Abstract: A controller for cutting sheet material so that inferior or incomplete sheet material is eliminated is characterized by the provision of means for detecting a length of sheet passing through a rotary cutter which continuously cuts the sheet material, means for calculating a length of sheet moving until the sheet is cut after a shear is started, and means for controlling the start timing of the shear so that a cut portion of sheet cut first by the shear coincides with a cut portion of sheet cut by the rotary cutter.

Abstract: In a packaging machine of the type in which a "tin-tie" strip is affixed to a bag to allow repeated reclosures of the bag, a machine for cutting a continuous strip of tin-tie material into predetermined lengths and feeding the cut lengths into a bonding station where they are adhesively bonded to the bag proximate its top opening. The machine comprises a frame supporting a pair of electromagnetic clutches, one for selectively coupling a continuously driven shaft to an output shaft to which a tin-tie strip feedwheel is attached and the other for selectively coupling a continuously driven shaft to an output shaft to which a rotary cutting head is secured. Passage of a bag past a sensor triggers the two clutches which function to withdraw a predetermined length of tin-tie material from a supply reel and to sever the strip while feeding the cut length to the bonding station at the same speed as the bag is moving.

Abstract: An apparatus 10 that extrudes, conveys and cuts a propellant strand into precise lengths independent of strand velocity is disclosed. Cutting of the strand is accomplished by a cutter 18 having a blade mounted on a shaft which in one revolution cuts the strand. The shaft is activated after passage of the strand end past a pair of downstream optic sensors; compensation is made for cutter delay and strand velocity by having cutting activation take place in the same amount of time as it takes the strand end to pass both sensors less cutter delay.

Abstract: Machine intended for cutting out transversely, along a straight or broken, oblique or right-angled cutting line, a band material adapted to be fed parallel to its length.This machine has in combination, a device to unwind the band at constant linear speed from a reel and a second device to, firstly, advance the unwound band at constant linear speed from a fixed plane support which extends at least from the second device into proximity of the cutting system, and secondly, permit an edge of the band to be applied against a lateral edge guide. Use of this machine includes cutting of pieces from flexible compound material.

Abstract: A door movement control apparatus and method are provided for opening and closing door apparatus with a stepper motor supplied control pulses in response to a command signal indicating the desired movement direction. A table of time delays for the respective control pulses and resulting motor steps provides a desired speed pattern for the door movement. A comparison of the number of motor steps taken with the number of control pulses provided is made to determine when a closing door is obstructed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for preventing length measuring errors resulting from accidentally remaining local offshoots from a portion of the butt end of a tree stem which is continuously advanced toward a cross-cutting member for cutting the stem in predetermined length sections. A stem-measuring device periodically emits a cutting impulse to the cross-cutting member so that the advancing stem will be cut into predetermined lengths. Two detectors are provided in a spaced relationship for sensing the entering of the butt end into a detecting station and then emitting an actuating signal to start the measuring device. The spacing of the two detectors, which are symmetrically positioned with respect to the centerline of the stem path, does not exceed a predetermined minimum butt diameter. The measuring device is not actuated until signals from both detectors are emitted.

Abstract: In a film cutter which is activated at the end of the film by a film end detection signal, the length of film transported is monitored and the cutter is activated only if the film end detection signal occurs during predetermined ranges of film length.

Abstract: In a reciprocating travelling shear in which a tool post travels reciprocatingly in the travelling direction of a travelling material and a cutting tool held by the tool post is made to move vertically by press mechanism to cut the material, the press mechanism is driven by a first DC motor, which is controlled by first numerical control means, the reciprocating travelling of the tool post is controlled by a second DC motor, which is controlled by second numerical control means, and the second numerical control means supplies a cut command to the first numerical control means thereby to drive the first motor when the tool post has travelled a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A flying cutoff comprising a severing mechanism which is capable of displacement with the stock to be severed under the control of a linear motive power source such as fluid accelerator. A ramp-like cam member is disposed above the mechanism and, in combination with a follower roller which is connected to the upper shoe of the mechanism, drives the severing blade through the stock as the mechanism carriage travels along with the stock. At the fully extended position, means are provided to lift the cam member so as to raise the blade out of contact with the stock. CAm surfaces for linear and non-linear power transfer relationships are disclosed. The effective angle of the cam member may be adjusted to vary the power factor. A mechanism is disclosed which allows a cut to be made without linear movement of the die carriage or stock.

Abstract: An automatic photographic paper cutter cuts photographic prints from a strip of photographic paper which bears cut indicia indicating the locations of desired paper cuts. An indicia sensor is positioned in fixed relationship with respect to the paer cutter knife assembly at a distance less than the shortest length of print to be cut. The paper cutter derives and stores a feed-after-sense signal, which represents the length the paper strip must be fed after a cut indicium is sensed in order for the strip to be cut at the desired cut location represented by that cut indicum. During automatic operation of the paper cutter, the photographic paper strip is advanced until a cut indicium is sensed, is advanced by an additional distance determined by the feed-after-sense signal, is stopped, and is cut at the desired cut location.

Abstract: A panel cutting machine having a table with an endless belt conveyor and a pair of rollers mounted thereon for advancing a fabric to be cut to a desired length across and beyond a line of cut of a cross-cutter and along the table toward a sensor located a preselected distance from the line of cut. The sensor, which may be the usual microswitch or a photo-electric sensor switch, responds to the arrival of the leading edge of the fabric to activate a roller revolution counter to count a predetermined number of further revolutions and fractions thereof of one of the rollers, corresponding to a further distance of advance of the leading edge of the fabric beyond the sensor. Upon completion of the count, the counter activates a control circuit to stop the rollers and conveyor and start a cross-cutter to cut the fabric along the cutting line to form a panel of the desired length.

Abstract: Individual strips of material, such as copper conductors, are laminated between continuously moving webs of backing material such as mylar, in a plurality of parallel lanes extending longitudinally of the webs, by apparatus which selectively controls the length of strip material in each lane to produce a product such as a wiring harness. The apparatus includes a pressing station through which the mylar webs are continuously moved by a pair of opposed driven rollers. The strips of material are fed to the pressing station by selectively operable feeding devices, one for each lane, through selectively operable cut-off devices, one for each lane, and through a severing device selectively operable to simultaneously sever any strips in all lanes.

Abstract: A device to cut lengths of elongated metal elements, including a shear, an incoming belt for delivering the metal elements to the shear, an outgoing belt for delivering the metal elements from the shear after they are cut, a retractable stop, between the incoming and outgoing belt, for aligning the metal elements and establishing a reference point from which the length to be cut is measured, two motors, one to drive each belt, and a shaft between the motors to ensure that the motion of each belt is synchronous after the elongated metal elements reach the reference point.

Abstract: A rotary shear machine is described having a plurality of oppositely rotating hollow cylinder pairs carrying helical blades for transversely shearing several continuously moving webs perpendicular to their directions of travel. Each cylinder pair includes a separate reversible DC motor drive and an electronic digital control system regulating the motor drive for cutting sheets of predetermined lengths from the respective webs. A unique feature of the machine is a web feed and pull roller system having an independent drive for engaging and feeding the continuously moving webs into the respective helical blade shears and pulling sheets from the respective shears as they are cut from the continuously moving webs. The upstream feed roller system includes means for sensing web velocity and generating electronic pulses for input into the control means regulating the respective reversible DC motor drives driving the respective helical blade shears.

Abstract: An improved stop mechanism for use with machinery wherein a workpiece is advanced through one or more tooling stations comprises an arm supported for limited pivotal movement about orthogonal axes. The arm is constrained for movement within a grooved block and mounted on a pin extending through coaxial conical bores formed in opposite sides of the arm. The arm is biased in a direction opposite to travel of the workpiece to a ready position in sliding contact with the workpiece until the forward end of the arm engages a predetermined notch or locating surface on the workpiece and pivotally moves therewith to a stop position. The rear end of the arm simultaneously actuates a valve, switch or other control device to initiate the desired operation on the workpiece. After completion of the desired operation, the arm is disengaged from the notch or locating surface to release the workpiece and returned to the ready position.

Abstract: A method of color marking logs wherein the logs are cut to predetermined lengths in a processing machine and are colored coded with one or a combination of different colors after the cutting has taken place. The colors correspond to predetermined information related to the log such as its length and are applied to an end portion of the log during a free fall after cut-off by means of automatically controlled paint sprayers. A sprayer for color marking the log is preset prior to its actuation by a signal corresponding to the predetermined log length.

Abstract: An automatic photographic paper cutter cuts photographic prints from a strip of photographic paper which bears cut indicia indicating the locations of desired paper cuts. An indicia sensor is positioned in fixed relationship with respect to the paper cutter knife assembly at a distance less than the shortest length of print to be cut. The paper cutter derives and stores a feed-after-sense signal, which represents the length the paper strip must be fed after a cut indicium is sensed in order for the strip to be cut at the desired cut location represented by that cut indicium. During automatic operation of the paper cutter, the photographic paper strip is advanced until a cut indicium is sensed, is advanced by an additional distance determined by the feed-after-sense signal, is stopped, and is cut at the desired cut location.

Abstract: A wire cutting machine for consecutively severing predetermined wire lengths from a continuously fed wire of indefinite length, comprises a wire cutting device and a wire discharge device arranged downstream (as viewed in the direction of wire feed) of the wire cutting device. Th wire discharge device has a wire channel, the walls of which define an elongated channel space which is oriented in the direction of wire feed and within which the wire is advanced. In the channel wall a plurality of openings are provided which are arranged in the longitudinal direction at predetermined distances from one another. A wire length detecting arrangement is operatively connectible with the channel space through any selected one of the openings.

Abstract: A record sheet cutter control device which can cut a record sheet after a normal record sheet feeding operation has completely been stopped. The device comprises means for involving a difference in time between a signal for stopping the operation of a record sheet feed roller and a signal for starting the operation of a cutter.

Abstract: A hot shearing apparatus for shearing heated round or flat section bars or rods, in particular light metal bars, to obtain cut bars or billets comprises a drive unit, fixed and movable shearing members, a drive means for producing the shear forces, an abutment means, an ejector means, and a transfer means for the sheared billets. Shearing rings are used as the shearing members. The ratio of the diameter to the length of the shearing rings is greater than one. Thus the diameter is relatively large as compared to the length. This permits high quality cuts and, at the same time, trouble-free operation of the apparatus.

Abstract: A machine for winding continuous tape and wire to form a flexible endless duct, which duct is fed out of the winding station by a cluster of rolls, and which rolls also serve as a mandrel at the winding station. The rolls are cantilever mounted with circumaxially spaced individual roll axes arranged in a hexagonal pattern around a central duct forming axis. The axes of the rolls are adjustable radially toward and away from the central axis, and these roll axes are also collectively adjustable angularly, that is to skew their collective axes relative to the duct central axis. The duct is marked off in units of length by a device which is periodically operated through a revolution counting circuit, and the duct is also cut by devices operated from a branch of said counting circuit.

Abstract: A film advancement system for use in a photographic film cutter includes a movable cursor which indicates, by its position, a desired feed length. A cursor position sensor senses the position of the movable cursor with respect to a reference position and provides a feed length signal indicative of the feed length desired. The film is advanced by a distance determined by the feed length signal.

Abstract: A device for measuring and cutting cables in chosen lengths at its rerolling for delivery which device comprises rotatable cutting tools, a measuring wheel and a grip-and-pulling-wheel, where the grip-and-pulling-wheel when pulling the cable is connected to a clutch mechanism arranged to be electromagnetically set either to let the grip-and-pulling-wheel pull the cable and to prevent backward motion of the cable or to allow motion of the cable both forwards and backwards.

Abstract: A method for automatically controlling the operation of a rod-working apparatus of the type including a rod-feeding unit which feeds towards a cyclically operating work tool a certain length of rod per work cycle of the tool. There are selected a minimum and a maximum distance through which a rod to be fed towards the work tool is to be permitted to advance per work cycle of the tool. A rod is fed towards and into the range of operation of the tool. The actual distance advanced by the rod during a work cycle of the tool is determined. It is also determined whether the actual distance of advancement falls within the range defined between the preselected minimum and maximum distances. When the actual distance falls outside such range, operation of the rod-feeding unit is terminated.

Abstract: A cut-to-size saw mechanism having a dual, programable control system is provided for large sheet material, as plywood, hardboard, chipboard, fiberboard, and other large panels to be divided into small pieces by sawing. Sheet sizes in the range of 5 .times. 18' can be cut with a main strip or strips and a side, residual strip, with the residual having a maximum width up to a predetermined amount, such as 2'. Where desired, cutting patterns necessitate two asymmetrical patterns, the saw mechanism can be programmed to trim all 4 edges of a panel, divide the panel into main and residual longitudinal strips and cut the main strip or strips in one pattern length and the residual strip in another selected pattern length. All sawing is done while the panels or strips thereof are held by hold-down rolls, thereby assuring precision sawing. All sawing of the entire panel is programmed by thumb switches from a control panel and the same program may be repeated on subsequent panels until the programming is changed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved apparatus for automatically cutting belt loops and removing splices from a loop string material. The apparatus has an input portion for directing loop string material into the apparatus and storing a quantity of the material with a dancer roller. The loop string leaves the input portion and is transported by first and second driven rollers. A splice sensor engages the string between the first and second spaced driven rollers. The splice sensor includes a foot with a reflective surface thereon and a transducer positioned to direct a light beam down to the reflective surface and sense the reflected light beam. The foot is positioned such that a splice moving with the loop string will cover the reflective surface and break the light beam, thereby allowing the apparatus to sense the presence of the splice. A measuring transducer is connected to one of the driven rollers and measures the amount of loop string advanced thereby.

Abstract: A longitudinal lumber conveyor is provided with an adjustable end stop for cutting a piece of lumber into several pieces. The adjustable end stop is mounted on a slide which is adjustable hydraulically beneath the plane of the conveyor. The slide is operable between adjustable end switches which are activated to indicate the desired position of the slide. The slide may be moved between the various end positions when a photocell device mounted on the slide senses that a piece of lumber is not present at the photocell device. The slide has rotatable stop arms mounted on a shaft of the slide which are hydraulically rotatable from a first stop position above the plane of the conveyor to a second position below the plane.

Abstract: In a machine for manufacturing wire coils, wire is fed by a feeder and is shaped in a winding station to form a continuous helix the convolutions of which may adjoin each other or may be spaced predetermined distances apart. This continuous helix is cut by cutting means into wire coils having a predetermined length or number of convolutions. These coils may constitute springs or may preferably constitute electric resistance heating coils. To control the length of the wire coils, a sensing wheel is associated with the winding station and is driven by the wire and operates control means for controlling the cutting means in such a manner that the length of each severed coil is determined by the preset, measured wire length.

Abstract: A control system is disclosed for a hot forging machine which is supplied with lengths of stock. The system provides automatic rejection of workpieces cut from the rearward end of one length of stock and the forward end of a subsequent length of stock. The system includes a sensor which laterally deflects the rearward end of a length of stock as such rearward end approaches a control point to produce a signal to reset the system. As the forward end of the subsequent length of stock passes the control point, a second signal is generated to actuate the stock movement measuring system. Stock movement is measured by a measuring roller which engages and is turned by the stock as it moves toward the cutter. The rotation of the measuring roller drives a pulse generator which supplies a signal to a counter.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling cut-off of paper from a web thereof fed through a blue print machine or the like, includes a main shaft driven by the drive structure of such machine, a threaded sleeve is mounted on said main shaft and is resiliently restrained against rotation. A plier-like pair of jaws is received in the threads of said sleeve for displacing said sleeve axially when it is clutched to said main shaft by an electromagnetic clutch. Holes are provided in said sleeve which are detected optically to operate in the generation of a control signal to effect cutting of said web.