Speed control device

In a machine wherein a flexible material is passed at varying speeds through one section of the machine and also through another section of the machine with the machine having a device coordinating the speed of said material in each of said sections, the improvement in said device comprising a tiltable structure, means sensitive to the extent of the material's sag between said sections for tilting said structure, an impedance element in the form of of a coil about a straight longitudinal axis, said longitudinal axis extending substantially horizontally and radially of the axis of tilt of said structure, a strip of electrically conductive material parallel to and spaced from said coil, said strip forming with said coil a straight raceway for a ball, a ball of electrically conductive material in said raceway whereby when said raceway is horizontal said ball is stationary but when inclined downwardly in one or another direction said ball is moved by gravity in said direction, and means sensitive to the impedance between one end of said coil and said ball for changing the speed of said material through one of said sections to bring the speed of said material in said sections more nearly into equilibrium, said tiltable structure having an arm which extends transversely of the axis of the tilt of said structure, said coil being mounted on said arm, and said sensitive means including a member extending in one direction which member contacts said material, and which includes a weight mounted on said arm and slideable therealong to provide a counterbalancing effect to said last mentioned member.