Abstract: A plurality of continuous strings which have been formed in a molding machine are wound about vertical axes. The strings are pulled from the molding machine simultaneously by a first tensioning device which maintains the strings under tension. The strings are advanced simultaneously from the first tensioning mechanism by a first drive means. As the strings are advanced by the first drive means, they are drawn by a plurality of second tensioning mechanisms which maintain the strings under tension. The strings are wound upon respective reels which pull the strings from the second tensioning mechanisms. The reels are capable of rotating independently of one another. After a preselected number of turns of the string have been wound, a reinforcing member is clamped against an upper edge of those turns to prevent the subsequently wound outer turns from excessively radially compressing the inner turns.

Abstract: A speed control device for a web processing machine having a dancer arm on its input. A cable connected to the dancer arm translates its movement to a cable reel of a speed control potentiometer actuator mechanism which has a variable rotary lost motion connecting device to furnish a dead band so the potentiometer does not immediately respond to every movement of the dancer arm. The cable is secured to the arm at a short distance from the arm pivot point so that a relatively small cable movement is involved.

Abstract: In order that a roll which is at least as highly compacted as that according to EP No. 0 031 286 Al may be obtainable trouble-free and with less expenditure of material and labor in the production of reelless rolls by laying the netting in zigzag formation and rolling it up by means of inclined guide surfaces followed by winding portions which constitute a receiver of variable shape for the roll and are displaceable in their longitudinal direction, it is proposed that the winding operation should be carried out intermittently; the partially completed roll should be rolled over the adjoining netting which is laid in zigzag formation, and the roll, having been thereby enlarged, should be transported back to what was its starting point before this rolling movement, and these procedures should be repeated cyclically.

Abstract: A web loop control system has first and second roller stations and a web loop disposed therebetween. A dancer arm is biased into engagement with the web loop to maintain tension therein. An optical code disk is secured for rotation with the dancer arm and an optical sensing means cooperates with the code disk to generate dancer arm position information which is relayed to the motor control system to maintain a desired web loop length during both drive and stop modes. The invention as applied to a printer for serialized forms utilizes the dancer arm code disc/optical sensing means combination to insure that a between-forms perforation is present at the fuser roller nip when the system is at rest. The serialized form printing system also provides for controlled acceleration and deceleration between operating speed and a dead stop within 3/8 inch of form length. Acceleration and deceleration are closely controlled to prevent jarring or excessive acceleration of the web loop.

Abstract: There is disclosed web feeding apparatus and method for feeding a web from a web roll to a utilization device. The paying out of the web from the web roll into a U-shaped buffer loop is assisted by a pair of cooperating feed rolls which engage the web along the buffer loop. When the loop decreases to a certain extent, a sensing member causes the feed rolls to rotate to pay additional web material out of the web roll until the loop has increased to a certain extent. The web material extends from the buffer loop over the web roll and is guided to the utilization device, for example, a printer. The feed rolls can be caused to rotate when a manually engageable lever is moved in one direction. Alternatively the feed rolls can be separated and caused to rotate when the member is moved in the opposite direction. The apparatus also includes a reel assembly having a reel for handling web rolls having a variety of different widths.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a loop follower control system for use in a mechanical press or other machine installation for the purpose of controlling the amount of stock loop between the straightener and the press. An idler arm engages the loop of stock between the straightener and the press, and is connected to an potentiometer to develop a current or voltage proportional to the deviation of the idler arm from the desired position. The control current or voltage developed controls an eddy current drive to increase or decrease the speed of the rollers and straightener depending on the amount of error indicated by the control signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for sensing advancement of a web from a web supply remove the web from the supply in successive distinct and constant increments. Each constant increment is sensed upon its removal from the supply. Advancement of the web is then determined from the sensed constant increments. The requisite constant increments may be provided by advancing web from the supply and selectively arresting the supply to limit the advanced web to the constant increment for each advance.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding web material from a supply roll to processing equipment of the type that exerts an intermittent pulley force on the web during intermittent advance through the processing equipment. The web feed apparatus includes a brake for controlling unwinding rotation of the web supply roll which is operated under the control of a dancer to decrease the braking action when the web is fed at a rate faster than the rate at which it unwinds from the supply roll. The web feed apparatus also includes web feed rollers arranged to drive both sides of a folded web while both sides of the web are under the same tension.

Abstract: A wire feed control device having driven rolls to pull wire from a reel type wire source, the driven rolls pass the wire through a housing, with the wire coacting with a control to the roller drive so that as the wire is accumulated in the housing, the control is operated terminating the drive to the rollers until wire is removed from the housing. The wire source also has dampening means to inhibit rotation of the reel of wire.

Abstract: There is described and shown apparatus which is for the controlled feeding and taking-off of a thread 12 into or out of a thread treatment section 2 (for example a heating zone of a heat setting arrangement), and which comprises an externally-driven tapered drive roll 4 upon which bear two tapered counter-pressure rolls 5, 6, whereby the thread 12 can be fed into, and taken-off from, the treatment section 2, using only a single drive means for this feeding and taking-off. The arrangement shown is provided with two thread guide members 9, 10 of fork form, which are swivellable to vary thread tension, one of said guides being swivellable to move the thread engaged between roll 4 and roll 5 along one side of roll 4, and the other of said guides being swivellable to move thread engaged between roll 4 and roll 6 along the other side of roll 4.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the tension and predetermined rate of movement of a continuous strip of elongated material being fed to and/or withdrawn from a processing station for processing at a predetermined processing rate is disclosed. The apparatus includes a pair of pivotable control arms, in which the first control arm is pivotable about a fixed pivot point and the second control arm is pivotable about the end of the first control arm, a spring between the two control arms whereby upon pivoting of the second control arm the spring transmits only a portion of the movement of that arm to the first control arm, and a speed controller for controlling the predetermined rate of movement of the strip in response to movement of the first control arm.

Abstract: An improved web infeed system feeds a web of material to printing plate roll having a tension sensor, a compact differential drive unit and a dancer roll mechanism. A main rotation input is imparted from a drive motor to the flexible spline while a portion of main rotation input is imparted via a clutch to the wave generator in the direction opposite to the rotation of the flexible spline, and the result of computing said two rotation inputs is obtained from the circular spline to produce an output, then the state of engagement between the clutch and output is changed by a controller which computes the signal of a tension sensor in a place advance circuit, thereby controlling the rotation speed of said output to maintain constant the tension of the web.

Abstract: This relates to a dancer roll assembly wherein there are a pair of dancer roll assemblies disposed in side-by-side relation and each vertically disposed. Each dancer roll assembly includes an upper shaft and a lower shaft having spaced sprockets thereon which are vertically aligned and over which are engaged belts. Each pair of belts carries a dancer doll for vertical movement under the influence of a tensioned web passed around the dancer roll. The upper shaft is a control shaft and has connected thereto a pneumatic control motor which resists the rotation of the shaft and thus resists the upward movement of the dancer roll. After the dancer roll has moved to an uppermost permitted position, the pneumatic motor is actuated to rotate the upper shaft and thus return the dancer roll to its lowermost starting position. The tension on the web is controlled by controlling the air pressure to the air motor.

Abstract: A system and components thereof to control the covering of a flexible core with reinforcing strands by rotary braiding on tandem or adjacent machines. When used to control covering the core with multiple-braided strands formed in successive passes through tandem machines, the system has mechanical and electrical components which function to monitor and detect positions of the core, with a first covering of braided strands thereon, within and relative to the predetermined parameters of a chorded festoon and a zone of operational tolerance established between the machines, and to regulate the operating speed of both machines and of one machine relative to the other machine. In an alternative mode of control, the system has components permitting individual operation of each machine.

Abstract: A control system senses variations in the size of a buffer loop introduced in a magnetic recording tape or other flexible strip between a point of intermittent advance and a point of uniform advance. The control system maintains the size of the buffer loop at a selected measure by controlling the speed of the drive means which advances the tape uniformly. The control system has two response characteristics which cause the control system to react to variations in loop size either quickly or slowly depending on which response characteristic is chosen. During a first mode of operation, the faster response characteristic is chosen to establish the loop size quickly, while audio reproduction is muted. The control system then switches to a second mode of operation with the slower response characteristic which is compatible with audio reproduction. The control system employs an integrator responsive to an input signal indicative of loop size.

Abstract: A multi-color printing machine having a plurality of printing units is provided with means for compensating for errors in color registration, for example a device for varying the length of web between one unit and the next, and at least one device for preventing the tension in the web from exceeding an upper limit or falling below a lower limit.

Abstract: A matrix printer which is specifically adaptable for printing and the like is characterized by having a stationary print head containing a plurality of print wires which are arranged in a single row extending transversely of the direction of travel of a relatively heavy paper stock. The paper is advanced at a substantially constant rate of speed along the guide path and signals are generated in response to that advancement to activate selected ones of the print wires in the row so as to form dot-like impressions in the paper, line-by-line, as it is advanced past the print head. The density or spacing of the wires coupled with the printing speed is such that designs, alphanumeric characters, together with coded information, may be impressed upon the paper as it is continuously advanced past the print head, the code providing a means of verification of the information printed as well as to signal the end of the printing operation for each ticket.

Abstract: A film buffer for motion picture projectors is provided to permit the smooth advancement of the film through a projection gate, and to serve as a shock absorber to insure even projection. The buffer comprises a pair of rollers in fixed relation to each other juxtaposed to form a loop in the film in its path of travel, from a film supply reel to a film transport mechanism for incrementally advancing each frame of the film past the projection gate, a bracket for holding said rollers pivotally mounted on the face of the projector at a mid-point between the two rollers to permit swinging movement to increase or decrease the film loop size depending upon the tension of the film, a counterweight fixedly connected to the bracket to pivotally bias the same into a position to increase the film loop size, and a torsion spring positioned beneath the counterweight to engage and cushion the same as it moves toward a rest position.

Abstract: A film loop size control is described for use in a camera in which the film s advanced intermittently past an image recording station by a first drive means and advanced continuously past a sound recording station by a second drive means. A detector which senses the size of the film loop between the image recording station and the sound recording station causes a control means to actuate only the second drive means whenever the detector senses a slack film loop when the film is stationary. The second drive means then advances the film past the sound recording station to remove the slack from the film loop. When the detector senses an absence of slack in the film, the control means de-actuates the second drive means. A switch is included which is adapted to be actuated when the film slack has been reduced for actuating both the first and the second drive means for advancing the film past the image recording station and the sound recording station.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in an apparatus for monitoring the drawing-in operation and the tearing-off of a sheet of material in a dryer, wherein a sheet of material to be dried is guided over continuously-rotating screen-type conveyor belts, particularly jet dryers with conveyor belts positioned in several stages, and with means for transferring the sheet of material from one stage to the next-following stage, the improvement comprising a two-stage construction of the monitoring apparatus, a first stage comprising a first partial means for optically monitoring the path of the sheet of material during the drawing-in operation, and a second stage comprising a second partial means for monitoring the tension of the sheet of material in running operation, said first partial means releasing said second partial means upon completion of a malfunction-free drawing-in operation.

Abstract: A key color control system for a multicolor rotogravure printing press maintains a constant actual base printing repeat length at the key color printing deck. A control system for a printing press comprises means to detect and measure the magnitude of a repeat length error as it is printed by a key color deck and further comprises means to correct for the repeat length error by varying the tension on the web ahead of the key color deck. The system includes means for establishing high and low limits within which repeat length errors of certain magnitude are likely to occur and for which correction is made. The system also includes means for warning the press operator that there is a trend in the change in magnitude of repeat length errors to exceed the limits so that the press operator may either establish new limits or establish a new base repeat length within the same limits so that repeat length errors of a different magnitude (usually smaller) are likely to occur.

Abstract: The guidance system pulls sheet material along its length from a supply and moves the sheet material across a work table through a sewing machine and the like. The sheet material extends through a loop and is moved from a level displaced from the level of the work surface of the work table about a horizontal guide bar and then onto the work table. An edge detector senses the edge of the sheet material, and the guide bar is pivoted about an upwardly extending axis in response to the drifting of the edge of the sheet material away from the desired predetermined path of movement toward the sewing machine to guide the edge of the material back to its desired path.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for use with machine processing equipment for processing a continuous moving web having markings representing repeat lengths applied thereto during a prior web pass through the machine. The apparatus insures registry of the web between passes through the machine as it is capable of varying web tension maintained downstream and upstream of a web draw mechanism in accordance with the changes in speed and elongation of the web prior to entering the machine.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic tape recorder for recording randomly occurring signals and includes tape supply and takeup reels with associated reel drives and a loop support device to support a loop of magnetic tape extending between the reels. The loop support device is adapted to selectively vary the length of the loop between a maximum and a minimum length. A tape drive capstan and magnetic head are provided between the supply reel and the loop support device to, respectively, transport the magnetic tape from the supply reel to the loop support device and to record data on the tape. Another tape drive capstan and magnetic head are provided between the takeup reel and the loop support device to, respectively, transport the magnetic tape from the loop support device to the takeup reel and to record data on the magnetic tape. An auxiliary capstan is provided to selectively transport the magnetic tape from the takeup reel to the loop support device.

Abstract: The developing machine includes a plurality of processing fluid stages arranged one after the other and a plurality of drying stages arranged one after the other. Film strips are guided along a predetermined winding path through the processing fluid stages and then through the drying stages. A pulling device located downstream of the most downstream one of the drying stations pulls film strips through the developing machine along the predetermined path. A control arrangement controls the operation of the pulling device in dependence upon the tension in film strips being pulled by the pulling device. The control arrangement includes a tension-sensing device operative for sensing the tension in film strips being pulled through the developing machine at a tension-sensing location intermediate the most downstream of the processing fluid stages and the most upstream of the drying stages.

Abstract: An endless belt conveyor provided with a tensioning mechanism which includes an idler in operative contact with the return run, the idler being supported by a movable carriage. Tension adjusting means are provided which may move the carriage and idler in either a first direction to increase the tension on the endless belt or in a second direction to reduce the tension for purposes of resplicing the belt. The tensioning mechanism further includes control means which senses the tension on the return run and which may initiate movement of the carriage in either direction. The means for sensing the tension includes a normally open limit switch which is adapted to close when the tension on the return run falls below a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring the production of spun yarn in an open end rotor spinning machine. The spun yarn is withdrawn from the open end rotor spinning machine at a constant rate of speed. As a result of changes in mass of the yarn created by flaws therein, the centrifugal force within the rotor varies causing the tension in the yarn to vary accordingly. As the yarn is withdrawn from the rotor, it passes around a spring loaded arm which is displaced according to the centrifugal force applied to the yarn. The spring loaded arm is operately connected to a balance bridge circuit which generates an output signal corresponding to the displacement thereof. The output signal from the balance circuit is then fed to an integrator which integrates the signal to produce a slowly varying integrated reference signal.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the transfer of a continuous cord including a first roll means, drive means for the first roll means, a second roll means pivotably mounted adjacent the first roll means, position-detecting control means operatively connected to the second roll means and means for changing the speed of the drive means in response to changes in the control means.

Abstract: Apparatus for coordinating the transfer of two continuous cords or strips includes a first roll for delivering a first cord or strip, a second roll for delivering a second cord or strip, a drive for the first roll, a drive capable of operating the second roll at speeds different from that of the first roll, and a tension-detecting control arrangement for detecting changes in the tension of the cord or strip being delivered by the first roll and changing the speed of the second roll in response thereto.

Abstract: A sound-cinecamera comprising a motor for driving a capstan at uniform velocity, a motor for feeding a film intermittently, a detecting switch for detecting any superfluity or insufficiency of the film feed by said film-feeding motor relative to the film feed by said capstan driving motor and generating corresponding sag-signals, a speed-controlling circuit connected to said film-feeding motor and comprising a tachometer generator for maintaining the stability of the speed of said motor, and a sag-detecting circuit comprising said detecting switch, said sag-detecting circuit being connected to the power source of said film-feeding motor and the output thereof is connected to the controlling means of said speed-controlling circuit through a delay circuit, whereby said sag-signals generated by said detecting switch are transmitted to said controlling means independently of said speed-controlling circuit for regularizing fluctuations in the number of revolution of said film-feeding motor arising from fluctuation

Abstract: A method and apparatus to reduce ripple in the signal produced by a transducer attached to a dancer roll, or web accumulator, where cyclic web motion is present. Two transducers are used, one to produce a dancer roll position signal, and another, responsive to the cyclic web drive, to produce a signal corresponding to the ripple component of the dancer roll position signal. An adder combines both signals to generate a third, ripple free signal indicative of the average dancer roll position in the web accumulator. This ripple free signal may be used to control the web speed.

Abstract: Compact rotary multi-color printing press for roll-fed webs, especially for use with machines for forming bags of polyethylene and the like. The press has a web feed arrangement which isolates a section of the web around a main drum and which varies the web speed with demand. Dryers are located adjacent to the main drum and in the base of the press, which is supported upon rollers so that the press may be readily moved to an operating site.

Abstract: A film cutter attachment includes one or more tape dispensing units, each of which dispenses automatically a continuous strip of pressure-sensitive adhesive transfer tape which is applied progressively to the back of a continuous strip of developed photographic film prints as the latter is drawn intermittantly into a conventional film cutter. Each tape strip is trained about a roller on the end of a pivotally movable arm which controls tension in the tape strip and causes additional tape to be dispensed. The film cutter cuts the print and tape strips after they are joined together adhesively into individual prints with adhesive transfer tape backing. The tape backing includes a cover ply which when peeled off leaves the strip adhesive adhered to the print and exposed for mounting the print.

Abstract: Apparatus for leading long lengths of woven or nonwoven textile material over a series of rolls in a sinous path in which the rolls are arranged in upper and lower tiers and some of the upper rolls are driven from electric motors. The lower tier of rolls is supported by parallel beams which are pivoted at one end. At their other ends the beams are connected by a chain and sprocket connection to a motor-speed-control device which automatically adjusts the speed of certain rolls to maintain constant tension on the material along its path through the apparatus, when the material causes the bottom rolls to move up or down.

Abstract: Apparatus for maintaining constant tension in wire travelling between two driven rolls, one of which delivers the wire; the other being a take-up roll. The apparatus comprises a detector system actuated by the wire while the wire travels in a straight path between the rolls. The detector system comprises a deflector pulley which deflects a portion of the travelling wire from the straight path and a return pulley which returns it thereto. The return pulley is movable toward or away from the deflector pulley in response to tension variations in the wire. A detector detects the variations in distance between the detector pulleys and produces a corrective signal. This signal is used to vary the speed of one of the two driven rolls, in a direction and to an extent responsive to the variation of said distance, thereby keeping the tension of the wire constant between the driven rolls.

Abstract: Disclosed for a sound motion picture camera is an improved shuttle speed trol device including a film loop sensor sensitive to slight variations in the film loop for causing the speed of the shuttle to be changed by a simple brake device utilizing powers of the drive motor whereby less force is required for sensing the size of the film loop to maintain picture-sound synchronization.

Abstract: A motion picture camera having a capability of recording sound on film simultaneously as the film passes the image recording station, is improved by the use of a single drive motor which powers film moving mechanisms at both stations. A novel speed change assembly is used to vary the drive of the film through the image recording station in response to the condition of a film loop between the stations as detected by a mechanical sensor which controls the speed change assembly.

Abstract: A continuous relaxing apparatus for textile fabrics which comprises, in combination: a treating vessel; a lower open conveyer having numerous openings formed thereon and circulating along a closed lower path; an upper open conveyer having numerous openings formed thereon and circulating along a closed upper path, a narrow path for relaxing the fabric being formed between an upper portion of the closed lower path and a lower portion of the closed upper path; numerous nozzles for jetting a treating liquid therethrough, located outside of the narrow relaxing path; a feed roller for the fabric; a delivery roller for the fabric, and; recycling means for the treating liquid from the treating vessel to the nozzles; and includes the improvement which comprises, in combination: (1) an overflow vessel for containing the treating liquid therein, located above the treating vessel; (2) treating liquid recycling means from the treating vessel to the overflow vessel, and; (3) a duct for feeding the fabric into the narrow re

Abstract: In a web processing machine wherein a continuous web is fed over idler rollers so as to form a web loop at which the web passes over a sensing roller mounted on rod members for pivotal movement toward and away from the idler rollers, a web tension control means includes a brake device controlled by movement of the sensing roller for maintaining a predetermined tension in the web, a pair of piston and cylinder units connected between the rod members and the machine, the chambers between these units on opposite sides of the pistons thereof being so interconnected with each other and with a fluid pressure supply line as to render the dampening effect of the units dependent on a particular position of the sensing roller.

Abstract: A prefeeder drive for a sheet of material positioned on the input side of a standard incremental type sheet feeder for a forming press and which has drive rolls that move a sheet of material through a lubrication bath and toward the press. The sheet is driven to form an upright or overhead loop prior to entry of the sheet into the main, incremental feeder. The drive comprises a pair of rolls which are driven in response to a feedback control system sensing the size of the overhead loop so that the loop size is maintained within a desired range to insure satisfactory feeding of the sheet material into the main feeder and thence into the press. The overhead or free standing loop substantially reduces the inertia of the material that the main feeder has to overcome when feeding an increment of sheet stock into the press, and thus makes the feeding of the material more reliable with less likelihood of misfeeds.

Abstract: A follower roll or so-called spring roll system for use with a paper machine has a roll about which the paper web passes on its path through the machine, the web having a wrap angle about the roll of about 90.degree., to exert a horizontal force component against the roll, due to web tension. The roll bearings are each supported on a low friction slide, to permit substantially friction free displacement of the roll horizontally. The position of each roll bearing housing is controlled by an air bag acting as a variable rate spring to oppose displacement of the roll under web tension, with a second air bag opposed thereto, acting as a constant rate displacer, to assist the displacing effects of web tension. The two bearing housings are synchronized in their displacement under web tension variations by a synchronizing shaft extending across the width of the machine and connected with each of the two bearing housings by a rack and pinion arrangement.

Abstract: A box making machine includes a supply roll of a continuous web whose tension is monitored by a pivotally mounted oscillating rod which guides the web by means of a dancer roller provided at one end thereof. The web is carried through an imprinting machine which prints information on the web before it is passed through a die press which punches out portions of the web at predetermined locations on the latter. A cutter machine is provided which cuts the web into blanks suitable to be formed into boxes. The cutter machine includes a drive motor for actuating the cutter and for advancing the web from the supply roll. A box forming machine is provided for operating on the blanks and for forming the same into boxes. The box forming machine includes a drive motor for actuating the box forming machine.

Abstract: Disclosed is a film speed control device for a single-system sound camera capable of simultaneous picture/sound recording in which an intermittent film transport mechanism at the exposure station and a constant speed film transport mechanism at a sound station having a magnetic recording head are driven synchronously by separate drive motors. In the control device, the impedance of a high frequency coil is changed in response to changes in the size of a film loop between the stations to control the rate of operation of the intermittent film transport so as to maintain constant the size of the film loop. The output of the high frequency oscillator is used for AC bias for the magnetic recording head, and is rectified for use as a power source for the recording amplifier.

Abstract: A device for equalizing the speeds at which material moves through different sections of a machine which includes a tiltable structure sensitive to the depth of sag of the material passing from one section to another, a coil having a straight longitudinal axis is attached to the tiltable structure, and a spaced strip is disposed alongside the coil to provide a straight raceway containing a conductive ball, whereby tilting of the structure may allow gravity to move the ball along the raceway and so vary the impedance between the ball and one end of the coil. Another feature involves having multiple balls in the raceway, preferably of different diameter.