Method and apparatus for reducing newspaper waste during printing process

Abstract

An apparatus and method for automatically activating a paster or splicing mechanism in a printing press to connect web material from an expiring first roll to a new second roll, comprising a detector which detects a mark on the face of the web at the end of the expiring first roll and thereby activates the paster or splicing mechanism to connect the web from the expiring roll to the web of the new second roll. Because the detector acts instantly the press can continue to run during pasting or splicing and very little wasted web is left on the expired first core.

1 . A device for activating a paster or splicing mechanism in a printing press to connect web material from a first roll to a second roll, comprising: 
 a) a detector;    b) a mark for detection by said detector, said mark positioned on the face of said web material a predetermined distance from the end of said web material on said first roll; and    c) a connection between said detector and said paster or splicing mechanism whereby said detector activates said paster or splicing mechanism when said detector detects said mark.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said detector is a sensor emitting and receiving a laser beam spot.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said mark contains metal and said detector has a magnetic sensor.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said mark is positioned from the end of said web material on said first roll so as to produce from zero to any desired feet of waste on said first roll after activating said paster or splicing mechanism.  
     
     
         5 . A method for activating a paster or splicing mechanism in a printing press to connect web material from a first roll to a second roll, comprising the steps of: 
 a) placing a mark on the face of said web material a predetermined distance from the end of said web material on said first roll;    b) detecting said mark with a detector; and    c) activating said paster or splicing mechanism when said detector detects said mark.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the step of detecting comprises a sensor which emits and receives a laser beam spot.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the step of detecting comprises detecting metal in said mark with a magnetic sensor.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the step of placing said mark comprises positioning said mark from the end of said web material on said first roll so as to produce from zero to any desired feet of waste on said first roll after activating said paster or splicing mechanism.