Abstract: Grid forming machine for making plates of electric storage cells, which comprises two pressing towers operatively active in succession on a continuous lead band that advances with a substantially constant speed, and each equipped with a framework slidably mounted along the direction of forward movement of the band on the support structure of the machine; with a linear actuator mounted on the framework of the tower and supporting a relative press; and with a matrix fixed to the framework under the linear actuator. The two presses of the two pressing towers are moved cyclically and alternatingly by the linear actuators to move between a raised position and a lowered position, in which they cut the band forming it in the shape of a continuous grid.

Abstract: A rotary shear for subdividing a product moving longitudinally along a path comprises a parallel pair of shafts having cutting blades connected thereto. The shafts are on opposite sides of and arranged symmetrically with respect to a center line of the shear. Driven gears on each of the shafts are spaced one from the other. A first pinion gear is in meshed relationship with one of the driven gears, and a second pinion gear in meshed relationship with the other of the driven gears. The first pinion gear has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the second pinion gear. The first and second pinion gears are in an intermeshed relationship at a location spaced laterally from the center line of the shear.

Abstract: A punching machine installed in the machine base of a roller shape forming machine in a metal working system and controlled to punch holes on a metal sheet material being delivered through the roller shape forming machine during operation of the roller shape forming machine. The punching action, i.e., the cycling of the closing and opening actions of the punch mold of the punching machine is set to match with the delivering speed of the metal sheet material in the roller shape forming machine so that the punching operation of the punching machine is continued during processing operation of the roller shape forming machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting individual pieces from an extruded strand fed at a constant velocity (v0) has two cutting blades, which are disposed on disks and rotate in circular paths. In order to align the cutting blades perpendicular to the feed direction of the extruded strand, the blade supports holding the cutting blades are coupled to each other by means of guide rods. The guide rods simultaneously constitute the rotation axes of deflection rolls of a conveyor belt transporting the extruded strand.

Abstract: A shear is disclosed for subdividing an elongated product moving longitudinally in a horizontal plane. The shear includes upper and lower continuously rotating blades respectively coacting in a radially overlapping relationship at first and second laterally disposed cutting zones. An upstream switch operates to divert the product laterally across the cutting zones to separate a leading end from an intermediate section in the first cutting zone, and to separate a trailing end from the intermediate section in the second cutting zone.

Abstract: A rotary apparatus (20) for rotary forming of a web workpiece (12) and having a rotatable first roll unit (32) and corresponding rotatable second roll unit (34), a first die support (46) carried by the first roll unit (32), having a leading edge (51) and a trailing edge (52) respective to rotation of the first roll unit (32), a second die support (46) carried by the second roll unit (34), having a leading edge (51) and a trailing edge (52) respective to rotation of the second roll unit (34), the first and second roll units (32, 34) receiving a web workpiece (12) in a forming plane between the first and second roll units (32, 34), and in which each die support (46) includes a first part (46a) carried by the respective roll unit and including the leading and trailing edge and a second part (46b) having a platen surface for mounting a die, the second part (46b) being mounted on the first part (46a) for reciprocal motion transverse to the leading and trailing edges (51, 52).

Abstract: A novel method is provided for forming a clear hole through a composite plate. At least two plates can be joined together to form a wall of a trailer. The following steps are taken to perform the method: A punching apparatus is advanced through an extension skin of a first composite plate and a first skin of a second composite plate, thereby compressing the core material of the second composite plate and forming a first slug. The apparatus is withdrawn therefrom. The composite plates are flipped over. The apparatus is advanced through a second skin of the second composite plate, forming a second slug. The apparatus is further advanced through the core material of the second composite plate, thereby ejecting the first slug, a portion of the core material of the second composite plate and the second slug to form a hole through the extension skin and the second composite plate. The apparatus is then withdrawn from the second composite plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a foodstuff strand into a succession of pieces has a conveyor for continuously displacing the strand in a direction through a cutting station, a vertical guide rail in the station, a blade in the station lying in a vertical plane, and a holder carrying the blade and vertically displaceable along the rail. An actuator braced between the guide rail and the holder is operable to vertically reciprocate the blade. Upper and lower wheels rotatable about respective upper and lower axes generally parallel to the plane and perpendicular to the direction have offset from the respective axes respective upper and lower pivots attached to the mount. A drive/controller connected to the actuator and to the wheels vertically reciprocates the mount and rotates the wheels for cutting through the strand with the blade while moving the blade synchronously in the direction with the strand.

Abstract: A rotary forming apparatus (10) having a pair of lower and upper die carrier units (14, 16) each of which is rotatable on opposite sides of a workpiece (W), and having a plurality of die supports (22, 24) swingably mounted on each of the die carriers, and supporting upper and lower dies (82, 80), and having die support guide roller pairs (66, 68) mounted together on a common axis side by side on each the die supports and located adjacent to the leading or trailing edge of the respective die support, and a guide plate (56) alongside one end of each die carrier, and, guide grooves (58, 60, 62, 64) formed in each guide plate for receiving the pairs of die support guide rollers (66, 68), the grooves being formed so as to define inner and outer guide surfaces (74, 76), with one of the die guide rollers engaging one of the inner and outer surfaces and the other of the die guide rollers engaging the other of the inner and outer guide surfaces. Also disclosed is a method of rotary forming using such apparatus.

Abstract: A chopper and corner rounder (10) for a web material includes tool pairs (14, 16; 18, 20) driven by two double eccentrics (22, 24), the first double eccentric driving the upper knife by a first eccentric and the upper punch by a second eccentric, the first and second eccentrics being 180.degree. out of phase; the second double eccentric driving the lower knife by a third eccentric and the lower die by a fourth eccentric, the third and fourth eccentrics being 180.degree. out of phase. The first double eccentric is driven at the same speed but in the opposite direction as the second double eccentric.

Abstract: A blade guide of a guillotine shear for flying transverse parting of strips, particularly steel strips. The shear having a shear housing in which blades fastened to blade supports are movable relative to one another on parallel guide paths for cutting and transversely to the guide paths in the running direction of the strip and at the running speed of the strip. The guide paths are arranged in a guide frame which is movable horizontally in the shear housing and the blade supports in the guide frame can be set in rotation by means of crank mechanisms which are supported in the shear housing and are associated with each blade support.

Abstract: A cutter for tear-severing a web (N) driven around a rotating roller (10) wherein recesses (25) carried by the roller (10) cooperate cyclically with projections (23) external to the roller (10). The web material (N) is stretched beyond its breaking point between the recesses and projections (25, 23) when the projections (23) penetrate the recesses (25) without mutual contact. The tension in the web material (N) is caused by friction between the web material and the rotating roller (10).

Abstract: At least a pair of shear blades cuts a stream of viscous molten glass descending from a glass feeder. The paired shear blades continuously move, while retaining a substantially horizontal position, about a horizontal axis along looped paths symmetrical to each other on opposite sides of the descending stream of molten glass. When viewed in a vertical plane, each loop represents the forward motion of each blade toward the center of the descending stream of molten glass, the crossing of the cutting edges provided on the two facing blades, and the retreat of each blade away from the center of the glass stream. The cutting of glass stream begins at the end of the forward motion of the shear blades and ends when the cutting edges provided on them have crossed each other. This permits the area and time of contact between the shear blades and the descending stream of molten glass to be minimized.

Abstract: A method and system for forming an artwork on a sheet material and punching holes therethrough while the sheet material is disposed on a working surface so that the holes are punched in precise registration with the artwork. The method comprises the steps of providing for each hole to be punched a corresponding socket in the working surface, and securing the sheet material on the working surface so as completely to overlap all of the sockets whereupon the artwork is formed on the sheet material in precise registration with a predetermined origin of the working surface. Associated with each of the sockets is a punch and block combination disposed on opposite surfaces of the sheet material, the block being formed of a softer material than the punch and having an operating surface larger than a cutting surface of the punch.

Abstract: An improvement in web converting rewinders of the type which include a perforator cylinder, and a bedroll/chop-off roll combination comprising a set of chop-off blades, some of which chop-off blades are disposed on the bed roll, and some of which are disposed on the chop-off roll; and in which a running web is forwarded from an unwinding parent roll, and is converted into consumer product rolls such as, for example, tear-separable multi-sheet rolls of toilet tissue or paper towels. The improvement comprises parallel-motion chop-off blades which can be more closely spaced than in prior art chop-off blades, and thus induce greater stretching and more positive breaking of the web; and, preferably, the chop-off blades are disposed to act on a longer machine-direction-length of the running web than contemporary rewinders to enable more positively inducing roll endings by breaking along transverse lines of weakening rather than by inducing ragged transverse tears of the web.

Abstract: An improved rotary knife assembly for severing a moving web in which a support is mounted on a frame for rotary movement around a first axis, and a knife blade is mounted on the support for rotary movement around a second axis generally parallel to and spaced from the first axis. The knife blade is adapted to move from a first position remote from the web to a second position at which it engages and severs the web. Means are provided for concomitantly driving the support and the blade around the axes to move the blade from the first position through the second position and back to the first position.

Abstract: A sliding block with a female die acts in conjunction with a four bar linkage mounted block with a male die to punch indexing holes in a moving metal strip. The block with male die continually seeks to rotate, but is held in position by the sliding block. The sliding block is programmed to periodically move forward at the speed of the moving metal strip and to return to starting position. This frees the male die to rotate to punch out the hole, and to continue to rotate back into the starting position to be held by the returned sliding block.

Abstract: A punching device comprising a pair of opposed complementary dies vertically guided by a pair of guide rods each rotatably connected to a crank pin to continuously punch band material moving between the dies. The crank pins rotate synchronously in opposed directions with their crank centers spaced only vertically relative to the working plane. Each of the dies supports a plurality of cooperating tools and the tools in one of the dies are independently axially movable male punches sealingly guided in ducts communicating with a closed chamber filled with a fluid.

Abstract: Die cutter and process for die cutting blanks by a blade unit and an anvil opposed to each other are proposed in which either the blank feed speed or the horizontal component of speed of the blade and the anvil is controlled mechanically or electronically to make them equal to each other during the cutting operation.

Abstract: An improved die cutter is proposed in which the blanks are supported for a certain amount of movement with respect to the blank gripper so as to be fed not clamped by the gripper but by engagement with the blade and the anvil during the die-cutting. This eliminates the problem resulting from the difference between the blank feed speed and the horizontal component of speed of the blade and the anvil.

Abstract: Upright pouches are successively severed from the leading end portion of a continuously advancing strip of interconnected pouches by a pair of coacting blades which track the strip and which momentarily move at the same speed as the strip. At that time, one blade is shifted laterally toward the other blade to cut the leading pouch from the strip. Prior to the cutting, a notch is formed in the upper edge portion of the strip between adjacent pouches to impart a desired shape to the upper corners of the pouches and to enable the use of a relatively simple stationary splitter for keeping the two upper edge portions of each pouch separated from one another.

Abstract: A strip of metal under tension is driven over an anvil wheel where the strip is contoured by a milling cutter. The moving strip is punched to provide an indexing hole. The milling cutter is programed to advance toward or to retract from the anvil wheel based upon the linear travel of the metal strip, and the punch is activated based upon the linear travel of the strip.

Abstract: A method of packaging and machine capable of continuously forming an array of packages from a double web film. A first web is fed over a rotating thermoforming drum which vacuum forms a plurality of pouches for receiving a product to be packaged, and a second web, maintained under constant pressure, is progressively disposed in sealing relation to the peripheral edges of the formed pouches in the first web as the pouches approach a vertical position while the product is simultaneously introduced into the progressively formed package at a rate not exceeding the volume of the package as it is formed.

Abstract: A machine for cutting or perforating webs of materials comprises a frame, a splined first shaft carrying a plurality of angularly spaced first tools and rotatable in the frame, a second shaft rotatable in the frame and parallel to the first shaft, supporting plates carried by the second shaft, a third shaft parallel to the first and second shafts and carrying a plurality of angularly spaced second tools for co-operating with the first tools, the third shaft being rotatable in the supporting plates eccentrically to the second shaft, a spur gear fixed to the third shaft, an intermediate gear in mesh with the spur gear loosely rotatable on one of the supporting plates, a central gear in mesh with the intermediate gear and mounted on the second shaft for rotation relatively to the supporting plates, a lever fixed to the central gear, an entrainment bolt on the lever selectively insertable in one of a plurality of holes which are provided in a swing arm at the same angular spacing as the first tools, the swing arm

Abstract: Improvements relating to shear machines to cut advancing bars and particularly a rotary knives dividing shears cutting device, wherein one improvement relates to the conversion of a conventional rotary knives shear machine to a planetary rotary knives shear machine, working at a multiple ratio high speed, the other improvement provides planetary rotary knives working at a fractional ratio in order to keep the rotating knives always directed in the same shear direction.

Abstract: Flying cropping shears for hot strip for two horizontally spaced pairs of cutters. The cutters are driven by parallel crank drives through connecting members which maintain parallelism of the cutters. Means are provided for selectively bringing the pairs of cutters into and out of the cutting position. In this way only one pair of cutters is operative during rotation of the crank drives so as to crop either the front or the rear end of the hot strip.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus for severing a wire continuously advanced through the apparatus along a wire path in a feeding direction parallel to the wire axis, comprises a carriage supported for displacement parallel to the feeding direction; two cutting members connected with the carriage; a support arm articulated to at least one of the cutting members; a displaceable anchor member to which the support arm is articulated by means of a support joint arranged on the support arm at a distance from the cutting member; a drive for moving the carriage in and opposite the feeding direction to cause, with the cooperation of the anchor member and the support arm, a motion of the cutting member in an arcuate path towards and, subsequent to severing, away from the wire and the other cutting member; and a force-exerting arrangement for shifting the anchor member to effect a displacement of the support joint and the support arm for affecting the course of the arcuate path of the cutting member.

Abstract: A tool assembly includes first and second means which define between them a work station at which they periodically engage and release a moving web of material to perform a work operation, such as die cutting, on the web. A reciprocating shuttle has a pair of guide rollers on it which respectively engage the web before and after the tool means to alternately increase and decrease the work station velocity of the web by alternately decreasing and increasing the web path distance between the shuttle and the work station. The frequency of tool means movement is adjustable to adjust the repeat between work operations on the web. The shuttle means are synchronized with the tool means so that the work station web velocity at the time the tool means contact the web is substantially equal to the tangential velocity of the tool means.

Abstract: A carriage drawing machine for uniformly drawing and cutting-to-length drawn elongated material and having a main drive shaft with means for driving a drawing machine carriage so as to advance the elongated material, a severing device and means for coupling the severing device to the main shaft each time the elongated material is to be severed, the severing device including two cutters disposed in a common plane and eccentrically coupled to the main drive shaft, the cutters being rotatable in opposite directions and in synchronism with the advance of the elongated material during the severing operation, means defining between the two cutters a travel path for the elongated material being advanced, each of the cutters including a ring, a knife extending radially outwardly from each ring toward the travel path between the cutters, and means cooperating with the cutters for adjustably controlling the knives to follow the drawn material and to orient the knives perpendicularly to the direction in which the materi

Abstract: A cross-cutting shear of the type where the nip formed between the blades travels in the direction of movement of the material being sheared is driven by a single crankshaft. The upper blade is attached to the crank portion of the crankshaft, and the sliding motion of the blade-carrying carriage is provided by cam discs mounted on the crankshaft and acting against rollers in a stationary frame. The crankshaft is journalled at each end in links pivotally attached to the bottom part of the blade carriage. The guide links are free to pivot independently of the blade carriage. By this construction, reaction loadings are prevented from being transmitted through to the stationary housing, when a shearing action is taking place.

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.

Abstract: Apparatus for die cutting sheets of die cuttable material comprises endless conveyor means, a plurality of platens sequentially mounted on the conveyor means, a respective cutting die mounted on each of the platens, storage means for retaining a plurality of sheets of die cuttable material in a stack, means for removing a respective one of the sheets from the bottom of the stack and positioning the sheet on the cutting die of a respective one of the platens as the platens are continuously, non-reversingly conveyed by the conveyor means and means for pressing the sheet onto the cutting die sufficiently to cause the die to cut through the sheet as the platens are continuously, non-reversingly conveyed by the conveyor means.

Abstract: A pair of shifting supports for supporting a shiftable shear housing in a flying shear machine for cutting traveling stock comprises a parallel crank mechanism which, together with a crank mechanism of a pair of shearing drives, is incorporated in a motive power transmission mechanism provided on a base and driven, together with a pair of shifting drives, by a common driving power source, the cranks of the parallel crank mechanism rotating one or two revolutions per revolution of a main shaft for shifting drive of the pair of shifting drives, a movement approximating a straight-line motion along the travel direction of the stock being imparted to the shiftable shear housing in at least a shearing interval of the forward stroke of the reciprocating movement thereof caused by the pair of shifting drives.

Abstract: The packaging machine is provided with a dumper shaft which includes material receiving chambers which can be adjusted in size to receive and measure varying amounts of material. Each material receiving means is made up of a pair of coaxial discs and radiating plates between the discs, the discs being held in place by locking collars. Outlet nozzles from the hopper above the dumper shaft are disposed to empty into a respective chamber while being disposed within the plane of the chamber. As the dumper shaft is rotated, the hopper and the outlets are raised to permit rotation. The upper edge of each plate has a lip or ledge directed in the direction of rotation of the dumper shaft to retain the material during rotation.Different types of materials may also be dispensed by the use of a dual system of dumper shafts. Also, doublepocket packets can be formed by use of modified seal bars.

Abstract: The flying shear is designed as a crank rocker shear for crosscutting metal strips continuously fed thereto, with the crank effecting entrainment of strip cutting knives in the direction of strip movement and return of the knives in the opposite direction, and with the crank radius being adjustable in accordance with different cutting lengths of the strip. A cylindrical drum is rotatably mounted in the shear frame, and the crank axle is mounted within the drum to extend parallel to the axis thereof and for adjustment radially of the drum. Cooperating wedge surfaces are provided on the inner surface of the drum and on the crank axle, and the wedges on the crank axle are adjustable by a threaded spindle, having right hand and left hand threads, threaded through the wedges and rotatable, to adjust the crank radius, by a hydraulic motor.

Abstract: A machine for cutting a moving strip of material by means of a pair of cutting blades carried by their respective blade holders. The latter each are supported by a pair of eccentric shafts at their opposite ends for circular movement and are guided by two same guide bars for vertical slidal movement to ensure that the cutting blades are put into cutting engagement with the material at the same time and at the same cutting angle.

Abstract: In a cutting apparatus or punch press for repeatedly cutting or punching a work shape from a continuously travelling web or sheet of paper, cardboard or similar material, the cutting dies or punch tools are mounted for reciprocation longitudinally in the direction of feed of the web or sheet on press platens that open and close and sustain the punching forces but do not themselves move in the direction of feed. By means of a drive mechanism operating in synchronism with the opening and closing movements of the press platens the punch tools are accelerated from rest in the direction of feed to attain the speed of the work web or sheet at the instant of punching and then are decelerated to rest and moved in reverse back to the initial position of the cycle. The stroke of the reciprocation may be adjusted to suit different lengths of the work shape to be punched.

Abstract: A ledger for a rod-making machine, especially a cigarette or filter making machine, comprises two rotary members arranged to rotate at the same speed about parallel axes and a connecting member which is pivotally connected to both of the rotary members and carries a rod support which supports the rod during each cutting stroke.

Abstract: Punching apparatus, preferably for metal strip, comprises at least two pairs of shafts rotatably mounted in a framework wherein the pairs are spaced apart along a feed path and the shafts of each pair are spaced apart one on each side of this path. Each shaft carries an eccentric with the eccentrics on the same side of the feedpath being similarly orientated and the eccentrics of each pair of shafts being orientated 180.degree. apart. A beam is mounted on each side of the feedpath on the corresponding eccentrics and parallel to the path and at least one punch is mounted on one beam extending towards the other beam which carries a complementary die. Means are included for holding and moving a metal strip along the feed path and also for rotating the shafts in unison but such that the shafts on opposite sides of the feedpath rotate in opposite directions.

Abstract: A ledger for use in a continuous rod cigarette making machine, or a similar machine, comprising a rod support to support the continuous rod during cutting, characterised by a rotary member which is arranged to rotate about a fixed axis, a first planetary gear which carries or is connected to the rod support and is rotatable relative to the rotary member about an axis which is parallel to the fixed axis and is spaced from the fixed axis by an adjustable distance, the first planetary gear being maintained in a fixed orientation at least partly by the action of a second planetary gear which is mounted rotatably on the rotary member and meshes with a drive gear which is arranged to rotate about the fixed axis at a speed different from that of the rotary member.

Abstract: A pendulum shear for a continuous casting installation wherein the shear is provided with a mechanical drive for a pulse-like cutting operation, a knife or cutter rigidly connected with the pendulum and movable by a driven crank towards a second knife. Further, there is provided mechanism for accelerating the pendulum out of its rest position at approximately the maximum knife opening in the direction of travel of the strand, this mechanism, prior to the cutting operation, accelerating the pendulum at its cutting region to a speed approximately corresponding to the speed of travel of the strand. The mechanism for the acceleration of the pendulum consists of a guide arranged at the stand or housing and guides the pendulum along its path between the rest position and the start of the cutting operation, and the cooperation of this guide with the pendulum moved by the crank controls such acceleration.