Detectable marks in trim material
First Claim
1. A method of checking for successful removal of trim material from trim areas disposed at periodic intervals along a web in a processing line fabricating discrete units of product from the web, thus to develop cut-outs in the units of product at the trim areas, the method comprising:
- (a) utilizing marking material as reference marks on trim material pieces, said reference marks being disposed inside the trim areas; and
(b) severing and removing the trim material pieces from precursors of such units of product thus to develop the cut-outs at the trim areas of the web, and to correspondingly remove the reference marks from such precursors of such units of product; and
after removing the trim material pieces, sensing for the marking material utilizing at least one sensor at least at and adjacent the trim areas, thus to detect marking material on ones of the trim material pieces which have not been successfully removed from the web, the marking material as perceived by the at least one sensor being distinguishable from any indicator material used on the web outside the trim areas.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention pertains to methods of checking for successful removal of trim material from trim areas disposed at periodic intervals along a web in a processing line. Marking material is marked, optionally as reference marks or reference images on the trim material pieces. Trim material is severed and removed to develop cut-outs at the trim areas. After removing the trim material, the method senses for the marking material at and adjacent the trim areas. The method thus detects marking material on trim material pieces which are not successfully removed from the web. In preferred embodiments, the web, outside the trim areas, is free from the specific marking material used for the reference marks or reference images. The marking material is preferably detectable, using a suitable sensor, independently of visible light emanating from, or reflected from, the marking material. Exemplary marking material can be detected using magnetic flux, energy in the ultraviolet spectrum, an olfactory sensor, color discrimination, energy in the infrared spectrum, and/or an optical brightener detectable through action of energy in the ultraviolet spectrum. The invention comprehends a web comprising corresponding trim areas, corresponding trim material, and corresponding marking material.
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Citations
79 Claims
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1. A method of checking for successful removal of trim material from trim areas disposed at periodic intervals along a web in a processing line fabricating discrete units of product from the web, thus to develop cut-outs in the units of product at the trim areas, the method comprising:
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(a) utilizing marking material as reference marks on trim material pieces, said reference marks being disposed inside the trim areas; and
(b) severing and removing the trim material pieces from precursors of such units of product thus to develop the cut-outs at the trim areas of the web, and to correspondingly remove the reference marks from such precursors of such units of product; and
after removing the trim material pieces, sensing for the marking material utilizing at least one sensor at least at and adjacent the trim areas, thus to detect marking material on ones of the trim material pieces which have not been successfully removed from the web, the marking material as perceived by the at least one sensor being distinguishable from any indicator material used on the web outside the trim areas.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of checking for successful removal of trim material from trim areas disposed at periodic intervals along a web in a processing line fabricating discrete units of product from the web, thus to develop cut-outs in the units of product at the trim areas, the method comprising:
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(a) utilizing marking material as reference marks on trim material pieces;
(b) registering the reference marks to master references on respective work pieces in the web, and thereby indirectly registering the reference marks to the trim areas;
(c) severing and removing the trim material pieces thus to develop the cut-outs at the trim areas; and
(d) after removing the trim material pieces, sensing for the marking material utilizing at least one sensor at least at or adjacent the trim areas, thus to detect marking material on ones of the trim material pieces which have not been successfully removed from the web;
the marking material as perceived by the at least one sensor being distinguishable from any indicator material used on the web outside the trim areas. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A method of checking for successful removal of trim material from trim areas disposed at periodic intervals along a web in a processing line fabricating discrete units of product from the web, thus to develop cut-outs in the units of product at the trim areas, the method comprising:
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(a) utilizing marking material as reference marks on trim material pieces;
(b) severing and removing the trim material pieces thus to develop the cutouts at the trim areas; and
(c) after removing the trim material pieces, sensing for the marking material utilizing at least one sensor at least at and adjacent the trim areas, thus to detect marking material on ones of the trim material pieces which have not been successfully removed from the web, the marking material as applied being consistent with sufficient acuity and measurable intensity, and having suitable outline, that the reference marks therof can readily be detected by the at least one sensor as reference images suitable for defining loci of respective reference image locations with respect to other areas on the web which are free of such reference images. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79)
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Specification