Abstract: A method of adjusting a wire feeder having a pusher system (12) and a puller system (14) to avoid birdnesting and collapse of the wire (11) in the wire guide or conduit (13) when the tip (15) of the wire feeder is blocked or a wire jam occurs. The pusher system (12) is adjusted by activating both the pusher system (12) and the puller system (14), adjusting the pusher system (12) to provide a desired wire feed speed when the tip (15) is not blocked, blocking the tip (15), and adjusting the pressure exerted by the rollers (22) of the pusher system (12) so that these rollers (22) slip on the wire (11) when the tip (15) is blocked. The puller system (14) is adjusted by disabling the pusher system (12), blocking the tip (15), activating the puller system (14), and adjusting the pressure exerted by the rollers (32) of the puller system (14) so that these rollers (32) do not slip on the wire (11).

Abstract: A printer comprises a convey roller for withdrawing continuous paper from a roll of the paper and conveying the paper along a predetermined convey path. The convey roller is rotated at a predetermined peripheral speed and conveys the paper with a first convey force. Four printing portions are provided sequentially along the convey path. Each of the printing portion has a printing head, and a platen roller which is brought into contact with the paper while opposing the printing head and conveys the paper with a second convey force. A sum of second convey forces of the platen rollers is set to be smaller than the first convey force. The platen rollers are rotated at peripheral speeds higher than that of the convey roller, and such that the peripheral speeds thereof are sequentially increased in an order of a platen roller adjacent to the convey roller toward a platen roller separated from the convey roller.

Abstract: A printer having a validation paper feeding mechanism in which the validation paper feed is controlled by a single solenoid and only the validation paper feed can be effected even when a cut or continuous paper is set. A ratchet wheel and a validation roller are mounted on the rotatable shaft via a one-way clutch. The one-way clutch selectively transmits a torque of the rotatable shaft to the validation roller in the direction of the validation paper feed. The validation roller has an arcuate circumferential surface for feeding the validation paper and a chord flat surface for inserting the validation paper. The armature is angularly moved between a first position where it engages the positioning projection of the ratchet wheel for determining an initial position of the validation roller and a second position where it engages the pawls of the ratchet wheel for stopping the validation roller at a plurality of predetermined positions.

Abstract: A universal planetary feeder for feeding a wire which includes an elongate hollow body defining a wire feed axis and adapted for high speed rotation about the axis, and a pair of planetary rollers associated with the body so as to be rotatable together with the body about the feed axis and which are mounted about the feed axis in mutually skewed respective orientations. The planetary rollers define circumferential peripheral feed surfaces spaced from each other about the feed axis and are configured for simultaneous engagements with a wire along preselected lines of contact. Each of the feed surfaces is intersected at right angles by a plane which is offset from the feed axis by an offset angle.

Abstract: A large-size elongate cable is continuously drawn from a container with a plurality of spaced cable drawing machines associated with respective slave controllers controlled by a master controller. A control signal is supplied from the master controller to the slave controllers to actuate the cable drawing machines at substantially the same variable speed for thereby drawing the electric cable from the container along a predetermined cable laying route. The speed at which the cable drawing machines are actuated may selectively be varied. A slack may be formed in the electric cable between two of the cable drawing machines which are closer to the container than the other cable drawing machines.

Abstract: In a level control method of controlling levels of a series of mutually joined materials when the materials pass through a catenary zone, whenever the joint travels a given length in the catenary zone, a plurality of optimum catenary curves are calculated with the position of the joint in the catenary zone as a parameter. Based upon a result of the calculation so obtained, a relationship indicative of the level of a material at the location of a catenary sensor is then calculated as a function of the position of the joint in the catenary zone. At this moment, the catenary sensor is used to detect the level of the material. Finally, the level of the material at the location of the catenary sensor is controlled with a value indicated by the above relationship being used as a target value. As a result, even when a joint between two adjoining materials having different unit weights passes through the catenary zone, the materials can travel in the catenary zone while the level is appropriately maintained.

Abstract: Yarns are deposited on a conveyor belt in the form of random or ordered loops and are conducted through a yarn treating chamber. The treated yarn is drawn from the belt at a predetermined draw-off site. The position of the last yarn loop adjacent the draw-off site is scanned by a sensor, and the draw-off velocity is controlled as a function of deviations in the location of this last yarn loop. At the draw-off site a holding device is provided to press the looped yarn against the conveyor belt. During any interruptions of the drawing-off operation, the yarn will accumulate on the conveyor belt. The holding device and sensor are mounted to a slide which relocates the sensor and holding device downstream to a position in the vicinity of the last yarn loop so that the holding device will act on the yarn when the drawing-off operation is resumed. The holding device is then moved upstream along with the last yarn loop as the drawing-off operation proceeds.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for assembling an array of optical fibers in a substrate. The method comprises forming a series of parallel V-shaped grooves in the top surface of the substrate placing the substrate on a base plate positioning an upper plate in spaced apart relationship with the substrate so as to form channels between the upper plate and the V-shaped grooves. A vacuum is then applied at one end of the channel formed between the upper plate and the V-shaped grooves, and optical fibers are then sequentially fed into each of the V-shaped grooves and are drawn into the grooves to a stop at the other end thereof. The fibers are then bonded to the substrate.

Abstract: A laminating system includes a pair of pull rollers (18) for drawing laminating film (12) from supply rolls, over preheat rollers (30) and through a pair of heated laminating rollers (14). A motor (124) connected to a driver sprocket (128) drives a driven sprocket (132) connected to one of the pull rollers (18). A second sprocket (214) is connected to the pull roller (18) by a one-way bearing (220) and is coupled to a sprocket (210) attached to one of the lamination rollers (14). The ratios of the sprockets are set such that if the lamination roller (14) are rotating properly, the laminate product (112) drives them and the coupled pull roller sprocket (214) free-wheels. And, if the lamination rollers (14) slow down their rotational speed, the bearing (220) and the abutting second pull roller sprocket (214) engage, lock and drive the lamination roller sprocket (210) and lamination rollers (14).

Abstract: A web drive cyclically moves a web a fixed distance. First and second spaced draw roll units include separate servo motors. Separate programmed controllers are connected to energize the servo drives with a time motion profile including acceleration and deceleration periods to move the web in a fixed time period. The one programmed controller generates the profile program each cycle during the execution of program to move the web the next cycle. The generated program is down-loaded to the second controller to duplicate energization of the second servo motor. A dancer unit between the drive rolls maintains the tension with a change in web length and includes a movable roll unit. A potentiometer sensor is coupled to the roll unit and establishes an output signal voltage proportional to the direction of the web change and to the length thereof.

Abstract: In a dual belt conveyor for multi-ply continuous paper tubing having upper and lower endless conveyor belts between which the tubing is fed, turning point pulleys and backing rollers for the respective conveyor belts are longitudinally offset so that the tubing is moved through the conveyor along an undulating path. The inlet turning point pulley for the upper conveyor belt is positioned in front of the equivalent pulley for the lower conveyor belt so that the upper belt will contact the incoming tubing before the lower belt. A brake plate is provided under the inlet pulley of the upper belt over which plate the tubing is fed. The arrangement avoids the formation of undesirable waves and wrinkles in the tubing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a plurality of connected continuous paper printing machines connected in series prevent difference in rotational speeds of the connected printing machines from causing the paper between the printing machines from piling up or tearing. Signal generators count the number of sheets of continuous paper entering each printing machine. The difference in the number of sheets entering each printing machine is calculated and compared to preset upper and lower limits. If an upstream printing machine turns faster than a downstream printing machine, slack will develop in the paper between the printing machines, and the difference between the sheets entering the upstream printing machine and sheets entering the downstream printing machine will be a (+) value. When a preset upper limit is reached, a controller will temporarily stop the upstream printing machine until the downstream printing machine takes up all the slack.

Abstract: For accurate positioning of a web of material which is to be transported stepwise by at least first and second feed means through processing stations disposed therebetween, the feed means are controlled by a programmable computer which stores a value representative of the length of the distance to be covered by the web during a transportation step. The tension of the web is measured and the measured value is compared to a reference value stored in the computer. If the actual value deviates from the reference value the drive means of at least one of the web feed means is controlled in such a way that the tension in the web is at least substantially adjusted to the reference value by increasing or reducing the length of the portion of web which in a transportation step is drawn into the processing region between the web feed means.

Abstract: A method of preventing the subsequent breakage of webs running in a rotary press which would be caused by a first broken web. In this method, when a signal of web breakage is received from any one of web breakage sensors which are provided to sense the breakage of any of the running webs, a nip pressure signal is changed in accordance with the number of webs still running, and is sent to a nip pressure controller to decrease the nip pressure of a triangular former drag pressing roller and nipping roller, to prevent the multiple breakage of webs.

Abstract: A log debarker having a frame, a stator supported by the frame, a rotor journaled in the stator for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the rotor, a rotating mechanism for rotating the rotor about the longitudinal axis, a plurality of debarking tools attached to the rotor, and a feeding system for feeding logs axially through the rotor. The feeding system includes a plurality of log gripping rollers positioned for rolling contact with the log, and individual hydraulic motors are operatively connected to the log gripping roller for rotating the log gripping roller. Each of the hydraulic motors is adapted to rotate its log gripping roller at different and variable rotation speeds to accommodate logs of uneven surfaces. A hydraulic fluid supply system supplies each of the hydraulic motors with fluid so that the different and variable hydraulic fluid requirements of each of the hydraulic motors necessitated by uneven log surfaces are satisfied.

Abstract: A control system for operating two magnetic tape loop bins in series with a continuous tape having an end of tape marker, including guides and drive rollers or capstans for guiding a tape from the first bin to the second bin and from the second bin past a magnetic head station to the first bin. End of tape sensors are positioned between the first and second bins and between the second and first bins to provide signals when tape markers pass the respective sensors. Each bin is provided with a tape drive motor and a motor control, with one motor being driven to provide about a constant tape tension and with the other motor being driven at a controlled speed which varies as a function of an error signal determined from the tape marker sensors.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided whereby two superposed strips (26, 28) of documents are conveyed in a direction of conveyance (30) toward a downstream workstation. The strips (26, 28) are conveyed over one another in a direction of superposition whereby leading edges of documents of one strip alternate in sequence in the direction of conveyance (30) with the leading edges of documents in the other strip. A determination and control circuit (190) is provided to determine whether the leading edges of documents in one strip are tending to creep up on the leading edges of documents in the other strip due to differing speeds of motion of the two superposed strips. If a creeping condition is determined by the circuit (190), the circuit (190) energizes braking means (400) whereby the motion of at least one of the strips is at least temporarily retarded for rectifying the creeping condition.

Abstract: A log debarker of the hollow-head type having a rotor journaled in a stator for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the rotor. A plurality of debarking tools are attached to the rotor for debarking a log being moved axially through the rotating rotor. Three independently and hydraulically-powered infeed spiked rollers are positioned on the infeed end of the stator for feeding logs into the rotor and three independently and hydraulically-powered outfeed spiked rollers are positioned on the outfeed end. The rollers are powered at differing rotational speeds to accommodate logs of uneven surfaces. An air-operated tensioning system including a quick release valve adjusts the position of the infeed and the outfeed rollers urging them towards the longitudinal axis and automatically jogs the rollers open when they are unable to mount a log. A lubricating system having lubricant filtering and flow control capabilities lubricate and flushes the bearings for the rotating rotor.

Abstract: A tape of a tape-recording device passes between a braking roller, a first sound shaft, a second sound shaft, and a pulling roller located one after the other. The pulling forces of the rollers and the slips of the tape of the sound shafts are adjusted so that the pulling force of the tape between the braking roller and the first sound shaft and the pulling force of the tape between the first and second sound shafts are directed toward the braking roller whereas the pulling force of the tape between the second sound shaft and the pulling roller changes the direction to the opposite and is smaller than the pulling force of the tape between the first and second sound shafts.

Abstract: A web feeding machine for controlling the feed of a web of material comprises a first pair of rollers which bear against one another to form a first nip, a second pair of rollers which bear against one another to form a second nip downstream from the first nip, means to cause the ratio of the linear speed of the web through the second nip to that through the first nip to be a constant and to have a value greater than one, a variable speed drive for driving the nip rollers, means for monitoring the tension T.sub.1 in the web upstream from the first nip and the tension T.sub.2 between the first and second nips, and control means to control the variable speed drive of the rollers so that the angular velocity .omega. of the rollers satisfies the expression: ##EQU1## where A, B and C are constants.

Abstract: A bi-directional feed mechanism for webs, especially for plotting and generating special characters, forms and shapes on the webs, uses twin pairs of tractors which feed a web around a loop which may contain a platen roller. Each pair of tractors is mounted on and driven by its own drive shaft. The drive shaft of one of the tractor pairs is driven from the drive shaft of the other tractor pair through a manually releasable clutch which may be mounted on, and movable along the axis of, the driven shaft. The tension in the loop may be adjusted by releasing the clutch so that one of the tractor pairs may be driven while the other is stationary. Webs and other documents which may vary in length and require tension adjustments may readily be fed by means of the mechanism. The arrangement of the tractors also enables the webs to be easily loaded from the top.

Abstract: In a device for the storage and reaction treatment of textile material in web form for continuous passage which includes a cylinder, a transporting device for transporting the textile material onto the surface of the cylinder in the circumferential direction thereof, a pleating device for pleating the textile material in several layers with folds parallel to the axis of the cylinder onto the top of the cylinder, a depositing device arranged underneath the cylinder, and a pulling off device for pulling the textile material off at a point following the lower crest of the cylinder in the travel direction, dissolving the folded layers, the velocities of the transporting device and the pleating device and the stroke of the pleating device are controlled such that the folded layers extend at least one-third on both sides of the upper crests of the cylinder and that the length of a folded layer from one fold to another fold is one-quarter to one-half of the cylinder circumference, and that the folded layers cover ea

Abstract: A broad textile web, on its way to a processing station such as a rotary-screen printer, passes around a set of closely juxtaposed but independently rotatable feed rollers that are individually driven via respective differential gear trains each having a first input connected to a common drive shaft and a second input connected to an ancillary stepping motor. Each feed roller engages a strip zone of the web which is scanned by an associated sensor upstream of the roller, the latter detecting the leading and trailing edges of recurrent transverse web sections--e.g. of pile fabric--mechanically, electrically or optically distinguishable from intervening sections. Unequal longitudinal tensions in the several strip zones actuate the sensor-controlled stepping motors for different time periods so as to cancel any relative deformation.

Abstract: Method of producing a group of wires, W.sub.1, W.sub.2, W.sub.3 . . . W.sub.n, which have predetermined lengths L.sub.1, L.sub.2, L.sub.3 . . . L.sub.n respectively comprises the steps of guiding the wires from substantially endless sources of wire and locating the leading ends of the wires on a feed roll in parallel side-by-side relationship with each wire disposed between the feed roll and a separate associated pressure roll. The pressure rolls are normally spaced from the feed roll so that they are in a non-feeding position but they can be selectively moved towards the feed roll into a feeding position. The feed roll is started during each of a plurality of wire feeding cycles and during each cycle, at least one of the wires is fed by selectively moving the associated feed roll to its feeding position.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for introducing a moving web to a stenter apparatus at the commencement of the stenter apparatus operation comprises gripping and transporting the web between at least two belt conveyors which are driven at a linear speed substantially equal to the linear speed of the edge grips of the stenter apparatus, transferring the moving web into the moving edge grips of the stenter apparatus, and disengaging the belt conveyors from gripping and transporting contact with the moving web when continuous web transportation through the stenter apparatus has been established. Useful in processes for the production of oriented and heat-set thermoplastics films such as polyethylene terephthalate films for feeding the film to the stenter apparatus at the beginning of the film production process or if a malfunction necessitating re-feeding occurs in the stenter apparatus. Preferably incorporates means for feeding the film to a dump until re-feeding can occur, then severing the film and re-feeding.

Abstract: The disclosed method consists in that the electrode wire has the portion thereof intermediate the supply coil and the welding arc alternatingly retained at one of two points, with an effort applied to the wire in the respective retaining point, causing transverse oscillation of the wire. The effort is applied at an angle substantially short of 90.degree. relative to the direction of feeding the wire toward the welding zone. The apparatus of performing the disclosed method comprises a plurality of gripping means for retaining the wire, each including a plate apertured for passage of the wire and a spring accommodated between a housing and the plate, the plate of one of the gripping means being mounted for reciprocation in the direction of feeding the wire toward the welding zone and having its side surface adapted to cooperate with an actuator mounted on the output shaft of the drive effecting the feed and transverse oscillations of the wire advanced toward the welding zone.

Abstract: A method for controlling the movement of a web of material. The web material advances in a forward direction, thus creating an unsupported loop which characterizes the festoon arrangement of the invention. Web material is advanced into the festoon depending upon the size of the festoon. Web material is withdrawn and returned to the festoon on an intermittent basis independently of the flow of material into the festoon.

Abstract: A method for treating elongated flexible material such as metallic strips, wire and tubes in a processing container holding a treatment fluid for treatment of the material chemically, electrolytically, by pickling, deposition and similar processes, provides for the steps of: coiling the material; imparting the coiled material the shape of a helix having a plurality of loops; causing at least a partial immersion of the loops of the helix in the treatment fluid; advancing the helix in the said container at an advance speed; controlling the entry speeds of the helix relative to a predetermined speed withdrawal of the helix from the container.In a preferred and more efficient mode of treatment, the inlet speed of the helix exceeds the exit speed with a consequent slow and progressive increase of the length of the helix immersed in the treatment fluid at a time in a first phase of the operation.

Abstract: A device for feeding strands such as for further textile processing wherein driving means comprising a pair of nip rolls are continuously and drivingly engaged with the strand extending therebetween, said nip rolls being movably supported between spaced speed-control rolls which are operable at different surface speeds so that selective movement of said nip rolls as a unit against the surface of one or the other of the speed-control rolls serves to drive the nip rolls and thus in turn feed the strand located therebetween at different rates. This device has particular utility in producing air-textured composite yarns, including both core-and-effect and slub-type yarns, but is not limited to such use.

Abstract: A web is guided onto a movable support, such as a printing blanket, and the web and the support are advanced together in a common direction, but at differential speeds so that the web will be subjected to tensioning. Onto the thus supported and tensioned web, a print is then applied. The invention discloses the method of carrying out the above sequence, and an apparatus.

Abstract: An elongated pipe is held in a first constant tension mechanism and then, while the tension is maintained, the pipe load is shifted to a second constant tension mechanism by automatically correlating the declining tension force of the first constant tension mechanism with the increasing tension force of the second constant tension mechanism until the pipe is completely shifted to the second constant tension mechanism.

Abstract: A shutter assembly is coupled to a rotor of a rolling loop mechanism for use in a cimematographic film projector. The shutter assembly includes a plurality of curved plates, each of which is positioned about a gap in the rotor such that the plate is connected by its ends to the sides of the gap and extends inwardly of the rotor to provide clearance for a rolling loop of film. A stator is provided to combine with the rotor for guiding the film past an aperture and as a shutter plate passes the aperture projection light is cut off from the aperture.