US3506175A

US3506175A - Roll stock converting apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3506175A
Application number: US701200A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lyman H Turner
Original assignee: Xerox Corp
Current assignee: Xerox Corp
Priority date: 1967-04-07
Filing date: 1968-01-29
Publication date: 1970-04-14
Anticipated expiration: 1987-04-14

Description

April 14, 1970 H. TURNER ROLL STOCK CONVERTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 29, 1968 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. LYMAN TU RNER zgzm M I ATTORNEYS April 14, 1970 Y L. H. TURNER 3,506,175

' ROLL STOCK CONVERTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 29, 1968 e Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. LYMAN H. TURNER BY M2 71 y- Pw ATTORNEYS April 14, 1970 L. H. TURNER 3,506,175

. ROLL STOCK CONVERTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 29, 1968 v 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 I u I ,"J" 3/ l .15 J

U il lli' II II INVENTOR.

LYMAN H. TURNER ATTORNEYS gram April 14, 1970 H. TURNER J 3,506,175

ROLL STOCK CONVERTING AP PARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 29, .1968

INVENTOR. LYMAN H. TURNER WWM ATTORNEYS April 14, 1970 L. H. T UR NER 3,506,175 7 ROLL STOCK CONVERTING APPARATUS I Filed Jan. 29, 1968 G Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. LYMAN H. TURNER ATTORNEYS April 14, 1970 I I L. H. TUR NER 3,

ROLL STOCK CONVERTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 29, 1968 s Sheets-Sheet e H INVENTOR.

4| 1' LYMAN' H. TURNER A TTOR/VEYS United States Patent ROLL STOCK CONVERTING APPARATUS Lyman H. Turner, Pittsford, N.Y., assignor to Xerox Corporation, Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 29, 1968, Ser. No. 701,200 Int. Cl. B65h 25/32 US. Cl. 226-435 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invenion relates to a roll stock converter, and more particularly, to a roll stock converter for cutting roll stock into preselected lengths.

Machines for cutting roll stock, such as paper, into selected lengths, normally referred to as roll converters, can be used as the sheet copy supply for copying or duplicating machines. In these applications, it is important that the converter be able to continuously furnish sheets of a selected length without variations in the length thereof. For as can be appreciated variations in copy size could have an adverse effect on later use of the copy, as for example, where the copies are intended for binding together.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a new and improved roll stock converter.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide, in apparatus for cutting stock from a roll into preselected lengths, means to assure uniformity in the length of stock cut.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a control for roll stock converters permitting a variety of stock lengths to be cut which are of substantially the same length.

This invention relates to an apparatus for advancing a preselected length of sheet stock to a cutting means, comprising in combination, means for feeding sheet stock forward to the cutting means including a rotatable stock metering roll; means for driving the metering roll including a rotatable driving member; clutch means adapted to couple the driving member with the metering roll to feed stock forward, operating means for the clutch means effective when actuated to disengage the clutch means and stop feed of the stock, the operating means being adapted following actuation to disengage the clutch means at a predeteremined point in metering roll rotation to assure uniformity in the preselected stock lengths where plural ones of the preselected stock length are desired; and control means adapted on preset stock feeding movement of the metering roll to actuate the operating means, and stop feed of the stock to permit cutting of the preselected Stock length by the cutting means, the metering roll preset stock feeding movement being less than the metering roll movement required to feed the preselected stock length forward.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the ensuing description and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view showing the roll converter of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 22 of FIGURE 1 showing the mechanism for separating the feeding and metering roller means to permit threading of stock between;

3,506,175 Patented Apr. 14, 1970 FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the roll converter shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view showing the drive train for the roll converter shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an isometric view illustrating the metering roll clutch; and

FIGURE 6 is a circuit diagram of the control mechanism for the roll converter of the present invention.

Referring to the FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings there is shown the roll stock converter, designated generally by numeral 10, of the present invention. As will appear more fully hereinafter, converter 10 enables roll stock, such as paper from supply roll 12, to be cut into preselected lengths.

Converter 10 includes, in addition to the aforementioned roll stock supply 12, stock feeding means 14, supply control 16, stock metering means 18, and cutter 20.

Converter 10 includes base 22 with a substantially horizontal feed and cutting table 24 along the top portion thereof. Frame 22 includes a projecting section 26 supporting drive motor 28 and transmission 30'.

Referring particularly to FIGURE 3 of the drawings, stock supply roll 12 may be disposed below the level of table 24 with the axis 31 thereof perpendicular to the axis of idler roll 44. The inlet edge of table 24 includes transfer surface 24' extending at an angle of substantially 45 to the direction of stock feed to facilitate turning of stock onto table 24.

Stock feeding means 14 includes feed roll 34 supported by shaft 37 rotatably journaled in sides 32 of base 22. As will appear more fully, feed roll 34 is driven by motor 28 through either high or low speed sprockets 38, 39, respectively, on shaft 37 as shown in FIGURE 4.

An idler roll assembly 35 having a pair of

idler rolls

44, 45 in pressure contact with feed and metering rolls 34, 48, respectively is provided.

Rolls

44, 45 are journaled on carriage 46. Referring particularly to FIGURE 2, carriage 46 is supported on pins 49 secured to base 22 for limited movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of feed and metering rolls 34, 48, respectively. Springs 50 bias carriage 46, and

pressure rolls

44, 45 thereof, into contact with rolls 34, 48, respectively.

A transversely movable cam member 52, having inclined surfaces or ramps 54, is disposed between carriage 46 and base 22. The upper surface of base 22 has inclined surfaces 53 arranged in the path of cam member 52. On transverse movement of member 52, surfaces 53, 54 coact to lift carriage 46 and

pressure rolls

44, 45 thereof upwardly to permit sheet stock to be threaded between

rolls

34, 44 and 45, 48.

Stock supply control 16 includes idler or dancer roll 60 over which sheet stock is fed. Dancer roll 60 is rotatably supported on shaft 61. The ends of shaft 61 are arranged in downwardly extending slot-like tracks 62 in the sides of base 22. As can be understood, the weight of roll 60 urges roll 60 downwardly in opposition to the upward pull from the stock held between feed and metering means 14, 18, respectively. By this arrangement, the stock between feed and metering means 14, 18, respectively, is held in slight tension.

The operating arms for stock low limit switch 141 and stock jam responsive switch 147 are disposed in one of tracks 62 adjacent the top thereof while the operating arms for stock high limit switch 142, stock oversupply switch 146, and broken stock responsive switch 148 are disposed adjacent the track bottom. The operating arms for switches 141, .147 are separated, that of switch 147 being above switch 141 while the operating arm for switch 146 is below the operating arm for switch 142 and slightly above the operating arm for switch 148. As will appear more fully hereinafter, switches 141, 142, 146, 147 and 148 control stock feeding means 14.

Stock metering means 18 includes a metering roll 48 mounted on shaft 64 rotatably journaled in base 22. Metering roll 48 is driven through clutch 112 as will be more apparent hereinafter.

A guide roll 67 is arranged below metering roll 48. Roll 67 is mounted on shaft 68 rotata=bly journalled in supports 69 attached to base 22. The axis of rotation of guide roll 67 is preferably in the same vertical plane as the axis of metering roll 48 to force stock outwardly and thereby increase surface contact of the stock with metering roll 48. By increasing the area of contact of the stock with metering roll 48, slippage between the stock and the surface of the metering roll 48 is reduced to assure the advance of uniform lengths of sheet stock to cutter 20.

Cutter 20 includes movable upper cutting element 72 and lower fixed cutting element 73. Cutting element 73 has a slot-like opening therein through which the stock passes, the lower wall 73 thereof forming one cutting edge of cutter 20. Cutting edge 73 is slightly below the level of table 24. Movable cutting element 72 comprises a blade-like part slidably disposed against fixed cutting element 73 for movement across the lower cutting edge 73. Springs 76 holds cutting element 72 in face-to-face contact with cutting element 73.

Drive shaft 78, suitably journalled on base 22 below table 24, includes eccentric portions 78' having connecting rods 79 journaled thereon. Rods 79 are suitably secured to movable cutting element 72. Shaft 78 is driven through clutch 83. It will be understood that rotational movement of drive shaft 78 effects reciprocatory movement of cutting element 72. As best seen in FIGURE 6, shaft 78 has a cam like projection 80 thereon engageable with the operating arm of clutch control switch 160. As will appear more fully, switch 160 controls operation of clutch 128 of control disc 125.

Referring to FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings, motor 28 and transmission 30 are supported on frame section 26. Transmission 30 includes housing 85 with power transfer shaft 86 suitably journaled thercwithin. Shaft 86 is suitably connected with shaft 90 of motor 28. Gear 91 on shaft 86 meshes with gear 92 power take-off shaft 93 journaled in transmission housing 85.

The projecting end of shaft 93 has

sprockets

96, 97, 98 mounted thereon. Sprocket 96, which is secured to shaft 93, is drivingly connected by chain 100 with sprocket 82 of cutter drive clutch 83. Sprocket 97 is coupled through clutch 41 to shaft 93. Chain 99 interconnects sprocket 97 with sprocket 39 of feed roll shaft 37. Sprocket 98, which is secured to shaft 93, is drivingly connected to sprocket 38 on clutch 40 by chain 102. Clutch 40 connects sprocket 38 with shaft 37.

Clutches

40, 41, which have operating coils 40', 41", permit feed roll 34 to be driven at either high or low speed by means of sprocket 38, 39.

Power transfer shaft 196, having sleeve 111 rotatably mounted thereon and selectively coupled thereto by means of clutch 112, is provided. Gear 305 on shaft 106 meshes with gear 103 on transfer shaft 86. Gear 109 on sleeve 11.1 meshes with gear 110 on power take-off shaft 108.

Transfer shaft 106 and sleeve 111, thereof, are rotatably supported as a unit in transmission housing 85 with the axis thereof preferably paralleling the axis of transfer shaft 86. Referring to FIGURE 5, clutch 112 has a coil spring type clutch element 114 with control collar 115 therefor. Clutch element .114 is tightly wrapped about adjoining peripheral ends of sleeve 111 and flange 117 on shaft 106 to frictionally couple sleeve 111 with shaft 106.

Clutch control collar 115 has a slot-like recess 118 therein adapted to receive radially projecting tang 119 of clutch element 114. Collar 115 accordingly tends to rotate with clutch element 114. Collar 1i5 has an outwardly projecting stop 120 cooperable with non-rotatable stop 12.1 to prevent rotation of collar 115. It is understood that where rotation of collar 115, and tang 119 of clutch element 114 is prevented, the continuing rotation of shaft 106 unwraps clutch element 114 from flange 117 to uncouple sleeve from shaft .106 and motor 28.

Stop 121 is suitably arranged for reciprocating movement in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of collar 115. Solenoid 122, when energized serves to retract stop 121 to allow collar to rotate whereby clutch 112 is engaged. It can be understood that clutch 112 will disengage at the same predetermined point in each cycle d of clutch revolution irrespective of the time in the cycle at which stop 121 is moved into intercepting relation with stop of clutch control collar 115.

Shaft 108, which is suitably journaled in housing 85, extends through housing 85. The extended end of shaft 108 is coupled to metering roll shaft 64.

Input shaft 115 to control 116 is driven through reduction gears 118, 119 from power take-off shaft 108. As will be more apparent, control 116 regulates move ment of metering roll 48 and operation of cutter 20 in accordance with the length of stock desired.

Referring to FIGURES 3, 4 and 6, control 116 includes a disc-like part 125 secured to a shaft .126 journaled in housing 127. Shaft 126 is coupled to input shaft 115 by clutch 128 having operating coil 129 therefor. As will be more apparent, coil 129, when energized, disengages clutch 128 to interrupt power to shaft 126.

As seen in FIGURE 6, shaft 126 has a projecting stop 130 thereon. A cooperating stop 132 is provided on housing 127, stops .130, 132 cooperating to limit rotation of shaft 126. A spring (not shown) urges shaft 126, and stop 130, thereof, into abutment with stop 132.

Control 116 includes phototransistors 135 suitably arranged in housing 127 on one side of disc 125. Transistors 135 are disposed about an arc, the radius of which is slightly less than the radius of disc 125 and are spaced from stop 132 along the perimeter of the are by a distance representing different stock lengths. A light source 136 is provided on the other side of disc 125 opposite each phototransistor 135. As can be understood, disc 125 prevents light from light sources 136 from triggering phototransistors 135.

Disc 125 has an aperture 138 therethrough at a radius substantially equal to the radius of the are about which transistors 135 are arranged. On rotation of disc 125 in the clockwise direction, as shown by the solid line arrow in FIGURE 6 of the drawings, aperture 138 sequentially passes opposite each of the light sources 136 permitting light emitted from an actuated one of the light sources to trigger the phototransistor 135 associated therewith. As will appear more fully, any one of the phototransistors 135, when triggered, stops stock metering means 18 while actuating cutter 20.

Referring particularly to FIGURE 6 of the drawings, motor 28 is connected through on-otf switch 140, stock jam sensing switch 147, and broken stock sensing switch 148 with a suitable source of electrical energy.

Switches

147, 148 which are normally closed, are controlled by dancer roll 60 of stock feed control 16. suitable source of direct current power such as rectifier is provided.

The output of rectifier 145 is connected through switch 160 with the operating coil 129 for clutch 128. Stock oversupply switch 146 and stock low limit switch 141 connect the output of rectifier 145 with the operating coil 40 of clutch 40. High limit switch 142 connects the operating coil 41 of clutch 41 through switch 146 to the output of rectifier 145. Coils 40', 41', when energized, engage

clutches

40, 41, respectively, to drive feed roll 44 at either high or low speed.

Switches

141, 142, 146 are controlled by dancer roll 60.

The output of rectifier 145 is connected through switches 149 with light sources 136. The output of phototransistors 135 are connected through OR circuit 150 with the operating coil 83' of clutch 83, and through a suitable signal in erter such as NAND circuit 151, with the reset gate of flip-flop circuit 152.

The output of rectifier 145 is connected through control switch 154 and NAND circuit 155, acting as a signal inverter, with the set gate of flip-flop circuit 152. Control switch 154 represents the demand input to roll stock converter 10. Where, for example, converter is used to supply a copy machine (not shown) switch 154 closes in response to demand for stock by the copy machine.

The signal output of rectifier 145 is fed through control reset switch 157 to the control gate of flip-fiop circuit 152. Switch 157, which is closed on abutment of stops 130, 132, serves to assure that disc 125 has returned to the start position prior to re-starting of roll converter 10 for the next cycle. The output gate of flip-flop circuit 152 is connected through NAND circuit 158, acting as a signal inverter, to the coil of solenoid 122 of clutch 112.

To ready roll converter 10 for operation, the user actuates one of the switches 149 in accordance with the length of stock to be cut. At the same time, switch 140 may be closed to complete an energizing circuit through the normally closed jam and broken stock sensing switches 147, 148, respectively, to motor 28. Closure of switch 140 additionally completes an energizing circuit through

switches

147, 148 to rectifier 145.

Switch 160, which is normally closed, completes an energizing circuit to clutch operating coil 129. Coil 129 actuates clutch 128 to couple power input shaft 115 with shaft 126 supporting control disc 125.

Where there is no immediate output demand on roll stock converter 10, control switch 154 is open and solenoid 122 de-energized. Stop 121 thereof accordingly prevents rotation of clutch collar 115 whereby clutch 112 is disengaged and metering roll 48 is stationary. Additionally operating coil 83' is de-energized. Clutch 83 is accordingly disengaged and cutter drive shaft 78 is stationary.

Where the length of stock trapped between feeding and metering means 14, 18, respectively, is short, the stock raises dancer roll '60 which closes low limit switch 141.

Switches

141, 142 are ganged together for joint operation so that closure of switch 141 opens high limit switch 142. Closure of switch 141 completes a circuit through stop switch 146 energizing clutch operating coil 40'. Coil 40' actuates clutch 40 to couple drive sprocket 38 to shaft 37 of stock feed roll 34. Roll 34 is accordingly driven at high speed by motor 28 through gears 91, 92, shaft 93, sprocket 98, belt 102, sprocket 38, and clutch 40.

As feed roll 34 feeds stock from roll supply 12 forward at high speed, the length of stock between feeding and metering means 14, 18, respectively, may increase so that dancer roll 60 gravitates downwardly in tracks 62. As dancer roll 60 moves down toward the bottom of tracks 62, high limit switch 142 is closed and switch 141 is opened. Closure of high limit switch 142 completes the energizing circuit to operating coil 41 engaging clutch 41 whereby feed roll 34 is driven at low speed. Where the length of stock between feeding and metering means 14, 18, respectively continues to increase, as where there is no output demand on converter 10, high limit switch 146 is opened to interrupt the circuit to operating coil 41 and stop feed roll 18.

Where control switch 154 is closed the signal output therefrom passes through NAND circuit 155 to the set input gate of flip-flop circuit 152 triggering circuit 152. The signal output of circuit 152 through NAND circuit 158 actuates solenoids 122 to retract stop 121. Clutch collar 115 is accordingly released, and clutch 112 engaged to couple sleeve 111 to transfer shaft 106. Motor 28 drives metering roll 48 through

gears

103, 105, shaft 106, clutch 112, sleeve 111, gears 109, 110 and shaft 108 to feed sheet stock forward to cutter 20.

On engagement of clutch 112, disc 125 is rotated in a clockwise direction as shown by the solid line arrow in FIGURE 6 of the drawings. Disc 125 is driven from shaft 108 through gears 118, 119 and clutch 128.

Rotation of disc 125 moves aperture 138 past light sources 136 permitting the light beam emitted from the actuated light source to trigger the phototransistor 135 opposite thereto. The signal output of the triggered phototransistor passes via OR circuit 150 and energizes operating coil clutch 83'. Coil 83' engages clutch 83 to couple sprocket 82 with cutter drive shaft 78. Shaft 78 is accordingly driven from motor 28 through sprocket 96, belt 100, sprocket 82 and clutch 83 to operate cutting element 72.

At the same time, the signal output from OR circuit 150 passes through NAND circuit 151 to the reset gate of fiip flop circuit 152. The signal input to circuit 152 triggers circuit 152 to interrupt the energizing signal to the coil of solenoid 122 and de-energizes solenoid 122. Stop 121 accordingly drops into the path of rotation of clutch control collar stop On abutment of stop 120 with stop 12-1, rotation of clutch control collar 115 is interrupted, disengaging clutch 112 and stopping roll 48.

The moving cutting element 72 cooperates with cutting edge 73 of fixed cutting element 73 to shear the stock. With rotation of shaft 78 and cam 80, switch 160 is opened de-energizing coil 129 and releasing clutch 128-. Release of clutch 128 permits the spring bias means (not shown) to return disc to the starting position with stops 130, 132 abutting one another. Abutment of stop 130 with stop 132 closes switch 157, the signal output of switch 157 readying flip-flop circuit 152 for the next converter cycle.

With the advance of sheet stock to cutter 20 by metering roll 48, the length of stock between feed and metering'rolls 34, 48, respectively, is reduced raising dancer roll 60. With upward movement of dancer roll 60, stock oversupply switch 146 closes to complete, through high limit switch 142, a circuit energizing clutch operating coil 41. Coil 41 accordingly engages clutch 41 to couple sprocket 97 to power take-off shaft 93 and drive stock feeding roll 34 at low speed through belt 99 and sprocket 39. Feed roll 34 accordingly feeds stock from supply roll 12 forward to replenish that used by converter 10 It is understood that where the rate of stock supply by feeding means 14, operating at low speed, is less than the rate of use, the effective length of stock between feed and metering rolls 3 4 and 48, respectively, reduces and dancer roll 60 is carried upwardly within tracks 62. following predetermined upward movement, roll 60 actuates low limit switch 141 to complete an energizing circuit to clutch operating coil 40' and engage clutch 40 whereby feed roll 34 is driven at high speed as explained heretofore. It is understood that high limit switch 141 is opened at the same time.

Should feed of stock be interrupted, as for example, where the stock becomes jammed, the length of stock between feed and metering rolls 34, 48, respectively, is reduced on the continued operation of metering roll 48. The reduction in stock length raises dancer roll 60 actuating jam switch 147 to interrupt the energizing circuit to motor 28 and rectifier whereby converter 10 is shut down.

Should the tension on the stock be lost, as for example, due to a 'break in the stock, dancer roll 60- gravitates downwardly to the bottom of tracks 62 and actuates stock break responsive switch 148 Switch 148, when actuated, interrupts the energizing circuit to motor 28 and rectifier 145 to shut down converter 10.

While I have described and shown herein a preferred form of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for advancing preselected lengths of sheet stock forward to a cutting means, the combination of means for feeding said sheet stock forward to said 7 cutting means, said feeding means including at least one rotatable metering roll;

means for driving said metering roll including a rotatable driving member;

clutch means coupling said driving member with said metering roll;

operating means for said clutch means adapted when actuated to disengage said clutch means and stop feed of said stock, said operating means being adapted following actuation to always disengage said clutch means at one predetermined point in metering roll rotation whereby to assure that the length of each piece of stock from a preselected stock length is the same as that of the other pieces of stock from said preselected stock length; and

control means adapted on preset stock feeding movement of said metering roll to actuate said clutch operating means and stop feed of said stock to permit cutting of the preselected stock length by said cutting means, said preset stock feeding movement being less than said preselected stock length.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which said clutch means includes a resilient clutch element drivingly secured to one of said metering roll and driving member, said clutch element being adapted to frictionally grasp the other of said metering roll and driving member to couple said metering roll with said driving member, and a control collar for said clutch element engageable with said clutch element and rotatable in unison with said clutch element when said clutch means is engaged, said collar being adapted on relative rotation between said collar and clutch element to release said clutch element and disengage said metering roll from said driving member; said operating means being adapted when actuated to stop rotation of said collar and release said clutch element.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 in which said clutch control collar includes a stop surface; said operating means including a non-rotatable stop member movable into the path of rotation of said collar stop surface and abuttable therewith to stop rotation of said collar and release said clutch element.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 in which said operating means stop member comprises a solenoid operated plunger.

5. In an apparatus for advancing preselected lengths of sheet stock forward to a cutting means, the combination of means for feeding said sheet stock forward to said cutting means, said feeding means including at least one rotatable metering roll;

means for driving said metering roll including a rotatable driving member;

clutch means coupling said driving member with said metering roll;

operating means for said clutch means adapted when actuated to disengage said clutch means and stop feed of said stock, said operating means being adapted following actuation to always disengage said clutch means at one predetermined point in metering roll rotation whereby to assure that the length of each piece of stock from a preselected stock 8 length is the same as that of the other pieces of stock from said preselected stock length; and

control means adapted on preset stock feeding movement of said metering roll to actuate said clutch operating means and stop feed of said stock to permit cutting of the preselected stock length by said cutting means, said preset stock feeding movement being less than said preselected stock length; said control means including signal generating means for each one of said preselected stock lengths, said signal generating means being individually actuable to condition said apparatus to cut the stock length corresponding thereto, signal pick-up means for each of said signal generating means adapted at a signal from the signal generating means associated therewith to actuate said operating means whereby said clutch means is disengaged; and means ordinarily operative to block signals from said signal generating means to said signal pick-up means, said signal blocking means being movable in accordance with stock feeding movement of said metering roll and including a non-blocking portion adapted following said preset stock feeding movement of said metering roll to permit the signal from an actuated one of said signal generating means to trigger the signal pick-up means associated therewith and actuate said operating means.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 in which said signal generating means are arranged in an arc, said signal blocking means comprising a disc rotatable in unison with said metering roll and interposed between said signal generating means and said signal pick-up means to block the signal output of said signal generating means to said signal pick-up means; said disc having an aperture therethrough such that rotation of said disc through an arc corresponding to movement of said metering roll to feed said preset stock length forward places said aperture substantially opposite the signal generating means therefor to permit the signal from said signal generating means to trigger the signal pick-up means associated therewith.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5 including means biasing said disc to a signal blocking position, a clutch for operatively coupling said disc with said driving member whereby said disc is rotated in correspondence with said metering roll against said biasing means, said control means being adapted on said metering roll preset stock feeding movement to release said clutch whereby said biasing means returns said disc to said signal block ing position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,174,610 3/1965 Barbagallo et al. 226--9 X 3,197,103 7/1965 Rayve 22637 3,381,867 5/1968 Konkel 226-37 X 3,394,853 7/1968 Foley et al. 22637 X 3,426,336 2/1969 Gabor 22637 X ALLEN N. KNOWLES, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.