Zerand Corporation

Mark G Blonigen

James D Parker

Paul W Bergland

John Hurley

A registration controller for sensing the presence and location of registration marks on a web as the web passes a scanner, and for generating a signal for use in controlling downstream operations such as cutting and/or printing operations. The controller includes a light source located remotely from the scanner. Light from the source is directed to the scanner and onto the web. The web reflects the light, the amount and intensity of the reflection depending upon the color and reflectivity of the particular area of the web on which the light is being currently directed. The reflected light is directed to a photo receptor which converts the reflected light to an analog electric signal, the level of the signal being determined by the amount and intensity of reflected light, within a particular predetermined range. This analog electric signal is then amplified, processed and converted to a digital signal for use in controlling the aforementioned downstream operations. If the electric signal is greater than a predetermined level, as would be the case if the web surface is a reflective one, such as a foil surface, the processing circuitry clamps the signal and prevents it from exceeding that predetermined level. The preferred means for directing the source light to the scanner and for directing the reflected light to the receptor is fiber optics.

Growing community of inventors

Mukwonago, WI, United States of America

Mark G Blonigen