Systems for marking a moving film that include a triggering apparatus (140) that repeatedly provides a trigger signal, a controller (120) that receives the trigger signal and generates a marking signal, and a marking device (130) that receives the marking signal and marks the film are provided Also provided are methods for marking a moving film that employ the systems. Apparatuses for marking a moving film that include the triggering apparatus and the controller are also provided. Methods for making metallized marked films that include a film marked by these systems and a metallized layer, in which at least one marking is embedded within the film are also provided. Also provided are methods for making packages and packing a product in these packages, in which the packages include the metallized marked films are also provided.

Apparatus for qualification and repair of multi-filament tow are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus in for inspecting and repairing a multi-filament tow includes a first spool having a multi-filament tow wound on the first spool; a first tow tensioner following the first spool to impart a predetermined tension on the multi-filament tow; a de-sizing chamber comprising a heater to heat the multi-filament tow to a first temperature suitable for removing a coating on the multi-filament tow; an inspection chamber configured to inspect the multi-filament tow for defects; a repair chamber configured to repair the defects in the multi-filament tow; a second tow tensioner following the repair chamber to impart a predetermined tension on the multi-filament tow; and a second spool following the second tow tensioner to collect the multi-filament tow.

In a printing apparatus, a controller is configured to control a printing unit such that printing is started after a transport distance of the substrate reaches a pre-discharge transport distance, in which the pre-discharge transport distance is set to a value not less than a first longest distance, provided that a transport distance in a condition in which the transport distance is a longest distance among conditions 1, 2, and 3 provided below is the first longest distance. Condition 1: a transport distance until a region of the substrate that was nipped between a front driving roller and a nip roller passes through a printing head disposed most downstream in a transport path of the substrate, Condition 2: a transport distance until a transport speed of the substrate becomes constant, and Condition 3: a transport distance until tension of the substrate being transported becomes stable.

In a printing apparatus, a controller is configured to control a printing unit such that printing is started after a transport distance of the substrate reaches a pre-discharge transport distance, in which the pre-discharge transport distance is set to a value not less than a first longest distance, provided that a transport distance in a condition in which the transport distance is a longest distance among conditions 1, 2, and 3 provided below is the first longest distance. Condition 1: a transport distance until a region of the substrate that was nipped between a front driving roller and a nip roller passes through a printing head disposed most downstream in a transport path of the substrate, Condition 2: a transport distance until a transport speed of the substrate becomes constant, and Condition 3: a transport distance until tension of the substrate being transported becomes stable.

A medium transport device includes a transport unit configured to transport a medium in a transport direction, a winding unit configured to wind the medium, a tension applying unit configured to apply a tension to the medium between the transport unit and the winding unit, a drive unit configured to drive the tension applying unit, and a controller configured to control the drive unit, in which the controller is configured to control the drive unit such that an application of the tension by the tension applying unit is released at a time when a subsequent transport operation by the transport unit is started after a termination of an winding operation of the medium by the winding unit.

A transport device includes a first driving roller configured to contact an outer circumferential surface of a roll body on which a medium is wound, and apply rotational torque to the roll body, a second driving roller configured to unwind the medium from the roll body, a first drive unit configured to drive the first driving roller, a second drive unit configured to drive the second driving roller, and a control unit configured to control the first drive unit and the second drive unit. The control unit controls the first drive unit, based on a magnitude of a load current flowing in the second drive unit.

A printing apparatus includes first and second supplying portions, a printer, and a winding unit. The first supplying portion can supply a recording medium on a conveyance route to the printer for first surface printing. The winding unit then rotates in a first direction to wind the printed recording medium. A wound recording medium edge is located at a specific location and then guided to a conveyance route opening portion if the wind direction is a second direction. After the edge is at the specific location, the recording medium is supplied through the opening portion to the printer for second surface printing. If the second supplying portion supplies the recording medium for first surface printing, then it supplies the medium for second surface printing. If a user sets a wound-in-advance recording medium to the second supplying portion, the second supplying portion supplies the set recording medium to the printer.

A printing apparatus includes first and second supplying portions, a printer, and a winding unit. The first supplying portion can supply a recording medium on a conveyance route to the printer for first surface printing. The winding unit then rotates in a first direction to wind the printed recording medium. A wound recording medium edge is located at a specific location and then guided to a conveyance route opening portion if the wind direction is a second direction. After the edge is at the specific location, the recording medium is supplied through the opening portion to the printer for second surface printing. If the second supplying portion supplies the recording medium for first surface printing, then it supplies the medium for second surface printing. If a user sets a wound-in-advance recording medium to the second supplying portion, the second supplying portion supplies the set recording medium to the printer.

Systems for providing efficient manufacturing of paper, sheet, and/or box products of varying size and structure, often with pre-applied print (pre-print), are provided herein. One or more controllers can be used to aggregate upcoming orders and information needed to complete the manufacturing process for the order. A controller enables a user to prepare control plans (e.g., reel maps, reel plans, etc.) for processing rolls of web product through the manufacturing process. Criteria filtering and/or various features enable generation of efficient and effective control plans for rolls of web product, including, in some cases, multiple orders. The control plan may include a set of instructions for operating one or more systems within the manufacturing process to form the desired finished paper-based product. In such a regard, efficient manufacturing of various paper-based products, including corrugated boxes, folded carton, labels, flexible paper, industrial bags, plates, cups, decor, and many others, can be achieved.

It is disclosed a substrate selection method wherein the printer comprises a feeding mechanism including a feeding roller to receive a substrate roll and a media advance roller to receive a substrate from the substrate roll, the method comprising: actuating the feeding roller or the media advance roller; measuring a feeding mechanism parameter on the feeding roller or the media advance roller; calculating a substrate parameter in view of the feeding mechanism parameter; determining from a table a substrate type of in view of the substrate parameter; and selecting a preset on the printer in view of the substrate type