Patent ID: 7171283

Claim:
A web guiding system for use in connection with a continuous production line producing a composite web from first and second web components, said first web component being supplied on a first feed system and said second web component being supplied on a second feed system, said composite web being supplied to a third feed system after a forming process, the system comprising: a communication network; a first web guide for selectively adjusting a position of the first web component on the first feed system prior to the forming process; a vision inspection system periodically capturing an image of the composite web and detecting in the captured image a placement of the first web component relative to the second web component, said vision inspection system providing to the communication network an inspection parameter indicative of said detected placement; an information exchange system obtaining via the communication network a plurality of inspection parameters, each associated with one of a plurality of captured images of the composite web, said information exchange system determining a mathematical characteristic of the obtained plurality of inspection parameters and providing the mathematical characteristic; and a drive system associated with the first web guide, said drive system being responsive to the provided mathematical characteristic for selectively causing the first web guide to adjust the position of the first web component on the first feed system.