Abstract: An improved slotter wheel apparatus (10) designed for use in the formation of box blanks is disclosed. The apparatus (10) includes a rotatable drive shaft (22), a slotter blade (16) supported on the drive shaft (22) and blade coupling structure (20). The slotter blade coupling structure (20) is operable for selectively coupling the slotter blade (16) with the rotating drive shaft (22) so that the slotter blade (16) is rotated by the shaft (22) and slots blanks passing under the apparatus (10). The slotter blade coupling structure (20) is also operable for selectively decoupling the slotter blade (16) from the drive shaft (22) to prevent the slotter blade (16) from slotting blanks passing under the apparatus (10). In a preferred construction of the invention, the slotter blade coupling structure (20) includes a clutch assembly (76), a brake assembly (78), and a controller (82) for controlling the operation of the clutch and brake assemblies.

Abstract: Improved slotter wheel apparatus (20) for use in the formation of box blanks is provided which includes a rotatable wheel (22) supporting a shiftable blade holder (24) and a slotting blade (26), with cooperating cam track (174) and follower (86) structure for selective shifting of blade (26) between an extended slotting position and a retracted blank-clearing position. An activation/deactivation assembly (30) allows the operator to separate cam track (174) from follower (88), thereby permitting use of apparatus (20) as a conventional, high speed, fixed blade slotter. A shock absorbing assembly (27) including a bridge piece (138) operably coupled with blade holder (24) and resilient pads (152, 154) serve to absorb potentially destructive mechanical loads experienced during outward shifting of the blade holder (24) and blade (26).

Abstract: An improved slotter wheel mechanism (30) designed for use in the formation of box blanks is provided which includes a rotatable wheel assembly (32) supporting one or more slotter blades (34); the blades (34) are coupled to the wheel by means (36) permitting shifting of the blades (34) during rotation of the wheel assembly (32) between an extended slotting position and a retracted blank-clearing position. A cam assembly (406) presents a shiftable cam portion (424) that can be shifted to select a blade extended or retracted position for blade sections (304, 306, and 326) which are interconnected by a respective pivot couplings (332 and 334). The assembly (406) further includes a locking link assembly (448) for locking the blade holder (438) and thereby the blades (442 and 448a, 440b) in the selected position during rotation through the bottom portion of the arc of travel.

Abstract: An improved slotter wheel mechanism (30) designed for use in the formation of box blanks is provided which includes a rotatable wheel assembly (32) supporting one or more slotter blades (34); the blades (34) are coupled to the wheel by means (36) permitting shifting of the blades (34) during rotation of the wheel assembly (32) between an extended slotting position and a retracted blank-clearing position. In one embodiment, a slotter wheel (222) is equipped with a plurality of spiders (232) operatively secured to corresponding blade holders (246). As the wheel (222) rotates, the spiders (232) encounter strategically located members (294, 294a, 296 and 296a) serving to successively rotate the spiders (232), thus moving the blade holders (246) and blades (256).

Abstract: An improved slotter wheel mechanism designed for use in the formation of box blanks is provided which includes a rotatable wheel assembly supporting one or more slotter blades; the blades are coupled to the wheel by means permitting shifting of the blades during rotation of the wheel assembly between an extended slotting position and a retracted blank-clearing position. In one embodiment, the blades are supported on respective blade holders each having a cam secured thereto. A stationary yoke plate adjacent the wheel assembly supports a pair of inner and outer cam grooves adapted to receive the blade holder cams. A shiftable, grooved cam switch is operatively interposed in the cam arrangement for selectively directing the blade holder cams into one or the other of the cam grooves, thereby camming the associated blade holders and blades between their respective positions.

Abstract: An improved synthetic resin dunnage element (10) for use in packaging and shipping of fluorescent tubes (76,78) is provided which is specifically designed to be of minimum fore and aft length while still providing maximum protection against tube breakage. The support (10) is of integral, thermoformed construction and advantageously includes alternating upwarding and downwardly opening and diverging wall sections (68,70,70a) with the fowardmost downwardly opening section (70a) being of lesser width, greater radius and vertically lower in position than the associated rearward sections (70). In this fashion the forwardmost sections (79a) engage the fluorescent tube end caps (82) whereas the sections 70 engage the glass tube body. Provision of such specialized, different downwardly opening wall sections (70,70a) allows the support (10) to be manufactured using substantially less starting sheet material as compared with prior supports.

Abstract: Fluorescent tube-supporting dunnage elements (10) are provided which are designed to ensure easy machine-dispensibility thereof by preventing complete nesting of a stack of interfitted supports (10). The supports (10) are integral, thermo-formed bodies presently a plurality of elongated, open-top, juxtaposed tube-receiving recesses (24) each presenting alternating, upwardly and downwardly opening and diverging wall sections (52,54) interconnected by short upright walls (56). The walls (56) are provided with outwardly extending, upwardly opening arcuate ridges (58) which prevent complete nesting of stacked supports (10).

Abstract: Molded synthetic resin dunnage supports for packing of elongated fragile fluorescent tubes are provided which are designed for automated dispensing during packaging and give protection against tube breakage at least equivalent to that of conventional molded pulp supports. In preferred forms, the dunnage support is formed from polyvinyl chloride sheet material (0.014 inch thickness) and includes plural juxtaposed tube-receiving sockets together with a rear side lip and front side ledge platforms; the lip carries laterally spaced upright nibs which, in conjunction with the ledge platforms, prevent complete nesting of the supports, so that an interfitted support stack presents substantially even access spaces between individual supports for easy machine dispensing.