Abstract: Arrangement for cutting notches in box blanks fed along a feeding direction. A feeding portion feeds box blanks. At least a first-fourth cutting devices along the feeding direction. The first is arranged most upstream and the fourth is arranged most downstream. Each device includes: a first wheel rotating around a first axis transverse to the feeding direction, the first wheel being on a first side of the blanks; a second wheel rotating around a second axis extending transverse to the feeding direction parallel to the first axis, the second wheel being in the same plane as the first wheel on an opposite side of the blank; and a cutting element cutting notches. The cutting element extends from either the first or the second wheel towards the other. A control unit controls the operation of the first-fourth devices for different operation combinations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control for a machine for producing paper padding material. The machine comprises a drive motor which transports sheets of paper through a shaping device. In this shaping device, the sheets of paper are shaped to paper padding material which is then cut to the desired length in a cutting device. The inventive control allows for an automatic memorization of a manually selected storage length.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, a carnage, a sheet cutting device, a cutter position detecting device, and a controller. The cutting device includes a cutter and a cutter unit holding the cutter. A movement area of the carriage overlaps a movement area of the cutter unit in a thickness direction of a sheet. The detecting device detects a position of the cutter unit. The controller performs initial operation upon power on of the apparatus to move the cutter unit to a cutter home position located at one end of the movement area of the cutter unit. The cutter unit, after cutting the sheet, is movable in a width direction of the sheet with the cutter unit retracted from a sheet feed path in the thickness direction. The controller determines whether or not to perform the initial operation based on detection results of the detecting device.

Abstract: A machine for producing packaging cushioning generally includes a first feed mechanism for successively feeding sheets of a substrate at a first speed, the first feed mechanism including a motor and a power supply therefor, a second feed mechanism for receiving the sheets from the first feed mechanism and feeding the sheets at a second speed, a control unit for controlling at least one of the first and second speeds to produce a desired degree of overlap between successive sheets, and a sensor to measure the amount of electricity drawn by the motor. The control unit modulates the amount of electricity that the motor draws from a power supply when a signal from the sensor has a value that is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

Abstract: A dunnage device is disclosed and can include a dunnage mechanism comprising first and second dunnage converting portions that have an engaged condition, in which the converting portions are associated and configured for converting stock material into dunnage and a disengaged condition in which the converting portions are disabled from converting the stock into dunnage and a dunnage handler configured for receiving the dunnage from the dunnage mechanism and including a first handler portion that has a handling position in which the dunnage handler is configured for controlling the dunnage and a release position, wherein the first handler portion is associated with the dunnage mechanism such that movement of the first handler portion from the handling position to the release position causes the dunnage mechanism to change from the engaged condition to the disengaged position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control for a machine for producing paper padding material. The machine comprises a drive motor which transports sheets of paper through a shaping device. In this shaping device, the sheets of paper are shaped to paper padding material which is then cut to the desired length in a cutting device. The inventive control allows for an automatic memorization of a manually selected storage length.

Abstract: The device comprises at least a first series of slides (21) each carrying a respective cutting tool (9). The slides are adjustable and clampable in pre-established positions along a beam (11) extending more or less transversely with respect to the direction of feed of the web material. Moreover, a system to clamp the slides along said beam and a translation member (71) to translate and position said slides along the beam are provided. The clamping system comprises, for each slide, a pressing member (33) elastically stressed against a fixed surface (29A) integral with the beam, while the translation member comprises an actuator (74) cooperating selectively with one or other of said pressing members, to release the pressing member from the fixed surface and draw the slide by means of the translation member and position it along said beam.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing alarming indications and troubleshooting indications and actions in connection with a web converting manufacturing process such as that used for manufacturing disposable absorbent garments. Some of the disclosed embodiments include relating inspection data, such as product (or process) attribute data, to data from other manufacturing-related systems. Also disclosed are systems and methods for linking product (or process) attribute data obtained during the manufacturing process with one or more data sources including raw material data, process setting data, product quality data, and/or productivity data. Also disclosed are systems and methods for identifying manufacturing set point changes and automatically implementing such changes and automated web steering changes based on data from one or more inspection systems.

Abstract: A control system and method for adjustable and flexible control of a box forming machine. The system comprises a controller that is programmable to control the operation of a plurality of machine elements of the box forming machine and an operator interface coupled to the programmable controller. The operator interface comprises a display screen and one or more buttons, or is a touch screen display, to permit user input and a display of information to the user that is generated by the controller.

Abstract: A cushioning conversion network includes a supervisory controller linked to a plurality of cushioning conversion machines which convert sheet-like stock material into a dunnage product, each machine including a controller for controlling the operation of the machine in accordance with instructions received from the supervisory controller.

Abstract: A cushioning conversion machine (10) comprises a frame (36), conversion assemblies (50, 52, 54, 56) which convert a stock material into a cushioning product, and a length measuring device (12) which determines the length of the cushioning product as it is being produced. The conversion assemblies include a rotating assembly (54) and the angular movement of this assembly directly corresponds to the length of the cushioning product. The length measuring device (12) is positioned to monitor the angular movement of the rotating conversion assembly (54) and thus the length of the cushioning product. In the preferred embodiment, the rotating conversion assembly (54) is a gear assembly.

Abstract: A cushioning conversion machine for converting a sheet-like stock material into a dunnage product includes a frame having an upstream end and a downstream end, conversion assemblies, mounted on the frame, which convert the sheet-like stock material into a continuous strip of a dunnage product, a feeding assembly, mounted on the frame, for feeding the stock material through the conversion assemblies, a cutting assembly, mounted on the frame downstream of the conversion assemblies, which cuts the continuous strip of dunnage into a section of a desired length, a probe for determining the packaging requirements of a particular container, and a controller which controls the feeding and cutting assemblies to produce the required sections of dunnage product for the container as determined by the probe.

Abstract: A packaging machine under control of an electronic control system is set forth. The packaging machine includes a plurality of servo driven packaging stations that execute the processes required to fill and seal a carton. Each of the packaging stations is driven by one or more servomotors associated therewith. A plurality of servo amplifiers are connected to the servomotors to control the rotational movement of the servomotors thereby to effect control of the motion of the various components associated with each if the packaging stations. The packaging machine further includes at least two programmable devices connected for communication over a common bus. A programmable axis manager (PAM) is connected to control the plurality of servo amplifiers and, thus, the motion profiles of the servomotors and components of the respective processing station. A programmable logic controller (PLC) is connected to receive and transmit input/output signals associated with the plurality of packaging stations.

Abstract: A cushioning conversion machine (10) comprises a frame (36), conversion assemblies (50, 52, 54, 56) which convert a stock material into a cushioning product, and a length measuring device (12) which determines the length of the cushioning product as it is being produced. The conversion assemblies include a rotating assembly (54) and the angular movement of this assembly directly corresponds to the length of the cushioning product. The length measuring device (12) is positioned to monitor the angular movement of the rotating conversion assembly (54) and thus the length of the cushioning product. In the preferred embodiment, the rotating conversion assembly (54) is a gear assembly.

Abstract: The invention has to do with the modification of well known heat sealing bag machines to increase the production capability of the machines. The use of servo drives for selected components of the bag machine permits the reduction of film acceleration and consequential peak film velocity, thus allowing faster machine cycles at the same film acceleration and consequential film velocity.

Abstract: The timing of the holder blade of a folding machine is adjusted in dependence on the force exerted by a signature impacting on a locating plate, the timing of the folder blade being advanced in relation to an increase in the impact force, the actual impact force being compared with an optimal impact force, a signal representing the difference between said forces being employed to adjust the timing of the folder blade.

Abstract: An apparauts for placing a printer-slotter in positions where it processes sheets of corrugated paper. The printer-slotter includes a feeding unit for feeding the sheets, processing units, and differentials connected with the processing units. The apparatus comprises a position detector for detecting the position of the kicker of the feeding unit, positioning controllers connected with a central control unit (CCU), and sensors detecting the angular positions of the rotating cylinders included in the printing units and in the creaser-and-slotter unit. The sensors are connected with the positioning controllers, respectively. The CCU compares the position of the kicker with the positions at which the processing units process the sheets. The CCU controls the differentials in such a way that the position of the kicker corresponds to the positions at which the processing units process the sheets.

Abstract: A bag machine includes a programmed logic controller intermittently actuating a web feed draw roll motor for controlled web feed during the inoperative period of a cycled seal bar. The controller has separate inputs for the seal bar periods and a web length and establishes a control program of a preferred motion profile, with acceleration and deceleration of the fixed rolls to match the bag length to the available time using the total time available, with acceleration to a maximum and deceleration to reference, with or without a constant speed period. The bag length and time is monitored each machine cycle to calculate the next motion profile and permit changes in the bag length without machine shut-down. A programmed registered mode of control responds to a web mark spacing relative to the seal bar. In the registered mode, a photoscanner detects the mark during a constant speed web feed period prior to the end of the available time and actuates the web feed accordingly.

Abstract: A forms jam detector for a high-speed line printer having control electronics, a forms guide and a pair of paddlewheel assemblies for fan-folding continuous paper forms fed from the forms guide in a stack within a forms stacker assembly of the printer includes an emitter for projecting a beam of electromagnetic radiation, a receiver coupled to the control electronics and adapted to receive the projected beam, and a member for interposing between the emitter and the receiver. When a jam causes a portion of the paper forms to be forced upwardly from the stack, that portion urges the interposing member upward also to block the projected beam and disable the printer.

Abstract: An automatic paper board tube reamer apparatus includes a tube index and feed assembly and a pair of tube end reamers. The reamers automatically simultaneously square the tube end surfaces and ream the internal diameter of each end of a tube aligned therewith by the feed assembly. The feed assembly automatically feeds the tube to the reamers and ejects the reamed tubes. The reamers and feed assembly operate alternatively and continuously to recycle damaged tubes fed thereto.

Abstract: A machine including a feeding group or station, a first rotative cutting or creasing station, a second rotative cutting or creasing station and a rotative stripping station characterized by a single drive motor driving the various rotating tools of the stations and a feed roll of the feeding station. Each of the first and second stations and the stripping station have a frame with two lateral frame members with each of the lateral frame members having a groove for receiving bearing blocks for the upper and lower rotatable tools and one of the frame members of each groove mounts a drive pinion in a fixed position relative to the groove and in driving engagement with a gear on the shaft of the lower tool. Each of the bearing blocks have the same outer dimensions with the axis of the tool being positioned in the bearing block depending on the size of the tool so that by changing tools, the gears of the tools always engage the same drive pinion.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the operation of an input transducer of a central control unit for machines employed in production and product packaging lines, the system having a first circuit for detecting operating defects of the input transducer including a first subcircuit for producing a change in the operating condition of the transducer to produce a corresponding change in the logic signal of the transducer, and a second subcircuit for detecting the change in the logic signal and operating a control alarm based upon the detected change in the logic signal, the system also including a second circuit for providing a signal from the transducer to the central control and monitoring unit based upon the operating condition of the transducer.

Abstract: An improved multi-station machine is disclosed for assembling ring-type closures from generally cylindrical paperboard cylinders and generally circular paperboard discs. The machine employs a rotatable dial plate, carrying eight mandrels and an improved ring clamping system, which dial plate is incrementally rotated by an automatic indexer assembly relative to the various operating stations which consist of a ring feed station, a disc feed station, an adhesive dispensing station, a curling station, a grooving station and a closure ejecting station. Means are provided for controlling the operation of the various stations so that they operate in substantial synchronism with one another and with the rotatable dial plate. The improved disc feed station automatically feeds the lowermost disc from a stack of discs to a position over a ring on the dial plate and simultaneously forms a peripheral skirt on the disc and positions it in an open end of the ring.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling a machine which is operable in cycles, the machine carrying out a plurality of functions during each cycle. Values representing the stages of the machine in its cycle are generated as the machine progresses through a cycle, the values being determined by the actual stage of the machine independently of time. Starting and stopping points in the cycle for at least one of the functions of the machine is preset in terms of the generated values. The generated values are compared with the preset starting and stopping point values. The machine function is initiated and maintained when the generated values are greater than the preset starting point value but are less than the preset stopping point value and the function is stopped when the generated values equal or are greater than the preset stopping point value. Apparatus and method for computing starting and stopping points for an eyespot window using only a single set of delay switches is also disclosed.