Abstract: A device is provided for aligning elongated tubes to be cut into tube sections with a saw blade for cutting the tubes, wherein elongated tubes are provided with cutouts spaced from each other at equal intervals and defining raster marks at which tubes are to be cut into tube sections, the aligning device including a plurality of scanning fingers mounted in contact with the elongated tube to be cut into tube sections and spaced from each other along the elongation of the tube a distance substantially smaller than the interval between adjacent cutouts on the tube. A drive device for rotation and axial displacement of each tube is provided. At least one of the scanning fingers is engageable in one of the cutouts upon the rotation and axial displacement of the tube so that the distance between the saw and the cutout can be determined and the tube can be accurately aligned with the saw.

Abstract: An article inspection and cutting apparatus (10) is described for high production processing of elongated articles (12) such as raw potato strips (french fries). The apparatus includes a conveyor (20) for moving the articles (12) in line in a large number of transversely spaced lanes past an inspection (28) station and a cutting station (30). Scanning cameras (38, 40) at the inspection station (28) rapidly scan across the lanes to detect color or shade variation in the articles (12) and generate electrical signals characteristic of the defect. Rotating sets of knife wheels (54) are positioned at the cutting station for selectively projecting two or more knives (68) from the periphery of the wheel to cut sections of the article (12) containing the defect to separate the defective portion from the remainder of the article. The apparatus 10 has the capability of detecting the size of different shade defects and removing smaller dark defects and larger lighter defects.

Abstract: A system (50) includes a labelling machine (52) and a digital data processing system (54) connected to the labelling machine (52). A cutter (56) of the labelling machine (52) has a shaft (58) with a mark (60), which is sensed by a sensor (62). The sensor (62) supplies shaft (58) information on line (3) to digital data processing system (54). The digital data processing system (54) supplies control signals on line (64) to feed roll (66) stepper motor (67). The digital data processing means (54) is also connected to an optical sensor (76) by line (78). The optical sensor (76) senses the position of position mark (74) on the labels (70), which is correlated with the position of shaft (58) in order to feed the labels (70) to the cutter (56) at the proper rate so that the labels (70) are always cut at the kerf (72) between each label (70).

Abstract: Cop preparation plant, including a device for locating, drawing off and cutting to length thread ends of a spinning cop, a device disposed down stream of the locating, drawing off and cutting device in travel direction of the cops, for separating spinning cops having thread ends of a substandard length from other spinning cops, and a device disposed down stream of the separating device for retracting the separated cops into another cop separating device connected in series with the cop preparation plant.

Abstract: A paper cutter for separating exposure areas positioned along the longitudinal axis of a web of photographic material. Individual print areas within an exposure area are also separated. The print material is coded on its back or at each exposure area border in accordance with the particular array of print areas and the cutter decodes the border code and produces a signal representative of the array of print areas to be separated. The web is advanced into a cutting station with cutting elements within the cutting station being selectively activated, web advance and cutting station activation being in accordance with the print area array representative signal.

Abstract: Finished printed sheets of security papers (10) are numbered in a numbering machine (21), to whose numbering units (21b) additional blocks are attached, which at a constant, predetermined distance from the printed number, print a cutting mark associated with the respective security paper, on an edge of the sheet which is subsequently cut off. At the time of subsequent cutting of the pile of sheets into strips, these cutting marks define those cutting edges which represent the reference edges of the security papers determining the exact reading position, at the time of subsequent automatic reading of the number of the security papers in circulation. For this purpose, the cutting marks are read by a reading unit (28) located on the strip-cutting unit (27), which unit (28) controls the feed device (26) moving the pile of sheets successively into the cutting positions.

Abstract: In a method of and an apparatus for processing a pair of continuous slide fastener stringers having element-free spaces between a plurality of longitudinally spaced chains of partly interengaged coupling elements with sliders mounted respectively thereon, the stringers are fed downwardly in a vertical direction at a low speed by an upper roller feed unit until their leading ends are sensed, whereupon they are fed at a high speed by a lower roller feed unit. The coupling element chains are fully closed one by one by the respective sliders which are releasably held by a slider holder disposed between the feed units while the stringers are fed at the high speed.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a cutting device for use in a tag printer or the like, in which a tag web being fed is cut, while its cut position is continuously corrected by a rotary blade so that it can cut a variety of price tag webs having different cutting pitches or intervals. The rotary blade is rotated continuously through a differential gear mechanism by a first motor. Its cutting timing is suitably corrected by a second motor which is connected to the differential gear mechanism. Before the cutting operation, moreover, both the price tag web and the rotary blade are positioned at their respective reference positions. During cutting, information as to the positions of the tags on the web and the rotary blade are fed to a processor which adjusts the rotation of the blade for effecting cutting at the proper positions along the web.

Abstract: Sheet material 14, such as a continuous supply of terry cloth towel 16, is moved along its length through a path and toward a cutting station 15 where it is cut into lengths 139. The sheet material is formed with bands 166 extending across its length, such as bands of reduced thickness, and the sheet material is cut in these bands. The bands are detected by rollers 144, 145 at opposite edges of the sheet material as the bands approach the cutting station 15, and each edge portion of the sheet material is fed by feed rollers 51, 52 independently of the other edge portion into the cutting station so as to cause one side of the sheet material which may lag the other side to be properly located at the cutting station prior to cutting the sheet material.

Abstract: A photographic film cutter for cutting film segments from a web of photographic film includes a knife located along a web advancement path, a splice sensor located upstream from the knife, and a notch sensor located between the knife and the splice sensor. A stepper motor moves the web along the path in fixed length steps. A step counter counts the steps to determine the length that the web has advanced since the web was cut by the knife. When a splice is detected by the splice sensor, a maximum feed switch determines, based upon the count of the step counter, whether the distance from a leading cut edge to the splice sensor is greater than or equal to a predetermined maximum distance. If the length is less than the maximum, the web is advanced until a portion of the web adjacent the splice is positioned at the knife, and the web is cut. If the length from the cut edge to the splice is greater than the predetermined maximum length, an additional cut is made.

Abstract: An apparatus for advancing a predetermined length of strip material from a supply roll to a delivery point. In addition to strip pull-off mechanism (15) cooperating with a one-way means (20, 22) to pull-off the desired strip length from the supply roll (10), the apparatus has a gripper (26) reciprocating in synchronism and in push-pull connection with the pull-off mechanism, the gripper gripping and advancing the strip end. The strip (11) also passes a strip brake (20, 21) and a photocell (19) which on detection of a suitable mark causes the brake to be actuated to stop the strip and the gripper to be actuated so that it releases the strip. As the moving parts have a very small inertia, the braking may be effected almost instantaneously and with great precision.

Abstract: Method for operating an automatic hollow punch search device and relevant control, for die-cutting machines, particularly for footwear production, in which a mobile head is associated to a device to move it to and fro, both horizontally and vertically, above a fixed faceplate on which the material to be cut is placed, together with a hollow cutting punch. The movement devices are automatically piloted by a drive circuit interlocked to manual starting device which provides means to carry out a complete head movement operating sequence from its positioning above the hollow punch to its lowering and return to the starting point after cutting.

Abstract: A plurality of gimbal mounted wheels are located to protrude slightly above an alignment table to support a work piece. A pair of electro-optical scanners are located above the table to locate a marked bend line on the work piece with respect to a die in an adjacent press brake. The scanner signals for wheel alignment and to drive units located in each half of the alignment table to selectively drive the wheels and move the work piece bend line into position in the press brake. An alternate drive actuates the wheels when the wheels are aligned for maximum rotation.

Abstract: A towel cutting machine includes a drive feed device including rollers for feeding strip material from a towel supply roll to and between a cutter blade and braking-sensing mechanism and into a set of driver pull slip-clutch rollers to pull the strip of material through the towel cutting machine, to hold the strip material taut during cutting and to draw off the towel severed from the end of the strip material after being cut.

Abstract: This invention refers to a multiple edge rotating blade type sheeter for cutting wood veneers, employing a main edged blade, designed to cut the progressing wood veneers in a minimum length equal to the arc between two successive cutting edges, and an auxiliary edged blade designed to remove a strip strictly containing a defective part of the wood veneer from each cut wood veneer, the main and auxiliary edged blades being opportunely spaced and their operations being controlled by means of an electronic apparatus.

Abstract: A link cutter includes a support frame having a cutting zone, a first conveyor on one side of the cutting zone for sequentially conveying a plurality of links interconnected by twisted casing sections, a second conveyor on the opposite side of the cutting zone for receiving links from the first conveyor and stretching the twisted casing sections at the cutting zone. A sensor upstream of the cutting zone includes a source of electromagnetic waves directed across the path of the links and a device for sensing those waves which pass between the links adjacent the twisted casing sections so as to actuate a knife within the cutting zone to sever the sensed twisted casing section upon movement of the same to the cutting zone. The sensor may be a light source and photocell adjustably mounted relative to the cutting zone. A mirror or reflective surface is positioned in the cutting zone to function in combination with the light source and photocell.

Abstract: A machine for extruding dough, typically of the bagel variety, about a food, such as a frankfurter, is disclosed. Typically, the frankfurters are loaded into a magazine. The magazine feeds a star wheel at the bottom. The star wheel singulates, rotates and discharges the frankfurters into a chute. Once the frankfurters are deposited in the chute, an endless chain with propelling pawls propels each sequential frankfurter through the chute concentrically to an extruder. The extruder continuously dispenses bagel dough concentrically around the frankfurters and is supplied with bagel dough under pressure by an auger flight extruder or other propelling mechanism. Extrusion occurs from an extrusion head having a frankfurter passageway centrally thereof. Dough is extruded into first and second extrusion chambers and out first and second immediately concentric extrusion annuluses about the frankfurter passageway.

Abstract: A slitting machine for separating the overlapped portion of a web of continuously laminated articles is provided by the present invention wherein a cutting means having two oppositely-facing cutting blades is mounted to a carriage and selectively reciprocated back and forth across the web as controlled by electrical circuitry to slit the laminate material between successive articles.

Abstract: A sawmill serving to cut logs into lengths which will allow for maximum use of the wood has a support for the log to be sawn. A number of saws are arranged alongside the supported log for individual lateral movement longitudinally of the log. Associated with the support is a locating device for determining the position of the log end relative to a reference datum line extending across the support. An electronic scanner surveys the log as it is delivered to the support and obtains log profile data which is fed to a computer. The computer has a memory in which is stored desirable cutting data as related to the reference datum line and the log profile data. A signal is sent by the computer to each of the saws whereupon the saws take up positions which will result in the log being cut into optimum random lengths.

Abstract: A method and apparatuses are disclosed for making shingles. The method consists of clampingly holding a block of material to be cut and conveying such block while it is clamped along a selected path through the clamping mechanism and causing relative movement between two cutting means which are inclined relative to one another to firstly cut a shingle from the block tapering in one direction and followed by a second shingle tapering in the opposite direction. The apparatus includes means for receiving and clampingly holding blocks as they are fed in sequence thereto and means to feed the block while it is clamped.

Abstract: High-speed spooling machines for yarn or thread are subject to the difficulty that, if the yarn or thread should break between a yarn cleaning, that is, size sensing and cutting apparatus and the takeup spool, stray remnant filamentary pieces may occur due to operation of the cutter apparatus since the thread size sensing apparatus may provide an erroneous "cut" signal upon absence of any thread in the sensing field. To prevent such operation, a thread sensing element is interposed in the path of the thread being spooled which, upon break of thread, will provide a "no tension" signal which will be below a predetermined threshold level. This signal is then used to inhibit operation of the cutter, regardless of the output of the thread size sensing element.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of severing a continuous flexible reinforced elastomeric conduit supported on a plurality of elongated rigid mandrels disposed in connected end-to-end relation is provided with the apparatus and method enabling cutting through the conduit at each end of each mandrel so that each mandrel has a length of conduit therearound which is approximately equal to the length of the mandrel.

Abstract: A photographic print cutting and sorting apparatus cuts photographic prints from a continuous roll of processed photographic print paper and sorts the individual prints into good, remake and reject prints. The print sorter includes a main conveyor line or chute for good prints, a first branch conveyor line or chute for remake prints, and a second branch conveyor line or chute for reject prints. First and second diverters are provided for diverting the remake and reject prints into the first and second branch conveyor lines. The operation of the diverters is based upon remake and reject indicia marked on photographic prints and sensed by an indicia sensor. A print sensor located near the discharge ends of the main conveyor line and the first and second branch conveyor lines provides a signal when a trailing edge of a print passes the print sensor. A control circuit receives signals from the indicia sensor and the print sensor and controls the operation of the cutter and the first and second diverters.

Abstract: A method for cross-cutting trees, where a trunk to be cross-cut is advanced relative to a lopping means for cutting off branches on the trunk. A signal representing the lopping force required is generated and is combined with a signal representing advanced length of the trunk, so that a knot signal representing the presence of knots on the stem is obtained. Said knot signal is used for automatic control of the cutting of the trunk as a function of the presence of knots on the trunk. There is also provided an equipment for performing the method.

Abstract: A pair of interlocked slide fastener stringers having a plurality of sliders respectively on their longitudinally spaced chains of coupling elements fed over a guide table as the sliders are sensed one at a time by a feeler lever pivotally mounted on the guide table. A stop lever pivotable with respect to the guide table has a stop finger that projects into one of element-free spaces between the chains in response to the pivotal movement of the feeler lever due to engagement thereof with the slider. The stop finger, while not actuated, is withdrawn out of the way, and thus does not interfere with the sliders moving with the slide fastener stringers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for edge-trimming a board by means of an edger having two cutter heads adjustable in relation to each other in which the cutter heads are arranged to be movable in a direction transverse to the movement of the board while it is passing the edger. The movement of the cutter heads is controlled in such a manner that a trimmed board of optimum width is obtained.

Abstract: There is provided a combination of a web-treating apparatus adapted to feed web at a steady rate into a web-handling apparatus, the latter performing an operation on the web, such as stamping. In the latter apparatus, the web is entrained over a series of rollers which include parallelogram -linked rollers set in such a way that web can be continuously and steadily fed into the web-handling apparatus and out of it, while at the same time the web can be halted intermittently at a portion of the apparatus at which the operation is to be carried out. As the web stops and starts at the location where the operation is carried out, the parallelogram-linked rollers move back and forth in an arc.

Abstract: A device is provided for detection of metal in a moved strand of a highly viscous material such as a mass of chewing gum. A guide trough for the strand is provided, above which an electronic metal detector is disposed, whereby a drop knife is disposed above the guide trough, and a swing valve opens into the floor of the guide trough.

Abstract: An automated in-line mailing (AIM) system of the type comprising sequentially a continuous sheet-web (20), a sheet cutter (10), an accumulator (12), a folder (14), a collector (16) and an envelope inserter raceway (24) is controlled by hyphens, or indicia, (60) on the sheet web (20). A control system includes a scanner (56) for sequentially sensing the web indicia (60) upstream of a cutting blade (30). The scanner is linked to a one-way clutch drive (114) to activate a plurality of opposed mutilated rollers (88, 90) positioned in the accumulator (12). The control system also includes a trailing edge sensor (122) for sensing a trailing edge of an accumulation of sheets as they are discharged from the accumulator (12).

Abstract: A method and a device for cutting up a tobacco leaf into portions suitable for use as binders or wrappers, in which cutting members are employed, which have a cutting edge matching uninterruptedly the desired circumference of a wrapper or binder wherein a plurality of cutting members are arranged on a carrier in an arbitrary configuration, the tobacco leaf is spread across said number of cutting members, the tobacco leaf is divided up by the corresponding number of cutting edges and the leaf portions located within the cutting edges are removed from the cutting members, whereby the tobacco leaf is completely divided up in one run into usable and waste portions which considerably enhance the production of binders and wrappers.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting cigar wrappers with a selected profile from a natural tobacco leaf, the apparatus comprises a vacuum supporting structure on a leaf receiving member. An arrangement is provided for selecting a cut position on the leaf and oriented with respect to the leaf receiving member and a cutting platen is provided including a leaf supporting surface and an arrangement for creating a vacuum on the surface to support a leaf. The platen is positioned in a known leaf receiving location and a transfer means is provided for transferring the leaf from the leaf receiving member to the leaf supporting surface of the cutting platen. The cutter having the desired profile is provided for cutting the profile from the leaf. The platen is then shifted from its leaf receiving position to a leaf cutting position with the support surface of the platen spaced from the wrapper cutter.

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: An apparatus for spray marking lumber boards with paint at predetermined locations while they are being conveyed past the device for further processing. A tachometer and a photoelectric unit are employed for determining the location and speed of the board. A solenoid-operated paint sprayer is used to deliver the paint to the boards. Electronic control circuitry is provided to activate the paint sprayer and properly coordinate the operation of paint sprayer with the location and speed of the board so the board is marked at the desired locations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting clamps or clips off of the ends of sausages and similar products formed by forcing material into continuous lengths of an outer tubular casing and placing clips intermediately along the length of the outer casing to separate lengths of the sausage or the like. The clips are removed by positioning the clips of a pair of the sausages or the like adjacent a pair of cutters in such a manner that the cutter jaws are positioned between the adjacent ends of sausages. The cutters are then caused to automatically move apart until they engage the ends of the sausages and are positioned between the respective clips and the ends of the sausages. The cutters are then automatically actuated to cut through the outer casing between the clips and the ends of the sausages to thereby effect removal of the clips and separation of the pair of sausages.

Abstract: A strip cutting apparatus such as a photographic paper cutter senses position of the blade which cuts segments from the strip. The strip is driven in a reverse direction by a predetermined number of steps after the blade has cut the strip and before the blade is retracted. This back step motion or reverse motion eliminates the occurrence of interference between the forward edge of the strip and the blade as the blade is retracted. Damage to the forward edge of the strip caused by interference with the retracting blade is thereby avoided.

Abstract: Two fixed blades are provided at substantially right angle with each other with a juncture line thereof being in the transverse direction and opposite to the terminal end of a feeding conveyor passage of a sheet material to be cut. Two movable cutter blades are also provided at substantially right angle with each other opposite to the fixed blades in such a manner that one cutter blade coacts with one fixed blade and the other cutter blade coacts with the other fixed blade to cut the sheet material at substantially right angle with respect to the plane of the sheet material. The two movable cutter blades are made to alternately advance and retreat at a predetermined timing.

Abstract: A cut-off saw assembly for building logs wherein each log is positively advanced to a stop area comprising an array of power actuated stops at varying distances from a cut-off saw, the saw being actuated after the log has been stopped and clamped firmly to a table through which the saw blade is advanced and retracted.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with an electronic device for testing and controlling the clearing action of an electronic yarn clearer. The device comprises an individual fault measuring circuitry connected to the yarn sensing head of the yarn clearer for detecting yarn faults such as thick and thin places, and selector means for separating the non-tolerable faults from the rest. By comparing the output of the device and the output of the yarn clearer, the non-tolerable faults which have not been cut-out by the yarn clearer are detected. It is possible to eliminate also the latter faults from the yarn by actuating the severing device of the clearer.

Abstract: The invention provides an arrangement for detecting faults in wrapped filter rod, for tobacco-smoke filtration, prior to its being cut into lengths, the arrangement comprises a light source and a light-sensitive receiver, for example a photo-transistor, in a housing provided with a rod guide which imposes on the rod a path between and spaced away from the said light source and receiver, a beam of light from the said source being projected through the said path of the rod to the receiver. Advantageously the housing bounds a cavity from which extraneous light is excluded and the light source and receiver are disposed behind respective transparent windows spaced away from the said rod path. The said receiver may be operatively connected to a system by which a faulty rod length detected is caused to be rejected after having been cut off from the rod.

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: An automatic photographic paper cutter cuts photographic prints from a strip of photographic paper which bears cut marks indicating the locations of desired paper cuts. An automatic paper feed control allows a predetermined number of cut marks to be missing without halting the operation of the paper cutter. A total feed length for the last previous paper feed-and-cut cycle in which cut marks were sensed at both ends of the cycle is stored and continuously updated with each paper feed-and-cut cycle. If a cut mark is not sensed within a predetermined length or "window", the automatic paper feed control causes the paper to be driven the stored total feed length, stopped, and cut.

Abstract: A portable sawmill system comprising at least three wheeled, independently movable modules is disclosed. The modules are independently maneuverable to a land site having a ready source of logs to be processed and are arranged in a preselected geometrical configuration adjacent one another and the source of logs. A log from the source is received on the first module and debarked. The debarked log is moved axially and transversely off the first module and onto a second module. A plurality of saw means are carried by the second module to form boards from a log being processed. A third module is located at the output side of the second module and is adapted to receive and further process the boards formed on the second module.

Abstract: An automatic photographic paper cutter cuts photographic prints from a roll of photographic paper which bears indicia indicating the location of desired cuts. The automatic photographic paper cutter has an improved indicia sensing system which includes a plurality of indicia sensors, each positioned to sense indicia on a different portion of the photographic paper. Prior to automatic operation of the paper cutter, an indicia bearing portion of the photographic paper is oscillated back and forth past the plurality of the indicia sensors. One of the sensors which provides an acceptable output signal is selected, and subsequent operation of the photographic paper cutter is controlled in response to signals from the selected sensor.

Abstract: The present specification describes and claims a device for severing a strip which interconnects items conveyed one behind the other and spaced apart from each other. The device is particularly suited to cutting the binding strip for the spine of books, blocks etc. The device comprises a knife mechanically coupled to a follower device which, in use, follows the profile of the individual items. The follower device maintains the knife in a position ready to cut and when the follower device drops down a gap between adjacent items, the movement of the knife activates control means to operate a knife power drive, the knife then cutting the strip and following a working cycle back to a ready position wherein the follower device can engage a subsequent item.

Abstract: The operation of an automatic photographic paper cutter is controlled by a programmable digital processor such as the microprocessor. The microprocessor controls the paper feed, the knife assembly, the display, and other related operations of the automatic paper cutter as a function of a step status signal which indicates whether the stepper motor paper drive has taken a step, a cut status signal which indicates whether a cut mark on the paper has been sensed, and stored control information.

Abstract: Drafts of preselected weight are sliced into a preselected number of slices by passing the material to be sliced through a curtain of radiation to measure the density of the material, and this measurement is used to calculate the length of each draft, which measurement is stored and subsequently read out to control the operation of a stepping hydroelectric motor which pushes the material through a cutting station at the proper speed.

Abstract: Apparatus for moving uniformly colored elongated objects, such as raw potato sticks, peeled raw carrots, etc., past sensing equipment. The sensing equipment scans the elongated objects for areas which deviate in color from the essentially uniform color thereof and actuates cutting means which thereafter removes the area of discoloration.

Abstract: A sheet cake cutter is effective to cut a sheet cake disposed in a pan having a surrounding rim. The cutter has a frame supporting a conveyor belt for horizontal advancement and on which the sheet cake pan is concurrently advanced. On a transverse shaft mounted for rotation on the frame are preferably arranged at least a pair of cutter discs having edge notches therein. The cutter discs are disposed in registry with a predetermined space between them. The discs are set just to touch the bottom of the pan and with the edge notches spaced to interengage the rim. The cutter discs can be frictionally driven or shaft driven though a single-cycle clutch from the conveyor drive. The clutch is manually or automatically actuated to engage the drive by a pan on the conveyor and in position for interengagement of the notches and the pan rim. There is a hold-down roller disposed in the space between cutter discs and set at a height just above the sheet cake in the pan.

Abstract: A strip is composed of a plurality of successive groups of successive strip sections. The strip is provided with end-of-group indications coordinated with the ends of the respective groups of strip sections. The strip is transported backwards along a predetermined path so that each end-of-group marking precedes the first section of the respective group of sections. A detector located at a predetermined position along the transport path detects the end-of-group markings and generates corresponding end-of-order signals. The end-of-order signals are applied to a storage device. In response to each end-of-order signal, the storage device activates a separating device for separating one order from the next. However, the activation occurs only after the elapse of a time delay compensating for the backward transport of the strip.

Abstract: A photographic packaging system includes a monitoring system which permits the operator to compare frames of the film negative with prints which are being cut so as to assure that the proper prints will be packaged with the corresponding film negatives. The monitoring system includes a television camera and display and a view splitter which is positioned between the television camera and the film negatives. The view splitter splits the field of view of the television camera so that the camera views two separate frames.