Abstract: A sensor controller for web handling applications is described. The sensor controller is provided with a first port, a second port, a computer readable medium, and a processor. The first port receives a sequence of data frames capturing an area of a material web having a width to height ratio between 0.10 and 100. The computer readable medium stores logic indicative of identifying properties of a first group of data points of a feature of the material web extending in a web direction of travel. The processor scans the sequence of data frames to locate a transition between a property of the first group of data points and a property of a second group of data points in the data frames and generates a series of location signals indicative of lateral locations of the transition within the data frames. The second port outputs the location signals.

Abstract: A sensor controller for web handling applications is described. The sensor controller is provided with a first port, a second port, a computer readable medium, and a processor. The first port receives a sequence of data frames capturing an area of a material web having a width to height ratio between 0.10 and 100. The computer readable medium stores logic indicative of identifying properties of a first group of data points of a feature of the material web extending in a web direction of travel. The processor scans the sequence of data frames to locate a transition between a property of the first group of data points and a property of a second group of data points in the data frames and generates a series of location signals indicative of lateral locations of the transition within the data frames. The second port outputs the location signals.

Abstract: A sensor system for determining the position of at least one edge of at least one web material traveling along a predetermined path. In one embodiment, the sensor system has at least one transmitter block having a plurality of transmitters capable of selectively transmitting ultrasonic signals and at least one receiver block having a plurality of receivers capable of generating receiver output signals in response to the receivers receiving at least a portion of the ultrasonic signals transmitted by the at least one transmitter block. The receiver block is spaced a distance from the transmitter block so as to define a sensor field of view therebetween whereby at least a portion of the at least one web material traveling along a predetermined travel path interferes with at least a portion of the ultrasonic signals transmitted by the at least one transmitter block.

Abstract: A sensor system for determining the position of at least one edge of at least one web material traveling along a predetermined path. In one embodiment, the sensor system has at least one transmitter block having a plurality of transmitters capable of selectively transmitting ultrasonic signals and at least one receiver block having a plurality of receivers capable of generating receiver output signals in response to the receivers receiving at least a portion of the ultrasonic signals transmitted by the at least one transmitter block. The receiver block is spaced a distance from the transmitter block so as to define a sensor field of view therebetween whereby at least a portion of the at least one web material traveling along a predetermined travel path interferes with at least a portion of the ultrasonic signals transmitted by the at least one transmitter block.

Abstract: A sensor system for determining the position of an edge of a moving web of material travelling along a predetermined travel path. the sensor system comprising a transmitter/receiver assembly, a beam reflector assembly and sensor signal processing. The transmitter/receiver assembly is positioned adjacent to the travel path of the moving web of material. The transmitter/receiver assembly has a transmitter transmitting a light curtain across at least a portion of the travel path, and a receiver receiving a shifted light curtain transmitted across at least a portion of the travel path and generating video output signals indicative of the position of the edge of the moving web of material. The beam reflector assembly is also positioned adjacent to the travel path of the moving web of material such that the travel path passes between the transmitter/receiver assembly and the beam reflector assembly.

Abstract: A sensor system for determining the position of at least one edge of a web of material traveling along a predetermined path. The sensor system has a transmitter assembly capable of selectively transmitting at least one collimated light curtain and a receiver assembly capable of generating output signals in response to receiving portions of the collimated light curtain transmitted by the transmitter assembly. The receiver assembly is spaced a distance from the transmitter assembly so as to define a travel path therebetween whereby at least a portion of the web of material traveling along a predetermined travel path blocks at least a portion of the collimated light curtain transmitted by the transmitter assembly. The output signal generated by the receiver assembly is indicative of the position of the web of material as the same is moved along the travel path between the transmitter assembly and the receiver assembly.

Abstract: A sensor system for determining the position of at least one edge of a web of material is provided. The sensor system includes a transmitter and a receiver disposed on opposite sides of the web. The transmitter is capable of selectively transmitting ultrasonic signals, and the receiver is capable of receiving such ultrasonic signals and generating output signals indicative of the position of the web. The sensor system further includes a sensor drive circuit adapted to periodically transmit to the transmitter a transmitter drive signal representative of substantially one cycle of a signal, and to receive signals from the receiver with each signal being indicative of the position of the web.

Abstract: A sensor system for determining the position of at least one edge of a web of material traveling along a predetermined path. The sensor system has a transmitter assembly capable of selectively transmitting at least one collimated light curtain and a receiver assembly capable of generating output signals in response to receiving portions of the collimated light curtain transmitted by the transmitter assembly. The receiver assembly is spaced a distance from the transmitter assembly so as to define a travel path therebetween whereby at least a portion of the web of material traveling along a predetermined travel path blocks at least a portion of the collimated light curtain transmitted by the transmitter assembly. The output signal generated by the receiver assembly is indicative of the position of the web of material as the same is moved along the travel path between the transmitter assembly and the receiver assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a guide apparatus for guiding a moving web of material having a tuft portion mounted on a backing portion such that the backing portion extends outwardly from the tuft portion to form at least one tuft edge. The web is movable in a web direction through a travel path threaded through the guide apparatus. The guide apparatus comprises a base and a platform pivotally mounted on the base to pivot about a pivot range. At least two parallel steering rollers are mounted on the platform and disposed transversely of the web direction of travel when the web travels across the platform. A sensor is positioned substantially adjacent to the travel path of the web to sense a lateral position of the tuft edge and to output an output signal indicative of the lateral position of the tuft edge when the web travels through the travel path.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for the contactless detection of the position of a moving webs. The web has on one side of the web a detector electrode covering its entire width and on the other side in the area of the web edges transmission electrodes fed by an oscillator in phase opposition, so that the capacitive couplings between the transmission electrodes and the detector electrode respond in opposing fashion to deviations of the web from the central position. The signal received by the detector electrode is processed by a current to voltage converter with a very small input impedance so that the potential of the detector electrode remains at zero, and virtually no capacitive displacement currents flow to a screening electrode In this way, the sensitivity of the measurement array is independent of the web width.

Abstract: A beta radiation sensor and an X-ray radiation sensor are used to monitor the specific weights of both components of a two-component web, in particular, a web of magnetic recording material, by using the beta radiation sensor to measure the combined specific weight of the material. The measurement by the X-ray sensor permits such combined specific weight to be apportioned between the two components of the web. Cross talk between the two sensors arising from bremstrahlung produced by the beta radiation sensor is suppressed by softening the beta radiation beam with films of polyester, by shielding the housing in which the detectors of the two sensors are disposed with a sheet of phenolic, and by stopping down the aperture through the sheet of phenolic through which X-ray radiation enters the detector housing.

Abstract: A web manufacturing apparatus including a flexible shaping member that engages fluid material of which a web is formed, a support that extends parallel to the shaping member and a plurality of thermal expansion rods that extend between the shaping member and the support so that the shaping member can be flexed to control the web thickness profile by means of heaters on the thermal expansion rod. Each thermal expansion rod is fixed to the shaping member and is secured to the support via a differential screw mechanism that includes a driven screw and an adjusting screw positioned in tandem in a threaded bore through the support and are coupled so that the driven screw can be turned by turning the adjusting screw. The driven and adjusting screws have internally threaded bores and one end of the thermal expansion rod screws into the bore of the driven screw.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for positioning a wedge in a web coating machine utilizes hydraulic actuating cylinders for moving the wedge and a multicylinder constant displacement pump for operating the hydraulic actuating cylinder. Valve circuits are provided to transmit trains of pulses generated by the pump to a selected port of the hydraulic actuating cylinder and a valve circuit is provided to select the cylinders of the pump utilized to operate the hydraulic actuating cylinder. Each cylinder of the pump generates volumetrically metered pulse trains of pressurized hydraulic fluid and the valve circuits transmit selected numbers of pulses from selected pulse trains to the hydraulic actuating cylinder for a time period equal to a multiple of the cycle time of the pump.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for supporting a frame for pivotation of the frame relative to a selected axis of pivotation. A plurality of connectors are attached to the frame at pivot support points on the frame, and the connectors are supported by a plurality of bearing posts that are arranged in a determined geometric relationship such that each connector is movable on its respective bearing post along an axis of travel, the axis of travel for each of the connectors passing through a common travel axis convergence point. The determined geometric relationship further directs the frame to have a positional reference mode in which all of the pivot support points are positioned on the circumference of a reference circle that intersects the axis of pivotation at an initial pivotation center, the initial pivotation center being located at one end of a reference diameter of the reference circle, and the travel axis convergence point being located at the other end of the reference diameter.