Method and apparatus for pinless feeding of web to a utilization device

A utilization device for performing an operation to a web that is free of pin feed perforations comprising:

• a lower tractor pin feed section that receives web from a source;
• a utilization device element that performs an operation to the web;
• an upper tractor pin feed section that transfers web from the utilization device element;
• a drive roller located adjacent the lower tractor pin feed section that engages the web;
• a mark sensor that reads a selected mark that occurs at regular intervals upon the web, wherein the mark sensor includes a mounting base having a freely rotating mass that applies pressure to a portion of the web passing there through to maintain a portion of the web against a portion of the base;
• and
• a controller that controls a rate of the drive roller in response to signals sent by the mark sensor so as to provide a desired drive rate of the drive roller.

A method for adapting a high volume utilization device to a modified state in which the utilization device performs an operation on a continuous web that is free of pin feed perforations from an unmodified state in which the utilization device performs operations only upon web having pin feed perforations comprising the steps of:

• locating a central drive roller and a follower roller that define therebetween a drive nip between a pair of tractor pin feed belts, the pair of tractor pin feed belts defining an upper tractor pin feed section and a lower tractor pin feed section, including operatively connecting the central drive roller with a central drive motor of the utilization device in which the central drive motor is interconnected with each of the upper tractor pin feed section, the lower tractor pin feed section and the drive roller through a central drive shaft;
• interconnecting a differential with the drive roller, the differential being driven by a registration motor that advances and retards the drive roller relative to a rotational speed of the central drive motor based upon registration signals of a registration controller;
• operatively connecting the differential in line with the central drive motor;
• and
• locating a mark sensor at a predetermined location along a path of web travel, wherein the mark sensor scans selected indicators on the web and interconnecting the mark sensor with the registration controller.