Patent ID: 6957160

Claim:
A method for registering an off-line produced web having pre-produced objects longitudinally spaced at a pitch interval to a converting line manufacturing disposable absorbent articles, such as diapers, pull-ups, feminine hygiene articles, and the like, or a component of a disposable absorbent article, the off-line produced web being manipulated as a controlled web in order for the pre-produced object of the controlled web to be registered in relation to a target bias position and in control automatically with the pitched unit operation, and automatically phase the target position bias, the method comprising the steps of: a. providing a controlled web having pre-produced objects spaced at a controlled pitch interval, wherein the controlled web being provided at a controlled velocity in a machine direction; b. providing an actual bias position of the pre-produced object on the controlled web by detecting the pre-produced object with a sensor within a manufacturing cycle of a pitched unit operation; c. providing a target bias position constant at a desired position within a manufacturing cycle of the pitched unit operation; d. generating a correction signal based upon the actual bias position data and the target bias position constant; e. adjusting the controlled velocity of the controlled web in order to register the pre-produced object of the controlled web in relation to the target bias position constant; f. coupling the pitched unit operation with a controlled web metering point by providing a converter position reference signal fed forward from the pitched unit operation functioning as an independent axis to the controlled web metering point functioning as a dependent axis in order for the pre-produced object of the controlled web be in phase automatically with the pitched unit operation; and g. adjusting the target position in order to phase the actual position based on the controlled web bias.