Abstract: Packaging material may be profiled to generate an incremental containment force per revolution (ICF) attribute that is represented by a function that is variable as a function of wrap force. Moreover, the performance of different packaging materials, e.g., in terms of speed or cost, may be compared for a particular load through simulation of wrap operations based upon dimensions of the load and a desired load containment force requirement for the load.

Abstract: A plate dividing-system includes a first advancing device for moving plate-shaped workpieces, the first advancing device having a first support and a plurality of first gripping mechanisms, the plate dividing-system having a second advancing device for moving plate-shaped workpieces, the second advancing device having a second support and at least a second gripping mechanism. In addition, the plate dividing-system features a feed area that extends transversely to the advancing device, in which feed area the workpieces to be moved are arranged. The second support is arranged laterally outside the feed area and is movable in the direction of feed.

Abstract: A plate divider-system (10) comprises a first advancing device (20) for moving plate-shaped workpieces (18), said advancing device comprising a first support (26) and a variety of first gripping mechanisms (24) and of a second advancing device (28), which comprises a second support (30) and at least a second gripping mechanism (32). In addition, the plate divider-system features a feed area (28) that extends transversally to the advancing device (22), in which feed area the workpieces (18) to be moved can be arranged, and which manifests a first working width (40) diagonally to the advancing device (22), in which the first gripping mechanisms (24) are arranged, and a second working width (42), in which the second gripping mechanism (32) is arranged. The second support (30) is arranged laterally outside the feed area (38) and is movable in the direction of feed (22).

Abstract: A slicing machine includes a machine frame having a food loaf delivery path arranged in a longitudinal direction, and a cutting assembly arranged in the delivery path. The cutting assembly has two longitudinally directed reciprocating blades facing upstream in the delivery path. In operation, the loaf is pressed through the cutting assembly which cuts the loaf into quarter sections. A slicing blade is arranged in the delivery path downstream of the cutting assembly, the slicing blade arranged to slice the sectioned food loaf transversely to the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: The dispenser dispenses tickets from a strip where tickets are delineated by perforation lines. The dispenser includes a separator to tear the tickets apart before issuing them from the machine. The separator preferably is rotary and has a dull helical blade to tear the tickets apart along the perforation line. Preferably, a bar code reader is provided for reading codes on tickets in order to initialize the dispenser control system, to account for ticket sales, and to verify the sale of winning tickets. A game is provided where a jackpot is built up using the detection of each ticket sold. The mechanism is simplified by using a separator member and transport drive structures that span a plurality of different channels or bins of a multi-channel dispenser. This provides a very compact, simple, secure and low-cost mechanism that is used both in stand-alone ticket vending machines, and in counter-top attended dispensers.

Abstract: A device for trimming multiple streams of printed products including a first trimming unit for trimming at least one side of a first stream of printed products, and a second trimming unit for trimming at least one side of a second stream of printed products, the first stream and the second stream having a similar direction. Also disclosed is a method for trimming multiple streams of printed products comprising moving a first stream of printed products in a first direction, trimming at least one side of the first stream, moving a second stream of printed products separate from the first stream in a direction similar to the first direction, and trimming at least one side of the second stream.

Abstract: A device for trimming multiple streams of printed products including a first trimming unit for trimming at least one side of a first stream of printed products, and a second trimming unit for trimming at least one side of a second stream of printed products, the first stream and the second stream having a similar direction. Also disclosed is a method for trimming multiple streams of printed products comprising moving a first stream of printed products in a first direction, trimming at least one side of the first stream, moving a second stream of printed products separate from the first stream in a direction similar to the first direction, and trimming at least one side of the second stream.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for cutting stacked, sheet-like material, having a table surface which has a working zone, above which a cutting blade and a press beam are located, an entry zone behind the working zone for receiving the material to be cut and an exit zone in front of the working zone for receiving the cut material, a feed device for the material to be cut, which feed device has teeth which engage grooves of the press beam when the feed device is in its foremost position, and also a side stop for aligning the material to be cut by means of a pressing slide movable in the area of the working zone in the direction of the line of cut, where the feed device extends essentially over the entire width of the table surface, and the pressing slide is effective solely in the area of the working zone formed between the cutting plane and the foremost position of the feed device, thus allowing alignment of the material to be cut in direct proximity to the cutting plane.

Abstract: A machine tool for processing flat stock comprises a work table having a processing surface, which can preferably be subjected to a vacuum, and a tool carriage, which is movable along the processing surface. A feeder is associated with the work table at one end thereof. In order to provide such a machine tool which involves a relatively small structural expenditure and distinguishes by an economical mode of operation, the work table is supplemented toward the feeder by a receiving table having a receiving surface of the work table, and the machine table composed of the work table and the receiving table supports two pallets, which are reciprocable between positions on the work table and the receiving table and in alternation constitute the processing surface of the work table and the receiving surface of the receiving table.

Abstract: A roll type stock feed apparatus having a servomotor drive and a programmable controller operable to drive the feed rolls to feed stock in preselected incremental lengths. A ram position sensor is arranged to be actuated when the ram moves in a downstroke and to be deactuated when the ram moves in an upstroke and the programmable controller is operated in response to the sensor to drive the feed rolls when the sensor is deactuated. The interval between successive actuations of the ram position sensor is timed to measure press speed. The interval between actuation and deactuation of the ram position sensor is also timed to control shifting of one feed roll into feeding engagement with the stock when the ram is at a preselected position intermediate the ram positions at which the sensor is actuated and deactuated.

Abstract: A selective wire feed for feeding any one of a plurality of wires which are arranged in pairs, each pair having a first wire and a second wire. Each wire pair has a feeding unit associated therewith which comprises a driven belt and two idler belts. The idler belts are movable between a feeding position and a non-feeding position. A specific wire is fed by moving its associated feeding belt to its feeding position and actuating the driven belt so that the wire is fed by the two belts. A wire guide is provided and has convergent passageways which extend to a wire outlet. A cutter is provided adjacent to the outlet so that a wire which has been fed can be cut. Thereafter, the wire which has been fed can be retracted by reversing the direction of the driven belt.

Abstract: In a device for advancing several workpieces placed side by side, a slide comprises several thin plates arranged alongside of one another. These thin plates are positionable against the workpiece end remote from a stop and are movable back and forth over a predetermined compensation distance parallel to the direction of advance of the workpieces. The compensation distance is longer than the greatest difference in length between the workpieces. The thin plates are prestressed by an energy accumulator which exerts a force which is larger than the force required for the advance of the workpieces. A first switch is arranged on the slide to switch off the slide drive as soon as one of the thin plates is displaced beyond the compensation distance in the direction opposite to the direction of advance.

Abstract: In an apparatus for introducing a belt-shaped material to a cutting machine, stationary conveyors are laid vertically in such a manner as to form different angles with respect to the cutting machine and combined respectively, with lift conveyors which are also laid vertically to convey belt shaped materials to the cutting machine. The lift conveyors are moved vertically by lifting means unit a desired one of the lift conveyors comes to the belt-shaped material introducing position of the cutting machine.

Abstract: To change reels (11, 12) of packaging material in or on packaging machines, a front region of a connecting sheet (13) is held ready in an exact relative position in a common conveyor track (18). When the end of a run-off sheet (10) is reached, an end piece of the latter is severed, so that the run-off end and the front end of the sheets of material (10, 13) can be conveyed (further) in an exact position to one another.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering web material or the like from rolls comprises a rotatable holder that holds a plurality of web supply rolls and for each roll is provided with a separate support member for supporting the free end of a portion of the web unwound from the roll. The roll holder is movable between a plurality of positions in each of which one of the supply rolls is in an active position at a location where a portion of its web can be unwound and transported over a cutting edge provided on the related support member, and where a cutting element separate from the holder can be operated to cut off a sheet of required length from the unwound material of the positioned supply roll by cooperation with the related cutting edge.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting planar workpieces including a saw movable through a cutting stroke in a substantially horizontal direction with a first and a second table being provided on opposite sides of the saw. The planar workpieces are first fed from the first table onto the second table through a first cutting operation and the cut parts are rotated relative to the saw on the second table and then fed through a second cutting operation back onto the first table. A pusher device is provided on the second table for feeding the planar cut parts and a feeding device on the first table operates to selectively feed planar strips from the first table to the second table. The first table is provided with two sets of rollers capable of conveying planar parts in two transverse directions with the sets of rollers being vertically displaceable relative to each other.

Abstract: A stock feed and shear system which may be utilized in an automatic ticket vending machine for cutting tickets from different rolls of stock and delivering the tickets to other components such as a printer and a magnetic encoding transport. The rolls are supported on reels having releasable clamp mechanisms for allowing rapid replacement of spent reels while providing a predetermined drag between the roll cores and the reels. The reels are spring loaded so that stock can be unwound from the rolls only by positively driving the same with selectively driven pinch rollers. Guide tracks direct the stock to a rotary shear which cuts single ticket lengths from the stock without metal to metal contact, thereby achieving excellent service life. Sensors provide an indication of spent rolls, completion of a cutting operation, and presence of a ticket in the shear. In another embodiment paper or plastic tickets are pre-cut by a two-way rotary shear and are held in escrow.

Abstract: An apparatus for ganging and cutting a plurality of layers of strip material in predetermined lengths includes a frame supporting a drive and driven roller acting together to draw the layers of material to a cutter where the layers of material are severed. The drive roller, acting with the driven roller, draws a plurality of layers of material from a rack structure where each layer is individually wound on a rotatable roll. Each layer of strip material is drawn from a roll and a plurality of layers are ganged over a cylindrical roller. The ganged layers of material are directed over a convex-concave roller combination to maintain alignment. The layers of material are then drawn over an upper support roller and are guided to the drive roller through a guide plate structure. The guide plate structure includes a back plate having a slot therein and a top plate having a longitudinal shoulder corresponding to the slot.

Abstract: Sheet material is moved along its length from a supply to a take-up spool and the material is inspected as it is moved. A garment pattern image is projected on and is moved with the material. The operator determines where the material is to be cut either from the length accumulated on the take-up spool or from the image projected on the material, and if a flaw in the material is detected, the operator determines if the flaw should be removed by identifying the pattern part in the garment from the image projected on the material where the flaw will appear. If the flaw is to be removed, the operator cuts the flaw out and splices the cut ends of material together at splice marks in the image projected on the material. The spools loaded with sheet material with this procedure are loaded in a creel, and the ends of the sheets of material from the spools in the creel are aligned in a vertically stacked arrangement and moved to a cutting apparatus where the garment pattern is cut in the stacked sheets of material.

Abstract: A method of and device for interconnecting individual profiled plates to be connected to each other end-to-end, and a structural connection effected thereby, according to which the plates to be interconnected are aligned in end-to-end relationship and a sheet metal section withdrawn from a roll of sheet metal strip material, or a pre-profiled sheet metal part is placed across the ends to be interconnected of profiled plates whereupon a ram is moved relative to the sheet metal section or profiled sheet metal part to press the sheet metal section or sheet metal part into the profiled portion of the profiled plates and the sheet metal section now profiled or the pre-profiled sheet metal part is connected to the profiled plates.

Abstract: The strips to be fed to a cutting line are positioned side by side on a supporting table. Above the table there is arranged a structure which is movable transversally with respect to the feeding direction of the strips. On the underside of the structure there are provided two pusher carriers, in the form of elongated bars carrying a plurality of pushers intended to engage the strips on the table. Each pusher carrier is movable, independently with respect to the other one, towards and away from the cutting line. The pusher carriers can be moved transversally with respect to the feeding direction, so that each one of the pusher carriers can selectively engage a predetermined number of strips. Thereafter, the pusher carriers are moved towards the cutting line independently the one from the other, with consequent variations of the amount of feed of the strips, which will eventually result into obtaining panels of different sizes from the different strips.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in an apparatus for cutting a sheet from a web of material, including a magazine roll for the web of material, a cutting station, at least one feeding device for the web upstream of the cutting station and which is stationary during a cutting operation, a feeding device downstream of the cutting station and which is in operation during a cutting operation, movable curved guide means between the cutting station and the downstream feeding device, which guide means provides a shorter path for the web of material between the cutting station and the feeding device downstream thereof during the cutting operation,The improvement comprising separate drive means for the movable curved guide means,Additional feeding means for the web including at least one rotary element means positioned between the cutting station and the movable guide means, said rotary element means being adapted to rest against a web of material with a frictional force lower than that of the other feeding de