Process and installation for the production of documentation

Claim 2

A modular system for continuously producing business forms printed on a high-speed computer printer from a blank roll of paper comprising: an independent first modular unit having means for supporting and controllably unwinding the roll of paper at a variable speed, an independent second modular high-speed printing unit aligned with said first modular unit, said second modular unit being mechanically independent from said first modular unit and having means for accepting said paper, means for printing on said paper, and means for controllably pulling said paper through said second modular unit as it is required, said paper forming a first loop extending between said first and second modular units, first means for monitoring the position of the bottom of said first loop, and control means responsive to said said first monitoring means for causing said unwinding means to govern the speed of unwinding of said roll so that the roll is unwound whenever the first monitoring means senses that the bottom of said first loop moves above a predetermined level, whereby in response to the requirements of said second modular unit, said roll is unwound only by said unwinding means.

Claim 3

The modular system of claim 1 wherein said first monitoring means includes a photosensitive cell positioned on one of said first and second modular units and a light emitting element positioned on the other of said units, said elements being aligned with one another and being positioned on opposite sides of said first loop.

Claim 4

The modular system of claim 1 further comprising: an independent third modular unit aligned with said second modular unit, said third modular unit being mechanically independent from said second modular unit and having means for accepting said material, means for processing said material toward a finished form, and means for controllably pulling said material through said third modular unit, said web forming a second loop extending between said second and third units, second means for monitoring the the portions of said second loop, and second control means responsive to said second monitoring means for causing said pulling means to control the rate of supply of material from the second unit to the third unit.

Claim 5

The modular system of claim 3 further comprising: an independent final modular unit aligned with said third modular unit, said final modular unit being mechanically independent from said third modular unit and having means for accepting said material, means for processing said material into its finished form, and means for controllably pulling said material through said final modular unit as it is outputted from said third modular unit.

Claim 6

The modular system of claim 4 wherein said processing means of said final modular unit includes means for folding said material into a zig-zag pattern.

Claim 7

The modular system of claim 4 wherein said processing means of said final modular unit includes means for cutting the material into sheets.

Claim 8

The modular system of claim 4 wherein said final processing unit includes a rotatable reel, means for selectively winding said reel, input sensing means for sensing the amount of material being fed from said third modular unit to said final modular unit to develop an input control signal, diameter sensor means for sensing the diameter of the roll of finished material to develop a diameter signal, and control means responsive to said input signal and said diameter signal for causing said winding means to wind the material onto the reel as it is outputted from said third modular unit.

Claim 9

The modular system of claim 3 wherein said processing means of said third modular unit includes means for changing the physical structure of said roll.

Claim 10

A modular system for continuously producing business forms printed on a high-speed printer from a blank roll of paper comprising: an independent first modular unit having means for supporting and controllably unwinding the roll of paper at a variable speed and a feeler arm for sensing the diameter of the roll of paper; an independent high-speed printing unit aligned with said first modular unit, said high-speed printing unit being mechanically independent from said first modular unit and having means for accepting, tightening and guiding said paper, means for printing on said paper, and traction means for controllably pulling said paper through the printing means as it is required, said paper forming a loop extending between said first modular unit and said high-speed printing unit, means for monitoring the position of the bottom of said loop, said means including a photosensitive cell positioned on one of said first and second modular units and a light emitting element positioned on the other of said units, said elements being aligned with each other and being positioned on opposite sides of said first loop; and control means responsive to the diameter of the roll sensed by the feeler arm and to said first monitoring means for causing said unwinding means to govern the speed of unwinding of said roll so that the roll is unwound whenever the monitoring means senses that the bottom of said first loop moves above a predetermined level, whereby said roll is unwound in response to the needs of the high-speed printer but only by said unwinding means.

Claim 11

A modular system for continuously producing business forms printed on a high-speed printer from a blank roll of paper comprising: an independent first modular unit having means for supporting and controllably unwinding the roll of paper at a variable speed and a feeler arm for sensing the diameter of the roll of paper; an independent high-speed printing unit aligned with said first modular unit, said high-speed printing unit being mechanically independent from said first modular unit and having means for accepting, tightening and guiding said paper, means for printing on said paper, and traction means for controllably pulling said paper through the printing means as it is required, said paper forming a loop extending between said first modular unit and said high-speed printing unit, means for monitoring the position of the bottom of said loop, said means including a photosensitive cell positioned on one of said first and second modular units and a light emitting element positioned on the other of said units, said elements being aligned with each other and being positioned on opposite sides of said first loop; and control means responsive to the diameter of the roll sensed by the feeler arm and to said first monitoring means for causing said unwinding means to govern the speed of unwinding of said roll so that the roll is unwound whenever the monitoring means senses that the bottom of said first loop moves above a predetermined level, whereby said roll is unwound in response to the needs of the high-speed printer but only by said unwinding means.

Claim 12

An installation for the continuous treatment of a web of paper, comprising an unwinding unit for receiving and holding a web of paper wound into a roll, and comprising drive means for causing unwinding of the web from the roll; an independent second unit located in the immediate proximity of the unwinding unit for receiving the web of paper from the latter and for processing of the paper, the arrangement being such that, in use, the web can form a freely hanging loop between said unwinding unit and said second unit; and control means associated with the unwinding unit to the second unit, comprising means for detecting and monitoring the position of the lowest point of a freely hanging loop of paper between the unwinding unit and the second unit and for controlling the drive means in response to the height of said lowest point in dependence of the requirement of the second unit such that, in use, the paper is always in a slack and variable configuration between said roll and said second unit.

Claim 13

An installation for the continuous treatment of a web of paper, comprising an unwinding unit for receiving and holding a web of paper wound into a roll, and comprising drive means for causing unwinding of the web from the roll; an independent second unit located in the immediate proximity of the unwinding unit for receiving the web of paper from the latter and for processing of the paper, the arrangement being such that, in use, the web can form a freely hanging loop between said unwinding unit and said second unit; and control means associated with the unwinding unit to the second unit, comprising means for detecting and monitoring the position of the lowest point of a freely hanging loop of paper between the unwinding unit and the second unit and for controlling the drive means in response to the height of said lowest point in dependence of the requirement of the second unit such that, in use, the paper is always in a slack and variable configuration between said roll and said second unit.