Actuation Of Tool Controlled By Work-driven Means To Measure Work Length Patents (Class 83/369)
  • Patent number: 11969766
    Abstract: An article sorting nesting device includes an article delivery device, a rack assembly and a collection device under operation by a controller to transport, sort and nest random articles into a particular configuration. The rack assembly is arranged at an angle and incrementally displaced relative to the delivery device to position empty shelves adjacent the delivery device to successively receive the articles by gravity. The controller controls which articles from the shelves are delivered in sequence to a collection device based on a sensed length, width or color of each article. The collection device collects the selected sequential articles and arranges them in the particular configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: James L. Taylor Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley S. Quick
  • Patent number: 11952234
    Abstract: A foil dispensing device for on demand dispensing of sections of foil of a selectable length includes a housing comprising a lid that is hingedly engaged to a box so that the lid is positioned to selectively close an open top of the box. A motor is engaged to and positioned the box. A spindle is positionable in box to operationally engage the spindle to the motor. A roll of foil is positioned around spindle so that a free end of the roll of extends into a slot positioned in the housing. A motion sensor engaged to the housing and operationally engaged to the motor is actuated by motion of a hand of a user to signal the motor to rotate the spindle to dispense a section of the foil through the slot. A cutter positioned by the slot cuts the foil to separate the section from the roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Inventor: Brandi Edwards
  • Patent number: 11889855
    Abstract: A produce cutting apparatus is utilized, among other things, for making single cuts in an elongated produce product to trim ends, segment the product into variable length segments, make fixed length segments, and cutting out undesirable portions of the produce product. Using a combination of a feed belt, sensor, radial cutter apparatus and programmable controller, the apparatus precisely locates each cut. The cutting blade makes a single cut with each rotation of the radial cutter apparatus. The apparatus may further have a piece removal system and a product holding system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Agile Innovation, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Richard Dragt
  • Patent number: 11751598
    Abstract: A produce cutting apparatus is utilized, among other things, for making single cuts in an elongated produce product to trim ends, segment the product into variable length segments, make fixed length segments, and cutting out undesirable portions of the produce product. Using a combination of a feed belt, sensor, radial cutter apparatus and programmable controller, the apparatus precisely locates each cut. The cutting blade makes a single cut with each rotation of the radial cutter apparatus. The apparatus may further have a piece removal system and a product holding system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Agile Innovation, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Richard Dragt
  • Patent number: 8939748
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for cutting a strand to a length with regard to a weight and to the use of such device in a method for producing a medicament dosage form of at least one piece composed of at least one medicament and at least one additive, the medicament and the additive being mixed and extruded from a die as a strand and the strand being cut into pieces of precise weight using the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Grünenthal GmbH
    Inventors: Elisabeth Arkenau-Maric, Johannes Bartholomäus, Dieter Schateikis, Kai-Uwe Ustorf
  • Patent number: 8800415
    Abstract: A dispenser for sequentially dispensing rolls of sheet material is described. The dispenser has an automatic transfer mechanism for transferring a reserve roll into a dispensing position once a primary roll has been depleted. The automatic transfer mechanism includes a diameter sensing member and a blocker rotatably coupled to the dispenser housing and biased to rotate in a opposite directions. The diameter sensing member and block cooperate with one another in order to block the reserve roll from contacting a drive roller until the primary roll has been depleted. The reserve roll held in the dispenser by two pivoting arms that are biased to rotate towards the drive roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Solaris Paper, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Agnew Osborne
  • Patent number: 8616099
    Abstract: An apparatus for portioning meat includes a base unit, controlling means, first drive means mounted on the base unit, a casing mounted on the base unit, second drive means that cooperates with the first drive means to rotate the casing, and a pressing member dividing the casing into at least two chambers, an in-feed chamber and a pressing chamber. The pressing member is rotatably mounted between the base unit and a top plate, so as to be off-center with respect to the casing, substantially closer to the pressing chamber than the in-feed chamber, such that the pressing member has freedom to move in direction substantially perpendicular to the off-center direction. The apparatus also includes an ejecting device mounted on the base unit, a portioning plate receiving the meat ejected from the pressing chamber, a position adjustable bottom piece, and a cutting means, positioned between the pressing chamber and the portioning plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Marel HF
    Inventors: Kristjan Hallvardsson, Steindor Eiriksson, Hordur Einarsson
  • Patent number: 8505423
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a receiving module, a conversion module, first and second rollers, a motor, and a cutting head. The receiving module receives a desired weight value. The conversion module converts the desired weight value to a first length of wheel weight material based on a linear density of the wheel weight material. The first and second rollers engage first and second opposing sides of a continuous strip of the wheel weight material. The linear density of the wheel weight material is approximately constant along the continuous strip. The motor directly drives the first roller based on the first length. The cutting head is selectively actuated to cut the wheel weight material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignees: Esys Corporation, 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Louis R. Hedtke, Matthew W. King, Scott R. Claxton, Mark A. Compton, Christopher J. Marcus, Mark R. Gabel
  • Publication number: 20100175522
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a receiving module, a conversion module, first and second rollers, a motor, and a cutting head. The receiving module receives a desired weight value. The conversion module converts the desired weight value to a first length of wheel weight material based on a linear density of the wheel weight material. The first and second rollers engage first and second opposing sides of a continuous strip of the wheel weight material. The linear density of the wheel weight material is approximately constant along the continuous strip. The motor directly drives the first roller based on the first length. The cutting head is selectively actuated to cut the wheel weight material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: ESYS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Louis R. HEDTKE, JR., Matthew W. KING, Scott R. CLAXTON, Mark A. COMPTON, Christopher J. MARCUS
  • Patent number: 7137325
    Abstract: A novel food processing system for dividing a flow of food items into a plurality of streams, gently and quickly transporting the food items along a flume of fluid propelled by eductors to several slicers, transversely slicing the food items at a controlled rate to maximize yield, washing the slices, transporting the slices and controllably distributing the slices onto a conveyor for further processing. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the food processing system comprises an oversized-product separator, a segmented cutter, a mass-flow/spreading conveyor, a diverter stage, an eductor stage, a dewatering stage, a starch removal stage, a slicer infeed conveyor, at least one transverse slicer, and a slice spreader. In a preferred embodiment, cutting losses are decreased by minimizing slicing speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Wendell Bajema, Keith Robert Johnson, Gregory Paul Matocha
  • Patent number: 6883408
    Abstract: A paper feeding device and method, wherein a tray including a paper loading unit, a paper feeding device, a paper cutting device is slid out of a main body of an image forming apparatus. When a new rolled transfer paper is loaded in the paper loading unit, the rolled transfer paper is conveyed so that a tip portion thereof is discharged from a rolled transfer paper outlet of the tray. The discharged tip portion of the rolled transfer paper is cut by the paper cutting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Shinga
  • Patent number: 6722238
    Abstract: A paper feeding device and method, wherein a tray including a paper loading unit, a paper feeding device, a paper cutting device is slid out of a main body of an image forming apparatus. When a new rolled transfer paper is loaded in the paper loading unit, the rolled transfer paper is conveyed so that a tip portion thereof is discharged from a rolled transfer paper outlet of the tray. The discharged tip portion of the rolled transfer paper is cut by the paper cutting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Shinga
  • Patent number: 6684748
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting optimally sized fruit and vegetable pieces comprised of a dump chute, a trough, a conveyor, a drive means, at least one sensor, a programmable logic controller (PLC), and a cutter assembly. The apparatus is configured to receive materials from a source, load these materials onto a conveyor move these items by means of the conveyor to a cutting portion where the materials are cut into appropriate sized pieces, as determined by a programmed logic sensor based upon the input from a plurality of sensors and pre-selected criteria from a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Inventor: George A. Mendenhall
  • Publication number: 20030183052
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting and sorting boards conveys the boards along a conveyor path. The apparatus senses the length of boards and the grade of boards, and cuts selected boards into first and second segments. The first and second segments are aligned against lumber lines respectively on each side of a conveyor path. The boards are then selectively sorted and dropped into bins successively positioned along each side of the conveyor path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventor: David Olsen
  • Patent number: 6560849
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) is provided for automatically cutting strip materials (22) into slats (20) for a venetian blind. The apparatus (10) has a feeding station (12), a cutting station (14), a punching station (16) and a laddering station (18). Strip materials (22) for the slats (20) are stored in a magazine (24) of the station (12) and they are fed one at a time to the cutting station (14) for cutting into slats (20) of preset length after slots (46) have been punched. The slats (20) are then fed to the laddering station (18) for assembling into blinds. A sensor (56,58) is positioned to sense remnants of the strip material (22) and the remnants are automatically moved back to the feeding station (12) where they are lifted off the feeding path for ejection by a following strip (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Inventor: Christopher Max Modra
  • Patent number: 6546630
    Abstract: A hand-held measuring and cutting device for pliable tubing, man-made or natural cordage, roping, etcetera. The device comprises a plurality of demountably conjointed and diametrically opposing rigid substrates that house or provide surfaces for insertion therein or attachment thereto, a plurality of elements including a conventional type linear measuring counter for measuring pliable material prior to being cut. A blade and blade plunger, handle, compressor member, and feed hole being so disposed, attached or inserted therein or thereto, provide for single-hand operation of the measuring and cutting operation of the device. The device safely shrouds the cutting blade, and provides for quick and easy disassembly of the unit to change the blade or to access other internal mechanisms. Easy access to the complete interior including the waste ejection port, blade recess and all moving parts makes maintenance simple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Inventor: Francis J. Davison
  • Publication number: 20020088323
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Hashigaya
  • Publication number: 20020069937
    Abstract: Previous methods of bucksawing logs slow the throughput of a sawmill in that the conveyor line is stopped while a given log is bucksawed to length. The present invention provides a method for bucksawing a log which improves the throughput speed. The present invention provides a method and apparatus for bucksawing a log comprising the steps of a) advancing the log endwise along a tilted infeed conveyor; b) positioning the log on a tilted feed roll above the level of an outfeed conveyor while advancing the log; c) measuring the advance of the log while on the tilted feed roll; d) stopping the log at the desired length; e) sawing the log to produce a forward log segment; f) moving the forward log segment onto a tilted outfeed conveyor while advancing the remaining log segments. The present invention further provides a method and apparatus for bucksawing a log comprising utilizing a second multi-positional cut-off saw in the bucksawing station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventor: Robert James Murray
  • Patent number: 6269720
    Abstract: Laminated elements, which may be constituted, for example, by labels to be applied to articles while in movement, are formed from a strip provided by a feeding device. The strip moves forward onto a reception unit, passing through a cutting zone. The individual laminated elements are formed by causing the cutting unit to come into action when the length of the strip paid out by the feeding unit is equal to the desired length of the labels. The cutting unit preferably includes a revolving knife and a counterknife, where the latter consists of a non-driven roller supported in a cradle that is lubricated and exerts an elastic force against the cutting unit. Preferably, the reception unit realizes the step of applying the individual laminated elements to their respective articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Fameccanica.Data S.p.A.
    Inventor: Pietro Pelagatti
  • Patent number: 6263773
    Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for processing an Engine Wood Product member. The member is moved to a home position in a driving unit and the length of the EWP member is automatically measured by moving the EWP member from the home position while engaging the EWP member with a measuring assembly including a measuring wheel having a smooth hard facing, the facing contacting the EWP member. The member is moved to a first cutting position and cut to a predetermined length. Activating one or more position sensor devices, at least one of the position sensor devices positioned such that the EWP member engages the position sensor device while the member is in the home position, the length of the member is determined as it is moved from the home position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Inventors: David L. McAdoo, George Blaine
  • Patent number: 5944279
    Abstract: The apparatus for cutting sheet material includes a table in which the sheet material is rolled onto by a unrolling cradle. A re-rolling cradle at a respective side of the table rolls the cut material. An arrangement on the cradles ensures an even roll when unrolling and re-rolling. The re-rolling cradle has a pivotal adjustment about a vertical axis for receiving the material. A measuring arrangement on the apparatus measures the length of sheet to cut at a desired length. The measuring arrangement is automatically calibrated using spaced detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventor: Raymond Dueck
  • Patent number: 5899128
    Abstract: A continuous web of sheet material is fed through the lip of a first pair of driven pull rolls around a series of idler rollers and through the nip of a second pair of driven pull rolls. The pairs of pull rolls are selectively rotated to exert a desired tension on the web in a tension zone formed between the pairs of rolls. One pair of pull rolls operates as feed rolls to advance a preselected length of the web to a rotating cutter mechanism so that envelope blanks of a selected length are cut from the web for each revolution of the cutter mechanism. The feed rolls are operated by a servo-controlled motor responsive to an operator initiated signal to adjust the feed length without interrupting the feed of the web to the cutter mechanism. The second pair of pull rolls operates as tension rolls and is servo-motor controlled to maintain a preselected tension on the web fed to the cutter mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: F. L. Smithe Machine Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Eliot S. Smithe, Michael P. Lambert, Jason H. Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 5876318
    Abstract: A cushioning conversion machine (10) comprises a frame (36), conversion assemblies (50, 52, 54, 56) which convert a stock material into a cushioning product, and a length measuring device (12) which determines the length of the cushioning product as it is being produced. The conversion assemblies include a rotating assembly (54) and the angular movement of this assembly directly corresponds to the length of the cushioning product. The length measuring device (12) is positioned to monitor the angular movement of the rotating conversion assembly (54) and thus the length of the cushioning product. In the preferred embodiment, the rotating conversion assembly (54) is a gear assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Ranpak Crop.
    Inventor: Richard O. Ratzel
  • Patent number: 5871429
    Abstract: A cushioning conversion machine for converting a sheet-like stock material into a dunnage product includes a frame having an upstream end and a downstream end, conversion assemblies, mounted on the frame, which convert the sheet-like stock material into a continuous strip of a dunnage product, a feeding assembly, mounted on the frame, for feeding the stock material through the conversion assemblies, a cutting assembly, mounted on the frame downstream of the conversion assemblies, which cuts the continuous strip of dunnage into a section of a desired length, a probe for determining the packaging requirements of a particular container, and a controller which controls the feeding and cutting assemblies to produce the required sections of dunnage product for the container as determined by the probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Ranpak Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Harding, Richard O. Ratzel
  • Patent number: 5860344
    Abstract: A cutting apparatus for a photosensitive material processor. A cutting member cuts the photosensitive material fed out from a magazine to a main body of the processor by a transporting device. A detecting device detects a leading end portion of the photosensitive material fed out from the magazine by the transporting device, the detection being carried out at a position upstream of the cutting member in a traveling direction of the photosensitive material. A controlling device controls the operation of the cutting member on the basis of an amount of the photosensitive material fed out by the driving member until the photosensitive material is detected by the detecting device, so as to adjust the length of the photosensitive material to be cut by the cutting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Yamamoto, Takao Fukuda
  • Patent number: 5826472
    Abstract: A wire processing apparatus is provided with a prefeeder 120, a feeding unit 12 and an accumulator 110 therebetween. A detector is provided to determine if there is a cause for stopping the prefeeder 120. In response to such a detected cause, a controller stops the prefeeder 120 while simultaneously permitting the feeding unit 12 to draw a wire from the accumulator to permit continued operation of the wire processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Tamura, Yoshinori Yamashita
  • Patent number: 5737988
    Abstract: A media buffer capable of buffering two lengths of media, is fed a first length of media from an imagesetter at a first speed, and releases the media to a processor at a second speed. An input media sensor senses the media entering the buffer. Drive rollers take up the leading edge of the media at the imagesetter speed. Shortly thereafter a signal from an output media sensor located between the drive rollers and the processor, opens an input door to an input bin and stops the drive rollers. The incoming media continues to be fed by the imagesetter forming a first slack loop within the input bin. The imagesetter signals the buffer that the media has been cut, thereby actuating drive rollers to advance the media at the processor speed to a pair of rollers in the processor. A signal from the processor sensor opens an output door to an output bin. The drive rollers increase speed to transport the first piece of media from the input bin to the output bin thereby forming a second slack loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Agfa Division, Bayer Corporation
    Inventors: Libor Krupica, Robert A. Goodwin, Paul W. Morgan
  • Patent number: 5727435
    Abstract: Apparatus for cutting, from a continuously extending sinuously formed wire, a variably selected predetermined length thereof having a plurality of sinuously formed generally identical coils, which apparatus comprises a frame, a mechanism on said frame for severing the sinuously formed wire, a track on said frame for guiding travel of the sinuously formed wire to the wire severing mechanism, and a control connected to the wire severing mechanism and including a sensing circuit for generating countable electrical pulses in response to wire travel relative to the wire severing mechanism, and a counting circuit operable to receive the countable electrical pulses and, in response to receipt of a predetermined number thereof, to generate an actuating signal effective to cause action of the wire severing mechanism to sever the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventor: Horst F. Wentzek
  • Patent number: 5571067
    Abstract: A cushioning conversion machine (10) comprises a frame (36), conversion assemblies (50, 52, 54, 56) which convert a stock material into a cushioning product, and a length measuring device (12) which determines the length of the cushioning product as it is being produced. The conversion assemblies include a rotating assembly (54) and the angular movement of this assembly directly corresponds to the length of the cushioning product. The length measuring device (12) is positioned to monitor the angular movement of the rotating conversion assembly (54) and thus the length of the cushioning product. In the preferred embodiment, the rotating conversion assembly (54) is a gear assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Ranpak Corp.
    Inventor: Richard O. Ratzel
  • Patent number: 5496578
    Abstract: A method of producing a stress free sheet of dough having uniform height and width can be economically and conveniently used with a batch dough system. Individual dough batches are deposited into a retention hopper from which equal volumetric dough portions are sectioned by a pair of oppositely rotating co-acting cutters. Each cutter includes a number of blades which cooperate with corresponding blades on the opposing cutter to section the dough into portions. The dough portions are deposited onto an inclined conveyor positioned below the hopper so that a leading end of each dough portion overlaps a trailing end of the previous dough portion. A photo-electric detection device ascertains the trailing end of the previous dough portion and signals the cutters to section the next successive dough portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Rykaart, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernardus W. Muller, Timothy Mauro-Vetter
  • Patent number: 5427515
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a stress free sheet of dough having uniform height and width can be economically and conveniently used with a batch dough system. Individual dough batches are deposited into a retention hopper from which equal volumetric dough portions are sectioned by a pair of oppositely rotating co-acting cutters. Each cutter includes a number of blades which cooperate with corresponding blades on the opposing cutter to section the dough into portions. The dough portions are deposited onto an inclined conveyor positioned below the hopper so that a leading end of each dough portion overlaps a trailing end of the previous dough portion. A photo-electric detection device ascertains the trailing end of the previous dough portion and signals the cutters to section the next successive dough portion. The overlapping dough portions are then formed into a dough sheet having uniform height and width by a pressing roller and a combination of side guide wedges and side pressing rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Rykaart, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernardus W. Muller, Chris Loechtenfeldt, Timothy Mauro-Vetter
  • Patent number: 5375494
    Abstract: A roll paper cutting device is attachable to the main body of an image forming apparatus main body. The roll paper cutting device includes a cutter for cutting the paper of a roll of paper contained therein, as well as an arrangement for feeding the cut sheet to the image forming apparatus. The roll paper cutting device has at least one transport roller for transporting the roll paper, as well as a drive system for driving the transport roller, and a drive change device such as a clutch for selectively bringing the transport roller into idle rotation or into a driven state. A detector detects the travel of the roll paper. A control device such as a CPU controls the rotation of the transport rollers with predetermined timing based on the time when the travel of the roll paper is detected with all the transport rollers in idle rotation in a standby state for paper feeding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Mita Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kajita, Akihiro Kondoh, Makoto Sugiura, Nobuhiro Nishioka, Masahiko Fukano, Eiji Gotoh, Satoshi Tanaka, Takeshi Matsuo
  • Patent number: 5293796
    Abstract: A method of severing a continuous strip having transversely arranged perforations into separate segments including advancing said strip along a predetermined path; deforming a portion of said strip at said transversely arranged perforations; sensing the location of said perforations by causing contact between a sensor and said deformed portion; advancing the sensed perforations a predetermined distance to a location directly in line with a severing knife; and causing the knife to sever said deformed portion at said transversely arranged perforations to form a separate segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: Zober Development Corporation
    Inventor: Richard J. Zober
  • Patent number: 5241884
    Abstract: A pair of pull rolls unwind web material from a roll and advance the web at a preselected linear feed rate to a web cutting mechanism. The pull rolls are rotated at a preselected speed to generate the desired linear speed rate for cutting the web at selected intervals to produce blanks of a preselected length. The feed rolls are driven by a servo-motor which is operated by a controller that is microprocessor controlled. The controller is electrically connected to an encoder that is drivingly connected to a rotating knife cylinder of the web cutting mechanism. A selected length of blank to be cut from the web is inputted by the operator through a keypad to transmit a corresponding signal to the controller. In addition, the controller receives a signal from the servo-motor that drives the pull rolls, which signal is representative of the rate of rotation of the pull rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: F. L. Smithe Machine Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Eliot S. Smithe, Michael P. Lambert, Jason H. Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 5168785
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatically severing a slide fastener chain having a succession of fabric pieces attached to each of the opposed longitudinal marginal edges with a gap portion interposed between each adjacent pair of fabric pieces comprises a feeding unit; a cutting unit disposed on a feed path for severing the fabric-pieced slide fastener chain transversely across the gap portions; and detecting means for producing a signal only when laterally-aligned gap portions reach the detecting means. The detecting means, feeding unit and the cutting unit are electrically connected such that, upon receipt of the signal from the detecting means, the feeding unit is deenergized and at the same time the cutting unit is energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo K.K.
    Inventor: Akio Yunoki
  • Patent number: 5156077
    Abstract: A sawing apparatus has a frame, a saw blade rotatable on the frame about a horizontal axis and displaceable transversely of the axis, and a conveyor for displacing an elongated workpiece longitudinally in a transport direction generally parallel to the saw-blade axis past the saw blade. The conveyor has upstream and downstream drive rollers flanking the blade mounted on the frame on one side of the workpiece and respective upstream and downstream holding rollers mounted on the frame transversely juxtaposed with the drive rollers and engaging the opposite longitudinal side of the workpiece. Upstream and downstream abutment blocks on the frame engageable with the one side of the workpiece immediately flank the blade and upstream and downstream pusher blocks on the frame engage the opposite longitudinal side of the workpiece transversely opposite the respective abutment blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Rolf Peddinghaus
    Inventor: Bernd Stursberg
  • Patent number: 5099732
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sheet cutting apparatus suitable for use in pre-cutting off an edge portion of a sheet of a large area. The apparatus comprises a sheet transfer mechanism; a first rotating shaft rotated through the torque of a motor; a turnable frame attached angularly movably along a circular orbit to the first rotating shaft; a second rotating shaft supported rotatably by the turnable frame so as to extend in a radial direction of the circular orbit of the turnable frame and meshed with the first rotating shaft to rotate therewith; a cutter blade and a backing blade, both, rotated by the torque of the second rotating shaft; and a turn control section for angularly moving reciprocally the turnable frame between an initial position at which the surface of revolution of the cutter blade and backing blade extends in a direction transferring a sheet and a separated position at which the cutter blade and backing blade turn aside from the transfer path of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignee: Sun Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshisuke Hashida, Hideo Takaoka, Yoshiharu Kamei
  • Patent number: 5072640
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for quickly and accurately cutting conveyor belt modules is disclosed. A guide track supports and provides a path past a cutting location for the modules that are to be cut. The modules are stopped after a selected amount of width of the module to be cut has passed the cutting location. A cutting blade which has a length extending orthogonal to the direction of travel of the modules is aligned by a die which provides a guide for the cutting blade and also accurately positions the modules prior to cutting. The blade is moved or activated by a means such as a hydraulic damped pneumatic cylinder at a controlled speed so as to cut through the modules. A cylindrical shaped anvil is located substantially across the length of the module being cut such that it provides support to the modules along a line directly opposite the length of the blade as the blade cuts through the modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignee: The Laitram Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher G. Greve, Ronald M. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 5056393
    Abstract: A film cutter assembly reversible between a right-to-left and a left-to-right film feed configuration. The film cutter assembly (10) includes a housing (16), an upper control panel (48), a lower control panel (60), and a reel assembly (14). The housing includes a first end panel (20), a second end panel (24), a base (17), and a film track (26). Each control panel is selectively mountable to the housing on either side of the film track, so that the upper control panel is located above the film track regardless of whether the film cutter assembly is in its right-to-left configuration, resting on a first pair of resting edges (28 and 38), or in its left-to-right configuration, resting on a second pair of resting edges (30 and 40). The reel assembly is selectively mountable to the first end panel, so that the reel assembly is vertically oriented regardless of which configuration the film cutter assembly is in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventor: Allen E. Fleckenstein
  • Patent number: 5042343
    Abstract: A device for automatic separation of wire binding portions of random length and shape. From a delivery spool a wire strand is fed into a feed mechanism behind which is arranged a cutting mechanism. A sensor measures the length of the wire binding portion and consequently initiates the cutting process via a processor. A further sensor establishes the discharge of the separated wire binding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Inventor: Hratch Boyadjian
  • Patent number: 4913018
    Abstract: Apparatus to cut breaker material as it is conveyed from a roll to a rotatable drum and to align the cut breaker material comprising a conveyor to move the breaker material along a path of travel from the roll to the drum with the longitudinal centerline of the material overlying the longitudinal centerline of the conveyor; cutter means located along the path of travel to sequentially cut the material fed from the roll into strips of a predetermined length with the cut being at an angle with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the material to thereby produce an acute angle at the tip of the leading edge of each strip of cut material; and edge alignment means positioned on the side of the cutter means remote from the roll to return the tip of the cut material into proper alignment position with the opposed side edges of the cut material being at a predetermined, equal distance from the longitudinal centerline of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: The Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Company
    Inventor: David W. Bailey
  • Patent number: 4838137
    Abstract: In an apparatus for introducing a belt-shaped material to a cutting machine, stationary conveyors are laid vertically in such a manner as to form different angles with respect to the cutting machine and combined respectively, with lift conveyors which are also laid vertically to convey belt shaped materials to the cutting machine. The lift conveyors are moved vertically by lifting means unit a desired one of the lift conveyors comes to the belt-shaped material introducing position of the cutting machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Toshio Azuma
  • Patent number: 4799413
    Abstract: A cutting arrangement for the cutting to shape of a web-shaped material, such as paper webs (2) in printing presses. The arrangement consists of a cutting element (8) and a backing element (3) over which the paper web runs, in conjunction with which one edge of the cutting element (8) is brought intermittently into contact with the paper web for the purpose of cutting through the paper web in its longitudinal sense. The cutting element (8) is so arranged as to change its position intermittently in relation to the paper web (2) between a first, advanced position in which the cutting element (8) uses its edge to cut through the paper web as it passes over the backing element and a second, withdrawn position in relation to the paper web in which the cutting element is not in contact with the paper web. The intermittent movements of the arm between the first and the second position are controlled by a control unit (12) depending on the advance of the paper web (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Assignee: Roy Soderqvist Mekaniska Verkstad AB
    Inventor: Ulf Soderqvist
  • Patent number: 4762041
    Abstract: A mechanism for feeding a ribbon having discrete three dimensional objects includes a specially formed finger which fits through a U-shaped opening from the back side of the ribbon and incrementally drives the ribbon into position where it is severed along a predetermined line by a knife which moves transverse to the direction of movement of the ribbon. The knife includes a gap in the blade opposite the U-shaped opening to avoid severing a tab associated with the U-shaped opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1988
    Assignee: General Methods Corporation
    Inventor: Harold D. Kuykendall
  • Patent number: 4755250
    Abstract: The process and the appropriate apparatus for producing rigid foam elements, in particular of polyurethane, operate with a double-belt unit, in which the rigid foam elements produced are provided with upper and lower cover sheets. A parting agent is applied on the lower cover sheet in a particular region in order to permit subsequent removal of the upper cover sheet and the ridge foam in this region, so that the lower cover sheet projects, and foams an overlapping section during subsequent use as a roofing element or the like. The invention permits a very precise cut to be made by means of the sawing apparatus at the end of the double-belt unit, taking into account the application of parting agent at the beginning and, if necessary, the movement of the sawing apparatus itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1988
    Assignee: Elastogran GmbH
    Inventor: Herbert Adolf
  • Patent number: 4737904
    Abstract: A standard-length positioning apparatus wherein acceleration and deceleration of a driving mechanism for actuating a mechanism for feeding a material is controlled by a digital positioning mechanism according to a position feedback. Marks marked on the material are read by a sensor during the deceleration of the driving mechanism, and the digital positioning mechanism outputs a signal for stopping the driving mechanism when it receives the read-in output of the sensor while the driving mechanism is being decelerated. When a signal from the sensor is not received by the digital positioning means while the drive is being decelerated, the digital positioning mechanism utilizes feedback pulses of a positioning detector to stop the drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Assignees: Nikki Denso Co., Ltd., Nippon Flute Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirotaro Ominato
  • Patent number: 4727787
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Inventor: Irvin L. Schlosser
  • Patent number: 4716799
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Syntech International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald Hartmann
  • Patent number: 4653364
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and to a process for controlling the work phases of a cutter device movable on continuously extruded tubes and has operating means designed to detect the relative position of the cutter device with respect to the tube, as well as to set in motion means for displacing the said cutter device between constantly variable limit positions while the process continuously detects the displacements of a tube with respect to the cutter device and causes the cutter to undergo measured displacement on the tube and periodically varies the length of the tubes to be cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: S.I.C.A. Serrande. Infissi Carpenteria Attrezzatura S.p.A.
    Inventor: Leopoldo Savioli
  • Patent number: 4648862
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided in which booklets of interleaved cigarette papers can be made from continuously moving strands of strip paper in which a cutting knife used to sever the paper strips precisely follows movement of the strip. Movement of a driven input shaft is brought onto the moving platform and used to operate the cutting knife. Paper from bobbins is converged by formers and a spreader into a strand advanced by nip rolls through a cutting station. The knife in the station cuts a booklet from the strand while the station moves with the strand. A driven rotatory shaft of non-circular section transmits its rotation to a sleeve that slides therealong as the station reciprocates relative to a shaft. The sleeve is operably connected e.g. by gearing or by a cam and follower to the knife so that rotation thereof brings about the cutting movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: Rizla Limited
    Inventor: Stanley G. Jones