Abstract: An infeed apparatus for a sheet material article trimmer includes a pusher element for moving a sheet material article to be trimmed on a front table of the trimmer and into engagement with a backstop of the front table. The pusher element is moved by a driver which moves the pusher element at the same speed as the front table for a period of time with the pusher element in engagement with a back edge portion of the sheet material article and the backstop in engagement with a front edge portion of the sheet material article. The period of time is at least as long as the time required for a front clamp of the sheet material article trimmer to grip the sheet material article against the front table. A method is also provided.

Abstract: An infeed apparatus for a sheet material article trimmer includes a pusher element for moving a sheet material article to be trimmed on a front table of the trimmer and into engagement with a backstop of the front table. The pusher element is moved by a driver which moves the pusher element at the same speed as the front table for a period of time with the pusher element in engagement with a back edge portion of the sheet material article and the backstop in engagement with a front edge portion of the sheet material article. The period of time is at least as long as the time required for the front clamp to move through a distance corresponding to the difference in thickness between the thinnest sheet material article and the thickest sheet material article to grip the sheet material article against the front table.

Abstract: A machine, for example machine for cutting discrete sheets of material from a web, which includes a web supply and a processing station such as a cutoff station, is provided with a variable index drive operating feed structure for moving the web intermittently a predetermined but adjustable distance. The web is advanced intermittently and at which the frequency that varies in direct relation to the continuous speed of an input drive motor. The amount at which the web is fed during each cycle of the intermittent motion is settable by an operator by varying a continuous dial of a variable index drive.

Abstract: A selected length of a strip of material is intermittently fed past a cutting position having cutting means. The cutting means is activated only after a selected number greater than one of the selected lengths of the strip of material has been intermittently fed past the cutting position. The selected number of the selected length of the strip is variable so as to cut the same number of the selected length of the strip each time or to cut a varying number of the selected length of the strip in a sequential pattern. The selected length, which is fed during each intermittent feeding, also is variable.

Abstract: A control shaft extends through and is rotatable in a housing parallel to a stub shaft therein which has one end extending through one wall thereof. Within the housing are four bevel gears, one being keyed or fixed to the control shaft, a second rotatable on and relative to the control shaft, and the remaining two meshing with the first and second ones and carried on a block that is rotatable on and relative to the control shaft. The second bevel gear is keyed to the larger of a pair of meshing spur gears, such larger gear being rotatable relative to the control shaft and the smaller spur gear being fixed to the stub shaft. Respective discs are fixed on the adjacent ends of the two shafts, and articulated holding devices are operable to alternately hold and release the discs.