Abstract: An inventory control system and method that tracks inventories of items with RFID tags, includes a reader unit and an intelligent station that tracks RFID tags to determine item information of items to be inventoried. The reader unit transmits and receives RF signals. The intelligent station includes a first RF antenna connected to the reader unit by a first transmission cable through a first switch, and one or more additional RF antennae connected to the reader unit by the same first transmission cable through additional switches. An inventory control processing unit receives item information from the intelligent stations to update inventory information regarding the items to be inventoried.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method and apparatus for the measurement of web strain in a confined area. The apparatus comprises a fiber optic scope means and a fiber optic tube means operatively connected to the fiber optic scope means. The fiber optic scope means is secured inside the fiber optic tube means. An adjustable stand-off means is placed on the web. In an exemplary embodiment the stand-off means is operatively connected to the fiber optic tube means to provide a fixed but adjustable focal length between an end of the fiber optic scope means and the surface of the web. In an exemplary method, the web surface is marked with a series of reference points. The reference points are visually measured using the fiber optic scope means. After the web undergoes a movement, such as a converting step or fold, the web is again visually examined using the fiber optic scope means. The relative movement of the reference points is visually determined.

Abstract: An inventory control system and method that tracks inventories of items with RFID tags, includes a reader unit and an intelligent station that tracks RFID tags to determine item information of items to be inventoried. The reader unit transmits and receives RF signals. The intelligent station includes a first RF antenna connected to the reader unit by a first transmission cable through a first switch, and one or more additional RF antennae connected to the reader unit by the same first transmission cable through additional switches. An inventory control processing unit receives item information from the intelligent stations to update inventory information regarding the items to be inventoried.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method and apparatus for the measurement of web strain in a confined area. The apparatus comprises a fiber optic scope means and a fiber optic tube means operatively connected to the fiber optic scope means. The fiber optic scope means is secured inside the fiber optic tube means. An adjustable stand-off means is placed on the web. In an exemplary embodiment the stand-off means is operatively connected to the fiber optic tube means to provide a fixed but adjustable focal length between an end of the fiber optic scope means and the surface of the web. In an exemplary method, the web surface is marked with a series of reference points. The reference points are visually measured using the fiber optic scope means. After the web undergoes a movement, such as a converting step or fold, the web is again visually examined using the fiber optic scope means. The relative movement of the reference points is visually determined.

Abstract: This invention concerns a technique and an apparatus that is used for the measurement of bi-axial strain in printed paperboard or paperboard based laminates. Such strain information is useful for determining the margin to failure of various features of laminated paperboard cartons, such as those used in the liquid packaging industry. Knowing such margins of failure is crucial for ensuring integrity of the microbiological barrier in aseptic liquid packaging.

Abstract: Using induction heaters, two rotating metal bands are heated to a target temperature, continuously sensed by infrared temperature probes and then compressed on either side of a mated pair of paperboard carton flanges in an extended nip. The mated paperboard flange area is then heated by conduction from the metal bands to the activation temperature of the coating material to form a uniform bond between the paperboard surfaces.

Abstract: This invention relates to an on-line instrument that is able to sample the contents of a dense paste-like material, isolate the material, measure the material's rheological properties by extruding it under pressure and perform a self-cleaning operation. Such structures of this type, generally, provide precise measurements of the material's rheological properties (deformation and flow under pressure) such as yield stress, yield pressure, viscosity or Bingham number.

Abstract: A cascaded loop controller is used to control register or repeat lengths and web tension on laminating machines where the inner control loop utilizes register-length sensors near the unwind end of the laminating machine to make rapid adjustments in web tension that are necessary immediately following a reel splice and an outer control loop that provides a remote register-length set-point to the inner loop based upon a desired repeat length as measured near the rewind end of the laminating machine.

Abstract: This invention relates to controllers for printing presses. Such structures of this type, generally, utilize information gathered at earlier production stages, such as, the crease register to improve the through put of later stages, such as, printing.