Abstract: An improvement in paper converting rewinders in which bulk rolls of paper are converted into consumer product rolls of paper such as tear-separable multi-sheet rolls of toilet tissue or paper towels. In such rewinders of the type which include a perforator cylinder, and a bedroll/chop-off roll combination, changes in sheet length and/or sheet count commonly require changing one or more of such rotating, paper contacting machine elements. The present invention enables broad changes in both sheet length and sheet count in such rewinders without changing either the perforator cylinder or the bedroll or the chop-off roll. The invention also enables adjustments to assure true cross machine direction orientation of inter-sheet lines of perforation throughout the range of adjusting sheet length and/or sheet count per product roll.

Abstract: A supporting bed for supporting a stack of sheet material in a cutting machine of the type retaining the material by means of a vacuum applied from below the supporting bed is manufactured from a sheet of reticulated polyurethane foam material which has been compressed under heat and pressure so as to be permanently reduced to approximtely 10-35% of its initial thickness. The degree of compression, the temperature and compression time, and the porosity of the reticulated polyurethane foam starting material are selected to provide particular airflow and firmness characteristics for the finished supporting bed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the starting material is a reticulated grafted polyether foam having a porosity of 30 pores per inch and a sheet thickness of 5 inches. The sheet of material is compressed to a thickness of one inch and retained under pressure for 10 minutes at a temperature of about 400.degree. F.

Abstract: A guillotine assembly is provided wherein a blade is insertable between two halves of an anvil to cut a paper web. The blade is provided with teeth which engage triangular grooves in a resilient member of the anvil which is pressed against a rigid anvil plate. Points on the teeth first penetrate the web. Thereafter, tooth mid-sections form a series of slits in the web. Thereafter, points of contiguity between the teeth jam the slits to sever the web. The teeth each enter one of the grooves in the resilient member for the points of contiguity to engage and displace the resilient member in the final stage of cutting.

Abstract: In the art of cutting dies for layers of deformable stock material such as plastic, the improved cutting means combination and method which includes a razor blade cutting edge mounted on a punch press opposite a supporting cutting surface having a slot matching the shape of the razor blade cutting edge. The cutting edge is applied with appropriate pressure to the stack of material in the area of relief provided by the slot so that a clean efficient cut is effected through the stack of material. Preferably the razor blade cutting edge is a single blade so that problems such as material hang ups caused by incomplete cutting are minimized and/or completely eliminated.

Abstract: Nozzles are formed in a plate for an ink-jet printer by holding a metal foil tightly against the side of the plate from which the nozzle is to protrude, and then pressing and punching through the plate and the metal foil together, through an aperture of a pressing die into a cushion of a hard elastic material such as lead. The foil is made of an isotropic material which is harder than that of the nozzle plate, and is preferably an amorphous or microcrystalline metal.

Abstract: A polymer tube is inserted into a passageway in a guide block and a polymer support rod is inserted into the tube. Pluralities of tubular punches are simultaneously driven from different radial positions through the wall of the tube and into the support rod to form holes in the tube.

Abstract: A weft cutting device designated generally as (A) is disclosed for cutting a waste tape from the selvage of fabric being woven on a shuttleless loom. The cutting device includes a base (10) which pivotably carries a pivoting mechanism (24) having a cantilevered arm (28) in engagement with a protective cover (30) of a reed (32). As the reed oscillates back and forth during beat-up of the fabric on the loom, the arm is reciprocated. A blade carrier assembly (34) is attached to the pivoting arm mechanism and includes a blade holding means (38) which holds a square cutting element (B). The cutting element is four-sided and includes four cutting edges (62). An identical cutting element (B') provides a complementary cutting surface (55) against which the blade element strikes during cutting. The blade elements (B) and (B') are interchangeable with each other such that eight cutting edges are provided.

Abstract: A method and means for adjusting a forage harvester shear bar relative to its rotating cylinder. The outer end of the shear bar, the central portion of the shear bar and the inner end of the shear bar can all be selectively adjusted while the cylinder is rotating, these adjustments being made from the outer or operator's side of the harvester and at a common location. All of the shear bar adjusting means are located at one convenient and safe area at the outer or operator's side of the machine and the operator can accurately adjust the outer, central or inner end of the bar by noting the "tick" noise created when the particular end or portion of the shear bar being adjusted touches or comes in contact with the rotating knife of the cylinder.

Abstract: To manufacture a jet nozzle, the nozzle plate is first drawn through a drawing ring of spring steel in one operation by a press and punch die having the internal dimensions of the jet nozzle, the plate subsequently being punched during further drawing in a hard elastic plastic block which serves as a cutting cushion. The drawing ring is then slightly pressed into the plastic. All parts of the press and punch tool which are subject to the pressure exerted by the die and the die itself have been polished to be free from hair lines.

Abstract: Pattern making, particularly for the garment industry, including longitudinally advancing a web of pattern material onto a cutting table; simultaneously longitudinally advancing a web of fleece material in parallel contact with the pattern material, such that the web of fleece abuts the underside of the cardboard material; pulling a vacuum through said web of fleece, such that the pattern material is pulled towards the fleece; cutting patterns in the pattern material within the confines of the cutting table, such that a burr is formed on the underside of said pattern material and said burr engages said fleece material; simultaneously advancing the web of pattern material and the web of fleece away from the cutting area and separating the web of fleece from the pattern material, so that the cut patterns may be removed.

Abstract: Dough sheet perforator comprising plurality of axially spaced and aligned star wheels rotating against individual resilient backup members as sheeted dough is passed therebetween to assure complete dough perforation resulting from extended scraping action of teeth of star wheels along associated backup members.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting plastic film having a serrated chromium plated cutting blade and a readily penetrable film back-up member, preferably balsa wood, aligned with the cutting blade. The back-up member has grooves formed therein by the penetrating action of the blade.

Abstract: A cutting table for whole tobacco leaves out of which wrappers or binders are to be cut, comprises a perforated plate forming the top of a suction box and presenting a field illuminated from below, within which the mid rib of the tobacco leaf should be positioned, and also presenting indication lines likewise set off by illumination to facilitate the optimum position of the tobacco leaf in relation to the desired cutting pattern.

Abstract: In a spreading machine for laying fabric or other sheet material on a cutting table, a cutter box assembly is provided for cutting off the sheet material at the end of each layer spread. The cutter box assembly includes a housing mounted on the spreading machine carriage, a cutter frame movably mounted in the housing, a cutter disk rotatably mounted on said cutter frame, and drive apparatus for moving the cutter frame, and the cutter disk carried thereby, from one end of the housing to the other, when the machine carriage reaches the limit of its travel along the table. A spring-mounted pressure bar bears against the edge of the cutter disk, and the sheet material is fed between the cutter disk and the pressure bar. When the cutter frame is driven in a cutting stroke, the cutter disk rolls along said pressure bar and traverses the sheet material forcing its way through the material to perform a scoring cut and causing the material to part.

Abstract: There is provided an improvement in an apparatus for cutting a profile of a selected shape from a natural sheet material at a given location, which apparatus comprises a cutting platen having an upper generally flat cutting surface and a lower generally flat support surface. The platen is movable to the desired position relative to a cutter which moves along an axis downwardly against the cutting surface to cut the preselected shape from the natural material. In accordance with the improvement, there is provided a fixed anvil having a flat force reaction surface parallel to and facing the supporting surface of the platen so that the cutting action is against the anvil. The anvil can also form the structure for supporting the platen as it is moved into the cutting position.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting limp sheet material comprises a computer-positioned fluid jet cutting tool supported for movement above and relative to a bed of vertically elongated upwardly projecting members which have pointed free upper ends disposed in a generally common plane to define a fluid permeable sheet material supporting surface. The bed has fluid passageways therethrough which communicate with a fluid collection chamber therebelow. Vacuum apparatus independent of the fluid collection chamber is provided for normalizing or compressing a lay-up of limp sheet material resting on the supporting surface so that the individual sheets which comprise the lay-up collectively assume the characteristics of a rigid solid mass.

Abstract: An entry material for use in drilling circuit boards to avoid marring of such boards comprises a wood pulp-glass composite substrate having aluminum foil bonded to the opposite surfaces thereof. This entry material is relatively economical and has a stiffness sufficient to avoid upward bending or "oil canning" when pressure feet spaced from the drill are employed to hold the workpiece during drilling and further has enough strength to withstand high torsional drill forces with drills operating for high rates of material removal. The double layers of foil separated by the low heat conductive substrate material affords a pair of heat sinks which more effectively can carry away heat from the drill.

Abstract: A rotary punch for the production of pre-shaped outer and inner cuts on mng webs or individual blanks of paper or the like, and more particularly, for the preparation of envelopes, flat bags or the like, includes rotating cutting tools whose cutting edges describe an envelope cylinder and at the instant of cutting impinge on a stationary abutment aligned at a slight inclination to the axis of rotation of the tools and so clamped that the operative edge of the abutment is everywhere at the same radial distance from the axis of rotation. The punch has a holder for the abutment, which holder has a bed molded from a curable liquid, and a cutting ledge of circular cross-section which is secured in the bed.

Abstract: Backup material is formed from a pair of oppositely positioned metallic foil sheets between which an open metallic core having oppositely running node portions is sandwiched. The core may be sinusoidal with each node extending from one of the edges of the sheets to the opposite edges. This sandwich core backup material is placed beneath a printed circuit board to be drilled, such that with drilling, the drill penetrates through the top sheet and not the bottom sheet, thus terminating in the area of the open core. The backup material prevents the formation of burrs around the holes drilled in the circuit board and at the same time facilitates cooling the drill and the workpiece and the removal of cuttings therefrom.

Abstract: A vacuum table has a base and a bristle bed which includes a bristle mat formed from a plurality of molded bristle blocks mounted in closely spaced relation within the table base. Each bristle block has a base portion and a multiplicity of straight or tapered bristles which project upwardly therefrom and cooperate to define a penetrable support surface. Apertures in the bases of the blocks and/or spaces between marginal edges of adjacent blocks define airflow passageways through the mat which communicate with a vacuum source for inducing airflow in downward directions generally parallel to the bristles. The bristle blocks may be supported on a grid or may be self supported.

Abstract: A cutting block or pad having a laminated construction, wherein the adjacent component layers or member elements are bonded to each other, and having at least one cuttable rod member passing therethrough is disclosed. The rods extend within the interior of the block, passing through the component layers, and each rod is preferably secured in position to provide mechanical strength to the laminated structure. The rods each have a resistance to cutting less than a predetermined die damage level and preferably comparable to the component layers of the laminated construction. The block is particularly useful in connection with a clicking die.

Abstract: A fluid jet cutting apparatus has a material supporting bed comprising a tank-like structure and containing a substance maintained in at least a partially frozen condition by refrigerant coils. The solidified surface of the substance provides a supporting surface for material to be cut and is reconstituted after a jet of cutting fluid passes therethrough.

Abstract: An anvil for supporting an outsole based upon an elastomeric compound, the outsole having a heel portion of greater thickness than the sole portion, during a process of imparting a multiplicity of slits to the outer surface of the heel and sole portions of said outsole. The anvil has a sole portion extending to a greater height than the heel portion of the anvil, whereby the multiplicity of slits may be imparted to the heel and sole portions of the outsole by a single reciprocating cutting blade in one continuous operation without removing the outsole from the anvil or changing the position of the outsole on the anvil. A method of imparting the multiplicity of slits to the outsole is also provided.

Abstract: The present application discloses a die cutter assembly which includes in combination a plurality of flat wood layers which support a steel rule die for cutting paper such as cardboard and like material. Metal hinge members are secured to opposed sides of the flat wood layers and each hinge member has a portion which overhangs the wood layers. A pivot member extends from each overhanging portion. A cover is provided which is capable of moving between a closed and an open position and this cover member comprises a flat surface which is adapted to engage the steel rule die for cutting paper interposed between the steel rule die and the flat surface of the cover member. The cover member has four downturned edges to fit around the top edge of the wood layers in the closed position of the cover member.

Abstract: A cutting block or pad having a laminated construction, wherein the adjacent component layers or member elements are mechanically bonded to each other by layers of an electrically conductive adhesive, is disclosed. The block is particularly useful in connection with a clicking die and acts to complete an electrically conductive path as the die first contacts one broad opposing surface of the laminated structure. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one and preferably two electrically conductive rods extend through the interior of the block, normal to the adhesive bonding layers, and each rod is bonded or secured in position by an electrically conductive adhesive material. Each rod thereby makes electrical contact to each adhesive layer, and the electrically conductive rods may also provide mechanical strength to the laminated structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing fiber material to chip form including an anvil assembly defining an anvil bearing surface of generally U-shaped configuration having leg portions joined by a connecting portion, at least one knife blade and carrier means for moving the knife blade in surface-to-surface bearing engagement with the anvil bearing surface in a direction extending from adjacent the ends of the leg portions towards the connecting portion to effect cutting or severing of the material into chip form.

Abstract: A fluid jet cutting apparatus comprises a computer positioned fluid jet cutting tool supported for movement above and relative to a bed of parallel plates which have upper knife edge portions disposed in a common plane to define a fluid penetrable material supporting surface. Energy absorbing material such as liquid, and/or metal wool, gravel or shot may be disposed below the material supporting surface and between the bed plates to absorb residual energy from the fluid jet cutting stream after it has cut through material resting on the supporting surface.

Abstract: The device comprises a shear adapted to be mounted to the boom of a backhoe or like machinery with relatively movable members and be actuated by a powered, movable member of the backhoe. The shear comprises a generally U-shaped support member adapted to be disposed about the top of the backhoe boom. The shear also includes a pivotally mounted cutter head adapted to engage an anvil section attached to the support member to shear an item such as a metal member inserted therebetween. A cutter head is actuated by the backhoe movable member and is pivotally returned to a raised position after a shearing operation by a biasing means connected to the cutter head.

Abstract: A support structure for a cutter bar for use in a forage harvester, the support structure adjustably supporting the opposite ends of the cutter bar and providing a convenient readily adjustable structure for supporting the central portion of the cutter bar to prevent movement of the central portion of the cutter bar relative to the cutting cylinder of the forage harvester and to afford adjustment of the position of the central portion of the cutter bar relative to the blades of the cutting cylinder.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting sheet material unwound from a roll supported adjacent a cutter, the cutter comprising a stationary cutting member and a distinct movable cutting member adapted to cut material placed between the cutting members. The stationary cutting member is mounted on a support which can be affixed to a wall or supported on legs on the floor, and the movable cutting member is guidably supported for longitudinal travel along the stationary cutting member on which it rides to effect cutting of the material.

Abstract: Cutting apparatus including an elongate knife shiftable between cutting and noncutting positions, and an elongate anvil having an arcuate striking surface against which the knife may strike. The anvil includes an elongate shaft having an arcuate lower surface which rests in an elongate cradle and is rotatable about its longitudinal axis. The upper surface of the shaft facing the knife has a resilient covering secured thereto. A rotator connected to the anvil is operable to produce random angular incremental rotation of the anvil between cutting strokes of the knife to present different cutting surfaces of the anvil to the knife. The support for the anvil includes a support member having a pair of oppositely facing, angularly disposed surfaces and a pair of holding blocks having angularly disposed surfaces which engage the surfaces of the support member.

Abstract: A montage or "light" table comprising a structure movable along the table, and a punch mechanism mounted upon the structure for movement relatively thereto across the table, the punch mechanism comprising a hollow cutting punch, and means for reciprocating the hollow cutting punch to effect a punching operation by cutting.

Abstract: A continuously moving web passes over a fixed female die, which die is slotted to define a U-shaped cutting edge. A cylindrical punch rotates on an axis above the path of the web so that a cutting edge defined at the free end of the punch moves into the slot defined in the fixed die to cut a tab in the web. The length of the tab so cut can be varied by changing the relative speed of movement between the punch and that of the web, and the punch is mounted at an offset to its rotational axis. If such offset is positive, that is in the direction of rotation, the tab can be formed to "lead" the web. Providing the offset in the opposite or negative direction, the tab "trails" the web.