Pattern registration control bars

A particular type of registration control mark is utilized with a conventional pattern registration control system for the purpose of controlling registration between a printed pattern and an embossed pattern. The pattern registration control mark will develop signature bursts which are unique due to the design of the pattern registration control mark.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention is directed to, but not limited to, a pattern registration 
control mark for use with an embossing process for a pattern printed sheet 
and, more particularly an apparatus which will secure registration between 
a patterned embossing roll and a similar preprinted pattern on a web. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,090 discloses a pattern registration control system 
which is particularly adaptable for use with the pattern registration 
control marks herein. It is noted that in that patent, a single line mark 
7 is used. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,711,353 is another pattern registration control system 
wherein the mark used to control the system is mark 55, and it is composed 
of three uniformly spaced, uniform width marks. 
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,711,353 and 3,446,978 along with German Patent DAS No. 
1002363 are further examples of registration marks in which plural lines 
are used but the lines are all of a common width. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention herein is directed to a control mark composed of a pattern of 
plural indicator bars. The bars are variable in width and/or the bars are 
variable in their spacing. The mark is particularly adaptable for use with 
the registration system of U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,090 but need not be 
particularly restricted to use with the system, and could be used with any 
patterning system requiring registration control, such as embossing, 
sheeting, printing and punching operations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The invention herein is primarily directed toward a bar pattern or a 
registration control mark. One embodiment of the bar pattern is shown in 
FIG. 1 wherein the bars 1 are thicker than the bars 2; and therefore, 
there is provided bars which are variable in width. In FIG. 2 there is 
shown another embodiment wherein the bars are all of the same width, but 
the spacing 3 varies in size from the spacing 4, and therefore, there is 
provided a variable in the spacing between adjacent bars. Finally, in FIG. 
3 there is shown a combination of FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein the bars 1 and 2 
are of variable widths, and the spacings 3 and 4 are variable, so there is 
now provided the combination of bars of variable width with variable 
spacing between bars. These bar patterns may be continuous or 
intermittent. That is, the bar patterns may be intermittent in nature and 
be in position on the edge of a web just at the beginning of each repeat 
preprinted pattern or they may be spaced periodically along a repeat 
preprinted pattern. The pattern within each bar pattern can be the same or 
varied. For example, the bar pattern at the beginning of the web 
preprinted pattern could be of one particular spacing and width. The bar 
pattern at the middle of the web preprinted pattern could be of a 
different width and spacing configuration. In addition, the bar pattern 
could be continuous along the whole length of the web preprinted pattern 
and could be a continuously varying spacing and width arrangement so that 
the bar pattern continuously varies along the whole length of the web 
preprinted pattern. 
The invention herein is particularly adaptable for use in the structure of 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,090. The mark or bars will be sensed by the 
photosensor 14 which will be scanning the web containing the bars, and 
this will be used to provide the signatures which are used for 
registration control. 
FIG. 4 shows a broad application of the invention herein wherein a sheet 10 
is provided with a bar pattern or pattern registration control marks 12 
which is sensed by sensor 14. The photosensor 14 is sensitive to 
variations in light and converts these variations into electrical 
impulses. The impulses are then translated and sent to an amplifier 16 
which provides an electrical impulse signature of the bars. The impulse 
appears as the signature 18. This can be used in the structure of U.S. 
Pat. No. 3,915,090, or in any other type of registration control system 
wherein the fit between the pattern impulse signature and a reference 
signature is the basis for registration error measurements and/or error 
correction. Referring now to FIG. 5 there is noted the conventional 
registration control system which usually has a series of registration 
marks 20 positioned normally only at the beginning of each of the web 
preprinted patterns 22 which one is to print in registration with or if a 
pattern 22 was 36" long maybe there would be a mark 20 every 9". It can be 
seen that the sensor for the patterning roll and the sensor for the 
patterned web will sense the individual marks and provide the spiked 
signature shown. Should the plurality of marks be provided every 9" on a 
36" prepatterned web, it is possible that one could be off by 9" between 
the prepatterned web 24 and the patterning roll 26 and the signals match 
up yet be 9" out of registration. 
In FIG. 6 there is shown the invention herein wherein the variable width 
spacing registration mark is provided either at the beginning of each 
pattern or as variations thereof could be provided every 9" on a 36" with 
each of the bars 27 at 9, 18, 27 inches being of a different pattern in 
width and spacing so that even if one was 9" off the signatures would not 
match up. This is shown in FIG. 6. Naturally, the registration pattern 
could be continuous along the whole length of the prepatterned web and 
thus provide a very definite signature of each pattern with the bar 
registration mark 20 being such that there could only be match-up in the 
pattern between the patterning roll 30 and the prepattern web 32 when 
there is exact registration. 
It should be noted that the state of electronics is such that today both 
scanners need not be positioned the same distance from the embossing 
point. A signal delay circuit or a phase initialization adjustment on the 
registration system may be the full equivalent of the positioning 
requirement.