Automatic web tension and register control

Claim 2

Apparatus for use in processing a strip of material which travels from one web processing unit to a second web processing unit, said apparatus comprising variable speed drive means for varying the speed of said strip relative to said second unit while the length of said strip extending between said variable speed drive means and said second unit remains substantially constant, said variable speed drive means including at least one roll which engages said strip and is rotated at variable speeds about a fixed axis of rotation to move said strip toward said second unit, control means operatively connected to said variable speed drive means for regulating the operation of said variable speed drive means to register said strip with said second processing unit, and tension control means for maintaining a constant tension in said strip between said first unit and said variable speed drive means as said strip travels from said one unit to said second unit and while a change in the speed of web advance is occuring.

Claim 3

An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control means includes sensor means located between said variable speed drive means and said tension control means for detecting when the speed of operation of said variable speed drive means should be varied to maintain said predetermined relationship between said strip and said second unit.

Claim 4

An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tension control means includes a roll which is movable to vary the length of said strip located between said one unit and said variable speed drive means, said roll being adapted to be pressed against said strip with a substantially constant force during operation of said apparatus to thereby vary the length of said strip between said one unit and said variable speed drive means while maintaining a substantially constant tension in said strip.

Claim 7

An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein each of said tension control means includes a roller which is urged into engagement with the associated ribbon with a substantially constant pressure independently of the other tension control means to thereby provide a substantially constant tension in the associated ribbon independently of the tension in the other ribbons.

Claim 8

Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 and further including means responsive to the operation of at least one of said tension control means to vary the length of said web located between said cutter means and said printing press when said one tension control means is in a predetermined operating condition.

Claim 9

Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein each of said drive means includes hard surfaced roll means mounted for rotation about a fixed axis and adapted to engage the associated one of said ribbons and a resilient surfaced drive roll cooperating with said hard surfaced roll means, said drive roll being movable relative to said fixed axis of rotation to vary the extent of compression of the resilient surface of said drive roll to thereby vary the rate of rotation of said hard surfaced roll means and the speed of movement of the ribbon associated with said drive roll.

Claim 10

Apparatus for use in processing a strip of material having register marks thereon and which strip travels from one web processing unit to a second web processing unit, said apparatus comprising a plurality of rollers mounted for rotation about fixed axes and defining a control nip through which said strip passes, variable speed drive means for varying the speed of rotation of said rollers about their fixed axes to vary the speed of said strip relative to said second unit, sensor means located ahead of said control nip for generating a register signal in response to movement of each register mark in turn past said sensor means prior to passage of the register marks through said control nip, means for generating reference signals having a predetermined relationship with an operating cycle of said second unit, control means for detecting a change in the relationship between said reference and register signals from a predetermined relationship corresponding to a condition in which said strip is in registration with said second unit and for initiating a change in the speed of operation of said variable speed drive means in response to detection of a change in the relationship between said reference and register signals from said predetermined relationship.

Claim 11

Apparatus for use in processing a strip of material having register marks thereon and which strip travels from one web processing unit to a second web processing unit, said apparatus comprising a plurality of rollers mounted for rotation about fixed axes and defining a control nip through which said strip passes, variable speed drive means for varying the speed of rotation of said rollers about their fixed axes to vary the speed of said strip relative to said second unit, sensor means located ahead of said control nip for generating a register signal in response to movement of each register mark in turn past said sensor means prior to passage of the register marks through said control nip, means for generating reference signals having a predetermined relationship with an operating cycle of said second unit, control means for detecting a change in the relationship between said reference and register signals from a predetermined relationship corresponding to a condition in which said strip is in registration with said second unit and for initiating a change in the speed of operation of said variable speed drive means in response to detection of a change in the relationship between said reference and register signals from said predetermined relationship.

Claim 12

Apparatus for use in processing a plurality of strips material having register marks thereon and which strips of material travel from one web processing unit to a second web processing unit, said apparatus comprising a plurality of rollers for defining a plurality of control nips through each of which one of said plurality of strips passes, variable speed drive means for varying the speed of rotation of said rollers to vary the speed of the associated strips relative to said second unit, a plurality of sensoR elements mounted ahead of the control nips, each of said sensor elements being associated with one of the strips for generating first register signals in response to movement of register marks past said sensor elements prior to passage of the register marks through said control nips, sensor means associated with at least one of the strips at a location after the control nip associated with the one strip for generating second register signals in response to movement of register marks on said one strip past said sensor means after passage of the register marks on said one strip through the control nip associated with said one strip, and control means for operating said variable speed drive means in response to said first and second register signals to substantially maintain a predetermined relationship between said plurality of strips and said second web processing unit.

Claim 13

Apparatus for use in processing a plurality of strips material having register marks thereon and which strips of material travel from one web processing unit to a second web processing unit, said apparatus comprising a plurality of rollers for defining a plurality of control nips through each of which one of said plurality of strips passes, variable speed drive means for varying the speed of rotation of said rollers to vary the speed of the associated strips relative to said second unit, a plurality of sensoR elements mounted ahead of the control nips, each of said sensor elements being associated with one of the strips for generating first register signals in response to movement of register marks past said sensor elements prior to passage of the register marks through said control nips, sensor means associated with at least one of the strips at a location after the control nip associated with the one strip for generating second register signals in response to movement of register marks on said one strip past said sensor means after passage of the register marks on said one strip through the control nip associated with said one strip, and control means for operating said variable speed drive means in response to said first and second register signals to substantially maintain a predetermined relationship between said plurality of strips and said second web processing unit.

Claim 14

Apparatus for use in processing a web of material which travels from one web processing unit including a printing press and a cutter means for slitting a printed web from the printing press into a plurality of strips to a second web processing unit including a folder means in which the plurality of strips are brought into superimposition, said apparatus comprising a plurality of variable speed drive means for varying the speed of each of said strips relative to said second unit while the length of each of said strips extending between said variable speed drive means and said second unit remains substantially constant, each of said variable speed drive means including a drive roll of a resiliently deflectable material which cooperates with a hard surface roll mounted for rotation about a fixed axis, said drive roll being movable toward and away from the axis of rotation of said hard surfaced roll to vary the rate of rotation of said hard surfaced roll and the speed at which an associated one of said strips is moved by said drive means, control means operatively connected to said variable speed drive means for regulating the operation of said variable speed drive means to register said strips with said second processing unit, said control means including a plurality of sensor means each of which is located along an associated one of said strips ahead of said variable speed drive means for detecting registration indicator means on said strips before said registration indicator means passes through said drive means and providing a signal indicative of variations in the position of said registration indicator means from a predetermined position, said control means being operatively associated with said drive roll of each of said drive means to vary the position of said drive roll relative to said hard surfaced roll as a function of a signal from an associated one of said sensor to thereby vary the speed at which the associated one of said strips is driven, and tension control means for maintaining a constant tension in said strips between said one unit and said variable speed drive means as said strips travel from said one unit to said second unit and while a change in the speed of advance of said strips is occurring, said tension control means including a plurality of rolls each of which is movable to vary the length of an associated one of said strips located between said one unit and said variable speed drive means, each of said rolls being adapted to be pressed against said strips with a substantially constant force during operation of said apparatus to thereby vary the length of said strips between said one unit and said variable speed drive means while maintaining a substantially constant tension in said strips.

Claim 15

Apparatus for use in processing a web of material which travels from one web processing unit including a printing press and a cutter means for slitting a printed web from the printing press into a plurality of strips to a second web processing unit including a folder means in which the plurality of strips are brought into superimposition, said apparatus comprising a plurality of variable speed drive means for varying the speed of each of said strips relative to said second unit while the length of each of said strips extending between said variable speed drive means and said second unit remains substantially constant, each of said variable speed drive means including a drive roll of a resiliently deflectable material which cooperates with a hard surface roll mounted for rotation about a fixed axis, said drive roll being movable toward and away from the axis of rotation of said hard surfaced roll to vary the rate of rotation of said hard surfaced roll and the speed at which an associated one of said strips is moved by said drive means, control means operatively connected to said variable speed drive means for regulating the operation of said variable speed drive means to register said strips with said second processing unit, said control means including a plurality of sensor means each of which is located along an associated one of said strips ahead of said variable speed drive means for detecting registration indicator means on said strips before said registration indicator means passes through said drive means and providing a signal indicative of variations in the position of said registration indicator means from a predetermined position, said control means being operatively associated with said drive roll of each of said drive means to vary the position of said drive roll relative to said hard surfaced roll as a function of a signal from an associated one of said sensor to thereby vary the speed at which the associated one of said strips is driven, and tension control means for maintaining a constant tension in said strips between said one unit and said variable speed drive means as said strips travel from said one unit to said second unit and while a change in the speed of advance of said strips is occurring, said tension control means including a plurality of rolls each of which is movable to vary the length of an associated one of said strips located between said one unit and said variable speed drive means, each of said rolls being adapted to be pressed against said strips with a substantially constant force during operation of said apparatus to thereby vary the length of said strips between said one unit and said variable speed drive means while maintaining a substantially constant tension in said strips.