JPH0147371B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application) The present invention provides for a web to be sprocketed in its own longitudinal direction by means of a pair of sprockets cooperating with openings provided near two longitudinal side edges of the web. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to webs used in machines that are fed into machines, such as plotters, recorders, sign makers, etc., and particularly to webs having features that visually aid in the proper loading of the web into such machines.

(Prior Art and Problems to Be Solved) In various machines in which the web is moved by a pair of sprockets that cooperate with rows of openings provided near two longitudinal side edges of the web, it is difficult to ensure that the sprocket pins are properly aligned. It is essential that the machine be properly loaded with the web so that it engages the openings in the web and that it operates without malfunction. This means that two corresponding pins of two sprockets arranged in a common plane passing through the driving rotational axis of the sprockets are
This means that it must engage two corresponding openings that are arranged in a straight line extending at right angles to the side edges of the web. Often, especially when the web is very wide, it is difficult to tell with the naked eye which pins on the sprocket correspond to each other, or which openings on each side of the web correspond to each other, resulting in Loading errors can easily occur. Furthermore, when a web loading error occurs, it often appears that the feed is normal after that, and therefore errors associated with web loading may be attributed to other causes, and a loading failure may not be quickly detected.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to enable a machine operator to readily visually confirm proper placement of the web when loading the web onto the feed sprocket of the machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a web structure that can be used with web handling machines to facilitate proper loading of the web into the machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A web loading and feeding device for a web handling machine using the web of the present invention comprises a series of radially outward facing sprockets each having two sprockets equally spaced from each other in the circumferential direction thereof. two corresponding pins on the two sprockets, two pins located in at least approximately the same plane containing the axis of rotation of the sprockets, visually distinguishable from the remaining pins; . The web has apertures arranged in rows and evenly spaced along each side edge thereof. A pair of apertures, i.e. two apertures on either side of the web that are arranged in a straight line extending perpendicular to the side edges of the web, are visually distinguished from the remaining apertures by another pair of apertures, so that the visual An identified web opening may be placed over a visually identified pin to ensure proper web loading. The identified pair of pins can be identified by another pair of pins engaged with another pair of apertures in the web, and can also be identified using other visual means, such as a difference in color. You can also

The web of the invention is used in a machine in which the web is fed in its own longitudinal direction by a pair of sprockets cooperating with openings provided near two longitudinal side edges of the web. The web is parallel 2
An elongated sheet of material having two longitudinal side edges. The web has first openings of a first row disposed on a first line extending parallel to each other at slight intervals on one longitudinal side edge of the web and spaced apart from each other by an equal distance d; a second row of second apertures spaced apart from each other by equal and equal distances d on a second line extending parallel to the longitudinal side edges at slight intervals; third rows of third apertures spaced apart by equal distances S along said second line; and fourth rows of fourth apertures spaced apart from each other by equal distances S along said second line. Equipped with. Each third opening is arranged between two adjacent first openings, and each fourth opening is arranged between two adjacent second openings. The web has a processing area located between the first line and the second line. The first opening, the second opening, the third opening, and the fourth opening have substantially the same shape. One second opening paired with the first opening is arranged on a straight line extending perpendicularly to the side edge of the web where each first opening is located. One fourth opening is arranged in the vicinity of a straight line extending perpendicularly to the side edge of the web where each third opening is located. The spacing S and the spacing d have a relationship of S=Nd, where N is an integer greater than 1.

The third and fourth apertures of each pair act as markers. That is, the first and second openings of the pair adjacent to the third and fourth openings of each pair are
The first aperture and the second aperture are visually distinguishable from the first aperture and the second aperture, which are spaced apart from the aperture and the fourth aperture.

The third openings in the third row are arranged on the first line, and the fourth openings in the fourth row are arranged on the second line.
The elongated sheet material constituting the web may include an upper layer having an adhesive layer on the lower surface of the upper layer, and a release layer that can be freely peeled off from the adhesive layer of the upper layer, and the upper layer may be made of plastic. be able to.

The webs also include fifth rows of fifth rows spaced apart from each other by an even spacing S along the first line.
apertures, and sixth rows of sixth rows spaced apart from each other by equal and similar spacings S along said second line.
An opening can be provided. One sixth opening paired with the fifth opening is arranged near a straight line extending perpendicularly to the side edge of the web where each fifth opening is located,
Each pair of fifth and sixth apertures is made visually distinguishable by a pair of third and fourth apertures.
With respect to a straight line extending perpendicularly to the side edge of the web where the pair of first and second openings are located, the fifth opening is located on the opposite side of the third opening and the corresponding fourth opening, and the fifth opening is unevenly distributed from the first opening. The amount is equal to the amount of uneven distribution of the fourth opening from the second opening, and the amount of uneven distribution of the sixth opening from the second opening is equal to the amount of uneven distribution of the third opening from the first opening. The openings in either longitudinal side of the sprocket may be mountable on the machine to cooperate with one or the other of a pair of sprockets. The fifth aperture and the sixth aperture may have substantially the same size and shape as the third aperture and the fourth aperture.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments and the drawings.

(Example) FIG. 1 shows a symbol forming apparatus 10 using the web of the present invention. The symbol forming device 10 handles and performs operations on the cooperating web 12. The web forms part of the symbol forming device 1
The pair of sprockets 14, 16 provide movement in their own longitudinal direction, ie, in the direction of the X coordinate axis shown in FIG. The pair of sprockets 14 and 16 are supported at a distance from each other so as to be rotationally driven together around a common axis of rotation 18. Pins or teeth on a pair of sprockets 14, 16 engage openings near both side edges of web 12 to move the web in the direction of the X coordinate axis. A platen or roller 17, similar to a typewriter platen, disposed between a pair of sprockets 14, 16 supports a lateral portion of web 12 in alignment with the sprockets.

During operation of symbol forming machine 10, two web hold down bails 22 hold the web in engagement with the sprocket. The presser bail is attached to each sprocket 14,
Each rod 16 is supported by a transverse rod 20. In FIG. 1, only one of the holding bails 22 cooperating with the sprocket 14 is shown;
This hold-down bail 22 together with the support rod 20 is shown in a raised position so that the sprocket is easily visible.

Symbol forming apparatus 10 also includes an instrument head 24 suitably supported and driven relative to web 12 in the direction of the Y coordinate axis of FIG.

In the normal symbol-forming mode of operation, the instrument head 24 is fitted with a knife-shaped cutter 26. The web 12 is a long and narrow symbol forming paper,
It consists of a top layer of plastic with an adhesive backing and a bottom layer of release material. A top layer of plastic is supported over the bottom layer of release material with an adhesive backing surface engaged with the release material. For example, in this embodiment, the substrate from which web 12 is made may be a laminated sheet material manufactured and sold by 3M Company under the trademark "SCOTCHCAL." This "SCOTCHCAL" is usually about
It has a wall thickness of 0.0762 mm to 0.127 mm (3 mil to 5 mil) and comes in various colors, and has a vinyl layer containing a pressure-sensitive adhesive on the underside of the vinyl layer, and this vinyl layer is further coated with silicone.Approximately 40 kg (90lb) supported by a release layer in the form of paper. A web 12 made from such symbol-forming paper and an instrument head 24 having a knife-like cutter 26 are used to cut the web 12 and the cutter 26 into an
and Y-coordinate axis directions simultaneously to cut alphabetic letters or other symbols from the upper vinyl layer of the paper, and this letter or symbol is transferred to another carrier to form a completed symbol. be able to.

Further, the symbol forming device 10 can be operated in a drawing mode in addition to the above-mentioned cutting or symbol forming operation mode. In the drawing mode, a pencil or other indicator is placed in the tool head 24 in place of the knife cutter 26 and the web 12 is cut into a sheet of paper or the like. In both the symbol forming mode and the drawing mode, the symbol forming device 10 is automatically operated to cause the instrument carried by the instrument head 24 to automatically follow the markings required for the symbol. The purpose of the drawing mode is to first plot the required symbols and check the results of the information entered into the symbol forming device 10 before the expensive symbol forming paper is cut.

In order for the symbol forming apparatus 10 to operate properly, when the web 12 is moved in its own longitudinal direction by the rotational movement of the sprockets 14, 16;
It is necessary to load the web onto the sprocket so that a straight line extending across the web at right angles to the side edges of the web is parallel to the axis of rotation of the sprocket. Typically, the web 12 is relatively wide, e.g., about 15 inches, and the openings formed near each side edge of the web are relatively closely spaced from each other, e.g., about 38 mm on centers.
(1.5inches) apart. With such wide web widths and close aperture spacing, it is difficult to properly visually align the web with the sprocket pins when loading the web. That is, assuming that an opening on one side of the web is placed in the correct position relative to the pin of its cooperating sprocket, there is a risk that an opening along the opposite side of the web may be placed on the wrong pin of its cooperating sprocket. be. Errors in such loading of the web are not easily detected in operations subsequent to loading, even though they may result in errors in the cutting or plotting functions.

The symbol forming device 10 and web 12 in FIG.
The use of visual means to facilitate web loading is configured to reduce or eliminate web loading errors.

FIG. 2 shows a web loading and feeding device capable of feeding the web of the present invention. A pair of sprockets 14 and 16 are fixed to a drive shaft 28 for rotation together about an axis of rotation 18. Sprocket 14 has a series of radially outwardly extending first pins 30, 30 disposed in a plane perpendicular to axis of rotation 18 and spaced apart from each other circumferentially of sprocket 14. Sprocket 16
are further arranged in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation 18 and in contact with the first pins 30, 3 of the sprocket 14.
It has a similar series of radially outwardly extending second pins 32, 32 evenly spaced circumferentially of the sprocket 16 at spacings equal to zero spacings. Therefore, the number of first pins 30,30 on sprocket 14 is equal to the number of second pins 32,32 on sprocket 16. The number of these pins can vary depending on the application, but in the example shown in Figure 2, sprocket 1
4 has 14 first pins 30, 30, and sprocket 16 has 14 second pins 32, 32.
Further, the first pins 30, 30 of the sprocket 14 and the second pins 32, 32 of the sprocket 16 are such that each first pin 30 on the sprocket 14 has a corresponding one second pin 32 on the sprocket 16. A pair of first pins 30 and second pins 32 are disposed in or substantially in a common plane passing through axis of rotation 18 . For example, in FIG. 2, one such common plane is indicated by ABCD, and a
It has a pair of first pin 30 and second pin 32 shown by and b.

In the example of FIG. 2, the remaining first pins 30, 30 and second pin 3 of sprockets 14 and 16
Means are provided for visually identifying at least one pair of first pin 30 and second pin 32 from 2,32. Such visual identification means can take a variety of different forms. In FIG. 2, the visual identification means consist of another or third pin 34 on sprocket 14 and another or fourth pin 36 on sprocket 16. The third pin 34 on the sprocket 14 is disposed between the two first pins 30, 30, and similarly the fourth pin 36 on the sprocket 16 is disposed between the second pin 36 on the sprocket 16.
It is arranged between two pins 32, 32. The third pin 34 and the fourth pin 36 are arranged in a common plane AEFD that includes the axis of rotation 18 . Therefore, these two extra third pins 34 and fourth pins 36 are replaced by at least one pair of first pins 30 and second pins 32 from the remaining first pins 30, 30 and second pins 32, 32.
Make it visually noticeable.

In FIG. 2, the visually conspicuous pair of first pin 30 and second pin 32 are pins a and b arranged clockwise from the third pin 34 and fourth pin 36. You can think about it. However, this conspicuous pair of first pins 30
And the second pin 32 can also be considered as pins c and d, which are located in a counterclockwise position from the third pin 34 and the fourth pin 36. 3rd pin 34
is located between the two first pins 30, 30 on the sprocket 14, and the fourth pin 36 is located midway between the two second pins 32, 32 on the sprocket 16. However, the third pin 34 and the fourth pin 3
6 is not essential, and if necessary, the third pin 34 may be placed in the middle of the two first pins 30, 3.
Similarly, the fourth pin 36 can be placed closer to one of the two second pins 32, 32 than to the other. .

As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6,
Web 12 consists of an elongated sheet of material having parallel longitudinal side edges 40,42. A row of first openings 4 are provided at the side edge of the web 12 adjacent to the side edge 40.
4,44 are provided. The first openings 44, 44 are
All are located on a first line 46 spaced slightly inwardly from the side edge 40 and equally spaced from each other by the spacing between the first pins 30, 30 of the sprocket 14. Similarly, at the side edge of the web 12 adjacent to the side edge 42, another row of second openings 48,
48 are provided. The second apertures 48 , 48 are all disposed on a second line 50 spaced slightly inwardly from the side edge 42 and the first aperture 4
4, 44 are evenly spaced apart from each other by the same distance. Each of the first apertures 44, 44 is arranged to have a corresponding second aperture disposed opposite the first aperture on the other side edge of the web. That is, side edge 4
0,42, as shown by the straight line 52 shown in FIG.
4 has a corresponding second opening 48, and such 2
a first line 4 including corresponding first and second openings perpendicular to the side edge of the web and including the opening row;
6 and on a common straight line 52 extending at right angles to the second line 50.

In addition to the first apertures 44, 44 and the second apertures 48, 48, the web 12 includes another pair of apertures spaced at predetermined intervals along the length of the web. Another pair of apertures serves to visually distinguish the first and second apertures. In FIGS. 2, 4, and 6, these extra pairs of openings are
A third portion located on the same line 46 as the openings 44, 44.
It consists of a row of openings 54, 54 and a row of fourth openings 56, 56 arranged on the same line 50 as the second openings 48, 48. Each third opening 54 is arranged between two adjacent first openings 44, 44, and each fourth opening 54 is arranged between two adjacent first openings 44, 44.
6 is arranged between two adjacent second openings 48, 48. The first opening 4 adjacent to the third opening 54
4, 44, the third pin 34 of the sprocket 14 is arranged with respect to the two adjacent first pins 30, 30.
Matches the placement for . Similarly, the fourth opening 56
The arrangement of the adjacent second openings 48, 48 is as follows:
This corresponds to the arrangement of the fourth pin 36 of the sprocket 16 with respect to the two adjacent second pins 32, 32.

In FIGS. 2 and 4, the third opening 54 is
Paired fourth lines disposed along a common straight line 58 (FIG. 4) extending perpendicularly to the side edges 40, 42 of the web and perpendicularly to the first line 46, second line 50.
It has an opening 56. A pair of third openings 54 and a fourth opening
It will be apparent from FIGS. 2 and 4 that apertures 56 serve to visually identify at least one pair of first apertures 44 and second apertures 48.
In FIG. 2, the pair of third apertures 54 and fourth apertures 56 are the pair of first apertures 4 indicated by e and f.
4 and the second opening 48 are visually identified. The pair of third apertures 54 and fourth apertures 56 are also indicated by g and h.
It is also useful for visually identifying the number 8. In the web construction of FIG. 2, a third aperture 54 is disposed equidistantly between the first apertures e and g, and a fourth aperture 56 is disposed equidistantly therebetween between the second apertures f and h. Therefore, the first aperture and the second aperture, which form a pair consisting of the first aperture e and the second aperture f, are equal to the first aperture g.
and the second aperture h are visually distinguishable from the remaining first and second apertures to the same extent. Thus, the first aperture e, the first aperture g, and the third aperture 54 of FIG. It can be thought of as a set of openings placed over a set of pins on the sprocket 14, consisting of the third pin 34 and the two first pins a and c on either side thereof. Similarly, the second aperture h, the second aperture f and the fourth aperture 56 are themselves the remaining second aperture 48,
A set of apertures visually identified as 48 and placed over a set of pins on the sprocket 16 consisting of the fourth pin 36 and the two second pins b and d on either side thereof when loading the web onto the sprocket 16. You can think about it. However, if desired, the third aperture 54 may be disposed closer to the first aperture e than shown in FIG. 2, the fourth aperture 56 may be disposed closer to the second aperture f, and the It is also possible to make the opening e and the second opening f stand out. In this case, the pair of third pin 34 and fourth pin 36 will also be arranged closer to the corresponding first pin a and second pin b.

As is clear from the above, the pair of third openings 54
and a fourth aperture 56 that allows the pair of first and second apertures to be identified, and the web 12 is connected to the sprocket 1.
4,16 to visually aid in proper loading. That is, in the loading procedure shown in FIG. 2, the sprocket is rotated to a web loading position in which third pin 34 and fourth pin 36 extend generally upwardly. The web is then moved onto the sprocket and passes through a pair of third and fourth openings 54 and 5.
6 is positioned substantially above the pair of third and fourth pins 34 and 36, the web is lowered onto the sprocket, and the third and fourth openings 54 and 56 are placed over the third and fourth pins 34 and 36, respectively. moving the visually identified pair of first aperture e and second aperture f onto the visually identified pair of first pin a and second pin b; A pair of first apertures g and second apertures h that are visually identified 1
on the pair of first pins c and second pins d, thereby ensuring proper movement of the web from a given point.

As shown in FIG. 4, the third openings 54, 54 in the web 12 are evenly spaced apart from each other along the length of the web by S=Nd. Here, d is the distance between the first openings 44, 44, and the second opening 48,
48, N is the number of first pins 30, 30 in sprocket 14, and
This is the number of pins 32, 32. In FIG. 2, the number of first pins 30, 30 and second pins 32, 32 is 14, so S=14d, that is, the third opening 5
4 appears every 14th in the first opening 44, and similarly in the fourth
An aperture 56 appears every fourteenth second aperture 48 . As a result, each rotation of sprockets 14 and 16 causes third pin 34 and fourth pin 36 to enter a new pair of third and fourth openings 54 and 56, respectively.

As previously mentioned, the web 12 can take a variety of different forms depending on the type of machine to which it is applied, and may be a length of symbol-forming material from which the symbol is cut, or may be tested or tested prior to being cut from the symbol-forming material. It can be a long sheet of paper or the like on which symbols are drawn as inspection procedures.

In FIG. 5, web 12 consists of a piece of symbol-forming material, such as the material "SCOTCHCAL" previously described. This web 12 is approximately 0.076mm to 0.127mm
The top layer 60 is made of a thermoplastic material such as vinyl having a wall thickness on the order of (3 mils to 5 mils) and has an adhesive backing or coating 62.
The upper layer 60 is supported on a release layer 64 and is releasably held to the release layer 64 by an adhesive coating 62 . The release layer 64 may be comprised of, for example, approximately 90 lbs. of paper coated with or impregnated with silicone to provide proper release.

The web 12 shown in FIG. 10 is similar to the web in FIG.
and the second line 5 where the second opening 48 is located.
including a row of sixth apertures 92 arranged along 0;
Each pair of fifth aperture 90 and sixth aperture 92 has a first aperture 44 and a second aperture corresponding to the pair of third aperture 54 and fourth aperture 56 so as to be easily distinguishable by visual observation. The pairs of apertures 48 similarly cooperate.

However, in the web of FIG. 10, the third openings 54 are not equidistantly disposed between the first openings 44;
Instead, it is offset or proximate to a visually identified first aperture 44 which acts as a key for placing the web on the sprocket. Similarly, the fourth aperture 56 is aligned laterally with respect to the second aperture 48 on the opposite side of the web along a line 94 perpendicular to the side edge of the web with the first aperture 44 visually identified. , unevenly distributed, that is, placed closer together. The pin on the sprocket that engages the web is
It includes visually identified pins having the same amount of eccentricity as the third aperture 54 and the fourth aperture 56.

The third opening 54, the fourth opening 56 and the adjacent first opening
Due to the uneven spacing between the openings 44 and the second openings 48, the web 12 can be loaded into the symbol forming device 10 in only one position if the fifth opening 90 and the sixth opening 92 are not present. That is, the first opening 44 must always be engaged with a particular sprocket at one end of the drive shaft 28, and the second opening 48 must be engaged with a sprocket at the opposite end of the drive shaft. When the positional relationship between the first opening 44 and the second opening 48 and the sprocket is reversed, the unevenly distributed pins on the sprocket, that is, the third pin 34 and the fourth pin 36
is the third point with respect to the line 90 perpendicular to the side edge of the web
This is because the opening 54 and the fourth opening 56 are engaged on the opposite side. For this reason, the fifth opening 90 and the sixth opening 9
2 is provided.

The third opening 54 and the fourth opening 56 are connected to the fifth opening 90
It will be appreciated that the fifth aperture 90 and the sixth aperture 92 need not be laterally aligned, provided that they have the same lateral misalignment as the fifth aperture 90 and the sixth aperture 92 have. The amount of uneven distribution of the fifth opening 90 from the first opening 44 is such that the second opening 48 located on a straight line 94 perpendicular to the side edge passing through the first opening 44 to the fourth opening 56 are located on the opposite side with respect to the straight line 94. It must be made equal to the amount of uneven distribution. Similarly, the amount of uneven distribution of the sixth opening 92 from the second opening 48 is such that the third opening 54 is located on the opposite side with respect to the straight line 94 from the first opening 44 located on the straight line 94 perpendicular to the side edge passing through the second opening 48. It must be made equal to the amount of uneven distribution. The web 12 has a third opening 54 and a fourth opening 56.
and a set of fifth apertures 90 and a sixth aperture 92, the web 12 will be able to maintain the device regardless of the orientation or associated condition of the apertures in the longitudinal edges of the web relative to one or the other of the sprockets. can be loaded against.

In Figures 7 and 8, sprocket 1
Other means are provided for visually distinguishing the first pin 66 and second pin 68 of the pair, 4' and 16' having no extra pins, from the remaining pins. Sprocket 14' has a series of evenly spaced first sprockets.
Includes pins 66, 66. Sprocket 16' likewise has a corresponding series of equally spaced second pins 6.
Contains 8,68. In sprocket 14',
One of the first pins 66, 66 is made visually distinguishable from the other by having a different appearance than the other; such a visually distinguishable pin is designated by G. Similarly, in the sprocket 16', the second pins 68, 68 are
One pin has an appearance that is visually distinguishable from the other pins. Other first pins 66, 6 of pins G and H
6 and the second pins 68, 68 can be achieved in a variety of ways, but preferably pins G and H are separated from the first pins 66, 66 and 68, as shown in FIG. This is achieved by using a color clearly different from that of the second pins 68, 68.
Such a difference in color can be obtained, for example, by coloring the pins G and H, the first pins 66, 66, and the second pins 68, 68 in different colors, or by making them from materials with different colors. Can be done.

Sprockets 14', 1 in Figures 7 and 8
The web 12 used with 6' may be the same as the web previously described with respect to FIGS. 2-6 or the web shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, a pair of third openings 54
and fourth aperture 56 serve to make the two pairs of first and second apertures visually distinguishable from the rest. One pair of first and second apertures to be made distinguishable is designated e and f, and the other pair of first and second apertures are designated g and h. Therefore, in order to achieve proper loading of the web onto the sprocket, either the pair of first openings e and second openings f or the pair of first openings g and second openings h are made visually distinguishable. can be positioned relative to pins G and H which are made visually distinguishable, and then the web can be properly driven by the sprocket during operation of the apparatus.

In the web of FIG. 7, a pair of third openings 5
4 and the fourth opening 56 are connected to the sprocket 14', 1
6' and thus the mutual spacing of the third openings 54, 54 in the longitudinal direction of the web or the fourth opening 5 in the longitudinal direction of the web.
There is no need to relate the mutual spacing of the teeth 6 and 56 to the number of teeth on the sprocket. That is, the above formula S
=Nd, the web of FIG. 7 does not require that N be equal to the number of first or second pins of the sprocket; instead, it is sufficient that N be an integer other than 1.

The arrangement of the first apertures 44, 44 on the first line 46 and the second apertures 48, 48 on the second line 50 provides advantages, especially for sheet materials that are not pre-apertured. This allows webs to be formed by simple punching methods and equipment.

A simple method and apparatus for forming a web is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG.
2 and a take-up roll 74 on which the web material is wound after being punched. Between the supply roll 70 and the take-up roll 74 there are two punches 76, 78 positioned opposite each other along opposite sides of the web material 72 for punching openings in the opposite edges of the web material. . Each punch 76, 78 is of the type that punches one opening in the web material 72 for each work cycle.
Between the punches 76, 78 and the take-up roll 74 are a pair of sprockets 80, 82 which are rotated together by a step motor 84. Pair sprocket 8
0, 82 are the first openings 44, 44 and the second opening 4
8 and 48 to move the web material past punches 76 and 78. Step motor 84
The operation of the punches 76 and 78 is controlled by a controller 86. In operation, controller 86 directs step motor 84 to move the web material the appropriate distance for punching of the next pair of openings by punches 76 and 78. After step motor 84 is stopped, punches 76, 78 are commanded to operate simultaneously to punch two corresponding openings in opposite side edges of the web material. The same cycle then repeats. The distance that the step motor 84 moves through the web material during each drilling operation is easily controlled by preprogramming the controller 86 so that the first aperture 44 along one side edge of the web,
44 and third apertures 54, 54 and corresponding similar spacing of second and fourth apertures 48, 48 and fourth apertures 56, 56 along the other side edge.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a symbol forming device with a web loading and feeding mechanism; FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view showing the relationship between the web and its feed sprocket according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. is a side view of the web feed sprocket, FIG. 4 is a reduced plan view of a web according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged sectional view of the web taken along line 5--5 in FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged plan view of the web, FIG. 7 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 showing a sprocket with a different structure from the sprocket in FIG. 2, FIG. 8 is a side view of the sprocket in FIG. 7, and FIG. The figure is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for manufacturing a web according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a partially perspective view showing another embodiment of a web according to the present invention. 10... Symbol forming device, 12... Web, 1
4,14'...One sprocket, 16,1
6'...Other sprocket, 30, 66...1st pin, 32,68...2nd pin, 34...3rd pin
Pin, 36... Fourth pin, 40, 42... Longitudinal side edge, 44... First opening, 46... First line,
48...Second opening, 50...Second line, 52,5
8, 94... straight line, 54... third opening, 56...
Fourth opening, 60... Vinyl layer (upper layer), 62...
... Adhesive layer, 64 ... Peeling layer, 72 ... Web material, 76, 78 ... Punch, 86 ... Controller, 9
0...Fifth opening, 92...Sixth opening.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A web for use in a machine in which the web is fed in its own longitudinal direction by a pair of sprockets cooperating with openings provided near two longitudinal side edges of the web, the web comprising: Two parallel longitudinal side edges 40, 42
an elongated sheet material having: first apertures spaced apart from each other by equal distances d on first lines 46 extending parallel to one longitudinal edge 40 of the web at slight intervals; 4
4. A second line 50 extending parallel to the other longitudinal side edge 42 of the web at a slight distance and spaced apart from each other by an equal distance d.
an aperture 48; a third aperture 54 spaced apart from each other by an even distance S along the first line 46;
and fourth openings 56 arranged at equal intervals S along the second line 50, and each third opening 54 has two adjacent first openings 44.
each fourth aperture 56 is disposed between two adjacent second apertures 48, and the web has a processing area disposed between the first line and the second line. However, the first opening 44, the second opening 48, the third opening 54, and the fourth opening 56 have substantially the same shape, and are on straight lines 52, 94 extending perpendicularly to the side edge of the web where each first opening 44 is located. One second opening 48 that pairs with the first opening is disposed, and one second opening 48 that pairs with the third opening is arranged near a straight line 58 that extends perpendicularly to the side edge of the web where each third opening 54 is located. A fourth aperture 56 is arranged, and the spacing S and the spacing d are in the relationship S=Nd, where N is an integer greater than 1, and each pair of third and fourth apertures acts as a marker, and each pair A pair of first and second openings adjacent to a pair of third and fourth openings.
A web wherein the apertures are visually distinguishable from the first and second apertures spaced apart from each other with respect to the third and fourth apertures of each pair. 2. The web according to claim 1, characterized in that the third opening 54 is arranged on the first line 46 and the fourth opening 56 is arranged on the second line 50. The web. 3. In the web according to claim 1 or 2, the elongated sheet material has an adhesive layer 62 on the lower surface of the upper layer 60 and an adhesive layer of the upper layer. A web characterized by comprising a peelable layer 64. 4. The web according to claim 3, wherein the upper layer 60 is made of plastic. 5. The web according to claim 1, having mutually equal spacing S along the first line 46.
a fifth aperture 90 spaced apart from each other, and a similar spacing S mutually equal along said second line 50.
a sixth opening 92 arranged at a distance of
One sixth opening 92 that makes a pair with the fifth opening 90 is arranged near a straight line 94 extending perpendicularly to the side edge of the web where each fifth opening 90 is located, and the fifth opening 92 of each pair
The opening 90 and the sixth opening 92 are the third opening 5 of each body.
4 and a straight line 94 extending perpendicular to the side edge of the web in which the pair of first and second openings 44 and 48, made visually distinguishable by the
located on opposite sides of the third and fourth openings of the pair;
The amount of uneven distribution of the fifth opening 90 from the first opening 44 is
The amount of uneven distribution of the fourth opening 56 from the second opening 48 is equal to the amount of uneven distribution from the second opening 48, the amount of uneven distribution of the sixth opening 92 from the second opening 48 is equal to the amount of uneven distribution of the third opening 54 from the first opening 44, A web characterized in that it can be mounted on a machine such that the openings in either longitudinal side of the web cooperate with one or the other of a pair of sprockets. 6. In the web according to claim 5, the fifth opening 90 and the sixth opening 92 are the third opening 5.
4 and the fourth opening 56 in substantially the same size and shape.