Touch screen system for a web folder

A method of manufacturing a web folder machine, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of folder units including an angle bar unit, a compensator unit, a plow unit having plow heads, and a draw unit, and connecting a motor to each plow head such that operation of the motor causes movement of the plow head;
• providing a control system including the steps of providing a computer, a touch screen interface, and a plurality of PLCs, connecting the computer to the touch screen interface and to the PLCs, and connecting four of the motors to each PLC;
• taking a picture of at least one of the plow heads;
• digitizing the picture to create a digitized image of the plow head;
• and
• displaying the digitized image of the plow head on the touch screen interface such that the displayed digitized image moves on the touch screen interface when the actual plow head moves.

A folder machine for folding a travelling web, said folder machine comprising:

• a plurality of plow heads;
• a computer;
• a plurality of PLCs connected to said computer;
• a plurality of motors connected to each PLC and respectively drivingly connected to the plow heads for selectively moving the plow heads;
• and
• a touch screen interface connected to said computer, wherein a photorealistic image of a plow head is displayed on said touch screen, which photorealistic image moves on the display in response to movement of one of said plow heads.

A method of creating a display for a touch screen control system which is used to control a movable folder unit in a web folder machine, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a touch screen interface;
• taking a picture of the movable folder unit;
• digitizing the picture to create a digitized image of the movable folder unit;
• and
• displaying the digitized image of the movable folder unit on the touch screen interface.

A method of operating a web folder machine, having a plurality of movable folder units, the movable folder units including an angle bar unit, a compensator unit, a plow unit having plow heads, and a draw unit, and motors respectively connected to a plurality of the movable folder units such that operation of the motors causes selective movement of the movable folder units, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a control system including a computer, a touch screen interface, and a plurality of PLCs, the computer being connected to the touch screen interface and to the PLCs, and the PLCs being connected to the motors for controlling the motors;
• taking a picture of at least one of the movable folder units;
• digitizing the picture to create a digitized image of the movable folder unit;
• and
• displaying the digitized image of the movable folder unit on the touch screen interface such that the displayed digitized image moves on the touch screen interface when the movable folder unit moves.

A folder machine for folding a travelling web, said folder machine comprising:

• a plurality of movable folder units;
• a computer;
• a plurality of PLCs connected to said computer;
• a plurality of motors connected to each PLC and respectively drivingly connected to the movable folder units for selectively moving the movable folder units;
• and
• a touch screen interface connected to said computer, wherein a photorealistic image of a movable folder unit is displayed on said touch screen, which photorealistic image moves on the display in response to movement of one of said movable folder units.

A display for a control system indicating the position of movable folder units, said display including:

• a photorealistic image of a movable folder unit;
• means for inputting a desired preset position of the movable folder unit;
• a first numerical display of said preset position;
• and
• a second numerical display of the actual position of said movable folder unit.