US4387614A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automated web chop-out control for cut-to-mark cut-off machine
Assignee: Molins Machine Co Inc
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Filing: 1981-05-21
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Granted: 1983-06-14
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Expires: 2001-05-21
Abstract
Abstract A moving web is divisible into a leader having a first set of registration marks and a trailer having a second set of registration marks. At a transition between the first and second sets of registration marks, a target is applied adjacent the initial mark of the second set. The target is sensed and tracked electronically to a shear. During an order change or a roll-to-roll change within an order, the web is automatically severed transversely by the shear two or more times to chop out a portion of the leader and trailer including the transition between the sets of marks. The leading edge of the trailer is tracked to a station intermediate the shear and the cut-off machine. The cut-off machine knives "crop" cut the trailer at the first registration mark following the leading edge of the trailer and thereafter cut the trailer automatically into blanks in synchronization with the second set of marks. Operation of the cut-off machine knives in the cut-to-mark mode is maintained without loss of synchronization across the portion of the web chopped out by the shear. Operator intervention is eliminated, and scrap is minimized.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald J. Evans
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 06:29
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H23/00; B65H23/04; B65H23/18; B65H23/188; B65H23/1882; B65H23/1886; B26; B26D; B26D5/00; B26D5/20; B26D5/30; B26D5/34; B65H19/00; B65H19/10; B65H19/18; B65H26/00; B65H26/02; B26D11/00; B26D2011/005; B26D5/36; B65H2301/00; B65H2301/40; B65H2301/41; B65H2301/414; B65H2301/4148; B65H2701/00; B65H2701/10; B65H2701/17; B65H2701/176; B65H2701/1762; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/04; Y10T83/0515; Y10T83/0519; Y10T83/141; Y10T83/159; Y10T83/465; Y10T83/4653; Y10T83/4656; Y10T83/4659; Y10T83/4662; Y10T83/4705; Y10T83/525; Y10T83/541; Y10T83/544
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
A method of automatically controlling a cut-off machine having knives operable in a cut-to-mark mode wherein the knives cut a moving web divisible into a leader having a first set of registration marks and a trailer having a second set of registration marks, there being a transition between the first and second sets of marks, comprising: (a) applying a target to the trailer adjacent a first preselected registration mark of the second set; (b) tracking the target electronically to a shear upstream of the cut-off machine; (c) automatically and repetitively severing the web transversely at the shear two or more times when the target is tracked to the shear whereby a preselected portion of the web comprising the transition between said registration marks is chopped out of the web; (d) tracking the leading edge of the trailer electronically from said shear to a position intermediate the shear and said cut-off machine after said preselected web portion has been chopped from the web; (e) causing the knives to cut the trailer automatically at a second preselected registration mark of the second set following the leading edge of the trailer; and (f) causing the knives to cut the trailer automatically in the cut-to-mark mode at the registration marks of the second set which follow said second preselected registration mark.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
217 words
A method of automatically controlling a cut-off machine having knives operable in a cut-to-mark mode wherein the knives cut a moving web divisible into a leader having a first set of registration marks and a trailer having a second set of registration marks, there being a transition between the first and second sets of marks, comprising: (a) applying a target to the trailer adjacent a first preselected registration mark of the second set; (b) tracking the target electronically to a shear upstream of the cut-off machine; (c) automatically and repetitively severing the web transversely at the shear two or more times when the target is tracked to the shear whereby a preselected portion of the web comprising the transition between said registration marks is chopped out of the web; (d) tracking the leading edge of the trailer electronically from said shear to a position intermediate the shear and said cut-off machine after said preselected web portion has been chopped from the web; (e) causing the knives to cut the trailer automatically at a second preselected registration mark of the second set following the leading edge of the trailer; and (f) causing the knives to cut the trailer automatically in the cut-to-mark mode at the registration marks of the second set which follow said second preselected registration mark.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the second preselected registration mark is the first mark of the second set following the leading edge of the trailer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said target is a magnetically detectable target.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
274 words
A method of automatically controlling at least first and second cut-off machines each having knives operable in a cut-to-mark mode wherein the knives cut a moving web divisible into a leader having a first set of registration marks and trailer having a second second of registration marks, there being a transition between the first and second sets of marks, comprising: (a) directing the leader to said first cut-off machine; (b) causing the knives of said first cut-off machine to cut the leader in the cut-to-mark mode at the registration marks of the first set; (c) applying a target to the trailer adjacent a first preselected registration mark of the second set; (d) tracking the target electronically to a shear upstream of the cut-off machines; (e) automatically and repetitively severing the web transversely at the shear two or more times when the target is tracked to the shear whereby a preselected portion of the web comprising the transition between said registration marks is chopped out of the web; (f) tracking the leading edge of the trailer electronically from said shear to a position intermediate the shear and said cut-off machines after said preselected web portion has been chopped from the web; (g) directing the trailer to said second cut-off machine; (h) causing the knives of said second cut-off machine to cut the trailer automatically at a second preselected registration mark of the second set following the leading edge of the trailer; and (i) causing the knives of said second cut-off machine to cut the trailer automatically in the cut-to-mark mode at the registration marks of the second set which follow said second preselected registration mark.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
274 words
A method of automatically controlling at least first and second cut-off machines each having knives operable in a cut-to-mark mode wherein the knives cut a moving web divisible into a leader having a first set of registration marks and trailer having a second second of registration marks, there being a transition between the first and second sets of marks, comprising: (a) directing the leader to said first cut-off machine; (b) causing the knives of said first cut-off machine to cut the leader in the cut-to-mark mode at the registration marks of the first set; (c) applying a target to the trailer adjacent a first preselected registration mark of the second set; (d) tracking the target electronically to a shear upstream of the cut-off machines; (e) automatically and repetitively severing the web transversely at the shear two or more times when the target is tracked to the shear whereby a preselected portion of the web comprising the transition between said registration marks is chopped out of the web; (f) tracking the leading edge of the trailer electronically from said shear to a position intermediate the shear and said cut-off machines after said preselected web portion has been chopped from the web; (g) directing the trailer to said second cut-off machine; (h) causing the knives of said second cut-off machine to cut the trailer automatically at a second preselected registration mark of the second set following the leading edge of the trailer; and (i) causing the knives of said second cut-off machine to cut the trailer automatically in the cut-to-mark mode at the registration marks of the second set which follow said second preselected registration mark.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method in accordance with claim 4 wherein said target is a magnetically detectable target.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method in accordance with claim 4 wherein the second preselected registration mark is the first mark of the second set following the leading edge of the trailer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
211 words
Apparatus for automatically controlling a cut-off machine having knives operable in a cut-to-mark mode wherein the knives cut a moving web divisible into a leader having a first set of registration marks and trailer having a second set of registration marks, there being a transition between the first and second sets of marks, said trailer being provided with a target adjacent a first preselected registration mark of the second set, comprising: (a) a shear upstream of said cut-off machine for severing the web transversely; (b) means for tracking said target electronically to said shear and for causing said shear to sever the web repetitively two or more times when said target is tracked to said shear whereby a preselected portion of the web comprising the transition between said registration marks is chopped out of the web; (c) means for tracking the leading edge of the trailer electronically from said shear to a position intermediate the shear and said cut-off machine after said preselected web portion has been chopped from the web; and (d) means for causing said knives to repetitively cut the trailer at said second set of registration marks in the cut-to-mark mode beginning at the position of a second preselected registration mark following the leading edge of the trailer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
211 words
Apparatus for automatically controlling a cut-off machine having knives operable in a cut-to-mark mode wherein the knives cut a moving web divisible into a leader having a first set of registration marks and trailer having a second set of registration marks, there being a transition between the first and second sets of marks, said trailer being provided with a target adjacent a first preselected registration mark of the second set, comprising: (a) a shear upstream of said cut-off machine for severing the web transversely; (b) means for tracking said target electronically to said shear and for causing said shear to sever the web repetitively two or more times when said target is tracked to said shear whereby a preselected portion of the web comprising the transition between said registration marks is chopped out of the web; (c) means for tracking the leading edge of the trailer electronically from said shear to a position intermediate the shear and said cut-off machine after said preselected web portion has been chopped from the web; and (d) means for causing said knives to repetitively cut the trailer at said second set of registration marks in the cut-to-mark mode beginning at the position of a second preselected registration mark following the leading edge of the trailer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said target is a magnetically detectable target and said means for tracking the target to the shear includes a magnetic sensor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 including means for causing said knives to cut the leader in the cut-to-mark mode at said first set of registration marks, and means for creating a gap between the leader and trailer as the leading edge of said trailer is tracked from said shear to said position intermediate the shear and said cut-off machine.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
271 words
Apparatus for automatically controlling at least first and second cut-off machines each having knives operable in a cut-to-mark mode wherein the knives cut a moving web divisible into a leader having a first set of registration marks and a trailer having a second set of registration marks, there being a transition between the first and second sets of marks, said trailer being provided with a target adjacent a first preselected registration mark of the second set, comprising: (a) a shear upstream of said cut-off machine for severing the web transversely; (b) means for tracking said target electronically to said shear and for causing said shear to automatically sever the web repetitively two or more times when said target is tracked to said shear whereby a preselected portion of the web comprising the transition between said registration marks is chopped out of the web; (c) means for directing the leader to said first cut-off machine; (d) means for causing the knives of said first cut-off machine to cut the leader in the cut-to-mark mode at the registration marks of the first set; (e) means for tracking the leading edge of the trailer from said shear to a position intermediate the shear and said cutoff machines after said preselected web portion has been chopped from the web; (f) means for directing the trailer to said second cut-off machine; and (g) means for causing the knives of said second cut-off machine to repetitively cut the trailer at said second set of registration marks in the cut-to-mark mode beginning at the position of a second preselected registration mark following the leading edge of the trailer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
271 words
Apparatus for automatically controlling at least first and second cut-off machines each having knives operable in a cut-to-mark mode wherein the knives cut a moving web divisible into a leader having a first set of registration marks and a trailer having a second set of registration marks, there being a transition between the first and second sets of marks, said trailer being provided with a target adjacent a first preselected registration mark of the second set, comprising: (a) a shear upstream of said cut-off machine for severing the web transversely; (b) means for tracking said target electronically to said shear and for causing said shear to automatically sever the web repetitively two or more times when said target is tracked to said shear whereby a preselected portion of the web comprising the transition between said registration marks is chopped out of the web; (c) means for directing the leader to said first cut-off machine; (d) means for causing the knives of said first cut-off machine to cut the leader in the cut-to-mark mode at the registration marks of the first set; (e) means for tracking the leading edge of the trailer from said shear to a position intermediate the shear and said cutoff machines after said preselected web portion has been chopped from the web; (f) means for directing the trailer to said second cut-off machine; and (g) means for causing the knives of said second cut-off machine to repetitively cut the trailer at said second set of registration marks in the cut-to-mark mode beginning at the position of a second preselected registration mark following the leading edge of the trailer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 including means for alternately cocking the knives of one of said first and second cut-off machines while causing the knives of the other of said cut-off machines to cut the trailer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-06-13 | 1986-12-13 | 1987-06-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-06-13 | 1990-12-13 | 1991-06-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-06-13 | 1994-12-13 | 1995-06-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |