Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating a first flexible lamina of predetermined thickness from a second lamina to which the first lamina is adhered along an edge (e.g., a pouch for use in an identification card). The apparatus includes a channel having a thickness not substantially greater than the combined thickness of the laminae, an impeller for impelling the laminae together through the channel and out of the outlet end, a cutter adjacent the outlet of the channel positioned to contact the edge at which the two laminae are adhered adjacent the line of adhesion between the laminae, thus separating the laminae, and a wedge adjacent the cutter so that as the first and second laminae are separated by the cutter and impelled past the wedge, the two laminae pass on opposed sides of the wedge, thereby increasing the separation between the laminae.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for use in cutting specific lengths from the end of a shaft, specifically the shaft of a golf club. It includes a base that allows the user to affix the device to a table or support surface and a support block that can be rotated in relation to the table where the axis of rotation is parallel to and fixed in relation to the table. The support block has a calibrated stop rod, a handle to facilitate the rotation, a shaft or workpiece cradle, and a cutting slot that extends through the cradle in the support block. The calibrated stop rod is held in the desired position by a threaded rod being turned and thus urged against it when the desired cutting length is indicated by calibrating marks or indicia thereon. The shaft is then placed in the cradle and the device is rotated such that a cutting blade moves through the cutting slot, severing the shaft at the desired point.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus for a strip of a ribbon core comprises a plurality of slitter units for cutting traveling strip material into a predetermined configuration of ribbon core materials. The slitter units are arranged in off-set positions in the traveling direction of the strip material, and one of the strip material cut by each of the slitter units is fed upwardly or downwardly rounding about a traveling line, through which the other of the cut strip material is fed. Therefore, guide rollers can be provided upstream and downstream of each of the slitter units, and a width detecting means can be provided for each of the ribbon core materials, so that a plurality of ribbon core materials can be formed in one time with high precision.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a first flexible lamina of predetermined thickness from a second lamina to which the first lamina is adhered along an edge (e.g., a pouch for use in an identification card) includes a channel having a thickness not substantially greater than the combined thickness of the laminae, an impeller for impelling the laminae together through the channel and out of the outlet end, a cutter adjacent the outlet of the channel positioned to contact the edge at which the two laminae are adhered adjacent the line of adhesion between the laminae, thus separating the laminae, and a wedge adjacent the cutter so that as the first and second laminae are separated by the cutter and impelled past the wedge, the two laminae pass on opposed sides of the wedge, thereby increasing the separation between the laminae.

Abstract: A paper cutting device provided in a facsimile machine, copier, printer, or the like for cutting paper discharged from a roll at a predetermined length. The paper cutting device includes a stationary cutter (2), a movable cutter (5) and movable carriage (3) to which the movable cutter is secured and which is movable along the stationary cutter (2) so that the stationary cutter in cooperation with the movable cutter cut the paper. The stationary cutter (2) extends in the lateral direction of the paper which is supplied to the paper cutting device. The carriage (3) includes a front plow portion (33a) for guiding the paper to a cutting position where the stationary cutter (2) and the movable cutter (5) overlap. When the carriage (3) traverses to cut the paper, the paper is urged toward the cutting position by the front plow portion and is cut. Thereafter, the cut portion of the paper is separated from the carriage 3 at a curved concave portion 33d of the carriage.

Abstract: A meat skinning machine has a frame, an elongated skinning blade with a cutting edge, a rotatable gripping roll positioned adjacent the blade, and a motor operatively connected to the gripping roll. The skinning machine is also provided with a pivotal deflector plate for deflecting a meat product upwardly as the product is fed past the blade. The angle of the deflector plate is adjustable to accommodate different meat products and different operators. In one embodiment, the distance between the deflector plate and the skinning blade is also adjustable. The upward deflection of the meat product allows the product to be flipped forwardly to a position in front of the skinning blade for additional feeding past the skinning blade, without the operator reaching across the skinning blade to pick up or grasp the meat product.

Abstract: A cutter blade assembly for cutting a product, such as a carrot, into a plurality of finished end products, such as carrot sticks, comprises a blade holder and a first and second blade group disposed within the blade holder. The blade holder has a longitudinal passage formed therein. The first blade group comprises a plurality of first blades radially disposed about the longitudinal passage for cutting a first group of finished end products from the product as the product is advanced through the longitudinal passage. The second blade group comprises a plurality of second blades radially disposed about the longitudinal passage and angularly displaced with respect to the first blades. The second blades cut a second group of finished end products from the product as the product is further advanced through the longitudinal passage. Since both the first and second blades produce finished end products, the utilization of the product is maximized, and the amount of waste generated from the product is minimized.

Abstract: A rotating cropping and sampling shear for rapidly running rolling stock, particularly for wire and/or bar steel is disclosed. The shear has a blade support rotatable in a shear housing and is constructed in a hollow-cylindrical manner. The shear has a ring blade whose cutting edge rotates at the hollow-cylindrical wall of the blade support, a blade drum which is axially spaced from the blade support and is rotatable in the same rotational plane and includes a ring blade arranged at the outer circumference whose cutting edge runs along the outer wall of the drum. The rolling stock is guided in the space between the blade support and the blade drum. The blade support or the blade drum can be displaced axially relative to one another and one inside the other by a displacing device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transportable wood processing apparatus (10) for cutting, sorting and loading firewood and the like. A frame (12) is carried by wheels (14, 16) and includes a guide tongue (20) and trailer hitch (22) for moving the apparatus from location to location. A stop plate (42) sets the length of firewood which is cut by a reciprocating saw (38). A divider (54) is laterally offset from saw table (32) such that the cut firewood will fall either to side (58) or side (60) and be sorted according to relative size depending upon which side the center of gravity of the firewood lies. The cut firewood either falls into a feed conveyor (68) which then feeds a loading conveyor (70) for loading a vehicle or, if too large for direct loading, falls into a splitter conveyor (72) and is carried to a splitter table (74) for splitting with splitter (76). After being split, the firewood is placed into loading conveyor (70).

Abstract: An improved triple wall corrugated paper board fold construction is formed by joining a single face web with a nonadhered band of the medium to a contiguous liner of another one of the single face webs, slitting and removing a portion of the nonadhered band along a narrow bending area, and removing the slit strip to leave a bending groove formed with one or more score lines in the material underlying the groove, as the board continuously moves along a path of travel.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are disclosed for separating or slitting a rigid material, in particular a piece of wood, having a modulus of elasticity of between 50,000 and 400,000 kg/cm.sup.2. A narrow tool having chip-removing elements, in particular a circular saw blade, produces a slot or kerf of finite width in the material at a cutting speed of more than 40 m/s. After the chip-removing elements having passed, a separator element bends a side piece out of the slot plane so that after the chip-removing elements have passed, the side piece is always at a distance from the tool. When viewed along the feed direction of the material, the separator element is provided with a hump at a distance from its periphery adjoining the tool and being first to come into contact with the material when the material is fed in. An imaginary connection line extending between the hump and the chip-removing elements is at a distance above a first portion of the separator element lying between the hump and the periphery.

Abstract: An electrostatic plotter includes a housing having a side to be confronted by an operator. A recording head is disposed in the housing for recording a latent image on a recording paper supplied from a roll of recording paper disposed in the housing near the operator side. The latent image recorded on the recording paper is developed into a visible image by a developing unit in the housing. A cutting unit cuts off a sheet with the developed visible image thereon from the recording paper and discharges the cut sheet toward the operator side of the housing. A control unit controls the cutting unit and issues a size signal indicative of the size of each of sheets cut off by the cutting unit. A plurality of stackers are positioned on a discharge side of the cutting unit and operable to sort and store the cut sheets in response to the size signal.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for shearing to length steel bars coming from a rolling mill in which the rolled product is continuously fed to the first of a plurality of stepped collecting chambers, of a braking/distributing apparatus which brakes and distributes the sheared bars and in phase to the stepped chambers by shearing to length a first bar and introducing the leading end of a second bar, following the first bar, to a second collection chamber; shearing to length said second bar and, by means of the shifting of said collection chambers, discharging said first, braked bar onto conveyor means.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method serve for cutting elongate pieces of wood having a modulus of elasticity between 50,000 and 400,000 kg/cm.sup.2. A circular saw blade is provided having a plurality of spaced peripheral teeth. The saw blade is rotated about an axis at a cutting speed exceeding 40 m/s. The pieces of wood are displaced relative to the saw blade along a feeding direction extending perpendicular to the saw blade axis of rotation. A stationary bending element is arranged on a broad side of the saw blade adjoining the cutting teeth. The bending element has a radially profiled surface with at thickness increasing towards the axis and decreasing towards the cutting teeth. The saw blade can be used to cut a slot into the pieces of wood along the feeding direction, thus generating a first and a second section of the pieces of wood. The bending element ensures that the first section is lifted from the saw blade immediately after the formation of the slot.

Abstract: A system for dispensing labels for labelling goods which move in single file past a labelling position, using a strip of labelling material in which labels are pre-punched to leave adhesive bridges. The strip of labels is drawn from a supply to a dispenser. As a new label reaches the dispenser in a "ready" position, the preceding label arrives at the labelling position in a linear extension of its travel. At the dispenser, the label is separated from label skeleton of the strip of labels by deflecting the label skeleton. Individual labels are pre-punched in a paper strip across the entire area of the label, with the exception of narrow adhesive bridges. Adhesive bridges furthest forward are separated first, followed by adhesive bridges to the rear of the label, shortly before the label is separated from the label skeleton.

Abstract: In a cutting system and method for cutting pattern pieces from flexible sheet material, after the cutting the cut pattern pieces are separated from the waste material by moving the material forwardly to a separating station at which the waste material is pulled from one point to another so as to be tensioned and constrained to move along one path to one delivery station, while cut pattern pieces are not similarly pulled or tensioned but instead are allowed to move by gravity to a different path leading to another delivery station. An associated means, such as a roll with a resilient outer surface or a plurality of plungers, applies forces to the material to aid gravity in the separation of the pattern pieces by tending to push such pieces from the waste material. The material may also be vibrated to assist in the dislodgment of the pattern pieces from the waste material.

Abstract: Apparatus for sizing and bandsaw cutting of meat, wherein the pieces of product to be cut are mounted in a magazine for rotation around a path which intercepts a sensor means and a bandsaw, with the pieces resting on a vertically adjustable horizontal table, the sensor means being disposed in the surface of the table to sense the area of the lower face of the product, thereby to enable automatic adjustment of the level of the table so that the bandsaw cuts a slice of product of required size from the lower end of the pieces.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting cards into thin strips and for transferring predetermined numbers of strips into bottles or the like has a rotary knife set which slits the cards into strips and directs alternate ones of the strips into slots on one side of a carrier and directs the others of the strips into slots at the opposite side of the carrier. The strips are delivered to collection chambers for transfer to bottles, by relative movement of the carrier and collection chambers. In the preferred form of the invention, the carrier extends between two spaced apart pairs of collection chambers and alternately delivers batches of strips to each pair. The apparatus may be used in the bottling of medical diagnostic strips which exhibit a color change when exposed to body fluids of patients having certain medical conditions and enables high speed production and bottling of such strips or similar articles.

Abstract: A cutter for punching a sheet of material having a fixed block disposed so as to face one side of the sheet, a punching blade disposed at the opposite side of the sheet relative to the fixed block, a cutting blade disposed spacedly and along the punching blade, and a transporting roller disposed inside the moving blade. A punched-out portion punched by the punching blade is thereby transported with and separated from a punched-remaining portion cut by the cutting blade.

Abstract: A signature handling apparatus includes a first conveyor which sequentially moves signatures to a discharge station. At the discharge station, the signatures are sequentially transferred to a receiving conveyor. A corrugator assembly is located at the discharge station to stiffen the signatures by forming corrugations which extend between leading and trailing end portions of the signatures. Although the corrugations are only temporarily maintained in the signature, the corrugator assembly is close enough to the receiving conveyor so that a corrugation is maintained in a signature as a leading end portion of the signature moves to the receiving conveyor. Thus, the corrugator assembly is spaced from the receiving conveyor by a distance which is less than the distance between the leading and trailing end portions of the signatures.

Abstract: Plant to perform cropping and to take samples, which is suitable to crop the head and tail of a rolled product which may travel at high or very high speeds, the head and tail being discharged through an independent discharge conduit (15), the plant comprising at least one flying shears (11) at least for the shearing and correct delivery of the head and tail, the discharge conduit (15) cooperating with a flying shears (18) to take samples, at least one container (19) for the portions collected as samples being located downstream of the sampling flying shears (18).

Abstract: Very high speed flying shears (10) which is suitable to shear rolled stock (18) travelling even at more than 100 meters per second and comprises two knives (14) with blades (17) able to contrarotate in relation to each other at a preset speed at least in the transient period of shearing and is equipped with a guide (11) able to move sideways (19-119) at a pre-set speed (V) and to position itself in a defined position in relation to the circumferential position of the blades (17), an inner dividing wall (27) being located downstream of the knives (14) in a conveyor channel (13), in which shears (10) during the transient period of shearing;the speeds (VR) of lateral movement of the guide (11) and of rotation of the knives (14) are correlated, andthe lateral position of the guide (11) and the cirmcumferential position of the blades (17) of the knives (14) are strictly interdependent.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are described for making individual strips and feeding the strips to a packaging machine for the strips, in particular to a sealing machine, for sealing the strips into a sheet or foil. The individual strips are cut simultaneously from card-like material and by continuous constrained guiding led from the cutting means to the packaging machine. The constrained guiding is provided by magazines with receiving compartments for the strips and clocked transfer means. This makes it possible to obtain a high cutting output and a correspondingly high and exact packaging output. The invention is intended in particular for processing diagnostic test strips.

Abstract: A sheet metal shear assembly including a pair of shear elements supported at a fixed angle relative to one another to define a shear nip point. The shear elements are supported by jaw-like support members having outer ends which are spaced from one another to define an open entrance through which, by relative movement of the shear assembly and a steel sheet or a strip from a coil, the sheet or strip can be advanced edgewise toward and brought into shearing contact with and move past the shear elements to effect a continuous shearing of the sheet or strip.

Abstract: A method and a device serve for cutting or slotting rigid material, in particular wood, having a modulus of elasticity of, preferably, approximately 50,000 to 400,000 kg/cm.sup.2. A gap of finite width is cut into the material by a narrow tool comprising cutting elements, in particular a circular saw blade, at a cutting speed of over 40 m/s. After passage of the cutting element a timber section is always lifted off the remainder of the material and bent out of the plane of the gap. In order to reduce the thermal loading of the tool, which is generated by the friction between the timber section and the tool, the timber section is always bent off in such a manner that once the timber section has left the cutting elements, it is spaced a certain distance from the circular saw blade.

Abstract: A cutter for punching a sheet of material having a fixed block disposed so as to face one side of the sheet, a moving blade disposed at the opposite side of the sheet relative to the fixed block, and a transporting roller disposed inside the moving blade. A punched-out portion is thereby transported along with a punched-remainder portion.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting and dividing a continuous stream of printed products, in which the paper sheet is folded by means of a longitudinal folding system and is then sheared to the format length, and in which the continuous stream of printed products is divided into two transport paths.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus to longitudinally cut a cord reinforced rubber sheet into at least two strips of tire ply stock while the sheet is being conveyed past the apparatus. The apparatus includes a slitting device that utilizes shear-type action to cut through the sheet by the interaction of rotating disc-like upper and lower slitters. The upper slitter is power driven while the lower slitter is rotated by frictional contact between the upper and lower slitter. The apparatus may include a trimming device for trimming a boundary strip of the sheet. The trimming device also utilizes shear-type action to trim the sheet by rotating disc-like upper and lower trimmers similar to the upper and lower disc-like slitters of the slitting device.

Abstract: A system for continuously removing and transporting trimmed edge metal scrap material in the form of a indeterminate length of ribbon from a strip edge trimming or slitting station in a strip processing line to a final disposal station wherein the trimming station can be advantageously disposed in the path of travel of the strip of metal being processed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the said system includes a curvilinear enclosed conveyor means, one open end of which is disposed in the area of the trimming station and the other open end of which is disposed adjacent to the disposal station for continuously capturing the trimmed edge metal scrap material from the trimming station as it is cut from the moving strip of metal and then directing it to the disposal station at the proper rate of speed.

Abstract: A sheet diverter, adapted for cooperative association with a cutter in a pinless folder assembly for a high speed printing press, wherein a ribbon is cut into a plurality of signatures destined for serially deflected parallel collation from a diverter path through the sheet diverter to a desired one of a plurality of collation paths to systematize the order of the signatures into a selected array, is comprised of an oscillating diverter guide member reciprocating in a diverter plane having a component generally normal to the diverter path of a signature through the guide member, for directing the lateral disposition of the leading edge of the signature into engagement with a diverter member separating a plurality of collation paths, each having a throat for receiving a selected signature and merging to a confined course for guiding it, the diverter member including a diversion surface disposed in each of the throats lying at a diversion angle respecting the travel of the signature from the oscillating guide m

Abstract: An improved press produces oval blanks arranged in a "nested" pattern from a web of material. The press includes a cutting die plate having a plurality of oval-shaped discharge apertures, an inclined die shoe underneath the cutting die plate, and a punch for piercing a web supported on the cutting die plate to form blanks and then deposit the blanks into the inclined die shoe via the discharge apertures. Partitions divide the inclined die shoe into a plurality of blank transfer lanes. Each transfer lane connects one of the discharge apertures to a companion exit region. Guide rails are provided to guide blanks deposited into the transfer lanes toward the exit regions as the blanks fall under gravity through the inclined die shoe.

Abstract: A tandem arrangement of diecutting rolls severs scrap from a traveling web in two steps, each of which steps effects cutting entirely through the web, but at different peripheral locations. The partially cut scrap is carried with the remainder of the web from the first roll to the second, and any severed piece that lodges within the cutting element of the second roll is removed by the action of a mechanical scraper, which passes therethrough.

Abstract: In a device for introducing a web of material into a processing machine that has a knife for separating at least one edge of the web and means of conveying the edge, a pair of pressure rolls that divert the edge to one side out of its original course and convey it farther and a downstream transverse knife that has guide surfaces that guide the initial section of the edge onto a feed surface and/or into rope scissors. The device can be rotated around a vertical axis.

Abstract: Upon upper and lower cutting tools, in a slitting machine, cutting along the opposite edges of a web being adjusted transversely to the web, a corresponding suction nozzle, for taking up the cut-off edge of the web, is correspondingly adjusted transversely to ensure that it takes up the cut-off edge, by a respective drive unit. For ensuring entry of the leading end of a cut-off edge strip into the nozzle, a respective finger is swung down in advance of the leading end.

Abstract: Method and apparatus by which bread loaves or the like are split in half, and thereafter turned mechanically through 180.degree. with respect to one another so that the heel and cut ends of both of the two half loaves are oriented in the same way. The half loaves are thereafter sliced and then packaged in separate packages but in the same orientation with respect to each package.

Abstract: A system for trimming the edges of a metal strip and chopping the trimmed metal into small pieces. The system includes an automatic twin-edge trimmer, two chutes fastened to the trimmer and a scrap chopper. The twin-edge trimmer comprises two sets of coacting rotary slitter knives, one set for each edge of the strip and a backup roll adjacent to each knife in order to hold the strip flat while the cuts are being made. There are two mirror image chutes, each of which receives trimmings from one edge of the strip. Each chute is shaped and fastened to the trimmer in such a way that it completely surrounds the trim cut by the edge trimmer. The chutes are inclined downwardly at an angle with respect to the plane of the strip that matches that of the trimmings. The scrap chopper receives trim from both chutes and cuts the trim into small pieces. One edge trimmer is mounted for lateral movement with respect to the strip during trimming to provide an "on-the-fly" adjustment in the width of the strip thus trimmed.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing staples from paper, card and like sheet-form material is disclosed. The apparatus includes an anvil which deflects downwardly the leading end portion of a sheet inserted into the apparatus. A staple in the incoming sheet abuts against a tongue which causes the tongue to pivot rearwardly. The tongue is then moved towards the anvil to indent the paper adjacent the staple and orient the staple against the front face of the tongue. Next, the tongue is returned to a vertical position and the staple is pressed upwardly into a relieved portion of a rotary knife. The knife then slices off the top of the staple and removes the sliced off portion. Remaining portions of the staple are stripped from the paper as it is withdrawn from the apparatus.

Abstract: A machine for portioning meat, comprising a rotatable meat containing drum which moves the meat in a circular path intersecting the cutting flight of a bandsaw, the meat sliding around on a table on to a depth stop in the form of a flush conveyor which assists transport of the meat through the cutting station and to a downstream separating station at which a deflector engages the cut slice of meat below the level of the bandsaw to push said cut slice out from under the main joint, so that the said slice is further transported by the conveyor to an outlet while the main joint is retained by the drum and drops down back on to the table.

Abstract: A sheet diverter in the path of a stream of cut sheets to be diverted in predetermined sequence in different directions in which a pair of rotary diverters having cam surfaces thereon divert and guide the sheets in the predetermined sequence relative to a pair of guiding surfaces.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting bread is disclosed. The apparatus includes a conveyor which conveys bread through a positioner to a circular, vertically disposed, rotatably mounted cutting blade. The positioner positions the bread with respect to the cutting blade to control the size and configuration of the pieces of bread cut by the cutting blade. A displacement member separates the upper portions of the cut pieces of bread, thus causing the pieces to separate and drop downwardly with the cut face of each piece of bread facing upwardly.

Abstract: A film slitter is described including means for supporting a blade in an unexposed condition. The slitter comprises a support which is selectively slidably mounted on a supporting member. The support is provided with an elongated slot extending downwardly thereinto which is adapted to receive a blade in a vertically disposed position. A second slot extends downwardly into the upper end of the support and extends between the first slot and one side of the support member. A second slot extends downwardly into the upper end of the support at the other side of the first slot and extends between the first slot and the other side of the support. The lower ends of the second and third slots extend in diverging directions with respect to each other.

Abstract: Apparatus to cut a carpet into two sections with the edge of each section being beveled. The apparatus employs two rotary cutters mounted at an angle to each other and which are driven at the same speed in the same direction.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing filter-tipped cigarettes, in which a band is wound on the end of the cylinder of tobacco and on the filter tip so as to encircle them and connect them together, wherein, on the path followed by the paper serving to constitute the band before winding and connection, the paper is slit longitudinally and the two edges of the slit are spaced apart in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the cigarette, as a function of the desired rate of dilution of the smoke.

Abstract: An apparatus for the longitudinal cutting of webs of material into individual strips has a plurality of cutter pairs consisting of a lower cutter and an upper cutter and disposed side by side. The spreading of the material on its width and the spreading apart of the strips of material after cutting is brought about solely by the mounting of the cutter pairs in an arc along the direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the web and by the tilting movement of the cutter pairs into the plane of movement of the web of material.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a blank sheet into strips and for stacking these strips in adjoining compartments separated by partitions is disclosed, the apparatus having circular blades mounted opposite each other in such a manner that they slightly overlap and are at an interval from each other in the axial direction on at least two shafts which can be rotated in opposite directions and are substantially one above the other, in order to cut the blank sheet fed between the circular blades and to feed the cut strips in the direction of the feed downward onto an inclined slide surface, which has, substantially on the same vertical longitudinal plane as the walls of the said adjacent compartments, guide walls the upper ends of which are preferably beveled and meet the inclined surface in order to receive the cut strips and to guide each of them into its respective compartment, lateral-transfer trays which extend, as seen in the direction of the feed, slightly forward and downward from the circular blades, are also i

Abstract: A plurality of flexible panels are disposed side by side and extending in the direction of movement of a web. The panels are supported intermediate their ends by a fulcrum means transverse to the web path. A discrete power means is coupled to each end of each panel for selectively and independently raising and lowering the free ends of the panels while flexing the panels.

Abstract: A combined apparatus is provided for handling rolled material issuing from a rolling mill finishing line. An arrangement is provided for cropping the head and tail ends of the rolled material running at high speed after it is divided into the desired lengths and for diverting the cropped lengths to a path separate from the cropped ends. Also, arrangements are provided for coordinating the actual speed of the issuing rolled material with the rotary shears for dividing the rolled material into lengths. In addition, arrangements are provided for the controlled chopping of the cropped ends in relation to the speed of the line.

Abstract: Food patties are severed from logs and fed into magazines. A plurality of logs may be processed simultaneously; and the severed patties may be simultaneously fed in columns into one or more magazines. Under certain conditions columns of patties are moved through a transition means to separate same prior to entering the magazines. Thereafter successive magazines are moved to a position where the patties are sequentially deposited from the magazines onto a divider web and conveyor.

Abstract: Process and apparatus are herein described for shearing and alternatively directing a continuously produced strand into or away from a strand collection device, particularly a pot spinning device. The novel apparatus is located between a strand producing unit and a collection unit and includes an elongate upright funnel with a transverse slide at the lower outlet of the funnel. The slide carries a straight tubular section and an angular tubular section, with a cut-off blade between the sections. The slide is reciprocated to bring either of the two sections into register with the outlet of the funnel, with the blade serving to sever the strand as the slide is moved to either position. When the staight section is in register, the strand enters the collection unit. When the angular section is in register, the strand is diverted away from the collection unit. The device is particularly used when operation of the collection unit is interrupted while allowing strand production to continue.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a resilient, readily stretchable tubular member for receiving and packaging articles therein, the apparatus including means for uniting two contiguous layers of flexible foam sheet material by fusibly uniting adjacent side edges of the two layers to form the same into a tubular member. Slitting means is provided for slitting the foam material in a pattern of spaced apart rows of spaced incisions, the rows being so arranged that the tube may be stretched radially to receive therein an article of greater cross sectional area than the initial internal cross sectional area of the tube.