Abstract: A method and an apparatus for automatically feeding slider-zipper assemblies to a station where the slider-zipper assemblies can be attached to bag material, such as thermoplastic film. The apparatus includes a slider guide having a channel running the length thereof. The channel has a cross section that allows passage therethrough of sliders slidably mounted to a tape of connected slider-zipper assemblies. A tape drive mechanism is located at the outlet of the slider guide. The tape drive mechanism includes a pair of rollers that form a nip therebetween. The zipper flanges of the tape are threaded through the nip. The rollers have respective grooves that form a space for passage of the sliders as the tape is advanced by the rollers. The zipper tape with sliders exits the tape drive mechanism and is drawn into a zipper flange sealing position by a tape transfer assembly comprising a bank of drive rollers having silicone surfaces in contact with the zipper tape.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for automatically feeding slider-zipper assemblies to a station where the slider-zipper assemblies can be attached to bag material such as thermoplastic film. The apparatus includes a slider guide having a channel running the length thereof. The channel has a cross section that allows passage therethrough of sliders slidably mounted to a tape of connected slider-zipper assemblies. A tape drive mechanism is located at the outlet of the slider guide. The tape drive mechanism includes a pair of rollers that form a nip therebetween. The zipper flanges of the tape are threaded through the nip. The rollers have respective grooves that form a space for passage of the sliders as the tape is advanced by the rollers.

Abstract: A device for automatically catching a torn material web running through a rotary printing machine includes a pair of clamping rollers, respectively, disposed beneath and above the material web, the rollers being rotatingly entrainable and being able to clamp the web when a web tear is detected, at least one of the clamping rollers having variable outer main dimensions, and an actuator connected to the at least one clamping roller for causing the outer main dimensions thereof to increase upon detection of a web tear, so as to clamp the torn material web between the clamping rollers.

Abstract: A transport roller (10) is provided on a ribbon loom and a press roller (12) is forced against said transport roller to grip a bobbin supply thread (26). In order to simplify adjustment of the transport speed while keeping the speed of the transport roller constant, a friction surface (32) is provided on the outside of the transport rollers casing or jacket (78) and can be expanded radially by an adjustment device (66, 72).

Abstract: A superstructure of a folding apparatus for feeding at least two webs of flat material to a cylinder unit of the folding apparatus. The superstructure including at least two take-off roller assemblies, each take-off roller assembly including a corresponding take-off roller rotatably mounted on the superstructure. At least one mantling is provided for mounting on an outer surface of each take-off roller in order to adjust a diameter of the corresponding take-off roller assembly. A drive assembly is provided for driving the at least two take-off roller assemblies, each of the at least two take-off roller assemblies having a respective circumferential velocity which is a function of the adjusted diameter of the take-off roller assembly.

Abstract: This device is designed such that the differential tangential speeds V are variable at different points of a deformable flat film (1) or plate that moves along at least one drawing roller (3) rotating about an axis XX, said film (1) or plate moving in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the roller and resting on a generatrix G.sub.N of the roller. The roller (3) has a rotational speed N which is constant with time, while the distance G.sub.N C.sub.1 from the supporting generatrix G.sub.N of the film to the axis C.sub.1 of rotation of the roller is variable with time. The invention is applicable to the drawing of plastic films.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying paper in a printer adapted to convey cut-sheet and fan-fold paper bi-directionally in a paper path. The apparatus includes a pair of paper conveying rollers positioned downstream of a print head and a pair of paper conveying rollers positioned upstream of the print head. At least one roller of one of the paper conveying roller pair has projections circumferentially extending away from the roller. The projections can be pressed against the roller to reduce the diameter and speed of the roller relative to its speed and diameter before compression to convey the paper in a first direction while preventing the formation of slack across the paper. In addition, the projections can be extended away from the roller to increase the diameter and speed of the roller relative to its speed and diameter before extension to convey the paper in a second direction while preventing the formation of slack across the paper.

Abstract: A sprung wheel 46 for a document drive system comprises an upper elastic member 54, a lower elastic member 52, a separating hub 50 and a rim member 56. Each elastic member 42,54 comprises resilient arms 58 which bear upon the rim member 56 on the inside. As the time member 56 is moved eccentrically from the hub 50, supported on a spindle 48, so the resilient arms exert a restoring force. In the second embodiment, the resilient arms 74 are held on the rim portion 561 as opposed to the hub portion 50. The independence of compression of the upper 54 and lower 52 resilient members commits tilting of the rim portion 56, 561.

Abstract: Sheet-guiding drum assembly for sheet-fed rotary printing machines includes a drum formed with a casing surface and provided with a casing foil disposed so as to have a given outer diameter, a member arranged beneath the casing foil and on the casing surface of the drum, and a device for varying the height of the member on the casing surface for varying as well the outer diameter of the casing foil.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drawing device. This device is designed such that the differential tangential speeds V are variable at different points of a deformable flat film (1) or plate that moves along at least one drawing roller (3) rotating about an axis XX, said film (1) or plate moving in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the roller and resting on a generatrix G.sub.N of the roller. The roller (3) has a rotational speed N which is constant with time, while the distance G.sub.N C.sub.1 from the supporting generatrix G.sub.N of the film to the axis C.sub.1 of rotation of the roller is variable with time. The invention is applicable to the drawing of plastic films.

Abstract: A web transporting apparatus wherein the web is trained over the external surface of a radially expandible elastic shell which is connected with two end walls to form a roll and to define an internal compartment which is filled with a pressurized hydraulic fluid. The pressure of hydraulic fluid is regulated in dependency upon the thickness of the web which is being transported so that the neutral zone of the web is invariably located at the same distance from the axis of the roll. The pressure of fluid in the compartmnt is regulatable by a hydropneumatic transducer wherein a hydraulic cylinder and piston unit admits pressurized hydraulic fluid into the compartment and the pressure of fluid in the hydraulic cylinder and piston unit is regulated by a pneumatic cylinder and piston unit which receives pressurized gaseous fluid by way of an adjusting valve. Regulation of the outer diameter of the shell compensates for variations in the thickness of the transported web.

Abstract: A cable drive system for driving a cable includes a rotatable inflatable member. Sets of guide rollers are positioned about the periphery of the inflatable member, and each of the sets of rollers includes at least two rollers for guiding the cable to maintain the cable substantially in contact with the inflatable member, and to cause the cable to be wound helically about the inflatable member. A fluid supply is used to inflate or deflate the inflatable member to vary the normal force applied to the cable. The inflatable member may be similar to an automobile tire and supported on a wheel through which the inflatable member is rotatably driven. During deployment or retrieval of the cable, the frictional drive force on the cable can be controllably varied by inflating or deflating the inflatable member to vary the normal force applied to the cable.

Abstract: A system for handling zipper-equipped wrapper sheet material to be used in a form, fill, and seal machine for wrapping product enables the wrapper sheet to be drawn from a supply with a flap sheet portion overlying a panel sheet portion and subsequently disposing the flap sheet portion such that it is folded back away from the panel sheet portion to fully open up the wrapper sheet material. The folding over of the flap sheet portion brought about by apparatus which permits continuously flow of wrapper sheet to the form, fill, and seal machine at conventional machine high speed production rates. The system is made adjustable to handle zipper-equipped wrapper sheet material of various sizes. Devices are included to ensure proper tensioning of the line of wrapper sheet material passing to the form, fill, and seal machine.

Abstract: A machine for making plastic bags, such as trash or garbage bags, includes a rotary sealing drum of variable diameter, the drum including one or more sealing bars for cross-sealing a flattened plastic film tube passing through the machine. A blanket tensioning system surrounds the drum and is adjustable to compensate for different drum diameters. The sealed film passes over a chill roll after leaving the drum-blanket assembly and is drawn over folding boards by pull rolls. The sealed and folded film is then perforated by a fly knife and is preferably also cut on the sides to produce a connected series of bags which may easily be separated from one another to make the bags suitable for easy dispensing packages. A variator assembly may also be provided to insure a proper skirt length between the cut-perforation and the bag seal.

Abstract: Apparatus for making bags from a folded web of thermoplastic material includes a rotating drum to which the web is continuously applied. As the drum rotates through a given arc length, the web is tucked outwardly from the periphery of the drum in progressively deeper folds wherein the depth of tuck determines the width of the bag. A cam, controlling the depth of tuck is movable in a rectilinear radial direction for adjusting the depth of tuck, thereby controlling the bag width.

Abstract: An expandable feed roller has two separate side-by-side discs fitted on a rotatable drive shaft. Each disc has circumferentially spaced fins extending inward toward the other disc and inclined toward the shaft. The fins of the two discs are interdigitated to form a thread-receiving valley between them. One of the discs is fixed to the shaft but the other is slidable axially along the shaft toward and away from the other disc so as to change the effective circumference of the base of the thread-receiving valley between the discs. A spring urges the two discs apart against an adjustment mechanism operable to change the relative axial positions of the discs while the drive shaft is rotating.

Abstract: The metering drum for the weft thread of a weaving machine has a circumferential surface of rubber which is clamped between two supporting rings. The supporting rings may be movable axially or rotatably relative to each other so as to expand or constrict, respectively, the rubber surface in order to change the length of the thread windings. The rubber surface may also be expanded by means of a pressure medium within a chamber between two fixed supporting rings.

Abstract: An apparatus having a track for guiding a sheet therealong and means for feeding a sheet along the track. The feeding means includes a rotatable member having a shaft mounted for rotation, with the rotatable member having a driving periphery extending into the track. The feeding means also includes a coupling unit and means for rotatably mounting the coupling unit at the track, with the coupling unit having an expansible periphery. Also provided is a means including an endless coiled spring for selectively moving the expansible periphery between a first position in which the expansible periphery is uncoupled from the driving periphery and a second position in which the expansible periphery is expanded to form a driving coupling with the driving periphery of the rotatable member to feed a sheet positioned therebetween along the track when the rotatable member is rotated.

Abstract: An idler pulley, which adjusts itself to variable power transmission speeds by providing a wide range of effective pulley diameters automatically, is disclosed. In its preferred form, the pulley has four spindles with freely rotating sleeves, two directed inwardly from either side, all positioned in the same plane and in changeable circular orbit, for guiding the power transmission belt or chain used with the pulley. The size of the circular orbit of the spindles, corresponding to the effective pulley diameter, is permitted to vary with the power transmission speed by the scissors-like action of the pulley side assemblies which support the spindles.

Abstract: Apparatus are disclosed for reproducing information from an information carrying tape wherein the tape is advanced by the imposition of a first force longitudinally of the tape, and wherein a second force extending into the plane of the tape at an angle to the first force is imposed. A flutter component is detected in information reproduced from the tape, and the second force is varied in response to the detected flutter component in the sense of a flutter reduction. Advantageously, the mentioned first force may be varied in response to a low-frequency flutter component, while the second force may be varied in respone to a high-frequency flutter component. Piezoelectric tape drive capstan, tape guiding and reproduce head actuating or mounting systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for feeding an elongate sheet material comprising a drive roller driven to rotate at a constant speed, a pressure roller rotatable in rolling contact with the drive roller, the drive roller being formed of a more resilient material than the pressure roller, the pressure roller when biased against the drive roller deforms the peripheral surface of the drive roller in contact with the elongate sheet material sandwiched between said rollers. Provision is made for changing the force of contact between said drive and pressure rollers, whereby the peripheral surface of the drive roller is varied in size thereby changing the peripheral speed of said drive roller and the speed of travel of the elongate sheet material.

Abstract: A fast forward cartridge tape player includes the conventional cartridge receiving cavity and cylindrical capstan. The capstan is rotatably driven about its vertically positioned longitudinal axis by a motor actuated flywheel, and it is located to forcibly engage the cartridge pressure roller on cartridge insertion into the cavity. Crescents, having a concave face, a convex face, and a vertical dimension are positioned to rotate about the capstan. The concave face encircles greater than 180.degree. of the capstan circumference while revealing a substantial arc on the capstan surface. The convex face is of predetermined curvature providing a desired fast forward speed/normal speed ratio. The vertical dimension of each crescent is fixed to allow each crescent access to the pressure roller. In the normal mode play a means decouples capstan rotation from the crescents and aligns the crescents to allow the pressure roller access to the revealed capstan surface.