US3688620A

US3688620A - Tube maker registration control

Info

Publication number: US3688620A
Application number: US74679A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard C Harris Jr
Original assignee: Brown and Williamson Tobacco Corp
Current assignee: Brown and Williamson Holdings Inc
Priority date: 1970-09-23
Filing date: 1970-09-23
Publication date: 1972-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 1989-09-05

Abstract

A drive drum and a knife are rotated by a main drive shaft for advancing and cutting a cigarette tube at specified intervals. The cigarette tube has bands of simulated cork twice as wide as a cigarette filter printed thereon and spaced at intervals twice the length of a cigarette. A first sensing means senses when the knife is cutting the tube and provides a cut signal corresponding thereto. While a second sensing means senses when the center of the printed band is adjacent the rotating knife and provides a position signal corresponding thereto. A logic circuit is connected to the first and second sensing means and is responsive to the cut and position signals for providing a high speed output signal when the cut signal occurs prior to the position signal and a base speed output signal when the signal occurs after the position signal. A motor controller is connected to the logic circuit and is responsive to the output signals therefrom for providing a motor excitation voltage. A motor is connected to the motor controller and is responsive to the excitation voltage for accelerating or decelerating to a speed corresponding to the excitation voltage. A differential is interposed between the main drive shaft and the rotating knife and is connected to the motor for varying the knife rotation rate so that the knife cuts are maintained in registration with the center of the printed bands.

Description

United States Patent Harris, Jr. 1 Sept. 5, 1972 [54] TUBE MAKER REGISTRATION [57] ABSTRACT CONTROL A drive drum and a knife are rotated by a main drive [72] Inventor: Richard C. Harris, Jr., Middletown, shaft for advancing and cutting a cigarette tube at Ky. specified intervals. The cigarette tube has bands of simulated cork twice as wide as a cigarette filter [73] Ass'gnee' L mi Tobacco printed thereon and spaced at intervals twice the pom ulsvl length of a cigarette..A first sensing means senses [22] Filed: Sept. 23, 1970 when the knife is cutting the tube and provides a cut signal corres ndin thereto. While a second sensin [211 App! 74679 means sensefivhen the center of the printed band i:

adjacent the rotating knife and provides a position 52] US. Cl. ..83/74, 83/371 signal corresponding therete- A logic eireuit is [51] Int. Cl. ..B26d 5/34 nected to the first and second sensing means and is [58] Field of Search ..83/74, 75, 76, 371 responsive to the cut and Position signals for Providing a high speed output signal when the cut signal occurs [56] R f n Cited 8 prior to the position signal and a base speed output signal when the signal occurs after the position signal.

UNITED STATES PATENTS A motor controller is connected to the logic circuit and is responsive to the output signals therefrom for $2535 2 providing a motor excitation voltage. A motor is con- 3159066 12/1964 McDaniel; "83/76 nected to the motor controller and IS responsive to the 3244863 4/1966 Paterson /76 X excitation voltagefor accelerating or decelerating to a 3355973 12/1967 83/76 speed correspondmg to the excitation voltage. A dlf- 3581613 7/1969 Deems "83/76 ferential IS interposed between the main drive shaft 3604300 9/1971 Allison and the rotating knife and is connected to the motor Primary Examiner-Frank T. Yost AttorneyKane, Dalsimer, Kane, Sullivan & Kurucz for varying the knife rotation rate so that the knife cuts are maintained in registration with the center of the printed bands.

16 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures TUBE MAKER REGISTRATION CONTROL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a registration control for a cigarette spill manufacturing machine, and more particularly, to a control for registering a cut off knife of such a machine with preprinted registration marks on the cigarette paper.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the art of manufacturing spills for use in making filter-tipped cigarettes by manual techniques as disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,491,768, a machine as described in US. Pat. Application Ser. No. 59,052, filed July 29, 1970, was used. The machine was designed to make and bundle spills for filter-tipped cigarettes from a preprinted web of cigarette paper. A spill is merely an empty paper tube cut to a predetermined length and it may have simulated cork printing at a filter tip end of the cigarette or may have a mark such as a trade name or a band printed around the spill. It was essential that the spill be cut at a specified position relative to the printing, especially when the spill had cork printing so that the proper length of printing was provided on each spill.

During and after printing the web of cigarette paper was subjected to varying tensions that stretched the paper resulting in variations in the intervals between the cork printing. Temperature, humidity, and paper moisture content also affected the tension within a roll of cigarette paper resulting in further changes in the intervals between the cork printing. A slight change in the interval only produced a small error in the position of the cut; however, the error was cumulative with each spill and after a short period the cut would be off center or even off of the band of cork printing. Thus, a registration control was required to maintain registration between the cut and printed band.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates a tube maker registration control for controlling the speed of a cutting knife to maintain the cut in register with the center of the cork printing or marking on the printed cigarette paper. The printed tubing is moved through the spill making machine at a constant speed by a paper drive drum and a first phototransistor senses when the center of the band of printing is adjacent the cutting knife. A second phototransistor senses when the cutting knife is cutting the tube. A logic circuit determines whether the knife cut is leading or lagging behind the cork printing and provides an output to a D.C. motor controller which varies the speed of a D.C. motor in response to the output. The D. C. motor is drivably connected to the knife through a differential to adjust the knife speed and attain registration between the knife blade and the center of the cork printing.

The cutting knife is driven at the maximum required speed by a main drive through the differential and the D.C. motor is connected to the differential so that the D.C. motor speed is subtracted from that of the main drive to slow the speed of the knife to that required for registration. Thus, the logic circuit automatically varies the speed of the D.C. motor to speed up or slow down the cutting knife depending upon the relationship of the knife to the center of the cork printing.

Since the main drive runs the cutting knife as its maximum required speed the D.C. motor need only run in one direction to subtract from the speed of the knife, as driven by the main drive, thus simplifying the required circuity. The D.C. motor is operated at either a high speed or a base speed depending upon the output of the logic circuit. In normal operation the logic circuit oscillates between high speed and base speed causing the D.C. motor to seek a constant speed at which the knife blade is properly registered with the center of the cork printing.

One object of the present invention is to provide registration between the knife blade of a cigarette spill making machine and a preprinted mark provided on the cigarette paper.

Another object of the present invention is to provide continuous and automatic registration between the knife blade of a cigarettespill making machine and a preprinted mark on cigarette paper.

Another object of the present invention is to assure that a knife blade of a cigarette spill making machine, making spills having cork printing for filter-tipped cigarettes, cuts the preprinted cigarette tube paper midway the cork printing.

Another object of the present invention is to assure that a knife blade of a cigarette spill making machine cuts the cigarette tube midway the cork printing even when the interval between the cork printing varies throughout the length of the cigarette tube.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter for the consideration of the detailed description which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein one embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings in which corresponding numerals indicate corresponding parts in the respective figures:

FIG. 1 shows a segment of preprinted cigarette tub- FIG. 2 shows a knife cutting portion of a cigarette spill making machine. Y

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematic of the logic and control section of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows the relationship between various signals provided by the circuit shown in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in conjunction with a machine for making cigarette spills; however it will become obvious to one reading the description that the invention may be easily adapted for use with any device that cuts individual printed items from a continuous preprinted supply of material where the cut must be in registration with a printed pattern or mark.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a preprinted segment of cigarette paper tube 1 having a band of cork printing 3 of length X and unprinted portions 5 of length Y. The tube is to be cut at positions marked by arrows 7 to form cigarette spills having a length Z including cork printing, to cover a filter portion, having a length X/2. A knife cut is sensed by a phototransistor 9 which normally receives light from a source 11, said source being cut off during the period of time when the knife is cutting the tube. The tube travels in a direction as indicated by arrow 13. A phototransistor is positioned at a distance equal to an even multiple of cigarette spill lengths Z minus X/2 from the knife position in a direction toward the approaching tube. Another phototransistor 17 is spaced at a distance X/2 from phototransistor 15 in a direction towards the approaching tube. Light sources 19 and 21 provide illumination for

phototransistors

15 and 17 respectively and are positioned so that the light shines through the tube; however, said illumination is cut off when the cork printing on the tube passes between a light source and the associated phototransistor.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a portion of the cigarette tube making machine disclosed in US. Pat. Application Ser. No. 59,052 and its interface with the present invention. Printed cigarette tubing 1 is shown being driven in a direction as indicated by-arrow13 by apaper drive drum 25 drivably connected to a main drive shaft 23. I

A rotatable cut off knife 27 is driven by the main drive shaft 23 through a phase shifting differential 29 and a pair of

belt drives

31 and 33.

Belt drives

31 and 33 are designed to drive knife 27 at a speed faster than is required to cut tube 1 when the minimum expected interval exists between the bands of cork printing 3. Phase shifting differential 29 has one input connected to belt drive 31 and an output connected to belt drive 33 for driving knife 27 at a constant speed relative to the main drive shaft. The phase shifting differential has a second input connected to a D.C. motor in such manner that the motor rotation is subtracted from the input rotation from belt 31 to reduce the knife speed and vary the position of knife 27 relative to paper drive drum 25.

Since belt drives 31 and 33 are designed to drive knife 27 at the maximum required speed the D.C. motor need only rotate in one direction so as to slow down knife 27. Thus, an increase in D.C. motor speed decreases knife speed and decreased motor speed increased knife speed. To prevent over heating of D.C. motor 35, belt drives 31 and 33 are designed so that the motor is always operating at speeds between 300 and 2,000 rpm. For spills having a nominal length of 84 millimeters and being produced at a rate of 1,250 per minute belt drives 31 and 33 are designed so that the knife cuts off lengths of 83.8 millimeters when the D.C.

motor speed is 300 rpm and lengths of 84.4 millimeters when the D.C. motor speed is 2,000 rpm. These tolerances include the worst case conditions contemplated.

The invention may also be practiced by designing belt drives 31 and 33 to drive the knife at the slowest speed required for the maximum interval between the cork printing and by connecting motor 35 to differential 29 so as to add motor rotation to the input rotation from belt drive 31. The knife speed could also be maintained constant while varying the paper drive drum speed in a manner similar to the way in which the knife speed is varied in the described embodiment.

A disk 37 is driven directly by knife 27 to rotate at the same speed as the knife. Disk 37 has a portion 39 extending therefrom and subtending an are equal to X/2 or one half the width of the cork printing. The extended portion is positioned to intercept the light provided by source 11 during the period when the knife blade is cutting the tube so that phototransistor 9 senses when the knife is cutting. Phototransistors 15 and 17 and light sources 19 and 21 are mounted on a slidable bracket 41 that may be moved in lateral directions as indicated by arrows 42 to adjust the position of phototransistor 15 relative to knife 27 so that the distance therebetween is equal to an even multiple of cigarette spill lengths minus X/2. Phototransistor 17 is mounted at a distance of X/2 from phototransistor 15.

Phototransistors 15 and 17 each'provide an output signal indicating when the cork printing on tube 1 is passing between the phototransistor and the associated light source.

A control device 43 receives the signals from the phototransistors and provides an output for controlling D.C. motor 35. Control device 43 has contained therein a logicand control circuit shown in FIG. 3, which determines whether the knife cut occurs before or after the center of the cork printing passes the knife and switches the D.C. motor to either a base speed or a high speed to compensate for discrepancies between the knife cut and the center of the cork printing. Control device 43 has a' knob 45 for selecting a base speed and a knob 47 for selecting a high speed. Indicating lights 49 and 51 are provided for indicating whether the D.C. motor is operating at base speed or high speed, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a block diagram of the logic and control circuit contained within control device 43. The circuit will be described with reference to the signals shown in FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, time instants are shown across the top of the figure and are indicated by lettered lines. The time instants are shown superimposed on a strip of printed cigarette tube 1 having a band of cork printing 3 spaced at intervals thereon. Lines B, D, F, and H are assumed knife cuts. Cut B occurs before the center C of the cork printing 3 while out F occurs after the center E of the next band. The circuit description will include the operation of the circuit when the knife blade is traveling at an excessive speed as indicated by line B where the knife cut occurs before the center of the band and the circuit operation will also be described whenthe knife is running too slow and the cut occurs after the center of the band as illustrated by line F.

Phototransistor 9 normally received light from light source 11, however, during the period when the knife blade is cutting the tube the extended portion 39 of disc 37 interrupts the light impinging on phototransistor 9. When phototransistor 9 receives light it conducts and supplies a zero level out signal at an output 53; however, when the light is blocked phototransistor 9 turns off causing the cut signal to rise to a one level as indicated in FIG. 4. Thus, at time instants B, D, F, and H the output of phototransistor 9 switches to a one level and remains there for a period equal to the time required for tube 1 to travel a distance X/2 during which period knife 27 cuts the tube. Output 53 of the phototransistor 9 is connected to a driver 59 which is used to expand the drive capability of the phototransistor to a level sufficient to drive other components of the logic circuit. Driver 59 has an output 61 providing a signal as shown in FIG. 4 which is identical to the cut signal supplied by phototransistor 9. Output 61 of driver 59 is connected to an inverter 63 for inverting the signal from output 61 and providing an output 65 as shown in FIG. 4 which is identical to output 61 except inverted.

Phototransistors and 17 receive light passed through the unprinted portion of tube 1 from light sources 19 and 21, respectively. When receiving

light phototransistors

15 and 17 conduct and provide zero level position signals at

outputs

55 and 57 respectively; however, when the cork printing on the tube passes between a light source and the associated phototransistor the transistor ceases to conduce and provides a one level position signal at the output substantially as shown in FIG. 4.

Since phototransistor 15 is displaced an even multiple of cigarette spill lengths minus one half of the width of the cork printing from blade 27, the blade if properly registered should start cutting the center of the cork printing at the instant phototransistor 15 switches to the one level, namely instants C and E. Thus, it can be seen from FIG. 4 that knife cut B is occurring prior to the center of the cork printing designated by line C, indicating the knife speed is excessive. Knife cut F occurs after the center of the cork printing designated by line E indicating a lagging knife.

Phototransistor 17 is displaced a distance X/2 further from knife blade 27, therefore, it is an even multiple number of cigarette spill lengths from the knife blade and its output 57 provides a one level signal during the period that the cork printing is passing knife blade 27.

Outputs

55 and 57 are connected to a pair of sensor converters 67 and 69, respectively. The sensor converters are highly sensitive transition-responsive pulsestretching circuits responsive tosignals having a duration of 0.1 milliseconds to produce a one-shot output adjustable from 10 to 250 milliseconds. Sensor converters 67 and 69 have outputs 71 and 73, respectively, which provides inverted signals having a pulse widths adjusted to equal two times the width of the pulse from phototransistor 9 at any given machine speed. Since the signal from output 53 produced by phototransistor 9 has a pulse width corresponding to one half the width of the band or cork printing and the outputs of sensor converters 67 and 69 are adjusted to have a pulse width twice as wide as output 53, then the sensor converter outputs 71 and 73 have pulse widths corresponding to the width of the cork printing.

Outputs 71 and 73 are connected respectively to inverters 75 and 77 having

outputs

79 and 81 providing signals similar to the signals from outputs 71 and 73 except inverted.

Outputs

79 and 81 are connected respectively to inverters 83 and 85 having

outputs

87 and 89.

Outputs

61 and 89 are connected to inputs of a NAND gate 91 which has an output 93 providing a one level signal except when all of its inputs are at a one level. Output 93 is connected to reset inputs of a pair of Flip-Flops 95 and 97 which are responsive to a one to zero level transition of output 93 for resetting the Flip- Flops at time instants, D, G, and H as indicated in FIG. 4. Thus, Flip-

Flops

95 and 97 are always reset after the cork printing on the cigarette tube passes the cutting knife. Flip-Flops 95 and 97 have I outputs 99 and 101 that are at a zero level and 0

outputs

103 and 105 are at a one level when the Flip-Flops are reset.

A NAND gate 107 has inputs connected to

outputs

61, 87, 81 and 105, and is responsive to the signals therefrom to provide a zero level signal at an output 109 when all inputs are at a one level. Output 109 of NAND gate 107 is connected to a set input of Flip-Flop The .inputs to NAND gate 107 are all at a one level only when the knife cut is ahead of the center of the cork printing as shown during the time period between time instant B and C. A one level at output 61 indicates that the knife cut is being made while a one level on signal 87 indicates that the center of the cork printing is not yet adjacent the knife blade. A one level at output 81 indicates that the knife is cutting a printed band and not the unprinted portion of the tube. A one level at output 105 indicates that Flip-Flop 97 has been reset. Thus, output 109 is only at a zero level when the knife cut occurs before the center of the cork printing is adjacent the knife, the Flip-Flops are in a reset state and the knife is cutting a printed band on the tube. The one to zero level transition of output 109 is sensed by Flip- Flop 95 at time instant B causing Flip-Flop 95 to switch to a set state so that output 99 provides a one level signal and output 103 a zero level signal. The zero level signal from output 103 inhibits NAND gate 111 until the Flip-Flops are reset by output 93. Thus, Flip-Flop is switched to a set state when the knife is running at an excessive rate of speed.

At time instant E, the center of the cork printing is adjacent the knife before the knife cut occurs at instant F and in this condition all the inputs to NAND gate 1 1 1 are at a one level causing the output 113 to change from a one to a zero level. At instant E, output 65 is at a one level indicating that a knife cut is not being made, output 79 is at a one level indicating that the center of the cork printing has arrived at the knife blade, output 81 is at a one level indicating that a printed band is being cut, and output 103 is at one level indicating that the Flip-Flops have been reset. Thus, when the center of the cork printing precedes the knife cut, the NAND gate output 113 switches from a one to a zero level. The set input of Flip-Flop 97 is responsive to this transition to set the Flip-Flop so that output 101 goes to a one level and output goes to a zero level.

It may be noted that the

output

109 and 113 of NAND gates 107 and 111 remain at a zero level only for a duration of time corresponding to the displacement of the knife cut from the center of the printed band which may be a very short duration. However, Flip-

Flops

95 and 97 are set by the respective transitions from the one to zero level of the NAND gates and remain in a set state until a reset signal is received from output 93 of NAND gate 91.

When the knife speed is excessive Flip-Flop 95 is in the set state providing a one level at output 99 and Flip- Flop 97 provides a zero level at output 101. Output 99 is connected to the input of a D.C. driver 115 that. has an output 117. The driver in response to a one level signal from output 99 conducts and supplies a D.C. signal to the high speed pilot light 51 which in response to the signal indicates that the knife blade is operating at an excessive speed. When the knife speed is too slow Flip-Flop 97 is changed to the set state and output 101 is at a one level. Output 101 is connected to a D.C. driver 121 having an output 123 connected to the low speed pilot light 49. D.C. driver 121 in response to a one level signal from output 101 provides a D.C. signal to pilot light 49 which in response thereto indicates that the knife speed is too slow.

Output 103 of Flip-Flop 95 is connected to a set input of a Flip-Flop 127 and output 105 of Flip-Flop 97 is connected to a reset input of Flip-Flop 127. Both the set and reset inputs of Flip-Flop 127 are responsive to a one to zero transition of the input signal to either set or reset the Flip-Flop. Thus, when Flip-Flop 95 is in the set state indicating that the knife speed is excessive Flip-Flop 127 in response to the transitioning of output 103 from a one level to a zero level switches to a set state providing a one level signal at a 1 output 129 and a zero level signal at a output 131. Flip-Flop 127 remains in the set state until a one to zero transition is received at the reset input from output 105 of Flip-Flop 97. As previously mentioned, Flip-Flop 97 is in the set state only when the knife speed is too slow. Thus, Flip-Flop 127 is either in the set state indicating excessive knife speed or in the reset state indicating the knife speed is too slow.

Outputs

129 and 131 of Flip-Flop 127 are connected to D.C. drivers 1 33 and 135, respectively. The D.C. drivers are responsive to one level signals to provide D.C. signals on

outputs

137 and 139. Output 137 is connected to an input of a high speed potentiometer 141 having an adjustable wiper arm 143 connected to the input of the potentiometer for shorting out a selected portion of the potentiometer resistance. Likewise, output 139 is connected to an input of a low speed potentiometer 145 having a wiper arm 147 connected to the input of the potentiometer for shorting out a portion of its resistance.

Wiper arms

143 and 147 are controlled by knobs 47 and 45 respectively for varying the levels of the D.C. signals provided by the

drivers

133 and 135.'Both potentiometers 141 and 145 are connected to a common input of a solid state D.C. motor controller 149. The solid state D.C. motor controller 149 is an SCR, /4 horsepower, D.C. motor control similar to Dodge No. S25, manufactured by Dodge Manufacturing Corporation in Mishawaka, Indiana. The motor controller receives a D.C. signal from either potentiometer 141 or 145 and provides an excitation to D.C. motor 35 to vary the speed of the D.C. motor in accordance with the level of the D.C. signal applied thereto. Potentiometer 141 is adjusted to provide a higher level D.C. signal than potentiometer 145 so that the D.C. motor accelerates to a high speed corresponding to the D.C. signal supplied by potentiometer 141 and decelerates to a base speed corresponding to the D.C. signal supplied by potentiometer 145.

Thus, the D.C. motor 35 has two speed settings and it is switched from one setting to the other depending on whether the logic and control circuit senses the knife cut before or after the center of the cork printing. When the control is holding register the motor is switched frequently so that at a machine speed of 1,250 spills per minute, it may switch between speed settings 10.4 times per second. At this switching rate the motor never accelerates to its high speed setting nor does it decelerate to its low speed setting but seeks an average motor speed required to hold registration.

Since the D.C. motor speed is oscillating or hunting it is necessary to control the rate of acceleration of the motor. Both theacceleration and deceleration may be controlled, but it was found unnecessary to control the deceleration rate; therefore, only the acceleration rate of the motor is controlled. The D.C. motor controller 149 has terminals provided thereon for connecting a potentiometer to adjust and limit the torque produced by the motor, thereby limiting the acceleration rate for any given load. A 10 turn potentiometer 151 having a wiper arm 153 is connected to the terminals provided on the D.C. motor controller for providing a fine degree of adjustment of the torque produced by the D.C. motor.

In operation, the torque adjustment is critical and should be initially established by the use of a dual trace triggered oscilliscope viewing signals 61 and 79 simultaneously with the high speed potentiometer 141 set to maximum output and the base speed potentiometer 145 set to maximum output. Potentiometer 151 is adjusted until a minimum variation .is achieved between the leading edges of

signals

61 and 79 throughout the registering of a roll of preprinted cigarette paper. Once' the torque adjustment has been determined it need not be reset unless some characteristic of the motor controller, the load or the D.C. motor changes.

The control system as described has the capability of maintaining registration within plus or minus 3 millimeters when using preprinted cigarette paper in a cigarette spill maker producing 84 millimeter nominal length spills at'a rate of 1,250 per minute. lf'a closer tolerance than plus or minus 3 millimeters is desired then the machine operator by observing the flashing rate of the high and low base speed pilot lights can set the base and highspeed potentiometers to values that produce near equal flashing rates.

During normal operation the operator observes the flashing pilot lights and if one of the light is on longer than the other the need for a potentiometer adjustment isindicated. If the base speed pilot light 49 is flashing for a longer duration than the high speed pilot light 51, then the setting of the base speed potentiometer should be reduced until the flash duration of each light is approximately equal.

Thus, the present invention provides for the registration of a cutting knife with the center of the cork printing of a cigarette tube in a cigarette tube manufacturing machine The registration is accomplished automatically and compensates for variations in the intervals between the cork printing of the cigarette paper due to varying tensions on the paper and other atmospheric conditions such as temperature and humidity. The registration control assures that the knife cut is within a certain tolerance of the center of the cork printing on the cigarette paper. The registration is accomplished automatically with only minor initial adjustments required by an operator.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for cutting continuous material into predetermined lengths, each length having a marking of predetermined width at one end thereof, the continuous material having markings, having widths equal to twice the predetermined width and said markings repeating at intervals equal to twice the predetermined length, comprising:

knife means for cutting the continuous material midway the markings and midway the unmarked portions;

first sensing means for sensing when the knife is cutting the material and for providing a cut signal corresponding thereto;

second sensing means for sensing when the center of the marking is adjacent the knife and for providing a position signal corresponding thereto;

third sensing means for sensing when the marking is adjacent the knife and for providing a signal corresponding thereto;

logic means responsive to the cut and position signals for providing a first output when the cut signal occurs prior to the position signal and a second output when the cut signal occurs after the position signal, the logic means also being responsive to the signal from the third sensing means for rendering the logic means non-responsive to the cut. and position signals when the third sensing means is not sensing a marking; and

control means responsive to the first and second outputs from the logic means for adjusting the knife means so that the cut is maintained in registration with the center of the marking on the continuous material and the knife means is adjusted only when a marking is being cut.

2. A cutting apparatus as described in claim 1,

wherein the control means includes:

driver means responsive to the first and second outputs for providing high'and base speed signals;

a motor controller connected to the driver means for receiving the high and base speed signals therefrom and for providing in response thereto a motor excitation voltage corresponding to the received signals;

a motor connected to the motor controller for receiving the excitation voltage therefrom, said motor accelerates or decelerates to a speed corresponding to the excitation voltage; and

means for connecting said motor to the knife means for varying the speed of the knife means.

3. A cutting apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein the motor controller additionally comprises an electronic torque adjustment means for varying the torque output of the motor and thereby controlling the acceleration thereof.

4. A cutting apparatus as described in claim 2, additionally comprising means for adjusting the level of the high and base speed signals from the driver means.

5. A cutting apparatus as described in claim 1, additionally comprising:

high speed indicating means connected to the first output of the logic means and responsive thereto for providing an indication that the knife means is cutting prior to the specified position; and

base speed indicating means connected to the second output of the logic means and responsive thereto for providing an indication that the knife means is cutting after the specified position.

6. A cutting apparatus as described in claim 1,

wherein the knife means comprises:

a knife blade rotatably mounted adjacent the materimeans for conveying the material past the knife blade; and

drive means for rotating the knife blade and driving the conveying means.

7. A cutting apparatus as described in claim 1,

wherein the material is cigarette tubing.

8. A cutting apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the material is cigarette tubing having bands of simulated cork printed thereon at intervals of twice the nominal length of a cigarette, the printed bands having widths twice that required for a filter tip.

9. A cutting apparatus as described in claim 8, wherein the knife means cuts the tubing midway the printed bands and midway the unprinted portions and the second sensing means senses when the center of a printed band is adjacent the knife means and provides the position signal corresponding thereto.

10. An apparatus for cutting material having markings at predetermined intervals, comprising:

knife means for cutting the material at a specified position relative to the markings;

first sensing means for sensing when the knife means is cutting the material and for providing a cut signal corresponding thereto;

second sensing means for detecting the markings and sensing when the specified position is adjacent the knife means and for providing a position signal corresponding thereto;

first means connected tothe first and second sensing means and responsive to the signals therefrom for providing an output when the cut signal occurs prior to the position signal;

second means connected to the first and second sensing means and responsive to the signal therefrom for providing an output when the position signal occurs prior to the cut signal;

first and second Flip-Flops connected to the first and second means, respectively, and responsive to the outputs therefrom for switching states and providing output signal corresponding thereto;

a third Flip-Flop having a first input connected to the output signal of the first Flip-Flop and a second input connected to the output signal of the second Flip-Flop, the first input being responsive to the output signalfrom the first Flip-Flop for switching the state of the third Flip-Flop and the second input being responsive to the output signal from the second Flip-Flop for switching the state of the third Flip-Flop, the third Flip-Flop providing first and second outputs correspondingto the time relationship between the cut and position signals; and

control means responsive to the first and second outputs for varying the speed of the knife means so that the cut is maintained in registration with the specified position.

11. A cutting apparatus as described in claim 10, wherein the material is cigarette tubing having bands of simulated cork printed at intervals equal to twice the nominal length of a cigarette, the bands having widths of twice that required for a filter tip, the knife means cuts the cigarette tubing midway the unprinted portions and the second sensing means senses when the center of a printed band is adjacent the knife means and provides the position signal corresponding thereto, the apparatus additionally comprising;

third sensing means for sensing when the printed band is adjacent the knife means and for providing a signal corresponding thereto; and

third gate means connected to the first sensing means and the third sensing means and responsive to the signals therefrom for providing an output when the knife means is cutting the unprinted portion, the

output being connected to both the first and second FlipoFlops which are responsive thereto for switching the state of the Flip-Flops.

12. In combination with a cigarette spill cutting machine of the type wherein a tube of cigarette paper, having bands of simulated cork twice as wide as a cigarette filter printed thereon and spaced at intervals twice the length of a cigarette, is advanced by a paper drive drum towards a rotating cutting knife for cutting the tube midway the printed bands and midway the unprinted portions, the knife and drive drum being driven by a main drive shaft, the improvement comprising:

first sensing means for sensing when the knife is cutting the tube and for providing a cut signal corresponding thereto;

second sensing means for sensing when the center of the printed band is adjacent the knife and for providing a position signal corresponding thereto;

first gate means connected to the first and second sensing means and responsive to the I signals therefrom for providing an output when a cut signal occurs prior to the position signal;

second gate means connected to the first and second sensing means and responsive to the signals therefrom for providing an output whenthe position signal occurs prior to the cut signal;

first and second Flip-Flops connected to the first and second gate means, respectively, and responsive to the outputs therefrom for switching states and providing output signals corresponding thereto;

a third Flip-Flop having first and second inputs connected to the output signals of the first and second Flip-Flops respectively, the first input being responsive to the output signal from the first Flip- Flop for switching the third Flip-Flop to a first state and the second input being responsive to the output signal from the second Flip-Flop to a second state, the third Flip-Flop for'providing a high speed output when in the first state and a base speed output when in the second state;

control means connected to the third Flip-Flop for receiving the high speed and base speed outputs therefrom and for providing in response thereto a motor excitation voltage corresponding to the received outputs;

a motor connected to the control means and responsive to the excitation voltage therefrom for accelerating or decelerating to a speed corresponding to the excitation voltage; and

differential means interposed between the main drive shaft and the knife and connected to the motor for varying the knife rotation rate so that the cuts are maintained in registration with the centers of the printed bands.

13. In combination with a cigarette spill cutting machine of the type, wherein a tube of cigarette paper,

having bands of simulated cork twice as wide as a cigarette filter printed thereon and spaced at intervals twice the length of a cigarette, is advanced by a paper drive drum towards a rotating cutting knife for cutting the tube midway the printed bands and midway the unprinted portions, the knife and drive drum being driven by a main drive shaft, the improvement comprising;

third sensing means for sensing when a printed band is adjacent the cutting knife and for providing a signal corresponding thereto;

logic means responsive to the cut and position signals for providing a high speed output and when the cut signal occurs prior to the position signal and a base speed output when the signal cut occurs after the position signal the logic means also being responsive to the signal from the third sensing means for rendering the logic means non-responsive to the cut signal when the third sensing means is not sensing a printed band;

control means connected to the logic means for receiving the outputs therefrom and for providing in response thereto a motor excitation voltage corresponding to the received outputs;

differential means interposed between the main drive shaft and the knife and connected to themotor for varying the knife rotation rate so that the cuts are maintained in registration with thecenters of the printed bands.

l4. A'cigarette spill cutting machine as described in claim 13, wherein the logic means additionally comprises a third gate means connected to the first sensing means and the third sensing and responsive to the signals therefrom, for providing an output when the knife is cutting the unprinted portion, the output being connected to both the first and second Flip-Flops which are responsive thereto for switching into a reset state.

15. A registration control, for maintaining registration between the cut of a rotating knife and a specified position relative to a pattern printed at intervals on material being cut by the knife, comprising:

first means for providing a cut signal having a first level when the knife is not cutting the material and a second level when the knife is cutting the material;

second means for providing a position signal having a first level when the specified position is not adjacent the knife and a second level when the specified position is adjacent the knife;

a first inverter connected to the first means for inverting the first and second levels of the cut signal;

a second inverted connected to the second means for inverting the first and second levels of the position signal;

first gate means connected to the first means and the second inverter and responsive to simultaneous second level signals therefrom for providing an output;

second gate means connected to the firs inverter and I the second means and responsive to simultaneous second level signals therefrom for providing an output;

a first Flip-Flop, having a first input connected to the output of the first gate means and having a first output connected to an input of the second gate means, the first Flip-Flop being responsive to the output of the first gate means for providing a first level signal on the first output, thereby inhibiting the second gate means from providing an output;

a second Flip-Flop having a first input connected to the output of the second gate means and having a first output connected to an input of the first gate means, the second Flip-Flop being responsive to the output of the second gate means for providing a first level signal on the first output, thereby inhibiting the first gate means from providing an out- P a third Flip-Flop, having first and second inputs connected to the first outputs of the first and second Flip-Flops respectively, the first input being responsive to a first level signal for switching the third Flip-Flop to a first state and the second input being responsive to a first level signal for switching the Flip-Flop to a second state, the third Flip-Flop having a first output providing a first level signal when in a second state and a second level signal when in the first state and a first level signal when in the second state;

means connected to the first output of the third Flip- Flop for providing a high speed signal when the first output provides a second level signal;

means connected to the second output for providing a base speed signal when the second output provides a second level signal; and

control means responsive to the high speed and base speed outputs for decreasing and increasing respectively the speed of the rotating knife so that the cut is maintained in registration with the specified position.

16. A registration control as described in claim 15, wherein the means for providing a high speed signal and the means for providing a base speed signal additionally comprise means for varying the level of the high speed and base speed signals respectively.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cutting continuous material into predetermined lengths, each length having a marking of predetermined width at one end thereof, the continuous material having markings, having widths equal to twice the predetermined width and said markings repeating at intervals equal to twice the predetermined length, comprising: knife means for cutting the continuous material midway the markings and midway the unmarked portions; first sensing means for sensing when the knife is cutting the material and for providing a cut signal corresponding thereto; second sensing means for sensing when the center of the marking is adjacent the knife and for providing a position signal corresponding thereto; third sensing means for sensing when the marking is adjacent the knife and for providing a signal corresponding thereto; logic means responsive to the cut and position signals for providing a first output when the cut signal occurs prior to the position signal and a second output when the cut signal occurs after the position signal, the logic means also being responsive to the signal from the third sensing means for rendering the logic means non-responsive to the cut and position signals when the third sensing means is not sensing a marking; and control means responsive to the first and second outputs from the logic means for adjusting the knife means so that the cut is maintained in registration with the center of the marking on the continuous material and the knife means is adjusted only when a marking is being cut.

2. A cutting apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the control means includes: driver means responsive to the first and second outputs for providing high and base speed signals; a motor controller connected to the driver means for receiving the high and base speed signals therefrom and for providing in response thereto a motor excitation voltage corresponding to the received signals; a motor connected to the motor controller for receiving the excitation voltage therefrom, said motor accelerates or decelerates to a speed corresponding to the excitation voltage; and means for connecting said motor to the knife means for varying the speed of the knife means.

5. A cutting apparatus as described in claim 1, additionally comprising: high speed indicating means connected to the first output of the logic means and responsive thereto for providing an indication that the knife means is cutting prior to the specified position; and base speed indicating means connected to the second output of the logIc means and responsive thereto for providing an indication that the knife means is cutting after the specified position.

6. A cutting apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the knife means comprises: a knife blade rotatably mounted adjacent the material; means for conveying the material past the knife blade; and drive means for rotating the knife blade and driving the conveying means.

7. A cutting apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the material is cigarette tubing.

10. An apparatus for cutting material having markings at predetermined intervals, comprising: knife means for cutting the material at a specified position relative to the markings; first sensing means for sensing when the knife means is cutting the material and for providing a cut signal corresponding thereto; second sensing means for detecting the markings and sensing when the specified position is adjacent the knife means and for providing a position signal corresponding thereto; first means connected to the first and second sensing means and responsive to the signals therefrom for providing an output when the cut signal occurs prior to the position signal; second means connected to the first and second sensing means and responsive to the signal therefrom for providing an output when the position signal occurs prior to the cut signal; first and second Flip-Flops connected to the first and second means, respectively, and responsive to the outputs therefrom for switching states and providing output signal corresponding thereto; a third Flip-Flop having a first input connected to the output signal of the first Flip-Flop and a second input connected to the output signal of the second Flip-Flop, the first input being responsive to the output signal from the first Flip-Flop for switching the state of the third Flip-Flop and the second input being responsive to the output signal from the second Flip-Flop for switching the state of the third Flip-Flop, the third Flip-Flop providing first and second outputs corresponding to the time relationship between the cut and position signals; and control means responsive to the first and second outputs for varying the speed of the knife means so that the cut is maintained in registration with the specified position.

11. A cutting apparatus as described in claim 10, wherein the material is cigarette tubing having bands of simulated cork printed at intervals equal to twice the nominal length of a cigarette, the bands having widths of twice that required for a filter tip, the knife means cuts the cigarette tubing midway the unprinted portions and the second sensing means senses when the center of a printed band is adjacent the knife means and provides the position signal corresponding thereto, the apparatus additionally comprising; third sensing means for sensing when the printed band is adjacent the knife means and for providing a signal corresponding thereto; and third gate means connected to the first sensing means and the third sensing means and responsive to the signals therefrom for providing an output when the knife means is cutting the unprinted portion, the output being connected to both the first and second Flip-Flops which are responsive thereto for switching the state of the Flip-Flops.

12. In combination with a cigarette spill cutting machine of the type wherein a tube of cigarette Paper, having bands of simulated cork twice as wide as a cigarette filter printed thereon and spaced at intervals twice the length of a cigarette, is advanced by a paper drive drum towards a rotating cutting knife for cutting the tube midway the printed bands and midway the unprinted portions, the knife and drive drum being driven by a main drive shaft, the improvement comprising: first sensing means for sensing when the knife is cutting the tube and for providing a cut signal corresponding thereto; second sensing means for sensing when the center of the printed band is adjacent the knife and for providing a position signal corresponding thereto; first gate means connected to the first and second sensing means and responsive to the signals therefrom for providing an output when a cut signal occurs prior to the position signal; second gate means connected to the first and second sensing means and responsive to the signals therefrom for providing an output when the position signal occurs prior to the cut signal; first and second Flip-Flops connected to the first and second gate means, respectively, and responsive to the outputs therefrom for switching states and providing output signals corresponding thereto; a third Flip-Flop having first and second inputs connected to the output signals of the first and second Flip-Flops respectively, the first input being responsive to the output signal from the first Flip-Flop for switching the third Flip-Flop to a first state and the second input being responsive to the output signal from the second Flip-Flop to a second state, the third Flip-Flop for providing a high speed output when in the first state and a base speed output when in the second state; control means connected to the third Flip-Flop for receiving the high speed and base speed outputs therefrom and for providing in response thereto a motor excitation voltage corresponding to the received outputs; a motor connected to the control means and responsive to the excitation voltage therefrom for accelerating or decelerating to a speed corresponding to the excitation voltage; and differential means interposed between the main drive shaft and the knife and connected to the motor for varying the knife rotation rate so that the cuts are maintained in registration with the centers of the printed bands.

13. In combination with a cigarette spill cutting machine of the type, wherein a tube of cigarette paper, having bands of simulated cork twice as wide as a cigarette filter printed thereon and spaced at intervals twice the length of a cigarette, is advanced by a paper drive drum towards a rotating cutting knife for cutting the tube midway the printed bands and midway the unprinted portions, the knife and drive drum being driven by a main drive shaft, the improvement comprising; first sensing means for sensing when the knife is cutting the tube and for providing a cut signal corresponding thereto; second sensing means for sensing when the center of the printed band is adjacent the knife and for providing a position signal corresponding thereto; third sensing means for sensing when a printed band is adjacent the cutting knife and for providing a signal corresponding thereto; logic means responsive to the cut and position signals for providing a high speed output and when the cut signal occurs prior to the position signal and a base speed output when the signal cut occurs after the position signal the logic means also being responsive to the signal from the third sensing means for rendering the logic means non-responsive to the cut signal when the third sensing means is not sensing a printed band; control means connected to the logic means for receiving the outputs therefrom and for providing in response thereto a motor excitation voltage corresponding to the received outputs; a motor connected to the control means and responsive to the excitation voltage therefrom for accelerating or decelerating to a speed corresponding to the excitation voltage; and differential means interposed between the main drive shaft and the knife and connected to the motor for varying the knife rotation rate so that the cuts are maintained in registration with the centers of the printed bands.

14. A cigarette spill cutting machine as described in claim 13, wherein the logic means additionally comprises a third gate means connected to the first sensing means and the third sensing and responsive to the signals therefrom, for providing an output when the knife is cutting the unprinted portion, the output being connected to both the first and second Flip-Flops which are responsive thereto for switching into a reset state.

15. A registration control, for maintaining registration between the cut of a rotating knife and a specified position relative to a pattern printed at intervals on material being cut by the knife, comprising: first means for providing a cut signal having a first level when the knife is not cutting the material and a second level when the knife is cutting the material; second means for providing a position signal having a first level when the specified position is not adjacent the knife and a second level when the specified position is adjacent the knife; a first inverter connected to the first means for inverting the first and second levels of the cut signal; a second inverted connected to the second means for inverting the first and second levels of the position signal; first gate means connected to the first means and the second inverter and responsive to simultaneous second level signals therefrom for providing an output; second gate means connected to the firs inverter and the second means and responsive to simultaneous second level signals therefrom for providing an output; a first Flip-Flop, having a first input connected to the output of the first gate means and having a first output connected to an input of the second gate means, the first Flip-Flop being responsive to the output of the first gate means for providing a first level signal on the first output, thereby inhibiting the second gate means from providing an output; a second Flip-Flop having a first input connected to the output of the second gate means and having a first output connected to an input of the first gate means, the second Flip-Flop being responsive to the output of the second gate means for providing a first level signal on the first output, thereby inhibiting the first gate means from providing an output; a third Flip-Flop, having first and second inputs connected to the first outputs of the first and second Flip-Flops respectively, the first input being responsive to a first level signal for switching the third Flip-Flop to a first state and the second input being responsive to a first level signal for switching the Flip-Flop to a second state, the third Flip-Flop having a first output providing a first level signal when in a second state and a second level signal when in the first state and a first level signal when in the second state; means connected to the first output of the third Flip-Flop for providing a high speed signal when the first output provides a second level signal; means connected to the second output for providing a base speed signal when the second output provides a second level signal; and control means responsive to the high speed and base speed outputs for decreasing and increasing respectively the speed of the rotating knife so that the cut is maintained in registration with the specified position.