Sequa Corporation

Harris Graphics Corporation

Orfeo J Salvucci

Robert M Williams

Robert F Fokos

Albert L Wright

John M Hobby

James J Hennessy

Ronald R Young

An off-line web finishing system performs plural functions on a pre-printed and rewound web at a series of pieces of equipment arranged in a line. Tension in the web is set at a variable infeed at a substantially constant value that is sufficient to facilitate handling of the web. A common web-transport system drives all draw rolls in the line in unison, at substantially the same speed, and without slippage between the web and the rolls. A second drive system, preferably one using a second drive shaft, rotates the function cylinders of one or more registration sensitive pieces of equipment in unison. A continuously adjustable variable transmission is operatively connected between the secondary line shaft and a main line shaft for the web transport. A control system adjusts the variable transmission. It includes a central microprocessor, an optical scanner associated with each function cylinder, and an encoder to measure the speed of rotation of the function cylinder. Each scanner senses adjacent registration marks on the web that define each impression. Control logic compares the sensed speed in the time interval T for one impression to pass on and produces an output control signal if the proper speed is not sensed and if the misregistration is less than a predetermined limit.

Off-line web finishing system with splice and missing mark stability

An off-line web finishing system performs plural functions on a pre printed and rewound web at a series of pieces of equipment arranged in a line. Tension in the web is set at a variable infeed at a constant value that is sufficient to facilitate handling of the web. A common web-transport system drives all draw rolls in the line in unison, at the same speed, and without slippage between the web and the rolls. In the preferred form, a second drive line rotates in unison the function cylinders of pieces of equipment that are registration sensitive. The second line is driven by a main line shaft of the web transport system via a variable transmission that is adjusted in response to at least one optical scanner that senses misregistrations between the printed pattern on the web and the function cylinders. The registration sensitive function cylinders operate on the web only intermittently. Each function cylinder preferably has an associated scanner that operates a variable transmission between the second line and the associated function cylinder to further control the registration of the equipment to the web.

Off-line web finishing system

An off-line web finishing system performs plural functions on a pre-printed and rewound web at a series of pieces of equipment arranged in a line. Tension in the web is set at a variable infeed at a constant value that is sufficient to facilitate handling of the web. A common web-transport system drives all draw rolls in the line in unison, at the same speed, and without slippage between the web and the rolls. In the preferred form, a second drive line rotates in unison the function cylinders of pieces of equipment that are registration sensitive. The second line is driven by a main line shaft of the web transport system via a variable transmission that is adjusted in response to at least one optical scanner that senses misregistrations between the printed pattern on the web and the function cylinders. The registration sensitive function cylinders operate on the web only intermittently. Each function cylinder preferably has an associated scanner that operates a variable transmission between the second line and the associated function cylinder to further control the registration of the equipment to the web.

A rotary die cutter includes an anvil roll and at least one die roll. One or more sheet metal dies with raised cutting edges are carried on the die roll to cut patterns in a web of material passing between the die and the anvil roll. The die cutter has a pair of rigid side frames spanned by a very rigid spreader. While the anvil roll is end-mounted between the side frames, the die roll is mounted from the spreader. A drive shaft rotatable in the side frames and driven from a lineshaft by a gear system transits rotation to the die roll, while allowing the die roll freedom of movement for independent vertical, axial and circumferential adjustments. This mounting and drive of the die roll can accommodate a full width press web using die rolls having a small diameter, typically a single repeat roll, and one whose length is comparable to its circumference. A pair of mutually slidable wedges acting against a spring clamping force adjusts the vertical position of bearing blocks that rotatably mount the die roll. The mounting structure also preferably includes slide rails that extend parallel to the die roll and a threaded shaft to adjust the axial position of the die roll. Adjustably rotating only the gear system, or a portion of the gear system directly associated with the die roll, adjusts the circumferential position of the die roll.

Rotary die cutter

A splicing head for an automatic zero-speed web splicing machine is disclosed in which the end of a new roll of web material can be prepared for splicing directly on resilient nip rollers which are used by the machine to perform the splicing operation. In particular, the splicing head includes a knife carriage through which the web material passes and which can be moved transversely to the web travel direction under control of a cam and lever arrangement to introduce a predetermined loop of slack into the web material. The action of the cam and lever mechanism also positions a serrated preparation blade mounted on cantilever arms in front of the nip rollers for squarely trimming the edge of the web material. After the web material has been trimmed the preparation blade can be moved by the cam and lever arrangement to an out-of-the-way position to allow preparation of the web material and to prevent interference with the splicing machine as the web material runs through the machine after the splice has been made.

Growing community of inventors

Holbrook, MA, United States of America

Orfeo J Salvucci