Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing an endless ribbon comprises a pair of clamping devices situated spaced apart from each other along a ribbon path for overlapping two ends of a ribbon one above the other, an ultrasonic welding device for welding the overlapped portion of the ribbon along a weld line, a guide member to be inserted between the main ribbon body and superfluous ribbon end joined by way of the weld line, the thickness of the guide member on the side of the ribbon end being gradually reduced toward the weld line, and a cutter having an arcuate blade each for cutting off the superfluous ribbon end in the vicinity of the weld line in cooperation with the guide member. The endless ribbon is manufactured by a method of clamping the two ends of a ribbon overlapped one above the other, welding a central part of the overlap along a weld line, inserting the guide member between the main ribbon body and the ribbon end and cutting off the ribbon end at a position in the vicinity of the weld line.

Abstract: Labels (10), especially revenue stamps, are usually affixed to cuboidal cigarette packs (11). The labels have to be supplied and held ready for being received by the packs (11) in sufficient numbers. The labels (10) are successively severed length- or breadthways from a continuous web of material (17) and are then directly fed into a magazine (14), from which the labels are extracted at the lower end as required. Without any conversion, the type of labels to be processed can be changed by way of (temporarily) manually inserting labels into the magazine which is appropriately designed for this option.

Abstract: A label auto-transfer turret rewind apparatus has a rotatable base plate journaled for rotation on a frame, the plate carrying a plurality of protruding mandrels or spindles, each of which is adapted to receive and rotate a take-up spool, which spindles are journaled for rotation in the base. Each spindle is powered by a common drive mechanism on the reverse side of the rotatable base plate, which selectively drives two or three spindles. A counter controls a cut-off mechanism for accurately placing the correct number of labels on each spool. In addition, a warning system provides an audible signal when a spool is not removed by the time the spindle rotates to a specified indexed position. Means for programmably controlling the apparatus and the method of operation are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sheet perforating apparatus comprising a sheet transfer mechanism; a perforating section for boring at least one filing hole in a sheet being transferred; and a sticking section for sticking a reinforcing pad on the sheet about the periphery of the filing hole. The perforating section comprises a punch cutter for boring the filing hole in the sheet transferred.

Abstract: A wire take-up apparatus for applying wire to a wire spool includes a tape applicator assembly for automatically applying a length of adhesive tape to the outer terminal end portion of the wire applied to a spool in order to prevent the wire from unraveling from the spool. The tape applicator assembly includes a vacuum roller assembly including a vacuum roller element which is operative for releasably retaining a portion of a length of tape on the outer surface thereof so that the adhesive surface of the tape faces outwardly. The vacuum roller assembly is movable to a position wherein the tape on the vacuum roller element thereof contacts the wire on a wire spool to apply the tape to the wire.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a three-dimensional object including a large number of layers bonded together each having the contour of a thin slice of the object, are characterized in that each layer of the object is formed over its preceding layer by: applying a layer of a supporting material to the preceding layer; sculpture machining the supporting material layer according to the negative underface contour of the respective layer of the object to be formed; applying a layer of the object material in flowable form over the supporting material layer such that the underface of the object material layer takes the shape of the positive contour of the respective layer of the object to be formed; hardening the object material layer; and sculpture machining the upper face of the object material layer according to the positive upperface contour of the respective layer of the object to be formed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a decentralized control method for a corrugator line characterized by the fact that, in the control method for a corrugator line for the continuous production of corrugated boards including the process of bonding a liner to the corrugated medium so as manufacture a single-faced corrugated board, bonding another liner to this single-faced corrugated board so as to fabricate double-faced corrugated boards or sheets, cutting the boards into predetermined lengths, and the like and having a local control unit provided for each process unit which is set up by dividing the aforenoted series of production processes so as to achieve synchronized production control of the line by means of these unit-process local control units which are allotted different functions and which are linked into a multiplex transmission network.

Abstract: A system automatically weeds around graphics cut into a sheet of sign material having a backing and utilizes a tool moved relative to the sign material sheet along a path offset from the lines of cut defining the graphic in response to commands issued by a controller to selectively bond an overlay sheet to the weed portions of the sign material sheet. The overlay sheet is placed over the sign material sheet and is selectively bonded with portions of the cut sign material sheet for subsequent separation of the nongraphic or weed material from the cut graphic when the overlay sheet is pulled away from the backing.

Abstract: A fiber placement head for a fiber placement machine of the type in which a number of individual resin-impregnated fiber tows or "towpregs" are fed at independent rates from a creel assembly for application as a fiber band onto the surface of a mandrel includes cooling chutes for each fiber tow which reduces their temperature to reduce the tack of the tows. A cut, clamp and restart mechanism is provided wherein the cutting and clamping operations are performed by a unitary knife blade and clamping block, and the restart or rethreading of cut tows is obtained by the engagement of a pinch roller with a continuously rotating rethread shaft which are operative independently of the movement of the fiber placement head relative to the mandrel. The tows are pressed or compacted onto the mandrel by a compaction shoe, and feed and rewind rollers are provided to interpose a protective film between the compaction shoe and fiber band to avoid damage to the tows.

Abstract: A lead cut and tape attach apparatus (10) for automatically cutting leads on one side of a semiconductor I.C. quad device and subsequently cutting and attaching a piece of tape over the gaps formed between the cut leads and for sequentially cutting the leads and attaching tape thereover on the remaining sides of the quad device includes a double-acting punch assembly (34) formed of an inner punch blade (58) and an outer punch (56). There is provided upper and lower cams (68, 78) for actuating the inner punch blade relative to the outer punch so that on a first downward stroke the inner punch blade is extended to cut the leads of the quad device. On a second downward stroke of the punch assembly, the inner punch blade is retracted and the outer punch cuts and attaches the tape.

Abstract: A continuous fully mechanized fabrication of structural components from layered tape sections, for example from fiber composite material, is possible with an apparatus comprising a cutting means with at least one support plate which is movable forward and backward alongside a moving starting material in tape form synchronously therewith, and a depositing and stacking unit which is movable together with said cutting means and in the direction of which the support plate is pivotable and which is positionable relative to the support plate.

Abstract: A device adapted to apply a length of adhesive from a supply length of the adhesive releasably adhered to a liner along the length of an elongate member. A head carrying a plurality of pressure rollers is positioned in a contact position so that a first one of the pressure rollers presses the adhesive against the side surface of the elongate member at about a predetermined position adjacent the first end of the elongate member, and then the head is positioned in a pressure position so that upon further movement of the elongate member along the path all of the pressure rollers will cause the adhesive to be firmly pressed into engagement along the elongate member through the liner. The adhesive is cut adjacent a last pressure roller on the head after a length is applied, and the newly severed end of the adhesive is then moved from adjacent the last pressure roller to adjacent the first pressure roller in preparation for application of adhesive to the next elongate member.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting and sealing the cut edges of semipermeable and at least partially thermoplastic fabric material is disclosed as having a support to position the material for cutting and sealing, a vacuum system to secure the material to the support to immobilize the material while the latter is being cut and sealed, an ultrasonic cutter to cut the material and to seal cut edges to prevent raveling thereof, and a guide to direct the cutter to cut the material in a desired configuration. The apparatus may be particularly adapted to cut and seal cut edges of automotive safety air bag material.

Abstract: A filament winding system includes a head that selects the number of tows to be within a winding band while winding and positioning the winding band directly on the mandrel according to contours of the mandrel. Half of the tows are conveyed in an upper portion of the head and the remaining half are conveyed in a lower portion of the head with both halves meeting at an applicating roller at the discharge end of the tows. The head includes cut and add assemblies wherein the individual tows are selectively cut and later can be added to the band.

Abstract: A machine for continuously stamping at least one advancing product strip has a stamping wheel, the rotatable wheel having at least one heated stamping die positioned about its outer circumference, and has a rotatable shaft for driving the stamping wheel and pairs of rotatable synchronizing rollers affixed on rotatable shafts upstream and downstream of the stamping wheel in the line of the advancing strip for positioning the advancing strip for stamping and for delivering the advancing stamped strip for cutting. The stamping wheel driving shaft and the shafts of the synchronizing rollers are connected to a motor for being driven in synchronism so the stamping wheel and rollers have a peripheral speed equal to the linear speed of advance of the product strip.

Abstract: A system (and method) for providing a label for deposit on a product from a composite that includes the label, as one of a plurality of labels, on a backing. A transporter moves the composite translationally and accurately in a direction, e.g., the X-direction herein. The system ascertains the exact X-direction location of a particular label on the composite to permit the transporting to be achieved accurately translationally. A two-dimensional cutter serves to cut the label from the composite while leaving the backing intact, the cutter being operable to effect cutting of the label in two dimensions, e.g., across or orthogonal to the direction of movement of the backing and parallel to the direction of movement of the backing. There is provided a mechanism to control cutting from the composite to permit variation in the length of the label in the parallel direction, thereby controlling the length of the label in the parallel direction, despite fixed dimensions of the cutter roller.

Abstract: A compliant tape dispensing and compacting head and method by which tape is dispensed and compacted onto a contoured surface. Tape is dispensed from a plurality of tape supply reels onto the contoured surface and subject to the action of a compacting head. The compacting head is capable of being biased in the compaction direction, i.e., against the contoured surface, and adjusted by the biasing force to follow the contour of the contoured surface so that each discrete tape strip has a compacting force applied thereto which is normal to the contoured surface at the tape strip location.

Abstract: An automatic tape affixing apparatus includes a tape affixing head movable in X-axis, Y-axis, Z-axis, A-axis and C-axis directions; a tape presser roller having a plurality of roller members disposed widthwise; a roller supporting shaft for supporting the roller members in such a way that the roller members are rotatable and vertically movable independently of one another; first cylinder means including a plurality of cylinders for providing pressing force to the respective roller members through bearings so that the roller members are pressed against an adhesion form; a roller carrying member supported movably in a vertical direction by said tape affixing head for supporting the first cylinder means and said roller supporting shaft; and second cylinder means supported by the tape affixing head for providing pressing force to the roller carrying member, whereby, a tape can be affixed on a curved surface of the adhesion form by vertically moving roller members independently of one another, and also an end port

Abstract: A machine including a control system having a timer for producing bags made from thermoplastic resin films of varying thickness. A pair of feed rollers intermittently feeds a continuous flat tubular web of thermoplastic resin between an upper heat sealing bar and a lower sealing surface. The sealing bar, which approaches but does not contact the web, is heated to effect a weld bead on the web, a cutting edge severs the web adjacent the bead, and the feed rollers advance the web as the sealing bar and cutting edge are withdrawn. A sequencer provides timed control of a motor that operates the rollers and another motor that operates the sealing bar and cutting edge.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a strip to the planar contour-prepared edge of a lens. The beginning of an endless strip is connected to the edge of a lens. A transverse perforation is introduced into the strip at a distance from the strip beginning that corresponds to the circumference of the lens. The lens is then rotated, and the strip is restrained, at a location thereof behind the perforation when viewed in the direction of movement of the strip, in such a way that the strip tears at the perforation to form a new strip beginning for the next lens. This new strip beginning is pressed against, and connected to, the edge of the next lens. A register is provided for determining the circumference of a lens.

Abstract: Cutter apparatus to cut accurately a composite label without cutting the backing of the composite and a system that includes the cutter apparatus. The cutter apparatus includes a transporter mechanism positioned to receive the composite, which typically includes the backing, many labels on the backing and laminate covering the surfaces of the labels, the transporter mechanism being precisely operable to move the composite translationally in a direction (i.e., the X-direction herein). A detector ascertains the precise location of individual labels on the composite and is interconnected to provide control signals to the transporter mechanism to enable that mechanism to move the composite precisely along the X-direction.

Abstract: A series of labels for the labelling of goods are separated from a strip which consists only of the labels. The labels are rendered actively adhesive on their rear sides before they reach the goods.

Abstract: A composite tape laying machine removes each severed portion of a composite tape of a tape assembly from its backing that is not to be applied to a mold or the like. A removal tape of a material, which has a greater adherence to the composite tape than the backing has to the composite tape to which the composite tape is releasably adhered, is moved into engagement with each non-selected severed portion at least at the start of each non-selected severed portion. When the non-selected severed portion has a varying width, the removal tape is removed from engagement with the non-selected severed portion at the start of its maximum width. When the non-selected severed portion has a constant width, the removal tape is removed from engagement therewith substantially prior to the termination of the non-selected severed portion.

Abstract: A servicer for conveying upper and lower breaker strip material onto a rotating cylindrical surface comprising upper and lower conveyors, each with an input end and output end, to sequentially feed the upper and lower breaker strip material along upper and lower paths of travel onto the rotating cylindrical surface; a roll of breaker strip material located in association with each conveyor at its input end; positioning means to sequentially move and pivot the output end of each conveyor between a first position in operative association with the rotating cylindrical surface and a second position remote therefrom; cutter means in each path of travel to cut the conveyed breaker strip material into strips of predetermined lengths; and drive means associated with the conveyors to move the cut breaker strips onto the rotating surface.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for making V-groove insulation is disclosed. More particularly, the device of the present invention relates to an endless track fabrication and cutting system whereby prefabricated, sectioned lengths of insulation material are formed into continuously grooved insulation sheets of readily variable dimensions. The system is automated.

Abstract: The invention is an automatic skin taping machine for use in applying a protective coating to sheets of material, especially aluminum. The machine comprises a main frame, a transfer car movable within the main frame, an applicator that uniformly applies the coating to the sheet of material by moving over the surface of the sheet, a retainer that immobilizes the sheet of material while the applicator is applying the coating, and a vacuum lift system for transferring the sheet of material from an application position to a storage position. In a preferred embodiment, the application includes a floating roller and a squeegee device.

Abstract: The process comprises the steps of storing a non-heat-shrinkable handle tape (15), including consecutive stripes (MA) each having a non-adhesive central portion and adhesive end portions, applying the handle tape (15) to the film (P) while this is moving along a packing machine (M) before being wound and heat-shrinked around load (F), causing the handle tape (15) be pulled by the moving film (P) by having the handle tape (15) adhering to the film (P), finally cutting the handle tape (15) separating a stripe (MA) therefrom, adhering on the film (P). Stripe (MA), applied to film (P) before this is wound and heat-shrinked around load (F), forms a handle after heat-shrinking. The apparatus (1) to perform such a process comprises a feeding unit (2), a storing unit (3) and an applying unit (4). (FIG.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the manufacture of a diaphragm from a fabric-containing sheet (material). The fabric-containing sheet produced by an extrusion molding machine in a width which is a multiple of the diameter of diaphragms to be manufactured is continuously fed in fixed pitches to a press vulcanizing device and an punching device, to permit automation of the manufacture of diaphragms and an appreciable reduction in the number of steps. This method, thus, improves the yield of materials used, permits down sizing of the production equipment, and reduces the motive power consumption.

Abstract: An improved method for producing composite structures is disclosed. In accordance with the method, a first computer representation of the manner in which a plurality of plies are to be cut from a common fibrous material is provided and the representation used to cut the plies from the common material. A second computer representation of the manner in which the plurality of plies are combined to form the composite structure is used to control an ink-jet marking system to sequentially mark a partial composite with the location of a ply. After the partial composite is marked, the ply is manually placed and its placement inspected. The partial composite is then marked, using the ink-jet marking gantry, with the location of the next ply.

Abstract: In a carpet manufacturing method respective webs of material are provided to form an upper and a base layer respectively. The webs are advanced and brought together into superimposed relationship. A hot-melt adhesive is applied between the layers immediately before the webs are brought together. The webs are subsequently pressed together and then cooled to cause them to adhere together.

Abstract: In an apparatus for preparing absorbent pad lined packaging trays, means sense the tail end of a liner supply that is to be discarded, determines and cuts off the length thereof, withdraws the cut off length from the line of machine operation and feeds into such line the lead position of a fresh liner supply. Other means denest a supply of flanged trays to be pad lined by at least two denesters that comprise synchronized, vertically oriented rotary bodies that during parts of a single rotation each have a bottom laterally extending plate that supports the bottom-most tray of a stack, an upper laterally extending plate that supports at tray flanges the next in line tray to be denested an a laterally extending, vertically inclined cam plate that is adapted to ride on the upper flange surface of a tray that is in the process of being denested to thereby forcibly eject same.

Abstract: A filament winding system includes a head that selects the number of tows within a winding band while winding and positions the winding band directly on the mandrel according to its contours.

Abstract: A device for sticking adhesive tape to thin articles, such as semiconductor wafers, and trimming excess portions of said tape from the thin articles. A plurality of sticking rollers apply adhesive tape from a roll to each thin article, the tape having an adhesive side oriented towards an upper surface of the article and a width greater than a width of the article. A suction stage receives and holds each of the thin articles with the adhesive tape stuck thereto by said sticking rollers while a tape cutter trims the excess portion of the tape from along peripheral edge portions of the article. A tape peeling device then peels off the trimmed excess portions of the tape from the thin article, whereupon the thin article is conveyed back to a cassette.

Abstract: In a laminating apparatus wherein a predetermined length of a film cut from a continuous web is laminated onto a substrate having positioning holes, a method for forming alignment or indexing holes in the film which correspond with the positioning holes in the substrate includes detecting the position of the positioning holes, establishing the location on the film where the alignment holes are to be formed, and punching the holes in the film. The apparatus includes a hole-forming device positioned to move along the film transfer path, the operation of the device being regulated by a sensor for detecting the position of the positioning holes, a control device for setting the position of the hole-forming device relative to the film in response to the sensor signal, and a mechanism for displacing the hole-forming device to the proper location for forming the alignment holes.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for producing, on a commercial scale, forming tubes of high quality and uniformity including one or more beads on the outer periphery of the tubes which terminate a desired distance from the tube end edges by sequentially cutting the bead cord material to the desired length and at the desired time relative to the tube ends and feeding such cut bead cord material between selected tube plies during the winding of the plies on a mandrel to form tubular material and then cutting the tubular material to form tubes of the desired length. Also, such apparatus and method provide for the picking up and rolling of the beads which are interrupted on the outer periphery of the tubular material and the subsequent cutting of the tubular material intermediate such bead interruptions.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying an adhesive padding to a tack strip substrate composed of the following elements: (a) a conveyor for conveying a substrate along an elongated path; (b) an arm disposed above the conveyor, pivotable about an axis, biased to a first position, disposed so that the arm comes in contact with the substrate as the substrate is being conveyed along the elongated path by the conveyor, and adapted to be moved from a first position to a second position when brought in contact with the substrate; (c) a feeding device, disposed over the conveyor, for feeding to the substrate along a first path an adhesive strip and removing a removable backing therefrom along a second path; (d) a cut-off device having a movable part for cutting said adhesive strip, the movable part adapted to be moved from a first position above the substrate to a second position below the substrate and biased to the first position; (e) an activator connected to the movable part of the cut-off device and adapted to momentarily mo

Abstract: A complete production line assembly of a wooden I-beam manufacturing apparatus is disclosed, wherein generally identical chord members are simultaneously formed by cutting of a wooden stock material into the chord members and simultaneously providing grooves in one surface of each chord into which web members are received to form the I-beam. The individual web members are conveyed as stacks into a web infeed hopper where the individual web members are sequentially discharged from the hopper into a chords and webs assembly line. The web transfer mechanism for conveying the webs to the hopper is fully automated. The individual web members are conveyed along the assembly line between the grooved chords and the chords are converged so that the grooves interfit with the web edges to form the I-beam. The chords and webs assembly line is adjustable by virture of mounting guide rollers on at least one adjustable side frame to enable the line to manufacture wooden I-beams of varying depth.

Abstract: The label dispenser comprises a cutter (11) for cutting a label from a continuous tape (1), with first and second means (10, 12) disposed on either side of said cutter for holding and for driving said tape. The dispenser further includes cells (25, 26) for detecting tape advance relative to the cutter in order to place the tape in an initial position at a desired label length from said cutter, together with ejector means (30) for ejecting a label cut from said tape, said ejector means causing said label to advance at a higher speed than the tape advance speed. A franking machine fitted with the detector includes a detector for detecting the position of a lever which controls the printing of an optional slogan on the label, and the length label selected in said dispenser is controlled as a function of the detected position of said slogan conrolling lever.

Abstract: An automatic binding apparatus produces a loop of tape and tightens the tape around an object that is inserted through the loop of tape. The apparatus has a bed-plate and a guide member which is swivelable into position on and off the bed-plate. Initially, the tape is guided through the guide member to form a small loop of tape. Thereafter the guide member is retracted and the loop of tape is enlarged by feeding more tape to the loop to accommodate large objects. Insertion of the object through the loop actuates a work detection switch and detection of the object produces an output signal which triggers a process whereby the tape is tightly bound around the object, is cut from the tape supply, and the ends of the tape are overlapped and pressure welded to one another. Removal of the bound object changes the state of the work detection switch and results in the repositioning of the guide member over the bed-plate and in the formation of a fresh loop of tape for a next object to be bound.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for handling a web of material fed from a roll. When the roll is larger than a selected amount, a roll contacting belt contacts the outer surface of the roll to aid in rotating the roll. The roll contacting belt is speed-responsive to a tension sensing means. Once the roll decreases to the selected amount, the roll contacting belt is disengaged from the roll and a core brake controls the speed of the roll. This arrangement reduces web upsets caused by out of round new large rolls and eliminates telescoping due to the action of the belt against small diameter rolls. In the illustrative form of the invention, the apparatus provides a continuous supply of web material by handling a first roll from which web material is being fed through an infeed roller and a nip roller, and a second roll from which web material is fed after the web material of the first roll has expired.

Abstract: A process and device for subdivision of a continuously fabricated metal backed laminate web into individual panels of any size, uses a computer and a numerically controlled saw. A contour path is controlled by the computer. A saw blade of the saw located in the saw head has a side support at the severance edges to be cut. This side support contains small cutter plates which are applied with one of their side faces against the saw blade with slight pressure. Each support has an additional narrow edge surface which is held against the metal backed laminate web. For trimming pressed edges of the web that are cured without pressure, fixed circular saws with their own side supports are arranged at the edge of the metal backed laminate web, upstream of the saw head.

Abstract: A tape is adhered to a corner-defining nonstraight edge of a generally planar workpiece with an apparatus comprising a stationary workpiece station, clamps for retaining the workpiece in the station, a roller engageable with the workpiece and rotatable on the carriage about an axis generally perpendicular to the workpiece plane, and a supply of the tape and an adhesive on the carriage. The roller and workpiece are relatively displaced to roll the roller around the workpiece edge and over the corner thereof while pressing the tape with the roller against the workpiece edge and corner. The tape feed is automatically monitored to determine which portion of the tape will be pressed over the edge corner and a notch is cut in the tape at the portion to be pressed to the corner. Then this notched portion of the tape is pressed over the corner without overlapping the tape.

Abstract: A device and method for forming a moving web of laminated composite material having weakened zones therein from a moving continuous web of relatively extensible plastic film material, having identical sets of graphics printed on nominally constant length repeat length portions thereof which are subject to length variation from a constant design repeat length distance, and a moving continuous web of relatively nonextensible paper material. A method and device for forming a three-layered composite material having weakened zones therein is also described. Carton blanks and liquid tight cartons having tear away tab portions formed from such three-layered composite material are also described.

Abstract: A laminater for laminating a film cut to a predetermined length onto a substrate with positioning holes has a punching device for forming alignment holes in the film which correspond to the positioning holes in the substrate. The punching device is disposed adjacent to the path along which the film in continuous form is supplied to the substrate. The punching device is equipped with an apparatus for directing a gaseous fluid against the film to remove chips of the film resulting from the punching operation.

Abstract: A series of filaments are grouped into rovings (10), with each roving being impregnated with a viscous, tacky resin binder. The rovings are guided (12, 14, 16) to and compressed against a mandrel (18). By controlling intraroving spacing and compression force, the rovings are compressed such that their lateral expansion results in adjacent roving bonding, whereby a singular band (22) of defined width, height and filament count is formed. The height and width is controlled by varying the compression force and the intraroving spacing. Band contouring is realized by severing (24, 26) selected rovings prior to band formation. Linear and rotational relative motion is provided (FIG. 11: 110, 112, 114) between the roving guiding and compression means and the mandrel to precisely orient the band.

Abstract: A screen fabric employed in screen printing is improved by flattening its selvages to the extent of the thickness of the ground of the screen fabric so that wrinkles having been occurred in the selvages of the wound-up fabric are removed to increase the yield of stencils obtained from the screen fabric. In addition, the thus flattened selvages make it possible to apply a sufficiently large tensile force to the screen fabric in its stretching operation in order to produce a highly precise stencil for conducting a precise screen printing of the circuitboard and the like.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a fillet to fill a void between two L-shaped structural members which reinforce a composite material skin. A leg of one of the structural members is placed against a leg of the other member, with the second legs of the two members extending outwardly from the adjacent legs. The void is formed between the adjacent rounded outer edges between the legs of each of the members. The apparatus measures the radii of curvature of each of the rounded edges along the length of the member, stores the radii data in an electronic memory, and calculates the area of the void as a function of length along the member. The apparatus then controls a knife to trim an edge from a composite tape so that the trimmed tape has a cross-sectional area equal to the area of the void. The apparatus then forms the fillet from the trimmed tape.

Abstract: This invention is for an apparatus and method for automatically forming unitary bonded board structures from a source of boards and a single continuous piece of tape. In one embodiment of this invention board pairs are automatically fed into the machine. In another embodiment a gusset is automatically formed in the unitary bonded board structure without scoring the tape. The method and machine operate automatically on the boards and tape for the most part in an in-line arrangement travelling along a horizontal plane in one direction that is about thirty inches off the floor so that the entire operation can be observed and controlled by a single operator.

Abstract: In a laminating apparatus wherein a predetermined length of a film is laminated onto a substrate having positioning holes, a method for forming alignment or indexing holes in a film which corresponds with the positioning holes in the substrate includes detecting the position of the positioning holes, establishing the location on the film where the alignment holes are to be formed, and punching the holes in the film.

Abstract: The process and the appropriate apparatus for producing rigid foam elements, in particular of polyurethane, operate with a double-belt unit, in which the rigid foam elements produced are provided with upper and lower cover sheets. A parting agent is applied on the lower cover sheet in a particular region in order to permit subsequent removal of the upper cover sheet and the ridge foam in this region, so that the lower cover sheet projects, and foams an overlapping section during subsequent use as a roofing element or the like. The invention permits a very precise cut to be made by means of the sawing apparatus at the end of the double-belt unit, taking into account the application of parting agent at the beginning and, if necessary, the movement of the sawing apparatus itself.