Register control method and apparatus

Claim 1

In a rotary printing press having at least a first printing station, means for feeding a web continuously to the first printing station, and a cut-off mechanism for severing the web spaced downstream from the first printing station by a substantial predetermined distance, apparatus for automatically maintaining accurate registry of successive operations performed upon the web including printing at the first printing station and severing by the cut-off mechanism without sensing position and feeding back a position signal to control means to maintain registry, said apparatus comprising a plurality of driven rolls for engaging the web at respective spaced positions along its path of travel from the first printing station to the cut-off mechanism, engagement means for causing all of said driven rolls to engage the web at respective ones of said positions without slippage therebetween, said engagement means including means for forcing the web against at least the last of said driven rolls before the cut-off mechanism with force sufficient to preclude slippage therebetween, and motive means for driving all of said driven rolls at respective tangential speeds bearing substantially constant ratios to one another so that the elongation of the web between respective driven rolls is substantially constant, the ratios of speeds being such that the web is maintained in tension without breaking between driven rolls.