Abstract: A machine and process for making container lid assemblies with a flexible membrane with a pull tab adhesively secured to a rigid ring so that when desired the membrane can be peeled off and removed from the ring to provide access to the container. Individual membranes are cut and separated from a web by rotating dies and individually transferred, accelerated and applied by a rotating anvil cylinder and transfer roller to individual rings which have been preheated sufficiently to activate an adhesive to adhere the membrane about its periphery to the ring. The rings are heated by an induction coil and a downstacker deposits heated rings on a moving conveyor belt which conveys them under the transfer roller where they are urged into firm engagement with a membrane by a resilient applicator pad on the transfer roller and an underlying support roller.

Abstract: Coacting die cylinders with one cylinder having a cutting blade and the other cylinder an anvil surface which when rotating cooperate to cut a blank from a web of low density material. The blade and the anvil surface are tapered in opposite axial directions so that the clearance between them can be readily varied and adjusted by moving the cylinders axially relative to each other. Preferably, the cylinders each have a pair of cylindrical bearers which are in contact and rolling engagement with each other when the cylinders are operating to cut a web of material. The die cylinders are journaled in bearing assemblies carried by the cylinders and removably received in the stand to facilitate easy removal and installation of the die cylinders when desired.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for piling a plurality of cut blanks of a flexible material in overlapped and shingled or stacked relationship. After being cut each blank is accelerated to increase its lineal speed to thereby produce a gap between the blank and an immediately succeeding blank. After acceleration, each blank is deflected, preferably by a plate, away from and out of its accelerated path of travel toward an underlying receiving surface such as a conveyor or platform. After being deflected, the trailing portion of each blank is displaced preferably by rotating cams so that when rapidly decelerated, an immediately succeeding blank passes into and is deposited in overlapping relationship with such blank. To deposit the blanks is stacked relationship with their leading edges substantially aligned, they are decelerated from their forward travel to a complete stop preferably by striking a positive stop.

Abstract: A pair of rotary dies with lands having coacting cutting edges which cut blanks of material from a web passing between the rotating dies. To provide a clean cut and improved squareness of the cut ends, a side face of the land adjacent the cutting edge has a positive rake. To insure that the cutting edges can be brought into coacting relationship to produce a clean cut, they are located and arranged on the dies so that they can be varied and adjusted axially and in rotary phase relationship to each other. A die stand for positioning, adjusting and driving the rotary dies, and a method for making negative electrode cylinders for producing the rotary dies by hardening, grinding and electric discharge machining blank cylinders of tool steel, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A piece of material cut from a web is removed by a stripper mechanism which is preferably embodied in a pair of die cylinders having coacting cutting blades which cut pieces from a web of material passing between the cylinders. As the cylinders rotate, a piece to be removed is releasably secured to one of the cylinders for rotation therewith, the secured piece is pivoted to lift its leading edge from the die by coaction with a finger on the other die which bears on a trailing portion of the piece. After the piece is carried away by the one die, it is removed by cooperation with a stripper plate which passes between the raised leading edge of the piece and the die and releases and removes the piece from the die.

Abstract: Rotary apparatus comprising a die cutting station followed by a series of segment forming stations, a levelling station and a winding station continuously works a strip of lead into a configuration suitable for battery grid plates having expanded segments forming reticulations extending inwardly from parallel side edges of the strip to a medial unexpanded portion. The rotary die section includes rotary cutting and stripping dies which perforate the medial portion of the strip. At each segment forming station, a pair of upper coaxial shearing rollers, having peripherally projecting lobes each in the shape of one-half of an expanded segment, are transversely spaced to engage one face of the strip adjacent to the side edges thereof; and each shearing roller, in conjunction with a lower cylindrical supporting roller engaging the opposite face of the strip, has a shearing action thereon as the strip is fed through the station by a feeding roller engaging the perforated medial portion of the strip.

Abstract: Individual strips of material, such as copper conductors, are laminated between continuously moving webs of backing material such as mylar, in a plurality of parallel lanes extending longitudinally of the webs, by apparatus which selectively controls the length of strip material in each lane to produce a product such as a wiring harness. The apparatus includes a pressing station through which the mylar webs are continuously moved by a pair of opposed driven rollers. The strips of material are fed to the pressing station by selectively operable feeding devices, one for each lane, through selectively operable cut-off devices, one for each lane, and through a severing device selectively operable to simultaneously sever any strips in all lanes.