Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting a category from a plurality of categories, where each category comprises a number of elements, and corresponds to a category performance determinant that represents a measurement associated with a given category, and where a category performance determinant biases the selection of a given category.

Abstract: A speed control assembly for a rotatable web winding apparatus comprising a dancer engaged with a web of material wound about the winder apparatus for displaceably responding within a predetermined range of dancer positions to tension variations in the web; a first control signal generating device for generating a first control signal in response to dancer displacement from a predetermined centered position, the ratio of dancer displacement to the first control signal being variable over the range of dancer displacement positions; and a dancer response rotation control device for rotationally accelerating the winding apparatus in response to the first control signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus controlling the lateral position of a moving web of material having a central longitudinally extending web axis extending generally parallel to the direction of movement of the web so as to maintain the central longitudinally extending axis of the web at a substantial constant lateral position relative a fixed longitudinally extending axis associated with a fixed web alignment station based upon the detected longitudinal distance between certain portions of a series of longitudinally spaced apart, substantially identical, generally transversely extending indicia in a longitudinally extending indicia path parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the web.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the phasing relationship of a moving web of material of the type having a repeating series of graphics patterns thereon which repeat at ordinarily constant distance repeat length intervals of web travel and which contain separate repeating indicia portions which define a repeating indicia set which are positioned in a repeating indicia path extending longitudinally of the web comprising: an indicia detection device for providing an indicia detection pulse signal; a web travel sensing device for providing a web movement signal; an indicia profiling device for processing the indicia pulse signal and the web monitoring signal for generating a unique indicia image for each of the repeating indicia in a selected repeat length portion of the web; an indicia image storage device for identifying and storing the indicia images from a first selected repeat length portion of the web; a register indicia designation device for initially designating one of the repeating indicia to be register in

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the phasing of repeat length portions of a moving web to an operating machine along the web including method and apparatus for measuring instantaneous phasing error between web portions being operated on and the operating machine; method and apparatus for measuring repeat length error in web portions upstream of the operating station; method and apparatus for determining the total distance by which a web portion is out of phase with the operating machine before the web portion is operated on by the operating machine, method and apparatus for adjusting the movement of a web portion relative the movement of the operating machine during the last repeat length of web travel of the web portion before it is operated on by the operating machine; and method and apparatus for monitoring and correcting the phasing adjustment response.

Abstract: A method of generating a signal indicative of the passage of indicia on a moving web of material at a preselected reference station along the web without use of an indicia sensing device at the selected reference station comprising locating an indicia sensing device at a sensing station at a preselected distance of web travel upstream of the reference station; generating an indicia detection signal having sensing pulses coinciding with the passage of indicia at the sensing station; measuring the distance of web travel occurring after each sensing pulse in the indicia detection signal; generating an indicia reference signal having reference pulses coinciding with the passage of indicia at the selected reference station by providing a reference pulse corresponding to each sensing pulse and occurring thereafter at a point in time at which the measured distance of web travel after a corresponding sensing pulse is equal to the preselected distance of web travel between the sensing station and the preselected refer

Abstract: A reheating and blow molding system utilizing an indexing plate having pairs of core pins mounted on the periphery. Radiant heaters heat parisons mounted on the core pin to a temperature suitable for blow molding while the parisons are rotated in response to movement of a spin belt. Rotation of the parisons during heating provides greater uniformity of heating. Tapered shanks remove the core pins from core pin holders and dispose the parisons in a mold for blow molding. The core pins are then disposed in the core pin holders and indexed to a subsequent indexing location where the finished article is removed.