And Transverse Cutter Station Patents (Class 83/408)
  • Patent number: 6060679
    Abstract: An edge trimmed piece that is cut from a long metal slab with a cutting torch carried along the slab edge is automatically crosscut into short manageable length pieces with a secondary crosscutting torch. Both torches are mounted on the same carriage and the crosscutting torch is periodically activated to move along an acute angular path with respect to the edge trim cut, resulting in an effective crosscut transverse to the main trim cut. The crosscutting operation may be carried out without interruption of the edge trim torch, thereby enhancing productivity and trim cut quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: MG Systems & Welding, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Ludwigson, John Alan Rowland
  • Patent number: 6012366
    Abstract: A slitting mechanism for a card cutting machine including a pair of rotating shafts having conveying rollers and cutting disks with cutting edges secured thereto. The slitting mechanism also includes a plate positioned in the space between adjacent cutting disks on one of the rotating shafts. The plate includes a sharp tip for contacting and dropping down chips caught in the space between adjacent cutting edges. Moreover, a sliding clutch is utilized to prevent rubbing and damaging of a sheet when the conveyance of the sheet is temporarily stopped. The sliding clutch is fitted on the drive shaft of the pair of rotating shafts for transferring power from a power source to the drive shaft. The clutch slides when a load is applied to the rotating shafts to stop the transfer of power to the rotating shafts and to prevent the conveying rollers from rubbing and damaging the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignees: Itox Supply Co., Ltd., Gunther Japan Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsuneo Shimizu
  • Patent number: 5953971
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing an array of individual business forms from a web allow two or more sets of forms from a single web to be formed and integrated in a final array, preferably an in seriatim array with a spacing between the individual forms. A web at least two sheets wide is moved in a first direction and slit to produce at least two web sections. The two web sections are redirected so that they move in different paths, such as by stationary curved surfaces that are vertically spaced from each other and disposed at different angles to the horizontal. Typically the web sections are redirected so that they are substantially vertically aligned with each other. Then the two web sections are cut into individual sheets and the individual sheets are redirected and combined into a single array of sheets with alternating sheets in the array from alternating web sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Moore U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: Roger A. Jacques
  • Patent number: 5899129
    Abstract: A trimming processing device automatically processes trimmings generated when a running wide web is slit in the running direction of the web into a plurality of strips having desired widths. A trimming cutting unit movable in the transverse direction of the web cuts the trimmings in the transverse direction of the trimmings, and a trimming conveyor unit movable in the transverse direction of the web conveys the trimmings away from the web. The positions of the trimming cutting unit and the trimming conveyor unit are controlled according to the position of the trimmings which varies according to the width of the web and the width and the number of the strips to be slit from the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiro Sumida, Norihiro Kadota, Masashi Aoki
  • Patent number: 5896801
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a food product is disclosed which utilizes a cutting wheel having a plurality of knives extending between a hub and a rim in conjunction with other cutting knives to produce a multi-dimensional cut of the food product. The use of the additional cutting knives enables the apparatus to dice a thin layered or leafy food product (cut it into small pieces) as opposed to merely slicing the food product in a single dimensional cut. The additional cutting knives may include one or more julienne knives attached to each of the knives of the cutting wheel so as to extend approximately at right angles to the cutting plane defined by the cutting wheel knives. A circular knife may be located upstream of the cutting plane defined by the cutting wheel such that the rotary knife longitudinally cuts the food product before it passes through the cutting plane. The apparatus according to the invention also utilizes separate drive motors for the feed conveyor and for the cutting wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Urschel Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael S. Jacko
  • Patent number: 5894978
    Abstract: A cutter for cutting flexible material held on a roll thereof. The cutter has a frame that mounts a drop in roll of flexible material and a drop in tensioning roller in an open end of the frame. The cutter has a cutting area that is generally enclosed and houses a plurality of slitting knives and a tear off cutting blade. The cutting area has an entrance and exit slot for the material with the slitting knives slitting the material as it passes through the cutting area. The slit material can exit through the exit slot. After a predetermined length has been pulled forwardly relative to the cutting blade the slit material can be cut into pieces by tearing it against the cutting blade. A length determining gage allows pieces of a precise length to be cut. The material is pulled through the cutter by a set of feed rollers contained within the cutting area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Jeffrey M. Welch
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Welch, Brian K. Balzum
  • Patent number: 5887503
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device of the type including a supplying unit for supplying a plurality of sheets in side-by-side arrangement with respect to the sheet supplying direction, and a conveying unit for conveying the plurality of sheets being supplied from the supplying unit in a direction perpendicular to the sheet supplying direction to a desired working unit, in which, there is provided between the supplying unit and the conveying unit a selective conveying unit for selectively and independently conveying respective sheet to the desired working unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Juki Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Kataigi, Masayoshi Ochi, Motohiko Inoue
  • Patent number: 5857395
    Abstract: An apparatus for the manufacture of sheets of corrugated board of variable size comprises a cross cutter for severing the entire web of corrugated board disposed, in the conveying direction of a web of corrugated board, downstream of at least one longitudinal cutting arrangement, of cutting devices for cutting lateral margins and of discharge devices for the margins cut off, and upstream of at least one cross cutting arrangement for cutting sheets of corrugated board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: BHS Corrugated Maschinen- und Anlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Roman Bohm, Martin Grill, Felix Titz, Karl Waldeck
  • Patent number: 5826474
    Abstract: Apparatus for dividing a continuous web having perforated, marginal strips on its sides into discrete sheets and removing the marginal strips. The apparatus includes: a device for engaging and moving the perforated, marginal strips of the continuous web along a feed path; a slitting device located downstream of the engaging and moving device for separating the marginal strips from the remaining, central portion of the web; a cutting device for dividing the remaining, central portion of the web into discrete sheets; a pair of deflectors located downstream of the cutting device for advancing the remaining, central portion of the web and for guiding the severed, marginal portions below the feed path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Linda A. Howard, Edward M. Ifkovits
  • Patent number: 5768959
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for feeding a web having two portions in a path of travel. The apparatus comprises a first module including a device for feeding the two web portions in side-by-side relationship and a second module located downstream in the path of travel from the first module where the second module includes a device for feeding the two web portions in upper-lower relationship. Accordingly, the two web portions each form a loop between the first module and the second module so as to reorient from side-by-side to upper-lower relationship. The apparatus further comprises a controller operatively connected to the first module feed a device and the second module feed a device for setting the feed speed of the first module feed a device corresponding to the feed speed of the second module feed device. The method includes the steps of: (a) determining the feed speed of the second module; and (b) setting the feed speed of the first module to a corresponding value for a given feed speed of the second module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: John L. Lorenzo
  • Patent number: 5628864
    Abstract: A continuous sheet cutting unit constituting a part of an automatic enclosing and sealing apparatus, and making single sheet from a continuous sheet and supplying the single sheet to a subsequent unit. A setting information showing at least the width of the single sheet directly or indirectly is supplied to setting information supply means, thereby, by supplying the information of the position of slitters for cutting opposite sides of the single sheet and/or of the position of single sheet conveying guides for the subsequent unit, the information of the position of single sheet conveying guides of the subsequent unit and the setting information indicating directly or indirectly the width of the single sheet being cut to the setting information supply means, so as to locate automatically the position of slitters cutting opposite sides of the single sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Juki Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Kataigi, Masayoshi Ochi
  • Patent number: 5596918
    Abstract: A slitting assembly for producing a plurality of "interrupted cut" slits in a large sheet of sport card photos includes a horizontal support track carrying a plurality of individual upper slitting assemblies each including a freely rotatable upper hub, an upper blade concentrically attached to the upper hub, a resilient band circumferentially disposed on the upper hub to frictionally engage the top surface of the sheet being slit, and an upper blade biasing element to resiliently urge an edge of the upper blade against an edge of the corresponding lower blade. The upper blades are precisely parallel to the lower blades to avoid interference with notches provided in the lower blades to interrupt the slits being made. The locations of the notches are selected to compensate for slippage resulting from the frictional engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: The Upper Deck Company
    Inventors: Michael V. Longwell, Richard J. Lee
  • Patent number: 5565059
    Abstract: An apparatus for the processing and segmenting of a cover-forming laminate web or sheeting structure which is adapted to interconnect a plurality of containers, such as the base members of blister packages each of which is designed to contain a hydrophilic contact lens in a sterile aqueous solution. More specifically disclosed is an apparatus for the imprinting, perforating, slitting and cutting the laminated web structure such that the severed laminate segments constitute printed covering label for an array of such containers, and whereby the laminated web or sheeting segment may be severed along weakening or perforation lines so as to provide a separable packaging arrangement for individual of the containers which are subsequently adhered thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell J. Edwards, Richard W. Abrams, Borge P. Gundersen, William E. Holley, Thomas C. Ravn, Mark E. Schlagel, Daniel T. Wang
  • Patent number: 5482166
    Abstract: A sorting system is disclosed for reclaiming lean meat from highfat meat trimmings. The sorting system includes a meat dicing machine which receives laterally extending whole meat trimmings and which dices such meat trimmings without grinding or extruding, and without disturbing the lateral distribution of the meat. This results in a lateral distribution of meat trimmings, without requiring vibratory distribution which is disfavored in meat processing plants. A wide-belt inspection conveyor is positioned at the downstream end of the meat dicing machine to receive the laterally distributed meat dices. The wide-belt inspection conveyor operates at a greater linear speed than does the meat dicing machine to longitudinally space the meat dices from each other. An optical inspection and sorting station is positioned at the downstream end of the wide-belt inspection conveyor to differentiate relatively lean meat dices from relatively fatty meat dices and to separate such meat dices from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Key Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Brown
  • Patent number: 5425307
    Abstract: A three dimensional slicing/dicing machine that slices a food product such as a loaf of sausage into similarly sized but irregularly shaped cube like portions. The machine has cutting knives that have a sinusoidal like wavy profile at their cutting edge and has an inclined conveyor for conveying the food product loaf and the resulting sliced portions along a feed path. A first knife cuts a slice of determined thickness off the loaf. The slice tips over onto one of its sides onto the conveyor where it is transported to the second knife. The second knife, which is mounted at an angle to the first knife and the travel path of the conveyor cuts the slices into strips. A third knife which is mounted at an angle to the travel path opposite the angle of the second knife cuts the strips into the desired cube like formations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: Carruthers Equipment Co.
    Inventors: Dennis Z. Rush, Paul S. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5397106
    Abstract: A machine for "bleed cutting" a sheet (1) into a plurality of pieces (2) and collating them by the method described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,121 has upper and lower pairs of slitting rollers in both the first series (12) and the second series (17) of slitting rollers, and transfer devices (201, 201') are provided within each path of pieces leaving the second series (17) of slitting rollers, with side gaps between the transfer devices within adjacent piece paths, and with end gaps between the second series (17) of slitting rollers and the transfer devices (201, 201'), whereby narrow side and end strips (101, 102) and tiny squares (103) formed by the pairs of lines (6) of cut by the second series (17) of slitting rollers across the pairs of lines (3) cut by the first series (12) of slitting rollers can fall away before the cut pieces (2) arrive at the transverse feed means (29).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Rollem Patent Products Limited
    Inventor: James Hill
  • Patent number: 5386754
    Abstract: A fruit and vegetable cubing or dicing and peeling machine comprises, superimposed onto one another, a first conveyor belt formed by a plurality of equispaced cutting cables, and a second conveyor belt including a plurality of cross cutting blades closely adjoining the cutting cables, an extruding roller being moreover provided above the first conveyor belt for pressing against the cutting cables thereof the fruits or vegetable to be diced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Valfor S.r.l.
    Inventor: Luigi Rastelli
  • Patent number: 5360161
    Abstract: Apparatus for cutting an advancing strip of photographic paper into prints of different size along and across the strip. The apparatus includes devices that cut perpendicular to the edges of the strip upstream of devices that cut parallel with the edges of the strip. Other devices secure the paper in position while it is being cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schaller, Rolf Unger
  • Patent number: 5358187
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of shredded paper products such as bedding materials composed of paper bits. Scrap newspapers in tabloid format, or standard straight broadsheet format are cut into a multiplicity of bits, the dimensions predictably and consistantly controlled to insure the paper bit production of substantially uniform and optimally acceptable sizes (length and width) most suitable for the type of end product use intended. This permits the selective production of shredded paper products customized to meet a particular end use, for example bedding material particularly suited for large animal bedding or bedding materials more suitable for small animals such as poultry and/or agricultural mulches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Inventor: Paula M. L. Ward
  • Patent number: 5271304
    Abstract: A conveying system for an automatic food slicing machine is disclosed. The conveying system has a floating upper conveyor positioned above a lower conveyor. The conveyors cooperatively feed the food item to be sliced an incremental length into the slicing knives during the feed cycle and retain the remainder of the food item during the cut-off cycle. An indexing mechanism, adjustable to provide different feed length increments and timed to the rotational cycle of the cut-off knife, drives the conveyors. The indexing mechanism only drives the conveyors during the feed cycle and the conveyors remain static during the cut-off cycle. The food item to be sliced is captively held between the upper and lower conveyors during both the feed cycle and the cut-off cycle. Small diameter rollers at the exit end of the conveyors are utilized and are positioned in close proximity to the travel path of the cut-off knife providing retentive capability throughout the feed length range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Carruthers Equipment Co.
    Inventors: Gary L. Wygal, Peter D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5249494
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cutting machine for tuberiform vegetables or root crops, in which a rotor (2) is mounted rotatably in a rotation casing (1), the rotor carrying the material (4) and pressing it against the inner wall of the rotation casing. The casing is defined over a circumferential section thereof by a flap (7) mounted pivotally on the casing, with the flap when open defining a cutting gap (8) with a slice-cutting cutter (6) fixed on the casing. An adjusting device (20) is provided for pivoting the flap (7) and adjusting the thickness of the cut. A strip cutter (25), which is mounted on a driven cutting belt (10), is fitted with transversely lying cutters (12) which cut the slices (4a) into strips (4b) in a cutting zone. Downstream of the strip cutter is a dice cutter (26) which cuts the strips into dice and can comprise a circular cutter shaft or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: Herbort Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Borvitz
  • Patent number: 5235882
    Abstract: A device which trims off the perforated margin strips of printer paper and cuts the paper transversely to separate it into individual pages. The paper which discharges from the printer is drawn around a tension bar and is applied to a toothed belt driven by feed wheels. Cutter wheels act against a grooved roller to cut along the tear lines of the margin strips. A photocell based counting system counts the perforations which pass the photocell to indicate each time the paper is advanced to position one of the transverse fold lines at a cutting station. Then, the paper is stopped and a cutter wire is pulled through the fold line to separate the leading page from the rest of the paper sheet. Each time a new sheet of paper is loaded, a special control circuit assures that the initial advance of the sheet stops with the leading edge of the paper at the cutting station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Inventor: William B. Rabourn
  • Patent number: 5229827
    Abstract: An electrostatic plotter includes a housing having a side to be confronted by an operator. A recording head is disposed in the housing for recording a latent image on a recording paper supplied from a roll of recording paper disposed in the housing near the operator side. The latent image recorded on the recording paper is developed into a visible image by a developing unit in the housing. A cutting unit cuts off a sheet with the developed visible image thereon from the recording paper and discharges the cut sheet toward the operator side of the housing. A control unit controls the cutting unit and issues a size signal indicative of the size of each of sheets cut off by the cutting unit. A plurality of stackers are positioned on a discharge side of the cutting unit and operable to sort and store the cut sheets in response to the size signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: Matsushita Graphic Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Toshio Sato, Chiaki Ohigashi
  • Patent number: 5207137
    Abstract: A dicing device for potatoes and the like adapted to be rested upon the top edge of a pail and having cutting wire portions through which a soft boiled potato is first sliced into horizontally sliced layers while passing onto a grated area and thereafter pushing the sliced layers through grated meshed cutting wires of a horizontal portion to form diced cubes of the potato as they are delivered to the underlying pail. The device generally comprises a horizontal frame portion having mesh cutting wire lengths and a raised portion extending upwardly from the forward end of the horizontal portion with layer cutting wire lengths and through which the full potato is passed to deposit the sliced layers upon the horizontal mesh grating portion. All cutting wires are a solitary wire threaded between opposite sides and ends of the frame portions and wound upon a tightening screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Inventor: Gary G. Baril
  • Patent number: 5189939
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting blocks of ice has a frame which defines a feed chute slightly larger than the uncut block of ice. Four saws are mounted to the frame in pairs. Each pair of saws includes two counter rotating, radial saw blades aligned opposite each other and extending toward one another into the feed chute of the frame. To facilitate the transfer of the uncut block of ice into the feed chute, a feed assembly is attached to the frame. A discharge assembly is secured to the frame to assist in removing the cut ice from the frame. The frame is mounted on a stand in an inclined position with the feed assembly higher than the discharge assembly to allow gravity feed of the ice. A gang of blades may be used with the saws in order to cut the block of ice into smaller sized blocks with one pass through the feed chute. The saw blades have carbide-tipped saw teeth to extend the amount of use between resharpening or replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Carbonic Reserves, Inc.
    Inventor: Russel G. Allen, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5188504
    Abstract: Numbers of similar, loaded envelopes having side edge folds and end edge folds joining two rectangular panels are arranged in a stack in a drawer-like portable holder having a side opening. The drawer is installed with the envelopes disposed as a vertical slack in an elevator compartment. An elevator platform at the bottom of the stack is urged upwardly. Each successive top envelope is transferred from the stack to rollers that impel the envelope forcibly against a barrier wall to jog the load against a side edge fold. Cutters sever the other side edge fold and both end edge folds. A vacuum cup moves one of the panels to engage between stripper rollers that draw the entire envelope and the load apart. Conveyors take the separated envelope to a trash receiver and take the load to a receiver tray. There are various electrical driving, timing and performance checking devices, some optically responsive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Systems Mailing Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5172621
    Abstract: In a device for cutting strip material as used in automatic wrapping machines, including transverse and longitudinal cutters by use of which the continuous strip is divided up into individual wrappers, the two cutters operate in conjunction with a reaction element serving additionally to support, retain and convey the strip in such a way that the material remains in a correct feed and cut position at least during its passage through the device. To advantage, a single reaction element can be utilized with the two cutters, and in the event that these are conventional, the first with a straight transverse blade and the second with a circumferential blade, the reaction surface is provided by a cylindrical roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: G. D. Societa per Azioni
    Inventors: Alessandro Minarelli, Alver Tacchi
  • Patent number: 5129299
    Abstract: A machine for cutting slabs of fresh or frozen tempered meat into diced sections and defined by a conveyor assembly comprised of a feed belt and an associated spring-biased feed roll, a strip cutting assembly comprised of a first knife roll of circular knives and an associated feed drum, and a crosscut assembly comprised of a second knife roll of elongate knives and an associated stripper plate provided with a corresponding shear edge, with edge portions of the circular knives being intermested within slots formed in the stripper plate and peripheral grooves formed in both the feed roll and feed drum. The feed drum is configured to retard the movement of fresh meat slabs being conveyed through the strip cutting assembly during which the circular knives are rotated at a peripheral speed that is at least twice the peripheral speed of the feed drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: Urschel Laboratories Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert R. Fischer, Gerald W. Urschel, Joe R. Urschel
  • Patent number: 5123316
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the reduction of paper waste in a web fed printing machine utilizes one or more cutting mark reading heads and a strip cutting register device to vary the path of travel of a stack of part web strips in accordance with deviations in tension of the part web strips from a nominal value. Elongation or reduction of the length of the path of strip travel is used to properly register the strip stacks with respect to a strip cross-cutting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Albert-Frankenthal Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Arnold J. Niedermaier, Karl H. Zeiler
  • Patent number: 5120290
    Abstract: A plotter (1) provides, in accordance with command inputs, drawings on a web (2) of predetermined width; the drawings may have different sizes or formats, and are provided by the plotter for optimal distribution of the sheets across the width (B) of the web. These drawings are placed on the web in groups, and the web is then cut longitudinally as well as transversely to provide the individual sheets which are fed on a separating table. The separating table is provided with longitudinal and transverse feeding systems (6, 56, 14, 24, 61, 63, 15, 15'), and with electric eyes or opto-electric gates (10-13) which, selectively, control longitudinal and transverse feeding apparatus to move the sheets against a reference or alignment rail (25) from where they are then fed sequentially, individually, to a folding apparatus (5). The systems permits automatic cutting and folding of drawing sheets, for example, from a web in accordance with the formats of the sheets, which are known from the plotter program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Inventor: Otto Bay
  • Patent number: 5117717
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for the slicing of bacon bellies or the like in a manner such that each draft of bacon is of the same weight, irrespective of the topography and density of the belly from which the draft is sliced. A dimensioner assembly has a plurality of pivotally mounted fingers having one end which engages the belly and another end which is a cam surface for transmitting movement of the fingers to a receptor such as an electromicrometer. The finges engage the top, bottom and both longitudinal sides of the belly, and the data thus collected are then transformed into a topography schematic which is particular for each specific belly passing through the dimensioner assembly. These topography data and data concerning the make-up of the particular belly are used for controlling movement of feed into a bacon slicer. Included is a feed assembly which positively and precisely feeds the belly into the slicer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: Oscar Mayer Foods Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy G. Mally
  • Patent number: 5096360
    Abstract: Numbers of similar, loaded envelopes having side edge folds and end edge folds joining two rectangular panels are arranged in a stack in a drawer-like portable holder having a side opening. The drawer is installed with the envelopes disposed as a vertical stack in an elevator compartment. An elevator platform at the bottom of the stack is urged upwardly. Each successive top envelope is transferred from the stack to rollers that impel the envelope forcibly against a barrier wall to jog the load against a side edge fold. Cutters sever the other side edge fold and both end edge folds. A vacuum cup moves one of the panels to engage between stripper rollers that draw the entire envelope and the load apart. Conveyors take the separated envelope to a trash receiver and take the load to a receiver tray. There are various electrical driving, timing and performance checking devices, some optically responsive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Systems Mailing Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5074178
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for cutting drawings from a web that has emerged from a computer controlled graphics plotter. The apparatus includes a support for holding the spool of paper from the plotter and a drive means for pulling the paper through the apparatus. Photocells serve as sensors for detecting the presence of the four borders of each drawing. In response to signals generated by the photocells, the transverse borders are cut by a rotary scissor during pauses in the advance of the web. The side or "longitudinal" borders of each drawing are cut by a pair of knives that pierce the paper and cut the borders as the web is being advanced through the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: CAD Futures Corporation
    Inventors: Paddy B. Shetley, Michael L. Carter, Robert C. Williams, III
  • Patent number: 5031498
    Abstract: An apparatus for stacking and cutting rolls of paper, in particular end rolls from the newspaper industry. The apparatus includes a rack assembly for stacking and unrolling the end rolls, and a cutting assembly including a pair of cylindrical rollers, at least one cutting device for cutting the paper into predetermined lengths, and preferably at least one cutting device for cutting the paper into predetermined widths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: Anne Koppel Conway
    Inventor: Simon Koppel, deceased
  • Patent number: 5025692
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting wall covering sheet from a roll permits longitudinal as well as transverse cutting of sheet from a roll. The apparatus comprises a support to hold a roll of wall covering sheet and allow the sheet to be unwound, a transverse member on the support positioned substantially parallel with the roll, the sheet passing over the transverse member when unwound from the roll, the transverse member having a slot to enable a cutting blade to make a transverse cut in the sheet, a longitudinal track on the support extending transversely substantially parallel to the roll and the transverse member, a cutting blade holder slidingly mounted on the track for positioning at any location on the track, and a cutting blade to fit in the cutting blade holder to cut the sheet longitudinally as the sheet is unwound from the roll over the transverse member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Inventor: Doug J. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 4932932
    Abstract: A method of cutting blanks from an elastic paper comprises the following steps: removing a single elastic paper web of indefinite length from a mother roll; longitudinally cutting the single web, as it runs off the mother roll, into a plurality of paper panels; guiding the running paper panels in pairs into a superposed, face-to-face relationship to form at least one running superposed paper panel pair; guiding the running paper panel pair between cooperating cutting rollers of a rotary cutter and cutting the blanks from the running paper panel pair by the cutting rollers alternatingly from opposite sides of the paper panel pair while countersupporting the paper panel pair by the momentarily non-cutting cutting roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: Melitta-Werke Bentz & Sohn
    Inventors: Heinrich Schmidt, Edgar Besenreiter
  • Patent number: 4925355
    Abstract: Apparatus for binding a stack of sheets along one peripheral side by means of a strip of binder material having a heat activated layer of glue wherein removal device is provided for at least partial removal of the layer of glue in the zones of the web of binder material which, after cutting off a strip of a required length, are situated at the ends of the strip of binder material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: Oce-Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Pals G. Faber, Stefanus P. E. A. Hermans, Gert Vegter
  • Patent number: 4921388
    Abstract: Numbers of similar, loaded envelopes having side edge folds and end edge folds joining two rectangular panels are arranged in a stack in a drawer-like portable holder having a side opening. The drawer is installed with the envelopes disposed as a vertical stack in an elevator compartment. An elevator platform at the bottom of the stack is urged upwardly. Each successive top envelope is transferred from the stack to rollers that impel the envelope forcibly against a barrier wall to jog the load against a side edge fold. Cutters sever the other side edge fold and both end edge folds. A vacuum cup moves one of the panels to engage between stripper rollers that draw the entire envelope and the load apart. Conveyors take the separated envelope to a trash receiver and take the load to a receiver tray. There are various electrical driving, timing and performance checking devices, some optically responsive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Systems Mailing Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 4815349
    Abstract: An angle shear for cutting a sheet metal plate in two directions shear comprises a feed table, associated therewith longitudinal and transverse cutting blades guide means, and a rotary device arranged above the feed table. Longitudinal feeding means can be retracted from the work position to a position beneath the table level and are arranged in a transverse row. Transverse feeding means can be arranged at the table level and forms a longitudinal row. Both the longitudinal and transverse feeding means cooperate with side stops, which are arranged and distributed within a plane extending in longitudinal and transverse direction. The angle shear provides for automatic feeding of sheets and stacking at several stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: Hammerle AG
    Inventor: Walchli Urs
  • Patent number: 4798114
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting meat blocks which includes a main blade to cut slices from a meat block and transverse blades to divide the slice into strips. The blades are mounted on a cutting unit which may be driven to reciprocate relative to a stationary meat block support. The latter includes a slice support structure that extends outwardly beneath the cutting unit in a comb-like configuration. The cutting unit carries a horizontally adjustable stop assembly having stop elements which fit and reciprocate within the gaps formed in the slice support. This configuration permits the smooth and stepless adjustment of the slice thickness without the necessity of disassembling any parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1989
    Assignee: Magurit Gefrierschneider GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Hager, Walter Vieth, Werner Manderla
  • Patent number: 4794963
    Abstract: An apparatus for optimizing the yield from a raw board, having defects randomly located therein, and for cutting the raw board optimally into product boards of predetermined specification, thereby cutting out any defects. The apparatus includes an adjustable fence located at a defect detection station, oriented along a path and movable transversely to the path. Located at the station are laser lines for temporarily forming lines lengthwise on the raw board. These laser lines cooperate with the fence to determine clear and full widths of the raw board. Also disclosed is a method for using the apparatus for optimizing the yield of the raw board. The clear width and full width information is transmitted to a computer while any waste portion is cut off and as all defects between the laser lines are being marked by an operator. In the meantime, the computer calculates an optimum solution for product to be cut from the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Assignee: Nemschoff Chairs, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven J. Oppeneer
  • Patent number: 4784318
    Abstract: Rectangular drawings of standard dimensions or formats can be automatically cut out of a continuous paper or plastic web (1) by a transverse cutter (9) and a plurality of longitudinal cutters (26), as directed by coding (20) on the edge of the web. The cut-off strips (23) of scrap made by transverse cutter (9) are directed away by a movable deflector (13). Additional deflectors (62) are provided downstream, in web motion direction D, of the longitudinal cutters (26) and serve to separate the scraps (23, 25) produced by the longitudinal cutters from the drawing forms (A0-A4) which have been trimmed on all four sides. Thus, manual separation of the drawings from the surrounding scrap is obviated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Inventor: Otto Bay
  • Patent number: 4782729
    Abstract: A machine for cutting animal tissue into pieces, comprises(a) a frame,(b) slicer means including slicers carried by the frame to rotate for slicing the tissue into elongated strands fed along parallel paths of widths determined by spacing of the slicers,(c) rotary cutter means including cutters carried by the frame to rotate and intercept the strands fed along said paths, and for cutting the strands crosswise thereof and at intervals predetermined by rotary spacing of said cutters, thereby to form said pieces having predetermined sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Inventor: Ernest R. Mathot
  • Patent number: 4771664
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting foodstuffs, such as meat, and particularly bacon and sausage, is disclosed. The apparatus includes a carrying body from which holding flanges extend forwardly. Front and rear guide frames are supported in the holding flanges. Lattice knives move perpendicularly to one another and to the feed direction of the material to be cut. The guide frames are secured by a clamping mechanism which is supported on the carrying body and each have complimentary oblique side surfaces. The complimentary oblique side surfaces of the guide frames may be tightly clamped together so as to seal the spaces between the guide frames and the carrying body and thereby prevent the escape of the meat being cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignee: holac Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Ernst Holz
  • Patent number: 4748797
    Abstract: A packaging method and apparatus are disclosed in which a substantially horizontal bed is loaded with a series of independent magazines. Each of the magazines supports a plurality of open trays which are loaded with the desired contents. The magazines are moved along the bed to a vacuum chamber where a cover film is applied and the magazines are independently supported. The vacuum chamber is then closed to allow for evacuation and sealing of the covered trays and the magazines supporting the finished packages are removed from the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Assignee: Trigon Packaging Systems (NZ) Limited
    Inventor: David Martin
  • Patent number: 4744275
    Abstract: The method and apparatus provide for transversely separating and laterally trimming or finishing continuously passing strips in processing lines for strip material, such as metallic strip. The strip is first severed in transverse direction and immediately thereafter is trimmed at the sides thereof. The time required for adjusting the lateral shears is approximately equal to that of the coil exchange operation leading to the time gained, and stoppages of strip in the operating stages are precluded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: BWG Bergwerk-und Walzwerk-Maschinenbaum GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann Koppers, Herbert Lux, Heinz-Wilhelm Berger, Dieter Baukloh, Dieter Hohl
  • Patent number: 4669644
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of trimming a travelling web of paper along the longitudinal direction of the web comprising transporting the web through a trimming station and continuously trimming said web in said station, wherein said method comprises supporting a portion of said web on a support surface in said station such that a portion of said web to be trimmed off overhangs an edge of said support surface, contacting said overhanging portion of said web with a travelling endless member which crosses the edge of the said support surface to trap the overhanging portion of the web between the endless member and a tearing support member adjacent said edge to shear said overhanging portion continuously from the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: Svecia Antiqua SA
    Inventor: Ingvar Nilsson
  • Patent number: 4646602
    Abstract: A cheese cutter for reducing a block of cheese by cutting the block in three perpendicular directions, comprising a frame, a carriage mounted and moveable linearly within the frame, low adherence, chemically inert cheese support members mounted on such carriage, means for moving the carriage within the frame, a stationary cutter having a plurality of cutting wires mounted therein, such cutting wires extending across the area through which the carriage is moved; and a pivoting cutter having a plurality of cutting wires mounted therein, pivotal through the area of travel of the carriage, together with a quick replacement cutting wire mounting system and various safety devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Inventor: Robert O. Bleick
  • Patent number: 4641555
    Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and method for cutting paper sheets into smaller sheet sections and collating the sheet sections. The apparatus includes a table having a longitudinal section, followed by a transverse section. Chains just below the table move a sheet stack longitudinally past a first blade which cuts the stack longitudinally, after which one of the stack portions is elevated above the other and placed on top of the other to combine the portions into a second stack. A second pair of chains moves the second stack in the transverse direction past a second blade which cuts the second stack transversely. One of the stack portions formed by the second cut is elevated above, then placed on top of, the other portion to form a further reduced sized third stack, which then is moved transversely to a third cutting station at which it is cut in the transverse direction. Again, one of the portions created by the third cut is elevated above and placed on the other portion to form a final stack of sheet sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1987
    Inventors: Dewey A. Johnson, Gregory P. Hamlin, Gary W. Schukar
  • Patent number: 4624161
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for high-speed and accurate cutting of cards from sheets, printed with an array of card layouts, moving along a unidirectional path. The apparatus includes rollers for initial accurate sheet feeding, a plurality of pairs of rotation members having common tangent points which serve to simultaneously advance a sheet in indexing motions and slit it along its leading edge, and a transverse cutting bar which cuts rows of cards across the slits. Each pair of rotation members includes a unidirectional driving anvil roller and an idling slitter disk. Continuous driving mechanism operates the apparatus. The apparatus for initial sheet feeding includes rollers feed sheets seriatim from a first leading-edge position to a second leading-edge position, hold them there until engaged by subsequent sheet-handling members, release them upon such engagement, and hold the next sheet in ready position while the released sheet is drawn past.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1986
    Inventors: Julian Namowicz, John Gengler