Abstract: Certain embodiments disclose a rotary die cutting apparatus including a rotatable first cylinder, a rotatable second cylinder positioned in proximity to the first cylinder to compress and permit cutting and/or creasing of a corrugated article when the corrugated article passes between the first and second cylinders, a pivot arm on which the second cylinder is mounted and configured for pivotal movement to thereby move the second cylinder mounted thereon relative to the first cylinder, and a displacement actuator operatively connected to the pivot arm to control the pivotal movement of the pivot arm. Other embodiments disclose a method for controlling movement of a second cylinder relative to a first cylinder.

Abstract: A method is provided for supplying a corrugated board article or a paperboard sheet article from a feeder apparatus for receipt by an article processing host machine. The method includes feeding the article to a feeder apparatus including a sheet supporting feed table surface having a feed end and a delivery end, feed elements, and a control surface selectively movable between a covering state and an exposing state. In the exposing state the feed elements are exposed to contact and drive the article along the sheet supporting feed table. The control surface is selectively movable to an angled state to selectively angle the control surface to consecutively conceal the respective feed elements as the article moves over the feed elements.

Abstract: A self-contained no-feed-roll computer controlled corrugated board or paperboard sheet feeder apparatus 200 is configured to upgrade an installed corrugated board processing machine (e.g., 10) and includes a feed table surface 210 for boards (e.g., 2) having drive wheels (222W, 224W, 226W) in an initial variable velocity zone 220 which drives the board in a first motion profile through a first vacuum zone, and a second velocity zone 230 which then drives the board in a second motion profile through a second vacuum zone Retrofittable sheet feeder 200 also includes a controller 300 configured to receive predetermined velocity signals from the host machine 10 and generate (i) a first initial variable velocity control signal for initial variable velocity zone 220 and (ii) a second velocity control signal for second velocity zone 230 in response.

Abstract: A vacuum belt conveyor sequentially delivers sheet articles to a digital printer. The sheets are held in position by vacuum on the underside of the sheets through apertures in the belt and covered by the sheets. A plurality of independent plenums on the underside of the belt have chambers respectively communicating with rows of apertures extending along the belt. Vacuum is selectively applied from a manifold only to the plenum chambers that supply apertures that are covered by the sheets so that the ink from the printer will not be directed from its intended position on the sheet by vacuum from adjacent uncovered belt apertures.

Abstract: A self-contained no-feed-roll computer controlled corrugated board or paperboard sheet feeder apparatus 200 is configured to upgrade an installed corrugated board processing machine (e.g., 10) and includes a feed table surface 210 for boards (e.g., 2) having drive wheels (222W, 224W, 226W) in an initial variable velocity zone 220 which drives the board in a first motion profile through a first vacuum zone, and a second velocity zone 230 which then drives the board in a second motion profile through a second vacuum zone Retrofittable sheet feeder 200 also includes a controller 300 configured to receive predetermined velocity signals from the host machine 10 and generate (i) a first initial variable velocity control signal for initial variable velocity zone 220 and (ii) a second velocity control signal for second velocity zone 230 in response.

Abstract: An electrically powered and electronically controlled diaphragm ink pump apparatus (e.g., 100, 200 or 300) and method for synchronous pressurization of ink in a corrugated board sheet feeding system comprises a diaphragm pump assembly including a reciprocating electrically driven crank mechanism connected to and driving first and second diaphragms or diaphragm surfaces, each diaphragm or diaphragm surface housed within a pump housing (e.g., 140, 240 or 340) having an ink inlet and an ink outlet in fluid communication with a manifold configured for pumping liquid ink to printing sections of a corrugated paperboard finishing machine 10 and provide a smooth reciprocating action and more uniform ink flow with reduced pressure pulsations.

Abstract: An improved elastomer covered feed roll assembly (32R) for use in a feed/pull roll set combination (36) in a sheet finishing machine (12) comprises a roll core (50) having a cylindrical surface (60) with multiple longitudinally spaced and circumferentially offset elongated keyways (80, 82, 84, 86) each configured as a locking slot. Multiple replaceable flexible feed cover sections (52, 54, 56) each incorporating a flexible backing (120) and an elastomeric layer or coating (122) are removably mounted on the roll core by locking components (74, 76) on opposite ends (70, 72) of each of said replaceable flexible feed cover sections, the locking components of each replaceable flexible feed cover section engaging a locking slot (80, 82, 84, 86) corresponding to the feed cover section. The keyways draw together the opposite ends (70, 72) of corresponding cover sections to form corresponding end joints (96, 98, 100).

Abstract: A vacuum belt conveyor sequentially delivers sheet articles to a digital printer. The sheets are held in position by vacuum on the underside of the sheets through apertures in the belts and covered by the sheets. A plurality of independent plenums on the underside of the belt have chambers respectively communicating with rows of apertures extending along the belt. Vacuum is selectively applied from a manifold only to the plenum chambers that supply apertures that are covered by the sheets so that the ink from the printer will not be directed from its intended position on the sheet by vacuum from adjacent uncovered belt apertures. The sheets are fed to the conveyor in synchronism with the conveyor speed by a timed feeder so that the sheets are carried by the conveyor with a predetermined gap between the sheets and no belt apertures in the gap. A sensor counts the apertures in the belt and activates the feeder at predetermined time intervals.

Abstract: Corrugated boards are creased in three stages: the first being controlled crushing of the board to force air out of the flutes; the second is applying heated moisture or mist to the board to increase pliability; and the third is creasing the board by passing it between endless conveyor belts one of which has an elongated scoring bead projecting from its inner surface.

Abstract: A corrugated box finishing machine including a plurality of vacuum belts for moving flat box blanks or “boards” along a horizontal path for use as either a die-cutting machine or a flexo-folder-gluer machine. A folding mechanism at the opposite sides of the machine has an active position where it folds parts of the boards as in a flexo-folder-gluer machine, and an inactive position spaced from the path of conveyance and the boards to accommodate boards which are not to be folded.

Abstract: A corrugated box making machine has a vacuum transfer mechanism for moving corrugated boards along a path of conveyance including stations having printing and die cutter mechanisms which operate on the boards. The printing mechanisms include a print and impression cylinder, the latter being mounted in a vacuum housing that also holds drive rolls for moving the boards along the path during which the boards are held against the rolls by vacuum in the housing. The latter is movable substantially above the print cylinder to provide convenient access for maintenance of the print cylinder or replacement of its printing plates.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for prefeeding corrugated boards to a box finishing machine wherein a stack of rectangular boards are moved to a first conveyor with the long dimension of the boards extending transverse to the direction of movement of said first conveyor. The stack is then rotated to place the long dimension of the boards in alignment with the direction of movement of said first conveyor, and then moving the rotated stack to a second conveyor for feeding to a box finishing machine with the long dimension of the boards in alignment with the direction or path of movement of the boards through the box finishing machine. The stack is transferred to the first conveyor from an elevator which contains a supply of boards larger than the stack. Three different types of apparatus are disclosed for rotating the stack. One is a plurality of conveyor belts whose speeds may be varied to rotate the boards. Another is a turntable with a set of belt conveyors and a set of rollers.

Abstract: A timed feeder for feeding corrugated boards to nip rolls of a box finishing machine. An indexing drive mechanism, driven by a computer-controlled servo motor, activates a feed member and has a feed phase when it drives the board to the nip rolls, and a dwell phase when the feed member is away from the feed path and the output shaft of the indexing mechanism is at zero velocity. During the feed phase, the output shaft of the indexing mechanism accelerates the feed member and the board beyond the nip roll velocity and then decelerates them to the nip roll velocity at the point where the board enters the nip rolls. During the dwell phase the input shaft is either accelerated or decelerated to change the duration of the cycle.

Abstract: A timed feeder for feeding corrugated boards to nip rolls of a box finishing machine. A feed member is raised to the feed path to engage and drive a board to the nip rolls and then lowered away from the feed path until the next cycle. An indexing drive mechanism, driven by a computer-controlled servo motor, activates the feed member and has a feed phase when it drives the board to the nip rolls, and a dwell phase when the feed member is away from the feed path and the output shaft of the indexing mechanism is at zero velocity. During the feed phase, the output shaft of the indexing mechanism accelerates the feed member and the board beyond the nip roll velocity and then decelerates them to the nip roll velocity at the point where the board enters the nip rolls.

Abstract: A corrugated box finishing machine has a station where dust, debris and other particles are cleaned from the corrugated boards before they are conveyed to the printing station. Electrostatic charges on the particles are neutralized by a static bar and the particles are then removed from the boards by a rotating brush. The particles are drawn into a vacuum chamber underlying the path of conveyance of the boards, and the static bar is positioned in an enclosure in proximity to the boards but isolated from the vacuum in the vacuum chamber. The enclosure has surfaces which direct the particles away from the static bar which is oriented to further minimize contact with the removed particles. The cleaning brush includes a plurality of brush sections mounted on a rotatable shaft made from carbon fiber material.

Abstract: A corrugated box finishing machine has a station where dust, debris and other particles are cleaned from the corrugated boards before they are conveyed to the printing station. Electrostatic charges on the particles are neutralized by a static bar and the particles are then removed from the boards by a rotating brush. The particles are drawn into a vacuum chamber underlying the path of conveyance of the boards, and the static bar is positioned in an enclosure in proximity to the boards but isolated from the vacuum in the vacuum chamber. The enclosure has surfaces which direct the particles away from the static bar which is oriented to further minimize contact with the removed particles. The cleaning brush includes a plurality of brush sections mounted on a rotatable shaft made from carbon fiber material.

Abstract: A computer network is used to manage and monitor operation of a box-finishing machine which prints information on and cuts or creases corrugated boards to be formed into boxes. The equipment used on the machine is provided with radio frequency information tags detected by an electronic reader which transmits the identification to a computer so that it can be determined by an operator that sufficient equipment is in storage and staging areas for use on the machine. Several computer terminals are provided at different areas throughout a plant so that access is easily provided to different personnel.

Abstract: A rotary die cutter mechanism for cutting and/or creasing corrugated boards including a rotatable die cylinder with a cutting die, and a rotatable anvil against which the corrugated boards are cut as they pass between the die cylinder and the anvil. A computer is used to determine how much the speed of the anvil should be changed to compensate for changes in the diameter of the anvil so that the boards are cut to the desired dimension. A fine adjustment of the size of the boards to be cut is made by providing information to the computer representative of the specific die being used. The computer then calculates an adjusted speed of the anvil to cut the boards to the desired dimension, and then sends a signal to a motor for changing the speed of the anvil to the adjusted speed calculated by the computer.

Abstract: A flexible jacket for a vacuum blower having rotatable blades in a blade housing. The jacket is made from heavy duty, substantially impenetrable, bullet resistant material such as KEVLAR brand sheet material which is placed about the blade housing to prevent any severed and flying rotor blades from entering the atmosphere through the blade housing. The configuration of the jacket is formed to match the blade housing and to enable the jacket to be easily retro-fitted onto existing vacuum blowers or other blade housings and secured in place about the blade housing.

Abstract: Paperboard sheets are fed by a feeder including driven wheels which engage the lowermost sheet of a stack and drive it through the nip rolls of a box-finishing machine in synchronism with the latter. Supporting the sheets is a grate moveable between a raised position wherein the wheels are spaced from the sheet and a lowered position wherein the lowermost sheet engages the wheels and is fed thereby to the nip rolls. Below the grate is a vacuum box for holding the sheet on the wheels. Raising and lowering of the grate is effected by a cam which may be adjusted to vary the feed stroke in accordance with the length of the sheets. For driving the wheels there is provided a dual input drive mechanism including a constant velocity such that when the wheels initially engage the sheet, the wheels are at nearly zero or absolute zero velocity and subsequently the wheels reach a constant velocity for driving the sheet at said constant velocity which is matched with the surface velocity of the nip rolls.