US4248655A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Position control system for a moving web
Assignee: GGA Corp A CORP OF DE
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Filing: 1979-06-01
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Granted: 1981-02-03
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Expires: 1999-06-01
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure relates to apparatus for controlling the positions of indicia on a moving web relative to the positions of a series of moving articles. The web has a series of spaced indicia on it, and the position of each indicium is matched or registered with the position of an article. First means is provided for sensing each indicium and generating a first signal indicative of the indicia, and second means is provided for sensing the articles and providing a second signal representative of each article. Third means is provided for generating a series of pulses in response to operation of a drive for the web. Counter means counts any pulses between occurrences of the first and second signals, such a count indicating a separation or disparity between positions of an indicium and an associated article. Speed control means operates in response to any such count to adjust the relative speeds of the articles and the web to obtain proper registration.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel Kerwin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 18:23
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65C; B65C9/00; B65C9/40; B65C9/42; B65C9/44; B65C9/08; B65C9/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A system for use in a machine for applying indicia to a series of articles, the indicia being spaced on an elongated web and the articles being moved on a conveyor and spaced on said conveyor by spacing means, the machine including a drive means for the web and for the spacing means, the indicia and the articles being fed in associated pairs to a channel where the indicia are transferred from the web to the articles, said apparatus comprising first sensor means responsive to said indicia moving to said channel, second sensor means responsive to said articles moving to said channel, means responsive to said first and second sensor means and determining the length of any time interval between an indicium and an associated article, and control means responsive to the length of said time interval for adjusting the relative positions of said indicia and said articles to obtain registration between the indicium and the article of each pair.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
160 words
A system for use in a machine for applying indicia to a series of articles, the indicia being spaced on an elongated web and the articles being moved on a conveyor and spaced on said conveyor by spacing means, the machine including a drive means for the web and for the spacing means, the indicia and the articles being fed in associated pairs to a channel where the indicia are transferred from the web to the articles, said apparatus comprising first sensor means responsive to said indicia moving to said channel, second sensor means responsive to said articles moving to said channel, means responsive to said first and second sensor means and determining the length of any time interval between an indicium and an associated article, and control means responsive to the length of said time interval for adjusting the relative positions of said indicia and said articles to obtain registration between the indicium and the article of each pair.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as in claim 1, wherein said control means adjusts the positions of said articles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as in claim 1, wherein said control means adjusts said relative positions to eliminate said time interval.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as in claim 1, and further including jog means connected to said control means for effecting a rapid adjustment of said relative positions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as in claim 1, wherein said first sensor means comprises photoelectric means responsive to said indicia.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system as in claim 1, wherein said means responsive to said first and second sensors is further responsive to said drive means, and said length of any time interval is also a function of the speed of said drive means.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
211 words
A system for use in a machine for applying indicia to a series of articles, the indicia being spaced on an elongated web and the articles being moved on a conveyor and spaced on said conveyor by spacing means, the machine including a drive means for the web and for the spacing means, the indicia and the articles being fed in associated pairs to a channel where the indicia are transferred from the web to the articles, said apparatus comprising first sensor means responsive to said indicia moving to said channel, second sensor means responsive to said articles moving to said channel, means responsive to said first and second sensor means and determining any time interval between an indicium and an associated article, control means responsive to said time interval for adjusting the relative positions of said indicia and said articles to obtain registration between the indicium and the article of each pair, said means responsive to said sensor means comprising means generating a train of pulses, a counter connected to receive said pulses, one of said sensor means being connected to enable said counter and the other of said sensor means being connected to disable said counter, whereby any count in said counter is a function of said time interval.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
211 words
A system for use in a machine for applying indicia to a series of articles, the indicia being spaced on an elongated web and the articles being moved on a conveyor and spaced on said conveyor by spacing means, the machine including a drive means for the web and for the spacing means, the indicia and the articles being fed in associated pairs to a channel where the indicia are transferred from the web to the articles, said apparatus comprising first sensor means responsive to said indicia moving to said channel, second sensor means responsive to said articles moving to said channel, means responsive to said first and second sensor means and determining any time interval between an indicium and an associated article, control means responsive to said time interval for adjusting the relative positions of said indicia and said articles to obtain registration between the indicium and the article of each pair, said means responsive to said sensor means comprising means generating a train of pulses, a counter connected to receive said pulses, one of said sensor means being connected to enable said counter and the other of said sensor means being connected to disable said counter, whereby any count in said counter is a function of said time interval.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as in claim 7, and further including means for presetting a count in said counter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as in claim 8, wherein said control means adjusts said relative positions to maintain said preset count.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as in claim 7, wherein said means generating a train of pulses comprises a pulse generator connected to said drive for said web.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as in claim 10, wherein said train of pulses has a frequency that is a function of the speed of said main drive.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
159 words
A machine for applying indicia to a series of articles, the indicia being spaced on an elongated web, the machine comprising a conveyor and the articles being moved on the conveyor spacing means for spacing the articles on said conveyor, drive means for the web and for the spacing means, decal applying channel means, the indicia and the articles being fed in associated pairs to said channel means where the indicia are transferred from the web to the articles, first sensor means responsive to said indicia moving to said channel, second sensor means responsive to said articles moving to said channel, means responsive to said first and second sensor means and determining the length of any time interval between an indicium and an associated article, and control means responsive to the length of said time interval for adjusting the relative positions of said indicia and said articles to obtain registration between the indicium and the article of each pair.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
159 words
A machine for applying indicia to a series of articles, the indicia being spaced on an elongated web, the machine comprising a conveyor and the articles being moved on the conveyor spacing means for spacing the articles on said conveyor, drive means for the web and for the spacing means, decal applying channel means, the indicia and the articles being fed in associated pairs to said channel means where the indicia are transferred from the web to the articles, first sensor means responsive to said indicia moving to said channel, second sensor means responsive to said articles moving to said channel, means responsive to said first and second sensor means and determining the length of any time interval between an indicium and an associated article, and control means responsive to the length of said time interval for adjusting the relative positions of said indicia and said articles to obtain registration between the indicium and the article of each pair.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-02-03 | 1984-08-04 | 1985-02-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-02-03 | 1988-08-04 | 1989-02-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-02-03 | 1992-08-04 | 1993-02-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |