Abstract: A cotton dispenser includes a spool configured to receive a cotton strand thereabout and that rotates when the cotton strand is unwound therefrom. The dispenser includes a feed assembly downstream from the spool configured to receive an end of the cotton strand and unwind it from the spool when actuated. A cutting assembly is downstream from the feed assembly and configured to receive the cotton strand from the feed assembly. The cutting assembly includes a blade movable from a retracted configuration not in contact with the cotton strand and an activated configuration that severs the received cotton strand. The cotton dispenser includes a discharge chute in operative communication with the cutting assembly for guiding severed cotton portions to an outlet opening. A first input switch is electrically configured to actuate the feeding assembly so long as the input button is depressed and to actuate the cutting assembly when released.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for chopping long unwound items like fiber, fiber strands, yarn, etc. The chopper has a backup roll comprising a wheel and a working layer on the outer peripheral surface of the wheel and an engaging blade roll. The outer peripheral surface of the wheel contains spiral grooves or ridges that mate with ridges or grooves on an inner peripheral surface of the working layer such that a worn working surface can be quickly and easily unscrewed from the wheel and a new working surface can be quickly and easily screwed into place, making the job of replacing the working surface faster, easier and less costly than prior art practice.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating long, unwound items like fiber, fiber strands, yarn, etc. into short lengths. The apparatus has a backup roll, a blade roll, an idler roll, and a new-strand starting mechanism. The improvements include a guide roll for the items spaced from and located upstream of the apparatus and a movable, two-part idler roll on the apparatus for increasing the width of a separating portion of the backup roll.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating long, unwound items like fiber, fiber strands, yarn, etc. into short lengths. The apparatus has a backup roll, a blade roll, an idler roll, and a new-strand starting mechanism. The improvements include a guide roll for the items spaced from and located upstream of the apparatus and a movable, two-part idler roll on the apparatus for increasing the width of a separating portion of the backup roll.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating long, unwound items like fiber, fiber strands, yarn, etc. into short lengths. The apparatus has a backup roll, a blade roll, an idler roll, and a new-strand starting mechanism. The improvements include a guide roll for the items spaced from and located upstream of the apparatus and a movable, two-part idler roll on the apparatus for increasing the width of a separating portion of the backup roll.

Abstract: A removable, lubrication free plain bearing plate constructed food-table is assembled on the food slicer to reduce the operating friction while increasing the unique quality of the sliced food product as well as labor-efficiency.

Abstract: A sheet material trimming apparatus and method are described which are suitable for use in a booklet making system. An exemplary apparatus includes at least one cutter for trimming a first and a second edge of a sheet material in a first and a second direction, and a drive system for moving the sheet material in two perpendicular directions for trimming the first and second edges with the at least one cutter. The drive system moves the sheet material in two perpendicular directions by rotating and translating a roller. The sheet material trimming apparatus allows for automatic changes in the amount of material cut off each side of the sheet material by moving the sheet material in two directions without requiring repositioning of the cutter(s).

Abstract: A tape dispensing device is comprised of a means for rotatably supporting a roll of tape. A means for adhering to the tape and pulling the tape forwardly is positioned forwardly of the supporting means. The adhering means and pulling means is rotatably supported. A motor means is provided for imparting rotation to said adhering and pulling means. Means for cutting the tape means is positioned forwardly of said adhering and pulling means. A switch means is provided for actuating the motor continuously while said actuating means is engaged. Also a shaping means is positioned above the path of travel of the tape to urge the tape against the adhering and pulling means, the adhering and pulling means including a set of feed rollers. The shaping means is positioned between a pair of adjacent feed rollers, the lowermost edge of the shaping means being positioned below the uppermost edge of said pair of adjacent feed rollers forming a structural indentation in said tape.

Abstract: A rotary printing press has a folding station where the printed web is perforated both transversely and longitudinally in order to expedite subsequent folding thereof into signatures. In order to incorporate a longitudinal perforator into the folding station without adding to its size, a longitudinally perforating blade similar to a circular saw is mounted to a blade carrier shaft which is rotatably supported opposite a feed roller by which the web is frictionally fed into and through the folding station. An annular, longitudinally grooved anvil is formed circumferentially on the feed roller for engaging the longitudinally perforating blade via the web being thereby perforated. The longitudinally perforating blade is movable with the blade carrier shaft into and out of perforating engagement with the anvil on the feed roller.

Abstract: A workpiece conveying and feeding unit for conveying a long workpiece in the lengthwise direction to feed the workpiece to a cutting machine is disposed in the rear of the cutting machine. A workpiece conveying unit conveys the workpiece in the lengthwise direction of the workpiece into a workpiece conveying passage of the workpiece conveying and feeding unit. When a plurality of workpieces placed on the workpiece conveying unit are sequentially conveyed to the workpiece conveying passage of the workpiece conveying and feeding unit to convey the workpieces to the cutting machine, the side surface of the workpiece which is conveyed to the workpiece conveying passage of the workpiece conveying and feeding unit by the workpiece conveying unit is detected by a side-surface detector.

Abstract: A burn side of a compact disc is maintained in contact with edges of triplet blades while the disc is moved relative to the blades. In one embodiment, the disc is manually moved into and out of an enclosure where the blades scratch the burn side. In another embodiment, a paper shredder provides power to counter rotating rollers that transport the disc through an enclosure where the blades scratch the bum side.

Abstract: A conveyor device for miter-box saws which is arranged for movement horizontally perpendicular in relation to the direction of conveyance in order to be able to avoid any possible swivelling of the miter-box saw. The horizontal travel of the conveyor device takes place in part and in a swivelling direction due to the swivelling motion of the saw itself.

Abstract: A bagel or bun slicing apparatus includes a frame mounted to a vertically adjustable stand and base. The frame defines a vertical channel which houses a reciprocating blade and rollers for transporting the bagel or bun through the channel and across the blade. The rollers are rotated by an electric motor which also reciprocates the blade. The rollers and/or a guide plate may be laterally adjustable to allow for bagels or buns of varying widths.

Abstract: A bridge assembly includes a urethane-base flexible bridge die having an inner surface and an outer surface. The bridge die is formed for use on a discrete section of a rotary die cylinder and is used with at least one rotary cutting die mounted to the rotary die cylinder. The bridge die has at least one score so that the bridge assembly may be resized by removing a portion of the bridge assembly at the score. A plurality of rubber strips are also included and are attached to the outer surface of the bridge die.

Abstract: A ticket destruction mechanism for use with paper tickets comprises a ticket moving mechanism and a cutting mechanism disposed within a housing. The ticket moving mechanism carries paper tickets inserted into a slot in the housing from the slot to the cutting mechanism where they are destroyed. The ticket moving mechanism includes two continuous belts, each disposed around two rollers, with the two belts set parallel one another. In operation, the adjoining portions of each belt move together in the same direction to carry tickets towards the cutting mechanism. The cutting mechanism comprises a cutting gear configured to turn at a high rotation rate. At least one cutting blade is configured to protrude from the cutting gear. The cutting mechanism is set at a second end of the ticket moving mechanism, distal the slot in the housing. The cutting mechanism is oriented such that the protruding cutting blade will intersect a strip of tickets as it is fed out of the second end of the ticket moving mechanism.

Abstract: A slitter apparatus for the slitting of substantially flat articles, such as unrolled steel, comprising paired entry and exit pinch rollers and paired slitter knives. The vertical positions of the paired pinch rollers and slitter knives are coordinated whereby the path of travel, i.e. pass line, of the steel through the slitter is predetermined to a substantially optimum path for slitting of the steel. The invention likewise includes a method of determining and positioning the slitter in accordance with a substantially optimum path of travel for such articles being slit.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus includes a first annular member having a center eccentric from an axis of a rotating shaft and fixed to the rotating shaft. The cutting apparatus further includes a bearing with its inner race fixed to the first annular member, a disk cutter fixed relative to an outer race of the bearing, and a balancer fixed to the rotating shaft in a state being eccentric in the direction opposite to the eccentric direction of the first annular member.

Abstract: A paper machine for one of making and processing a fiber material web. A plurality of rolls carry the fiber material web. The plurality of rolls include a load roll and another roll defining a nip therebetween. The fiber material web travels through the nip and defines a gore with the load roll on an approach side of the nip. A movable cutoff knife includes a cutting edge positioned in the gore at a slight distance from the nip and adjacent to the fiber material web. At least one impulse exchanger is positioned in association with the cutoff knife. The impulse exchanger is configured to transfer impulse energy to the cutoff knife whereby the cutting edge cuts the fiber material web.