dimension.

Abstract: In an uncoiled web feed line including a shear, continuous feed and measuring pinch rolls, a pit for accommodating a loop portion of an uncoiled web, intermittent feed pinch rolls and a metal mold arranged in succession, there is provided a novel method for cutting an uncoiled web at its midway position by a shear such that when the production by the metal mold is continued for the uncoiled web forward of the cut position, just one lot of a desired number of products can be produced without being associated with an excessive waste web.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting predetermined lengths of panels from a continuous strip of flexible material and for forming the lengths of panel members to have a preselected panel profile. The strip is reel fed to a first strip driving station which drives the strip through a shearing station, over a hump table, to a second strip driving station and through a strip forming station. In sequence, the second strip driving station brakes the leading portion of the strip to effect a strip hump over the hump table, which is detected by a protoelectric sensor for hump height and signals the first strip driving station to vary its feed rate to maintain the hump; the second driving station is then signaled to commence driving the lead portion of the strip to the strip forming station.

Abstract: A method for feeding material sheet to a press comprises steps of transferring a material sheet on which print parts and the corresponding positioning marks are printed for a preset distance at least until the positioning mark comes into the field of view of a viewing device provided in a position related to the working position of the press, detecting misalignment between the centers of the positioning mark and a reference mark of the field of view in the X and Y axis directions by the viewing device, and positioning the print part at the press working position automatically and precisely by using the detected amount of the misalignment as a correction value for positioning.

Abstract: A saw assembly for reducing logs while passing the logs at least once through the assembly and resawing the resultant sawn blocks while re-passing the blocks at least once through the saw assembly. The assembly comprises a pair of chippers (1) and at least one pair of band saws (2) located downstream thereof, and a pair of guide-and-feed devices (9) located between the chippers and the band saws. The components in each of these pairs of assembly units are located opposite one another on different sides of the center line of the saw line and are adjustable in relation to the center line.

Abstract: A sheet of material is printed with a plurality of printed portions to be punched as a plurality of positioning marks near said printed portions. A camera is provided for a press machine for detecting center positions of the mark and the printed portions are positioned at a punching portion of the press based on the detected center positions Vacuum sucking means are provided to such the sheet mounted on a table and obliquely moving the sheet until its edge engages a stop member which corrects the attitude of the sheet. When a defective printed portion is detected, punching thereof is prevented. The apparatus is constructed to minimize the stroke of movement of the sheet during the steps of supplying and positioning it to the press machine and discharging a scrap remaining after punching the sheet.

Abstract: Programmable apparatus for cutting woven fabric wound on a supply roll includes a fabric spreader which pays-off fabric from the supply roll and onto a cutting table as the spreader moves relative to the table. A vibrating member carried by the fabric spreader and over which the payed-off fabric is constrained to pass imparts vibration to a portion of the fabric which extends across the entire width of the fabric to relieve residual stresses within the fabric as it is spread onto the table surface. The spread fabric is immediately cut by a rotary cutting wheel which moves in cutting engagement with the fabric in response to command signals received from a programmable controller.

Abstract: Terry cloth towel (18) moves from a supply along its length through an aligning and cutting system (14), to a transfer station (15). As the untufted bands (20) of the toweling material approach the transfer station, a plurality of fingers (28) of a gate (25) engage the untufted portion of the toweling, an as the toweling continues to move, the oncoming edge (22) of the plush surface (19) of the toweling engages and is retarded by the fingers. In the meantime, a plurality of presser feet (92) each of which is aligned with the fingers of the gate urge the toweling into engagement with a feed roller (85) that pulls the toweling through the processing path, and tension in the toweling tends to lift one or more of the presser feet (92) to relieve the pull applied to the toweling. This function is to straighten the band of the toweling.