Abstract: An adhesive applicator for a core-making machine is provided with an applicator plate for applying adhesive to a web. The applicator plate has upstream and downstream faces and a bottom surface which extends from the upstream face beyond the downstream face. The bottom surface is adapted to spread adhesive on a moving web below the bottom surface. The bottom surface forms a narrow wedge-shaped portion with an upper surface which extends away from the downstream face.

Abstract: A glue applicator for a web winding apparatus applies a longitudinal stripe of glue to an elongated core. The stripe of glue may be applied by an elongated wire or bar, by a rotating roller, or by a sprayer. The glued core is moved by a core inserter into position for insertion into the winding apparatus so that the stripe of glue is upstream of the web and in position to contact the web at the start of a new winding cycle. A web pinch pad on the core inserter contacts the web and severs the web at the start of the winding cycle.

Abstract: An embossing roll includes a roll body and a plurality of plates which are removably secured to the roll body. Each plate includes an outer surface which is provided with an embossing pattern. The plates can be secured to the roll body by vacuum and/or mechanical devices.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting an elongated circular product during cutting includes a fixed lower support frame and a movable upper support frame. Right and left bottom support links include a lower end which is pivotally connected to the lower frame. Right and left side support links include a lower end which is slidably supported by a slot in the lower frame, an intermediate pivot point which is pivotally connected to the upper end of one of the bottom support links, and an upper end which is engageable with the product. The upper frame includes right and left guide surfaces which are engageable with the product. When the upper frame is moved downwardly toward the lower frame, the guide surfaces of the upper frame move the upper ends of the side support links closer to the center of the product.

Abstract: A rewinder includes a lockout cam for controlling the actuation of transfer pins and transfer pads on the bedroll of a rewinder. The transfer pins and transfer pads are mounted on a rotatable pin shaft and a rotatable pad shaft, respectively. A cam follower assembly on the pin shaft is engageable with a pin cam for controlling movement of the transfer pins. A cam follower assembly on the pad shaft is engageable with a pad cam for controlling movement of the transfer pads. The lockout cam is rotatably mounted relative to the bedroll. A first portion of the lockout cam is engageable with the cam follower assemblies for preventing the pin and pad cam follower assemblies from engaging the pin cam and the pad cam, respectively. A second portion of the lockout cam permits the pin and pad cam follower assemblies to engage the pin cam and the pad cam, respectively.

Abstract: A glue applicator for a web winding apparatus applies a longitudinals strip of glue to an elongated core. The stripe of glue may be applied by an elongated wire or bar, by a rotation roller, or by a sprayer. The glued core is moved by a core inserter into position for insertion into the winding apparatus so that the stripe of glue is upstream of the web and in position to contact the web at the start of a new winding cycle. A web pinch pad on the core inserter contacts the web and servers the web at the start of the winding cycle.

Abstract: A core infeed apparatus for a surface winder moves an elongated core axially into the winder while an axial line of glue is applied to the core. The core is moved into a space between a pair of rotatable core guides. One of the core guides is rotatable away from the core while the other core guide rotates the core toward a core inserter. The core is transferred to the core inserter, and the core inserter rotates to move the core toward the winding rolls of the rewinder. The position of the glue line is accurately maintained as the core moves to its various positions.

Abstract: A sealing apparatus includes a plurality of pairs of upper and lower sealing die assemblies which travel around upper and lower pairs of oval tracks. Each of the oval tracks includes upper and lower horizontal portions and front and rear curved end portions. Each pair of die assemblies is driven independently of the other pairs. Each of the die assemblies includes a pair of carriages which are supported by the tracks and a sealing die which extends between the carriages. A pair of bogie arms are pivotally mounted on each of the carriages, and a pair of rollers which are rotatably mounted on each bogie arm ride on one of the tracks. The sealing apparatus seals a series of products in a plastic film as the products and film are advanced along a horizontal path which extends between the upper tracks and between the lower tracks.

Abstract: A rotary bonding apparatus includes a rotatable drum and one or more bonding elements, for example, ultrasonic horn and anvil assemblies, which rotate with the drum. The drum includes a web-supporting surface, and web material which is to be bonded rotates with the drum. The web material is positioned between the bonding elements and the web and bonding elements rotate at the same velocity so that the bonding elements are stationary relative to the web being bonded.

Abstract: A transport apparatus for handling rows of units of multi-ply material such as rolls of bathroom tissue or paper toweling and stacks of folding facial tissue or toweling includes a pair of movable shuttles which can be moved together to provide a bridge for conveying the units over an opening and which can be moved apart to provide a gap so that trim pieces or selected units can fall through the opening. When the shuttles are moved to an upstream position, the shuttles bridge the opening, and units can be moved over the shuttles and over the opening. When a trim piece or selected unit is positioned just upstream of the downstream shuttle, the downstream shuttle is moved in a downstream direction away from the upstream shuttle to provide a gap between the shuttles so that the trim piece or selected unit falls through the gap and the opening. The upstream shuttle can then be moved in a downstream direction toward the downstream shuttle to close the gap.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for sharpening a disc blade includes a grinding wheel mounted on a housing. The housing is mounted on a drive shaft so that the housing rotates with the drive shaft but can move axially relative to the drive shaft. A transversely extending projection on the housing extends into a space between two axially spaced spacers on the drive shaft. A spring is positioned between each spacer and the projection for resiliently biasing the housing in an axial direction.

Abstract: A printing press includes a pair of in-line central impression cylinders which rotate about parallel axes. A web which is printed on the central impression cylinders is advanced from one of the cylinders to the other along a path which is perpendicular to the axes. The web is advanced from an unwind to the first central impression cylinder along a path which is parallel to the axes, and the web is advanced from the second central impression cylinder to a rewind along a path which is parallel to the axis. The web path between the central impression cylinders is relatively short, and the printed side of the web does not contact any rolls except possibly a laydown roll before the second impression cylinder. The central impression cylinders and the plate rolls are driven by different servo motors, and a controller controls the servo motors for adjusting the repeat of the printed images.

Abstract: A deck for a printing press includes first and second rolls which are mounted for linear movement on a pair of spaced parallel rails. A rotatable ball screw moves the rolls along the rails. The axis of the screw substantially intersects the axes of the rolls.

Abstract: A dryer for a printing press uses an electric heater to heat air that flows into an air plenum. The heated air flows out of the plenum at high velocity through an array of orifices that have a diameter of about 0.040 inch. The high velocity air impinges on ink which is printed on a web by the press.

Abstract: A method of operating an orbital saw to transversely sever superposed elongated web plies into shorter length products which includes advancing along a linear path superposed elongated web plies having a cross sectional area of at least about 3.5 square inches (2200 mm.sup.

Abstract: An embosser can emboss two webs of sheet material with either nested or foot-to-foot embossments. The embosser includes two steel embossing rolls which are engraved with the same embossing pattern. When foot-to-foot embossments are desired, the embossing rolls are positioned so that the corresponding embossments on the two rolls are aligned. When nested embossed are desired, one of the embossing rolls is moved either axially or circumferentially, or both, relative to the other embossing roll so that embossments on the two rolls nest.

Abstract: A packaging bag for containing a product is provided. The bag includes an end with four bag projections that are to be folded over the product. A first pair of opposing bag projections are folded down to form generally triangular portions, and the other pair of opposing bag projections are folded onto the triangular portions and connected together in the overlap area while basically maintaining their rectangular shape and catching the corners of the first pair of bag projections. In order for the first pair of bag projections to be formed along the long side of the bag, the fold edges between adjacent bag projections run at least partially outside of the contour of the bags when folded and the angle formed between the side and base of the triangular portion when folded in is less than 45.degree..

Abstract: A stack of folded sheets includes right and left Z folded sheets and right and left V folded sheets which are arranged and interfolded so that the stack is balanced and has uniform bulk across its width. Withdrawal of the top sheet of the stack lifts the next sheet into position for withdrawal.

Abstract: A robotic apparatus for a printing press transports components between the press and a staging or make-ready area so that components can be prepared for a new press run off-line from the press. The robotic apparatus includes a pair of lifting assemblies which are movable horizontally between the press and a support frame in the make-ready area. Each of the lifting assemblies includes a vertically movable lift mechanism, and each lift mechanism includes a plurality of lifting cups for engaging the ends of the components of the press which are to moved. The lifting cups can be operated independently, so that desired components can be moved from any printing deck to any position on the support frame. The press components which can be moved include a plate cylinder and a carriage assembly. The carriage assembly includes a frame, an anilox roll assembly mounted in the frame, and an ink container mounted on the frame.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding, stacking, and/or upending products includes a pair of indexing star wheels. A conveyor advances a row of products toward an upstream star wheel. One or more products are metered into one of the notches in the upstream star wheel, and the upstream star wheel indexes to transfer the products to the downstream star wheel. The upstream star wheel can stack products by indexing twice before the downstream star wheel indexes. The downstream star wheel indexes to upend the products, and the upended products are moved away from the downstream star wheel.