Importance

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Abstract

Method and apparatus for repetitively making products, such as cap liners continuously from web material. A rotary knife drum having an array of die cutters cooperates with a counter-rotating anvil to thereby define a convergent web working zone therebetween. A pair of servo-motor driven nip feeders feed a web through the convergent work zone of the drum and anvil. Motor and belt drive means continuously unidirectionally rotates the knife drum and anvil at a constant angular velocity, while the web feeder cycles to first advance the web through the work zone such that travel speed and direction matches that of each die cutter as it passes through the work zone in the web travel path to thereby cut a cap liner from the web, quickly stops and then retracts the web a given pullback distance when each die cutter travels clear of the web travel path and before the next cutter enters the same, and then resumes quickly web advance to match travel of the next die cutter as it passes through the web travel path to thereby cut another cap liner. The pullback mode thereby forms a condensed rollout web working pattern of liner cut-outs in the web. An array of transfer posts on a transfer roll travel into and out of individual registry and sequentially with the die cutters to thereby pick off cut liners from the cutters for transport travel on the posts. An escapement supplies caps side-by-side and shifts them into alignment with successive transfer posts for transfer of cut liners successively into the caps.

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First Claim