A control system for a converting line has a sensor configured to sense a distance between the sensor and a surface of a roll of web material as the roll of web material is unwound from an unwinder and directed to the converting line. The controller is configured to: (i) determine a diameter measurement of the roll as the roll rotates based upon the sensor signals; (ii) store a plurality of data structures in a memory of a controller of a control system wherein the data structures comprise a plurality of data items associated together as the diameter measurements of the roll of the web material; (iii) process by a statistical regression analysis the data structures associated with the diameter; and (iv) generate signals for controlling the converting line based upon the processed diameter measurements.

A control system for a converting line has a sensor configured to sense a distance between the sensor and a surface of a roll of web material as the roll of web material is unwound from an unwinder and directed to the converting line. The controller is configured to: (i) determine a diameter measurement of the roll as the roll rotates based upon the sensor signals; (ii) store a plurality of data structures in a memory of a controller of a control system wherein the data structures comprise a plurality of data items associated together as the diameter measurements of the roll of the web material; (iii) process by a statistical regression analysis the data structures associated with the diameter; and (iv) generate signals for controlling the converting line based upon the processed diameter measurements.

A method of aligning a wire with a pathway inlet includes directing a feeding end of a wire toward a pathway inlet of a feed pathway, creating a pressure differential between the pathway inlet and a pathway outlet of the feed pathway thus creating a pressure-driven gas flow around the wire and into the pathway inlet. The wire is urged along the feed pathway toward the pathway outlet via the shear force of the gas flow created by the pressure differential. A method of preventing stiction of a wire with an inner wall of a thin pathway includes creating a pressure differential between a pathway inlet and a pathway outlet thus creating a pressure-driven gas flow around a feeding end of the wire and into the pathway inlet of the pathway, and inducing one of a flutter or vibration in the wire at the feeding end of the wire.

A medium feeding apparatus includes a roll motor which applies torque for rotating a roll body to the roll body, a storage portion which stores output measured value, which is measurement result of output value to the roll motor for rotating the roll body, and a roll control portion which corrects the output measured values stored in the storage portion to correction value in accordance with stop time of the roll motor, and controls the roll motor based on the corrected output measured values.

A positioning and conveying device includes an endless conveyor belt which runs around two rollers mounted to a frame. The outer surface of the roller is defined by a plurality of roller segments which complementary cover the perimeter. The segments are individually movable in the axial direction for laterally moving the conveyor belt relative to the frame. The device includes at least one actuator assembly including a controllable magnetic actuator mounted at either end of the roller. At either end of the segments a ferromagnetic counterpart is mounted to cooperate with the respective magnetic actuators to move the respective segments in the axial direction. Each magnetic actuator comprises an electromagnet. Each ferromagnetic counterpart is arranged on a radial inner side of the associated segment. During rotation of the roller the roller segments and the associated counterparts follow a circular trajectory during a part of which they face the corresponding electromagnets.

Maintaining a level of tension on material as it is processed in a manufacturing operation assists in the processing of the material. The tension of the material as it is fed through a process station is maintained by a material sag portion, such as an unsupported portion of the material extending between a roll of the material and the process station. The formation of the sag portion and the loading of the material forming the sag portion are automated and adjusted with a system having a material storage retrieval system, a shuttle, a tensioning device, and/or a processing station.

A web transporting method includes a drive roller (Gd), N (where N is an integer of 1 or greater) driven rollers (Gn) which nip a wound portion of a web between the drive roller and the driven rollers, and a tension application unit which applies a tension Tl to a portion of the web which is one side of the wound portion and applies a tension Th which is higher than the tension Tl to a portion of the web which is opposite the one side of the wound portion, in which an angle 0, an angle (n), a load P(n), a static friction coefficient 0, and a static friction coefficient (n) satisfy a predetermined relational expression (expression 1).

A web transporting method includes a drive roller (Gd), N (where N is an integer of 1 or greater) driven rollers (Gn) which nip a wound portion of a web between the drive roller and the driven rollers, and a tension application unit which applies a tension Tl to a portion of the web which is one side of the wound portion and applies a tension Th which is higher than the tension Tl to a portion of the web which is opposite the one side of the wound portion, in which an angle 0, an angle (n), a load P(n), a static friction coefficient 0, and a static friction coefficient (n) satisfy a predetermined relational expression (expression 1).

In a particular illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a retractable safety banner system and method are disclosed having a retractable safety banner, a reel housing and a reel. The reel winds in and contains the wound up safety banner inside of the reel housing. The safety banner is reeled into and out of the reel housing through an organizing guide that is formed in the reel housing. The organizing guide forces the reeled out safety banner's flags and strap into longitudinal alignment on the reel so that the safety banner is restored to its original configuration when wound back into the reel housing after deployment. The safety banner includes but is not limited to longitudinal strap with a plurality of safety flags attached to the strap and so that the flags hang at a substantially perpendicular angle from the strap forming the safety banner when the safety banner is deployed.

A detection section that detects a value used for determining whether or not a jam of a paper sheet has occurred includes a sound detection unit that detects a sound and an auxiliary detection unit that detects a value different from the magnitude of a sound in the case where a jam of the paper sheet has occurred, and, in the case where the sound detection unit has detected a sound of a magnitude equal to or greater than a first threshold value, a control unit controls determines whether or not a jam of the paper sheet has occurred with reference to a detection result of the auxiliary detection unit, and controls a transport unit on the basis of a result of the determination.