CA1140098A - Linear tail sealer - Google Patents

Abstract

LINEAR TAIL SEALER

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A machine which is operative for handling a roll of wound sheet-like material having a loose tail end .
includes rollers which rotate the roll in the rewinding direction, blowers which unwind the loose tail end off the roll during rotation, and a delivery table upon which the unwound loose tail end settles for the appli-cation of glue. A first sensor detects the unwinding of the tail end off the roll and activates a normally deactivated second sensor which turns off the rollers when the tail end reaches a predetermined location on the delivery table. Adhesive is next applied to the stationary tail end by a glue gun which is movably mounted on a pneumatically controlled carriage assembly.
The glued tail end is thereafter rewound upon the roll, and the roll is subsequently ejected from the machine.
A third sensor detects the initial presence of the roll upon the rollers and will initiate ejection of the roll after a predetermined time period elapses, regard-less of operation of the glue gun.

Description

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s~c~GRo~D 0F T~IE INV~NTIO`
I. Field of the Invention The invention generally relates to roll product finishing machines an~, more particularly, to machines ~; 5 which handle a roll of sheet-like material having a loose tail end so that the loose tail end may be glued upon the body of the roll.
II. Description of the Prior Art ln roll product finishing operations, such as those used by the paper converting industry~ cants of wound sheet-like material are formed from a large parent supply roll on winding machines and proceed, ~- typically in assembly-line fashion, to machines which glue the loose tail ends upon the cants and which then 15 eject the cants toward wrapping machines.
One problem caused by such an operation is that glue might not be consistently applied upon the loose tail end at a proper distance from the terminal edge the tail. Thus, excess paper might project outwardly from -the glue seam and interfere with the operation of the wrapping machines. Also, the presence of excess paper forms an unattractive commercial product.
` An associated problem arises when the cant is delivered to the machine having a loose tail end which is partially stuck to the body of the roll, or torn and uneven, or otherwise defective. Such a cant is not in condition for gluing and should be ejected fro~
the machine without the application of adhesive.
Yet another problem is occasioned by the high speed, assembly-line nature of the operation itself, which demands that the gluing opera~ion be performed as .
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quickly as possible and that the cant being glued ~s ejected in advance of the next cant's arrival. This avoids jaFming and the resultant loss of production time.
Attention is directed to the following U.S. Pa- -. tents which are speciEically concerned with roll fin-ishing apparatus:

Ghisoni 3,044,532 July 17, 1962 Henson, et al 3,162,560 December 22, 1964 Tellier 3,393,105 July 16, 1968 Janik 3,553,055 January 5, 1971 Of the four cited patents, Tellier directly addresses the problem of excess paper projecting beyond the glue seam (col. 1, lines 49 through 72), which he describes as "universal in the paper industryl'. Tellier thereafter describes the use of a single, continuously actuated photocell unit 162,164 to sense the location of the tail end and thereafter energize the cam-actuated gluin~ tines 89 and 90 to displace the tail end against the adhesive application rollers 124. A principal feature of Tellierls device is that, during the entire gluing cycle, the cant is being continuously rotated on - the drive rollers 27 and 28.
While 11enson does not directly address the prob-lem of exccss paper, tle reference describes the use of a single, continuously actuated photocell unit 29a, 29b to stop rotation of the drive rollers 10,11 when the tail end has arrived at a predetermined location for gluing. Henson also discloses the use of a pair of 30 glue guns 30 located on reciprocative trolley carriage members 50 and 70 which are movably mounted on trolley lead screws 51 and 71.
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~cither Ghisoni nor Janik are concerned with tha - excess paper problem, and use single, continuously actuated photosensors 19 and 91, respectively, to stop rotation of ~he cant, and glue is thereafter deposited on the body of the cant itself. The position of the glue seam in Janik's device is adjustable, inas~uch as the entire glue carriage support frame 117 can be vertically shifted relative to the cant.
~lone of the above ci~ed references, alone or in - 10 combination, teaches or suggests the use of two sensors, one of which is continuously actuated and the other of ~hich is selectively actuated in response to a signal from the first, to insure that the glue seam is invari-- ably properly placed on the tail. None teaches or suggests a means for detecting a cant which is not in condi,ion for gluing. None teaches or suggests the use of a pneu.~atic, high speed reciprocating glue gun mechanism to substantially reduce the time it takes to glue the tail end. Finally, none teaches or suggests a means-for insuring that the cant is ejected from the machine in a timely fashion and in advance of the arrival of another cant. In short, none of the ref- ~
erences teaches or suggests a device which is appli- i i cable for use in a high production, assembly-line operation.
Attention is also directed to the following U.S.
Patents which, while not disclosing roll finishing apparatus, may be considered relevant with regard to certain features of the invention:
Ganzinotti 3,318,262 May 9, 1967 Boxmeyer3,521,551 July 21, 197 Martin3,875,865 April 8, 1975 , ,, :' ~ ''' ' ' ~ ' ~' ~

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Ganzinotti discloses a fluid propulsion device ?
utilizing a pneumatic conduit 9 having a central core 10 and surrounded by a frame assembly 5, 6, 11, 12, so that excessive defor~ation and deterioration of the pneumatic conduit 9 is eli~inated. Ganzinotti also discloses the use of prelocated "actuating zones" for driving, braking and stopping the carriage 37 on thè
rail 35. Gan~inotti does not ~each or suggest a means for eliminating excessive deformation and deterioration 10 of a pneumatic conduit without the ateendant creation of friction which impedes rapid acceleration and movement of the carriage. Nor does Ganzinotti teach or suggest a strictly pneumatically controlled acceleration and deceleration system not dependent upon fixed, nonadjust-15 able "actuating zones".
Boxmeyer discloses the use of two sensors 17 and 19, both of which are continuously actuated and connected - in series so that their respective outputs are 180~ out of phase. Displacement of a roller member 97 moves core 95 and unbalances the combined output, heretofore balanced, thus creating a voltage output. Box~eyer neither teaches nor suggests an arrangement whereby one continuously actuated sensor selectively activates another sensor.
Lastly, Martin discloses a trolley carriage which is operatively connected with a continuo--s cable for movement. Nothing in Martin teaches or suggests the use of the trol~ey carriage in a fluid propulsion device.
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s . I . j., , SU~IARY O~ T~E INVE~!TION
The invention provides a machine which is opera-~tive for handling a roll of wound, sheet-like material having a loose tail end. The machine includes means for rotating the roll in a direction tending to wind the loose tail end upon the roll, means for unt~inding the loose tail end off the roll during rotation, and a delivery table upon which the unwound loose tail settles for the application of glue. In accordance with the invention, first sensor means is provided for detecting the passage of the loose tail end after it has been un-wound off the roll but prior to its arrival on the delivery table, and second sensor ~eans is provided which is operative between a normally deactivated condition and an activated condition for detectin~ the location of the tail end at a predetermined position on the delivery table. First circuit means places the second sensor means in the activated condition in response to the detection of the tail end by the first sensor means, and second circuit means terminates operation of the roll rotation means in response to the detection by the now activated second sensor means of - the location of the tail end at the predetermined position on the delivery table.
In another embodiment, the inyention provides first corner edge sensing means for detecting the loca-tion of one corner edge of the tail end at a predeter-mined position on the dclivery table and second corner edge sensing means for detecting the location of the other corner edge of the tail end at a predetermined '.

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~ L~L4~98 ~osition on ~he delivery table. Circuit means inter-connects the first and second corner edge sensing means ~ith the roll ro~ation means such ~hat the operation of the roll rotation means is terminated when the corner edges of the tail end simultaneously arrive at their respective predetermined positions on the delivery table. Thus, should the tail end be uneven, the corner edges o~ the tail end will not simultaneously arrive at their respective predetermined positions, and a cant with such a defec~ive tail end will not termina~e operation-of the roll rotation means.
A ~urther`embodim~nt provides-a~m~cni~ne ~hich has r in addition to the heretoore described roll rotation means, tail unwinding means, and delivery table, gluing means ~or applying glue to the loose tail end whic~ is situated on the delivery table, as well as means for ejecting the roll o~f the roll rotation ~eans. In this - embodiment, primary ejection circuit means triggers operation of the roll ejection means subsequent to the ~0 operation o the gluing means. Roll sensor means is - provided to detect the presence of the roll on the roll - rotation means, and secondary ejection circuit means is included to operate the roll ejection means independently of the primary ejection circuit means at a predetermined time ater the roll sensor means detects the initial presence of the roll on the roll rotation means.
Timely ejection of the roll prior ~o the arrival of another roll is thus achieved.
In yet another embodiment, t~e gluing means includes a fluid propulsion device comprising tube 1~4~
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mcans having opposite ends and operative for conducting a prcssurized fluid, s~pply conduit means for conducting a pressurized fluid from a source to each of the opposite ends, and vent means selectively operative for venting each of the oppositc ends with the atmosphere. The glue gun is mounted on carriage means which is operatively connected with the tube means for movement between the opposite ends in response ~o the conduction of pressurized fluid by the tube means. Acceleration control means communicates with the supply conduit means and with the vent means for conducting pressuri~ed fluid through the supply conduit means to a selected one of the opposite ends and for venting the end opposite to the selected end through the vent means. By virtue of this agreement, accelerated movement is imparted to the carriage means from the selected end toward the opposite end. Decel-eration control means com~unicates with the vent means for restricting the venting of the opposite ènd, which rapidly decelerates the carriage means.
Other objects and advantages will be pointed out in, or be apparent from, the specification and claims, as will obvious modifications of the embodiments shown in the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a side elevation view, partially broken away, showing a machine which is operative for handling : a roll of wound sheet~like ~aterial having a loose tail ; end and which embodies the eatures of the invention;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of one e~bodiment of a movable glue gun carriage which is incorporated in ~he machine shown in Fig. l;
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Fig. 3 is an enlarged front view of an alternative embodiment of a movable glue ~un carriage suitable for use with thc machine shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 4 is a sectional side view of the glue gun carriage taken generally along line 4-4 of Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is an enlarged side view of an alternative embodiment of the operative interface between the pneumatic hose and pinch rollers ~hich may be incorporated in the glue gun carriage shown in either Figs. 1 and 2 or Figs. 3 and 4;
Fig. 6 is an electrical schematic diagram of a control circuit applicable for use with the ~achine shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 7 is an alternative embodiment of the elec-trical control circuit involved in the Tail PositioningStage of the machine shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 8 is an enlarged and partially broken away side view of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. l;
- Fig. 9 is a schematic view of the components of the pneumatic control circuit involved in powering the glue gun carriage shown alternatively in Figs. 1 and 2 - and Figs. 3 and 4;
Fig. 10 is a schematic view of the pressurized air supply system associated with the control circuit shol~n in Figs. 6 and 9; and Fig. 11 is a fragmentary top view of the ~achine sho~ in Figs. 1 and 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ~REFERRED EMBODI~IENT
A device 32 is sho~ in Fig. 1 which is operative to receive a roll 30 of wound sheet-like material v~

having ~ loose tail end 31 and sequentially glue the loose tai.l end 31 upon the body of the roll 30 and then eject the roll 30. While the device 32 is brsadly applicable for use with rolled cloth, plastic and metal products, the device 32 finds wide application in connection with the finishing of rolled paper products, such as cants of.toilet tissue, and will hereafter be discussed in that environment.
Structurally, the device 32 includes a support frame 1 having a feed table 2 and a delivery table 12.
Roller means 34 is mounted on the support frame 1 .
between the feed table 2 and delivery table 12 for rotating the paper product roll 30 or cant aboue its longitudinal axis in a direction tending to wind the loose tail end 31 onto the cant 30.
While various constructions are possible~ in the illustrated embodiment (see Fig. 1), a first drive . roller 3 is rotatably attached or journaled to the support frame 1. A roller drive motor 4 drives the first roller 3 by means of a suitable chain or belt .~ - transmission 5. A second drive roller 6 is located :, parallel to the first roller 3 intermediate the first ; roller 3 and the feed table 2. The second roller 6 is rotatably attached or journaled between a pair of . 25 support arms 7 which is attached to a shaft 8 which is itself rotatably journaled to the support frame 1. The second roller 6 is operatively connected with the motor . :
4 by a chain or belt transmission 10 ~7hich includes a chain sprocket 36 rotatable abo~lt the shaft 8 and an additional belt 11 extending between the shaft 8 and .

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sccond roller 6. Opcration of the ~otor 4 thus co~only drives the first roller 3 and the second roller 6 in a counterclockwise direction, and a cant 30 located ~n the rollers 3 and 6 is thereby rotated in the clock-wise, or "rewinding", direction (as indicated by thearrow in Fig. 1).
Blower means 14 is provided for unwinding the loose tail end 31 off the cant 30 during rotation of the cant 30 on the rollers 3 and 6. As is shown in Fig. 1, one or more blowing nozzl~s 14 are spaced longitudinally along the feed table 2. Referring now to Fig. 10, pressurized air is delivered to the blowing nozzles 14 from an e~ternal source (as is sho~m diagram-matically in Fig. 10~ through an air supply conduit 42 ; 15 and a normally closed air valve 44. The air valve 44 is movable to an open position by means of a solenoid 46 or the like to direct pressurized air from the source to the blowing nozzles 14.
When pressurized air is directed out of the blowing nozzles 14 during rotation of the cant 30, the loose tail end 31 is lifted off the cant 30 by the pressurized air flow (as is shown in pkantom lines in Fig. 1). The tail end 31 is consequently unwound off the body of the cant 30 and will eventually settle back upon the delivery table 12 (as shown in phantom lines : in Fig. 8~.
Continued rotation or the rollers 3 and 6 will cause the tail end 31 which is situated on the delivery table 12 to be rcwound again upon the cant 30 (see Fig.
8). However, in order that a glue sea~ may be properly .
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L 9LV (~ 8 ~ ; r applicd upon the t~il end 31, rotation of the rollers 3 and 6 is stopped when the ~ail end 31 reaches a desired location on the delivery table 12, and gluing means 40 is provided for depositing glue upon the now stationary tail end 31. In the illustrated embodiment the gluing means 40 includes a glue gun 15 which is mounted on movable carriage means 48 for travel over the delivery table 12.
The glue gun 15 (see Fig. 10) communîcates with the pressurized air supply conduit 42 through a nor-mally closed air vaive 50 which, like valve 44, is selectively movable to an open position by means of a solenoid 52 or the like. The glue gun 15 also communi-cates with an external source of glue (shot~n diagram-~ matically in Fig. 10) such that, when the valve 50 isin its open position, glue is pneumatically expelled ; from the gun 15 and applied upon the tail end 31.
Depending upon the specific glue nozzles selected, the ; glue can be either sprayed or a glue seam extruded upon the tail end 31.
In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the carriage means 48 incl~des a parallel pair of beams 22 and 23 which is attached to the support frame 1 above the delivery table 12 and which extends parallel to the rotational axes of the first and second drive rollers 3 and 6. A carriage chassis 17 is movably attached to the beams 22 and 23 by means of two sets of freely rotatable rollers or runners, respectively, 18, 19 and 20, 21. As can best be seen in Fig. 2, the rotational 30 axes of each set of runners 18, 19 and 20, 21 are ~ ' . ' .' ' .
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. .1 , disposed at right angles t~ each other. By virtue of this construction, the carriage chassis 17 is fi~ed against vertical and transverse displacement relative to the longitudinal extension of the bea~s 22 and 23.
- 5 ~lowever, the carriage chassis 17 can readily travel along the beams 22 and 23 back and forth over the delivery table 12, and thus back and forth over the tail end 31 positioned on the delivery table 12. As is seen in Fig. 1, the glue gun 15 is attached to the underbody of the carriage chassis 17 by ~eans of a bracket 16.
Since high speed travel of the carriage chassis 17 is desirable, the carriage chassis 17 is pneumatically propelled along the beams 22 and 23. Generally, tube means 24 (see Fig. 2) is mounted on the fra~e 1 inter-, mediate the beams 22 and 23. Each end of the tube means 24 (shown schematically in Fig. 10) com~unicates independently with the source of pressurized air through the air supply conduit 42 and normslly closed inlet valve means 54, and vent means 56 likewise independently vents each end of the tube means 24 with the atmosphere through normally closed venting valve means 58. The flow of air into and out of either end of the tube means 24 can thus be controlled.
In the illustrated embodiment ~see Fig. 2), the tube means 24 takes the form o~ an aircight hose made of resilient material, such as rubber, and the carriage chassis 17 includes a closely spaced pair of rollers 25 and 26 which pinch a portion of the hose 24, thereby blocking the passage of pressurized air through that - .

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portion. By virtue of this construc~ion, ~hen pressurized air is supplied through the inlet valve means 54 to one end of the airtight hose 24, the carriage chassis 17 will be accelerated away from that ~nd by the expansion of the hose 24. At the same time, the rate at which the opposite or unpressurized end of the hose 24 is vented through the vent means 56 with the atmosphere is regulated. By suddenly restricting the venting of this ; end with the atmosphere, backpressure is created, and the accelerated movement of the carriage chassis 17 toward that end can be quickly impeded. Thus, the movement of the carriage chassis 17 rapidly back and ; forth upon the beams 22 and 23 is effectively controlied.
An alternate structural embodiment of the carriage `means 4S is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In this embodi-ment, instead of using horizontally spaced beams 22 and 23, the carriage chassis 17 is movably mounted between vertically spaced upper support beam 62 and lower support beam 63, which includes an integrally attached guide bar 64. The hose 24 passes intermediate the upper beam 62 and lower guide bar 64, and, like the ` embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a pai-r of rollers 25 and 26 pinches the hose 24. Acceleration and decelera-tion of the carriage chassis 17 along the upper and lower support beams 62 and 63 is pneumatically controlled as heretofore described.
In either embodiment, a core r~ember 66 (see Fig.
5) may be located within the entire longitudinal length .
- of the hose ~4. The core member 66 includes upper and 30 lower ends 63 and 70 between which the hose 24 is , . , ;.
. . - - , resiliently stre~ched. The core member 66 also includes sy~etric~l, in~ardly bowed, or concave, sidewalls 72, Correspondin~ly, thc outer contours of ~he pinch rollers . .
2j and 26 are outwardly bo~ed, or convex, and mate with the inwardly bowed sidewalls 72 to form the airtight "pinch" in the hose 24. The core member 66 may be of ; solid construction, such as plastic or aluminuM.
Alternately, it may be resiliently constructed, such as a preformed sack filled with a compressible fluid or ;` 10 air.
The core member 66 minimizes the extent to ~hich the hose 24 is deformed or pinched by the rollers 25 and 26. Also, since the operative interace between the pinch rollers 25 and 26 and the hose 24 is confined to the middle portion of the hose 24, the outer ends 68 and 70 of the hose 24, which extend outwardly beyond the "pinched" area, are not deformed or pinched. Thus, a relatively frictionless operative interface between the pinch rollers 25 and 26 and the hose 24 is pro- -vided, and deterioration of the hose 24 occasioned by its being deformed between the pinch rollers 25 and 26, particularly at the ends 68 and 70 of the hose 24, is greatly mini~ized.
After a seam of glue has been applied upon the tail end 31, rotation is again imparted to the first and second d~ive rollers 3 and 6, thereby re~inding the now glued tail end 31 upon the cant 30, and means 9 is - provided for ejecting the cant 30 from the device 32 after rewinding has occurred.

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l~ile various eonstructions of thc ejcccing means 9 arc possible, in ~he illustrated er,~,bodiment (see Fig.
1), the suppor~ arms 7 upon ~Jhich the second dri~e roller S is journaled are operatively connected to one or more pneumatic setting cylinders 9. The setting cylinders 9 tsee Fig. 10) coh~unicate ~ith the pres-surized air supply condui~ 42 through a normally closed valve 74 ~hich, like the heretofore discussed blow ` nozzle and glue gun ~alves, respectively, 44 and 50, is movable to an open position by means of a solenoid 76 or the like.
When the v~lve 74 is moved to its open position, the setting cylinders 9 are actuated and the support arms 7 are thereby rotated in a clock~ise direction about the shaft 8 and out of the position shown in Fig.
1. As is apparent in Fig. 1, the second roller 6 will be pivoted relative to the first roller 3, and the cant 30 will be eventually pushed or ejected off both of the rollers 3 and 6 and onto the delivery table 12. Move-ment of the valve 74 back to its no~nally closed posi-tion returns the setting cylinder 9 and thus the second roller 6 back to the positions sho~n in Fig. 1.
OPERATION
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The mechanical and pneumatic components of the device 32 as heretofore described are operated in response to an electrical control circuit (shown in Figs. 6 and 7) through three general functional stages.
The first operational stage, herea~ter referred to as the Tail Positioning Stage, begins as the cant 30 is delivered from a ~inding machine or the like (not " , ~ .,, _.~

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sho~n~ to the feed table 2 and rolls into~position upon the first and second rollers 3 and 6. The cant 30 is rotated and the blow nozzles 14 direct pressurized air !,~ SO as to lift the loose tail end 31 off the cant 30 to settle back upon the delivery table 12. ~en the tail end 31 is properly situated on the delivery table 12, : power to the motor 4 is interrupted and rotation of the cant 30 terminates.
At this time, the second operational stage, here-after referred to as the Tail Gluing Stage, com~ences,and the carriage-mounted glue gun 15 is pneumatically sent across the delivery table 12, applying glue upon the now stationary tail end 31.
The third operational stage, hereafter referred to as the Tail Rewinding and Cant Ejection Stage, closely follows, and rotation of the cant 30 recommences to wind the glued tail end 31 back upon the cant 30, after which the setting cylinders 9 are actuated to eject the cant 30 from the rollers 3 and 6.
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A. The Tail Positioning Stage Reference is first made to lines l-through 10 of Fig. 6 which illustrate one embodiment of the control circuit involved in properly positioning the loose tai~
end 31 upon the delivery table 12 prior to the appli-cation of glue.
When the power-on button is pushed, master control relay MCR is energized, and electrical pol~er is sup-plied to the entire control circuit. In particular, power is supplied to the roller drive motor 4 ~see line 7 of Fig. 6) through the series combination of three normally closcd contacts R3a, R5a, and R7a.

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; Power is also supplied to three sensor means 13a, _13b, and 13c (see also Fip,. 1), which are in the form ; of photoclectric cells or the like. The photocells are oE conventional construction (not shown), and include an internal light source which projects a beam of li~ht from the unit and a photocell which detects the reflec-tion of the light beam off a nearby object. --Photocell 13a comprises a single photocell unit,hereafter designated PCl, which is located intermediate 10 the two drive rollers 3 and 6 (see Figs. 1, 8 and 11) and which is thereby in position to detect the presence of the cant 30 upon the rollers 3 and 6. Photocell PCl operates contact X6 (see line 2 of Fig. 6~ such that, when photocell PCl is uncovered (i.e. the beam of light is not being reflected off a nearby object), contact X6 - is open, and, conversely, when PCl is covered ti.e. the light beam is being reflected off a nearby object), contact X6 is closed.
Photocell 13b also comprises a single photocell unit, hereafter designated PC4, which is located sub-stantially perpendicularly above the drive rollers 3 and 6 (see Fig. 1) so that, as the tail end 31 is blown off the cant 30 and travels toward the delivery table 12, photocell PC4 is sequentially covered and uncovered.
Photocell PC4 operates contact X4 (see line 4 of Fig.
6) such that, when photocell PC4 is uncovered, contact X4 is open, and, conversely, when photocell PC4 is covered, contact X4 is closed.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, photocell ~3c comprises a single photocell unit, hereafter designated .
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PC5, which is locatcd slightly beneath the surface o~ "
the delivery table 12 (see also Fig. 8) and is thereby ; in position to detect the presence of the tail end 31 upon the delivery table 12. Photocell PC5 operates contact PC5 (see line 5 of Fig. 6). Unli~e the normally ; open contacts X6 and X4 which are associated ~ith, respectively, photocells PCl and PC4, contact PC5 is normally located in a closed position. Contact PC5 is ;` moved to the open position only when photocell PC5 i~
- 10 simultaneously placed in an activated condition and is covered by a nearby object.
The flow of power through the circuit sho~n in lines 1 through 10 of Fig. 6 can be traced by first assuming that the cant 30 has just arrived upon the 15 drive rollers, as is shown in phanton lines in Fig. 1.
Photocell PCl is thus covered and contact X6 ~ closed. This permits relay Y0 to be energized through now closed contact X6 and the normally closed contacts R14 and R9a. I~hen thus energized, relay Y0 closes 20 contact Y0. Solenoid 46 is also actuated by virtue of the same closed circuit.
As heretofore described and as is seen in Fi~. 10, the actuation of solenoid 46 moves the valve 44 from its normally closed position to its open position to 25 permit prcssurized air to flow to the blow nozzles 14.
The loose tail end 31 is consequently blown off the cant 30 shortly after the arrival of the cant 30 upon the rollers 3 and 6.
During the passa~e of the tail end 31 toward the 30 delivery table 12, it ~ill mo~entarily cover photocell PC4. Contact X4 is thus closcd, and relay YP is ener-~ized through normally closed contact R9a and now closed contacts Y0 and X4. ~en relay YP is thus energized, contact YP is closed, ~hich activates photo-cell PC5. 3y ~his time, the tail ~nd 31 will havesettled upon the delivery table 12.
Since photocell PC5 is now in an activated condi-tion and is covered by the tail end 31, normally closed contact PC5 is moved open. The drive rollers 3 and 6 continue to rotate the cant 30 in the "rewinding"
direction, and the tail end 31 is drawn across the delivery table 12 toward the cant 30. Eventually, the advancing tail end 31 will uncover photocell PC5, at which time contact PC5 returns to its normally closed position. Relay CR3 is thus energized through closed contacts YP and PCS.
When relay CR3 is thus energized, normally closed contact R3a is caused to cpen and normally open contact R3b is caused to close. Power to the motor 4 is inter-rupted by the opening of contact R3a (line 7 of Fig.6),and rotation of the cant 30 by the drive rollers 3 and 6 ceases.
By virtue of the above described control circuit, and in particular, the circuit interconnecting photo-cell PC4 ~ith PCS, any unintended interference withphotocell PC5 by nearby objects prior to the arrival of the tail end 31 upon the delivery table 1~ will not operate contact PC5, and thus ultimately terminate cant rotation, since photocell PC5 is normally in à deacti-vated condition and is placed in an activated condition , . .,, ", ~;, ...

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in time to sense only the presence of thc loose tail end 31 on the delivery table 12. Thus, the chance of uninten~ional or inadvertent operation of photocell PC5, and thus undesired cessation of cant rotation, is eliminated.
However, it is possible tha~ arrival of the tail ;` end 31 fro~ ~he cant 30 to the delivery table 12 ~ay be delayed, in which case the activation of photocell PC5 - by relay YP can precede the arrival of the loose tail 10 end 31 on ~he delivery table 12. I~hen this occurs, the as yet normally closed contact PC5 and in series with closed contact YP, will energize relay CR3 and prematurely terminate power to the roller drive motor 4. As a result, cant rotation will be terminated, 15 notwithstanding the fact that the loose tail end 31 is not in the desired position on the delivery table 12.
In order that photocell PC5 is not activated before the tail end 31 settles upon the delivery table 12, timer unit TD5 (sho~-n in phantom lines in line 4 of 20 Fig. 6) is placed in series with photocell PC4, such that relay YP is energized a predetermined time period after the passage of the tail end 31 past photocell PC4. The time delay thus interjected assures that photocell PC5 is not activated prior to the arrival of 25 the tail end 31 upon the delivery table 12.
Fig. 7 illustrates an alternate embodi~ent of the control circuit associated with the Tail Positioning Stage, and components which are common with the just described embodiment are assigned the same reference 30 numerals.

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r In ~his embodiment, like the fir~t described embodiment, photocell 13a comprises the single photocell unit PCl which is located between the drive rollers 3 and 6. HowPver, unlike the first described embodiment, photocell 13b is eliminated, and photocell 13c comprises two photocells PC2 and PC3 which are located slightly beneath the surface of the delivery table 12 at opposite ends of the delivery table 12 (see Fig. 11) and are thereby in position to jointly detect the presence of the outer edges 31a and 31b of the tail end 31 upon the delivery table 12.
Each photocell PC2 and PC3 operates a pair of contacts (see line 4a of Fig. 7), which are, respectively, X7a and X7b for PC2 and X8a and X8b for PC3. When PC~
or PC3 is uncovered, thè respective contacts X7a or X8a are open and the respective contacts X7b or X8b are - closed. When PC2 or PC3 are covered, the contacts re-verse themselves, and contacts X7a and X8a close and contacts X7b and X3b open.
` 20 The flow of power through the alternative circuit embodiment can be traced by assuming that the tail end 31 has been blo~n off the cant 30 and has settled upon the delivery table 12. Photocells PC2 and PC3 will be thus covered (see Fig. 11) and contacts X7a and X8a are thereby caused to close, and contacts X7b and X8b are thereby caused to open. Relay CR2 is thus energized through now closed contacts Y7a, X8a, and YO and through normally closed contact R9a (line 4a of Fig. 7). ~hen relay CR2 is thus energized, contact R2 i5 closed, which permits relay CR15 to be energi~ed (line 8 of _.. , ' - , ~ 7 ' 9~3 Fig. 7). By virtue of energizing relay CR15, contact R15 is closed.
Meanwhile, the drive rollers 3 and 6 continue to impart rotation to the cant 30 in the "rewinding" direction, and the tail end 31 is drawn across the delivery table 12 toward the cant 30. Eventually, the advancing tail end 31 will uncover photocells PC2 and PC3, and the associated contacts X7a, X7~ and X8a, X8b will reverse their previous dispositions, contacts X7a and X8a now being caused to open and contacts X7b and X8b now ~eing caused to close.
This permits relay CR3 to be energized through now closed contacts X7b, X8b, Y0, and R15 and through nor-mally closed contact Rga ~line 4a of Fig. 7). As before described, by the activation of relay CR3, normally closed contact R3a is caused to open and normally open contact R3b is caused to close~ and power to the motor 4 is inter-rupted (line 7 of Fig. 7).
As should now be apparent, photocells PC2 and PC3 are connected such that contacts X7a and X8a and con-tacts X7b and X8b are in series relationship with each other. By virtue of this arrangement, it is necessary that PC2 and PC3 be simultaneously covered, then uncovered, by the adjacent outer tail edge 31a and 31b in order to com-plete the electrical sequence of the circuit just des-cribed and shown i~n line 4a of Fig~ 7. Should the outer edges 31a and 31b of the tai~l end 31 be torn or otherwise uneven (as shown in phantom lines in Fig. 111, and as a result none or only one of the photocells PC2 and PC3 is covered, the control circuit which mab/

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ultim~tely ~erminatcs cant rotation will not be acti~aeed.
Thus, photocclls PC2 and PC3 are operative to sense a cant 30 having a defective tail end 31 which is not in condition to be glued.
It should be apparent that, by virtue of the two alternate embodiments of the circuit sho~n in Figs. 6 and 7, the loose tail end 31 will always be located in a predetermined position upon ehe delivery table lZ
when cant rotation is terminated. This insures that the glue seam will invariably be applied at the sa~e predetermined distance from the edge of the tail end 31.
B. The Tail Gluing St_~
Reference i5 now made to lines 11 through 18 of Fig. 6, which illustrate the control circuit involved in applying glue upon the tail end 31, and also to Figs. 9 and 10, which illustrate the associated pneu-matic control mechanism responsible for propelling the glue gun carriage chassis 17 back and forth along the 20 beams 22 and 23 (the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 a~d 2) or beams 62 and 63 (the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and ` 4).
Simultaneously with the activation of relay CR3 in the first circuit embodiment (line 5 of Fig. 6), relay CR2 is energized. In the second embodiment ~line 4a of Fig. 7), relay CR2 is energized when the tail ena 31 arrives upon the delivery table 12 and covers photo-cells PC2 and PC3. In both embodiments, the energiza-tion of relay CR2 closes contact R2 ~hich energizes 30 relay CR15 (see line 8 of Figs. 6 and 7). ~hen relay CR15 is energi7ed, con~act R15 is closed.
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The closing of contact ~1~ energizes solenoid 52 --(line 11 of Fig. 6). As heretofo~e described and as is seen in Fi~. 10, the actuation of solenoid 52 moves the valve 50 from its normally closed position to its open 5 position ~o permit pressurized air to flow to the glue gun 14 to pneumatically expel glue therefrom.
Simultaneously, the carriage chassis 17 is pneu-matically propelled over the delivery table 12, so that glue being pneumatically e~pelled from the gun 14 is applied along the longitudinal length of the stationary tail end 31.
More particularly, and referring first to Fig. 10, the air inlet valve 54 is opera,ively movable between three positions. The first, or center, position blocks the flow of pressurized air to both ends of the hose 24, hereafter refer_ed to, respectively, as the left and right ends. The second, or right, position directs pressurized air through a right supply conduit 78, unseating a normally closed checX valve 80 com~unicating therewith, to enter the right end of the hose 24. In like fashion, the third, or left, position directs pressurized air through a left supply conduit 82, unseating another normally closed check valve 84, to enter the left end of the hose 24.
The venting valve ~eans 58 includes outlet valve means for independently venting the right and left ends o the hose with the atmosphere. ~hile various construc-tions are pnssible, in the illustrated embodiment (Fig.
10), the right end and left end of the hose are inde-pendently vented to the atmosphere through separate . . , , . .................... , , , "

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outlct conduits, rcspectivcly, 86 ant 88, each having "
its own outlet valvc, respectively, 87 and 89. Ea~h outlct valve 87 and 89 is operativPly movable between a normally fully vented position, in which the respective end of the hose 24 freely communicates with the at~os-phere (shown in Fig. 10), and a partially vented posi-tion, in which the respective end of the hose 24 is vented to the atmosphere through a restricted orifice 90 or the like.
A normally closed check valve, respectively, 91 and 92 is interposed between each end of the hose 24 and its associated outlet valve 87 and 89 so that neither the left nor the right ends of the hose are normally vented to the atmosphere. Each check valve 91 and 92 is unseated to vent the respective end with the atmosphere in response to the passage of air through a secondary outlet conduit, respectively, 93 and 94. Air flows through the respective conduit 93 and 94 as air confined in the adjacent hose end is expelled in response to the approach of the carriage chassis 17 toward that end.
In context of the particular arrangement of compo-nents just described, acceleration solenoids 96 and 98 are operatively connected with the inlet valve 54 and with the electrical control circuit (see lines 15 and 16 of ~ig. 6~ for imparting accelerated movement to the carriage chassis 17, respectively, toward the left and toward the right. Correspondingly, deceleration sole-noids 97 and 99 are operativcly connected, respectively, ~ith thc right outlet valve 87 and the left ou;let valvc 89 and with the electrical control circuit (see 4, lincs 17 and 18 of Fig. 6) for selectively controllin~
the venting of the respective hose end with the atmos-phere to impede the accelerated movement of the carriage - 5 chassis 17 imparted by either acceleration solenoid 96 or 98.
More particularly, and referring first to Fig 9, four conventional proximity switches, hereafter referred to as PSl, PS2, PS4 and PS5, are generally spaced adja-cent to the hose 24 along the travel path of the carriage . chassis 17. Proximity switches PSl and PS2 are located, respectively, at the far right and far left ends o~ the hose 24. Proximity switch PS4 is located adjacent to PS2 on the left end of the hose 24, and proximity switch PS5 is located adjacent to PSl on the right end of the hose 24. The proximity switches PSl, PS2) PS4 and PS5 are each connected to an associated electrical contact which is interposed in the electrical control circuit, respectively, X9, X10, X12 and X13 (see also ; 20 lines 12 through 18 oE Fig. 6). The contacts X9, X10, . X12 and X13 are disposed in normally open positions, and the location of the carriage chassis 17 adjacent to the associated proximity switch will cause the respective contact to close.
The flow of power through the control circuit shown in lines 11 through 18 of Fig. 6 can now be traced by first assuming that the carriage chassis 17 is located at the far right end of the hose 24 and, thus, adjacent to pro~imity switch PSl. Contact X9 is :~
thereby closed, and this permits relay CR5 to be , ~14~8 . . . - , - energized (see line 13 of Fi~. 6) through now closed cont~ct X9, closed contact R3b (~;hich is closed because relay CR3 was energized during the Tail Positioning Stage), and normally closed con~act R9a. I~hen relay CR5 is thus energized, normally closed contact R5a is caused to open and normally open associated contact R5b is caused to close.
When contact R5a opens, relay CR3 is deenergized (see line 6 of Fig. 6), thereby returning contact R3a to its normally closed position and contact R3b to its normally open position. However, power re~ains inter-rupted to the roller drive motor 4 (line 7 o~ Fig. 6), notwithstanding the closing of contact R3a, because contact R5a is now disposed in the open position.
15When contact R5b closes, acceleration solenoid 96 is energized through no~7 closed contact R5b and normally closed contact R10 (line 15 of Fig. 6). The inlet valve 54 is consequently moved from its center position to its right position, and pressurized air is directed to the right end of the hose 24 through conduit 78 and unseated check valve 80. Inasmuch as the carriage chassis 17 is located at the right end of the hose 24, accelerated movement of the carriage chassis 17 from the right end to~7ard the left end ~7ill result as pres- :
surized air occupies and expands tne right end of the hose 24.
It should be noted that, by virtue of closed con-tact R5b, relay CR15 remains energized (see line 9 of Fig. 6), thus assuring contact R15 remains closed to energize solenoid 52 to expel glue from the glue gun 15 during the travel of the carriage chassis 17.
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8;p~3 :;`.~ -As thc carria~e chassis 1/ acceleraces to~a-d the left hand side of the hose ~4, it will eventually actuate pro~imity switch PS~ (see rig. 9), thus closing contact X12. As seen in line 17 of Fig. 6, this per-mits deceleration solenoid 99 to be energized throughnow closed contact X12 and no~ally closed contact R7a.
This also permits relay CR10 to be energized, which causes normally closed contact R10 to open.
The actuation of deceleration solenoid 99 shifts the left outlet valve 89 fro~ its nor~ally fully ventecl position to its partially vented position. The expul-sion of air into the atmosphere through conduit 94, unseated left check valve 92, and the left outlet valve 89, heretorore unrestricted, is suddenly restricted by orifice 90, and backpressure, or a pneumatic "cushion", is subsequently created in the left end of the hose 24.
At the same time that tne "cushion" is being created by operation of the deceleration solenoid 99, the opening of normally closed contact R10 interrupts the flow of power to acceleration solenoid 96 (see line 15 of Fig. 6), and the inlet valve 54 conse~uently returns from its right position back to its normally centered position. The flow of pressurized air to the right end of the hose 24 is ter~inated. :
Thus, just as backpressure is building to impede acceleration of the carriage chzssis 17 toward the left hand side of the hose 24, t~e flow of pressurized air to the right hand side of the hose 24, which occasioned the accelerated movement in the first placP, is termi-nated. The carriage chassis 17 rapidly decelerates. A

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conventional shock absorber (not shown) may be located at the left end of the hose 24 to cushion whatever impact ~ay occur.
The carriage chassis 17, now located at the left hand side of the hose 24, actuates proximity switch PS2 (see Fig. 9~, thereby closing contact X10 This deactuates relay CR5 (see line 12 of Fig. 6), which causes contact R5a to close and contact R5b to open.
Relay CR15, in turn, is deenergized (line 9 of Fig. 6), opening contact R15 to deactuate solenoid 52 to prevent further expulsion of glue from the gun 15.
Since the actuation of relay CR5 will im~ediately : lead to the deactuation of relay CR3 (line 6 of Fig.
6), and thus the opening of contact R3b, the electrical sequence shown in line 13 of Fig. 6, in which the position of the carriage chassis 17 at one end of the hose 24 is first sensed and the carriage chassis 17 !' then accelerated toward the opposite end, will occur - only once during the Tail Gluing Stage. Thus, the . .
carriage chassis 17 makes only a single pass over the - loose tail end 31 during each Tail Gluing Stage.
The travel of the carriage chassis 17 fro~ the left hand side to the right hand side of the hose 24 follows the same electrical sequence as just described, although different relays are involved. Generally, when the carriage chassis 17 is located at the left hand side of the hose 24, proximity switch PS2 is actuated, closing contact X10 and permitting relay CR7 to be energized (see line 13 of Fig. 6). When relay CR7 is thus eneroizedl normally closed contact R7a is ' ~ ~ !
opened and normally open contact R7b is closed. The closing of contact R7b actuates acceleration solenoid 98 (see line 16 of Fig. 6), moving the inlet valve 54 from its center position to its left position (see Fig. 10), and pressurized air thus enters the left end of the hose to propel the carriage chassis 17 toward the right.
As the carriage accelerates toward the right, proximity switch PS5 will be actuated (see Fig. 9)j closing contact X13 and permitting deceleration soleno~d 97 and relay CRll to be energized (see line 18 of Fig. 6). The right outlet valve 87 is thereby shifted to its partlally vented position simultaneously with the interruption of power to acceleration solenoid 98. Thus, the carriage chas-sis 17 is rapidly decelerated, and a shock absorber (not shown) may be located at the right hand side of the hose to cushion whatever impact may occur.
By virtue of the above described circuit, a line of glue has been quickly applied to the tail end shortly after the positioning of the tail end 31 upon the delivery table 12.
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C. Tail Rewi~nding and Cant Ejection Stage . . . _ .
Reference is now made to lines 19 through 26 of Fig. 6, which illustrate the control circuit involved in first rewinding the glued tail end 31 upon the cant 30 which is then followed by the ejection of the cant 30 from the rollers 3 and 6.
; The energization of Pi-ther relay CR5 or CR7 at the beginning of the Tail Gluing Stage (line 13 of Fig. 6), mab/ ~`

thereby closing associatcd contact R5b or R7b as here-tofore described, causes relay CR9 to become energized (lines 20 and 21 of Fi~. 6). Iihen relay CR9 is thus energized, normally closed contact R9a is cauced to open and normally open contact R9b is caused to close.
The opening of contact R9a deactua~es solenoid 46 (line 2 of Fig. 6), and the valve 44 is returned to its nor~ally closed position to block the flow of pres-surized air to the blow nozzles 14. At this operational stage, the tail end 31 has already been lifted off the cant 30 and is located on the delivery table 12, and it should be apparent that further operation of the blow nozzles 14 is not necessary.
The closing of contact R9b energizes timer TD2 (line 23 of Fig. 6~. Timer TD2 interposes a ~ime delay of predetermined length and thereafter actuates sole-noid 76 as well as relay CR4.
During the time delay interposed by timer TD2, and thus prior to actuation of solenoid 76 and relay CR4, the giue gun carriage chassis 17 is being sequentially , accelerated and stopped at its destination at the left or right end of the hose 24 under the influence of the pne~atic control circuit as heretofore described. As has also been heretofore described, either acceleration relay CRS or acceleration relay CR7 beco~e deenergized ; upon the arrival of the carriage chassis 17 at its respective destination at the end of the Tail Gluing Stage, closing either associated contact R5a or R7a.
Inasmuch as contacts R3a, R5a, and R7a are now all . -32-,.7 ., . 4~ . 8~ r -commonly disposcd in their normally closed positions, potler is restored to the roller drive motor 4 (see line .
7 of Fig. 6), and rewinding of the ~lued tail end 31 upon the cant 30 commences.
The length of the time delay interposed by ~i~er TD2 is calculated to enco~pass not only this carriage travel time, and it thereafter encompasses an additional period of time to permit the now activated rollers 3 and 6 to rewind the tail end 31 upon the ~ant 30 before actuation of solenoid 76 occurs. Generally, a carriage travel time of less than one second is to be expec~ed, therefore a timer TD2 delay of two seconds will permit a re~ind time of over one second (the difference between the total time delay and the carriage travel time) -which is usually sufficient.
Upon the end of the time delay period, solenoid 76 is energized, which opens air valve 74 to permit the flow of pressurized air to the setting cylinders 9.
The cant 30 is caused to be ejected from the drive rollers 3 and 6.
An additional proximity switch PS3 (see Fig. 8) is located on the frame 1 in the path of movement of the second roller 6 occasioned by operation of the setting cylinders 9. In particular, the proximity switch PS3 is located to detect the position of the second roller 6 at its uppermost pivotal position during the Cant Ejection Stage. Proximity switch PS3 is electrically connected to normally closed contact X14 (see lines 22 and 24 of Fig. 6) such that the location of thè second 30 rollcr 6 adj~cent to proximity switch PS3 causes normally -;
closed contact ~14 to open.

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The opening of contact X14 resets timer TD2 (line ,' 24 of Fig. 6). At the same time the opening of contact X14 deenergizes relay CR9 (see line 22 of Fig. 6), thercby causing contact R9a to close and contact R9b to open~ Solenoid 76 is deactuated by the opening of contact R9b (line 23 of Fig. 6), and the valve 74 is ;, thereby returned to its normally closed position to block the conduction of pressurized air to the setting - cylinders 9. The second roller 6 thus returns to its normal side-by-side position with the first roller 3.
As can be seen in Fig. 1, the pivoting of the second roller 6 relative to the first roller 3 will cause the second roller 6 to mo~entarily pass in front of photocell 13a. This will close contact X6 (line 2 of Fig. 6) to actuate the blow nozzle solenoid 46 before it is operationally desirable to do so. To prevent the premature actuation of the blow nozzle solenoid 46, a third timer unit TD3 is provided (line ~ 25 of Fig. 6). More particularly, simultaneously with ; 20 actuating solenoid 76 to eject the cant from the rollers, . . ~ .
timer TD2 actuates relay CR4 which opens normally closed contact R4 and actuates ti~er TD3.
Ilhen timer TD3 is thus actuated, relay.CR14 is energized for a predetermined period of time. During the time in which relay CR14 is energized, normally closed contact R14 is caused to open. I~hen contact R14 ; is opened (line 2 of Fig. 6), power to the blow nozzle solenoid 46 is interrupted, notwithstanding the closing of photocell contact X6 as the second roller 6 passed in front of photocell 13a.

o : Tile lcngth of time interjectcd by ti~er TD3 is . predetermined so as to co~respond with-the-ti~e it~-e takcs the second roller 6 to move from its side-by-9ide position with the first roller 3 to its upper~ost pivotal position adjacent proximity switch PS3 and return. After this period of time, timer TD3 becomes deactuated and relay CR14 is deenergized, returning contact R14 to its normally closed position, after which the closing of photocell contact X6 occasioned by the arrival of a new cant 30 upon the rollers 3 and 6 will again actuate blow noz71e solenoid 46.

D. Secondary Cant Ejection Control Typically, cants are delivered to the drive rollers 3 and 6 in assembly-line fashion at closely }5 spaced intervals, such as by a conveyor belt or the like (not shown). To insure that one cant has been ejected from the device prior to the arrival of a subsequent cant, a secondary ejection control circuit . is provided which will eject the cant after it spends a predetermined period of time on the drive rollers 3 and 6, regardless of whether or not the three operational sequences just described have been completed. For example, should the tail end 31 be stuck to the body of , the cant 30, actuation of the control circuit sho~v-n in : 25 lines 1 through 10 of Fig. 6 will not take place, inasmuch as photocells PC4 and PC5 will not be covered by the stuck tail end 31. Further, should the tail end 31 be stuck or uneven (as sho~n in Fig`. 11), actuation of the alternate control circuit (shown in Fig. 7) ~
not take place, inasmuch as photocells PC2 and PC3 will . .

noc be concurrently operatcd by the stuck or uneven ~, tail end 31. Thus, the secondary ejection control circuit is necessary to eject this defective cant prior to arrival of the subsequent cant and thereby avoid cant collision and mechar~ical jamming.
More particularly, and referring first to line 2 o~ Figs. S and 7, the closing of contact X6 occasioned by the detection by photocell PCl of the cant on the drive rollers 3 and 6 actuates timer TDl (shown in phantom lines in Figs. 6 and 7). After a pre~etermined time delay, timer TDl energizes relay CRl, and associ-ated contact Rl is closed. This perni~s relay CR9 to become energized to initiate the cant ejection sequence (line 19 of Fig. 6). The eventual energization of relay CR4 during the cant ejection cycle opens contact R4 and resets timer TDl (line 3 of Figs. 6 and 7).
Thus, in either circuit embodiment, should relays CR5 or CR7 fail to become energized within a predeter-mined period of time to energize the cant ejection relay CR9 (lines 20 and 21 of Fig. 6), relay CRl will become energized to do so.
It should now be apparent that the device 32 as above described provides for efficient, high speed finishing of the rolled product.

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Claims (6)

I claim:

1. In a machine operative for handling a roll of wound sheet-like material having a loose tail end, the machine including means for rotating the roll in a direction tending to wind the loose tail end upon the roll, means for unwinding the loose tail end off the roll during rotation, and a delivery table upon which the loose tail end settles after being unwound off the roll, the improvement which comprises:
first sensor means for detecting the unwinding of the loose tail end off the roll;
second sensor means operative between a normally deactivated condition and an activated condition for detect-ing the location of the tail end at a predetermined position on the delivery table;
first circuit means for placing said second sensor means in said activated condition in response to the detec-tion by said first sensor means of the unwinding of the tail end off the roll; and second circuit means for terminating operation of the roll rotation means in response to the detection by said activated second sensor means of the location of the tail end at the predetermined position on the delivery table.

2. The improvement according to Claim 1 wherein said first sensor means is located substantially perpendicularly above the roll rotation means.

3. The improvement according to Claim 1 wherein said second sensor means includes photocell means mounted on the delivery table; and wherein said second circuit means includes means for operating the roll rotation means when said second sensor means is in said deactivated condition and also when said second sensor means is in said activated condition and said photocell means is covered by the loose tail end and for terminating the operation of the roll rotation means when said second sensor means is in said activated condition and said photocell means is uncovered by the loose tail end.

4. The improvement according to Claim 1 wherein said first circuit means includes timer means for placing said second sensor means in said activated condition a predetermined time period after the detection by said first sensor means of the tail end.

5. In a machine operative for handling a roll of wound sheet-like material having a loose tail end, the machine including means for rotating the roll in a direction tending to wind the loose tail end upon the roll, means for unwinding the loose tail end off the roll during rotation, a delivery table upon which the loose tail end settles after being unwound, gluing means for applying glue to the loose tail end situated on the delivery table, and means for ejecting the roll off the roll rotation means, the improvement which comprises:
roll sensor means for detecting the presence of the roll on the roll rotation means;
first tail sensor means for detecting the unwinding of the loose tail end off the roll;
second tail sensor means operative between a nor-mally deactivated condition and an activated condition for detecting the location of the tail end at a predetermined position on the delivery table;
first circuit means for placing said second tail sensor means in said activated condition in response to detection by said first tail sensor means of the unwinding of the tail end of the roll;
second circuit means for terminating operation of the roll rotation means in response to the detection by said activated second tail sensor means of the location of the tail end at the predetermined position on the delivery table;

third circuit means for operating said gluing means in response to the detection by said activated second tail sensor means of the location of the tail end at the predetermined position on the the delivery table;
primary ejection circuit means for operating the roll ejection means subsequent to the operation of the gluing means; and secondary ejection circuit means for operating the roll ejection means independently of said primary ejection circuit means at a predetermined time after the detection by said roll sensor means of the presence of the roll on the roll rotation means.

6. The improvement according to Claim 5 wherein said primary ejection circuit means includes ejection delay means for reactivating the roll rotation means and thus rewinding the tail end back upon the roll prior to the ejection of the roll by the roll ejection means.