Abstract: A feed mechanism feeds sheet material sequentially on demand to a take-up mechanism of processing machinery. The feed mechanism has a feed table with a gate. Sheets may be stacked against the gate, which allows only the lowermost sheet to pass therebeneath. Rollers within the surface of the table are rotatably driven to advance the lowermost sheet beneath the gate to the take-up mechanism. A restraining device prevents freewheeling over run of the rollers. The sheets may be longer in length than the circumference of a tool-carrying roll set used to process the sheet. The difference is accommodated by transferring sheet feed through the nip between the tool set and a separate servo-controlled drive upstream of the nip.

Abstract: A feed mechanism sheet material sequentially on demand to a take-up mechanism of processing machinery. The feed mechanism has a feed table with a gate. Sheets may be stacked against the gate, which allows only the lowermost sheet to pass therebeneath. Rollers within the surface of the rotatably driven to advance the lowermost sheet beneath the gate to the take-up mechanism. A restraining device prevents freewheeling over run of the rollers. The sheets may be longer in length than the circumference of a tool-carrying roll set used to process the sheet. The difference is accommodated by transferring sheet feed through the nip between the tool set and a separate servo-controlled drive upstream of the nip.

Abstract: A rotary die-cutting machine and a method of cutting die-blanks in which the blanks (B) are passed between a die-cylinder (10) and an anvil (12), wherein a static charge is developed on the anvil (12) so that trim (15) removed from the blank adheres to, and is carried away from the nip, by the anvil (12).