Method and Apparatus for Performing Multiple Tasks on a Web of Material

A method of joining an element on a web of material for a bag, and cutting the web to form individual bags, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a web of material of a length suitable for forming multiple bags therefrom, and moving said web of material in a machine direction;
• b. providing a plurality of elements;
• c. detecting a first location on the web of material for joining one of said elements to said web of material;
• d. detecting a second location on the web of material for cutting the web to form individual bags, wherein the steps of detecting the first location and the second location are carried out separately;
• and
• e. providing a compensating device for reducing any variations in position along the length of the web of material between at least one of said first locations and/or said second locations, and if necessary, moving at least a portion of the web of material to adjust the relative position of at least one of said first locations and said second locations to reduce variations therebetween.

A detection and compensating system for assisting in performing tasks on a machine that makes articles from a web of material that moves relative to said machine, said web of material having a length, said system comprising:

• a. a first detector for detecting a first location on the web of material for performing a first task on said web of material;
• b. a second detector for detecting a second location on the web of material for performing a second task on the web of material, wherein the detectors are arranged so that the steps of detecting the first location and the second location are carried out at different places;
• and
• c. a compensating device that cooperates at least indirectly with the detectors for reducing any variations in position along the length of the web of material between at least one of said first locations and/or said second locations, and if necessary, moving at least a portion of the web of material to adjust the relative position of at least one of said first locations and said second locations to reduce variations therebetween.