Abstract: A vari-gap drive system for controlling the speed of the drive system used in the fabrication of corrugated boxes which varies the drive rate for a folder vis-a-vis that of the printer/slotter to which it is attached to vary the box blank gap through the folder and thus permit a throughout two to three times faster than that attainable when the drive for the two units are driven at the same speed. The reliability and speed of the subject Vari-Gap Drive System is in part derived from a unique cage roll assembly.

Abstract: An anti-toggling, constant-contact cage roll assembly is provided for movement of corrugated box blanks along a belt. In one embodiment, the cage roll assembly includes a series of four rollers that are mounted to a bar spring-biased away from a frame, in which the bar is pivotally mounted at each end to an associated lever arm, each of which is in turn pivotally mounted to the frame to form a modified four-bar linkage, with a compliant mount for one lever arm, the mount for the other lever arm being fixed to the frame to permit limited canting of the roller-carrying bar to accommodate multiple folded layers of corrugated material. The subject cage roll assembly prevents the prior art type of toggling of pairs of rollers into an almost vertical position as the box blank moves between the rollers and the belt and thus prevents jamming. In one embodiment, each of the lever arms carries an adjustable stop at the free end for positioning the bar above the belt which carries the box blank.