Method of cutting articles from a strip

Claim 1

A method of cutting off preprinted packages from a strip comprising the steps of restraining and controlling the movement of the leading edge of the package after it has been severed while the trailing edge of the package is severed and then releasing the leading edge and controlling its placement on an underlying surface so that the printing on each package is identically oriented with respect to the printing on all other packages, and controlling the speed of the underlying surface to ''''shingle'''' stack the packages with printing on opposite sides of one package being identically positioned with respect to all other stacked packages.

Claim 2

A method of cutting off preprinted packages from a strip comprising the steps of restraining and controlling the movement of the leading edge of the package after it has been severed while the trailing edge of the package is severed and then releasing the leading edge and controlling its placement on an underlying surface so that the printing on each package is identically oriented with respect to the printing on all other packages, and controlling the speed of the underlying surface to ''''shingle'''' stack the packages with printing on opposite sides of one package being identically positioned with respect to all other stacked packages.

Claim 3

A method of cutting off packages from a strip having spaced filled pouches separated by heat seals comprising the steps of pressing the strip against a first series of traveling knives for holding the pouches centered between the knives while contemporaneously pressing the margins of the strip against marginal pressure points to resist lateral displacement of the pouches, moving a second series of traveling knives sequentially into cooperative package severing association with the first series of traveling knives; restraining the movement of the leading edge of tHe strip at the leading heat seal while and after the trailing edge of the package is severed at the trailing heat seal and then controlling the release of the leading edge to allow the trailing edge to rotate about the leading edge and be deposited onto an adjacent surface in advance of the leading edge of the same package.

Claim 4

A method of cutting off packages from a strip having spaced filled pouches separated by heat seals comprising the steps of pressing the strip against a first series of traveling knives for holding the pouches centered between the knives while contemporaneously pressing the margins of the strip against marginal pressure points to resist lateral displacement of the pouches, moving a second series of traveling knives sequentially into cooperative package severing association with the first series of traveling knives; restraining the movement of the leading edge of tHe strip at the leading heat seal while and after the trailing edge of the package is severed at the trailing heat seal and then controlling the release of the leading edge to allow the trailing edge to rotate about the leading edge and be deposited onto an adjacent surface in advance of the leading edge of the same package.

Claim 5

A method of cutting pouches from a strip with the strip comprising a length of longitudinally spaced sealed pouches separated by transverse seals comprising the steps of: training the strip onto annularly arranged bars carried on an indexing wheel and suspending the pouches on the strip at the transverse heat seals from the bars; causing the strip to be rotated with the bars into adjacency to a slicing wheel and causing knives on the slicing wheel to sequentially engage the bars to sever the strip at the heat seals; captivating a sliced leading edge of a package in a pocket formed on the bars while a trailing edge of the same package is being sliced; and controllably releasing the leading edge from the captivating pocket after the trailing edge has been sliced to deposit the package onto a support surface in selected orientation to other packages.

Claim 6

A method of cutting pouches from a strip with the strip comprising a length of longitudinally spaced sealed pouches separated by transverse seals comprising the steps of: training the strip onto annularly arranged bars carried on an indexing wheel and suspending the pouches on the strip at the transverse heat seals from the bars; causing the strip to be rotated with the bars into adjacency to a slicing wheel and causing knives on the slicing wheel to sequentially engage the bars to sever the strip at the heat seals; captivating a sliced leading edge of a package in a pocket formed on the bars while a trailing edge of the same package is being sliced; and controllably releasing the leading edge from the captivating pocket after the trailing edge has been sliced to deposit the package onto a support surface in selected orientation to other packages.

Claim 8

A method of cutting off packages from a strip having spaced filled pouches separated by heat seals comprising the steps of feeding the strip onto a series of traveling annularly arranged elements, moving a series of traveling annularly arranged knives sequentially into cooperative package severing association with the series of traveling elements while controlling the movement of the leading edge of the strip at the leading heat seal by moving the leading edge radially inwardly of the associated element into a captivated position while and after the trailing edge of the package is severed at the trailing heat seal and then releasing the leading edge enabling controlled deposition of the thus severed package onto an adjacent surface.

Claim 9

A method of cutting off packages from a strip having spaced filled pouches separated by heat seals comprising the steps of feeding the strip onto a series of traveling annularly arranged elements, moving a series of traveling annularly arranged knives sequentially into cooperative package severing association with the series of traveling elements while controlling the movement of the leading edge of the strip at the leading heat seal by moving the leading edge radially inwardly of the associated element into a captivated position while and after the trailing edge of the package is severed at the trailing heat seal and then releasing the leading edge enabling controlled deposition of the thus severed package onto an adjacent surface.

Claim 10

A method of slicing articles from a strip having a series of articles interconnected by land areas, comprising the steps of: slicing a leading edge of a package; pushing the leading edge of the package into a capturing pocket after the same has been severed; retaining the leading edge in the pocket while and after the trailing edge of the package is severed from the strip; then controlling the release of the restrained, leading edge; and depositing the package onto an adjacent, underlying surface with one side of each package oriented relative to similar sides of previously severed packages in a preselected manner.

Claim 11

A method of slicing articles from a strip having a series of articles interconnected by land areas, comprising the steps of: slicing a leading edge of a package; pushing the leading edge of the package into a capturing pocket after the same has been severed; retaining the leading edge in the pocket while and after the trailing edge of the package is severed from the strip; then controlling the release of the restrained, leading edge; and depositing the package onto an adjacent, underlying surface with one side of each package oriented relative to similar sides of previously severed packages in a preselected manner.

Claim 12

A method of cutting off packages from a strip having spaced filled pouches separated by heat seals comprising the steps of pressing longitudinally spaced portions of the strip against a first series of traveling knives for holding the pouches centered relative to the knives, moving a second series of traveling knives sequentially into cooperative package severing association with the first series of traveling knives severing the strip at each of the transverse heat seals to form individual packages, while contemporaneously restraining the movement of the leading edge of the strip at the leading heat seal while and after the trailing edge of the package is severed at the trailing heat seal and then controlling the release of the leading edge to allow the trailing edge to rotate about the leading edge and be deposited onto an adjacent surface in advance of the leading edge of the same package.

Claim 13

A method of cutting off packages from a strip having spaced filled pouches separated by heat seals comprising the steps of pressing longitudinally spaced portions of the strip against a first series of traveling knives for holding the pouches centered relative to the knives, moving a second series of traveling knives sequentially into cooperative package severing association with the first series of traveling knives severing the strip at each of the transverse heat seals to form individual packages, while contemporaneously restraining the movement of the leading edge of the strip at the leading heat seal while and after the trailing edge of the package is severed at the trailing heat seal and then controlling the release of the leading edge to allow the trailing edge to rotate about the leading edge and be deposited onto an adjacent surface in advance of the leading edge of the same package.

Claim 16

A method of slicing articles from a strip containing a series of the articles interconnected by land areas, comprising the steps of: training the strip of interconnected articles around a movable indexing wheel having cutting edges formed on a periphery thereof and circumferentially spaced to engage and carry the land areas; rotating the indexing wheel to move a leading one of the articles on the strip into adjacency with a cutting wheel having cutting edges formed on a periphery thereof and arranged to intermesh with cutting edges on the indexing wheel to slice trailing land areas interconnecting leading ones of the articles to the strip; capturing the leading article on one of the indexing wheel and the cutting wheel to control movement of the captured leading article; slicing the trailing area connecting the captured leading article to the strip to sever the leading article from the strip while continuing to maintain control over movement of the leading article; controllably releasing the leading article after the slicing step to deposit the severed article onto an underlying, adjacent surface with a side thereof oriented relative to similar sides of previously severed articles in a preselected manner; said capturing step including pushing a leading edge of the package into a pocket formed on one of the indexing wheel and cutting wheel.

Claim 17

A method of slicing articles from a strip containing a series of the articles interconnected by land areas, comprising the steps of: training the strip of interconnected articles around a movable indexing wheel having cutting edges formed on a periphery thereof and circumferentially spaced to engage and carry the land areas; rotating the indexing wheel to move a leading one of the articles on the strip into adjacency with a cutting wheel having cutting edges formed on a periphery thereof and arranged to intermesh with cutting edges on the indexing wheel to slice trailing land areas interconnecting leading ones of the articles to the strip; capturing the leading article on one of the indexing wheel and the cutting wheel to control movement of the captured leading article; slicing the trailing area connecting the captured leading article to the strip to sever the leading article from the strip while continuing to maintain control over movement of the leading article; controllably releasing the leading article after the slicing step to deposit the severed article onto an underlying, adjacent surface with a side thereof oriented relative to similar sides of previously severed articles in a preselected manner; said capturing step including pushing a leading edge of the package into a pocket formed on one of the indexing wheel and cutting wheel.

Claim 18

A method of slicing articles from a strip containing a series of the articles interconnected by land areas, comprising the steps of: training the strip of interconnected articles around a movable indexing wheel having cutting edges formed on a periphery thereof and circumferentially spaced to engage and carry the land areas; rotating the indexing wheel to move a leading one of the articles on the strip into adjacency with a cutting wheel having cutting edges formed on a periphery thereof and arranged to intermesh with cutting edges on the indexing wheel to slice trailing land areas interconnecting leading ones of the articles to the strip; capturing the leading article on one of the indexing wheel and the cutting wheel to control movement of the captured leading article; slicing the trailing area connecting the captured leading article to the strip to sever the leading article from the strip while continuing to maintain control over movement of the leading article; controllably releasing the leading article after the slicing step to deposit the severed article onto an underlying, adjacent surface with a side thereof oriented relative to similar sides of previously severed articles in a preselected manner; and controlling the release of the severed article including permitting the sliced, trailing edge of the leading package to gravitationally pivot about the captivated leading edge and engage the underlying, adjacent surface in advance of the trailing edge.

Claim 19

A method of slicing articles from a strip containing a series of the articles interconnected by land areas, comprising the steps of: training the strip of interconnected articles around a movable indexing wheel having cutting edges formed on a periphery thereof and circumferentially spaced to engage and carry the land areas; rotating the indexing wheel to move a leading one of the articles on the strip into adjacency with a cutting wheel having cutting edges formed on a periphery thereof and arranged to intermesh with cutting edges on the indexing wheel to slice trailing land areas interconnecting leading ones of the articles to the strip; capturing the leading article on one of the indexing wheel and the cutting wheel to control movement of the captured leading article; slicing the trailing area connecting the captured leading article to the strip to sever the leading article from the strip while continuing to maintain control over movement of the leading article; controllably releasing the leading article after the slicing step to deposit the severed article onto an underlying, adjacent surface with a side thereof oriented relative to similar sides of previously severed articles in a preselected manner; and controlling the release of the severed article including permitting the sliced, trailing edge of the leading package to gravitationally pivot about the captivated leading edge and engage the underlying, adjacent surface in advance of the trailing edge.

Claim 20

A method of severing a continuous strip of interconnected preprinted packages comprising the steps of: moving the strip of interconnected packages into cutting relationship with a pair of cooperative, rotating cutters; controlling the vertical movement of the leading one of the packages on the strip during and after a trailing edge of the leading package is cut to control its placement on an underlying conveyor so that the printing on each package is identically oriented with respect to the printing on all other packages, said controlling step comprising connecting a vacuum source to a port formed on one of said cooperative cutters for drawing the leading package into intimate captive engagement with an area surrounding the port, and disconnecting the vacuum source from the Port when the captivated package has moved with said rotating cutter to a position to be deposited flat onto an underlying surface.

Claim 21

A method of severing a continuous strip of interconnected preprinted packages comprising the steps of: moving the strip of interconnected packages into cutting relationship with a pair of cooperative, rotating cutters; controlling the vertical movement of the leading one of the packages on the strip during and after a trailing edge of the leading package is cut to control its placement on an underlying conveyor so that the printing on each package is identically oriented with respect to the printing on all other packages, said controlling step comprising connecting a vacuum source to a port formed on one of said cooperative cutters for drawing the leading package into intimate captive engagement with an area surrounding the port, and disconnecting the vacuum source from the Port when the captivated package has moved with said rotating cutter to a position to be deposited flat onto an underlying surface.

Claim 22

A method of severing a continuous strip of interconnected preprinted packages comprising the steps of: moving the strip of interconnected packages into cutting relationship with a pair of cooperative, rotating cutters; controlling the vertical movement of the leading one of the packages on the strip during and after a trailing edge of the leading package is cut to control its placement on an underlying conveyor so that the printing on each package is identically oriented with respect to the printing on all other packages, said controlling step comprising connecting a vacuum source to a port formed on one of said cooperative cutters for drawing the leading package into intimate captive engagement with an area surrounding the port, disconnecting the vacuum source from the port when the captivated package has moved with said rotating cutter to a position to be deposited flat onto an underlying surface, and controlling the speed of an underlying surface to ''''shingle'''' stack the packages in identical relation with respect to one another so the printing on opposite sides of one package is identically positioned on all other stacked packages.

Claim 23

A method of severing a continuous strip of interconnected preprinted packages comprising the steps of: moving the strip of interconnected packages into cutting relationship with a pair of cooperative, rotating cutters; controlling the vertical movement of the leading one of the packages on the strip during and after a trailing edge of the leading package is cut to control its placement on an underlying conveyor so that the printing on each package is identically oriented with respect to the printing on all other packages, said controlling step comprising connecting a vacuum source to a port formed on one of said cooperative cutters for drawing the leading package into intimate captive engagement with an area surrounding the port, disconnecting the vacuum source from the port when the captivated package has moved with said rotating cutter to a position to be deposited flat onto an underlying surface, and controlling the speed of an underlying surface to ''''shingle'''' stack the packages in identical relation with respect to one another so the printing on opposite sides of one package is identically positioned on all other stacked packages.

Claim 24

A method of cutting off preprinted packages from a strip comprising the steps of restraining and controlling the movement of the leading edge of the package after it has been severed while the trailing edge of the package is severed and then releasing the leading edge of each severed package and controlling its placement on an underlying surface so that the printing on each package is identically oriented with respect to the printing on all other packages to facilitate cartoning of the printed packages so that the printing on all of them can be uniformly oriented.

Claim 25

A method of cutting off preprinted packages from a strip comprising the steps of restraining and controlling the movement of the leading edge of the package after it has been severed while the trailing edge of the package is severed and then releasing the leading edge of each severed package and controlling its placement on an underlying surface so that the printing on each package is identically oriented with respect to the printing on all other packages to facilitate cartoning of the printed packages so that the printing on all of them can be uniformly oriented.