Patent ID: 9415963
Filing Date: 2016-08-16
CPC Classification: B65H,G01B

Claim Text:
1. A web handling system for guiding a material web, the web handling system comprising: a base; a platform mounted to move relative to the base through a predetermined path; at least one steering roller being mounted on the platform and disposed transversely of a web direction of travel across the platform; a natural interaction sensor supplying a medium to reflect off of a surface of the web, and receiving reflections of the medium from the surface of the web, the natural interaction sensor developing a series of topographical maps indicative of a lateral location of at least one feature extending in the web direction of travel of the material web; a sensor controller having a first port configured to receive the topographical maps from the natural interaction sensor, one or more processor coupled to the first port and configured to analyze the topographical maps received from the natural interaction sensor, the one or more processor scanning the topographical maps to locate a transition indicative of the lateral location of the feature of the material web in the one or more topographical maps and to generate a series of location signals indicative of the lateral locations of the transition within the topographical maps, and a second port coupled to the one or more processor and outputting the location signals; a web controller configured to generate control signals responsive to the location signals produced by the sensor controller and configured to automatically correct a deviation from a predetermined position of the web; and a platform drive configured to be responsive to the control signals generated by the controller for pivoting the platform and thereby controlling an angular position of the platform relative to the base.