Abstract: A slicing machine includes an upper housing having feeder tube(s). A motor-driven cutting plate is horizontally attached beneath the upper housing for rotation and positioned to perpendicularly receive elongate food article(s) from the feeder tube(s) at a respective position offset from a center of rotation of the cutting plate. Reverse involute cutting blade(s) attached to the cutting plate that slices the elongate food article and having a cutting edge with an upward bevel. A curved slot formed through the cutting plate beneath the cutting edge to receive slices of the elongate food article. A base housing positioned below the upper housing has a turntable that supports a food substrate that receives the slices of the elongate food article.

Abstract: A feed and cutting unit for selectively cutting and dispensing individual weight material segments from a common strip of backing material is disclosed. The feed and cutting unit comprises a feed assembly, a sensor and a cutter member. The feed assembly includes a drive roller and a follower roller that frictionally engages first and second surfaces of a strip of weight material to selectively move the strip of weight material to a cutter member. The sensor is connected to a controller and measures an amount of segmented weight material on the backing material as the strip of weight material moves past the sensor. The cutter member is actuated to separate weight material segments from the backing material by cutting at least a portion of the backing material in a gap disposed between adjacent segments. Weight apply devices that receive the segments for application to an imbalanced member, are also disclosed.

Abstract: New methods, devices and measuring devices for slicing food are required for solving problems that occur with existing methods and devices and/or for reacting to changes to the food product being sliced. The devices include a blade for slicing food comprising a blade edge and a recess. The recess has a center point and may be employed for mounting and centering the blade on a slicing device. At least one dimension, D, of the recess is a length or diameter of the recess and preferably is at least 140 mm and at most 450 mm. The blade edge preferably has a radius, R, measured from the blade edge to the center point of the recess. The ratio of R/D preferably is less than 2.0 for every point on the blade edge.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing groups of shingled slices comprises a jump conveyor and a slicing machine. The slicing machine includes a slicing blade. The jump conveyor includes a first slice receiving section and a second slice receiving section, the first slice receiving section having a first slice receiving surface, and the second slice receiving section having a second slice receiving surface. The jump conveyor is located adjacent the slicing blade so that the first slice receiving surface receives slices cut by the slicing blade directly. The first slice receiving section is articulated with respect to the second slice receiving section to be articulatingly movable relative to the second slice receiving section to vary the angular orientation of the first slice receiving surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for slicing food products includes a product supply device that supplies a product to a cutting plane and a support table, onto which the product slices fall. The support table is provided with a controllable motor drive that displaces the support table relative to the falling product slices to form portions of any desired shape from a plurality of product slices. A formatting device includes a display device, on which product slices can be realistically presented. A user can prepare any desired formats from a plurality of product slices using a format function on the display device. An evaluation device converts the positions of the product slices into control commands for the motor drive, on the basis of which the motor drive displaces the support table based on the cutting speed to form portions on the support table that correspond to the format prepared on the display device.

Abstract: An automatic ice cream scooper. A cylinder of ice cream is placed vertically within a refrigerated container on a slicer having a disc shape. The slicer includes an angled slicing blade for removing ice cream. The slicer is rotated by a motor to remove the ice cream. The slicer has an upstanding edge with the screw thread formed thereon for removing the sidewall of the ice cream container.

Abstract: This invention patent refers to processes and appliance for slicing food, stacking and protecting obtained slices from exposure to the environment, through a continued flexible separator, with foldable flaps, in contact with side, front and rear surfaces of referred slices. There available on the consumer market, at supermarkets and bakeries, manually sliced and stacked cheeses, susceptible to oxidation and contamination. Conditioning of these products in consumer's refrigerator does not provide protection for all contact surfaces of slices, which, often, dry up, become moldy and stick to each other. The proposal of this invention is to protect all contact surfaces of food slices—even after their consumption has already started—when closing entrance doors to a possible contamination, especially for protein food with high moisture content, such as cheeses and sausages which are excellent means of microbial culture.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a product from strip tape starting from a broad web of material includes the step of separating the web into individual strips with a smooth stripping roll, conveying each strip in a vacuum conveyor channel, turning the strips on their way to the channel or in the channel by about 90°, leading the strips together at the end of the channel one upon the other and thereafter processing the strips to form the final product.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for manufacturing ceramic electronic components, includes steps of forming a stack body by stacking ceramic green sheets and conductive layers on top of each other, punching a frame into the stack body and holding the frame in the stack body, locating a pressing force applying member inside the frame and, while the frame is held in the stack body, applying a pressing force to a portion of the stack body located inside the frame by causing the pressing force applying member located inside the frame to press against the portion of the stack body located inside the frame, to thereby form a high-density structure inside the frame while preventing the high-density structure from deforming outwardly beyond the frame. The stack body can be heated to reduce the required pressing force, and an elastic member may be provided to make the pressing force uniform.

Abstract: A process for introducing a plurality of segregated sheet-like administration forms into a dispenser under formation of a multilayered stack for individually dosable removal, with sheet-like tapes wound-up on rolls being present as starting material, utilizes the following steps. In a first step, a number of sheet-like layers of said tapes, which number corresponds to the stack, is simultaneously drawn from a plurality of rolls. In a further step, the individual tapes are united, using guide means, to form a multilayered strand, which in yet another step, is drawn forward to a cutting station where one length of stack is severed at a time, and wherein a length segment of the multilayered strand corresponding to the stack is substantially in the dispenser prior to being severed from a remainder of the multilayered strand by the cutting device.

Abstract: A stack of alternating sheets includes repeating diecuts offset among the sheets. The sheets may be made from a continuous web using a die to cut the repeating diecuts along the running axis of the web. Individual sheets are cut from the web and stacked with the diecuts offset from each other in turn. The stack of sheets may be loaded into a printer and fed individually therethrough, with the offset diecuts preventing interlocking therebetween.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a product from strip tape starting from a broad web of material includes the step of separating the web into individual strips with a vacuum roll, conveying each strip in a vacuum conveyor channel, turning the strips on their way to the channel or in the channel by about 90°, leading the strips together at the end of the channel one upon the other and thereafter processing the strips to form the final product.

Abstract: An inserter input system including a web feeder providing a web of printed material to be split by a web slitting knife along the web's direction of travel. The split web is then cut transverse to the direction of travel by a web cutter, resulting in side-by-side individual sheets. Downstream of the rotary cutter, a right angle turn mechanism receives each of the side-by-side sheets and reorients them by ninety degrees. Further the right angle turn reorients the sheets into a serial shingled arrangement. The right angle turn transport operates at a velocity that is a function of the product of the web cutting rate and the width of the documents. A high speed separation nip pulls individual shingled sheets out from the shingled arrangement. The speed of the separation nip is such that a predetermined gap between the previously shingled sheets is formed. The separation nip speed is further controlled as a function of the product of the cutting rate and the sum of the document length plus the predetermined gap.

Abstract: A conveying surface for a slicing apparatus that can be moved in two orthogonal directions in a coordinated manner to allow a depositing of slices in a pattern on the conveying surface. The conveying surface can be an endless belt conveyor circulated in the longitudinal direction by a servo-motor via a telescopic drive shaft and shifted in the lateral direction by servo-motor driving a crank arm mechanism.

Abstract: A slicing and conveying system forms a three or more flavor-combined draft. A first slicing machine slices a succession of first and third slices in first and third shingled drafts. A second slicing machine slices a succession of second slices in second shingled drafts. A pass-through conveyor transfers the first draft to an output conveyor of the second slicing machine, wherein the second draft is added to the first draft to form a first combined draft. An overlap conveyor receives the first combined draft and merges the first combined draft with the third draft on the overlap conveyor to form an elongated combined draft. Optical sensors determine lengths of the first draft, the second draft, the third draft, and/or the elongated combined draft.

Abstract: When the step of transferring a ceramic green sheet held on a chuck head having a holding surface with a plurality of vacuum ports distributed thereon onto a depositing table is repeated to obtain a laminated product, undesired deformation or damage is produced on the ceramic green sheet due to negative pressure applied to the chucking port and an obtained monolithic ceramic electronic component becomes defective by aligning of portions having the deformation or the damage in the depositing direction. In order to solve this problem, when transferring of the ceramic green sheet is repeated in the depositing step, the relative positions of the chuck head and the depositing table are shifted so as to bringing the chucking port into the same position during a first transferring step and a subsequent second transferring step.

Abstract: A process for introducing a plurality of segregated sheet-like administration forms into a dispenser under formation of a multilayered stack for individually dosable removal, with sheet-like tapes wound-up on rolls being present as starting material, utilizes the following steps. In a first step, a number of sheet-like layers of said tapes, which number corresponds to the stack, is simultaneously drawn from a plurality of rolls. In a further step, the individual tapes are united, using guide means, to form a multilayered strand, which in yet another step, is drawn forward to a cutting station where one length of stack is severed at a time, and wherein a length segment of the multilayered strand corresponding to the stack is substantially in the dispenser prior to being severed from a remainder of the multilayered strand by the cutting device.

Abstract: A slicing machine including a slicing blade for slicing at least first and second product loaves disposed in a side-by-side arrangement using a single rotation of the slicing blade is set forth. A single rotation of the slicing edge about the center of rotation results in a penetration gradient into each of the first and second product loaves that diminishes in magnitude over the single rotation. To this end, the slicing edge may have a profile defined a plurality of constant radius sections. Each constant radius section has a section center defining the center of the constant radius for that constant radius section. Further, each constant radius section has a section center differing from the section center of an adjacent constant radius section. Such a blade and its associated slicing station provide great control of slices from the loaves as they proceed from the loaf to a receiving conveyor of the slicing station.

Abstract: An extraction apparatus for extracting or separating cut or partially cut pieces or parts from a cut sheet at an extraction station comprises: a sheet gripping and moving device for gripping and moving a cut or partially cut sheet through an extraction station; and an extraction roller at the extraction station positioned for movement transversely of a cut sheet and being constructed, arranged and operated to move transversely of the path of movement of the cut sheet when the leading edge scrap web of the cut sheet is adjacent the extraction roller to engage and deflect the scrap web of the cut sheet passing through the gripping and moving device away from the cut pieces or parts.

Abstract: An apparatus for decurling food material, such as slices severed from a food material supply, while the slices are being moved toward a transfer member includes a constriction positioned in close proximity to the slicing station and in general alignment therewith. The constriction is defined by opposing upper and lower surfaces; the upper surface is a stationary surface while the lower surface is a moving surface. The lower moving surface utilizes a plurality of flexible bands rotating around at least one roller, which are disposed proximate to the food material supply. The flexible bands are driven around a guide member having an arcuate profile that matches the curvature movement that the food material supply takes. The bands which form the lower moving surface are driven at a speed equal to or greater than the speed at which the slicer operates.

Abstract: A label stacker for stacking labels (6) from a rotary punching apparatus is provided with a punching roll (14) with cutting edges (16) and a smooth counter-pressure roll (15) for, during operation, jointly punching labels out of a thin web (3) conveyed between the rolls while these are rotating in different directions. The label stacker includes a belt conveyor with at least one endless belt (27) which, during operation, is driven with a lower speed than the circumferential speed of the rolls about a first rotating roll (29) at the discharge end of the rolls and a second rotating roll (30) at the stacking area. Thereby, the label stacker is given a compact structure, and it will be able to safely control the labels to the stacking area in an orderly formation which successively, during the final stacking, is pushed together to a stack of labels arranged correctly on top of each other.

Abstract: Shingling of paperboard sheets cut from a web with a helical blade cutoff knife utilizes the downward deflection of the trailing edge of the cut sheet and simultaneous lifting of the leading edge of the web to position the sheets for shingling immediately downstream of the knife. A vacuum outfeed conveyor takes advantage of the initial downward deflection of the sheet caused by cutting to pull the trailing edge of the sheet onto the vacuum conveyor which is simultaneously slowed relative to the lead edge of the advancing web. In the preferred embodiment, vacuum is continuously applied and the conveyor is accelerated back to line speed as soon as the leading end of the web is pulled onto the vacuum conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for decurling food material, such as slices severed from a food material supply, while the slices are being moved toward a transfer member includes a constriction positioned in close proximity to the slicing station and in general alignment therewith. The constriction is defined by opposing upper and lower surfaces; the upper surface is a stationary surface while the lower surface is a moving surface. The lower moving surface utilizes a plurality of flexible bands rotating around at least one roller, which are disposed proximate to the food material supply. The flexible bands are driven around a guide member having an arcuate profile that matches the curvature movement that the food material supply takes. The bands which form the lower moving surface are driven at a speed equal to or greater than the speed at which the slicer operates.

Abstract: An arrangement for decelerating and shingling printed products as they are conveyed from a variable rotary cutter by a high-speed belt conveyor to a slower speed belt conveyor includes at least one depressor wheel at the entry end of the slower speed conveyor. The depressor wheel carries a plurality of depressor members in circumferential positions corresponding to the circumferential positions of cutting knives on the rotary cutter. The leading edge of each printed product entering the slow speed conveyor enters a headstop nip which reduces the speed of the entering product while its trailing edge is simultaneously momentarily depressed by a depressor on the rotating depressor wheel to enable shingling between successive products. A brake pad cooperates with the depressors to decelerate the printed products to a speed close to the surface speed of the slower belt conveyor.

Abstract: An automatic storage and stacking device for sheets of laminar material, such as corrugated cardboard or the like, comprises a transportation unit which removes the sheets of laminar material from a cutting group, overlaps them and conveys them towards a storage surface. The transportation unit comprises a plurality of conveyors in series which can be operated at varying speeds so as to allow separation of a first series of sheets from a successive second series of sheets; with one of said conveyors there is associated a retainer for holding the rear portion of the first sheet of said second series, which retainer comprises a gripper member able to perform an alternating movement along the conveyor with which the gripper member is associated.

Abstract: An overlap cam for use in a precision sheeting machine for preventing overlap marks on carbonless paper includes a predetermined outer radius, a predetermined relieved area and an outer circumferential surface, all dictated by various sheeter section operating speeds. At least one lobe projects from the relieved area out to the outer predetermined radius. Rotation of the overlap cam will enable the lobe to engage a clip of sheets traveling at high speed at a point displaced a predetermined distance from the leading edge of a clip for preventing compression of active CB and CF together during braking and thereby preventing an overlap mark from being formed on a previously decelerated clip while still performing braking action of a clip of sheets supplied to the overlap section of the sheeter.

Abstract: A container having four vertical sides, a top side and a bottom side, the six sides being connected to form a cube. The six sides are joined at the edges of the cube, and the juncture of one vertical edge with two upper edges forms a slanted surface. A pouring spout is mounted on the slanted surface and is inset from the planes of the adjacent sides so that it does not interfere with nesting and stacking. A handle is attached to the top side, at approximately its center, for carrying purposes, the handle being foldable to a flat position to facilitate stacking. The container is formed by cutting a blank from a flat sheet of relatively stiff material, and folding the blank along creases to form a closed container. The top and four sides are folded and sealed first, the pouring spout is installed, the container is filled through the open bottom side, and then the bottom side is folded and sealed.

Abstract: A conveying device for transporting strip portions to be cut by a cutting device from a material strip in transverse direction of the material strip, which strip portions are then laid overlapping in the manner of roof-tiles onto a stacker, comprising:i) a first conveyor disposed adjacent the cutting device which transports the material strip for cutting and the cut strip portions at a first conveying speed V.sub.1 which is substantially equal to the supply speed V.sub.0 of the material strip; andii) a second conveyor preceding the stacker which transports the cut strip portions at a second conveying speed V.sub.2 which is greater than the first conveying speed V.sub.1and to a method for conveying strip portions cut from a material strip in transverse direction of the material strip, which strip portions are laid overlapping in the manner of roof-tiles on a stacker, comprising the steps of:i) conveying with a first conveyor the material strip for cutting and the cut strip portion at a first conveying speed V.

Abstract: A combined jump conveyor and slicing machine includes a jump conveyor formed by a first short conveyor (1) adjacent the slicing blade (3) of the slicing machine having a length substantially equal to the length of one or two shingled slices in the shingled direction and a second conveyor (2) downstream of the first conveyor (1). Both conveyors (1 and 2) of the jump conveyor have an independent drive (7,8) and a controller (9) to drive the two conveyors at the same speed or at different speeds. The independent drive (7) and controller (9) of the first conveyor (1) also enable it to be driven at high speed in the reverse direction away from the second conveyor (2) to reject slices cut by the slicing blade (3).

Abstract: A machine is described for handling die-cut carton blanks as they emerge from the die-cutter. The die cut web is separated into sheets of blanks and projected sequentially onto a conveyor. The conveyor is operated at a speed which is less than that at which the sheets are projected onto the conveyor so that the distance between the sequential die cut is closed up, the sheets being maintained in contact with the conveyor by air pressure.

Abstract: Small-sized, folded, glued coupons for insertion into a food package are made on a continuous line starting with a roll of paper and finishing with a straight, aligned, moving row of finished coupons, disposed in shingled relation to facilitate arranging in a row in a tray for immediate packing in a container for shipment to a user, without manual handling prior to arranging in the tray. The line includes equipment for (1) receiving individual coupons from a rotary cutter in a straight-line alignment in a downstream direction, (2) maintaining that alignment and (3) delivering the coupons in that alignment to a conveyor in such a manner as to facilitate arrangement in the desired shingled relation. Cleanliness is maximized and pilferage is minimized.

Abstract: An apparatus for diverting and delivering sheets in which the sheets are positively controlled throughout the entire operation. Initially, a continuous web of paper passes between opposing cylinders comprising a rotary cutter. The lead edge of the web is then engaged by a pair of opposed nip rollers. Once held by these nip rollers, the rotary knife cuts a separate sheet from the front of the continuous web. The separate sheet then passes between and is accelerated by the nip rollers whereupon a dual set of diverting cams, in combination with a pair of conveyors, directs the sheet to one of two delivery systems. The next subsequent sheet is directed to the other delivery system so that each successive sheet is alternately diverted between the two delivery systems. Upon exiting either delivery system, the sheet is subjected to a snubbing means which decelerates the sheet and further allows the next subsequent sheet to overlap the previous sheet before being similarly decelerated.

Abstract: Sheet conveyer intended to take charge of and convey part sheets (2', 2", 2"') obtained from a main sheet by dividing this into a predetermined number of parts and delivering it out of a cutter simultaneously and side by side. The conveyer includes a number of downward gradient planes corresponding to the number of part sheets. Each plane has a length as viewed in the conveying direction corresponding to the length of a respective part sheet. Adjacent planes are connected with one another by an intermediate portion substantially shorter than the respective plane. The connection of the intermediate portion to the preceding plane is rounded off. Furthermore, carrier elements are arranged so that when the planes have received a respective part sheet, the carrier elements push the last part sheet as viewed in the conveying direction from its plane to a position on top of the next part sheet. Thereafter the two part sheets lying on one another are pushed to a position on top of the following part sheet, etc.

Abstract: In a machine for slicing food such as meat, sausage, cheese or the like comprising a conveying device for carrying the slices of food cut off by a rotating blade to a deposit area and a knocking-off mechanism for transferring the slices from the conveying device to the deposit area, the conveying device is driven by an independent motor of its own. The position of a slide carrying the food to be cut can be sensed by sensing means, and a follow-up control device which is connected, on the one hand, to the sensing means, and, on the other hand, to a drive motor and its encoder ensures synchronous follow-up of the conveying device in dependence upon the position of the slide.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for piling a plurality of cut blanks of a flexible material in overlapped and shingled or stacked relationship. After being cut each blank is accelerated to increase its lineal speed to thereby produce a gap between the blank and an immediately succeeding blank. After acceleration, each blank is deflected, preferably by a plate, away from and out of its accelerated path of travel toward an underlying receiving surface such as a conveyor or platform. After being deflected, the trailing portion of each blank is displaced preferably by rotating cams so that when rapidly decelerated, an immediately succeeding blank passes into and is deposited in overlapping relationship with such blank. To deposit the blanks is stacked relationship with their leading edges substantially aligned, they are decelerated from their forward travel to a complete stop preferably by striking a positive stop.

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: 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.

Abstract: A foodstuff such as a sausage is sliced in a predetermined slicing direction into a succession of slices each having a respective width measured parallel to the slice direction. This succession of slices is then deposited on a support in a plurality of rows with the slices in each row offset from one another by a predetermined first distance and the rows offset from each other by a predetermined second distance. The width of the slices is continuously measured as they are cut and at least one of the distances is automatically varied in dependence on the measured width to produce a uniformly overlapping array of slices. In addition the machine can calculate the weight of a given slice by combining the width with the slice thickness and the slice density, and this weight can be divided into a desired weight to determine how many slices at the predetermined size are needed to make up the desired weight. A signal can indicate then when this weight is reached.

Abstract: A slicing machine for slicing a product, comprising a blade 1 and a feeding mechanism 8, 9, 11, 12, to feed the product towards the blade 1 also includes a programmed computer 18 to control the feed rate of the feeding mechanism 8, 9, 11, 12 and programmed with a function corresponding to the typical weight distribution of at least one type of product. The computer 18 is programmed to respond to the input of information representing the weight and length of a particular product to modify the typical weight distribution function in accordance with the input values to provide an anticipated weight distribution for that particular product. The computer is also programmed to control the operation of the feeding mechanism 8, 9, 11, 12, so that the product is fed towards the blade 1 at a rate which varies with the anticipated weight distribution.

Abstract: A slicing machine including a rotating blade 1 and a feeding head 8 to feed a block of food product towards the blade includes a position detector 38 to detect when the feeding head 8 is a predetermined distance away from the end of its stroke, an encoder 32 associated with the drive 12 of the feeding head 8 to monitor movement of the feeding head 8 over the predetermined distance from the position detector 38 to the end of its stroke, and a cam and proximity switch 34,35 to monitor the movement of the blade 1 of the slicer. The machine also includes a computer 18 to monitor the position of the feeding head 8 as it moves towards the end of its stroke to establish when there is insufficient of the stroke of the feeding head 8 remaining to allow another whole slice of product to be cut before the feeding head 8 reaches the end of its stroke and to return the feeding head 8 to its starting position after completing the slicing of the last whole slice.

Abstract: A slicing machine for slicing food products, particularly meat and other meat products 7 comprises a rotating blade 1 which either has a spiral cutting edge or a circular cutting edge and is mounted for planetary motion, and a pushing mechanism 8, 9, 11, 12 to feed the product towards the blade 1 so that upon each rotation or gyration of the blade a slice is cut from the face of the product 7. The slicing machine also includes a cam and proximity switch 34, 35 for monitoring the position of the blade 1 and outputting a signal when the blade is in a predetermined position, an event counter 19 for establishing when the blade 1 is cutting the slice to form the last slice in a group of slices and outputting a signal indicating this condition, a manually operated interrupt switch 27, and a computer 18 to interrupt the feed of the product to be sliced towards the blade 1 of the slicer.

Abstract: A signature aligning and trimming apparatus wherein a stream of overlapping signatures are conveyed past first and second alignment stations on a lower conveyor belt system. Immediately after the second alignment, and while the signatures are still carried by the lower conveyor belt system, the signatures are engaged by an upper conveyor belt system and are pressed firmly against the lower belts as they are moved over large diameter rollers. The edges of the signatures are trimmed by single cutting wheels positioned to engage the edges of the signatures as they move over the top of the large diameter rollers. A pair of anvil plates, which are positioned beneath the cutting wheels and are rotatable with the large diameter rollers, provide a supporting surface for the signature edges against which the cutting wheels act in trimming the signature edges.

Abstract: Stacks of superimposed paper sheets are formed from a succession of layers each of which contains a given number of groups of sheets. One or more layers which contain a first number of groups can be followed by one or more layers containing a different second number of groups so that a stack can contain layers which, in turn, contain different numbers of groups and hence different numbers of sheets. The number of sheets in each stack and in each layer is a whole multiple of the number of sheets in a group. If the average number of sheets in a series of successive stacks is to deviate from a whole multiple of the number of sheets in a group, successive stacks contain different numbers of sheets; each such number is a whole multiple of the number of sheets in a group but the total number of sheets in the series of stacks divided by the number of stacks which form the series can deviate from such whole multiple.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of crosscutting a web and stacking the resultant sheets which comprises continuously feeding said web toward a cutter, decelerating the feed of said web at the cutting point for the duration of the cutting operation, while continuing the feed toward said cutter at the same rate whereby a back-up occurs in the feed direction, cutting said web, causing the new head end of the web so formed upon said cutting to overlap the tail end of the resultant cut sheet on the conveying path, conveying said sheet to a sheet stack, after said cut sheet is moved onward to said sheet stack at normal conveying speed increasing the conveying speed of the web toward said cutter until the web portion which has backed up ahead of the cutting point has been stretched taut and caused to overlap the tail end of the cut sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously cutting thin trim strips from a moving printed web so as to form uniform web products and removing the trim strips from the cutting area is provided, for in-line operation with a web press. The gapping of the web is effected by a cutting cylinder with a hollow bore, which carries at least two pairs of spaced cutting knives that act against a stationary shear blade. The space between each pair of blades connects with the cylinder bore, which in turn is connected to a low-pressure source. As a printed web is fed to the cutting cylinder, the spaced knives cut trim strips in the web and these strips are removed through the space and the cylinder bore by air flow caused by the low-pressure source. The circumferential speed of the knives acting on the web is greater than the speed of the web itself, this reducing any bubbling of the web, and the width of the space between knives is greater than the width of the trim strip.

Abstract: A foodstuff such as a sausage is sliced in a predetermined slicing direction into a succession of slices each having a respective width measured parallel to the slice direction. This succession of slices is then deposited on a support in a plurality of rows with the slices in each row offset from one another by a predetermined first distance and the rows offset from each other by a predetermined second distance. The width of the slices is continuously measured as they are cut and at least one of the distances is automatically varied in dependence of the measured width to produce a uniformly overlapping array of slices. In addition the machine can calculate the weight of a given slice by combining the width with the slice thickness and the slice density, and this weight can be divided into a desired weight to determine how many slices at the predetermined size are needed to make up the desired weight. A signal can indicate then when this weight is reached.

Abstract: Device for transporting sheets on printing machines having a rejector shaft driven in rhythm with a flow of sheets, the rejector shaft carrying cams for deflecting the sheet ends downwardly to form an overlapping, fish-scalelike flow of the sheets including a belt drive for the rejector shaft and means for adjusting the belt drive so as to vary the instant of movement of the cams relative to the flow of sheets.

Abstract: A series of separate paper sheets issuing from a cross cutter wherein a running paper web is subdivided into discrete sheets is converted into a stream of partly overlapping sheets by transporting the sheets of the series at a first speed onto the upper reach of a belt conveyor which is driven at a lower second speed. A cylindrical braking roller is adjacent to the sheet-receiving end of the upper reach of the belt conveyor and is driven at a peripheral speed matching the second speed. A flat of the otherwise cylindrical peripheral surface of the braking roller is adjacent to but out of contact with the leading edges of successive sheets of the series but the cylindrical surface of the roller engages the intermediate portions of successive sheets and decelerates such sheets from the first to the second speed. This ensures that reaction liquid cannot escape at the leading edges of successive sheets which constitute carbon-free pressure-sensitive copy paper sheets.

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: An arrangement for forming a sequence of underlapping sheets when conveying sheets that are cut off a paper web by a sheeter located in front thereof, to the feed table of a machine working the sheets. Suction equipment is located above the sheet web in the area between two draw-off equipments which are driven at different feed rates. A lifting device is located below the sheet web to bring the rear zone of every sheet into action with the suction equipment, so as to form a guide gap for the following sheet. The suction equipment is provided with a suction box connected to a vacuum supply that may be adjusted stationary during operation. The suction box has at the bottom a punched plate which is provided with a width corresponding to the maximum workable sheet width.