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Improve Tension Control to Assist Registration in Narrow Web Applications


Cumulative error in your web control can effect print to print or print to die registration in your narrow web application. This error starts at the unwind station. Automatic tension control to adjust the brake or drive at the unwind station will certainly help to ensure feeding your process with an even, properly set web tension.

Open loop tension controls, like ultrasound controls, will adjust a brake relative to roll diameter by proportionally decreasing torque output of the brake as the unwind roll shrinks in size. Closed loop tension controls, like load cell transducer type, compare a set point (desired web tension) to an actual value (actual web tension) and adjust a brake or drive to maintain the set point.

Both of these systems are excellent options to control web tension feeding your process. However, they both have at least one drawback; they have limited compensation for tension “spikes”. It’s these tension spikes that can play havoc with your registration.

There are dancer control systems that are used in conjunction with either of these two systems. Dancer controls “store” material, so not only do they adjust torque devices to keep tension constant, the storage also works as a “shock absorber” to ensure even web tension is fed into your process, even when web tension spikes occur. Typically, a brake is integrated into this device, geared with rubber covered “brake rolls”. The torque this brake and brake rolls deliver to your web is, in essence, in addition to the torque supplied off the unwind stand.

Use of one of these dancer devices will improve your print to print or print to die registration, improving your process, reducing waste and ultimately improving your bottom line.



Written By: Jeffrey Damour, Sales Manager, Converter Accessory Corporation, Wind Gap, PA, Phone - 800-433-2413

**DISCLAIMER - A great deal of time has been invested in the development of our weekly tech tips. To the best of our knowledge, they are accurate. It is up to the user to verify all results.

THE AUTHOR ASSUMES NO LIABILITY CONNECTED WITH THE USE OF THIS INFORMATION OR THE RESULTS OBTAINED FROM IT.



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