Method and apparatus for intermittently processing successive definite lengths of a continuous flexible web

A method of processing one after another lengths of a continuous flexible web extending into a processing station wherein a rotary processing means that does not engage against the web in one phase of a complete rotation of said means will process a certain length of the web in a second phase of the rotation, said method comprising:

• (a) in said one phase of a said rotation, drawing the web backward from a lead of the web upstream from said station so as to remove slack web from said lead and leave a certain web length positioned in said station to register with said processing means;
• (b) then feeding into said upstream lead a length of the web longer than said certain web length, thus forming a looped upstream lead of the web;
• (c) during said second phase of the rotation, processing said certain web length and driving forward from said station and out of said looped lead a length of the web longer than said certain web length but shorter than the web length fed into said lead, thus leaving slack web in said lead;
• (d) and then repeating steps (a), (b) and (c).

Apparatus whereby a rotary press for processing separate sheets one after another is adapted for processing successive definite lengths of a continuous flexible sheet material, said press including continuously rotatable cylinders which in one phase of each rotation thereof are peripherally spaced apart and in a second phase of the rotation meet peripherally in a nip to drive forward and process a length of sheet material disposed between them, said apparatus comprising:

• at least one of said cylinders having a peripheral sector thereof recessed so that, in said one phase of a rotation thereof said sheet material is free to be positioned between the cylinders and in said second phase of the rotation the material will be engaged in said nip and driven forward a certain distance greater than the length of the material to be processed by a rotation of the cylinders;
• and
• feeding means non-slippably engaging the sheet material at a location spaced upstream from said cylinders, said feeding means being operative in said one phase of each said rotation (1) to draw a measured length of the material backward from a lead of the material extending from said feeding means into the press so that slack is removed from said lead and a certain length of the material is positioned to be driven forward and processed in said nip, and then (2) to feed forward into said lead a measured excess length of the material longer than said certain distance of forward drive of the material, so that the driving forward and processing of the material in said second phase of the rotation leaves slack material in said lead.