Abstract: A medicine package including a reservoir containing the medicine, the package bearing a machine readable code indicative of the characteristics of the medicine contained therein. If from reading the code it is determined that the medicine contained in the package can be used to satisfy the needs of a particular patient, then the package is opened and the code is rendered unreadable by the machine. A machine for reading the code, opening the package, rendering the code unreadable, and maintaining a record of the dispensing of the medicine to a particular patient is also disclosed.

Abstract: The specification discloses an optimizing saw including a scanner unit having devices for measuring both the width and length of boards passing through the station whereby board feet can be calculated. More specifically, the width measuring device includes a reference plane and a reciprocating ram opposite the reference plane which engages a board therebetween to measure board width. The optimizing saw further includes a board conveying apparatus having a multi-speed hydraulic motor drive for smoothly and precisely transporting boards through the optimizing saw. Optimal saw cut locations for each board, control of the width-measuring device, calculation of board feet processed, pinch roll actuation, conveyor acceleration, conveyor deceleration, and status of current production against a predetermined bill of materials are all controlled by a single microprocessor.

Abstract: A slicing machine has a table defining a horizontal and flat support surface having an outer edge and a blade displaceable transversely along the edge. Thus when the blade moves along the edge a slice is cut from an elongated foodstuff projecting longitudinally over the edge. An automatic feed for the slicing machine includes a pair of feed elements centered on and rotatable about respective parallel longitudinal axes spaced apart transversely above the surface to either side of the foodstuff and each formed with a flat outer end immediately juxtaposed with the edge, and a helicoidal formation at least generally centered on the axis, engageable with the elongated foodstuff between the elements, and extending to the respective outer end. A drive rotates the elements about the respective axes for advancing the foodstuff gripped between the elements in a longitudinal transport direction along the surface toward the edge.

Abstract: An apparatus for slicing bread products or the like, provided with an oscillated driven cutting frame having parallel cutting strips, a supporting surface for the product to be cut leading to the frame, a propelling member movable across the surface and a housing enveloping the frame and propelling member, provided with a feed-in and a feed-off opening which, can be used by untrained operators or customers without any danger, in that the feed-off opening is located in the housing above the cutting frame.

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: A slicing machine for slicing a product, comprising a blade 1 and a feeding mechanism 8, 9, 11, 12, to feed the product towards the blade 1 also includes a programmed computer 18 to control the feed rate of the feeding mechanism 8, 9, 11, 12 and programmed with a function corresponding to the typical weight distribution of at least one type of product. The computer 18 is programmed to respond to the input of information representing the weight and length of a particular product to modify the typical weight distribution function in accordance with the input values to provide an anticipated weight distribution for that particular product. The computer is also programmed to control the operation of the feeding mechanism 8, 9, 11, 12, so that the product is fed towards the blade 1 at a rate which varies with the anticipated weight distribution.

Abstract: A lazy-susan type roll table supports, in a vertical position, a roll of place mats interconnected into a continuous web (i.e. each mat is attached to its adjacent mat by perforations and all are rolled up on a core to form the roll of material). A web feed roller, also disposed for rotation about a vertical axis, is spaced from the roll table and cooperates with a pinch roller to grip therebetween the web of place mats and to feed the place mats along a path. An end panel positioning plate receives the end place mat, as the web is being fed, and carries an infra-red sensor which responds to the presence of the perforations between the mats to terminate drive of the web feed roller. A web tension drive extends up through the core of the roll of place mats and mounts a soft rubber drive wheel which when driven urges the web roll in a direction opposite to that imparted to the web by the web feed roller.

Abstract: A sled which is mounted between an uncoiler and a multiple-head or arbor type slitter and which carries a pair of pinch rolls and a peeler. The sled is adapted for longitudinal movement between the slitter and the uncoiler to allow indexing of the slitter arbors and feeding of the coil initially into the slitter.

Abstract: Piles of sheets (S5) consisting of sheets of security papers (10), are cut into layers of strips (18) and then into bundles of security papers (19). The lengths of the feed movements of the feed device (26), are controlled by a reading unit (29) provided on the strip-cutting unit (27). The reading unit reads an edge mark which was printed during printing of the sheets in the printing machine (20) by the printing plate on a side edge of the sheet. The side edge of the sheet is cut off at a later time and orientated parallel to the feed direction of the pile of sheets, when cutting strips. Edge marks read by the reading unit are provided on the printing plate and necessarily follow the expansion of the printing plate increasing in the course of operation, which in particular at the time of die-stamping, is considerable on account of the high contact pressure.

Abstract: An automatic portion-cutting machine measures the shape of a fish fillet, calculates its corresponding volume and weight, and cuts the fillet to create portions of a predetermined size. In the preferred embodiment disclosed herein, fish fillets are advanced along a conveyor to allow these operations to take place. An optical monitoring station along the conveyor sends data relating to the shape of the fillet to a processing unit which calculates the weight of the fillet and actuates a cutting unit to cut the fillet at locations corresponding to the portion size desired.

Abstract: A die cutting press for processing web material is disclosed which is operable to provide very precise alignment of a reciprocable die cutting unit with each succesive area of the web to be die cut. In operation, the web is incrementally advanced toward the work station of the press until the area next to be die cut is substantially but not exactly in the die cut position thereof. The web feed is then placed in a creep mode to advance the web until an optical sensor determines the presence of transverse alignment indicium on one side of the web. Mechanism is thereupon actuated to rotate the die unit as required to bring the die assembly into alignment with related indicium on the opposite side of the web while effecting shifting of the web longitudinally thereof in a direction of travel as necessary to maintain die registration with the first sensed web indicium.

Abstract: A system (50) includes a labeling machine (52) and a digital data processing system (54) connected to the labeling machine (52). A cutter (56) of the labeling machine (52) has a shaft (58) with a mark (60), which is sensed by a sensor (62). The sensor (62) supplies shaft (58) information on line (64) to digital data processing system (54). The digital data processing system (54) supplies control signals on line (64) to feed roll (66) stepper motor (67). The digital data processing means (54) is also connected to an optical sensor (76) by line (78). The optical sensor (76) senses the position of position mark (74) on the labels (70), which is correlated with the position of shaft (58) in order to feed the labels (70) to the cutter (56) at the proper rate so that the labels (70) are always cut at the kerf (72) between each label (70).

Abstract: A crude curved log with an essentially circular cross-section is before a first machining cycle in a working machine fixed in a rotary condition where the longitudinal sectional plane comprising the maximum curvature is horizontal, and is then measured and processed along curved paths determined in a computer unit on the basis of the measured curvature. Thereafter the central block, thus obtained is processed, in a second cycle along paths having the same curvature as the first cycle by utilizing the same command signals as in the first cycle are used, possibly with a correction for changed lateral position of the block.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for stacking and weighing slices of cold-cuts coming from the discharge end of a slicing machine. The apparatus is initially set to receive slices in stacked form on a stacker. A scale is positioned with respect to the stacker to register the weight after a preselected amount of slices are collected on the stacker. A tare correction control system and a profile compensation control system are provided to assist in maintaining more uniform weight with fewer rejected stacks. The tare correction system is utilized to automatically reset the scale between weighings to compensate for build-up of scrap materials on the weight conveyor. The profile compensation control system is provided to compensate for tapers on the rear and front ends of a load to be sliced and accordingly adjust the slice thickness and obtain uniform and acceptable stack weights.

Abstract: A device for feeding a continuous web, for cutting it into pieces and having automatic reel change for changing the reels from which the web is unwound is described. This device includes a cyclic cutting device positioned at the confluence of two tracks, along which two continuous webs are unwound from corresponding reels are fed, and controls for controlling the generation of a signal when an associated reel is exhausted; along each of the tracks there are provided a mechanism for feeding the webs from the reels to the cutting device, and such feeding mechanism include, for each track, a pair of feed rollers for feeding the associated web to the cutting device.

Abstract: A slicing machine including a rotating blade 1 and a feeding head 8 to feed a block of food product towards the blade includes a position detector 38 to detect when the feeding head 8 is a predetermined distance away from the end of its stroke, an encoder 32 associated with the drive 12 of the feeding head 8 to monitor movement of the feeding head 8 over the predetermined distance from the position detector 38 to the end of its stroke, and a cam and proximity switch 34,35 to monitor the movement of the blade 1 of the slicer. The machine also includes a computer 18 to monitor the position of the feeding head 8 as it moves towards the end of its stroke to establish when there is insufficient of the stroke of the feeding head 8 remaining to allow another whole slice of product to be cut before the feeding head 8 reaches the end of its stroke and to return the feeding head 8 to its starting position after completing the slicing of the last whole slice.

Abstract: A device is provided for aligning elongated tubes to be cut into tube sections with a saw blade for cutting the tubes, wherein elongated tubes are provided with cutouts spaced from each other at equal intervals and defining raster marks at which tubes are to be cut into tube sections, the aligning device including a plurality of scanning fingers mounted in contact with the elongated tube to be cut into tube sections and spaced from each other along the elongation of the tube a distance substantially smaller than the interval between adjacent cutouts on the tube. A drive device for rotation and axial displacement of each tube is provided. At least one of the scanning fingers is engageable in one of the cutouts upon the rotation and axial displacement of the tube so that the distance between the saw and the cutout can be determined and the tube can be accurately aligned with the saw.

Abstract: Apparatus for the lateral feeding and transfer handling of successive cants into and through a wane scanning station, with subsequent adjusted-position placement on the infeed conveyor for an edger. Featured in the apparatus are a main carriage, which is driven reciprocally with what might be thought of as sinusoidal motion, and thereon a relatively moveable subcarriage which can translate, and rotate about a central upright axis, under the influence of a pair of conventional setworks. The subcarriage includes cant transport blades which directly support a cant, and which are rockable between raised and lowered positions and about axes which substantially parallel the reciprocation axis of the main carriage, all for the purpose of effecting a simple pick-up and final hand-off transfer of a cant as it travels and is scanned on the fly between intake and discharge stations. During cant transfer, there is no relative movement occurring between the cant and the structure directly supporting it.

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: A device for straightening a distorted strip article, particularly a textile strip having a marking thread or the like, and for cutting along a stitch or print line of the strip article. A plurality of movable straightening elements are arranged transverse to the length of the strip article and are movable into engagement with the strip and adjustable by a transport device in the longitudinal direction of the strip article. The straightening elements 18 are movable longitudinally and into engagement with the strip article independently of each other. A sensor device controls the movement of the straightening elements in response to control signals produced by the marking thread. The transport device is disposed transversely to the length of the strip article in the area of the marking thread.

Abstract: A flat reducing and sawing installation for processing tapering logs includes a reducing section and a sawing section through which logs pass in sequence. The reducing section includes two reducing disks which can each be moved outwards by respective positioning devices. The sawing section includes at least two laterally movable saw blades. The position of the reducing disks is controlled by an electronic evaluation and control unit on the basis of profile data fed in about the log, which indicates that at least one of the disks is about to grind sufficient material from one side of the log to form a plank of a minimum acceptable thickness, length and width. Under these circumstances, the control unit moves the appropriate reducing disk outwardly by at least the minimum acceptable thickness to allow the outermost saw of the sawing section to saw off the resulting plank.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for preventing length measuring errors resulting from accidentally remaining local offshoots from a portion of the butt end of a tree stem which is continuously advanced toward a cross-cutting member for cutting the stem in predetermined length sections. A stem-measuring device periodically emits a cutting impulse to the cross-cutting member so that the advancing stem will be cut into predetermined lengths. Two detectors are provided in a spaced relationship for sensing the entering of the butt end into a detecting station and then emitting an actuating signal to start the measuring device. The spacing of the two detectors, which are symmetrically positioned with respect to the centerline of the stem path, does not exceed a predetermined minimum butt diameter. The measuring device is not actuated until signals from both detectors are emitted.

Abstract: An automatically-controlled system for ripcutting a cant into a plurality of boards includes the conveyor for advancing the cant transversely along a substantially straight path. Optical scanning stations along the path determine the shape of the usable board area which is fed to a control system. The control system, in turn, directs a mechanism which orients the cant on a sawing table. The cant is held in a fixed position on this table while a plurality of overhead saws make a series of parallel cuts on the board. The wane edges fall away and the resulting cut boards are transferred to an outfeed conveyor.

Abstract: An edging optimizer apparatus is described including scanner means for scanning lumber with light beams to determine a reference axis which may be the optimum yield axis for cutting boards therefrom and improved clamp means for clamping the lumber after scanning, skewing the lumber in response to the output of the scanner means until its reference axis is parallel with the cutting axis of the edger, and transferring the clamped and skewed lumber to an aligned position where its reference axis is in alignment with such cutting axis. The lumber is discharged from the clamp means at the aligned position and is fed to the edger cutting means longitudinally along the cutting axis to cut the opposite side edges of the lumber and produce boards of the proper size for optimum yield in volume or selling price.

Abstract: A method for orienting a log, supported by rotating means, which is to be fed into a saw or a similar device. The upper edge line of the log profile is surveyed by two cameras placed in such a symmetrical position above the log that a line from the camera to the log in the feed plane forms an olbique angle with the feed plane. Each camera records the edge line viewed by it and the log is brought by orienting movements in such a position that the images of the edge lines as viewed by the cameras are substantially mirror images of each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning lumber, especially blocks from which the first pair of cants is removed, comprising a conveyor for transferring the blocks in longitudinal direction, a measuring station and a microprocessor or equivalent. Before feeding the blocks into a saw mill, they have to be aligned correctly in order to ascertain a maximum amount of wood products. In conventional apparatuses for aligning blocks, the alignment is performed on the unsawed surfaces of the block. In practice this leads to errors. In the present invention the errors can be eliminated by arranging the aligning members to comprise one or several short conveyors located in connection to the conveyor. The short conveyor can be shifted transversally both below and above the level of the conveyor, and it can be given a horizontal adjusting movement impulse according to the adjusting values received from the calculating unit.

Abstract: An arrangement for feeding blocks of timber into a cutting machine has a stationary rear pair of lateral guide rollers immediately in front of the saw blades, a laterally displaceable front pair of lateral guide rollers and a middle lateral guide device, which may be a pair of lateral guide rollers. The middle lateral guide device is at half the distance between the front and the rear pair of lateral guide rollers. The front pair of lateral guide rollers is arranged on a support arm which can swing on a swivel point which is in front of the rear pair of lateral guide rollers at a distance of six tenths of a distance between the front and rear pair of lateral guide rollers. The arrangement is suitable for curved sawing both in sawing machines and in reducing and reducing sawing machines.

Abstract: Sheet material 14, such as a continuous supply of terry cloth towel 16, is moved along its length through a path and toward a cutting station 15 where it is cut into lengths 139. The sheet material is formed with bands 166 extending across its length, such as bands of reduced thickness, and the sheet material is cut in these bands. The bands are detected by rollers 144, 145 at opposite edges of the sheet material as the bands approach the cutting station 15, and each edge portion of the sheet material is fed by feed rollers 51, 52 independently of the other edge portion into the cutting station so as to cause one side of the sheet material which may lag the other side to be properly located at the cutting station prior to cutting the sheet material.

Abstract: A high volume food load slicing machine comprising a pair of loaf feed belt conveyors that continuously advance a food loaf along a downwardly inclined path through a collar into a slicing station at which a rotating and orbiting knife slices the load includes a variable speed knife rotation drive independent of the main drive that orbits the knife and drives the loaf conveyors. A hydrostatic speed variator in the drive connection for the conveyors, with speed corrections made by a stepper motor, affords precision control of slice thickness. A split collar and associated sensor afford continuous sensing of the loaf cross section to provide effective slice thickness correction; the collar is of molded machinable resin so that the knife can cut a working surface on the collar to a precise contour. The collar includes vacuum means to hold the butt end of a loaf for slicing.

Abstract: An apparatus for advancing a predetermined length of strip material from a supply roll to a delivery point. In addition to strip pull-off mechanism (15) cooperating with a one-way means (20, 22) to pull-off the desired strip length from the supply roll (10), the apparatus has a gripper (26) reciprocating in synchronism and in push-pull connection with the pull-off mechanism, the gripper gripping and advancing the strip end. The strip (11) also passes a strip brake (20, 21) and a photocell (19) which on detection of a suitable mark causes the brake to be actuated to stop the strip and the gripper to be actuated so that it releases the strip. As the moving parts have a very small inertia, the braking may be effected almost instantaneously and with great precision.

Abstract: A system for orienting cants for edging by the side cutters in an edger including an infeed unit for moving the cant into the edger along a prescribed path; a manually controllable positioning assembly remotely of the infeed unit for selectively positioning the cant with respect to a positioning axis to preorient the cant with respect to the positioning axis; a sensing device operatively connected to the positioning assembly for sensing the position of the cant with respect to the positioning axis when the cant is preoriented with respect to the positioning axis; memory unit operatively connected to the sensing device for storing the sensed position of the cant with respect to the positioning axis; a conveyor for selectively moving the cant from the positioning assembly to the infeed unit; an infeed stop responsive to the sensed position stored in the memory unit to position the cant with respect to the edging path with the same orientation the cant had with respect to the positioning axis when the cant was p

Abstract: In order to deposit a web (13) onto a conveyer (2) of a table (1) with one edge aligned with a datum position, a carrier (9) is provided which is rotatable with respect to the table (1) and has an auxiliary conveyer (10). Rotation of the carrier (9) takes place in response to deviation of the actual position of the edge from the datum position, which is detected at the point of deposit of the web (13) onto the conveyer (2) by a suitable position detecting sensor (21). For rotating the carrier (9), a motor (20), whose direction of rotation and angle of rotation can be controlled, is used.The apparatus can be used, in particular, for depositing webs of fabric removed from bolts (4) onto a laying table for cutting purposes.

Abstract: A plurality of gimbal mounted wheels are located to protrude slightly above an alignment table to support a work piece. A pair of electro-optical scanners are located above the table to locate a marked bend line on the work piece with respect to a die in an adjacent press brake. The scanner signals for wheel alignment and to drive units located in each half of the alignment table to selectively drive the wheels and move the work piece bend line into position in the press brake. An alternate drive actuates the wheels when the wheels are aligned for maximum rotation.

Abstract: For cutting metal plate with curved edges so that the transverse cuts are perpendicular to the chord of the curve, the leading plate end is laterally located against an abutment close to the cutter, and the plate is swivelled about the abutment until the plate edge at the position of the trailing end cut is in a position corresponding to the leading end at the abutment. The plate edge position is monitored by extensible feelers which also measure the curvature of the plate edge.

Abstract: An infeed table for an edging device adapted to trim the longitudinal wane edges of a sawn cant to produce dimensioned lumber as the cant is moved therethrough along a prescribed edging path including an infeed conveyor for moving the sawn cant into the edging device along the edging path; and a pair of positioning assemblies are positioned along the infeed conveyor means at spaced apart positions to selectively clamp the cant therein and shift the cant transversely of the edging path to orient the cant with respect to the edging path. A manual control is provided for the positioning assemblies to selectively shift the cant and an automatic control is also provided for shifting the positioning assemblies to a position centered on the edging path when the manual control is not activated. A set control is provided for causing the positioning assemblies to shift one edge of the cant to fixed distance from the edging path.

Abstract: Automatic loading device for automatically positioning of panels of sheet metal or the like and to transfer the panels to a feeding device of a machine tool, preferably a cutting press. The cutting press cuts a plurality of blanks out of the panel along a given pattern which is stored in a program. The program is controlling the cutting press and the feed device in synchronism in order to provide the blanks, e.g. lids for cans within minimum production time. The time when the loading device is working overlaps the production time for the preceeding panel, i.e. the aligning of the panel in the loading device took place when the preceeding panel is cut. As soon as the feeding device returns to the zero position the loading device transfers the next panel to the feeding device, the panel maintaining its precise aligned position. The feeding device starts to a new feed cycle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically severing individual towels from a length of material comprising a plurality of terry towels. The method includes the steps of measuring slightly less than the supposed length of a towel, then activating a sensor that detects the edge of a cutting space by the change in thickness of the material. The sensor causes feeding of the material to stop with a cut-line at a cutting blade. The first edge of the material is held while a second sensor located the same edge at the opposite side of the material, and the cutting blade is moved with the sensor. The material is stretched to straighten the cut-line, and the cutting blade is caused to cut the material. The apparatus includes feed rolls to move the material, and an encoder measures the length. A roller at one edge of the material detects the change in thickness at one edge, and similar rollers detect the change in thickness at the opposite edge.

Abstract: The sawing of an elongated workpiece, such as a log or cant, is effected by feeding the workpiece longitudinally through a saw; sensing the longitudinal configuration of a longitudinal side surface of the workpiece on one side only of the workpiece as the latter passes through the saw; and orientating the workpiece relative to the saw in accordance with the sensed configuration to saw the workpiece longitudinally substantially parallel to the sensed configuration. For the sawing of a crooked workpiece, the configuration of a longitudinally extending concave side surface is sensed and the workpiece is sawn "round the curve" substantially parallel to the sensed concave configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically aligning logs to be sawn in a sawing machine in a position for yielding an optimum sawing result, comprising an arrangement for carrying the log to be aligned in a predetermined vertical longitudinal plane through the sawing machine, and a device for turning the log. The apparatus further comprises sensing members, which are connected to an evaluation which, control unit and by external sensing the log by the sensing members, records changes of the log center in relation to the longitudinal plane during one revolution of the log. Thereafter, the unit on the basis of information received determines the optimum alignment position and permits the turning device to turn the log into this position.

Abstract: An arrangement in sawing machines or like processing machines for the forward feeding and infeeding of work pieces, such as logs in particular, to the machine, comprising a stationary saw table which extends parallel to the desired feed line for the workpiece, at least up to the sawing machine, and at least two, individually drivable, endless feed chains which extend in vertical planes parallel with the feed line beneath the saw table. Each of the feed chains is provided with at least one dogging means which moves in a groove in the saw table. The groove is parallel with the feed line and common to all dogging means. The dogging means projects up out of the groove, above the surface of the saw table, in a manner to enable the dogging means to act on the rear end surface of a work piece resting on the saw table, for feeding said workpiece up to and into the sawing machine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the accurate volumetric subdivision of conveyed bar-shaped material such as bar steel or billets, using measurements of the bar's cross-sectional area.

Abstract: An improved positioning and feed system for cants or boards has the capability for skewing and offsetting at a pre-positioning station with respect to the saws of a sawing machine. At a pre-positioning station, at least one visible line is directed to and impinges upon an incoming piece. An operator, through the use linear positioners and a first set of movable pins, pre-positions the individual piece with respect to the reference line, skewing and offsetting it as necessary. Once the orientation is selected, a downstream second set of pins which assume the same position as the first set will be moved upwardly. The first set of pins will be retracted, allowing a conveyor table to convey the piece to the pre-positioned second set of pins. With the piece in its pre-priented position, the conveyor table is then moved vertically downward allowing the piece to lie atop a longitudinal infeed conveyor. Additional pins may be utilized according to the particular type of incoming cant or board.

Abstract: A continuous cold cut slicing system utilizing a slicing machine having a conveyor which feeds a loaf into engagement with a series of drums located on each side of the slicing machine channel; the drums are driven by a variable speed motor with the rotation of the drums providing a feed mechanism of the product to the slicing blade. A gripper assembly is provided which rides on a guide shaft adjacent the channel with the movement of the gripper in the channel constantly being monitored by an encoder and clutch arrangement connected thereto. As the gripper approaches the knife, the encoder and clutch arrangement provide for a drag on the gripper thereby controlling the feed of the product compensating for pull on the knife. Also, since the encoder and clutch arrangement are constantly monitoring the position of the gripper the exact location of the tail end of the loaf being sliced is readily determinable so that a profile compensation control system may be effectively incorporated into the system.

Abstract: A method of making elements with profiled cross-section from sheet metal for use in a driving belt by a rolling process, for providing a strip with a middle groove in longitudinal direction and by rolling the material continuously symmetrically with respect to that groove to two profiles punching out the elements on both sides of the middle groove, with their longitudinal direction in the direction of movement of the strip, according to lines which are located at accurately predetermined distances on both sides of the groove.

Abstract: Method for removing camber from strip preparatory to forming helical pipe is taught utilizing the steps of feeding the strip longitudinally along a directional line of feed, sensing lateral deviations of the strip relative to the directional line of feed, laterally moving and realigning the strip in response to lateral deviations, then severing both side edges of the strip on lines parallel with the directional line of feed.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing a log after scanning dimensionally by feeding the log along a longitudinal axis through a cutting means mounted adjacent the axis. The apparatus has a carriage mounted on rails for movement along the rails parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a clamp on the carriage which clamps the log on side faces thereof for feeding into the cutting means. The apparatus has orienting structure cooperating with the carriage and clamp to move the clamp relative to the longitudinal axis to re-position the log in a desired orientation relative to the axis and in accordance with the scanned dimensions. The cutting device initially cuts a lower datum face of the log which supports a forward end of the log when released from a respective clamp, and then cuts two side datum faces which engage guides to prevent rotation of the log after release by the clamp.

Abstract: A continuous cold cut slicing system utilizing a slicing machine having a conveyor which feeds a loaf into engagement with a series of drums located on each side of the slicing machine channel; said drums are driven by a variable speed motor with the rotation of the drums providing a feed mechanism of the product to the slicing blade. A gripper assembly is provided which rides on guide shafts adjacent said channel with the movement of the gripper in the channel constantly being monitored by an encoder connected thereto and positive drive is supplied to the gripper towards the blade by a clutch means in conjunction with a rack and pinion arrangement. The positive drive may be synchronized with the feed of the drums. As the gripper approaches the knife, the drag may be placed on the gripper thereby compensating for pull of the blade.

Abstract: A method of aligning lumber from which a first pair of cants has been removed to provide blocks for feeding along a sawing line before they are fed in the sawing line. The block is charged in a longitudinal direction to pass by the control device. The control device defines the block's side profile and outlines the even or sawed surface, after which the block falls on its side and is charged transversely against at least two adjustable stops, which have been positioned in a desired manner so as to ascertain an optimum amount of wood products at the next processing stage. The block always falls with the same side up so that the edge which was the upper edge while measuring the block's profile, is transferred transversely against the adjustable stops.

Abstract: A method and a mechanism for feeding waned boards to an edger comprising a cross conveyor for the boards, a measuring apparatus, a computer, and centering and side-adjustment means to enable centering and side-adjustment of the boards in dependence of the determined values to optimize the yield in the edger. Adjacent the outlet end of the cross conveyor there are provided slide planes (i.e. movable planar support surfaces on which the boards can slide or be slid) which form a part of a longitudinal infeed conveyor and which are adapted to receive the boards from the cross conveyor and to support the boards during the centering and side-adjustment. The slide planes can be lowered or removed, after the centering and side-adjustment has been carried out, in a manner to place the board on a longitudinal conveyor means of the infeed conveyor to be fed into the edger. Preferably the longitudinal conveyor means are stationary during adjustment and are then accelerated in a controlled manner.

Abstract: A paper sheeter for cutting two or more webs simultaneously into sheets has a rotary knife to make the cuts in desired register with marks (e.g. watermarks) carried by the web. A sensor is provided for detecting the marks on each web and a further sensor monitors the knife rotation; signals from the several sensors are fed to a control unit in which the signals from each mark sensor are compared with signals from the knife sensor to produce feed control signals for the respective web. These control signals may be applied to brakes associated with the web supply reels to vary the tension in each web; alternatively one web may be controlled by using the control signals to vary the speed ratio between the knife and pull rolls feeding the webs to the knife.