Abstract: A system for sensing a web break using web break detection instruments. Upon sensing a break a strategically located, full web width deflection cam bears against the machine web upstream of the detected break. Under the bias of the deflector, the web running route is pushed into a saw-toothed cutter blade. Saw-tooth points simultaneously penetrate the web along a line traversing the full web width. Such line of web penetration becomes an immediate line of full width web breakage but at a location along the machine length designed to accommodate the waste production (broke) until web continuity along the remainder of the machine length is restored.

Abstract: A revolving base roller and a stationary cutter are mounted on opposite sides of the path of a laminated strip, in order to partially cut the strip from one side at desired cut lines along its length. The laminated strip includes a strip of printed labels on the printed side of which is overlaid a transparent film strip which is disposed toward the stationary cutter as the laminated strip passes along its path. A sensor detects an indication that the labels are properly positioned, and a control circuit receives a signal from the sensor and causes a single rotation of the revolving base roller. As the base roller revolves, it pushes against the opposite side of the laminated strip, causing the film strip to be pushed against the stationary cutter, resulting in the cutting of the film strip along the desired cut line. The stationary cutter may be adjusted to provide a cut of the desired depth.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for cutting coupons from plastic webs. This apparatus includes a circular cutting blade movable into and out of engagement with a cutting surface. The blade and cutting surfaces are each supported so that they are self-aligning. The cutting surface comprises a series of discrete rotatable surfaces which are rotated about the axis of the cutting blade to effect the cut.

Abstract: There has been provided a cutting device utilizing a fixed cutting edge and a movable roller axially mounted on a radial arm parallel to the cutting edge. The roller has an outer surface which is also parallel to the cutting edge. A composite laminate for making peelable labels is moveably supported between feed and take up rolls in parallel spaced relation with the roller and the cutting edge. The radial arm is actuated for moving the roller against one side of the composite and urging an opposite side thereof against the cutting edge for effecting the cut as the roller moves in proximate spaced relation with the cutting edge. The radial arm and roller carried thereby swings between extreme stop positions, and a cut is made each time the roller swings in proximate spaced relation to the cutting edge. The frequency of the swings of the radial arm, or the speed of the composite past the blade determines the length or distance between the cuts.

Abstract: A device for supplying a succession of die cut tobacco blanks with a given profile to a web of a coiled type, storage bobbin. This device comprises a set of die cut stations each including a cutting die blade with an upstanding cutting edge matching the profile of the proposed blank and vacuum means surrounding the edge of the blade for capturing a tobacco sheet material on the stations in a position overlying the cutting edge. The stations are moved along an endless, preselected cutting path which intersects a cutting means at a first position in the path of movement of the stations so that a tobacco leaf can be cut from a manually placed tobacco sheet captured on the movable station.

Abstract: A cutting table having a suction chamber and operable to retain tobacco leaves thereon. A plurality of knives are located adjacent the table, and the knives and table are movable relative to one another so that the knives can be exposed above the surface of the table. A pressure device is positionable over the table and is cooperable with the exposed knives to cut tobacco leaves. The knives are located with respect to one another so that in the method of cutting wrappers from tobacco leaves, consecutive cutting operations can be performed after displacing the tobacco leaf but while maintaining the same orientation of the stem of the leaf.

Abstract: Apparatus for severing a tow of crimped textile fibers has an outer cage and an inner cage. The inner cage has an annulus of idler rollers extending in parallelism with the common axis of the cages, and the outer cage has an annulus of elongated knives whose cutting edges spacedly surround and face the rollers. A tow of textile fibers is fed axially into the inner cage and is guided radially outwardly by an eyelet in the inner cage to enter a ring-shaped compartment between the knives and the rollers. A motor drives the inner cage or the outer cage to thereby convolute the tow in the compartment whereby the driven cage adds convolutions in the region immediately adjacent to the rollers and such convolutions cause the outer convolutions to expand toward and to be severed by the cutting edges. The severed fibers are withdrawn by a suction chamber which surrounds the outer cage.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the removal of tobacco cuttings in the wrapper cutting portion of a cigar making machine in which a hollow, rotatable die turret having a pair of hollow die units on its upper surface, air openings at its lower surface and passageways from such openings to the interior of the units, is rotatably mounted on a stationary support having a pair of air chambers therein with openings in the upper wall thereof which permit air to flow into or out of the turret passageways through the openings at its lower surface at various portions of the cycle of rotation of the turret. Each die unit has holes around the periphery of the cutting edge which extend into the die unit interior. One of the chambers is kept continuously under vacuum so that during part of the rotation of the turret, air is drawn through the die unit holes to maintain a strip of tobacco on top of a die unit.