Speed control system for continuous strip manufacturing apparatus

In a continuous strip manufacturing apparatus having first and second spaced rotary work means between which elongate material passes in the form of a loop, a first electric motor for driving said first work means, a variable-speed second electric motor for driving said second work means, manually operable control means for producing a first signal voltage proportional to a desired speed ratio of said second work means to said first work means, looper means for sensing the position of said loop of elongate material and producing a second signal voltage corresponding to the variation in position of said loop of elongate material from a preselected position, and regulator means having input means and output means controlling the speed of said second motor to vary the speed of said second motor in direct proportion to changes in a control voltage applied to said input means;

• the improvement comprising:
• summing means for producing a third signal voltage directly proportional to the sum of said first and second signal voltages, function generator means for adjusting the magnitude of said third signal voltage by a factor substantially linearly proportional to the rotational speed of said first work means to provide a fourth signal voltage, and circuit means for applying said fourth signal voltage as a control voltage to said input means of said regulator means to cause the speed of said second motor to vary substantially linearly with changes in the speed of said first work means and to further cause compensating variations in the speed of said second motor to maintain the position of said loop of elongate material within acceptable limits.