Abstract: A coupon burster assembly receives a continuous supply of coupons in the form of a web where the forwardmost coupon is attached to the following coupon along a weakened web portion. The burster includes a pair of intermittently rotating feed rollers and a pair of continuously rotating delivery rollers. An activation input receives triggering information from a form-fill-seal packaging machine or from a receiving product sensor. When the activation input receives triggering information, a signal is sent to a clutch-brake to activate the feed rollers. The feed rollers then feed the web into the delivery rollers. When a deactivation sensor located beyond the delivery rollers senses the presence of the forwardmost coupon, a signal is sent to the clutch-brake which stops the rotation of the feed rollers. Because the delivery rollers continue to pull the forwardmost coupon, the two coupons separate along the weakened web portion. The forwardmost coupon can then be delivered to the dispensing location.

Abstract: A machine for manufacturing adhesive dressings having an adhesive support, absorbing material compresses laying on the support and a protective layer, includes a cutting element for cutting compresses to a desired size and placing them at the desired intervals onto the adhesive layer. The cutting element includes a first cylindrical counter roll that has a smooth surface and a second roll acting on the first roll. The second roll has projecting sectors, alternated with recessed sectors, provided with at least a transversal cutting knife for cutting the absorbing tape by compressing the same against the counter roll. The tape is drawn during the synchronous rotation of the rolls by the projecting sectors cooperating with the surface of the counter roll.

Abstract: Reel slitting device for a web that includes a web supply section, a longitudinal slitting section, and a reeling section, and method for packaging partial rolls in the reeling section of the roll slitting device. The device includes at least one propelling device for reeling at least one partial roll and a packaging device that packages at least a periphery of the at least one partial roll. The the packaging device utilizes the at least one propelling device. The method includes slitting a web sheet into a plurality of partial webs, reeling the partial webs, in the reeling section, into a plurality of partial rolls, attaching a packaging web to a peripheral portion of at least one of the plurality of partial rolls in the reeling section, and rotating the at least one of the plurality of partial rolls to wind the packaging web around a radial surface of the at least one of the plurality of partial rolls.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating individual items from a bandolier of adjacent items have a seam between the items. A pair of upper jaws and a pair of lower jaws open and close horizontally to clamp and release the respective seam. The pair of lower jaws pull the bandolier downwardly through the opened pair of upper jaws. The seam is cut while the pair of upper jaws close to grasp an adjacent seam. The pair of lower jaws open to release the separated item to a delivery system and the pair of lower jaws move upwardly to be adjacent to, and below, the pair of upper jaws. The pair of lower jaws close and the sequence is repeated. At least one sensor identifies an identification feature on the items and transmits signals to a control unit to actuate movement of the pair of upper jaws and the pair of lower jaws. Preferably, a second sensor system assures that separation is only at the respective seams. A method of use is disclosed.

Abstract: A cheesecake batter is baked in individual cups as it is continuously moved from one end of an oven to the other. Thereafter, it is cooled by being transferred to a cooling table covered with a hood. The cooling table and the hood are arranged in line with the other end of the oven, and contains a downward laminar sterile air flow to envelop the baked cheesecake batter on the cooling table. In addition, the cooling table and the hood are spaced from the other end of the oven a distance in which the flow of heated vapor from the oven react and create a vacuum, thereby maintaining the baked cheesecake batter under constant sterile conditions, as it moves from the oven to the cooling table.

Abstract: A packaging system and method according to the invention are generally characterized by a cushioning conversion machine for forming and dispensing cut sections of a cushioning product through a discharge outlet, an inclined dispensing chute for sequentially receiving the cut sections of the cushioning product, a cut section presence detector for detecting the presence of a cut section on the inclined chute at a pick-up location remote from the discharge outlet of the conversion machine, and a controller which initiates dispensing of a cut section of cushioning product in response to a detected absence of a cut section by the cut section presence detector.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a tape cartridge includes the steps of forming reel shafts, roller shafts, and tape guides, and the like on a base plate, mounting tape reels on the reel shafts and belt guide rollers on the roller shafts, and the like, placing a drive belt on the belt guide rollers, winding a magnetic tape on the tape reels, securing a cover to the base plate, and forming a marking hole for positional identification in the magnetic tape wound on the tape reels.

Abstract: A turret assembly for use in a container manufacturing apparatus which comprises a rotatable hub, at least one arm extending radially from the rotatable hub and having a medium reception portion thereon for transferring and inserting at least one medium to a location between a first and second portion of container material.

Abstract: From a web of paper a mailing item (10) comprising envelope and contents is printed personalized on a first conveying section (2) in individual stations. After being turned over the web of paper is supplemented, where necessary, by further paper parts, it then being cut to contour laterally and provided with side flaps folded inwards for the envelope. After this, the cut-to-size item is parted as a unit from the web of paper by a cross-cutter (43) and the contents folded on themselves transversely as well as on the cut-to-size item for the envelope. This unit is then diverted at right angles to a second conveying section (3) in which the cover sheets of the envelope are folded open with interposition of the contents, the cover sheets thereby being secured to each other by the side flaps. After this, the envelope opening is closed by the closing flap.

Abstract: Apparatus that uses the burster method for positioning coupons from a continuous web at a predetermined time at a predetermined location for insertion is disclosed. Positioning rolls define a bight to receive the leading edge of a coupon and are driven by positioning drive assembly. A feed drive assembly advances coupons to the positioning rolls. Sensors actuate and deactuate the feed drive assembly in response to the presence of a container at a selected position and the presence of a coupon at another sensing position.

Abstract: An automatic packaging system for dry lasagna noodle product includes a vacuum drum which automatically lifts a top layer of lasagna noodle from a bottom layer. The layers are travelling on a conveyor belt. The vacuum drum replaces the top layer back onto the conveyor belt behind the bottom layer. A water knife cutter is disposed downstream from the vacuum drum. The water knife cuts the lasagna in half. An inspection/rejection station is disposed downstream from the water knife cutter. The inspection/rejection station inspects piece of lasagna to ensure that it is of uniform shape and satisfies a predetermined minimum quality standard. A swing conveyor is disposed downstream from the inspection/rejection station. The swing conveyor transmits the lasagna onto one of two travelling conveyors. The travelling conveyors transmits the lasagna onto a loading conveyor. The loading conveyors transmits the lasagna into a bucket in a bucket indexer station.

Abstract: A film sleever machine includes a first stepper motor for activating a sleeve delivery device which has a driving shaft and a roller shaft mounted parallelly for feeding a film wearing bag material. A film feeding device which has a film driving wheel and a pressure wheel is activated by a second stepper motor for feeding a roll of film to insert into a plurality of film wearing sleeve of the film wearing bag material. The first stepper motor also activates a film cutter device to cut off the film. The second stepper motor also activates a sleeve cutter device to cut off the film wearing bag material. Accordingly, the film sleever machine can be operated to feed the film, cut the film, feed the sleeves, and cut off the sleeves automatically.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting and packaging a plurality of strips of a web material operates in conjunction with a rotary cutter assembly which forms a plurality of strips in parallel, longitudinally spaced array. A platen includes an intake portion with a plurality of inclined surfaces extending longitudinally in parallel array away from the cutter assembly, the inclined surfaces being stepped to capture the strips. A fixed top plate extends above the intake portion of the platen, and is provided with steps formed in complementary fashion to the platen steps to retain the cut strips therebetween. The strips are moved longitudinally along their respective steps to a collection portion of the platen. A movable top plate disposed above the collection portion translates longitudinally to expose the strips on the collection portion.

Abstract: A system for packaging a water soluble medicant film which is dissolvable in a body fluid within a multi-ply packaging material which comprises a spool of dissolvable film, a mechanism for longitudinally cutting the film into at least two webs, a mechanism for drawing each of the webs through a roller assembly, a mechanism for laterally separating the webs, a mechanism for preventing the webs from adhering to the drawing mechanism, a mechanism for transversely cutting the webs into individual dosages of film, and a mechanism for sealing the film dosages between the packaging plies.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing and bagging decorative grass, such as Easter grass. The apparatus includes an extruder, a godet, a slitter, a cutter, a bagging assembly and a programmable logic controller. The extruder produces a continuous sheet of material, which is fed by the godet into the slitter and cutter. A thickness gauge is provided between the extruder and slitter to measure the thickness of the sheet of material. The slitter has a row of blades which slit the sheet into a continuous length of slitted material. The cutter includes a rotatable blade which transversely cuts the slitted material into a number of individual filaments. The sheet of material is urged through the slitter and cutter by the godet and an air flow produced by a blower. The blower then forces the filaments to the bagging assembly, which has a rotatable turret, an inserter and a bag handler. The turret has a number of magazines for receiving from the cutter and for discharging the filaments into bags.

Abstract: Apparatus that uses the burster method for positioning coupons from a continuous web at a predetermined time at a predetermined location for insertion is disclosed. Positioning roll means define a bight to receive the leading edge of a coupon and are driven by positioning drive means at a continuous predetermined speed. Feeding roll means located upstream of the positioning roll means in the excess of one coupon length are driven by intermittent feeding drive means at a speed substantially less than the speed of the positioning roll means. Controlling means actuate and deactuate the feeding drive means in response to timing means related to container position and coupon sensing means at a sensing position between the positioning roll means and the feeding roll means.

Abstract: A machine and method for making a strip of dome arrays on a backup strip, wherein the dome arrays include a plurality of domes in a predetermined non-linear pattern and in oriented relation to each other that are adhesively mounted on a dome seal. The machine comprises a punch press or stamping machine capable of simultaneously stamping a pattern of domes in non-linear arrangement and oriented relative to each other and depositing those domes onto the adhesive side of a dome seal strip. The machine also includes means for feeding dome seals to the stamping machine and also for kiss-cutting the dome seal while on the backup strip to define a plurality of successively arranged dome arrays.

Abstract: A photo filmstrip (14) of a regular length (L) is produced from photo film web (45) having a predetermined width (W). The photo filmstrip and the photo film web have a back surface, an emulsion surface, a pair of lateral edge faces (45a), and four corner edges (45b, 45c) defined between the back surface, the emulsion surface, and the lateral edge faces. At least one of the lateral edge faces and at least one of the corner edges of the photo film web are abraded while the photo film web is conveyed. Photo film dust, created in the abrasion is eliminated from the photo film web. Perforations (34) are formed in the photo film web. The photo film web is cut by the regular length into the photo filmstrip, which is wound into a cassette shell.

Abstract: In a sheet wrapping body producing apparatus, an oxygen absorbing strip sheet supplied from an oxygen absorbing sheet supplying shaft is cut out by a first rotary die cut unit to make an oxygen absorbing sheet tip. The tip is transported in such a manner to prevent the misalignment by a delivery drum unit and a first transportation belt unit. During the transportation, a breathing layer strip sheet is supplied on a transporting surface of the first transportation belt unit, on which the oxygen absorbing sheet tip is placed. Also, a strip cover film is placed on the oxygen absorbing sheet tip. Then, a rotary seal unit seals the breathing layer strip sheet and strip cover film, and the sealed portion is cut by a second rotary die cut unit. Accordingly, a sheet wrapping body can be produced at high speeds.

Abstract: An uncrumpling and cutting apparatus cuts a predetermined length of an end portion of a heat transfer recording sheet of a sheet roll obtained by winding the heat transfer recording sheet around an outer periphery of a shaft roll, and a lead sheet sticking apparatus sticks an end of a lead sheet to the end portion of the heat transfer recording sheet. A subshaft sticking apparatus sticks a subshaft to the lead sheet, and a lead sheet winding apparatus winds up the lead sheet to wrap the sheet roll and the subshaft. A tying portion ties a combination of a sheet roll with a subshaft with a strip, thereby bundling the combination. Then the combination thus tied is packed in a package bag by a packaging portion. A transferring and mounting portion lays an even number of combinations as alternately reversing orientations thereof, and an encasing portion encases the combinations thus laid in a container.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming an Easter grass bag from a sheet of material. The apparatus includes a mold having side walls and a bottom defining a mold opening. The side walls and bottom of the mold have vacuum holes connected to a vacuum source. A sheet of material is placed over the mold opening and the vacuum draws the sheet of material into the mold opening and against the side walls and bottom of the mold to form the sheet of material into an Easter grass bag. The mold may be a split mold to facilitate removal of the bag from the mold.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing and bagging decorative grass, such as Easter grass. The apparatus includes an extruder, a godet, a slitter, a cutter, a bagging assembly and a programmable logic controller. The extruder produces a continuous sheet of material, which is fed by the godet into the slitter and cutter. A thickness gauge is provided between the extruder and slitter to measure the thickness of the sheet of material. The slitter has a row of blades which slit the sheet into a continuous length of slitted material. The cutter includes a rotatable blade which transversely cuts the slitted material into a number of individual filaments. The sheet of material is urged through the slitter and cutter by the godet and an air flow produced by a blower. The blower then forces the filaments to the bagging assembly, which has a rotatable turret, an inserter and a bag handler. The turret has a number of magazines for receiving from the cutter and for discharging the filaments into bags.

Abstract: An apparatus for stuffing a snailed endless new pre-inked ribbon into a ribbon cartridge is provided, said apparatus comprising a cabinet having a top plate mounted thereon, a ribbon stock reel assembly mounted on the top plate for supporting a new pre-inked ribbon supply reel containing a length of new pre-inked ribbon, a ribbon stock reel brake assembly mounted in the cabinet and attached to the ribbon stock reel assembly, an idler with an adjustable collar for providing tension on the new pre-inked ribbon between the new pre-inked ribbon supply reel on the ribbon stock reel assembly and a counting wheel, a counting wheel, a proximity sensor, an electrical motor for pulling the new pre-inked ribbon from the ribbon stock reel assembly past the idler around the counting wheel and stuffing said new pre-inked ribbon into a ribbon cartridge, a universal jig having cartridge securing means for holding the ribbon cartridge to be stuffed mounted on the top plate, a programmed counter, a control panel having a main

Abstract: A framing apparatus is provided for the placement in a slide frame of a diapositive which is to be separated from a strip of film before placement. This apparatus defines a feed plane for the strip of film and a frame plane which is displaced with respect to the feed plane and in which the slide frame to be assembled comes to lie. A cutter assembly is located in the area of the framing plane in the direct vicinity of a film guide.

Abstract: A gusseted envelope or box making apparatus and method including the use of a tractor feed unit (11) which perforates the web stock (5) prior to a subsequent printing step capable of printing on either side of the web (5). At least one thermal print head (61) precisely activates thermal ribbon (57) which is accurately registered with the web (5) by means of pin feed holes (16,17). A product conveyor (74) manipulates the product (75) so as to automatically load the box or envelope (69) thus manufactured and printed. A multipart form (141) is disclosed including a continuous envelope (167), return reply envelope (173) and enclosed coupon (166) which may all be imprinted with unique customer information (161). The complete form (141) is folded and inserted into a parent envelope (167) by a series of vacuum plates (376) and insertion rams (392).

Abstract: A plurality of interconnected envelope blanks are formed from an envelope web of paper. Die cut windows are also formed in each envelope blank of the interconnected web and transparent window patches are adhesively secured over the die cut window. A plurality of inserts from insert webs of paper are formed and may be variably imaged. The inserts are collected and disposed on the interconnected envelope blanks with address information registering through the window. The interconnected blanks and web form with inserts applied are severed to form discrete envelope blanks and later folded and glued to form complete mailers.

Abstract: A packaging machine including packaging apparatus to form fill and seal a chain of connected packages, a cutting station to separate the packages, means to operate the forming, filling and sealing apparatus and cutting apparatus so as to cut more packages than are formed, filled and sealed during a given time period.

Abstract: Apparatus that uses the burster method for positioning coupons from a continuous web at a predetermined time at a predetermined location for insertion is disclosed. A positioning roll pair defines a bight to receive the leading edge of a coupon and are driven by a positioning drive at a continuous predetermined speed. Feeding rolls located upstream of the positioning roll pair in the excess of one coupon length are driven by an intermittent feeding drive at a speed substantially less than the speed of the positioning roll pair. Controlling mechanisms actuate and deactuate the feeding drive in response to a timing mechanism related to container position and a coupon sensing mechanism at a sensing position between the positioning roll pair and the feeding rolls.

Abstract: A stuffed mailing envelope is formed from webs of paper. A plurality of insert sheets are constructed from webs of insert paper by variably imaging the insert webs, and then intelligently aligning them and cutting them into aligned sheets, and then folding the aligned sheets to produce a formed insert. A plurality of interconnected envelope blanks are formed from an envelope web of paper, and a plurality of insert sheets (including the formed insert) are collected and placed on each of the envelope blanks while they are interconnected in web form. Then, while conveying the interconnected envelope blanks in web form, the blanks are severed from each other and are formed around the inserts to produce a final mailing envelope containing a plurality of insert sheets. The envelope blank typically has two parallel minor flaps and two parallel major flaps.

Abstract: A packaging system comprising a cushion-creating machine (10) and a slide (12) positioned adjacent to the machine (10). The cushion-creating machine (10) includes a frame (36) and cushion-creating assemblies (50, 52, 54, and 56) which are mounted to the frame (36) and which create cushioning products (32). The machine frame (36) includes an exit through which the cushioning products (32) are discharged in a predetermined discharge direction D. The slide (12) includes a smooth sloped surface (60) with a top portion positioned proximate to the machine's exit so that the discharged cushioning products (32) will be deposited thereon. The smooth sloped surface (60) has a pitch angle which is sufficient to insure that cushioning products placed on the top portion of the surface will slide in a predetermined slide direction S. The smooth sloped surface (60) is oriented relative to the machine (10) in such a manner that the slide direction S is substantially perpendicular to the discharge direction D.

Abstract: A device for supplying a film to a packaging machine has a gripper for gripping the film and a transporting mechanism for not only moving the gripper between a film feeder of the packaging machine, which receives the film from the gripper and takes it to a packaging station for using it to wrap up a product, and a retracted position distal from the film feeder, but also keeping the gripper retracted while the film feeder carries the film to the packaging station.

Abstract: The apparatus is capable of framing automatically photographic films by means of a first operation according to which the film is divided into several photograms and a second operation according to which the photograms are introduced into the interior of frames which are mechanically opened on one side, thus obtaining as the final product the "diapositiva", that is slide or filmslide (12).

Abstract: The system comprises a hopper attached below a table for holding two stacks of the slide mounts. A pick-off station removes the slide mounts from the slide mount stack. The slide mount is moved to a slide mounting station and then sealed underneath a ultrasonic welding head. The hopper includes a carousel that rotates either stack into a predetermined position underneath the pick-off station. The motorized hopper used in conjunction with the pick-off mechanism and hold-down apparatus eliminate the previous problems associated with slide mount jamming. The ultrasonic welding head vibrates the top half of the slide mount creating a friction between the internal faces of the top and bottom halves of the slide mount. This friction heats adhesive inside the slide mount sealing the top and bottom halves of the slide mount together.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) is disclosed including a series of equally spaced air jets (36) in the center plate (18) of a channel (14). An end cover plate (22) and a cover (48) close the channel (14) to form a tunnel having infeed and outfeed ends. In the most preferred form, the air jets (36) are wedge-shaped depressions formed in the center plate (18) having semicircular end walls (38) including apertures (42) in fluid communication with a compressed air enclosure (44) secured to the center plate (18). The free end of a continuous strip of coupon items is inserted into the infeed end where it is under the control of the air flow created by the air jets (36) within the tunnel. A coupon item is then cut from the continuous strip and travels under the control of the air flow within the tunnel and through the outfeed end thereof. In a preferred form, the end cover plate (22) is arcuately shaped outward and downward to direct the coupon item into a hopper (32) which later receives the ready-to-eat food product.

Abstract: A web of cardstock divided by transverse score lines includes card segments having apertures oriented with respect to an optical center point of each card segment. The web is continuously fed from a supply of cardstock by engagement of a tractor feed device with tracks of holes extending along the longitudinal edges of the web. A selected one of the holes serves to locate the optical center point of each card segment as the web is fed to a film mounting station. Film negatives cut from a strip of developed film are sequentially positioned in registry with the optical centers in the apertures of the card segments as the web advances through the film mounting station. An adhesive releasably secures the negatives in overlying relation with the apertures on one side of the cards to expose through the apertures a selected composition of the negatives.

Abstract: A packaging machine including packaging apparatus to form a chain of connected packages, a cutting station to separate the packages having a controllable variable speed drive, an accumulator between the packaging apparatus and cutting station to accumulate the chain of packages, and control means to vary the speed of operation of the cutting station in response to the accumulation in the accumulator. The accumulator in its preferred form is a conveyor. A unique control device is provided which receives the completed package chain and delivers it for further processing.

Abstract: The invention resides in winder for automatically winding sections of sheet material to form separate tubes. The winder comprises a base, a supply of sheet material and a material drive means on the base for advancing sheet material from the supply towards a station on the base located remotely thereof. A winding means is located at the station for winding a section of the sheet material about itself and about a rotational axis such that the involved section of sheet material is substantially wound in a tubular condition. A cutting means is provided and is located between the drive means and the second rotational axis for cutting the sheet material transversely of its length at points therealong corresponding to the end one section and the beginning of the next successive section to be advanced to the station.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selective high-speed insertion of sheets from a plurality of webs into envelopes provides a mechanism for folding and inserting sheets into preformed envelopes. Preformed envelopes are provided for folding and inserting from a source that may be a roll. A plurality of sheets are fed for folding and inserting into an envelopes. A leading sheet from each of the webs is selectively driven and cut at a collection point for folding and inserting. The selecting of sheets for feeding and cutting may be accomplished by means of a CPU that may include a bar code detection system disposed along each of the webs. A system for widening the openings of envelopes to facilitate insertion of contents may also be included. This system may comprise a strip along each of the envelopes is a stream that includes a folded section within each opening or may comprise tabs disposed along an opening side of each envelope.

Abstract: The apparatus and method relates to an automatic dispenser for dispensing portions of a product such as ice cream from a supply comprising a coiled tubular casing in which the ice cream is encased. The end of the casing is fed into the apparatus and, as the apparatus operates, moves through to the exit. The casing with its encased ice cream is pulled through the apparatus and pinched at uniform intervals by a first pinching mechanism following which utilizing a second pinching mechanism, the casing with its encased ice cream is further pinched to a thickness of only the casing at the same uniform intervals. The casing with the encased ice cream is then drawn past a cutting device which opens the casing so that a portion defined by sequential pinched segments is dispensed and the casing removed by a scrap spool mechanism.

Abstract: A slide mounter where a photographic film transparency is advanced to an operation station and is cut from a photographic film web and punch holes are punched. The cut and punched film transparency is then inserted into a slide mount at an insertion station. The punch holes are designed to cooperate with pin registrations in the slide mount to lock the film transparency in place within the slide mount. The photographic film transparency is cut from a photographic web which is supported along a support axis. The film transparency is pushed from the operation station after it is cut and punched along a push axis into the slide mount M. The orientation of the push axis and the support axis is design to accommodate exposed film where the image is 90.degree. from the normal orientation of images recorded by a photographic camera.

Abstract: A web of cardstock divided by transverse score lines includes card segments having apertures oriented with respect to an optical center point of each card segment. The web is continuously fed from a supply of cardstock by engagement of a tractor feed device with tracks of holes extending along the longitudinal edges of the web. A selected one of the holes serves to locate the optical center point of each card segment as the web is fed to a film mounting station. Film negatives cut from a strip of developed film are sequentially positioned in registry with the optical centers in the apertures of the card segments as the web advances through the film mounting station. The negatives are adhesively, releasably secured in overlying relation with the apertures on one side of the cards to expose through the apertures a selected composition of the negatives.

Abstract: A film transparency severed from a photographic film web is inserted into a slide mount to prepare a photographic slide. The present invention relates to an "in-plane" film pusher for inserting a severed film transparency into a slide mount. The apparatus includes a pusher assembly having a movable pusher support and a pusher with a front grooved surface designed to engage a trailing edge of the film transparency. The pusher is alternately supported by the movable pusher support between a retracted position below a film plane and an engaging position aligned with the film plane. In operation, the pusher is moved to the engaging position to engage the trailing edge of the film transparency and then is advanced with the movable pusher support toward the slide mount to push the film transparency into the slide mount.

Abstract: Improved dunnage made from spiral coils of paper that are recyclable and biodegradable, or from other thin, flexible, resilient strips. The coils are cylindrical or cylindrical with a transverse fold, and are randomly oriented in a container to provide cushioning for packaged articles. The coils are formed at the time of use by modifying the material used to cause it to coil and forming strips from the material. This eliminates the need for storage of bulky dunnage. Paper used to form the coils is stretched to cause it to coil. Apparatus concurrently forms plural coils from a web.

Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out a method for inserting a slide (3) into a slide frame (10) is provided with a pusher (12) reciprocally guided in the plane (21) of the slide frame (10), a guideway (24) for the slide (3) and a knife (4) for cutting off the slide (3). For providing an apparatus of said kind of a simpler design and a faster operation, the guiding path (24) for the slide (3) extends in the plane (21) of the frame (10). The knife (4) is arranged above the plane (21) of the frame (10). By a flap (17) pivotable around a horizontal axis (19) the slide (3) can be moved completely into the plane (21) of the frame (10) after cutting (FIG. 3).

Abstract: A fully automated TAB framer includes a pair of vertically-oriented pneumatic rams having vacuum operated pick up heads on the lower ends thereof. A cutting assembly cuts TAB segments from a roll of film having a number of such segments thereon. The rams are laterally shiftable between two positions for picking up TAB segments, placing a segment in a carrier body, picking up a retainer member and inserting the retainer member into the carrier body thereby forming a framed TAB segment.

Abstract: A dough cutting and packing apparatus for cutting a sheet of dough into dough pieces and transferring the dough pieces to containers. A cutting unit is defined by a plurality of cutting plates having dough retaining openings. The sheet of dough is pressed against the cutting plates by a presser roll which divides the dough sheet into dough pieces that are retained within the dough retaining openings. A packing mechanism transfers the dough pieces from the cutting unit to the containers as the containers are moved relative to the packing mechanism by a plurality of flighted augers. The packing mechanism is driven by a microprocessor controlled servo motor. The servo motor moves the packing mechanism through a packing stroke and a return stroke with each stroke having an acceleration stage and a deceleration stage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for mounting a film transparency into a slide mount to prepare a photographic slide. The apparatus is useful for preparing a photographic slide for a slide mount of the type formed of upper and lower frame sections connected along an outer border to define a pocket therebetween. The slide mount also includes a slit adjacent to the outer border to separate the upper and lower frame sections to define a first insertion opening adjacent to the slit and a second insertion opening into the pocket of the slide mount. Cooperating film guides are positioned adjacent to the second insertion opening to guide a leading edge of the film transparency, which is inserted into the pocket of the slide mount, through the second insertion opening of the slide mount.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a semi-automatic slide mounter where individual film transparencies are severed from a photographic film and inserted into a slide mount to prepare a photographic slide. In the semi-automatic slide mounter, a portion of the operation of the mounter is controlled by a manual operating lever and a portion is controlled by a motorized drive assembly. In particular, the film web is advanced along a film track for operation by the motorized drive assembly and individual film transparencies thereof are severed by a knife assembly and inserted into a slide mount ejected from a slide magazine. In the apparatus of the present invention a latch assembly is coupled with the manual operating lever to restrict operation of the manual operating lever while the film is advanced by the motorized drive assembly.

Abstract: An improved slide mount advance mechanism advances a slide mount to an insertion station of a slide mounting apparatus, where the slide mount receives a film transparency to form a photographic slide. The mechanism includes a slide ejector designed to contact a bottom slide mount in a slide magazine and advance the slide mount from the slide magazine to the insertion station. The slide ejector contacts the slide mount through a rear slide ejector opening of the slide magazine to force the slide mount through a front slide mount opening of the slide magazine to a slide track. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for aligning the bottom slide mount at or above an upper edge of the slide ejector while maintaining the bottom slide mount in a position to be engaged by the slide ejector. The aligning mechanism restricts the ejection of multiple slide mounts from the slide magazine to assure proper operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for advancing a photographic film web for operation in a semi-automatic or automatic slide mounter. The apparatus advances the film for operation across a knife assembly to position the film with upper and lower knife blades of the knife assembly to sever a film transparency from the photographic film web to prepare a photographic slide. The apparatus includes a shuttle bridging mechanism for supporting the film, movable between a retracted position, out of alignment with the knife blades and an advanced position, extending across a support gap defined at the upper and lower knife blades. The shuttle bridging mechanism is advanced during operation to the advanced position and the film is advanced until a trailing edge of a leading film transparency aligns with the upper and lower knife blades.