The Ward Machinery Company

Butler & Hanby, Inc.

Michael W Millard

John R Harrison

Henry L Dunn

John R Van Noy

Lawrence F Shaffer, Iii

Douglas T Benach

Philip K Saunders

Lawrence F Shaffer, Iv

Burwell R Evans

The present invention comprises a novel apparatus for the cleaning of an ostomy bag being worn by an ostomy patient. The cleaning apparatus of the invention is configured in three embodiments capable of fixed installation, portable use and bedside use, respectively. The apparatus of the fixed and portable embodiments provides a support for a patient at a sufficient height above a toilet bowl in the form of a platform having support bars with security stops and a chute removably hung from said platform to discharge excreta into the bowl. The fixed embodiment employs a hose for attachment to house water supply and a nozzle adapted to clean within the ostomy bag. The portable embodiment employs a reservoir which supplies pressurized water either by elevation or by use of a portable pump. The convalescent embodiment is adapted to be used at the bedside and has a fluid reservoir/portable pump, hose and a collecting tank, such as a bedpan mounted to receive the excreta being cleaned from the ostomy bag.

Ostomy bag cleaning apparatus

A printing apparatus includes a rotatable anilox roll engageable with a rotatable print cylinder for transferring ink thereto. A rotatable wipe roll and a doctor blade head are selectively engageable with different portions of the anilox roll to provide alternative wipe roll and doctor blade inking systems. Preferably both inking systems have substantially common ink supply and ink return paths with a valve being selectively operable to direct the ink supply path to either the wipe roll or the doctor blade head. Facilities for effecting a wash cycle may be provided to wash either inking system after use. Preferably an interlock arrangement prevents changing in use between the two inking systems until a wash cycle has been completed.

Printing apparatus with dual inking system

A rotary die-cut apparatus, in which a die roll cooperates with a resiliently covered anvil roll for die-cutting carton blanks passed therebetween, incorporates a constant mesh gear train between the die roll and the anvil roll for providing an infinite hunting ratio between the rolls. This provides more uniform wear of the anvil roll cover and prolongs its effective life. Preferably, this gear train includes a harmonic drive having a wave generator cam rotatable by a trim motor. An arrangement for sensing changes in diameter of the anvil roll due to wear of its cover may provide an input for determining the speed of the trim motor. A resurfacing mechanism for removing the outer surface of the cover when worn may provide this input. A pulse generator is preferably incorporated in a controller of the trim motor for periodically making random changes in the speed of the trim motor. The gear train, with or without the trim motor, preferably has a gear ratio through multiple pairs of gears which itself provides an infinite hunting ratio. A gear on the anvil roll concentric therewith may mesh inside an internally toothed ring gear, these gears remaining in mesh when the anvil roll is moved about an eccentric axis towards or away from the die roll. An electric register for registering the die roll may be interconnected with the trim motor for rotation of the anvil roll with the die roll when the apparatus is stopped.

Rotary die-cut apparatus and gearing arrangement therein

Apparatus and method for cutting an end portion of a carton blank, e.g. to form a stitch flap, employs a rotatably driven male cutting head cooperating with a rotatably driven female cutting head. The female cutting head has a peripheral cutting groove therein and an anvil surface adjacent one side of the groove. The male cutting head has a two edged slot cutting blade of predetermined arcuate length which enters the groove each revolution, and a knife which extends transversely away from the blade and engages the anvil surface each revolution. The blade has a scallop-like cut-out in the side adjacent the anvil surface. The cut-out modifies the blade to a single edged cutting blade for a small part of its length. Scrap portions produced from the carton blank by a slotting cut of the blade and a transverse cut of the knife are integrally connected together by a bridging piece enabled by this cut-out. This integral piece of scrap is conveyed by the groove to a stripping blade and then drops onto a conveyor, so eliminating any uncontrolled portion of scrap. The groove can have radial side channels for more positively gripping strips of scrap engaged therein.

Growing community of inventors

Baldwin, MD, United States of America

Michael W Millard