Lawrence Paper Company

William R Meeks

Alan M Hill

Charles L Van Ness

A processing station ( ) for high speed printing, handling and die cutting of blanks or blanks ( ) is provided which includes a clamshell-type die cutter ( ), as well as a feeding device ( ) including a transfer mechanism ( ) and pickup member ( ). The station ( ) may also include a printing assembly ( ) and a cut blank removal assembly ( ). In operation, individual blanks ( ) from a stack ( ) are successively fed by the transfer mechanism ( ) and are picked up by the member ( ); the blanks are delivered to the die cutter ( ) when the latter is open and after die cutting the removal assembly ( ) is employed to lift the cut blank ( ) from the cutter ( ) and shift the blank ( ) to a slide plate ( ). A pusher bar ( ) then operates to move the cut blank ( ) to an outfeed conveyer ( ). The station ( ) is capable of handling relatively thick corrugated blanks ( ) at high speed and without constant operator attendance.

High speed feeding apparatus for clamshell die cutter

An improved scoring apparatus of the type used in box making operations for the purpose of creating strategically located scores and cuts in box blanks that define the folding lines and tabs of the finished boxes. The scoring apparatus includes a selectively retractable scoring blade that can be pivoted between an extended position and a retracted position during operation of the scoring apparatus for permitting scoring and cutting along any position of the box blanks.

Rotary scoring apparatus having retractable scoring blade

A box blank forming apparatus includes at least one printing assembly, a slotting assembly, and a feeding and conveying mechanism for feeding blanks through the apparatus. The printing assembly includes a rotatable printing cylinder, and the slotting assembly includes a rotatable blade. The feeding and conveying mechanism brings the blanks into contact with the printing cylinder and the slotter blade to complete printing and slotting operations on the blanks in the formation of boxes. An interrupter is provided in association with the printing assembly for removing the blanks from contact with the printing cylinder, and similar structure can also be provided with the slotting assembly for removing the blanks from contact with the slotter blade. A controller is provided for controlling operation of the interrupter of the printing assembly. The controller actuates the interrupter to bring each blank into contact with the printing cylinder only while a single impression is made on the blank, and to remove each blank from contact with the printing cylinder before and after the single impression is made. Thus, it is possible to use a single printing cylinder of fixed circumference to print on blanks of variable length, even when the blanks are longer than the printing cylinder circumference. The controller may be used to also actuate the interrupter structure of the slotter wheel assembly to bring each blanks into contact with the slotting blade only while a single slotting operation is carried out by the slotting blade, and to remove each blank from contact with the slotting blade before and after the single slotting operation is made. This allows the slotter wheel assembly to also accommodate box blanks of various sizes.

Box-blank printer/slotting apparatus

A system and method for controlling the registration of a multi-unit printing press for corrugated board materials permits the use of AC motors for driving the printing press. A master AC motor drives a master printing unit, and a master AC driving device is electrically coupled to the master AC motor for controlling the speed of the master AC motor. A master pulse generating device produces output pulses relating to the rotary motion of the master printing unit. A follower AC motor drives a follower printing unit, and a follower AC driving device electrically coupled to the follower AC motor controls the speed of the follower AC motor relative to the master AC motor. A follower pulse generating device produces output pulses relating to the rotary motion of the follower printing unit. A controller is configured to receive the output pulses from the master and follower pulse generating devices, process the master and follower output pulses to produce control commands based on said output pulses, and transmit the control commands to the follower AC driving device so that the speed of the follower AC motor is adjusted relative to the master AC motor as required to maintain synchronized operation between the master and follower AC motors. This configuration maintains precise registration of the multi-unit printing press over the entire range of speeds of the multi-unit printing press and when the multi-unit printing press is temporarily in a non-running state.

System and method for controlling AC motor driven multi-unit printing

Improved bladders (174-178) having a cross-sectional U-shape are provided for a rotatable slotter head assembly (120) of the type used in the slotting of box blanks is provided which includes mechanism (128) permitting rapid and easy alteration of the circumferential position of the cutting knives (126) carried by the assembly (120). Preferably, the assembly (120) includes a rotatable body (124) provided with an elongated, peripheral, knife-receiving slot (168) defined by fixed backing plates (158 ) and laterally shiftable locking plates (188). The selectively inflatable resilient bladders (174-178) are carried by the head assembly (120) and, when inflated, shift the associated movable locking plates (188) against the cutting knives (126), thereby firmly locking the latter in place. When knife adjustment is desired, one or more of the appropriate bladders (174-178) are deflated, the knives (126) are shifted as desired, and the bladders (174-178) are reinflated.

Bladder for slotter head assembly having pneumatically locked slotter

Multiple-station article processing apparatus (10) is provided which includes an adjustable processing station (14), a drive train (20), and a selectively operable drive train brake assembly (22) operable during adjustment of station (14). The preferred apparatus (10) is designed for fabrication of box blanks, and to this end includes an infeed assembly (12) for sequentially feeding paperboard sheets into the downstream scoring/slotting station where the sheets are scored and slotted to yield finished box blanks. During makeready adjustments when the position of the knives (66, 68) of the station (14) are changed, the braking assembly (22) is actuated to prevent unintended rotation of the drive train (20), which can result in changing the properly timed relationship of the stations within apparatus (10). The braking assembly (22) preferably includes a drum (80) secured to line shaft (74) of drive train (20), with a pair of pivotally mounted brake arms (88, 90) adjacent the drum (80); a piston and cylinder assembly (98) interconnects the outer ends of the arms (88, 90), and is actuated to move the arms (88, 90) into braking engagement with drum (80) during makeready adjustments.

Drive line brake assembly for scoring/slotting apparatus

Box blank-forming apparatus (60) is provided which includes a feeder assembly (62) and a scoring/slotting assembly (64) each provided with adjustment structure (62a, 64a) to facilitate makeready adjustment of the apparatus (60) between production runs. The feeder assembly (62) preferably includes a reciprocal pusher element (170) operable to successively engage sheets (30) to be formed into box blanks (36). The element (170) is supported by a pair of elongated, threaded, axially rotatable, fore and aft translatable positioning screws (146, 148), so that upon rotation of the screws (146, 148), a reference position of the pusher element (170) may be varied. Adjustment of the assembly (64) is accomplished by means of compensators (292, 294) which are respectively coupled to associated slotter wheel and scoring wheel shafts (288, 286). Operation of the slotter wheel shaft compensator (294) serves to adjust the circumferential positions of the fixed slotter knives (358), whereas operation of the scoring shaft compensator (292) varies the position of the adjustable knives (360) through the medium of transfer gears (384). Servo-sensors (438-442, 446-448 and 270) are used to continuously monitor the lateral and circumferential positions of the scoring/slotting stations (296-304) and a reference position of the pusher element (172), so that precise makeready adjustments can be accomplished.

Reciprocating sheet feeder apparatus for box blank fabrication equipment

Adjustable slotter wheel retrofit apparatus for box blank making machines

Box blank-forming apparatus (60) is provided which includes a feeder assembly (62) and a scoring/slotting assembly (64) each provided with adjustment structure (62a, 64a) to facilitate makeready adjustment of the apparatus (60) between production runs. The feeder assembly (62) includes a reciprocal pusher element (170) operable to successively engage sheets (30) to be formed into box blanks (36). The element (170) is supported by a pair of elongated, threaded, axially rotatable, fore and aft translatable positioning screws (146, 148), so that upon rotation of the screws (146, 148), a reference position of the pusher element (170) may be varied. This variance is monitored by a servo-sensor (270) for automated control.

Adjustable slotter wheel and sheet feeder retrofit apparatus for box

A rotatable slotter head assembly (20) of the type used in the slotting of box blanks is provided which includes mechanism (28) permitting rapid and easy alteration of the circumferential position of the cutting knives, (26) carried by the assembly (20). Preferably, the assembly (20) includes a rotatable body (24) provided with an elongated, peripheral, knife-receiving slot (68) defined by fixed backing plates (58) and laterally shiftable locking plates (86-96). A plurality of selectively inflatable resilient bladders (74-78) are carried by the head assembly (20) and, when inflated, shift the associated movable locking plates (86-96) against the cutting knives (26), thereby firmly locking the latter in place. When knives adjustment is desired, one or more of the appropriate bladders (74-78) are deflated, the knives (26) are shifted as desired, and the bladders (74-78) are reinflated.

Slotter head assembly having pneumatically locked slotter blades

An improved box blank die cutting machine (20) is provided which includes die changeover apparatus (32) permitting the machine die structure (28) to be rapidly changed without the necessity for completely removing the die frame (26) from the machine (20). The changeover apparatus (32) includes die-supporting elements (156, 158) designed to support the die frame (26) as it is shifted rearwardly towards the output end (46) of the machine (20). Moreover, the elements (158) include selectively extensible pins (184a, 184b) which are received within corresponding die frame apertures (108, 110), so that the die frame (26) may be pivoted to an upright die changeover position. Limit stops (188, 190) are also provided for limiting the pivoting movement of the die frame (26), and for stabilizing the die frame (26) in its upright position.

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Lawrence, KS, United States of America

William R Meeks