(under subclass 1) Method in which is recited the step of aligning material with respect to a predetermined point (fixed or movable) either (1) transversely* or (2) longitudinally* of the direction of feed of the material.
(1) Note. In patents wherein the material is disclosed as stopped during the operation it is clear, because of the fact of stopping, that there is a particular duration of time in which the material is aligned with a fixed point. However,
the disclosed alignment of material is not limited to alignment of the material with respect only to a fixed point. In the event that continuously moving material is operated on during movement thereof, especially in such arts as printing or cutting, longitudinal registration involves alignment of a particular point or zone of the material with respect to a particular reference point or zone on the operating machine during only a particular instant of time, during which instant a moving operating element of the machine is also aligned with respect to the same reference point on the machine. Thus, the moving point of the material is in registry with the moving element of the machine. In those disclosures, wherein an index (e.g., a printed spot, a perforation, etc.) is provided on the material, longitudinal registration, as disclosed, involves sensing of the index, comparing the signal produced by the sensing with reference to the moving operating element, and correcting the speed of the material (or of the element) to effect the registration as defined. The operating element may be broadly recited in the claims of a patent placed originally in this class (see section Lines With Other Classes, Relationship to Material-Modifying Classes Which Include Feeding of Indeterminate-Length* Work). Patents disclosing structure to perform longitudinal registration are to be found in subclasses 27+ and structure to perform lateral registration are to be found in subclasses 15+.
(2) Note. Correction of material speed, not responsive to material indicia, but responsive to undesired speed changes, is related in concept to index-responsive speed correction, and patents disclosing structure to perform such speed correction are to be found in subclasses 24+ except subclasses 27+.
(3) Note. An original patent disclosing correction of the speed of the material and, alternatively, the speed of the operating element, and claiming correction of speed, without specifying in the claims which speed is corrected, is properly placed in this class (226) in this subclasses 2+ as processes or in the appropriate apparatus subclasses 24+. A patent which discloses correction of the speed of either the operating element station; or, a patent which discloses correction of the speed of the material and of the element station; will regardless of how claimed, be placed in the operating class such as Class 101 (Printing) or Class 83 (Cutting), in appropriate subclasses.
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24+, for analogous apparatus and see (2) Note above.
