Abstract: A method and apparatus for slitting ribbon stock for use in making fins for a heat exchanger. A pair of slitter wheels are mounted to co-act on separate shafts. One of the shafts is driven by a motor and the other shaft is driven therefrom. Notched pulleys mounted on each shaft and a double sided belt connects the pulleys to maintain the slitter teeth and respective wheels in registration during rotation. A phase shifting device is further provided to allow for initial alignment of the slitter teeth relative to the pulleys.

Abstract: At a transition between first and second sets of registration marks on a web, a target is applied adjacent the initial mark of the second set. The target is sensed and tracked electronically to a shear station. During an order change or a roll-to-roll change within an order, the web is automatically severed transversely by the shear at the transition between the sets of marks, and the target is tracked to a station intermediate the shear and the cut-off machine. The cut-off machine knives "crop" cut the web at the target and thereafter cut the web automatically in synchronization with the second set of marks. Operation of the cut-off machine knives in the cut-to-mark mode is maintained without loss of synchronization across the transition in the web. Operator intervention is eliminated, and scrap is minimized.

Abstract: Driving a dividing shear to a home position after cutting a workpiece is done without oscillations at the home position. Control uses shear position feedback signal to shape nonlinearly a variable shear velocity reference signal such that no overshoot occurs. Adaptive control procedure automatically adjusts variable shear velocity reference signal to compensate for dynamic changes in cutting operation.

Abstract: A first drive apparatus for a thermoplastic web operates at an automatically adjusted, substantially constant, speed to deliver the thermoplastic web to a welding tool which rotates with a second pair of rollers. The second pair of rollers are driven at a cyclically variable speed in which the minimum speed is attained at the time when the welding tool is in contact with the thermoplastic web. An automatic control system adjusts the speed of the feed rollers to correspond to the speed of the welding tool at the instant during which welding is performed. Adjustment of the ratio of the maximum to the minimum speed of the cyclically variable speed of the second pair of rollers controls the length of thermoplastic web between welds without changing the speed of the driving input to the second pair of rollers.

Abstract: Apparatus for subdividing a running paper web into sections of desired length has a first motor which drives the web at a constant speed and a D.C. motor which drives an orbiting knife at a speed which varies during each angular movement of the knife through 360 degrees. A detector which monitors the speed of the web transmits signals which are utilized to insure that the speed of the knife matches the speed of the web during that stage of each orbital movement when the knife cuts the web. The length of intervals between successive cutting operations is adjustable by connecting the knife with any one of several graduated disks whose graduations are monitored by a second detector which controls the speed of the knife during intervals between successive cutting operations.

Abstract: A running web cutting device in which a vertically movable cutter is driven by a crank mechanism. A reciprocating stand holding an upper cutting edge and lower cutting edge is provided in such a manner to be moved in the direction of advancement of a web by a reciprocating guide. The upper and lower cutting edges are driven through the same crank shaft coupled to a cutter driving motor. A value J (J=J Wo/To where J is the conversion inertial moment of a driving motor including a load, Wo is the rated speed thereof, and To is the rated torque thereof) of said cutter driving motor is represented by J.sub.C while a value J of a web feeding motor driving a web feeding drum is represented by J.sub.F. The cutter driving motor and the web feeding motor are chosen so that J.sub.C smaller than J.sub.F.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting and simultaneously dispensing a web of roll material comprising a carrier for a roll of material mounted in a casing and urged against a rotatable drum which is driven in rotation by manual traction applied to a free end of the material extending from the casing. A profiled pawl is supported at one of the ends of the drum and cooperates with a shock absorber and an elastic abutment to brake the drum at the end of one revolution and hold it in readiness for a subsequent pull on the material. An eccentric lever is secured at the other end of the drum and is engaged by a spring such that in a first portion of rotation of the drum, the spring absorbs energy and after a dead point, it releases its energy to drive the drum in rotation.

Abstract: Apparatus for severing a running web at different intervals to subdivide the web into sections of desired length has two advancing rolls which transport the web lengthwise at a constant speed toward the nip of two rotary cutters having blades which sever the web in predetermined angular positions of the cutters. The cutters are driven in opposite directions by a stepping motor which receives stepping signals at a first frequency when the blades are about to sever and while the blades sever the web to thereby rotate the cutters at the speed of the web, and at any one of different second frequencies in other angular positions of the cutters. The system which transmits stepping signals has an exchangeable indicia-bearing disk which is driven by the advancing rolls through the medium of a variable-speed transmission or through one of several transmissions having different ratios.

Abstract: A safety system for the drive of a cross cutter for a web of material, having an electrical or mechanical synchronizing system between the drives of the feed and cutting mechanism which is adjustable for the size of the piece to be cut and which consists of an adjustable asymmetrical mechanism and has speed control associated with the drive of the feed mechanism to limit the speed of the feed means on the basis of a signal corresponding to the setting of the asymmetrical mechanism. A function generator generates a signal to be applied to the speed control which is directly dependent thereon to define the speed value for the drive of the feed mechanism and wherein the function generator is responsive to the asymmetrical mechanism for size-related, maximum permissible web velocity.

Abstract: A mechanism for withdrawing and cutting sheet from a storage roll thereof to predetermined lengths includes a feed roll driven by a clutch transferrable between engage and disengage conditions and a shaft rotatable single cycle cutting blade located forward of the feed roll. The shaft is spring biased in a blade sheet cutting forward direction and means are provided for loading the spring following its unloading. The shaft is releasably locked in a blade retracted position and is releasable by a first solenoid to effect a cutting cycle and a timing member rotatable with the shaft acts through a motion transmission to disengage the clutch and releasably lock it in disengage position at least during the cutting of the sheet. Following the cutting cycle, the clutch may be actuated to its engage position by the energization of a second solenoid. Alternatively, the clutch may be fully controlled by the second solenoid by a circuit network responsive to the positions of the timing member.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting and simultaneously dispensing a web of roll material comprising a carrier for a roll of material mounted in a casing and urged against a rotatable drum which is driven in rotation by manual traction applied to a free end of the material extending from the casing. A profiled pawl is supported at one of the ends of the drum and cooperates with a shock absorber and an elastic abutment to brake the drum at the end of one revolution and hold it in readiness for a subsequent pull on the material. An eccentric lever is secured at the other end of the drum and is engaged by a spring such that in a first portion of rotation of the drum, the spring absorbs energy and after a dead point, it releases its energy to drive the drum in rotation.

Abstract: A control arrangement for a dividing apparatus for dividing or cutting continuously fed strip stock of variable thickness. The dividing apparatus includes a drive arrangement for driving a cutting unit in a horizontal and vertical direction with an arrangement being provided for vertically adjusting the height of the cutting unit. A control arrangement is provided which includes a measuring device arranged in the dividing apparatus at a position upstream of the cutting unit, as viewed in the feed direction of the strip stock, with the measuring device dividing an output signal indicative of the measured thickness of the strip stock, which output signal is directed to control elements so as to correlate the speed of the drive arrangement and adjust the height of the cutting unit between minimum and maximum values in correspondence with the measure thickness of the strip stock.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a continuously horizontally moving web into desired lengths comprises a first slider crank mechanism 21 for horizontally reciprocating a first slider 71 mounting relatively reciprocable cutting edges 81, 82 disposed below and above the web, a second slider crank mechanism 22 for vertically reciprocating the upper cutting edge 82 via a second slider 72 to sever the web, and a third slider crank mechanism 23 for horizontally reciprocating a third slider 73 mounting a torque balancing weight 83. All three mechanisms are driven by a common rotary shaft 13, and the angles between the crank arms of the mechanisms and the magnitude of the balancing weight are selected such that the shaft torque is substantially constant over the cutting region whereat the first slider moves at a substantially constant speed approximately equal to that of the travelling web.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting a continuously moving sheet material in which a nozzle for directing a jet stream of fluid under high pressure is driven in predetermined directions along a closed track consisting of a pair of straight paths intersecting each other symmetrically at a predetermined angle relative to the cutting direction of the sheet material and a pair of curved paths connecting the associated ends of the straight paths. In the method and apparatus, the moving velocity of the jet nozzle is controlled as a function of the feeding velocity of the sheet material and the desired length of sheets cut from the sheet material, and the energy of the fluid under high pressure directed from the moving jet nozzle toward the sheet material is utilized to cut the sheet material into the sheets of desired length.

Abstract: Continuously cast plastic strip has interspaced marks or defects with lengths of unmarked usable strip therebetween. To obtain a maximum possible yield of sheets from such strip, the lengths of the portions between the marks or defects are measured and cut into sheets of two or more different lengths, the cutting being such as to produce the maximum yield of sheets of either or all lengths, singly or in combination, which can be obtained from the length cut. This procedure reduces the loss or waste due to the marks or defects, to a minimum. A special system is provided for this practice and for cutting out the marks or defects between the unmarked strip portions free from defects, with a minimum of loss or waste. Other features are involved.