Abstract: A method of processing a food item that includes moving a food item along a direction towards an automated slicer, wherein prior to the food item being sliced by the automated slicer the food item that is being moved has a length, L, as measured along the direction. The method further includes determining a thickness, T, of a slice of the food item to be generated by the automated slicer and slicing the food item that has the length, L, by the automated slicer so that a maximum possible number, Nmax, of slices of the food item are generated that have the thickness, T.

Abstract: A method for aligning a strip of labels, which contains a plurality of labels, relative to a cutting device, wherein the strip of labels is cut into labels by the cutting device that are subsequently applied to containers. In a learning mode, the strip of labels is automatically transported by a transport device and the position of the strip of labels relative to the cutting device is detected by a position sensor disposed as a first camera, and, in an aligning mode, an operator can then enter a desired cutting parameter in a machine control unit of an input unit. Information indicated of the desired cutting parameter relative to the strip of labels is then displayed to the operator on a screen, and the machine control unit controls the cutting device on the basis of the desired cutting parameter.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a method for cutting a food product into slices for producing portions by taking into account the target weight thereof. Information about a remainder of the food product to be sliced is used to control corresponding actuators for a successive food product to be sliced.

Abstract: A punching processing apparatus includes: a punching scrap collection member that is disposed at a position where punching scraps produced after punching a sheet drop; a punching scrap housing unit that is disposed in the punching scrap collection member and movable in a horizontal direction; a registration detection unit that is movable in a width direction of the sheet for detecting a positional deviation amount of the sheet in the width direction when a position of the sheet in the width direction is adjusted so as to meet a punching position, wherein punching scraps accumulated in the punching scrap housing unit are shaken and flattened out by causing the punching scrap housing unit to move in the horizontal direction in coordination with the movement of the registration detection unit.

Abstract: The label producing device includes: a cutting device for cutting the elongated label base material for each label; a first feeding device disposed upstream of the cutting device with respect to the conveying direction of the label base material; a second feeding device disposed further upstream of the first feeding device; a mark sensor for detecting reference marks of each label on the label base material between the first feeding device and the second feeding device; and a control device for controlling the respective operations of the cutting device, the first feeding device and the second feeding device on the basis of a detection signal from the marker sensor. The control device separately controls each of the operations of a first feeding motor and a second feeding motor such that a first roller pair and a second roller pair rotate synchronously.

Abstract: The invention is for a method for making precise pairs of rails and stiles for doors and the apparatus for practicing the method. The method teaches cutting profiles into the perimeter of a workpiece and then cutting the workpiece in two to form two identical rails or stiles. The method teaches the use of a flat and true base having a flat and true fence along which a workpiece is moved into positions to cut profiles in the perimeter of the workpiece and then to cut the workpiece along its centerline into two identical rails or stiles.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for processing mail by severing an edge of each envelope in a stack of mail. The apparatus includes an input bin for receiving a stack of mail. A feeder feeds the bottom envelope from the input bin to a transport that conveys the envelope along an envelope path. A cutter positioned along the envelope path severs one edge of the envelopes. A detector detects a characteristic of the envelope and a sorter sorts the envelope in response to the detected characteristic.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a dough feeding system and methods corresponding thereto. In some embodiments, the dough feeding system includes a cutting subsystem, an alignment subsystem, a belt assembly, a conveyor, and/or combinations thereof. The alignment system can be provided with a movable platform for aligning a dough ribbon into the cutting subsystem. The cutting subsystem can be provided with a frame securable to the belt assembly, a drive roller for feeding dough, and a knife blade for cutting the dough. The belt assembly can include a flat-belt, and the conveyor can include a dough folding platform with rough edges. Electronic controller(s) are provided for (i) synchronizing the drive roller with the knife blade, (ii) synchronizing the drive roller with a position of the dough folding platform, and/or (iii) adjusting the movable platform to compensate for drift of the dough ribbon.

Abstract: In a state that a reference plane of a cutter holder, to which a cutter blade is attached, is brought into contact with a surface of a base of a supporting adhesive tape, the cutter blade cuts the supporting adhesive tape while the reference plane of the cutter holder follows the surface of the base. Herein, a cutting edge of the cutter blade passes by a joining interface between the supporting adhesive tape and a ring frame without penetrating through an adhesive layer of the supporting adhesive tape.

Abstract: A scribing apparatus for scribing a substrate improves productivity as well as prevents substrate deterioration. The apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a wheel to scribe a substrate, a refrigerant supplier installed near one side of the wheel to spray a refrigerant to the substrate; and a hot steam supplier installed near the other side of the wheel to spray a hot steam to the substrate.

Abstract: To maintain high productivity and performing high-grade processes while minimizing deviation of a sheet process position in a direction at a right angle to a sheet conveying direction whatever types of sheets are to be processed, timing for starting detection of an end position of each of the sheets is controlled so as to execute the detection of the end position of each of the sheets at a vicinity of a sheet processing position on the sheet at which a sheet process is executed.

Abstract: To maintain high productivity and performing high-grade processes while minimizing deviation of a sheet process position in a direction at a right angle to a sheet conveying direction whatever types of sheets are to be processed, timing for starting detection of an end position of each of the sheets is controlled so as to execute the detection of the end position of each of the sheets at a vicinity of a sheet processing position on the sheet at which a sheet process is executed.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) is provided for automatically cutting strip materials (22) into slats (20) for a venetian blind. The apparatus (10) has a feeding station (12), a cutting station (14), a punching station (16) and a laddering station (18). Strip materials (22) for the slats (20) are stored in a magazine (24) of the station (12) and they are fed one at a time to the cutting station (14) for cutting into slats (20) of preset length after slots (46) have been punched. The slats (20) are then fed to the laddering station (18) for assembling into blinds. A sensor (56,58) is positioned to sense remnants of the strip material (22) and the remnants are automatically moved back to the feeding station (12) where they are lifted off the feeding path for ejection by a following strip (12).

Abstract: The present invention is a method for advancing and cutting tube blanks into desired lengths and ejecting the unusable piece of tubing remaining after all of the usable cuts have been made. The machine for cutting the tubes of the present invention is preferably a standard supported shear type cutting machine and the ejection of the tube is accomplished via a pusher that is mounted for reciprocation on a carriage such that when the last piece of usable tubing has been cut from the tube blank the pusher may be activated to eject the tubing from the cutting machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for advancing positions of a web material has a first transporter at which the pieces are separated from a web, a clamp which transfers the pieces to the plane of a second transporter and a second transporter operating in this plane in a direction orthogonal to the displacement direction of the first transporter. The second transporter has at least one conveyor at least part of which is movable toward and away from the clamp and toward which the clamp can be moved so that the pieces are transferred to the conveyor and can be displaced by the latter with no spacing between them or with only a limited spacing between them.

Abstract: Printed sheets are fed into a sheet processing machine where they are separated into partial sheets by being cut longitudinally. The partial sheets are separated laterally from each other by gripper components. Each of the partial sheets can have its leading and trailing ends cut. The cut partial sheets can then be inspected and deposited into a selected one of a plurality of partial sheet stacks.

Abstract: An auto-splice device includes a cutting conveyer on which a sheet is cut to produce a fabric, a vacuum take-out unit for taking the fabric from the cutting conveyer onto a take-out conveyer, and a splice mechanism for splicing the fabric to another fabric on the take-out conveyer. A sheet end position measuring unit controls the location at which the fabric is held by the vacuum take-out unit.

Abstract: A wire feeding and cutoff machine in which the feed mechanism continuously advances wire along a path past a wire cutoff arm and into an elongated wire guide having a stationary guide member and a movable closure member. The cutoff arm is pivotally mounted on a cutoff arm axis and is driven by a crank connected to the output shaft of a one-revolution clutch. The crank drives the cutoff arm and moves a cutter downwardly from an initial position and then back to clear the wire path during a first half of the crank revolution. A drive mechanism for the movable closure member is connected to the cutoff and moves movable closure to an open position in response to movement of the cutoff arm in a cutting stroke and to a closed position during movement of the cutoff arm in the return. The drive mechanism also operates an ejector pin for ejecting a wire from the wire guide when the movable closure member is opened.

Abstract: An auto-splice device includes a cutting conveyer on which a sheet is cut to produce a fabric, a vacuum take-out unit for taking the fabric from the cutting conveyer onto a take-out conveyer, and a splice mechanism for splicing the fabric to another fabric on the take-out conveyer. A sheet end position measuring unit controls the location at which the fabric is held by the vacuum take-out unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an oiling frame for chemical fibre machines in which signal emitted by a sensor disposed above the filament bobbin winding machine of the chemical fibre machine for detecting broken filaments in any fibre strand is received by a cylinder for the same to actuate a set of blades below oil nozzles in the oiling frame so that the blades may instantaneously and simultaneously cut the fibre strands moving downward from the oil nozzles. Since the blades and the blade covers are designed to have several sharp edges which facilitate quicker and more precise cutting thereof while the blades can be economically made of non-expensive metal material.

Abstract: In a sorting apparatus (1) for separating faulty blanks (16') from the remaining blanks (15,16), which have been produced from a paper web (14) by a cutting mechanism, is provided a sorting gate (17) with separately operating, juxtaposed individual gates (18,19) for each of the parallel web strands. By individual gates (25,26) of a following distributing gate (22), it is possible to compensate differences in the numbers of blanks of the two web strands leaving the sorting gate (17). On overlapping and collecting stations (31,33 or 32,34) following the distributing gate (22) each web strand has separately controlling units, so that all the stacks are produced independently of one another and can be conveyed on after production.

Abstract: A machine for cutting and stacking into layers sheets of a pre-established size from a plurality of strips of wood obtained from a piece of veneer. The pieces of veneer are fed into a cutter by means of a first conveyor belt actuated by a control means which detects flaws in the wood to cut out transverse strips containing the flaws that are then automatically discarded as they come off the cutter. Strips free from defects are then sent on by a second conveyor belt to a deflector which distributes the strips onto two conveyor belts with intermittent movement so as to arrange the strips into compact adjacent groups to form a sheet of desired length. The plurality of adjacent strips forming a sheet are then sent to stackers to form layers of the sheets.

Abstract: A packing apparatus has an input device which includes an advancing device for forwarding a wrapper sheet of indefinite length in a feeding direction along a conveying path; a processing device for performing an operation on the wrapper sheet; a cutting device severing the wrapper sheet transversely to the feeding direction for consecutively forming wrapper sheet lengths; and a bag-shaping device arranged downstream of the input device as viewed in the feeding direction, for receiving wrapper sheet lengths from the input device. The input device comprises a monitoring device for sensing the wrapper sheet and for generating a signal upon detecting a defect in the wrapper sheet and a deflecting device arranged downstream of the monitoring device and the cutting device for deflecting a defective wrapper sheet, in response to the signal, out of the conveying path into a waste position.

Abstract: A stock feed and cutter system for forging machines and the like in which stationary grippers and linearly movable grippers alternately grip rod or wire stock. The movable grippers reciprocate toward and away from the stationary grippers and operate to feed the stock without slippage a precise distance into a cutter. A stock gage is therefore not required and an optimum cutter structure can be provided even for very short workpieces. After each feed operation, the cutter shears a workpiece from the end of the stock, which is subsequently formed to a desired shape. A running adjustment is provided for the reciprocating grippers so that the machine operator can adjust the length of the workpiece produced while the machine is running. A short blank detector independently measures the length of stock being fed and is connected to cause rejection of such short blank. The grippers operate without slippage and, in cooperation with the cutter, produce very uniform workpieces.

Abstract: Braided plastic sleeving useful in electronic applications is readily cut by means of a hot wire which is advanced through the sleeving when in flattened form at a controlled rate. It is important that the sleeving be under tension at the location where the cut is to be made. The size of the heated wire and the rate of advance of the heated wire through the flattened braided sleeving relative to the size of the braided sleeving is important to obtaining cutting and sealing of the ends of the braided sleeving without welding the ends shut. Means and method for achieving this is described herein.

Abstract: A discharge device incorporated in an elongate article processing apparatus includes a discharge unit disposed immediately downstream of a cutter of the apparatus and a conveyor unit extending downstream of the discharge unit. The discharge unit includes a drive roller and a vertically movable pinch roller, the pinch roller being held in its upper standby position remote from the drive roller while the cutter is in operation. The conveyor unit includes a presser roller vertically movable, in independent of the movement of the pinch roller, into and out of engagement with a belt conveyor of the discharge unit.

Abstract: A method of punching patterns of holes in printed circuit boards and sheets of material used in the manufacture of printed circuit boards. Each hole pattern punched is precisely positioned with respect to the metallized circuitry or the photographic image of the circuitry on each sheet of material. This method is accomplished with the use of an optical registration punch which automatically positions each sheet of material and punches a pattern of holes therein at a precise position with respect to the circuitry or the image of the circuitry on each sheet of material.

Abstract: A system for selecting wood veneers on the basis of their size comprises in combination: a cutter, at least a selector apparatus downstream of the cutter composed of a vacuum conveyor, expellers cooperating with the conveyor to separate the veneer from it, sensors for reading the length of the veneer which are disposed upstream of the cutter and which control the coming into operation of the expellers, and a conveyor for taking the veneers to a stacker downstream of the selector apparatus. The expellers consist of a plurality of compressed air nozzles above the feed path of the veneer which are adapted to direct in a controlled manner jets of air against the veneer so as to detach it abruptly from the vacuum conveyor.

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.

Abstract: Veneer handling apparatus having a veneer clipper at one end thereof and a veneer sheet stacker at the other end is disclosed. Veneer sheets cut into a format size by the clipper are sorted so as to allow defective sheets to be discharged from the apparatus. Sound veneer sheets sorted from the defective sheets are distributed selectively into two ways alternately. Two conveyors arranged one above the other and converging at a position adjacent their downstream ends are provided in the apparatus, and one sheet is distributed to the upper conveyor and stopped at a predetermined position thereon until its succeeding sheet distributed to the lower conveyor is moved to another predetermined position. The sheet on the upper conveyor is allowed to move again at such controlled time that it is combined at the converging position with the succeeding sheet moving on the lower conveyor into a pair with one sheet placed over the other.

Abstract: A conveyor system for conveying veneer sheets with spacings therebetween comprising a sheet supply conveyor for feeding a train of cut veneer sheets of a predetermined length in contact with one another, the cut sheet length measured in the direction of sheet feed; at least first and second conveyors arranged downstream of the supply conveyor to carry the cut sheets; a stick-and-carry conveyor spanning between the downstream end of the supply conveyor and the upstream end of the second conveyor, the circumferential length of the stick-and-carry conveyor being equal to an even number of times the specified length of the cut sheet, the stick-and-carry conveyor having nailing, or sticking, areas and non-nailing areas arranged alternately at the interval of the specified cut sheet length, the nailing area having a large number of nails embedded therein the stick-and-carry conveyor being driven so that the front of the nailing area will meet the front end of the cut sheet at a sticking operation start position; an

Abstract: A mechanism for depositing sheet material including a continuous belt extending between a pair of deflection rollers maintained in taut engagement thereabout, with one of the rollers being reciprocally movable relative to the other for expanding and contracting the length of the support surface in order to transport and deposit sheet material held on the support surface. A clamping mechanism operates to hold the belt stationary relative to the other of the deflection rollers when the one deflection roller is moved to contract the length of the support surface.

Abstract: Successive watermarks on a running web of coherent paper sheets are monitored by a scanner which generates defect signals in response to detection of watermarks outside of selected portions of the respective sheets, and the cross cutter which severs the web to form discrete sheets is then adjusted to separate the respective sheets from the next-following sheets with a delay or prematurely so that the sheets bearing the improperly positioned watermarks are too short or too long. Such defective sheets are segregated from satisfactory sheets downstream of the cross cutter in properly delayed response to generation of defect signals by the scanner.

Abstract: A sheet stacker for a corrugation machine having a cutter to widthwisely cut off a continuously manufactured corrugated cardboard web into corrugated cardboard sheets, and then transfer, stack and eject the sheets.

Abstract: In a cigarette production machine, a device for feeding at least one paper web along one or other of two paths, the first of which extends through a station for loading a continuous stream of shredded tobacco onto said web, and the second of which is a discard path; that portion of the web extending along said second path being cut and removed by a selectively operable removal device.

Abstract: A system and process for sorting and opening packages particularly suitable for reclaiming reusable, returned goods. The system and process separates unusable returned goods from reusable returned goods, and gathers information and data on the goods which information can be of benefit to management. The system and process provides for optically reading the Universal Product Codes on the packages of reusable and unusable goods. Based on this UPC code identification, the packages are segregated into categories of reusable and unusable goods. The system and process further segregates the reusable goods into various different types of reusable goods based on predetermined criteria. The system and process even further provides for automatically opening the packages containing reusable goods, and separating the goods from the opened packages.

Abstract: The present device relates to a slicing machine for slicing bacon bellies continuously. The device is provided with a trim circuit which detects the front and rear ends of each belly and generates a trimming signal which triggers the trimming of said ends. Slice counters are provided which the number of slices to be cut from a belly before trimming can be preselected for either the front or the rear ends.The device is also provided with a control circuit which reverses the forward movement of a belly after slicing process is temporarily stopped so that both the last slice before the stoppage and the first slice sliced after the stoppage have a relatively even cross-section.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting off lengths of slide fasteners from a continuous chain thereof includes a cutting punch coactive with an anvil, there being feed rolls disposed in the path of movement of the fastener chain upstream from the cutting punch, and a pair of delivery rolls in such path downstream of the cutting punch. The upper delivery roll is arranged to reciprocate with the cutting punch and to engage the chain before the cutting punch does, and to continue to engage the chain until the cutting punch has been slightly retracted. Such retraction of the delivery roll facilitates feeding of the chain even though the leading end may be slightly curled.

Abstract: Apparatus for culling cant ends from a cant including a first conveyor upon which the cant ends are formed and a second conveyor which forms a gap with the first conveyor when the cant ends are positioned for transfer therebetween so that the cant ends will fall through the gap.

Abstract: A vertically fed strip of material is cut into segments of selected lengths by a movable cutting knife cooperating with a fixed knife in which both of the knives are mounted in a frame for rotation between first and second cutting positions. When the knives are in the first cutting position, a segment is cut from the strip of material at a first angle other than orthogonal to the feed path. Rotation of the frame positions the cutting plane of the knives at a second angle to the first angle and other than orthogonal to the feed path to cut the segment, which is held prior to being cut at the first angle, to produce a pointed end.

Abstract: An automatic meat log cutter for cutting continuous extrusions of minced meat to logs of preselected length comprises a photocell located at a preselected distance from the discharge end of the extruder for sensing the arrival of the front end of the extrusion and in response thereto for triggering the operation of a solenoid-actuated air-cylinder for driving a music wire cutter transversely through the extrusion at a point immediately in front of the extruder and for simultaneously speeding up the travel speed of the conveyor to create a spaced distance between the rearward end of the log and the front end of the extrusion. For successive logs, the cutting stroke is alternately downward and upward.

Abstract: An opener for an ampule having a head and a body to prevent contamination of material in an ampule from particles formed when the ampule is opened comprises at least one opening mechanism including a head holder and an annular flexible jacket situated around an end of the head holder to extend outwardly therefrom. The head holder includes a hole with a cylindrical opening at one end for receiving at least a part of the head of the ampule, and an outlet communicating with the hole. The inner diameter of the flexible jacket is almost the same as the outer diameter of the body of the ampule to be opened. The outlet of the head holder is connected to a vacuum source to inspire air through the hole. Therefore, the head and the body of the ampule are respectively located in the hole and the flexible jacket, and then the body is bent, so that the particles formed by thereby snapping apart the ampule are inspired with air into the vacuum source.

Abstract: Prior to the forming of bar material, without creating internal stresses, on transverse transport presses, bars are sub-divided into sections of equal volume, the end-pieces of each bar having to be discarded before further processing. To provide for the automatic and material-saving discarding of the end pieces, two light barriers are installed in the feed zone of the bars, the distance (a) between these light barriers being newly stored in a microprocessor as each bar is fed in, and this distance being converted, by calculation, to three further distances (b, c, d). By reference to these data, the microprocessor controls the discarding operation, with one, or at the most two, section lengths being discarded per bar, according to whether the interface between two successive bars is located in the central region of the section length in question, or in one of its two end-regions.

Abstract: Apparatus for use with a food slicer comprising a conveyor for location adjacent to the said slicer and adapted to receive slices of food as they are cut by the slicer; a pump for generating hydraulic pressure, a motor driven by said hydraulic pressure; passageways between said pump and said motor; means for drivingly connecting said motor to said conveyor; a flow limiting valve in the passageway between the pump and the motor for limiting the speed at which the said motor drives said conveyor; and means for periodically increasing the fluid flow to the motor temporarily to accelerate said motor.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for removing front and rear segments of rolled wire or wire rod which, in the form of winding packages, is supplied to the apparatus (connected before a collecting device) and is subdivided by separating procedures into good windings and scrap windings.

Abstract: In continuously blanking a coiled metal sheet, an operator rapidly detects parts of welded connection of a metal sheet without any manual touch of the metal sheet, removes the parts of welded connection and restarts the apparatus for blanking the metal sheet.

Abstract: A bar end dropper for forging machines or the like is disclosed which automatically operates to reject blanks cut from the end of the piece of stock which are of unsatisfactory length and to adjust the feed when necessary to ensure that the ends of pieces of stock being fed into the machine are a sufficient distance from the shear plane of the cutter to ensure a clean cutting operation. As sequential pieces of stock are fed to the machine, they are positioned in the measuring position and the measuring carriage moves in to position a sensor a distance from the shear plane determined by the length of the stock. This automatically positions the sensor.

Abstract: A method of monitoring continuously advancing string material (1) of the kind comprising a continuous alternating succession of string sections, for example a cigarette filter string, of different material and/or structural configuration with regard to cutting the string (1) into identical plugs (7) for checking and correcting the position of each cut. Prior to being cut the string (1) is scanned by a sensor unit (4) which detects the beginning and end of each string section. A device associated with the cutting device (5) generates an output signal to indicate the moment when the string (1) is cut. Between this output signal and the moment at which the sensor unit (4) issues a signal corresponding to the end of the string section to be cut, a measured value is obtained which is independent of the feed into of the string (1) and which is proportioned to the length of the string section between the two signals.

Abstract: A device for automatically taking off elements drawn or formed on pieces carried by a moving support and for displacing and depositing the taken off elements on a take-up conveyor, wherein said device comprises at least one arm mounted to rotate on a shaft located between the support for the elements to be taken off and the take-up conveyor on which the taken off elements must be deposited, said arm bearing a taking off member, in principle a suction disc, mounted so as to be able to be oriented and displaced with respect to said shaft, means for driving said shaft in rotation, means for orienting and displacing the taking off member with respect to said shaft and means for controlling these latter drive means provided and arranged to ensure, in synchronism with the movements of the piece support and of the conveyor taking up the taken off elements, the taking off of all the elements formed on each piece and the deposit thereof in parallel and regular arrangement on said take-up conveyor.

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.