CA1176350A

CA1176350A - Registration control for a label cutoff apparatus

Info

Publication number: CA1176350A
Application number: CA000387945A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Nelson Friberg
Original assignee: Owens Illinois Inc
Current assignee: OI Glass Inc
Priority date: 1980-11-20
Filing date: 1981-10-15
Publication date: 1984-10-16
Also published as: GB2088100B; AU7667381A; ES8402539A1; JPH0343139B2; ES507290A0; DE3145195A1; AU529747B2; GB2088100A; JPS57133832A; ES519455A0; ZA817324B; FR2501175B1; IT8149737A0; IT1143444B; DE3145195C2; ES8305647A1; FR2501175A1; US4384500A

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A registration control circuit for a printed label cutoff machine controls both the location of the cut by performing a phase adjustment and the length of the individual labels by performing a base speed adjustment. A strip of labels have eyemarks printed thereon for defining the location at which the individual labels are to be cut. An optical scanner is positioned adjacent the labels and generates a scanner pulse upon detection of an eyemark. The control circuit includes a setup control for automatically running the machine into registration from an initial setup position. The setup control functions to generate a reference pulse a predetermined distance before the scanner is expected to see an eyemark. When the eyemark is detected within a designated window area the control utilizes the scanner pulse and the reference pulse to calculate the phase error for each label and generate a phase correction signal proportional to the actual phase error. Individual phase error signals are combined to determine the average phase error which has occurred over the last predetermined number of labels. The average phase error is representative of an average base speed error. If the average phase error exceeds a predetermined threshold, the control will generate a base speed correction signal proportional to the average base speed error. When the eyemark is detected outside the designated window area, the control will attempt to bring the eyemark within the window area by peforming a full speed phase adjustment. If, after a predetermined number of consecutive Labels, the eyemark has not been moved within the window area, the control will check the base speed and perform a base speed adjustment The control also includes an alphanumeric display for displaying to an operator, on a prioritized basis, messages indicating the operating status of the machine.

Description

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i I TITLE
~ ¦ I ! REGIST~TION CONTROL FOR A LABEL
! ¦ CUTOFF APPARATUS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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1. Field of the Invention:
This invention relates in general to a registration control system for a printed label cutoff apparatus and in particular to a registration control system capable of making both phase and -~
base speed adjustments to the cutoff appaxa~us.
; lO 2~ Description of the Prior Art:
A printed label cutoff machine typically includes a pair of feed xolls for moving a sheet of printed labels continuously between a pair of cutting wheels. The cuttin~ wheels generally include at léast one cutting blade which makes a single trans-verse cut along the sheet during each revolution thereof. The ! particular point at which the labels are to be severed is defined by a registration mark or an eyemark printed on the sheet along with the printed portion of the labels. Most prior art registra-tion control systems utilize an optica] scanner positioned adja-cent the printed sheet which produces a pulse whenever a registra-¦
tion mark passes the scanner. Generally, the location of the cut is controlled by controlling the speed at which the labels axe fed through the cutting rollsO Alternatively, the cut location can also be controlled by controlling the speed of rotation of the cutting rolls. -An example of a prior art registration control system is disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,774,016 to Sterns et al. The control system includes an optical scanner for detecting a registration mark, and a knife cut detector for producing a knife pulse when- ¦
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l l ever the cutting wheels produce a knife cut. In addition, the system includes a measuring wheel which rides on the web to pro- ¦
duce a series of pulses as the web moves along so that each pulse corresponds to a given distance of we~ movemen~. A number pxo-¦por~ional to ~he distance between the scanner and the locationwhere a registration mark should be when a proper knife cut is to I
be made is preset manually into a counter. The number loaded ¦' into the counter represents the nu~ber of measuring wheel pulses which should occur between the detection of a registration mark ~`

and the occurrence of a knife pulse.

_ Each time a scanner pulse is generated, the control opens a gate which allows the measuring wheel pulses to be applied to a count down terminal o the~counter. The occur~ence of the knife pulse free~es the count. If the knife pulse occurs before the counter has counted down fully, the remaining count in the counter represents the deviation or distance the cut was short. On the r ~ other hand, if the knife pulse occurs after the counter counts down to zero, the counter is switched to the up counting mode until the knife pulse occurs. In this case, the count in the counter represents the deviation or distance the cut was lonS

The control system utilizes the measured deviation of the cut location to generate an individual deviation correction signal to adjust the speed of the cutting wheels through a differential mechanism for the next cut. The control also processes the measured deviation with previously obtained deviation measurements to ~enerate an average deviation correction signal to further ~adjust the speed of the cutting wheels for the next cut.

Another prior art registration control system is manufactured¦
I by Econ Corporation as Model No. 820. The Econ system can ~control a label cutoff machine which inc`udes means for adjusting . I 1 '. . ` 1.

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¦both the length of the individual labels, and the loc~tion of the cut. These two adjustments are typicallY referrea to as a base Ispeed adjustmen~ and a phase adjustment respectively.
¦ ~he Econ system utilizes a special encoder coupled to the cutting wheels which produces a predetermined number of pulses and a single reference pulse per revolution o~ the cutting wheels.
The encoder includes means for adjusting the point of revolution at which the reference pulse is generated. The duration of the reference pulse defines a window area in which the scanner is ex pected to see an eyemark. The difference between the occurrence of a reference mark and the occurrence of a scanner pulse is measured in terms of encoder puls~s. This difference represents the phase error and is used to produce a phase correction signal for making a phase adjustment. In the Econ system, if the eyemark is detected outside the designated window area, the con-trol is lost and cannot automatically bring the machine into registration. The operator must then use manual controls to bring the machine into registration.
The Econ control monitors the individual phase errors to determine whether a bas~ speed ~djustment should be made. If the phase error exceeds an operator selected thereshold for an oper-ator selected ~umber of consecutive labels, the control will adjust the base speed by a preset amount, without reference to the actual amount of phase error. Thus, if the phase errors for the required number of labels have each exceeded the threshold by a relatively large amount, the same base speed adjustment i5- made as if the phase errors have each just exceeded the threshold by a relativ y small amoun~.
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-The present invention pr~vides a registration control sys-tem which has several advantages over the prior art systems.
First, one embodiment of the present system includes a setup control for automatically running the machine in registration from an initial setup position. The setup control eliminates the need for an operator to manually preset a counter, as was required in the above-discussed Sterns patent, and also eliminates the need for an operator to manually adjust the point at which the reference mark is generated by the encoder, as was the case for the above-described Econ system. The present invention utilizes an encoder coupled to the cutting wheels which generates a predetermined number of pulses per revolution of the cutting wheels, and a single encoder reference pulse per revolution.
In the present invention, the particular point of rotation at which the encoder reference pulse is generated is not criti-cal. The setup control functions to generate a new reference pulse a predetermined distance before the scanner is expected to see an eyemark. The previously mentioned initial setup position is obtained by the operator by cutting the label sheet at one of the eyemark locations and feeding the label sheet up to the cutting wheels which have been positioned with the cutting blade in its cut position. Ne~t, the operator uses manual control switches to jog the machine forward until an eyemark is in line with the optical scanner. This defines the initial setup position. Thereafter, the setup control enables a first counter to count the number of encoder pulses which occur until the next encoder reference signal is gener-ated. The count total in the counter represents the number of encoder pulses which occur between the time when the scanner 35~t is expected to see an eyemark, and the time when the encoder generates the encoder reference pulse. This count is preloaded into a second counter each time the encoder generates an encoder reference pulse. The second ,_ounter is then connected to count encoder pulses and to generate the new reference pulse when the counter reaches a count corresponding to the number of encoder pulses generated per revolution. If desired, the first counter can initially be preloaded by an additional amount to define a window area wherein the eyemark is normally expected to be found. This c~uses the setup control to generate the new reference pulse a predetermined distance before the scanner is expected to see an eyemark.
The new reference pulse, the encoder pulses, and the scanner pulse are supplied to a phase control ~or calculating the phase error for each label. If the eyemark is detected within the designated window area, the control generates a phase correction signal proportional to the actual phase error to adjust the location of the cut. The individual phase error signals are combined to determine an avera~e phase error which has occurred over the last predetermined number of labels.
This average phase error is representative of the average base speed error. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, if the average phase error exceeds a pre-determined threshold, the control will generate a base speed correction signal proportional to the average base speed error.
The control system according to an embodiment of the present invention is also capable of bringing the machine into registration when the eyemark has been detected outside the designated window area. In this case, the phase control will attempt to bring the eyemark within the window area by s~

performing a "full speed" phase adjustment. A full speed phase adjustment consists of running the phase adjustment means full speed in the desired direction. If, after a predetermined num-~er of consecutive labels, the eyemark has not been moved into the window area, the control will check the base speed and per-form a base speed adjustment. Once the eyemark has been moved within the designated window area, the control will switch back to the above-described method wherein the phase correction sig-nal is generated proportional to the average phase error~
Another feature of an embodiment of the presént inven-tion includes an alpha-numeric display which is utilized to dis-play to the operator messages relating to the operation of the machine. The messages are displayed on a prioritized basis to inform the operator of which mode the machine is in and, if there are any problems, what these problems migh-t be.
According to the present invention, then, there is provided a control circuit for an apparatus for cutting indivi-dual segments from a moving strip of material, the apparatus having a cutting means, means for driving the cutting means and the strip of material, means responsive to the cutting means for generating a reference signal representing an actual posi-tion for each of a plurality of cuts, and means for generating a scan signal representing a desired position for each of the plurality of cuts, the control circuit comprising: means res-ponsive to the reference signal and the scan signal for generat-ing a phase error signal representing the diference between the actual position and the desired position for each of the plurality of cuts; means responsive to the phase error signal for controlling the drive means to reduce the phase error signal for subsequent cuts; means responsive to a predetermined number ~ .

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of the phase error signals exceeding a predetermined value for generating a base speed error signal representing the difference between an average actual length of the segments and a desired segment lengtht and means responsive to the base speed error signal for controlling the means for driving to reduce the base speed error signal.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a method of controlling an apparatus for cutting individual labels from a moving strip of material, the apparatus having a cutting means and means for driving the cut-ting means and the strip of material, comprising the steps of a) generating a phase error signal for successive labels re-presenting the difference between an actual position of a cut for the labels and a desired position for the cut; b) con-trolling the drive means to reduce the phase error signal for succeeding labels in proportion to the magnitude of the differ-ence represented by the phase error signal for preceding la~els;
c) s~ming a first predetermined numeber of consecutive phase error signals to generate a sum signal having a magnitude pro-portional to the sum of the differences represented by the phaseerror signals; and d) controlling the drive means to change the speed of the strip of material relative to the speed of cutting of the cutting means in response to the sum signal magnitude exceeding a first predetermined value.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in greater detail and will be better under-stood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a printed label cutoff machine which can be controlled by the registration control circuit of the present invention;

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Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the machine of Fig. 1showing the mechanical interconnections between the machine elements, along with the electric connections to a registration control circuit;
Figs. 3a and 3b are block diagrams of the registration control circuit oE Fig. 2 according to the present invention;
Figs. 4a and 4b are schematic illustrations of opera-tions which are performed by an operator before the setup control of Fig. 3a is actuated;
Fig. 4c is a simplified flow diagram which illustrates the operation of the setup control of Fig. 3a after the operator has performed the operations of Figs. 4a and 4b; and - 6b -~ OI 15056 ~ 7~3~
I Figs. 5a, 5b, and 5c are simplified flo~l diagrams ~7hich ¦illustrate the operation of the control circuit.
I DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
i Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a schematic perspective ¦Iview of a printed label cutoff machine 10 which can be controlled Iby a registration control circuit according to the presenk ¦invention. There is shown in Fig. 2 a block diagram of the machine of Fig. 1 showing the mechanical interconnections between Ithe machine elements r along with the electrical connections to a Iregistration control circuit 12. In ~ig. 2, the mechanical ¦interconnections are represented by dashed lines, while the ¦electrical connections are shown as solid lines. Figs. 1 and 2 will be discussed together.~ -In Fig. 1 r a supply of printed labels is provided as a lS continuouis sheet 14 which has been rolled onto ~ rotatable spool _ 15. The sheet of printed labels is passed through a pair of feed rolls 16 and then through a pair of cutting wheels 18 where individual labels 14a are s,eve~ed by'a cutting blade 18a ~ounted on the periphery of one of the'cutting wheels.
', 20 Th~ particular point at which the labels ~re to be severed is defined b~,a registration mark or an eyemark 20 printed along the bottom edge of the sheet. m e individual eyemarks 20 are detected by an optical scanner 22 which'generates a signal on a line 24 to the control cixcuit 12 upon detecting an e~emark. The scanner 22 can be of the type discloised in United ~tates Patent Application No. 962,576, filed November 20, 1978, in the name of N. Friberg, entitled "AUTOM~TIC SC~NNER" (Docket 14909), and assigned to the assi~nee of the present invention.
l An encoder 25 is mechanically coupled to one of the cutting ~wheels 18 and generates a signal representing the angular position¦
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~ the cutting blade 18a to the control circuit 12 on lines 26.
The cutting wheels 18 are driven by a main drive 28 and, as will be discussed, will ideally make one complete revolution for each printed label.
By controlling the r~te of rotation of the feed rolls 16, the control circuit 12 can control both the location o~ the cut and the length of the individual labels 14a. The main drive 28 is connected to an input of a vaxiable ratio transmission 30 having an output connected to one of the inputs of a double differential 32. The transmission 30 can be of the type manufac-tured by Zero-Max Ind, Inc. of Minneapolis, Minn. under the trademark "ZERO-MAX". The output of the double differential 32 is connected to drive the feed rolls 16. A stepping motor 34 is mechanically Goupled to an adjusting input of the transmis~ion 30. The stepping motor 34 receives control signals on lines 36 for adjusting the ratio of the transmission 30. The o~her input to the double differential 32 is provided by a correction motor 38 which receives control signals on lines 40 from the control circuit 12.
Basic~lly, the registration control lZ provides a two-channel means of effecting proper registry of the printed labels~
The correction motor 3~ can be run for a predetermined time interval to correct the location of the cut so as t~ compensate for small printing errors. This type of adjustment is typically referred to a phase adjustment. The second ch~nnel of control is provided by the stepping motor 34, The stepping motor can ~e used to adjust the ratio o the transmission 30 to effect a change in the base speed of ttle labels 14 which in turn controls the length of the individual labels 14a. This type of adjustment is typically referred to as a base speed adjustment.

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Referring to Figs. 3a and 3b, there is sho~m a ~lock diagram of the registra-tion con-trol cireuit 12 accordiny to the present invention. As will be discussed, ~h~ major portion of the blocks of Fig. 3a and 3b rep~esent components which are co~nercially available. It should be noted at this time that the control eireuit 12 utilizes a number of programrnable logic arrays (PLA's) to provide a number of eontrol functions. A programmable logic array is typieally an integrated eireuit havin~ a fixed number of inputs and outputs. Each PLA is individually programmed to generate eertain output signals upon receîving certain input signals. The exaet method of programming the PLA's used in the eireuit of Fig. 3 will not be discussed in detail. However, the operatlon of eaeh PLA will~be discussed in such detail to allow one of ordinary skill in the art to readily program a PLA to perform the deseribed funetions. An example of a PLA which can be- used in the eireuits of ~igs. 3a and 3b is manufaetured by Signeties Corporation as Model No. N8251001.
- ~eferrlng now to the left-hand portrion of ~ig. 3a, there is shown a setup eontrol 50 which ineludes eircuitry utilized to ~0 eontrol the setup operations of the maehine. T~e ~ain controller of the setup eontrol 50 is a PLA 52. The PLA 52 reeeives two input signals from the eneoder 25. Tne eneoder generates an ENCDR signal on a line 26a (one o the lines 26) which eonsists - of a pulse train eaeh pulse of whieh represents a predetermined amount of rotation o~ the encoder shaft. For example, the en-eoder ean generate one thousand pulses per complete revolution of the eneoder shaft. Sinee the eneoder shaft is eonneeted direetly to the eutting wheels 18, each eneoder pulse also represents a predetermined amount of rotation of the cutting wheel. The eneoder 26 àlso generates an ENC REF signal on a line 26b ~one of .
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lthe lines 26) to the PLA 52. The ENC REF signal is generated by the encoder as a single pulse for each complete revolution of the encoder shaft~ Thus, if the ENCDR signal consists o one thou-sand pulses per revolution, an ENC REF pulse will be generated on the line 26b for each one thousand ENCDR pulses on the line 26a.
¦ l Basically, the setup control 50 functions to generate a NEW
¦REF pulse on the line 54 a~ a predetermined dis-tance (time) before the scanner 22 is expected to see an eyemark 20. In some prior art devices, the NEW REF pulse was actuall~ the same as the ENC REF pulse. The operator of this type of prior art registration machine would manually set the time at which the prior art encoder generated the ENC REF pulse to coincide with the desired time for the NEW REF pulse. Thus, in these prior art machines, the NEW REF pulse and the ENC REF pulse were essentially the same. In accordance with the present invention, control means are provided for automatically calculating the location at which the NEW REF pulse is to be generated. The present invention eliminates the need for the operator to manually adjust the angular position at which the encoder generates the ENC REF .
pulse, thercby permitting the machine to utilize a simple encoder ¦which does not provide means for adjusting the ENC REF pulse.
The setup control 50 utilizes two separate counters 56 and 58 for generating the NEW REF signal on the line 54. Each o~ the counters 56 and 58 is typically capable of counting up to a nu~ber equal to the number of ENCDR pulses generated on thè line 26a for one complete encoder shaft revolution. Thus, if the encoder generates one thousand ENCDR pulses on the line 26a per revolution, the counters 56 and 58 would each be one thousand count counters. A one thousand count counter can be constructed, j ior exa. le, by utilizing three cascaded Model No. MC14029B

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binary/dec7mal~up/down counters manufactured by Motorola Semi-conductors.
The counter 56 has c preset input connected to receive a preset signal from the setup control PL~ 52. The counter 56 also Ihas a clock input, a load input, and an up/down input connectea Ito receive signals generated on output lines of the PLA 52. The ¦counter 58 has a preset input connected to receive the output from the counter 56. The counter 58 also has a clock input and a load input connected to receive signals from output lines of the PLA 52. An output terminal of the counter 58 is connected to generate ~he NEW REF signal on the line 54. A backup power supply 60 is connected to supply power to the counter 56 in the ev~nt of a power failure. ~
Although the control 50 will automatic~lly determine the angular position of the cutting blade at which the NEW REF pulse is to be generated, the present invention provides means to enable the operator to manuall~ adjust the position at which the NEW REF pulse i5 generated. A manual advance/retard switch 61 has one terminal connected to a ~V power supply. The switch 61 can be manually moved by the operatcr ~o an ADV position to generate a signal to the PLA 52 to advance the position at which the NE~ REF signal is generated, or the switch can be moved to a RTD position to generate a signal to the PLA 52 to retard the NEW .
REF signal. A run/setup switch 62 is connected to generate a SETUP signal to an input of the PLA 52 on a line 63. The SETUP
signal is generated to the PLA 52 b~ movin~ the switch 6? from a RUN position to a SETUP position to supply the -~V voltage signal to the PL~ 52. The PLA 52 receives a RUN signal on a line 64 from a machine speed counter 65.

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The setup control 50 con~ains a third counter 66 which is utilized in combina~ion with a decoder 68 and an LED bar graph 70 . to provide the operator with a visual indication as to how far he has moved the NEW REF signal from the orignally calculaked loca-. 5 .tion. The counter 66 has a clock input and an up/down inputconnected to receive signals from the output lines of the PLA 52.
The counter 66 has a reset input connected to receive the SETUP
signal on the line 63.. The ou-tput of the counter 6G is supplied to both the decoder 68 and to input terminals o~ the P~A 52. The; -..
decoder 68 decodes the counter output signals to generate output signals to drive the LED bar graph 70.
The operation of the setup control 50 will be discussed in . conjunction. with Figs. 4a, 4b, and 4c. Figs. 4a and 4b illustrate two operations which must be performed by the aperntor before he actuates the run/setup switch 62. First, the operator cuts the label roll 14 a-t one of the desired eyemark locations 2Q, opens the feed rolls 16r and then feeds the label roll up to the cutting wheels 18, as shown in Fig 4a. The cutting wheels 18 are .
positioned such that the cutting blade 18a is in its cut position.
Ne~t, as shown in Fig 4b, the operator will close the feed ro]l, 16 and use manual control switches to jog the machine forward -until an eyemark 20 is aligned with the eye of the scanner 22.
. As the machi.ne is jogged forward, the cutting blade 18a will `
. rotate to an angular position A which represents the position that the cutting blade should always be in when the eyemark 20 is aligned with the scanner 22. When the machine is running at its proper base speed,.the printed labels 14 will move a distance L.
which corresponds to the length of an individual label 14a, for each comp te rotation ol the cutting blade 18a.

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As previously mentioned, the control cir~uit 50 functions to I generate the NEW RE~ pulse a predetermined distance before the scanner 22 expects to see an eyemark 20. Typically, this dis-1 tance is one half o~ a window lenyth W in which the control : 5 circuit 12 normally expects to see an eyernark 20. Thus, in Fig.
. - 4b, the NEW ~EF signal is generated when the cutting blade 18a is ¦
at an angular position C. The number of ~NCDR pulses genera~ed by the encoder 25 in moving the cutting blade from point C to point A is represented in Fig. 4b as W/2. . Assume, for example, --¦
that the encoder 25 generates the ENC REF pulse when the cutting blade is at an angular position B, which is N ENCDR pulses from point A.. In order to generate the NEW REF signal at point C, the . NEW REF signal must be generated N plus W/2 encoder pulses before the ENC REF signal is generated.
Referring to Fig. 4cj there is shown a simplified ~low diagram which illustrates the operation o the set up control 50 .. after the operator has performed the operations of Figs. 4a and ~b and actuated the setup switch 62. The control exits a circle . "SETUP" and enters a processing function "RESET BAR GRAP~ COUNT~R
66" which resets the counter 66 to generate a zero output signal . to the decoder 68. The decoder in turn generates a signal to the . LED bar graph 70 which centers the bar graph. Next, the control .
enters a processing function "PRESET COUNTER 56 WITH W/2 ~i, The control PLA 52 generates a load signal to the counter 56 to preset the counter with a count equal to W/2. After the counter 56 has been preset, the machine enters a processing function .
"ENABLE COUNTER 56 TO COUNT ENCDR PULSES" by setting the up/down ~-line to the up mode, and supplying the ENCDR pulses on the line 26a to the clock input o.~he counter 56 . ' ' , ' , .
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After the counter 56 has been enabled, -the main drive is ¦engaged to ro~ate the feed rolls and the cuttiny wheels. As the . cutting wheels are rotated, the encoder 25 generates ENCDR pulses to the clock input of the counter 56. ~he counter 56 will con-ti~ué to count the ENCDR pulses until the PLA 52 receives an ENC
REF pulse on the line 26b. At this time, the control enters a processing function "DISABLE COUNTER 56 WHEN ENC REF SIGNAL IS
RECEIV~D". ~he PLA will then disconnect the line 26a from the clock input of the counter 56. The counter 56 now contains a count equal to W/2 plus the number N of encoder pulses generated between angular position A and angular position B. The control then enters a processing funct~on "LOAD COUNTER 58 WITH VALUE OF
COUNTER 56". The PLA 52 will then ~enerate a load signal to the counter 58 to preset the counter 58 with the value of the counter 56. Next, the PLA 52 will supply the ENCDR pulses on the line 26a to the clock input of the counter 58. The counter 58 contin- ¦
.. ues to count ENCDR pulses until it reaches its maximum count, which, as previou~ly mentioned, corresponds to the number of ENCDR pulses per revolution and the NEW REF pulse is generated on the line 54~
Since the counter 58 is preset with the value N plus W/2, the NEW REF signal on the line 54 will be generated N plus W/2 . counts before the ENC REF signal and W/2 counts before the .
scanner 22 is expected to see an eyemark 20. Thereafter, thé PLA
52 will load the counter 58 wi-th the output of the counter 56 -- each time an ENC REF pulse is received on the line 26b.
Once the machine is running, the operator can selectively advance or retard the NEW REF pulse on the line 54 by utilizing the switch 61~ When the operator moves the swith 61 to the ADV
position to advance the NE~ REF pulse, the PLA 52 will generate I ' ' 1 1 - , I
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pulses at a relatively low frequency rate to the clock inpu-~ of ¦the counter 56. Each pulse supplied to the counter 56 is also supplied to the clock input o~ the counter 66. The decoder 68 decodes the output o the counter 66 and generates a signal to the LE~ bar graph 70 to indicate to the operator how far he has advanced the NEW ~EF pulse. The outpu-~ oE the counter 66 can also be supplied to the PLA 52 which can be programmed to limit the adjustment which can he performed by the operator. For example, when the counter 66 reaches a predetermined count, the PI~ 52 can be programmed to inhibit any more pulses to increment the counter 56, even if the switch 61 is in the ADV position.
When the operator desires to retard the NEW REF pulse, he moves the switch 61 to the RTD position to generate a retard signal to the PhA 52. The PLA 52 will then generate a signal to the count- !
ers 56 and 66 to set them in the down counting mode; The low frequency pulse is then supplied to the clock inputs of the ~ counters 56 and 66 to decrement the respective counters. The decoder 68 will gènerate signals to the LED bar graph 70 to ¦indicate to the operator how far the NEW REF pulse has been retarded. As was the case wlth the manual advance mode, the PLA
52 can also be programmed to limit the amount at which the opera-tor can retard the NEW REF signal.
The NEW REF signal on the line 54 is supplied to a phase error control 71 which includes two programmable logic arrays, a normal correction PLA 72 and a 360 mode PL~ 74. As will be --discussed, the PLA 72 is utilized to provide control signals for correcting for normal phase errors. Normal errors are defined as ¦phase errors wherein the eyemark is detected within the window area W~ On the other hand, the 360 mode PLA 74 is utilized to correct for larger phase errors which occur when the eyemark is . .
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¦detected outside of the window area W.
In addition to receiving the NEW REF signal on the line 54 the PLA 72 receives the ENCDR pulses on the line 26a and a SCANNE~
signal on the line 24. The SCANNER signal consists of a pulse generated each time the scanner 22 detec~s an eyemark 20 or what ,appears to be an eyem~rk. The PLA 72 is connected to receive the output of a counter 76 which has a clock input and a reset input connected to receive output signals from the PLA 72. The caunter ¦
76 typically has a maximum count equal to the desired window area~i W. The counter 76 can be, for example, a Model No. MC14040 manuactured by Motorola Semiconductors. The PLA 72 generates a PHASE ERROR signal on lines 78 which is supplied to a microcom pùter 80 through an I/O expander 82. (Fig. 3b). The PLA 72 generates a +/- signal on a line 84 which is con~ected directly to the microcompu-ter 80. Th~ signal informs the microcom-puter 80 whether ~he correction motor is to run in an advance or ,~ a retard direction. The PLA 72 generates a DATA RD~ 1 signal on a line 86 to signal the microcomputer 80 that the PLA 72 has calculated a PHASE ERROR signal which must be read by the micro-computer. The DATA RDY 1 signal on the line 86 is supplied to the PLA 74 and a priority control PLA 88 (Fig. 3b). Aftex the microcomputer has acknowledged the DATA RDY 1 signal, the micro-computer generates an ACK 1 signal on a line 102 to clear the DATA RDY 1 signal and inform the PLA 72 that the data has been read. As will be discussed, the microcomputer 80 perioclically ~~
reads the PLA 88 via a data bus 90 to determine whether there is a PHASE ERROR signal to be read.
The 360 mode PLA 74 is connected to receive the output o a counter 92 which has a clock input and a reset input connected to !
receive signals from the output lines of the PLA 74 The counter ~

. I OI 15056 :` ~ ~ 11'763~0 ~) 92 t~pically has a maximum count equal to the number of ENCDR
pulses per revolution. The counter 92 can be, for example, a Model MC14040 manufactured by Motoxola Semiconductors. The PL~ ¦
74 generates a LOST signal on line 94 and an ADV/RTD siynal on the line 96 to the PLA 88 The PLA 74 receives a MACH SPD signal ¦
on lines 98 from the machine speed counter 65. ~s will be dis- ¦
cussed, the counter 65 is utiliæed to inform the operato~ of the machine speed.
As previously mentioned, both the normal correctiQn PLA 72 and the 36-0 mode PLA 74 are utilized to correct for any phase error by ~enerating signals to the microcomputer 80 to control the correction motor. The normal correction PLA 72 will generate a PHASE ERROR signal on the line 78 when the eyemark 20 is de-tected within the predetermined window. In accordance with the present invention, the correction signal applied to the correc-tion motor is proportional t~ the actual phase error. ~When the eyemark is detected outside the desi~nated window area, the 36 mode PLA is utilized to control the correction motor. Typically, when the eyemark is detected out of the window area, the phase error is so great that the full correction cannot be made wil~hin one label. Thus, the 360 mode PLA 74 will simply signal the microcomputer 80 in which direction the correction motor is to be driven. ~he microcomputer 80 will then run the correction motor full speed until the eyemark begins to fall within the window area, at which time the normal correction PLA 72 takes over to generate correction signals proportional to the actual phase error.
The operations of the PLA 72 and 74 will now be discussed in ¦
more detail. ~hen the NEW REF signal is received by the PLA's 72 ¦
~and 74 on he line 54, the PLA 72 will yenerate a signal to reset . , ' .',. . . .' ,, . ,~ j , .~.; `.:`: :' ~ OI 15056 ~- . ~, ~`'' i ~ 76~
¦the counter 76 and the PL~ 74 will generate a signal to reset the ¦
¦counter 92. At this time, the PLA's 72 and 74 will supply the ENCDR pulses on the line 26a to the clock inputs of -the counters 76 and 92. ~s previously mentioned, the count of the counter 76 corresponds to the designated window count, while the count of Ithe counter 92 typically corresponds to the number of encoder ¦~pulses per revolution. The first scanner pulse generated on the line 24 after the PLA 72 receives a NEW REF signal on the line 54 will cause the PLA 72 to freeze the count of the counter 76.
Also, when the PLA 72 receives the scanner pulse on the line 24, the PLA 72 will generate the DATA RDY l signal on the line 86 ~o the 360 mode PLA 74 and the priority control PLA ~8. The DA'~A
RDYl signals the PLA 74 to freeze the count o the counter 92.
If the first scanner pulse generated on the line 24 is received by the PLA 74 before the counter 76 r2aches its maximum count, the eyemark is detected within the window area W such that the PLA 72 will control the correction motor. At this time, the count of the counter 76 is representative o any phase error in the-system. For example, if the counter 76 is a one hundred count counter corresponding to a window area of one hundred encoder pulses, a count of fifty indicates that the scanner pulse ;
was received fifty ENCDR pulses after the NEW REP pulse was generated. However, since the NEW REF pulse is intentionally generated one half the number of window pulses prior to the time when a scanner pulse is to be received, a count of fifty in the counter 76 will represent a zero phase error. However, i-f the counter 76 has a count of twenty five when the scanner pulse is received, this is an indication that the scanner pulse was re ¦ceived twenty-five counts before it was expected. In this case, ¦the PLA 72 reads th~ output of the counter 76 to g,neFat~ a . I . '' ' ' ' ' ' -,.-,", .. ,' ' .- ~' ' . " -, 1 ~ OI 150~6 ~ ~ Ji i~G~SO
signal on the line 78 direc-tly propor~ional to the amount of phase error. The PLA 72 will then ~enera-te the ~ signal to ¦direct the microcomputer to run the correction motor in the Iproper direction to correc~ the error. A count of less th~n fift~ will indicate that the correction motor must be retarded, while a count between fifty and one hundred will indicate that the correction motor must be advanced.
If the scanner pulse on the line 24 is received by the PLA
72 after the counter 76 has reached its maximum count, the 360 mode PLA 74 will control the correction motor. The PLA 74 is programmed to generate the LOST signal to the priority control PLA 88 when the count of the counter 92 reaches the maximum count of the counter 76. The LOST si~nal informs the microcomputer that the eyemark has been detected out of the window area and that the PLA 74 will be generating the control signals for the correction motor. When the PLA 72 eventually receives the scannerj pulse on the line 24,-the DATA RDYl signal is generated on the line 86 to freeze the count of the counter 92. At this time, the count of the counter 92 represents the amount of phase error of the detected eyemark~ As previously mentioned, the PLA 74 de- ¦
codes the count of the counter 92 to generate an ADV/RTD signal to the PLA 88 to signal the microcompu~er in which direction the correction motor should be run.
As shown in Fig. 3a, the PLA 74-also receives the ~ACH SPD
signal on the lines 98. The PLA 74 utilizes the signal from the lines 98, which is repxesentative of the machine speed, i.n con-junction with the output of the counter 92 to determine whether or not and how the correction motor should be advanced or xetard-ed. For example, if the counter 92 is a one thousand count ~l~counter d the designAted window area is one hundred counts, a . I
,. . I
-19- , , ` 1.`
' ` . " ' :

. I 0~ 15056 . .--~ ~
¦counter reading of two hundred fifty indicates that the ey~mark Iwas received two hundred counts later than expected. Thus, the correction motor must be advanced to correct ~he phase error. If ¦
the machine is running at a relatively high rate of speed, there is no problem running the correction motor full speed in either direction, since the phase error o~ the subsequent label will soon be sampled. However, if the machine is running at a rela-tively slow rate, running the correction motor at full speed in the retard direction may result in labels which are too short.
It should be noted that labels which are too long do not present any problem with the machine wrapplng the labels around a contain-~
er, since any extra length will overlap. Howe~er, labels which are too short may tie up the machine since there is no overlap to hold them on the container. Thus, the machine speed signal is utilized to determine how the correction motor should be advanced or retarded. If the machine is running at a relatively high rate of speed, the PLA will advance the motor for c~unts beiow the midpoint of the window and retard the motor for counts above the midpoint. However, as the machine speed decreases, the count of the counter 92 which determines whether or not the motor will be advanced or retarded is lowered such that the correction motor will be advanced for more counts than it is retarded.
There is shown along the right side of Fig. 3a a base speed control circuit 104 which is utilized for making base speed adjustments. The circuit 104 includes a base speed adjustment~
PLA 106 as the main controller. The base speed control 104 utilizes two separate counters 108 and ~10 for calculating the base speed error. The counter 108 has a clock input and a reset input connected to receive signals from the PL~ 106. The counter 108 generates an output signal to the PL~ 106. Tvpically, the . , .

. . OI 15056 . ~ 1,~ 1176350 ~ I

counter 108 has a maximum count corresponding to the number f ENCDR pulses ocurring per revolution. The counter 108 can be, . for example, a Model MC14040 manufactured by Motorola Semicon- I
ductors. ¦.
The counter 110 has a clock input, a load input, and a . preset input connected to receive signals from the PLA-106. The counter 11~ is also connected to receive an UP~DOWN signal from the PLA 106 on a line 112. The output of the counter 110 repre-sents the calculated base speed error and is supplied on lines 114 to the microcomputer 80 as the B~SE SPD ERROR signal. The counter 110 can be, for example, a Model MC14040 manuEactured by Motorola Semiconductors.
The base speed.adjustment PLA 106 has an input connected ~o receive the ENCDR pulses on the line 26a. The PLA 106 also -15 receives a NEW SCAN signal on a line 116 which is connected to an ¦
.` output of a one-shot 118 having an input connected to receive the . . DATA RDYl sigal on the line 86. The PLA 106 generates a DATA
.. . RDY2 signal on a line 120 to the PLA 88, and receives an ACK 2 signal on a line 122 from the microcomputer 80. The PLA 106 gerlerates the UP/DOWN signal on the iine 112 to both the up/down . input of the counter.ll0 and to the microcomputer 80.
Generally, the base speed control 104 functions to generate .
the BASE SPD ERROR singal on the lines 114 proportional to the actual base speed.error. The base speed control 104 determines the amount of base speed error by comparing the number of ENCDR
pulses which occur between NEW SCAN pulses with the actual number of ENCDR pulses generated per revolution. If the number of ENCDR
pulses occuring between the NEW SCAN pulses equals the number of ENCDR pulses per revolution, the base speed is correct and no 30 ¦ ~ adjustrent necessary.
' '.`'' .'' '''` . .
' .i' -21~ .
.' . ` ' ' ' ' .' '' ` '''';' ' '' '; ' ,' ' `' ~`;

i OI 15056 .~ ~', ~' i . ~ 5C~
! AS shown in Fig. 3a, the ~LA 106 iS not connected direc-tly ¦to receivethe SC~NNER pulse on the line 24, but it is connected ~to receive the N~W SCAN signal on the line 116 generated by the .
one-shot 118. The DATA R~ 1 signal on the line 86, which is an !input -to the one shot 118, is genera~ed when the PL~ 72 receives the fi.rst SCANNER pulse corresponding to the eyemark ~hich is being kept in registry. Thus, the NEW SCAN signal will consist of one pulse per label, regardless of the numbex SCANNER pulses being generated per label. Consequently, if the scanner is detecting more than one eyemark pulse per label, the base speed adjustment will be calculated with the particular eyemark kept in . registry.
When the PLA 106 receives the NEW SCAN pulse on the line 116, the PLA 106 generates a signal to reset the counter 108, and supplies the ENCDR pulses on the line 26a to the clock input of ¦the counter 108. The PLA 106 then monitors the output of the ... counter 108. When the output of the counter 108 reaches a pre-determined count, the PLA 106 will generate a load signal to the ~ counter 110 and preset the counter 110 with a count equal to the number o~ encoder pulses per revolution minus the predetermined . count at which the counter 108 was read by the PLA 106~ For ex-ample, if the encoder generates one thousand pulses per revolu- .
tion, and PLA 106 was programmed to preset the counter 110 when the count of the counter 108 was at nine hundred, a coun-t of one hundred would be loaded into the counter L10. Typicallyr the . counter 110 is selected to have a maximum count equal to the maximum expected base speed error. After the counter 110 has been preset, the PLA 106 generates an VP~DOWN signal at a logic level to set the counter 110 in the down count;ng mode, and supplies the ENDCR pulses on the line 26a to the clock input of . '' . ' ... ..

u~

~ 63~0 the counter 110. ~lere~Eter, both coun~ers 108 and 110 will continue to count encoder pulses; however, counter 108 will he counting in the up mode, and coun~er 110 will be countin~ in the down mode.
I~ both coun~ers continue to count the ENCDR pulses, ~Jhen the coun~er 108 reaches ~he count correspo~ding ~o ~he number of. ¦
encoder pulses per revolution, the counter 110 should be at a zero count. If the.NEW SC~N pulse is received by the PLA ~hen the counter 110 is at zero, there is no error in the base speed, since the number of-ENCDR pulses occuring between;the ~EW SCA~
pulses e~uals the number of ENCD~ pulses per revolution. On the other hand, if the NEW SCAN pulse ;s received by the PLA 106 be- ¦
ore the counter 110 reaches zero, the PLA 106 disconnects the ENCDR pulses from the clock input of the counter 110 to freeze the count o~ the counter 110. The count of the counter 110 is then proportional to the amount of base speed erxor. ~he PLA 106 will generate the DATA RDY 2 signal to the priority con~rol PLA 88 which in turn signals.the microcomputer 80 to xead the BASE.SPD
E~ROR signal on the;lines.ll~. In adddition to reading the base .
speed error signalj the mLcrocomputer will alao read the ~PfDoWN
signal on the line 112. If the UP/DOWN si~nal.is at a logic ' ``' "~ Wl~ . . . . .
level corresponding to ~-~ counting mode, this indicates that .
the NEW SCAN pulse was receivea before the counter 108 reached .
its maximum count, thus indciating that the actual base speed is .
~reater than the desirea base speea. . .
In summarizlng the opexation of the ~ase speed contxol 104, the PLA 106, upon receiving a NEW SCAN si~nal on ~he line 116, .
will xeset the counter 108 and suppl~ ENCDR pulses to the counter 108. The counter 108 will then contînue to count the ENCDR
pulses until it reaches a preaetermined count~ at which time the .
. . . .

- ~ 11763S~ OI 15056 PLA 106 will prese~ the counter 110 ~ith the count corresponding Ito the number of encoder pulses per revolution minus the prede-¦termined coun~ of the counter 108. The PLA 106 will also generate a signal to the counter 110 to set the counter in the up counting mode. When -the PLA 106 receives the new NEW SCAN signal, it freezes the count of the counter 110, and genera~es a DATA RDY 2 signal to the PLA 88, which in turn signals the microprocessor 80 that the BASE SPD ERRO~ signal on the line 114 is to be read.
If the NEW SCAN pulse which freezes the count of the counter 110 is received before the counter 110 has counted down to zero, this indicates that the counter 10~ has not yet reached its maximum value. Since the label sheet has moved a distance equal to the length of one label in less than one complete revolution ¦
of the cutting wheels, this indicates that the actual base speed is greater than the desired basè speed. The signal on the line 114 will represent this base speed error, and the UP/DO~N signal on the line 112 will inform the mlcrocomputer 80 that the base speed must be reduced. If the NEW SCAN pulse has not been received by the time the counter 108 has reached its maximum value, at wh ch time the counter 110 wi'l be at zero, the PLA 106 will generate a signal to set the counter 110 in the up counting mode. ~hen the NEW SCAN pulse is received, the count of the counter 110 will be frozen at a count proportional to the base speed error. However, at this time the up/down signal on the line 112 will inform the microcomputer 80 that the counter 110 was countiny in the up mode, thus indicating that the actual base speed was lower than the desired base speed. -Referring to Fig. 3b, there is shown the p1iority control PLA 88, the mi~rocomputer 80, and the I/O expander 82, which com~
municate with the control circuits dlscussed in Fig. 3a. The ~2~-~ ~ ~ 1:1 763S0 ~ OI 15056 ¦l ¦microcomputer 80 can be, for example, a ~odel 8747 microcomputer ¦manufactured by Intel Corporation, of Santa Clara, California.
¦The I/O expander 82 can be a Model 8243 I/O expander whlch is ¦also available from Intel Corporation. The I/O expander 82 is simply used to provide a laryer number of intpu~/output lines to the microcomputer 80.
The micrcomputer 80 controls the correction motor 38 by generating an ADVANCE or RETARD signal on the lines 126 through the expander 82 to a correction motor drivex 128 The motor driver 128 generates driving signals on the lines 40 to control the correction motor 38. The microcompu~er 8Q con-trols the stepping motor 34 by generating a SHORTEN or LENG~HEN signal on the lines 126 through I/O expander 82 to a stepping motor driver 130. The motor driver 130 will then suppl~ the driving signals to the stepping motor 34 on the lines 36.
The microcomputer 80 also generates control signals through - the I/O expander 82 to control the machine speed counter 65. As previously discussed, the counter 65 provides the MACH SPD signal on the lines 98 to the 360 mode PLA 74, and the RUN signal to the setup control 50 on the line 64. The counter ~5 is connected to generate output signals to a display 131 to provide the operatox with a visual indication of the machine speed. The counter 65 and the display 131 can be constructed, for example, from a group of Model 745-0009 counter/displays available from Dialigh~
Corporation~ The counter 65 has a clock input connnected to receive an output of a divide-by-N counter 132 having an input 65 received a reset signal on a line 133 and a latch signal on a line 134 from the microcomputer 80 through the IjO expander 82.
In addition to generating the RUN signal on the line 64 to the setup control 50, th_ counteF 65 also supplies the RUN signal . . ,,- , I' . . .
-25- ~
- ~ .' I

1~76350 ~ OI 15056 to the priority control PLA 88.
I The micro~omputer 80 controls the counter 65 and the display !
¦131 by periodically latching the outpu~ of the counter 65 into ¦the display 131. The microcomputer 80 then generates a reset Isignal to reset the counter 65 to count the ou~put of the divide-by-N counter 132. The value N can be selected such that the ¦counter 65 accumulates, between latch signals, a coun-t correspond-ing to, or example, the number of labels per minute. The counter 65 will generate the RUN signal on the line 64 at one logic level when the machine is stopped, and will genexate the RUN signal at another logic level when the machine is running.
Referring to the left-hand portion of Fig. 3b, there is shown an eyemark counter 140 which is utilized to count the number of eyemarks 20 the scanner 22 is détecting per label. The counter 140 has a clock input connected to receive the SCANNE~
pulse on the line 24. The counter 140 also has a latch input conneGted to received the ENC REF pulse on the line 26b. The ENC
REF pulse is applied to an input of a one shot 142 which delays the pulse before supplying an output pulse to a reset input of the countex 140.
The counter 140 is connected to generate two output signals to the PLA 88. The first signal, an EYE~ 1 signal, is generated by the eyemark counter 140 on a line 144 whenever the scanner 22 is detecting more than one eyemark per label. The second signal, a NO EYE signal, i~ supplied to the PLA 88 on a line-146 when the ~scanner is not detecting any eye marks. The output oE the counter 140 can be supplied to an eyemark display 148, for visually indi-cating to the operator the number of eyemarks the scanner is seeing per label.
'", . , .
';' ' ., '' ' ~''`. , I -26- ` `
. ,`, . , . ~' '.

¦ ~ l OI 15056 -~ ~ 6~

In operation, the counter 140, upon receiving the EMC REF
pulse, will latch the output of the counter into the d;splay 14~.
Since the ENC REF pulse is generated each time the machine cuts a label, the counter output will be latched to the display once 5 ¦per label. After a short predetermined delay, the one shot 142 ¦will then generate an output pu~se to xeset the counter 140. The ¦
counter 140 will then count each pulse which is received on the line 24 until the next ENC REF pulse is genera~ed. The line 144 is connected to an output of the counter 140 such -that, when the output is greater than one, and EYE~ 1 signal is generated on the line 144 to the PLA 88. The line 146 is connected such that, when the counter output equals zero, the NO EYE signal is generat-ed on the line 146 to the PLA ~8. The coun-ter 140 and the display 148 can be, for example, a Model 745-0009 counter/display available from Dialight Corporation.
The NO EYE signal on the line 146 is also supplied to the input of an inverter 149 having an output connected to one input of an AND gate 150. The other input to the AND gate 150 is connected to receive the ENC REP pulse on the line 26b. The output of the AND 150 is c~nnected to an input of a abel counter 152 which functions to count the total number of labels generated by the machine. The inverter 149 inverts the NO EYE signal on the line 146 to supply an EYE signal to the AND gate 150. When-ever the EYE slgnal is generated as a logic "1" pulse, the AND
150 will be enabled to generate a pulse to increment the counter 152. When the scanner is not detecting any eyemarks and the NO
EYE signal on the line 146 is at logic "1", the EYE signal appli-ed to the AND gate 150 will be at logic "0", such that no outpu~ ¦
pulses will be generated by the AND gate 150. Thu$, the label counter 152 will not be incremented when no eyemarks are bein~

. . ., . ~:

OI lS056 ~- ~ 76350 ~ I
I
Idetected. However, if the scanner is de-tecting more than one je~emark per label, -the counter will only be incremented once per jlabel since the ENC ~EF signal will only be generated once per label.
As previousl~ mentioned, the priority control PLA 88 supplies information to the micrcomputer 80 on the data bus 90. The priorit~ control PLA 88 can be connected to a manual control 154 ~by lines 156. The manual control 154 can include switches for .
Imanually controlling the operation of the machine elemen~s For ¦example, the control 154 can include switches for genera~ing the ¦RETARD or ADVANCE signals to the correction motor driver 128, or for generating the SHORTEN or LENGTHEN signals to the stepping motor driver 130.. .
In accordance with the present invention, the registration control system includes an alphanumeric display 158 which is connected to communicate with the microcomputer 80 by the data .. bus 90. The alphanumeric display 158.receives control signals from the microcomputer 80 through the I/O expander 82. The alphanumeric display 148 is utilized to display to the operator messages relating the the operation of the machine. As will be . discussed, these messages are displayed.on a pxioritized basis to inform the operator which mode the machine is in and, if thexe are any problems, what these problems might be. The alphanumeric .
. . display can be constructed, for example, from a group of Model DL-1416 displa~s available from Litronix Corpora-tion.
Therè is shown .in Figs 5a, 5b and 5c a flow diagram which will bè utilized to explain the operation of the registration control circuit 12. Although the majority of the instructions .
shown in Figs. 5a through 5c are performed by the microcomputer 80 in conjunction with the priority control PLA 88, it should be ~ 28~
I l . . . j . . .

~ 35~ OI 15056 noted that all the instructions could be performed by a single . ¦microcomputer or, conversely, additional PLA's could be provided to assis~ the micrcomputer in performing the various control functions. As previously mentioned, the PLA g8 receives incoming .
. data signals and decodes the signals on a priortized basis to signal the micrcomputer 80 which instructions should be executed.
The PLA ~8 lessens the load on ~he microcomputer 80 such that a less expensive microcomputer can be used.
Referring to Fig. 5a, the control circuit is initiated at a cixcle "STARTI' and ~hen enters a decision point "MANUAL OR AUTO"
to check whether any switches in the manual control 15.4 have been ¦
actuated by the operator. If the operator has set the machine into the manual mode, the program exits the dec.ision point at . "MAN" and enters a processing function "DISPLAY MANUAL MODE".
The micxocomputer 8,0 will then generate control and data signals . to the alphanumeric display 158 to visually display the message - "MANUAL MODE" to inform the operator of the present condition of the control. Next, the control enters a processing ~unction . "PERFORM MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS" wherein the micxcomputer executes the manual inetructi.ons requested by the operator via the manual control 154. For example, the operator can instruct the control to either manually advance or retard the coxrection motor, or to increase or decrease the base speed~ After performing the manual . instructions, the control returns below the circle "START".
If the operator has not requested an~ manual instructions, the control exits the decision point "MANUAL OR AUTO" at "AUTO"
. and enters a decision point "RUN SIGNAL" to check whether the machine speed counter 65 is generating a "RUN" signal on the line 64. If no "RUN" signal is present, indicating the machine is stopped, the control exits the decision point at "NO" and enters 1~ ~
'.'' . . ` .~
_~9_ . , !. ' ~ .. . ., , : ' ` ~ , 7 ~ 3 5 0 Ol 15056 la processing function "DISPLAY ZERO SPEED". The microcomputer 80 iwill then display the messaye "ZERO SPEED" to inform the operator ¦that the machine is stopped. After displa~ing "ZERO SPEED", the control enters a decisi~n point "SETUP SIGNAL" to check whether the operator has actuated the setup switch 62. If the setup switch has not been actuated, the control exits the decision point at "NO" and returns below the circle "START".
If the setup~switch 62 has been actuated, the control exits the decision point "SETUP 5IGNAL" at "YES" and enters a processing function "LAB 1 = LAB 2 = LAB 3 = TOT 1 = T~T 2 - 0" to set a number of variables, which will be discussed later, to zero. The control then enters a processing function "DISPLAY SETUP INST."
. wherein the setup procedure as discussed in Fig. 4c is performed.
After the setup operations have been performed, the control then enters a dec~sion point "NO EYE SIGNAL".
If the machine speed counter 65 is generatin~ the "RUN"
? ` signal on the line 64, ~he control will exit the decision point "RUN SIGNAL" at "YES" and enter a decision point "SETUP SIGNAL"
to check whether the operator has actuated the setup switch 62.
As previously mentioned, when the machine is in a run condition and the setup switch is actuated, the normal setup instructions will not be performed. However, the actuation of the setup switch 62 will cause the bar graph counter 66 to be reset which in turn centers the LED bar graph 70 and permits the operator to perform manual adjusments. Thus, if both the "RUN" s1gnal and the "SETUP" signal are being generated, the control exits the decision point "SETUP SIGNAL" at "YES" and enters the processin~
function "RESET BAR GRAPH COUNTER 66". After resetting the bar graph counter 66, the control enters the decision point "NO EYE
SIGN~L". If no setup siynal is generated, the control branches .
- ~ ~30- `

. I OI 15056 from the decision pOillt "SETUP SIGNAL" at "NO" ~nd directly enters the decision point "NO EYE SIG~AI,".
After entering the decision point "NO EYE SIGNAL", the control checks to see whether the eyemark counter 140 is gen-erating a "MO EYE" signal on the line 146. If the "NO EYE"
signal is present on the line 146, the control branches from the decision point at "YES" and enters a processing function "DISPLAY ¦
NO SCAN SIG". The microcomputer 80 will then inform the operator ¦
via the display 158 that the control is not receivinq any scanner ¦
signal. Thus, the operator is now aware that either the scanner is not seeing any eyemarks on the printed labels or that the scanner itself may be de~ective. ~fter displaying the "NO SCAN
SIG" message r the control returns below the circle "START".
If the counter 140 is not generating the "NO EYE" signal on the line 146, this is an indication that the scanner is seeing at least one eyemark per label. The control then exits the decision point "NO EYE SIGNAL" at "NO" and enters a decision point "DATA
RDY 1 SIGNAL". As previously mentioned, the phase error control 71 generates the "DATA RDY 1" signal on the line 86 when it has data ready which must be read by the microcomputer 80. If t1le "DATA RDY 1" signal is not present on the line 86, the control exits the decision point at "NO" and returns below the circle "START".
If the "DATA RDY 1" signal is being generated, this indicates that the phase error control 71 has data which must be read by the micrcomputer 80. The con-trol exits the decision point "DATA
RDY 1 SIGNAL" at "YES" and enters the decision point "LOST SIG-NAL" to determine whether the normal correction PLA 72 or the 360 mode PLA 74 is generating the correction signal~ If the "LOST"
signal is not being generated, this indicates that the eyemark was ' , . . `I
,' . i ~31~ -~ ~ OI 15~56 ~ ~ ~ ~7635~ 1 ¦detected within the designated window area so that the normal - icorrection P~A 72 i5 generating the PHASE ERROR signal on the lines 7~. The control exits the decision point "LOST SIGNAL'I at "NO" and enters a processing function "LAB 3 = 0" wherein the variable LAB 3 is set equal to zero. As will be discussed, the LAB 3 variable is utilized to keep track of khe number o consec-utive la~els which fall outside of the designated window area.
Thus, when the eyemark is detected within the winaow area, the variable LAB 3 is reset to zero. The control then enters a pro-cessing function "READ PHASE ERROR SIGNAL" wherein the microcom-puter reads the phase error signal on the lines 78 through the I/O expander 82. After reading the si~nal, the control enters a processing function "GENERATE ACK 1 and ACK 2". The microcomputer then generates the respective acknowledge signal on the lines 102 and 122. The ACK 1 slgnal informs the phase error control 71 that the data has been read by clearing the DATA RDY 1 signal on the line 86. The ACK 2 signal on the line 122 will clear the DATA RDY 2 signal on the line 120.
- The contxol then enters a aecision point "PHASE ERROR C PHASE
MIN" (Fig. 5b) to compa~e the P~ASE ERROR signal which was read on the line 78 with a predetermined PHASE MIN value. If the . PHASE ERROR VALUE is ~reater than the predetermined P~ASE MIN
value, the control exits the decision point at "NO" and enters a processing function "DISPLAY OUT OF REG". This display informs the operator that, althou~h the eyemark was detected within the window area, the actual phase error was still greater than the predetermined minimum phase error defined by the PNASE MIN value.
However, if the PHASE ERROR is less than the PHASE MIN value, the control will exit the decision point at "YES" and enter a process-ing function "DISPLAY GOOD". This disp~a~ informs the operator I ` -32-.~

350 ~ ' 15~56 ¦that, not only was ~he e~emark delected within the designated window area, but also that the phase error was less -~han the predetermined minimum error.
After displaying either "GOOD" or "OUT OF RÆG", the control enters a decision point "~/- SIGNALI'. The micxocomputer 80 then checks the logic level of the signal the line 84 to determine whether to advance or retard the correction motor. If the +/-signal is at a logic level which indicates that the correction motor must be advanced, the control exits the decision point at "-~" and entexs a processing function "GENERATE ADVANCE SIGNAL".
The microcomputer 80 will then generate the ADVANCE signal to the correction motor driver 128. The motor driver 128 then provides the driving signal to the correction motor 38 on the lines 40. On the other hand, if the ~/- signal is at a logic level indicating that the correction motor must be retarded, the control exits the decision point "~/- SIGNAL at "-" ànd enters a processing function "GENERATE RETARD SIGNAL". The microcomputer 80 will then generate the RETARD signal to the motor driver 128. In accorda~ce with the present invention, when the eyemark is detected within the designated window area, the "RETARD" and "ADVANCE" signals are generated directly proportional to the amount of actual phase error.
After yenerating the correc-tion signals to the correction motor driver 128, the control enters a processing function "LAB 1 = LAB 1 ~ 1; TOT 1 = TOT 1 - PHASE ERROR". Here, the label count variable LAB 1 is incremented by one while'the PHASE ERROR is combined with a first error total TOT 1. In the case where the correction motor was advanced, the PHASE ERROR signal is added to the variable TOT 1, and if the correction motor was retarded, the ¦
30 ~ PHASE ER R is subtra~ted from the v~riable TOT 1.

': .
. .

. , ' . '. i .
. ' ~ ' ~ 11 7~50 OI lSD56 A~ter incrementing the label counter LAB l and calculating ¦the error to-tal TOT l, the control -then enters a decision point --LAB 1 = 2" for ~eterming whether the total TOT l represen-ts the Itotal phase error for the last two labels. If the variable LAB 1 ¦= 2, the control exits the decision point "L~B 1 = 2" at "YES"
and enters a processing function "AVR 1 = TOT l/LAB 1". At this time, the microcomputer calculates a first average error AVR l by dividing the error total TOT l by the number o~ labels LAB 1.
Next, the control enters a processing function "LAB 1 = TOT 1 =
0" to reset the ~AB 1 and the error total TOT l to zero. The. .¦
control then enters a decision poin~ "AVR 1> M~X 1" ~Fig. 5c1 to determine whether the average error AVR l is greater than a predetermined maximum error defined by MAX 1. If the average error AVR 1 is greater than. the predetermined maximum r~Ax 1, this lS indicates that the amount of error detected over the last two labels is such that a base spèed adjustment should be maae. The .~ control then enters a processing function 'iER~OR = F(AVR l~
which includes lnstructions for calculating the. ERROR signal as a ¦
. function of the average error AVR l.
If the la~el counter LAB 1 lS not equal to.two or the a~erage AVR i is not greater than the predetermined MAX 1, the control exits the respective decision points at "NO" and enters a process-ing function "LAB 2 = LAB 2 ~ 1; TOT 2 = TOT 2 PHASE ERROR".
~ere, the label count variable. LAB 2 is incremented by one while the PHASE ERROR is added to or subtracted from a second error.
total TOT 2, depending on the logic level of the ~/- signal. The control then enters a decision point "LAB 2 =12" to determine whether the second error total TOT 2 represents the total error over the last twelve labels. If LAB 2 does not equal twelve, the ;
control returns below the cirlce "START". When "L~B 2 - l2", the !

. -3~~ .
, ' ' . ` . , . ~ , . V 1 .L ~ V .J J I
~` ~ ~ I
. . ~ 35~ i control exits the decision point "LAB 2 = ]2" at "~ES" and enters !
a processing function "AVR 2 = TOT 2/LAB 2" to calcul~te the average error which has occured over the last twelve labels.
INext, the control enters a processing function "LAB 2 = TOT 2 =
0" to reset the variables ~AB 2 and TOT 2 to zero. The control then enters a decision point "~VR 2~ MAX 2" to compare the ave~age error AVR 2 over the last twe~ve labels to a second predetermined maximimum defined by MAX 2. If the average AVR 2 is not greater ¦than the predetermined maximum MAX 2, the control exits the decision point "AVR 2> MAX 2" at "NO" and returns below the circle "START". However, if the auerage error AVR 2 is greater than the maximum error MAX 2, the control exits the decision point "AVR 2~ MAX 2" at "YES" and enters a processing function "ERROR = F~AVR 2)". At this time, the control calcuates the ERROR signal as a function of the average error AVR 2.
After calculating the ERROR value as a function of either - ¦the average ~VR 1 or the average AVR 2, the control ente~s a pro-cessing function "DISPLAY BASE SPD AD~" ~Jherein the microcomputer ¦
80 displays to the operator that a base speed ad3ustment is t~ be made. Next, the control enters a decision point "ERROR~ 0" to determine whether the base speed has to be increased or reduced.
If the ERROR value is greater than zero, this is an indication that the base speed must be redu~ed. The control exits the ~ decision point "ERROR> 0" at "yEs" and enters a processing func-tion "GENERATE SHORTEN SIGNAL". Here, the microcomputer 80 will yenerate the SHORTEN signal to the stepping motor driver 130 to decrease the base speed. If the ERROR value is less than zero, the con~rol exits the decision point "ERROR~ 0" at "NO" and enters a processing ~unction "GENERATE LENGT~IEN SIGNAL". The microcomputer 80 will then generate the LENGTHEN signal to the ~- ~35-I . ,,,-~ ', ~

~ I ~ o~ 150S6 ~7~;35~
~stepping motor driver 130 to increase the base spéed. After ¦ generating either the SIIORTEN or LENGTHEN signal, the control enters a processing function "L~B 1 = LAB ~ = TOT 1 = TQT 2 = 0"
to reset the label counters and error totals to zero. The control¦
S then returns below the circle "START"~ -Returning to the decision point "LOST SIG~AL" shown in Fig.
Sa, the control exits the decision point at "Y~S" when the LOST
si~nal is being generated. As previously mentioned, 360 mode PLA
74 generates the LOST signal on the line 94 when an eyemark has been detected out of the designated window area. The control then enters a decision point 'IEYE~ 1 SIGNAL" to determine whether the scanner is detecting more than one eye mark per label. If this is the case, the control exits the decision point at "YES"
and enters a processing function "DISPLAY LOST USE MANUAL". This informs the operator that an eyemark has been detectea out of the ¦window area, and that the scanner is seeing more than one eyemark ¦per label. Under these conditions, the control canno~ de~ermine which one of the eyemarks is supposed to be kept in registry and thus returns below the circle "START" after informing the operator ~f this condition. The operator must then use the manual contr~l ~154 to move the selected eye mark within the designated window area. The control can then be switched back to the automatic mode~
If the scanner is seeing only one eyemark per label, and the eyemark has fallen outside of the designated window area, the control can bring the eyemark back in registration. The control exits the decision point "EYE~ 1 SIGNAL'i at "NO" and enters a processing funckion "LAB 3 = LAB 3+1". The variable L~B 3 represents a label counter which is incremented each time an ¦eyema~k o a label l5 detected out of the desiy~ated window area. ¦
, .''`. ' I

~ 36-: ` ,~ ` ` ` 1 ~ OI 15056 77635C~ ~ l ~ ~ I
As will be discussed, when the la~el counter L~B 3 reaches a predetermined amount, and the e~emark has no-~ been moved into the window area, the control will e~fec-t a base speed ajdustment.
After incrementing the label counter LAB 3, the control enters a processing function "READ ADV/RTD SIGNAL" (Fig. 5b). The micro-computer 80 will then read the ADV/RTD singal via the PLA 88 and the data bus 90. The control then enters a processing function "GENERATE ACK 1 AND ACK 2". The ACK 1 clears the DATA RDY
1 signal and signals the PLA 74 that the ADV/RTD signal has been read, while the ACR 2 signal clears the DATA RDY 2 signal.
Next, the con-trol enters a decision point "ADV/RTD SIGNAL"
to determine in which direction to run the correction motor by ~i checking ~he logic level of the ADV/RTD signal. If the correctionl motor is to be advanced, the control exits the decision point at "ADV" and enters a processing function "DISPI~Y ADV 360". This ¦display informs the operator that the control is in the gross phase correction mode, and the correction motor is being advanced.!
The control then enters the processing function "GENERATE ADVANCE
SIGNAL" wherein the microcomputer 80 generates a signal to run the correction motor to full speed in the advance d xection. If the ADV/RTD signal indicates that the correc-tion motor should be retarded, the control exits the decision point "ADV/RTD SIGNAL"
at "RTD" and enters a processing function "DISPLAY RTD 360".
This displa~ informs the operator that the correction motor wi]l be running full speed in the retard direction. The control then enters a processing function "GRNERATE RETARD SIGNAL" wherein the retard signal is supplied to the correction motor driver.
After generating either the ADVANCE or RETARD signal the control enters a decision point "LAB 3 = 32" to determine whether ¦
~ the last thi 1y-two consecutive labels h~ve eyemark~ wh.ch have . . ...
,i` . ..
-37 ~ `.!`_ ~ l O~ 15056 "~ I ~ 76~S~ ~ I

been detected out of the designated window area. If LAB 3 does ¦not equal to thirty-two, the control exits at "NO" and returns jbelow th~ circle "START". However, if LAB 3 equals thir-ty-two, ~the control branches from the decision point "LA~ 3 = 32" a~ ¦
~"YES" and enters a processing function "GE~ERATE ACK 1 CONTIN-UOUSLY". At this time, the microcomputer 80 will continuously ¦generate the ACK 1 signal to the phase error control 71 to prevent ¦the DATA RDY 1 signal from interrup~ing the microcomputer 80 Iwhile it is performing a base speed ad~ustment. Next, the control lenters a decision point "DATA RD~ 2 SIGNAL" and waits for the D~TA RD~ 2 signal ~o appear on the line 120, thus indicating that the BASE SPD ERROR signal is ready to be read on the lines 114.
When there is no DATA RDY 2 signal present the control exits at "NO" and will continue to loop through the decision point "DATA
~RDY 2 SIGNAL" until a ~ATA RDY 2 signal is present. When the jsignal is present, the control exits the decision point at "YES"
r~ -~ ¦ and enters a processing function "READ BASE SPD ERROR SIGNAL"
(Fig. 5c). The microcomputer 80 will th~n read the BASE SPD
ERROR signal on the lines 114.
As previousl~ mentioned, the BASE SPD ERROR signal is gen-erated at a value proportional to the actual base speed error.
After reading the BASE SPD ERROR signal, the control then enters a processing function "GENERATE ACK 2" to clear the DATA RDY 2 signal and acknowledge to the b~ase speed control 104 that the BASE SPD ERROR has been read. Next, the control enters a process-ing function "LAB 3 = 0" to reset the counter LAB 3 to zero.
After resetting the label counter LAB 3, the control enters a decision point "BASE SPD ERROR~ BASE MI~" to determine whether the error signal on the lines 114 is greater than a predetermined minimum base error defined by BASE MIN. If -the BASE SPD ERROR is ¦
. ' ", 1 . ' ~ ; .' ~7~

not greater than the predetermined minimum BASE MIN, the control exits at "NO" and returns below the circle "START". However, if the BASE SPD ERROR signal is greater than the BASE MIN, the con-trol exits the decision point "BASE SPD ERROR ~BASE MIN" at "YES" and enters a processing function "DISPLAY BASE SPD ADJ" to inform the operator that a base speed adjustment is to be made.
The control then enters a decision point "UP/DOWN SIGNAL"
to determine whether the value of the error signal on the lines 114 represents that the labels are too long or too short. If the signal indicates that the counter 110 has been counting in the DOWN mode, this indicates that the labels being produced are too long. The control then exits the decision point at "DOWN"
and enters a processing function "GENERATE SHORTEN SIGNAL". The microcomputer 80 will then generate the SHORTEN signal at a value directly proportional to the actual base speed error to slow down the feed rolls 16. If the UP/DOWN signal is in the UP mode, the control exits the decision point at "UP" and enters a processing function "GENERATE LENGTHEN SIGNAL". The microcomputer will then generate the LENGTHEN signal to speed up the feed rolls and lengthen the labels. After effecting the base speed adjustment, the control enters a processing function "DISCONTINVE GENERATING ACK 1" wherein the ACK 1 signal is re-moved from the line 102 such that the microcomputer 80 will now be responsive to a DATA RDY 1 signal. The control then enters 25 the processing function "LAB 1 = LAB 2 = TOT 1 = TOT 2 = 0" be-fore returning below the circle "START".

In summary, the present invention concerns a control circuit for an apparatus for cutting segments from a moving strip of material, such as labels from a moving roll or strip of labels.

The apparatus includes a cutting means, means for driving the r ¦ ~ ~ OI 15056 ~cutting means and the strip of material, means for generating a l~reference signal representing an actual position for each cut and ¦
¦Imeans for generating a scan signal representing a desired position, !' for each cut.
- 5 ¦I The control is set up by placing the cutting means and the leading end of a first se~ment in the cut position. The control ~lis then manually joggea until an eyemark is aligned with a scanner~
¦! to generate the scan signal. A first counter is loaded with a jcount total representing one half of a window. The drive means ~is then actuated and an encoder generates a cyclic or pulsed signal proportional to the speed of cutting to the first counter until an encoder reference signal is generated to freeze the count total. The count total from the first counter is then loaded into a second counter which counts to a count total repre-lS ~isenting the time between cuts and generates a new xeference ¦Isignal. The new reference signal defines the beginning of the ¦Iwindow. The difference between the next scan signal and the ¦~midpoint of the window represents the difference between the jactual position and the desired position for the cut. A phase ¦error signal representing this difference is generated.
¦ The control includes means responsive to the phase error ¦signal for controlling the drive means to reduce the phase error - !signal for the next cut. The phase error signal controls a ¦correction motor connected to a transmission between the drive ¦motor and the feed rolls for the strip of material. If the !average of two consecutive phase error signals exceeds a first ¦predetermi~ed amount, a base speed error proportional to the ¦average is generated to control a steppin~ motor which changes ¦the gear ratio of the transmission and the speed of the strip ~ relative to he speed of cuttinq. If the average of twelve con-- i '.
.- 1 , i' .~ ' _~Q_ 1 .' ~

I . ¦ OI 15056 1 5~
~ 6~50 secutive phase error signals exceeds a second predeterminea amount, a second base s~eed error signal proportional to the average is generated to change the speed of the strip relative to ¦
the speed of cutting.
If the scan signal falls outside the window, the correction motor is actuated. As the speed of the apparatus is lowered, the time for a shorten correction is reduced. If the scan signal is ¦outside the window for thirty-two consecutive segments, a maximum speed base speed correction is made.
Means are provided for generating a plurality of status signals representing conditions of the control circuit and the apparatus. The control includes means for stoxing a plurality of message signals representing the status conditions, means respon-sive to the status signals for generating the associated ones of the message signa1s, and means responsive to the message signals for visually indicating the condition of the apparatus. The .~ means for visually indicating can be an alphanumeric display.
The means for generating the message signals includes means fox assigning a priority to each of the status signals such that on7y the messago si~nal with the highest priority i~ generated.
In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the principle and mode of operation of the invention has been e~plained and illustrated in its preferred embodiment. ~lowever, it must be understood that the invention may be practiced other-wise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from the spirit or scope.

.
. ' ' ` ` . :~'. '. .. ; :,'.~' -

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A control circuit for an apparatus for cutting individual segments from a moving strip of material, the apparatus having a cutting means, means for driving the cutting means and the strip of material, means responsive to the cutting means for generating a reference signal representing an actual position for each of a plurality of cuts, and means for generating a scan signal representing a desired position for each of the plurality of cuts, the control circuit com-prising:
means responsive to the reference signal and the scan signal for generating a phase error signal representing the difference between the actual position and the desired position for each of the plurality of cuts;
means responsive to said phase error signal for controlling the drive means to reduce said phase error signal for subsequent cuts;
means responsive to a predetermined number of said phase error signals exceeding a predetermined value for generating a base speed error signal representing the differ-ence between an average actual length of the segments and a desired segment length; and means responsive to said base speed error signal for controlling the means for driving to reduce said base speed error signal.

2. The control circuit according to Claim 1 wherein the means for driving includes means for moving the strip of material and a drive motor connected to the cutting means and to said strip moving means.

3. The control circuit according to Claim 2 wherein the means for driving includes a variable ratio transmission connected between said drive motor and said strip moving means.

4. The control circuit according to Claim 3 wherein the means for driving includes a correction motor connected to said strip moving means, and means responsive to said phase error signal for actuating said correction motor to change the speed of said strip moving means with respect to the speed of the cutting means to reduce the phase error for a subsequent cut.

5. The control circuit according to Claim 3 wherein the means for driving includes a stepping motor connected to said transmission, and said means for controlling the means for driving is responsive to said base speed error signal for actuating said stepping motor to change the speed of said strip moving means with respect to the speed of the cutting means to reduce said base speed error signal.

6. The control circuit according to Claim 1 wherein the means for driving includes means for driving the cutting means, means for driving the strip of material and means for correlating the means for driving the cutting means with the means for driving the strip of material and wherein said means responsive to said phase error signal controls the means for driving the strip of material and said means responsive to said base speed error signal controls the means for correlating.

7. The control circuit according to claim 6 wherein said means for generating a phase error signal generates said phase error signal proportional to the time elapsed between the generation of the reference signal and the generation of the scan signal.

8. The control circuit according to Claim 6 including a source of clock pulses generated at a frequency proportional to the speed of the means for driving the cutting means and wherein said means for generating a phase error signal includes counter means responsive to the generation of the reference signal for counting said clock pulses and responsive to the generation of the scan signal for terminating said counting and means responsive to a count total of said counter means for ge-nerating said phase error signal.

9. The control circuit according to Claim 8 wherein said counter means has a predetermined count range and said means responsive to said count total generates said phase error signal in proportion to the deviation of said count total from a mid-point of said predetermined count range.

10. The control circuit according to Claim 6 wherein said means for generating a phase error signal generates a first error signal representing the magnitude of the phase error and a second error signal representing the direction of a correction to be made, and said means responsive to said phase error signal is responsive to said first and second error signals for controlling the means for correlating.

11. The control circuit according to Claim 6 wherein the means for correlating includes a correction motor connected to the means for driving the strip of material, and means res-ponsive to said phase error signal for actuating said correction motor to change the speed of the means for driving the strip of material with respect to the speed of the cutting means to reduce the phase error signal for the next cut.

12. The control circuit according to Claim 11 wherein said phase error signal is proportional to the difference between the actual and desired positions for the cut and said means for actuating is responsive to said phase error signal for changing the speed of the means for driving the strip of material for a time proportional to said phase error signal.

13. The control circuit according to Claim 11 wherein said phase error signal includes a signal representing the direction of the speed change and said means for actuating is responsive to said direction error signal for advancing and re-tarding the speed of the means for driving the strip of material.

14. The control circuit according to Claim 6 wherein said means for generating a base speed error signal includes means responsive to two consecutive phase error signals for generating an average phase error signal, and means for comparing said average phase error signal with a predetermined maximum error signal for generating said base speed error signal.

15. The control circuit according to Claim 6 wherein said means for generating a base speed error signal includes means responsive to a plurality of consecutive phase error sig-nals for generating an average phase error signal, and means for comparing said average phase error signal with a predetermin-ed maximum error signal for generating said base speed error signal.

16. The control circuit according to Claim l wherein the individual segments are labels cut from a moving strip of labels and further comprising means responsive to a predetermin-ed number of consecutive phase error signals exceeding a pre-determined value for controlling the drive means to change the speed of the strip of labels relative to the speed of cutting of the cutting means to reduce the phase error signals.

17. The control circuit according to Claim 16 in-cluding a source of a cyclic signal having a frequency propor-tional to the frequency of cutting of the cutting means and wherein said means for generating a phase error signal includes counter means responsive to each of the reference signals for initiating counting of the cycles of said cyclic signal and res-ponsive to each of the scan signals for terminating said count-ing, and means responsive to a count total of said counter means for generating said phase error signals.

18. The control circuit according to Claim 17 wherein said means responsive to said count total includes means for generating each of said phase error signals as a phase error magnitude signal representing the magnitude of the phase correc-tion to be made and a phase error sign signal representing the direction of the phase correction to be made.

19. The control circuit according to Claim 16 in-cluding a source of a cyclic signal having a frequency propor-tional to the frequency of cutting of the cutting means; wherein said means for generating a phase error signal includes counter means responsive to each of the reference signals for initiating counting of the cycles of said cyclic signal and responsive to each of the scan signals for terminating said counting, and means responsive to a count total of said counter means exceed ing a predetermined value for generating a lost signal; and in-cluding means responsive to said lost signal for controlling the drive means to reduce said phase error signal for the next cut.

20. The control circuit according to Claim 19 in-cluding means responsive to said cyclic signal for generating a signal representing the speed at which the cuts are being made and wherein said means responsive to said count total is responsive to said speed signal for changing said predetermined value as a function of the speed at which the cuts are being made.

21. The control circuit according to Claim 20 wherein said predetermined value is changed in direct proportion to the magnitude of the speed represented by said speed signal.

22. The control circuit according to Claim 16 wherein said means for controlling the drive means to change the speed includes means responsive to two consecutive ones of said phase error signals for generating an average signal having a magni-tude representing the average of the differences, means for generating an error signal when the magnitude of said average signal exceeds a predetermined value, and means responsive to said error signal for changing the speed of the strip of labels relative to the speed of cutting by the cutting means in propor-tion to the magnitude of said average signal.

23. The control circuit according to Claim 16 wherein said means for controlling the drive means includes means res-ponsive to a plurality of consecutive phase error signals for generating an average signal having a magnitude representing the average of the differences, means for generating an error signal when the magnitude of said average signal exceeds a pre-determined value, and means responsive to said error signal for changing the speed of the strip of labels relative to the speed of cutting by the cutting means in proportion to the magnitude of said average signal.

24. The control circuit according to Claim 23 wherein said plurality of consecutive phase error signals is twelve.

25. The control circuit according to Claim 16 wherein said means for controlling the drive means changes the speed at a predetermined maximum rate.

26. The control circuit according to Claim 16 wherein said predetermined number is thirty-two.

27. The control circuit according to Claim 16 in-cluding means responsive to said phase error signals for display-ing messages representing the status of the control circuit.

28. The control circuit according to Claim 1 wherein the apparatus also includes means for generating a cyclic signal, each cycle representing a predetermined increment of distance between actual cuts, the control circuit further comprising:
first means for counting the cycles of the cyclic sig-nal responsive to a first one of the scan signals for initiating counting and responsive to a first one of the reference signals for terminating counting;
second means for counting the cycles of the cyclic signal responsive to the reference signals for initiating count-ing from a count total of said first means for counting and for generating a new reference signal at a predetermined count total;
and means responsive to the scan signals and said new re-ference signals for maintaining the cutting means and the strip of material in registry.

29. The control circuit according to Claim 28 in-cluding means for presetting said first means for counting with a predetermined initial count total.

30. The control circuit according to Claim 29 wherein said predetermined initial count total represents one half of the number of cycles of the cyclic signal representing a window during which one of the scan signals should be generated.

31. The control circuit according to Claim 30 in-cluding means responsive to said first counting means count total for generating a visual indication of the position of said new reference signals with respect to the position of said new reference signal generated from said first scan and first reference signals.

32. The control circuit according to Claim 31 in-cluding means for selectively changing said count total of said first means for counting.

33. The control circuit according to Claim 1 further comprising:
means responsive to said phase error signals for com-paring each of said phase error signals with a window represent-ing a predetermined range of phase error signal differences and generating a lost signal when one of said phase error signals is outside said window; and means responsive to a predetermined number of said lost signals for controlling the drive means to reduce said phase error signal differences.

34. The control circuit according to Claim 33 wherein said predetermined number of lost signals is thirty-two.

35. The control circuit according to Claim 33 wherein said means for controlling changes the speed of the strip of material relative to the speed of cutting of the cutting means to reduce said phase error signal differences.

36. The control circuit according to Claim 35 wherein said means for controlling changes the speed of the strip of material relative to the speed of cutting of the cutting means at a predetermined rate.

37. A control circuit according to Claim 1 wherein the individual segments are labels cut from a moving strip of labels and further comprising means for controlling the speed of the strip of labels relative to the speed of cutting of the cutting means to maintain the labels in registry, and means for generating a plurality of status signals representing the status of the means for controlling, and means for indicating the status of the means for controlling comprising:
means for storing a plurality of message signals each corresponding to one of the status signals;
means responsive to the status signals for generating said corresponding message signals from said means for storing;
and means responsive to said generated message signals for visually indicating the status of the means for controlling.

38. The means for indicating according to Claim 37 wherein said means for visually indicating includes an alpha-numeric display means.

39. The means for indicating according to Claim 37 wherein said means for generating said message signals includes means for assigning a priority to each of the status signals and for generating only a one of said message signals having the corresponding one of the status signals with the highest priority.

40. A method of controlling an apparatus for cutting individual labels from a moving strip of material, the apparatus having a cutting means and means for driving the cutting means and the strip of material, comprising the steps of:
a) generating a phase error signal for successive labels representing the difference between an actual position of a cut for the labels and a desired position for said cut;
b) controlling the drive means to reduce the phase error signal for succeeding labels in proportion to the magni-tude of said difference represented by said phase error signal for preceding labels;
c) summing a first predetermined number of consecu-tive phase error signals to generate a sum signal having a mag-nitude proportional to the sum of the differences represented by said phase error signals; and d) controlling the drive means to change the speed of the strip of material relative to the speed of cutting of the cutting means in response to said sum signal magnitude ex-ceeding a first predetermined value.

41. The method according to Claim 40 wherein said step c) is performed by summing said differences and dividing said sum by said first predetermined number of phase error sig-nals to generate said sum signal with a magnitude proportional to the average of said differences.

42. The method according to Claim 41 wherein said first predetermined number is two.

43. The method according to Claim 41 wherein said first predetermined number is twelve.

44. The method according to Claim 40 including a step e) counting a second predetermined number of said phase error signals, and a step f) controlling the drive means to change the speed of the strip of material relative to the speed of cutting of the cutting means at a predetermined rate in res-ponse to said second predetermined number exceeding a second predetermined value.

45. The method according to Claim 44 wherein said second predetermined number is thirty-two.

46. The method according to Claim 40 setting up a control circuit for the apparatus comprising the steps of:
a) generating a scan signal when successive labels are at a predetermined position relative to the desired cutting position;
b) generating a cyclic signal, each cycle represent-ing a predetermined increment of distance between cuts;
c) generating a reference signal representing a pre-determined position of the cutting means relative to the actual cutting position;
d) counting the cycles of said cyclic signal between the generation of a first one of said scan signals and a first one of said reference signals in a first counting means; and e) loading the count total of said first counting means into a second counting means in response to each refer-ence signal subsequent to said first one and counting the cycles of said cyclic signal in said second counting means.

47. The method according to Claim 46 including a step f) controlling the means for driving in response to said scan signals and a count total of said second counting means to main-tain the cutting means and the strip of material in registry.

48. The method according to Claim 46 including a step f) generating a new reference signal in response to a predeter-mined count total of said second counting means and a step g) controlling the means for driving in response to said scan sig-nals and said new reference signals to maintain the labels in registry.

49. The method according to Claim 46 wherein said step d) is performed by counting from a predetermined count to-tal representing one half of the number of the cycles of the cyclic signal representing a window during which one of said scan signals should be generated.