Appeal No. 2002-1732
Application No. 09/338,238
69. A method of controlling cross-machine direction
alignment of a web suitable for use in an absorbent article, with
which web elements are being assembled to form work pieces on a
manufacturing line, using a manufacturing process, the
manufacturing line including a plurality of work stations to
fabricate respective products from the respective work pieces,
the method comprising:
(a) defining a machine direction manufacturing line path
traversed by the web as the work pieces move from work station to
work station and have work performed thereon;
(b) defining a machine direction reference path extending in
the direction of the machine direction manufacturing line path
and referenced to machines along the manufacturing line;
(c) establishing acceptable cross-machine direction
positions of definable elements of the web along the
manufacturing line path, relative to the reference path;
(d) moving the web along the manufacturing line path;
(e) using a sensor, sensing cross-machine direction
positions of the definable elements of the web as the web moves
along the manufacturing line path;
(f) referencing the sensed positions of the definable
elements of the web to the established acceptable cross-machine
direction positions thereby to define variance between the
acceptable cross-machine direction positions and the sensed
cross-machine direction positions; and
(g) effecting adjustment of the cross-machine direction
positions of the web relative to the reference path so as to
attenuate magnitude of variances being sensed by the sensor.
The examiner relies on the following references:
Gilbert 3,332,681 July 25, 1967
Toensing 3,373,912 Mar. 19, 1968
Weyenberg 5,359,525 Oct. 25, 1994
Raney 5,788,802 Aug. 4, 1998
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