Web registration control

Claim 2

A register control for web handling apparatus having drive motive means operatively moving a web containing repetitive indicia and a sequentially operating function apparatus performing repetitive operations on said web corresponding to said repetitive indicia and corrective motive means positively rotating an associated drive roll which engages and moves said web in a predetermined relationship with respect to said drive motive means, said register control comprising first sensing means operatively connected to said drive motive means to provide a speed responsive signal, second sensing means operatively connected to said function apparatus to provide a function indicating signal, third sensing means operatively scanning said web to provide an indicia indicating signal, and modification means operatively connected to said first, second and third sensing means and operable between a first condition providing a first speed command signal to operate said corrective motive means in direct response to said speed responsive signal when the operation of said function apparatus is in register with said indicia and a second condition providing a second speed command signal responsive to said speed responsive signal modified in response to said function indicating signal and said indicia indicating signal to operate said corrective motive means when the operation of said function apparatus is out of register with said indicia to thereby vary the operating speed of said corrective motive means to regain registration between said function apparatus and said indicia.

Claim 3

The register control of claim 1, and including a full wave thyristor controlled drive operatively responding to said first and second speed command signals to supply corresponding amounts of energy to said corrective motive means to control the speed of said web by said corrective motive means relative to the sensed speed of said drive motive means.

Claim 4

The register control of claim 1, wherein said second sensing means includes a member connected to rotate in synchronism with the repetitive operation of said function apparatus, a first permanent magnet connected to said member, a second permanent magnet connected to said member and circumferentially spaced from said first permanent magnet, a first magnetic sensor connected to monitor the magnetic field strength of said first magnet, and a second magnetic sensor connected to monitor the magnetic field strength of said second magnet, said first and second magnetic sensors angularly adjustable with respect to each other to provide a predefined dead sensing zone and a selectively adjustable advance sensing zone and retard sensing zone with said first magnetic sensor providing an advance pulse in response to said first magnet being within said advance zone and said second magnetic sensor providing a retard pulse in response to said second magnet being within said retard zone.

Claim 5

The register control of claim 1, wherein said modification means includes a first selectively variable modification circuit connected to receive said speed responsive signal and operable between a first mode to provide a non-modified speed output signal and a second mode to provide an advance modified output signal operatively providing said second condition in response to said function indicating signal and said indicia indicating signal, an analog-to-digital converter operatively connected to said first variable circuit and providing a digital output having a frequency proportional to the magnitude of said non-modified or advance modified speed output signal, an opto-isolator having an input operatively connected to said analog-to-digital converter to respond to said digital output and providing an optically isolated digital output corresponding in frequency to said digital output, a digital-to-analog converter operatively connected to receive said optically isolated digital output from said opto-isolator to provide an analog output having a magnitude proportional to said digital output, and a second selectively variable modification circuit connected to receive said analog output and operable between a first operating mode to provide a non-modified output and a second operating mode to provide a retard modified response for providing said second condition in response to said function indicating signal and said indicia indicating signal.

Claim 6

The register control of claim 1, and including an advance coincidence circuit connected to said second and third sensing means to provide an advance coincidence pulse in response to the simultaneous occurrence of said indicia indicating signal and a first function indicating signal, an advance modification timing circuit connected to said advance coincidence circuit and providing an advance command pulse of a predetermined advance duration in response to said advance coincidence pulse to operatively transfer said modification means from said first condition to said second condition to increase the speed of said corrective motive means for said predetermined advance duration, a retard coincidence circuit connected to said second and third sensing means to provide a retard coincidence pulse in response to the simultaneous occurence of said indicia indicating signal and a second function indicating signal, and a retard modification timing circuit connected to said retard coincidence circuit and providing a retard command pulse of a predetermined retard duration in response to said retard coincidence pulse to operatively transfer said modification means from said first condition to said second condition to decrease the speed of said corrective motive means for said predetermined retard duration.

Claim 7

A register control for web handling apparatus having drive motive means operatively moving a web containing repetitive indicia and a sequentially operating function apparatus performing repetitive operations on said web corresponding to said repetitive indicia and corrective motive means positively rotating an associated nip roll to engage and move said web in the same operative direction as provided by said drive motive means, said register control comprising drive means responding to a speed command signal to energize said corrective motive means to operatively rotate said nip rolls at a speed relating to said speed command signal and speed control means including sensing means responding to the speed of said drive motive means and the position of said function apparatus and the position of said indicia to provide said speed command signal for controlling the operating speed of said nip rolls to maintain registration between said function apparatus and said indicia.

Claim 8

A register control for web handling apparatus having drive motive means operatively moving a web containing repetitive indicia and a sequentially operating function apparatus performing repetitive operations on said web corresponding to said repetitive indicia and corrective motive means positively rotating an associated nip roll to engage and move said web in the same operative direction as provided by said drive motive means, said register control comprising drive means responding to a speed command signal to energize said corrective motive means to operatively rotate said nip rolls at a speed relating to said speed command signal and speed control means including sensing means responding to the speed of said drive motive means and the position of said function apparatus and the position of said indicia to provide said speed command signal for controlling the operating speed of said nip rolls to maintain registration between said function apparatus and said indicia.

Claim 9

The register control of claim 6, wherein said drive means includes a thyristor controlled circuit operating to energize said corrective motive means in response to said speed command signal.

Claim 10

A register control for web handling apparatus having motive means operatively moving a web containing repetitive indicia and a sequentially operating function apparatus performing repetitive operations on said web corresponding to said repetitive indicia, said register control comprising sensing means responding to the speed of said web handling apparatus to provide a speed related signal and responding to the position of said function apparatus and the position of said indicia to provide a coincidence signal in response to said function apparatus being out of register with said indicia, and timing means operatively connected to said sensing means and to said motive means to vary the operating speed of said motive means for a predetermined period of time in response to said coincidence signal and said speed signal to regain registration between said function apparatus and said indicia.

Claim 11

A register control for web handling apparatus having motive means operatively moving a web containing repetitive indicia and a sequentially operating function apparatus performing repetitive operations on said web corresponding to said repetitive indicia, said register control comprising sensing means responding to the speed of said web handling apparatus to provide a speed related signal and responding to the position of said function apparatus and the position of said indicia to provide a coincidence signal in response to said function apparatus being out of register with said indicia, and timing means operatively connected to said sensing means and to said motive means to vary the operating speed of said motive means for a predetermined period of time in response to said coincidence signal and said speed signal to regain registration between said function apparatus and said indicia.

Claim 12

The register control of claim 8, wherein said timing means includes means responding to a plurality of coincidence signals within a predetermined time to vary the operating speed for said motive means for a second predetermined period of time greater than said first predetermined period of time to regain registration between said function apparatus and said indicia.

Claim 13

A register control for web handling apparatus having motive means operatively moving a web containing repetitive indicia and a sequentially operating function apparatus performing repetitive operations on said web corresponding to said repetitive indicia, said register control comprising drive means responding to a speed command signal to energize said motive means to move said web at a speed relating to said speed command signal, sensing means operatively connected to said web handling apparatus and providing a speed signal indicative of an operating speed of said web handling apparatus, modifying means operatively connected to said sensing means and to said drive means to provide said speed command signal in response to said speed signal and selectively operable between a first condition to provide a first speed command signal and a second condition to provide a second speed command signal, and transfer means operatively connected to respond to the position of said function apparatus and the position of said indicia to transfer said modifying means from said first condition to said second condition in response to said function apparatus being out of register with said indicia to provide said second speed command signal to modify the operation of said drive means to regain registration between said function apparatus and said indicia.

Claim 14

A register control for web handling apparatus having motive means operatively moving a web containing repetitive indicia and a sequentially operating function apparatus performing repetitive operations on said web corresponding to said repetitive indicia, said register control comprising drive means responding to a speed command signal to energize said motive means to move said web at a speed relating to said speed command signal, sensing means operatively connected to said web handling apparatus and providing a speed signal indicative of an operating speed of said web handling apparatus, modifying means operatively connected to said sensing means and to said drive means to provide said speed command signal in response to said speed signal and selectively operable between a first condition to provide a first speed command signal and a second condition to provide a second speed command signal, and transfer means operatively connected to respond to the position of said function apparatus and the position of said indicia to transfer said modifying means from said first condition to said second condition in response to said function apparatus being out of register with said indicia to provide said second speed command signal to modify the operation of said drive means to regain registration between said function apparatus and said indicia.

Claim 15

The register control of claim 10, wherein said modifying means includes an operational amplifier having an input operatively connected to said sensing means through impedance means and an output operatively providing said first and second speed command signals, and said transfer means includes switch means connected to said impedance means and operable between a first condition to provide a first operative impedance operatively providing said first speed command signal and a second condition to provide a second operative impedance operatively providing said second speed command signal.

Claim 16

The register control of claim 10, wherein said modifying means includes an operational amplifier having an input operatively connected to said sensing means and an output operatively providing said first and second speed command signals and having feedback impedance means coupling said amplifier output with said amplifier input, and said transfer means includes switch means connected to said feedback impedance means and operable between a first condition to provide a first operative impedance operatively providing said first speed command signal and a second condition to provide a second operative impedance operatively providing said second speed command signal.

Claim 17

The register control of claim 10, wherein said modifying means includes an analog-to-digital converter operatively connected to said sensing means and providing a digital output having a frequency relating to the magnitude of said speed signal, an opto-isolator having an input operatively connected to said analog-to-digital converter to respond to said digital output and providing an optically isolated digital output corresponding in frequency to said digital output, and a digital-to-analog converter operatively connected to receive said optically isolated digital output from said opto-isolator and operatively providing an analog speed command signal having a magnitude relating to said digital output.

Claim 18

A register control for web handling apparatus having motive means operatively moving a web containing repetitive indicia and a sequentially operating function apparatus performing repetitive operations on said moving web corresponding to said repetitive indicia, said register control comprising (A) sensing means operatively connected to said function apparatus and including (1) a member connected to rotate in synchronism with the repetitive operation of said function apparatus, (2) a first permanent magnet connected to said member, (3) a second permanent magnet connected to said member and circumferentially spaced from said first permanent magnet, (4) a first magnetic sensor connected to monitor the magnetic field strength of said first magnet, and (5) a second magnetic sensor connected to monitor the magnetic field strength of said second magnet, said first and second magnetic sensors angularly adjustable with respect to each other to provide a predefined dead sensing zone and a selectively adjustable advance sensing zone and retard sensing zone with said first magnetic sensor providing an advance pulse in response to said first magnet being within said advance zone and said second magnetic sensor providing a retard pulse in response to said second magnet being within said retard zone, and (B) modification means operatively connected to said sensing means and to said web handling apparatus and operable between a first condition occurring when the operation of said function apparatus is in register with said indicia and a second condition occurring in response to either one of said advance pulse and said retard pulse when the operation of said function apparatus is out of register with said indicia to vary the operation of said web handling apparatus to regain registration between said function apparatus and said indicia.

Claim 19

A register control for web handling apparatus having motive means operatively moving a web containing repetitive indicia and a sequentially operating function apparatus performing repetitive operations on said moving web corresponding to said repetitive indicia, said register control comprising (A) sensing means operatively connected to said function apparatus and including (1) a member connected to rotate in synchronism with the repetitive operation of said function apparatus, (2) a first permanent magnet connected to said member, (3) a second permanent magnet connected to said member and circumferentially spaced from said first permanent magnet, (4) a first magnetic sensor connected to monitor the magnetic field strength of said first magnet, and (5) a second magnetic sensor connected to monitor the magnetic field strength of said second magnet, said first and second magnetic sensors angularly adjustable with respect to each other to provide a predefined dead sensing zone and a selectively adjustable advance sensing zone and retard sensing zone with said first magnetic sensor providing an advance pulse in response to said first magnet being within said advance zone and said second magnetic sensor providing a retard pulse in response to said second magnet being within said retard zone, and (B) modification means operatively connected to said sensing means and to said web handling apparatus and operable between a first condition occurring when the operation of said function apparatus is in register with said indicia and a second condition occurring in response to either one of said advance pulse and said retard pulse when the operation of said function apparatus is out of register with said indicia to vary the operation of said web handling apparatus to regain registration between said function apparatus and said indicia.

Claim 20

A register control system for web handling apparatus having first and second draw rolls sandwiching a substantially continuous web of pliable film therebetween, first and second function rolls sandwiching said web therebetween with said first function roll providing an operation on said web, and an electrical drive motor operatively connected to said second function roll to rotate said first and second function rolls to thereby move said web through said web handling apparatus and provide an operation on said web by said first function roll, said register control system comprising (A) a correction motor operatively rotating said first draw roll in a first direction to control the speed of the web passing between said first and second draw rolls, (B) a full wave regenerative, thyristor controlled motor speed control having an output connected to continuously and variably control the operation of said correction motor, (C) a tachometer connected to said drive motor to provide a line speed electrical signal having a relationship to the web speed at said first and second function rolls, (D) a registration scanner including a photo-responsive circuit to sense a plurality of web containing marks each indicative of a single repetitive pattern on said web to provide a mark detection pulse for each sensed mark; (E) a function position sensor connected to said first function roll and including (1) a disc connected to rotate in synchronism with the rotation of said first function roll, (2) a first permanent magnet connected to said disc, (3) a second permanent magnet connected to said disc and circumferentially spaced from said first permanent magnet, (4) a first magnetic sensor connected to monitor the magnetic field strength of said first magnet, (5) a second magnetic sensor connected to monitor the magnetic field strength of said second magnet, said first and second magnetic sensors angularly adjustable with respect to each other to provide a predefined dead sensing zone and a selectively adjustable advance sensing zone and retard sensing zone with said first magnetic sensor providing an advance pulse in response to said first magnet being within said advance zone and said second magnetic sensor providing a retard pulse in response to said second magnet being within said retard zone, (F) registration control circuit means connected to receive said line speed signal, said mark detection pulse, said advance pulse and said retard pulse and providing a speed comand signal to said motor speed control to operatively control the operating speed of said correction motor, said registration control circuit means providing (1) a speed command modification circuit including (a) a first selectively variable modification circuit connected to receive said line speed signal and operable between a first condition to provide a non-modified speed output signal and a second condition to provide an advance modified speed output signal, (b) an analog-to-digital converter operatively connected to said first selectively variable circuit and providing a digital output having a frequency proportional to the magnitude of said non-modified or advance modified speed output signals, (c) an opto-isolator having an input operatively connected to said analog-to-digital converter to respond to said digital output and providing an optically isolated digital output corresponding in frequency to said digital output, (d) a digital-to-analog converter operatively connected to receive said optically isolated digital output from said opto-isolator to provide an analog output having a magnitude proportional to said digital output, and (e) a second selectively variable modification circuit connected to receive said analog output and operable between a first condition to provide a non-modified response and a second condition to provide a retard modified response for providing said speed command signal to said motor speed control, (2) an advance coincidence circuit connected to said registration scanner and to said function position sensor to provide an advance coincidence pulse in response to the simultaneous occurrence of said mark detection pulse and said advance pulse, (3) an advance modification timing circuit connected to said advance coincidence circuit and to said first modification circuit to provide an advance command pulse of a predetermined duration in response to said advance coincidence pulse to transfer said first modification circuit from said first condition to said second condition to provide said advance modification output for said predetermined duration to correspondingly modify said speed command signal for said predetermined duration to increase the speed of said correction motor for increasing the web speed to regain registration between each sensed mark and the positioning of said first function roll, (4) a retard coincidence circuit connected to said registration scanner and to said function position sensor to provide a retard coincidence pulse in response to the simultaneous occurrence of said mark detection pulse and said retard pulse, and (5) a retard modification timing circuit connected to said retard coincidence circuit and to said second modification circuit to provide a retard command pulse of a predetermined duration in response to said retard coincidence pulse to transfer said second modification circuit from said first condition to said second condition to provide said retard modification response for said predetermined duration to correspondingly modify said speed command signal for said predetermined duration to decrease the speed of said correction motor for decreasing the web speed to regain registration between each sensed mark and the positioning of said first function roll.

Claim 21

A register control system for web handling apparatus having first and second draw rolls sandwiching a substantially continuous web of pliable film therebetween, first and second function rolls sandwiching said web therebetween with said first function roll providing an operation on said web, and an electrical drive motor operatively connected to said second function roll to rotate said first and second function rolls to thereby move said web through said web handling apparatus and provide an operation on said web by said first function roll, said register control system comprising (A) a correction motor operatively rotating said first draw roll in a first direction to control the speed of the web passing between said first and second draw rolls, (B) a full wave regenerative, thyristor controlled motor speed control having an output connected to continuously and variably control the operation of said correction motor, (C) a tachometer connected to said drive motor to provide a line speed electrical signal having a relationship to the web speed at said first and second function rolls, (D) a registration scanner including a photo-responsive circuit to sense a plurality of web containing marks each indicative of a single repetitive pattern on said web to provide a mark detection pulse for each sensed mark; (E) a function position sensor connected to said first function roll and including (1) a disc connected to rotate in synchronism with the rotation of said first function roll, (2) a first permanent magnet connected to said disc, (3) a second permanent magnet connected to said disc and circumferentially spaced from said first permanent magnet, (4) a first magnetic sensor connected to monitor the magnetic field strength of said first magnet, (5) a second magnetic sensor connected to monitor the magnetic field strength of said second magnet, said first and second magnetic sensors angularly adjustable with respect to each other to provide a predefined dead sensing zone and a selectively adjustable advance sensing zone and retard sensing zone with said first magnetic sensor providing an advance pulse in response to said first magnet being within said advance zone and said second magnetic sensor providing a retard pulse in response to said second magnet being within said retard zone, (F) registration control circuit means connected to receive said line speed signal, said mark detection pulse, said advance pulse and said retard pulse and providing a speed comand signal to said motor speed control to operatively control the operating speed of said correction motor, said registration control circuit means providing (1) a speed command modification circuit including (a) a first selectively variable modification circuit connected to receive said line speed signal and operable between a first condition to provide a non-modified speed output signal and a second condition to provide an advance modified speed output signal, (b) an analog-to-digital converter operatively connected to said first selectively variable circuit and providing a digital output having a frequency proportional to the magnitude of said non-modified or advance modified speed output signals, (c) an opto-isolator having an input operatively connected to said analog-to-digital converter to respond to said digital output and providing an optically isolated digital output corresponding in frequency to said digital output, (d) a digital-to-analog converter operatively connected to receive said optically isolated digital output from said opto-isolator to provide an analog output having a magnitude proportional to said digital output, and (e) a second selectively variable modification circuit connected to receive said analog output and operable between a first condition to provide a non-modified response and a second condition to provide a retard modified response for providing said speed command signal to said motor speed control, (2) an advance coincidence circuit connected to said registration scanner and to said function position sensor to provide an advance coincidence pulse in response to the simultaneous occurrence of said mark detection pulse and said advance pulse, (3) an advance modification timing circuit connected to said advance coincidence circuit and to said first modification circuit to provide an advance command pulse of a predetermined duration in response to said advance coincidence pulse to transfer said first modification circuit from said first condition to said second condition to provide said advance modification output for said predetermined duration to correspondingly modify said speed command signal for said predetermined duration to increase the speed of said correction motor for increasing the web speed to regain registration between each sensed mark and the positioning of said first function roll, (4) a retard coincidence circuit connected to said registration scanner and to said function position sensor to provide a retard coincidence pulse in response to the simultaneous occurrence of said mark detection pulse and said retard pulse, and (5) a retard modification timing circuit connected to said retard coincidence circuit and to said second modification circuit to provide a retard command pulse of a predetermined duration in response to said retard coincidence pulse to transfer said second modification circuit from said first condition to said second condition to provide said retard modification response for said predetermined duration to correspondingly modify said speed command signal for said predetermined duration to decrease the speed of said correction motor for decreasing the web speed to regain registration between each sensed mark and the positioning of said first function roll.