Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the movement of a web of material, which is being continuously supplied to a machine which operates sequentially on a portion of the web as each portion is at a standstill, characterized by the apparatus including a feeder for feeding the web at a continuous rate of speed and a web take-up device for engaging the web as it exits the feeder to absorb the web being supplied by the feeder for a period of time that the portion of the web is being acted on by the machine and is in a stationary or standstill position. The web take-up device includes a pair of first members mounted in a pair of spaced side frames for rotation on a first axis, a web guide member having a second axis and a structure mounting the web guide member to extend between the pair of first members with the second axis being eccentric to the first axis.

Abstract: An improved process and system for producing folded boxes which system includes a device for printing sheets of material with the configuration of boxes, a device for die cutting the box blanks from the printed sheets and producing piles of box blanks, a folding and gluing machine to form a folded box from the box blank, characterized by a device for transferring the piles of box blanks between a discharge of the device for die cutting and a receiving station of the folding and gluing machine.

Abstract: A device for automatically receiving sheets in a pile at a delivery station of a sheet processing apparatus and for removing a completed pile of sheets characterized by a first conveyor device for transporting a pallet along a vertical path and including a device for lowering the pallet along the vertical path as the sheets are deposited at the delivery station and received thereon, and a second conveyor device for transporting a pallet in a horizontal path between at least two positions with one of said positions in the path of the first conveyor and the other position removed therefrom. Preferably, the second conveyor extends perpendicular to the path of the first conveyor and has three positions arranged in a row with the middle position being the one position in the path of the vertical path of the first conveyor so that as a pallet is removed from the first conveyor to an unloading position, an empty pallet in a ready position is moved into the path of the first conveyor.

Abstract: A device for transferring a sheet from one station to a second station in a sheet processing device with the device including at least one lower conveyor and at least one upper conveyor arranged to discharge a sheet from a first station onto a third conveyor at the second station characterized by means disposed adjacent the lower conveyor to bend the sheet traveling between the upper and lower conveyor transverse to the direction of movement of the sheet, means for guiding the sheet as it is being discharged from the upper and lower conveyors onto the third conveyor and means for ensuring the depositing of the sheet onto the third conveyor as it is discharged from the upper and lower conveyor.

Abstract: An improved conveying device for conveying a thin web through a station in both directions with the desired registry characterized by a supply device for storing a reel of the thin web, a guiding device for guiding the thin web through the station and a take up or receiving device for rewinding the web with the take up or receiving device and the driving means being controlled so that the take up device does not apply any tension to the web at the station. In order to determine the exact amount of the web passing through the station a meter or measuring device is utilized and to ensure proper alignment of the web, the guiding means includes rollers continually holding the edge of the web against a lateral guide member. Due to the control and the use of the meter device, the web may be moved back and forth through the station to allow processing laterally offset portions of the web and maintain the registry between the various laterally offset portions.

Abstract: In a device for stripping blanks from a die cut sheet of blanks including a set of punches mounted on a movable upper punch frame and a matrix having openings corresponding to the outlines of both the punches and blank on a lower frame characterized by each of the punches comprising a plurality of punch members and means extending between adjacent punch members to close the outline of the punch with the punch members being adjustably mounted on a first set of bars which are slidably mounted on the punch frame and the matrix being formed by two pairs of parallel extending bars or members which are slidably mounted on the frame of the matrix to vary the size of the openings therein.

Abstract: A printing character matrix and a process for assemblying characterized by a hollow cylinder rotatably disposed within a housing and having a plurality of circumferential grooves on its circumferential surface. Each of the circumferential grooves has sides lying in parallel planes which are parallel to the base of the cylinder and the cylinder has strips secured on its cylindrical surface and overlapping the sides of the two adjacent grooves to form means for positioning a character carrying member such as a photographic film containing the characters. To ensure axial position of each of the characters, each groove is provided with means biasing the member against one of the sides thereof and the device utilizing centrifugal force to hold the member on the positioning means. Preferably, the housing is provided with a filter so that air drawn through the cylinder as it is being rotated is free from undesirable particles.

Abstract: An apparatus for withdrawing a predetermined box from a flow of folded boxes traveling in a plane in a device, such as a box folding and gluing machine, which has conveyors for moving the folded boxes in the plane characterized by a detector for detecting an undesired or damaged box, a deflector mounted for reciprocal movement adjacent a discharge of the conveyor for deflecting the damaged or undesirable box out of the plane of the flow of boxes and a conveyor for conveying the deflected box away from the flow of boxes.

Abstract: A suction conveying device which has a belt conveyor and at least one vacuum chamber extending parallel to the conveyor belt characterized by an obturator engaging an upper surface of the vacuum chamber to close the opening therein when a blank is not engaged thereon. The obturator is preferably a resilient sheet of spring steel which is lifted from a position closing the openings by the movement of a blank across the opening.

Abstract: A device for receiving die cut blanks and forming a stack or pile of blanks within a magazine having at least a pair of spaced wall members which provide a pair of spaced parallel vertical wall surfaces of the chamber of the magazine characterized by at least one of the wall surfaces having a plurality of apertures and a device for retaining blanks in a pile in the magazine as a previously formed pile of blanks is being removed therefrom including a plurality of spaced fingers supported for movement in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the one wall surface between a first position extending through the spaced apertures into the chamber and a second position withdrawn from the chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for die cutting at least one blank in a sheet and stripping waste material therefrom, characterized by forming a band of interconnected individual sheets by positioning the leading edge of the sheet in alignment with the trailing edge of the last sheet in the band, interconnecting the edges and then intermittently conveying the band of interconnected sheets through a platen press with a dwell for die cutting, followed by a dwell in a stripper station for removing waste and then separating the die cut sheet prior to transfer to a delivery station for subsequent handling. In the preferred embodiments, the separating of the sheets can be accomplished subsequent to the stripping of the waste material or during the stripping operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for permanently controlling movement of a web of material, which is being continuously supplied to a machine which operates sequentially on a portion of the web as each portion is at a standstill, characterized by using an apparatus including a feeder for feeding the web at a continuous rate of speed and a web take-up device for engaging the web as it exits the feeder to absorb the web being supplied by the feeder for a period of time that the portion of the web is being acted on by the machine and is in a stationary position or at a standstill. The web take-up device includes a pair of members mounted in a pair of spaced side frames for rotation on a first axis, a roller engaging a portion of the web and a structure for mounting the roller on the pair of members for rotation on a second axis offset from the first axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a plurality of interconnected blanks formed in a sheet and for stacking the separate blanks in a plurality of designated stacks characterized by an input carrier receiving a sheet such as from a delivery end of a die cutting platen press and transports it to a separating unit which separates the interconnected blanks from each other and forms a flow having spaced rows of spaced blanks with the position and sequence of the blanks in the flow being the same as their position and sequence in the sheet. The stacking unit receives the flow and utilizes a suction unit for each of the rows in the flow which unit preferably comprises a belt of pervious material moving along a suction chamber to engage an upper surface of the blanks and transports the engaged blanks to a position above their respective designated stacks.

Abstract: A device for receiving a tape of material characterized by a closed case having a light-tight chamber in communication with the exterior of the chamber by a channel provided with light shutters, a tape supporting arrangement comprising a plurality of reels mounted for rotation in the chamber on an axle, at least one spring element for continuously pressing a tape onto the reels as it is fed into the chamber, and a guiding device disposed on the chamber for laterally guiding the tape as it is being wound on the reels. In order for the device to handle tapes of different widths, the guiding device includes a pair of disks disposed at opposite ends of the plurality of reels and at least one retractable guide member pivotably mounted on the axle between a pair of reels to move between a retracted position withdrawn within the circumference of the reels to an extended position with a portion extending beyond the periphery of the reels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for counting a predetermined number of folded box blanks which are disposed on edge in a continuous flow and for separating the predetermined number of box blanks from the flow as a batch characterized by holding the flow immobile, moving a counting device from one end of the flow low and the other end, stopping the counting as a predetermined number of blanks has been counted, holding a blade of the counting device between the last counted blank and the next following blank, moving the flow toward the one end with the counting device moving with the flow, stopping the movement of the flow as the counting device reaches a predetermined position, moving a separating means between the last counted blank and the next preceeding blank to separate the counted blanks as a batch.

Abstract: A conveying device for intermittently conveying a sheet through a platen press having a pair of endless chains with gripper bars extending therebetween, a drive shaft having drive sprockets engaging each of the pair of chains, at least one driven sprocket for each of the pair of chains, means including an oscillating sector gear for intermittently rotating the drive shaft characterized by at least one of the driven sprockets having an axial extension, braking means supported on a portion of the press frame adjacent each of the extensions for engaging the extension, means including at least one blower for cooling the braking means and means for actuating the braking means including a control shaft which is rotated one complete revolution for each cycle of oscillation of the sector gear and has means for causing the engagement and disengagement of the braking means during a portion of each revolution thereof.

Abstract: A device designed for stripping waste from a sheet, which has been die cut by means of a platen press. The device includes two lateral frames, a fixed upper part or plate in which stripping tools are fixed, a lower movable supporting plate with apertures, which have the outline corresponding to the outlines of the waste to be removed, means for conveying a sheet between the upper and lower plates which means consist of gripper bars fitted between two endless chains running within the lateral frame members, and means for raising a portion of the means for conveying during the movement of the lower movable supporting plate.

Abstract: A sheet carrying apparatus for use in a sheet processing machine characterized by a continuously moving belt for transporting a sheet from a sheet receiving station, a pressing member coacting with the belt to ensure nipping of a leading edge of a sheet between the pressing member and belt as the sheet is received at the sheet receiving station, and a device for shifting the pressure member between an advanced position engaging the leading edge of the sheet in the sheet receiving station and a retracted position which is clear of the leading edge of the sheet as it is received on the belt. Preferably, the pressure member is a roller mounted on an end of a lever which pivots on an axle and the axle is provided with pinion gears at each end which are engaged on spaced rack gears with the shifting device including an actuator such as a pneumatic cylinder engaging one end of the axle and a guide for each end of the axle so that the axle moves in a linear path.

Abstract: In a printing machine, a device for introducing a continuous web of paper to the printing station, the device having apparatus to continually measure the coefficient of elasticity of the web and apparatus for developing a tension on the web as a function of the measured coefficient of elasticity. The web is fed against two tension measuring devices in conjunction with two traction rollers having slightly different radii from which the coefficient of elasticity can be calculated electronically.

Abstract: A press having a frame with a fixed platen and a drive mechanism including two pairs of aligned crank shaft assemblies each having a bearing housing rotatably supporting an eccentric shaft with a connecting rod coupled to a movable platen to shift the platen relative to the fixed platen characterized by an adjusting device for each bearing housing which device can both independent and simultaneously adjust the distance of the bearing housing of each crank shaft assembly relative to the fixed platen to enable correcting orientation of the movable platen and to adjust the force and pressure of the press. In one embodiment of the adjustment mechanism, a pair of members having inclined planes are utilized. In another embodiment, a threaded shaft having a worm gear threaded thereon along with a pair of nuts is utilized for adjusting the position of the bearing housing relative to the fixed platen.