Abstract: Box blanks produced from a moving web by a paperboard corrugator are shingled on a stacker conveyor. The corrugator includes a shear which severs the web in response to a production run change signal into leading and trailing portions. A cut-off machine cuts the severed web portions into the box blanks. Box blanks cut from the leading portion of the severed web are part of the old production run. Box blanks cut from the trailing portion of the severed web are part of the new production run. The leading edge of the trailing portion of the severed web is tracked to the cut-off machine. The trailing edge of the first full size box blank of the new production run is detected at a first position relative to the stacker conveyor. The trailing edge of the first full size box blank is then tracked to a second position on the stacker conveyor. When the trailing edge of the first full size box blank reaches the second position, a command signal is generated.

Abstract: The web from a running roll passes through a festoon in which an amount of web is stored. Upon the application of a splice command signal, the speed of the running roll is reduced from an initial or line speed V linearly at a rate R1. As the speed of the running roll decreases, the rate at which the festoon web length decreases reaches a preselected fraction of the speed V. This indicates that the running roll is stopped. A splice initiate signal is then generated. The web from the running roll is spliced to the web from a reserve roll. Following the splice, the speed of the web from the reserve roll is accelerated linearly at a rate R2 to speed V. If the rate of reduction of running roll speed is independent of the initial speed V, the same web tensions are experienced during braking of the running roll regardless of the initial speed V. If the rate is made dependent on the initial speed V, lower web tensions are experienced during braking for lower initial speeds V.

Abstract: A single facer machine for making a corrugated web is provided with a vacuum means for retaining a corrugated medium on one of the corrugating rolls. Said one corrugating roll has a core through which a heated fluid may flow. The core is surrounded by a sleeve which contains peripheral longitudinally extending flutes and valleys meshed with corresponding flutes and valleys on the other corrugating roll. A plurality of suction hoods are juxtaposed to and sealed to the outer periphery of said sleeve.

Abstract: A corrugated paperboard slitter has at least one rotatable shaft with a plurality of slitter or scorer heads slideably received on the shaft. A means is provided adjacent each of the shafts for positioning heads individually or as a group by way of a shifter. A mechanism moves the shaft between an operative slitting or scoring position and an adjusting position wherein the heads can be engaged by the positioning means.

Abstract: A slitter mechanism for slitting elongated webs of material into narrower webs by operative blades on parallel shafts. Inoperative blades are provided in an idle zone on said shafts. The blades in the idle zone are movable out of contact with each other without interfering with the mating relationship of the operative blades.

Abstract: A frame supports an upper set of trim chutes movable toward and away from each other as well as a lower set of trim chutes movable toward and away from each other. The frame supports an upper web support member and a lower support member thereby defining two web paths. Each trim chute has a portion pivotable to an inoperative position wherein the extent to which each end portion projects in an upstream direction is decreased.

Abstract: A paperboard web is severed transversely between the double facer machine and the slitter-scorer after the completion of a production order. The speed of the double facer machine is maintained constant while the severed web section is accelerated to a speed substantially above the speed of the double facer machine to create a gap. Adjustments to one or more of the slitter-scorer and cut-off for the next production order are made while the same are in the gap. Sheets cut from the web section are shingled on a shingling conveyor. The speed of the shingling conveyor is accelerated prior to the arrival of the last sheet of the web section and decelerated while the gap is on the shingling conveyor.

Abstract: A corrugated paperboard slitter scorer has slitting and scoring heads movable individually or as a group along an expandable shaft by way of a master shifter. The expandable shaft provides a friction drag to maintain a head in position until all heads are simultaneously locked to the shaft.

Abstract: The tool positioner of a slitter scorer has tool engaging elements which are at least in part cylindrical and coaxial with a piston connected thereto. The cylindrical portion and piston are each independently guided by stationary guide surfaces in order to minimize bending forces on the piston.

Abstract: An automatic slitter scorer apparatus is disclosed for slitting and scoring a corrugated paperboard web. The apparatus includes an upper pair of slitter shafts and an upper pair of scorer shafts, as well as a lower pair of slitter shafts and a lower pair of scorer shafts thereby defining two web paths through the apparatus. The web paths are used alternately. All of said shafts are selectively rotated by means of a single motor at one end of the apparatus. A set of trim chutes is provided for each pair of slitter shafts and is located downstream therefrom.

Abstract: An automatic slitter-scorer apparatus is disclosed for slitting and scoring a corrugated paperboard web. The apparatus includes an upper pair of slitter shafts and an upper pair of scorer shafts, as well as a lower pair of slitter shafts and a lower pair of scorer shafts thereby defining two web paths through the apparatus. The web paths are used alternately. All of said shafts are selectively rotated by means of a single motor at one end of the apparatus. A set of trim chutes is provided for each pair of slitter shafts and is located downstream therefrom.

Abstract: A plurality of sets of aligned rollers are guided for movement along a shingling conveyor. While one set of such rollers is in an operative position snubbing sheets as they are delivered to the shingling conveyor, another set of such rollers is inoperative and can be moved to a ready position for the next production order. The rollers are movable downwardly to a snubbing position and upwardly to an inoperative position.

Abstract: Each corrugating roll on a single facer machine is separately driven at substantially the same speed without the corrugating rolls being geared directly together and without transmitting driving torque through mating flutes on the rolls whereby the rolls may corrugate a web passing therebetween with minimal tension of the web.

Abstract: Upper and lower web guides are pivotably mounted for directing the leading edge of a web to either of upper or lower paths. Each web guide has a plurality of resilient members disposed side by side and extending downstream to define a channel through which the web can pass.

Abstract: A plurality of flexible panels are disposed side by side and extending in the direction of movement of a web. The panels are supported intermediate their ends by a fulcrum means transverse to the web path. A discrete power means is coupled to each end of each panel for selectively and independently raising and lowering the free ends of the panels while flexing the panels.

Abstract: A ratiometric edge detector system for use in controlling the position of the edge of a web or other material. At least two zones on the web are illuminated with light. The first zone is of greater area than the second zone. The second zone has a border at the web edge. Light reflected from the two zones is optically sensed. A control signal is generated proportional to the ratio of the light reflected from the two zones. The ratio indicates deviation of the web edge from a preselected position.

Abstract: An automatic corrugated paperboard slitter scorer has slitting and scoring heads movable individually or as a group along an expandable shaft by a way of a master shifter. The expandable shaft provides a friction drag to maintain a head in position until all heads are simultaneoulsy locked to the shaft.

Abstract: An optical encoder generates a train of digital pulses as a function of the length of web material unwound per revolution of an unwinding roll. A counter counts the encoder pulses for each revolution of the roll. The counts of the encoder pulses are accumulated over a first set of revolutions of the roll. A programmed microprocessor effects a base computation of (1) the average change in the number of pulses generated per revolution of the roll and (2) the length of web remaining on the roll after the first set of revolutions. Thereafter, the base computation of web length is updated at each revolution of the roll. The counter may comprise an addressable hardware counter chain alone or in combination with a read/write memory which counts the number of times that the counter chain overflows.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for slitting a web of material such as paperboard utilizing at least two rotatable turrets disposed one above the other. Each turret has a pair of shafts adapted to have blades selectively positionable thereon by way of a master shifter which adjusts the blades for the next production run on one of the shafts which is in an inoperative position while the other shaft on each turret is in an operative position.BACKGROUNDSlitting apparatus particularly of the type known as an automatic slitter-scorer which includes either a computer or a mini-processor have been proposed heretofore. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,651,723; 3,961,547; 3,646,418; 3,831,502, 3,587,374; 4,010,677; 4,033,217. In the apparatus disclosed in said patents, blades are moved along a shaft to a predetermined position and then secured to the shaft for rotation therewith.

Abstract: A maximum web speed monitor for limiting the speed of a moving web which is cut into sheets by a knife such as a rotary knife. A digital cut-off control provides separate signals indicative of the web speed and the length of sheets into which the web is cut by the knife. A digital integrator repetitively provides a sample signal indicative of the actual speed of the web based on a preselected sampling interval. Information representative of maximum permissible web speed as a function of sheet length is stored in a PROM. The web speed is prevented from exceeding a maximum permissible speed as a function of the maximum permissible web speed information and the sample signal.