System and method for incorporating graphics into absorbent articles

A system for incorporating graphics into absorbent articles, the system comprising:

• a substrate web path adapted to provide a moving substrate to a graphic applicator;
• a line speed reference signal sensor associated with a line speed target machinery component comprising the main drive and adapted to generate a line speed reference signal, said line speed reference signal sensor comprising an encoder that measures the angular velocity of the main drive;
• a phase difference signal sensor associated with a phase target machinery component and adapted to generate a phase difference signal;
• and
• a graphic applicator controller adapted to operate the graphic applicator at a predetermined speed, based on the line speed reference signal, to thereby apply a series of graphics on the moving substrate at a predetermined distance frequency;
• the graphic applicator controller being further adapted to set an actual graphic applicator phase angle, based on the phase difference signal, to approximate a predetermined phase angle to thereby position the series of graphics on the moving substrate at a series of desired graphics locations.