Method and apparatus for producing gang of separably interconnected elongate articles

Claim 3

The method defined by claim 1 in which the outlined edge of each of said article defines a complementary edge of the next adjoining article in said web.

Claim 4

The method defined by claim 2 in which each of said articles is provided with a single aperture.

Claim 5

The method defined by claim 3 in which said aperture is located in an end portion of said article.

Claim 6

The method as defined by claim 1 in which each said article is arranged transverse of said web.

Claim 7

The method as defined by claim 5 in which each article is situated in reverse relationship with each of its neighbors, thus providing a succession of apertures in opposite marginal areas of said web.

Claim 8

The method defined by claim 5 in which the width of said web is equal to a whole number multiple of the length of such article.

Claim 9

The method defined by claim 5 in which said whole number is one.

Claim 10

The method defined by claim 7 in which said whole number is two.

Claim 11

The method defined by claim 9 in which said web is split longitudinally prior to severing it transversely into portions.

Claim 12

The method defined by claim 1 in which in said scoring step said outline is interrupted in at least one location at each longitudinal edge of each outlined article to provide continuous connection of each outlined article throughout the length of said web.

Claim 13

The method defined by claim 1 in which said web is a flexile, thermoplastic material.

Claim 14

Apparatus for continuously producing a plurality of gangs of separably interconnected elongate articles from a continuous web of material, which apparatus comprises a support for a supply of said web material; a scoring station having a plurality of dies and a platen for scoring in said web the outline of said elongate article and of an aperture therein; means for advancing said web to said die-scoring station between said dies and said platen; a material knock-out station removed from said scoring station for removing material from said web in areas scored for said apertures; means for advancing said web to said knock-out station; a web-severing station removed from said material knock-out station; and means including a sprocketed roll for engagement with apertures produced at said knock-out station to advance said web to said web severing station.

Claim 15

Apparatus for continuously producing a plurality of gangs of separably interconnected elongate articles from a continuous web of material, which apparatus comprises a support for a supply of said web material; a scoring station having a plurality of dies and a platen for scoring in said web the outline of said elongate article and of an aperture therein; means for advancing said web to said die-scoring station between said dies and said platen; a material knock-out station removed from said scoring station for removing material from said web in areas scored for said apertures; means for advancing said web to said knock-out station; a web-severing station removed from said material knock-out station; and means including a sprocketed roll for engagement with apertures produced at said knock-out station to advance said web to said web severing station.

Claim 16

Apparatus as defined by cLaim 13 in which said material knock-out station comprises a pair of rolls through which said web passes, one of which rolls is sprocketed and the other of which is grooved to receive the sprockets of the other.

Claim 17

Apparatus as defined by claim 13 in which said means for advancing said web to said scoring station and said means for advancing said web to said material knock-out station are commonly driven.

Claim 18

Apparatus as defined by claim 13 in which said web severing station comprises a roll having at least one knife transverse thereof.

Claim 19

Apparatus as defined by claim 13 including a conveyor for receiving shingled quantities of severed web portions and for delivering the same to a packaging station.