Abstract: A dunnage discharge chute includes features designed to prevent injury to an operator of a dunnage producing machine. The dunnage discharge chute includes at least one door with sensors that monitor the position of the door and output position signals. The position signals are received by a controller which outputs a control signal that disables operation of the dunnage producing machine based at least in part on a change in the position signals over a predetermined period of time. Additional sensors may detect whether the door is open beyond an upper open position, and a relay may disable operation of the dunnage producing machine immediately if the door is opened beyond the upper open position. Thus, if the operator reaches in through the door, the dunnage discharge chute will disable operation of the dunnage producing machine.

Abstract: A cushioning conversion machine located below a work table includes a stock supply assembly, a conversion assembly for converting the stock material into a cushioning product and providing it through a machine exit, and a pad transferring system including an upper series of rollers arranged in a path, a lower series of rollers arranged in a path and a motor for powering the rotation of the drive elements, the upper and the lower series of rollers defining a path therebetween leading from the machine exit to a passage in the work table.

Abstract: In the case of a method of folding stacks of sheets, which can consist of one or of a plurality of sheets that may have different folding resistances, by supplying a plurality of stacks of sheets to a folding device by means of a temporally successive, cyclic supply which comprises phases of movement and pauses in movement, a stack folding resistance for a respective stack of sheets is first determined on the basis of at least the number and/or the folding resistance of the individual sheets forming a stack of sheets. Following this, the respective stack of sheets is folded, the folding speed used by the folding device for folding said stack of sheets being controlled in dependence upon the stack folding resistance that has been determined for this stack of sheets, the control of the folding speed of the folding device being carried out during respective pauses in movement of the cyclic supply.

Abstract: A finisher includes moving devices, which are movably mounted relative to a conveying path for applying additional-workings to a sheet having an image formed surface, such as a folding stopper which adjusts the position for folding the sheet, an aligning device which aligns the edge of sheet being temporarily stacked, and a head unit of a stapler which staples the sheet at a proper position. The finisher retracts or returns the moving devices to their relevant home positions, which are separated by prescribed distances from the conveying path when a jam of a sheet occurs. Accordingly, the finisher forms a space which accepts a user's hand in the neighborhood of the stuck sheet, improves the operational efficiency of removing the sheet, and prevents the user from touching the moving devices and inevitably moving them to abnormal positions.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting material into an envelope in which a first conveyor supplies insert material and a second conveyor supplies envelopes to an insert station. The flap of the envelope is opened while being carried by the second conveyor to the insert station. The insert station includes a kicker or pusher to move the insert material into the envelope. A first radiation type detector is provided to detect buckling of the envelope or insert material during insertions. A second radiation type detector is provided to detect failure of the pusher to complete an insertion operation.

Abstract: A safety clutch which has a steel ball which is adapted to move from half in a hemispherical recess in its drive plate and half in a cylindrical hole in its driven plate to a position completely in the cylindrical hole. A conveyor conducts milk or like cartons to a point where caps are ultrasonically welded to the inside of the foldable tops of the cartons. The safety clutch discontinues power in the event of an overload.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for severing packaging material which extends between successive wrapped loads during a continuous packaging process. A conveyor assembly conveys the wrapped loads along a load path in a conveying direction. The conveyor assembly includes a first conveyor portion having a discharge area and a second conveyor portion having a receiving area downstream and a step down from the discharge area of the first conveyor portion. A severing assembly includes a severing element located above the second conveyor portion for severing the packaging material between loads. A pivoting breakaway mechanism permits the severing element to pivot in the conveying direction. An escapement mechanism, responsive to load sensors, transports the severing element to a position spaced from the load path when the severing element encounters a load.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for monitoring tension of a peeled strip during threading of the strip onto a coil wrapping assembly. Sensors mounted on the coiler assembly monitor strip tension during threading such that a break in the strip triggers shutdown of the machine including withdrawal of the cutting tool from the billet to prevent damage to the tool.

Abstract: A collapsible elevator for a package elevating wrapping machine comprises a base member, a package supporting member and a pair of spring-biased rods. The rods resiliently engage the package supporting member to maintain it in a package elevating position relative to the base member, yet permit it to be resettably collapsed relative to the base member upon exertion of a defined force on the package supporting member. The package supporting member comprises a top plate and two downwardly extending spaced supports which have notches in their lower ends for receiving the spring-biased rods. The supports define surfaces which taper inwardly toward the top plate to facilitate resetting the elevator. An electrical switch is coupled to the base member and a switch actuating rod is coupled to the package supporting member and adapted to activate the electrical switch upon collapse of the elevator.

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: The subject invention pertains to a device for operating upon a filter-rod lengths comprising a first conveyor for transferring the filter lengths from a supply outlet to a plurality of further conveyors. The further conveyors carry the filter lengths past a heat rod-forming elements and a barrier-depositing assembly. All the conveyors are driven from a single power source. The first conveyor may be selectively manually disengaged from the power source so that filter-rod lengths which have passed the first conveyor can be cleared from the device before the device is shut down.

Abstract: In a stretch film wrapping machine wherein packages are elevated into a stretched sheet of film and underfolded, an improved control system monitors the operation of the wrapping machine to detect a jam condition and stop the machine for such jam conditions. A microprocessor monitors clock counts generated by the main drive shaft of the wrapping machine to detect a jam condition. Microprocessor operating cycles are counted between consecutive clock counts generated. If the drive shaft hesitates for a defined period of time, the counter overflows indicating a jam condition. The system also provides for operating the film wrapping machine in a reverse direction in discrete steps within a defined and limited range of the machine operating cycle to thereby facilitate removal of jams. To further facilitate jam removal, the rear film underfolder and package pusher are mounted to be moved away from the machine to thereby remove pressure from packages jammed beneath the rear underfolder.

Abstract: Case erector and bottom sealer apparatus having a pick up assembly for grippingly engaging a flat folded case blank on the top of a plurality of case blanks in vertical stacked relationship and elevating and moving the picked up blank forwardly, an infeed conveyor assembly for receiving the picked up case blank in its forward position and moving it to an erector station, an erector assembly at the erector station for grippingly engaging opposite sides of the blank and opening the case blank, folder assemblies movable between retracted and folded positions for first folding the bottom minor flaps of the erected blank and then partially folding the bottom major flaps to retain the bottom minor flaps in a folded condition, a walking stick assembly for moving the erected case from the erector station to a compression station, a glue gun assembly for applying adhesive to the bottom minor flaps as the erected case is moved to the compression station, a compression assembly at the compression station to complete the