Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus for performing a manufacturing operation on a plurality of flat sheets, such as corrogated cardboard, is provided which is quickly and easily configured for the desired manufacturing operation and substantially reduces the makeready times between jobs having different manufacturing requirements. Preferably, the apparatus includes a mechanism for transporting the sheets serially along a path of travel from the stack of sheets to a first manufacturing location. A mechanism for performing the desired manufacturing operation is normally disposed at the first location, but is shiftable out of the first location when desired. Advantageously, a shiftable conveying mechanism is provided which is shifted into the first location when the manufacturing mechanism is shifted out. Preferably, the apparatus includes a second shiftable manufacturing mechanism and a second shiftable conveying mechanism operably disposed adjacent a second location along the path of travel. Advantageously, the first and second mechanisms can operate either simultaneously on the serially moving sheets, or one of the mechanisms can be shifted out of its manufacturing location for maintenance purposes or to set up for a different job without stopping the apparatus for long periods of time.

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First Claim