Systems and methods for indicating the position of a web

• US 8,405,831 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2008
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Carlson, Daniel H., Ehnes, Dale L., Wertz, Daniel S., Aguirre, Luis A., Biyikli, Levent, Campbell, Alan B.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, SANG H
• Application Number:
  US12/664,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20100187277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,742 Days
• Field of Search: 356429-431, 3562381-2383, 3562391-2392, 250/559.07, 250/559.29, 250/559.36, 250/559.44, 427/359
• US Class Current: 356/429
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2220/01 indicating an entity as a function of which control, adjustment or change is performed, i.e. input
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2220/03 indicating an entity which is measured, estimated, evaluated, calculated or determined but which does not constitute an entity which is adjusted or changed by the control process per se
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 23/0204 Sensing transverse register of web and controlling it B65H23/032
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 23/046 Sensing longitudinal register of web B65H23/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2401/23 Strength of materials, e.g. Young's modulus or tensile strength
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2511/216 Orientation, e.g. with respect to direction of movement
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2511/512 Marks, e.g. invisible to the human eye; Patterns
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2515/31 Tensile forces
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2515/37 Elasticity modulus
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2553/40 using optical, e.g. photographic, elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/1712 Transparent
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/1752 Polymer film

Abstract

Methods and systems for indicating the displacement of a flexible web are described. An elongated, flexible web includes an integral scale having scale features configured to modulate energy directed towards the web. A transport mechanism provides relative movement between the web relative to a transducer. The transducer detects energy modulated by the scale features and generates a signal indicting a continuous web displacement based on the modulated energy.

Claims

1. A method for indicating web displacement, comprising:

moving an elongated, flexible web having a plurality of discrete scale features disposed thereon and wherein the plurality of discrete scale features comprise optical prisms configured to reflect light via total internal reflection;

modulating light using the plurality of discrete scale features;

converting the modulated light into a signal that provides indication of continuous web displacement using a web position processor.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a position of the web based on the signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the web comprises a transparent web;

modulating the light comprises transmitting a portion of the light through the transparent web; and

further comprising determining the displacement of the web based on the transmitted light.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

modulating the light comprises reflecting a portion of the light; and

further comprising determining the displacement of the web based on the reflected light.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the web comprises a transparent web; and

modulating the light comprises;

reflecting a portion of the light using the optical scale features; and

transmitting a portion of the light through the web.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein modulating the light further comprises modulating the light using one or more reticles.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the web comprises a transparent polymer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a bend radius of the web is less than about 100 mm.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the displacement of the web comprises determining longitudinal displacement.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the displacement of the web comprises determining lateral displacement.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the displacement of the web comprises determining angular rotation.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein:

determining the displacement of the web comprises measuring web deformation; and

further comprising determining temperature based on the web deformation.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein:

determining the displacement of the web comprises measuring web deformation; and

further comprising determining web strain based on the web deformation.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein:

determining the displacement of the web comprises measuring web deformation; and

further comprising determining a modulus of elasticity of the web based on the web deformation.

15. A system for indicating web displacement, comprising:

an elongated, flexible web having an integral scale disposed thereon, the scale comprising a plurality of discrete scale features comprising optical prisms configured to reflect light via total internal reflection and configured to modulate light directed towards the web;

a transducer configured to sense the light modulated by the plurality of discrete scale features and to generate a signal indicating continuous web displacement based on the modulated light; and

a transport mechanism configured to provide relative movement between the web and the transducer.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a web position processor configured to determine a position of the web based on the signal.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the elongated, flexible web comprises a transparent web.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the elongated, flexible web comprises polymer, paper, woven or non-woven materials.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the web comprises a moving web; and

further comprising one or more reticles configured to further modulate the light.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the scale is configured to modulate the light by transmitting a portion of the light; and

the transducer is configured to detect the transmitted light and to generate the signal based on the transmitted light.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the scale is configured to modulate the light by reflecting a portion of the light; and

the transducer is configured to detect the reflected light and to generate the signal based on the reflected light.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the web has web pattern features disposed thereon.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein a bend radius of the web is less than about 100 mm.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein the displacement comprises a longitudinal displacement of the web.

25. The system of claim 15, wherein the displacement comprises a lateral displacement.

26. The system of claim 15, wherein the displacement comprises an angular rotation of the web.

27. An apparatus comprising a flexible, elongated web having an integral scale, the scale comprising a pattern of scale features disposed on the web, the scale features comprising optical prisms configured to reflect light via the total internal reflection and the scale features modulating light directed toward the web, the modulated light indicative of a continuous displacement of the web.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a pattern of web features disposed on the web.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the bend radius of the web is less than about 100 mm.