Web feeding, cutting and dispensing machine
First Claim
1. A web feeding cutting and dispensing machine having a frame with back, front and left and right sides, said machine being capable of being turned "ON" comprising:
- roll support means for supporting a roll of a web for supplying the web to be fed in a downstream direction along a predetermined path for exiting from the front of the machine,a first rotatable feed roll positioned adjacent to said path for continually contracting the web,drive means coupled to said first feed roll continually rotating said first feed roll in contact with the web for applying to the web a continual force urging the web in said downstream direction along said path for causing an end of the web to exit from the front of the machine,feed means on an opposite side of said web from said first feed roll and in position opposed to said first feed roll for keeping the web in contact with said continually rotating first feed roll,clamp means positioned along said path upstream from said first feed roll,said clamp means being movable to a clamping position for clamping the web for holding the web stationary in spite of said continual force resulting from continual rotation of said first feed roll,said clamp means also being movable to a release position for allowing the web to move in said downstream direction along said path in response to said continual force,a pneumatic clamp cylinder connected to said clamp means for moving said clamp means into said clamping and releasing positions,said pneumatic clamp cylinder having two ends into which air flow can be fed, one end being a clamping end for air flow into said clamping end moving said clamp means into said clamping position, and the other end being a releasing end for air flow into said releasing end moving said clamp means into said releasing position,cut means positioned along said path downstream from said first feed roll,said cut means being movable in a cutting stroke passing through said path for cutting off from the web a portion of the web including its end which has exited from the front of the machine for dispensing a cut sheet from the front of the machine,said cut means also being movable in a retraction stroke for clearing the path while the web is being fed downstream,a pneumatic cut cylinder connected to said cut means for moving said cut means in said cutting stroke and in said retraction stroke,said pneumatic cut cylinder having two ends into which air flow can be fed, one end being a cutting end for air flow into said cutting end moving said cutting means in said cutting stroke, and the other end being a retraction end for air flow into said retraction end moving said cutting means in said retraction stroke,a pneumatic control system including solenoid-actuated valve means having a first condition for feeding air flow to said clamping end and cutting end and having a second condition for feeding air flow to said releasing end and retraction end,throttling means associated with said cutting end of said cut cylinder for relatively throttling air flow to said cutting end in relation to relatively freer air flow to said clamping end of the clamp cylinder for causing the clamp cylinder to move said clamp means into its clamping position for clamping the web for holding the web stationary before the cut cylinder moves the cut means in its cutting stroke for cutting off a cut sheet from the web, andthrottling means associated with said releasing end of said clamp cylinder for relatively throttling air flow to said releasing end in relation to relatively freer air flow to said retraction end of said cut cylinder for causing the cut cylinder to move said cut means in its retraction stroke before the clamp cylinder moves the clamp means into its releasing position for allowing the web to be fed downstream by said continually rotating lower feed roll.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A web feeding, cutting and dispensing machine includes a pneumatic cylinder for moving a hot wire to cut measured-length sheets from web stock. A pneumatic clamp cylinder moves a clamp bar for momentarily clamping the web during cutting. Upon pressing a start button, a pneumatic control valve sequentially operates the respective cutting and clamping cylinders for quickly retracting the hot wire, while more slowly retracting the clamp. Conversely, after the next measured web length has advanced, this control valve again sequentially operates these two cylinders in reverse order for quickly clamping while slower cutting. This dual control by one valve is advantageously achieved (1) by throttling air flow in retracting the clamp cylinder relative to retracting the cut cylinder, and conversely (2) by throttling air flow in advancing the cut cylinder relative to advancing the clamp cylinder. A compact machine has a hollow movable clamp bar torque member for equally driving both clamp arms by one clamp cylinder at one side of the machine. This movable clamp bar also serves as a passageway containing a torque shaft for equally driving both cutting arms by one cut cylinder at the other side. A "floating" upper feed roll accommodates different thicknesses of foam web without requiring adjustment and enables a lower feed roll to rotate continuously regardless of whether the web is clamped or not. Each cut sheet is conveniently held by a holder ready for use and is gently removable from the holder.
29 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A web feeding cutting and dispensing machine having a frame with back, front and left and right sides, said machine being capable of being turned "ON" comprising:
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roll support means for supporting a roll of a web for supplying the web to be fed in a downstream direction along a predetermined path for exiting from the front of the machine, a first rotatable feed roll positioned adjacent to said path for continually contracting the web, drive means coupled to said first feed roll continually rotating said first feed roll in contact with the web for applying to the web a continual force urging the web in said downstream direction along said path for causing an end of the web to exit from the front of the machine, feed means on an opposite side of said web from said first feed roll and in position opposed to said first feed roll for keeping the web in contact with said continually rotating first feed roll, clamp means positioned along said path upstream from said first feed roll, said clamp means being movable to a clamping position for clamping the web for holding the web stationary in spite of said continual force resulting from continual rotation of said first feed roll, said clamp means also being movable to a release position for allowing the web to move in said downstream direction along said path in response to said continual force, a pneumatic clamp cylinder connected to said clamp means for moving said clamp means into said clamping and releasing positions, said pneumatic clamp cylinder having two ends into which air flow can be fed, one end being a clamping end for air flow into said clamping end moving said clamp means into said clamping position, and the other end being a releasing end for air flow into said releasing end moving said clamp means into said releasing position, cut means positioned along said path downstream from said first feed roll, said cut means being movable in a cutting stroke passing through said path for cutting off from the web a portion of the web including its end which has exited from the front of the machine for dispensing a cut sheet from the front of the machine, said cut means also being movable in a retraction stroke for clearing the path while the web is being fed downstream, a pneumatic cut cylinder connected to said cut means for moving said cut means in said cutting stroke and in said retraction stroke, said pneumatic cut cylinder having two ends into which air flow can be fed, one end being a cutting end for air flow into said cutting end moving said cutting means in said cutting stroke, and the other end being a retraction end for air flow into said retraction end moving said cutting means in said retraction stroke, a pneumatic control system including solenoid-actuated valve means having a first condition for feeding air flow to said clamping end and cutting end and having a second condition for feeding air flow to said releasing end and retraction end, throttling means associated with said cutting end of said cut cylinder for relatively throttling air flow to said cutting end in relation to relatively freer air flow to said clamping end of the clamp cylinder for causing the clamp cylinder to move said clamp means into its clamping position for clamping the web for holding the web stationary before the cut cylinder moves the cut means in its cutting stroke for cutting off a cut sheet from the web, and throttling means associated with said releasing end of said clamp cylinder for relatively throttling air flow to said releasing end in relation to relatively freer air flow to said retraction end of said cut cylinder for causing the cut cylinder to move said cut means in its retraction stroke before the clamp cylinder moves the clamp means into its releasing position for allowing the web to be fed downstream by said continually rotating lower feed roll. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification