Cutting material into lengths

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1 wherein the sensing device is stationary and the severed length is fed past it.

Claim 4

A method of cutting material into lengths according to claim 1 comprising the step of recording the measured size.

Claim 5

Apparatus for cutting material into lengths each having a size substantially equal to a predetermined value, comprising a cutting mechanism operable at predetermined intervals to sever a measured length of material, a conveyor for feeding the material past the cutting mechanism, a sensing device for sensing the distance between the two ends of a severed length of material to measure the actual size of the length cut, the sensing device and length being relatively movable, means for comparing said actual size with a predetermined value for detecting any variation in said size from said predetermined value and means for supplying a signal proportional to any required correction to adjust the predetermined length against which the length of material being fed past the cutting mechanism is measured to adjust the operation of the cutting mechanism to eliminate any such variation and obtain substantial uniformity of the size of a subsequently severed length with the predetermined value.

Claim 6

Apparatus for cutting material into lengths each having a size substantially equal to a predetermined value, comprising a cutting mechanism operable at predetermined intervals to sever a measured length of material, a conveyor for feeding the material past the cutting mechanism, a sensing device for sensing the distance between the two ends of a severed length of material to measure the actual size of the length cut, the sensing device and length being relatively movable, means for comparing said actual size with a predetermined value for detecting any variation in said size from said predetermined value and means for supplying a signal proportional to any required correction to adjust the predetermined length against which the length of material being fed past the cutting mechanism is measured to adjust the operation of the cutting mechanism to eliminate any such variation and obtain substantial uniformity of the size of a subsequently severed length with the predetermined value.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the sensing device is stationary.

Claim 8

Apparatus for cutting material into lengths according to claim 4, wherein the cutting mechanism comprises a cutter and a first measuring unit for measuring the length of uncut material which has been fed to the cutter, said first measuring unit actuating the cutter when the measured length of uncut material reaches said predetermined length so as to sever a length having a size equal to or substantially equal to the predetermined length.

Claim 9

Apparatus for cutting material into lengths according to claim 6 wherein the first measuring unit comprises a knurled rotatable wheel engageable with uncut material being fed to the cutter, a pulse generator actuable by rotation of the wheel and a bi-directional counter connected to the pulse generator for counting the number of pulses received therefrom, the number of pulses being proportional to the length of uncut material fed to the cutter, the counter being capable of actuating the cutter when the number of pulses counted reaches said predetermined length.

Claim 10

Apparatus for cutting material into lengths according to claim 6, wherein said sensing device, said means for detecting variations in size and said means for supplying a signal are combined in a second measuring unit connected to said first measuring unit.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 4 comprising a recording device for recording the sizes of severed lengths.

Claim 12

Apparatus for cutting material into lengths each having a size substantially equal to a predetermined value, comprising: a cutting mechanism operable at predetermined intervals to sever a measured length of material; a conveyor for feeding said material past said cutting mechanism; a first measuring unit for measuring the length of uncut material which has been fed to the cutting mechanism, said first measuring unit actuating said cutting mechanism when the measured length of uncut material reaches a predetermined length; and a second measuring unit coupled to said first measuring unit and including sensing means relatively movable with respect to the length of cut material for sensing the distance between the two ends of a severed length of material to measure the actual size of the length cut, means for detecting any variation in said size from said predetermined value, means for supplying a signal proportional to any required correction to the cutting mechanism to adjust the operation of the cutting mechanism to obtain substantial uniformity of the size of a subsequently severed length with the predetermined value, a knurled rotatable wheel engageable with the conveyor, a pulse generator actuable by rotation of the wheel, a bi-directional counter connected to the generator for counting the number of pulses received therefrom, the sensing device actuating the counter only during the period when a severed length is sensed by the device whereby the count indicated by the counter is proportional to the size of the severed length, the bi-directional counter of the second measuring unit being capable of sending any required correcting signal to the counter of the first measuring unit to adjust the predetermined count on the counter and therefore obtain a subsequent length having a size equal to or substantially equal to the predetermined value.

Claim 13

Apparatus for cutting material into lengths each having a size substantially equal to a predetermined value, comprising: a cutting mechanism operable at predetermined intervals to sever a measured length of material; a conveyor for feeding said material past said cutting mechanism; a first measuring unit for measuring the length of uncut material which has been fed to the cutting mechanism, said first measuring unit actuating said cutting mechanism when the measured length of uncut material reaches a predetermined length; and a second measuring unit coupled to said first measuring unit and including sensing means relatively movable with respect to the length of cut material for sensing the distance between the two ends of a severed length of material to measure the actual size of the length cut, means for detecting any variation in said size from said predetermined value, means for supplying a signal proportional to any required correction to the cutting mechanism to adjust the operation of the cutting mechanism to obtain substantial uniformity of the size of a subsequently severed length with the predetermined value, a knurled rotatable wheel engageable with the conveyor, a pulse generator actuable by rotation of the wheel, a bi-directional counter connected to the generator for counting the number of pulses received therefrom, the sensing device actuating the counter only during the period when a severed length is sensed by the device whereby the count indicated by the counter is proportional to the size of the severed length, the bi-directional counter of the second measuring unit being capable of sending any required correcting signal to the counter of the first measuring unit to adjust the predetermined count on the counter and therefore obtain a subsequent length having a size equal to or substantially equal to the predetermined value.