An adjustable pouch machine comprises a vertical sealer module forms transverse seals between two plies of a pouch web to partially define a plurality of pouches. Rollers selectively tension and relax the web on the vertically oriented wheel, allowing them to drop away from heated lands on emergency and cycle stops. A filler wheel has a plurality of adjustable gripper units mounted directly thereon for transporting independent separate pouches cut from the pouch web. An adjustable knife is selectively provided with changeable knife hub sets to handle a variety of pouch sizes where a filler wheel alternately first fills and seals pouches in a train. Gear linkage accommodates variation in distance between hubs of different sets. Various embodiments, apparatus and methods are described.

A system for cutting to length at least two strands of long rolled products (3, 5) preferably coming from a hot rolling mill. The system includes shears comprising at least two rotatable drums (4,6), each drum having a cutter (8,8′,10,10′) arranged to cut simultaneously at least two strands of long rolled products into finished segments. The system further includes at least two movable guides (12,14), each including at least two channels, each guide arranged to receive and guide at least one strand (3,5) of long product. The guides are movable between a position wherein, in operation, the strands of long product are located in positions either outside of the trajectory of the cutters in a position wherein the strands cannot be cut or wherein the strands are located on the trajectories of the cutters and can be cut by the cutters.

An inspection and cutting apparatus which employs a reciprocally moveable cutting knife includes an elongated main body having opposite ends; and a protrusion is integral with the elongated main body, and which inhibits an adhesive force from being created between the outside facing surface of the elongated main body, and the adjacent sidewalls of a knife guidance track when a source of water wets the outside surface of the elongated main body and the adjacent spaced sidewalls of the knife guidance channel.

An adjustable pouch machine comprises a vertical sealer module forms transverse seals between two piles of a pouch web to partially define a plurality of pouches. Rollers selectively tension and relax the web on the vertically oriented wheel, allowing them to drop away from heated lands on emergency and cycle stops. A filler wheel has a plurality of adjustable gripper units mounted directly thereon for transporting independent separate pouches cut from the pouch web. An adjustable knife is selectively provided with changeable knife hub sets to handle a variety of pouch sizes where a filler wheel alternately first fills and seals pouches in a train. Gear linkage accommodates variation in distance between hubs of different sets. Various embodiments, apparatus and methods are described.

An adjustable pouch machine comprises a vertical sealer module forms transverse seals between two plies of a pouch web to partially define a plurality of pouches. Rollers selectively tension and relax the web on the vertically oriented wheel, allowing them to drop away from heated lands on emergency and cycle stops. A filler wheel has a plurality of adjustable gripper units mounted directly thereon for transporting independent separate pouches cut from the pouch web. An adjustable knife is selectively provided with changeable knife hub sets to handle a variety of pouch sizes where a filler wheel alternately first fills and seals pouches in a train. Gear linkage accommodates variation in distance between hubs of different sets. Various embodiments, apparatus and methods are described.

An apparatus for transverse cutting of a web has a frame straddling the web path, a side frame on each side of the web path and an upper frame between the two side frames, a circular saw blade suspended in a pendulum arm pivotably connected to the upper frame, a swinging drive for controlling the swinging movement of the saw blade, wherein the pendulum arm is pivotably mounted in a vertically movable sub-frame of the upper frame, and the vertical movement of the sub-frame relative to the upper frame is managed by a lifting drive that is coordinated with the swinging drive. Also disclosed is a method for transverse cutting a web.