Abstract: A center driven unwind system for core-equipped parent rolls includes a frame for supporting the parent roll while it is being unwound, a parent roll placement cart for moving a parent roll from a loading position to the unwinding position on the frame, and a core removal cart for removing an unwound parent roll from the frame.

Abstract: A method of operating an orbital saw for transversely severing elongated, superposed, multi-ply web material which includes advancing the web material along a path into a cutting station having a skew arm adjacent said path, rotating said arm about an axis skewed with respect to the path, the skew arm having a disc blade coupling means, such as a 4-bar linkage, mounted thereon and carrying a rotating disc blade with the blade axis spaced from the arm axis to cause the blade to intersect the path and cut the web material during the blade orbit, maintaining the blade axis at an angle skewed relative to the arm axis to position the disc blade continually perpendicular to the path whereby the disc blade makes a square cut through the web material, providing the coupling means with a grinding stone for the blade and a control for contacting the grinding stone and blade, and positioning the grinding stone radially inwardly throughout the entirety of the blade orbit whereby centrifugal forces are reduced and cyclic

Abstract: A center driven unwind system including a pair of horizontally spaced-apart side frames defining the beginning of a path of travel of the web being unwound from a parent roll for processing by a rewinder, a U-shaped arm structure pivotally mounted adjacent the U-shape base on each side frame with each arm of the U-shape adjacent the arm free end being equipped with a retractable chuck for insertion into a parent roll core, a variable speed drive operably associated with each chuck and adapted to develop an increasing rotational speed characteristic in the chuck as a parent roll carried by the chuck is unwound, a core table positioned adjacent the frame and adapted to receive from the U-shaped arm structure a partially unwound parent roll, the core table being equipped with a cradle for rotatably supporting the partially unwound roll after the chucks have been retracted therefrom, sensors provided on the U-shaped arm structure for positioning the chucks for introduction into the core of a parent roll to be sub

Abstract: A breathable girth former for a packaging machine for bathroom tissue and kitchen toweling rolls wherein the entrance funnel (preformer) has two halves resiliently mounted to conform to the product dimension most likely to jam in the downstream girth former. The funnel halves movement is transmitted to the girth tube former halves by a mechanical linkage to provide the same spacing as in the funnel.

Abstract: A controller for detecting abnormal operating conditions of a continuous motion machine such as a packaging machine. The acceleration and velocity of motors for the various axes of the machine are examined by the controller and rapid deceleration or a more gradual deceleration to a lower velocity relative to a machine velocity are employed for stopping the machine when overloads in the form of jams or mechanical faults occur in moving parts of the machine. By using this system, machine overloads can be detected much earlier than by using conventional techniques, and as a result, damage resulting from overloads and nuisance tripping can be eliminated or greatly reduced.

Abstract: A liquid fountain unit and method for a roll applicator equipped with doctor blades extending parallel to the roll axis and an axially extending third blade mounted adjacent one of the doctor blades and having an angled configuration in the fountain unit chamber with a free edge portion directed toward the roll applicator, the third blade being equipped with a passage to permit liquid flow from one blade side to the other to substantially minimize ghosting.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling logs of convolutely wound webs which includes providing a rewinder-tail sealer wherein a glue stripe is applied to a predetermined circumferential location on a partially unwound log and the log rewound by rolling on itself toward and into a pair of spaced-apart rollers, providing a path from the roller pair to log receiver wherein logs sequentially roll in the path, the path having fixed dimensions, operating the rewinder-tail sealer to develop logs of a first nominal diameter to enable the roller pair to controllably rotate each log for positioning the glue stripe at a first angular orientation, which in combination with the fixed dimensioned path enables each log to be received in the receiver with its glue stripe in a second angular orientation, changing the operation of the rewinder to develop logs of a second nominal diameter, and by correlating the second nominal diameter with the fixed dimensioned path to enable each second nominal diameter log to be received in sai

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring a web to a mandrel to form a coreless, convolutely wound roll which includes an enveloping roller, first and second mandrels, a transfer roller and a cutoff mechanism in the path of travel of a web to be wound, advancing a web in partial enveloping relation with the enveloping roller and toward the first mandrel, moving the second mandrel to a position adjacent the web, orienting the enveloping roller and transfer roller to positions defining a pocket with the second mandrel in the pocket to define a nip between the second mandrel and enveloping roller, rotating the transfer roller in a direction opposite to the direction of advance of the web, and severing the web to provide a leading edge portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing the tail of a convolutely wound log which includes the steps of providing a turret rotatably mounted in a frame and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart three-roll clusters, feeding a log into a first cluster while positioning an immediately previously fed log with a draped tail in another cluster adjacent glue apparatus and while ejecting an even earlier fed log now rewound from still another cluster, and providing a log infeed mechanism adjacent the turret and including a pair of relatively movable rollers, feeding logs sequentially into the pair of said rollers, rotating the infeed rollers to orient the log tail in a predetermined position, by providing a mark on said log prior to the feeding step, and detecting said mark to orient the tail in a predetermined position.

Abstract: A compensating linkage for a continuous motion saw for elongated web plies wherein a skew arm is pivotally connected at its ends to a drive arm and where the drive arm at its ends carries disc blades and sharpening grinding stones for the blades, the ends of the drive arm being pivotally connected for two degrees of freedom with brackets which in turn are connected to an eccentrically mounted control arm, the linkage resulting in compensation for the skew angle to provide a cut perpendicular to the movement of the web plies and reduction of centrifugal forces and elimination of cyclic centrifugal loading on the blade grinding systems.

Abstract: A method of cutting an elongated multi-ply flat surfaced ribbon of web material which includes advancing the ribbon along a linear path while rotating a pair of cantilever-mounted drums on opposite sides of the path to flank the ribbon flat surfaces, the drums each having a plurality of axially extending slots in the periphery thereof. A saw blade is adjacent the path and orbits through the path so as to have the blade orbit intersect the drum slot orbits to transversely cut the ribbon while the saw is advancing parallel to the linear path.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing zipper closure bags from a continuous tube which includes advancing the tube along a continuous path for travel with a rotating metering roll, the metering roll having circumferentially spaced apart ports corresponding to a bag width, and a receiving conveyor having vacuum port-equipped sealing bars for receipt of the tube from the metering roll and for providing across seals defining adjacent paths.

Abstract: A surface rewinder and method for cyclically and convolutely winding web logs wherein a three drum cradle includes spaced apart first and second winding drums and a rider drum and wherein the speed and/or space relationship of the drums is between the drums and a web being wound on a core as by moving one of the drums through a closed loop each cycle of winding.

Abstract: A coreless surface winder and method wherein two of the winding drums are slightly spaced apart by a distance less than two web thicknesses which then operate to cause a folded leading edge on a transversely severed web to roll upon itself and develop an incipient log which thereafter is completed in a conventional three drum cradle to provide a coreless retail sized roll.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of coreless rewinding of retail-sized logs wherein the logs are developed alternately side-by-side on small diameter elongated mandrels.

Abstract: Trim eliminator for log saw and method in connection with the rewinding of webs into logs and rolls or toilet tissue and toweling wherein two independently adjustable suspensions systems are employed for each log/roll lane so as to suspend rolls over a cull area but not the trim annuli generated from cutting the log ends.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transversely sealing multi-ply diaper webs including an ultrasonic horn assembly above the web and an anvil assembly below the web, and including orbiting the two assemblies with points of orbit intersection at two spaced apart points on the web and with one of the assemblies being resiliently mounted so as to yield when the two assemblies come in contact during sealing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making diapers wherein spaced apart moisture pervious webs are applied to fluff pads and overlaid with a further moisture pervious web which permits further processing prior to adhesively sandwiching a waistband between the further web and an underlying moisture impervious web.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for flexographic printing wherein a press having a frame is equipped with an ink transfer roll, a subframe is movably mounted on the frame adjacent the transfer roll, a holder being movably mounted on the subframe, the holder being equipped with upper and lower doctor blades engaging the transfer roll and end seals defining with the roll a liquid chamber, and an ink inlet and an ink outlet in the holder, the subframe having portions clamping the doctor blades to the holder, the subframe being pivotally mounted on the frame for movement away from the ink transfer roll, the subframe being equipped with a cylinder for moving the holder so as to unclamp the doctor blades for replacement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for washing the fountain of a flexographic press including a positive displacement pump coupled to the ink fountain of the press and selectively to solvent and waste containers to a closed circuit for recycling and to atmosphere for purging and, optionally, to a solvent saver receiver.