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 tool-operated adjustment device includes a housing supporting a rotatable spool that is operably coupled to a tension line. The spool is configured to rotate about a first axis in a first direction to wind the tension line, and to rotate in a second direction opposite the first direction to unwind the tension line. The device includes a socket pivotally coupled to the housing and configured to rotate about a second axis. The socket is selectively coupled to the spool to drive rotation of the spool in the first direction. The socket is configured to removably connect and disconnect to a tool configured to rotate the socket about the second axis. The device includes a release mechanism that is configured to selectively release the spool such that the spool is free to rotate in either the first or second direction in response to manual forces applied to the release mechanism.

A sheet processing machine stores sheets transported by a transport unit. The sheet processing machine includes: a reel on which a first end side of a tape is wound; a first stepper motor that rotates the reel about a rotation axis of the reel; a drum configured to wind up a second end side of the tape together with the sheets to form a winding body together with the tape and the sheets; a second stepper motor that rotates the drum about a rotation axis of the drum; and circuitry configured to change an interval between the sheets wound on the drum by controlling a rotation of the first stepper motor and the second stepper motor based on a parameter indicating a condition of the winding body.

A sheet processing machine stores sheets transported by a transport unit. The sheet processing machine includes: a reel on which a first end side of a tape is wound; a first stepper motor that rotates the reel about a rotation axis of the reel; a drum configured to wind up a second end side of the tape together with the sheets to form a winding body together with the tape and the sheets; a second stepper motor that rotates the drum about a rotation axis of the drum; and circuitry configured to change an interval between the sheets wound on the drum by controlling a rotation of the first stepper motor and the second stepper motor based on a parameter indicating a condition of the winding body.

A control system is provided for a converting line. The converting line has an unwinder for unwinding web material from a roll of web material and at least one independently driven roll for directing the web material unwound from the unwinder to the converting line. The control system has a controller and a tension sensor configured to be arranged downstream of the at least one driven roll. The tension sensor is configured to sense a tension in the web as the web is passed downstream of the driven roll, generate a signal indicative of sensed web tension, and transmit the signal of sensed web tension to the controller. The controller is configured to a generate and transmit to the unwinder a signal to change the speed of the unwinder based upon the tension sensed by the tension sensor.

A control system is provided for a converting line. The converting line has an unwinder for unwinding web material from a roll of web material and at least one independently driven roll for directing the web material unwound from the unwinder to the converting line. The control system has a controller and a tension sensor configured to be arranged downstream of the at least one driven roll. The tension sensor is configured to sense a tension in the web as the web is passed downstream of the driven roll, generate a signal indicative of sensed web tension, and transmit the signal of sensed web tension to the controller. The controller is configured to a generate and transmit to the unwinder a signal to change the speed of the unwinder based upon the tension sensed by the tension sensor.

A sheet processing machine stores sheets transported by a transport unit. The sheet processing machine includes: a reel on which a first end side of a tape is wound; a first stepper motor that rotates the reel about a rotation axis of the reel; a drum configured to wind up a second end side of the tape together with the sheets to form a winding body together with the tape and the sheets; a second stepper motor that rotates the drum about a rotation axis of the drum; and circuitry configured to change an interval between the sheets wound on the drum by controlling a rotation of the first stepper motor and the second stepper motor based on a parameter indicating a condition of the winding body.

A sheet processing machine stores sheets transported by a transport unit. The sheet processing machine includes: a reel on which a first end side of a tape is wound; a first stepper motor that rotates the reel about a rotation axis of the reel; a drum configured to wind up a second end side of the tape together with the sheets to form a winding body together with the tape and the sheets; a second stepper motor that rotates the drum about a rotation axis of the drum; and circuitry configured to change an interval between the sheets wound on the drum by controlling a rotation of the first stepper motor and the second stepper motor based on a parameter indicating a condition of the winding body.

Disclosed is an escrow module. The escrow module may include a drum, a first belt and a tape, The drum may have a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion. The first belt may partially encircle the drum. The tape may have a first end attached to the drum and a second end attached to a spool. Upon rotation of the drum in a first direction, a first side of a media object may contact the tape and a second side of the media object may contact the first belt.

An example method comprises operating a drive unit to advance a substrate in a substrate advance direction toward a printing station. At the printing station, a first line is printed onto the substrate. A drive unit is instructed to advance the substrate in the substrate advance direction by a target amount, and a second line is printed onto the substrate. The distance between the first and second lines in a direction perpendicular to the substrate advance direction is calculated and, based on the calculated difference, a tension of the substrate is modified.