Abstract: An apparatus for applying a wraparound cover to a pad includes a loading station, a creasing station having a pair of knife edges and an anvil for applying a pair of parallel creases in the cover, a gluing station for applying a bead of glue to an under side of the pad and a folding station for folding an overlap portion of the cover about the rear and underside of the pad so as to engage the glue bead. The folding station includes a holddown mechanism and an articulated hand that folds the cover overlap portion at each crease about the rear edges of the pad.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting chipboard or cardboard spacers within a lapstream of paper sheets exiting a press on a lapstream conveyor includes a chipboard ejector for firing chipboards toward the lapstream conveyor in a direction which is opposite that of the conveyor. A plurality of vacuum feet are positioned over the conveyor and are responsive to a control pulse issued by a programmable counter to pick up the leading edge of selected sheets in the lapstream. Simultaneously, the chipboard ejector fires a chipboard, in response to another control pulse from the counter, toward the point on the conveyor over which the sheet is being picked up. The vacuum feet are then released, dropping the selected paper sheet and the chipboards are thus reliably inserted at regular intervals within the lapstream. Multiple chipboards can be inserted in a single location by varying the length of the chipboard ejector control pulse.

Abstract: A combination strip reel and printing apparatus and method for printing a headband strip includes a frame with a reel holder and strip tension maintaining dancer tubes positioned in the strip feed path on each side of a printing mechanism. The printing mechanism is an interval printer with a plate wheel and an impression wheel which swings the strip in and out of printing contact with the plate wheel in response to the operation of start and stop switches selectively positionable relative to the plate wheel. The plate wheel turns at a constant speed and the impression wheel and arms holding the impression wheel and the strip move to alternately start and stop rotation of the impression wheel. The arms swing the strip and impression wheel into and out of printing engagement with the plate wheel. The printing interval is completely adjustable between the circumferential length of the plate wheel and the length of a selected character on the plate wheel.