Web Handling System

Abstract

A web handling system is described, including a plurality of web handling controllers and a web handling process logic controller networked to form a ring network. A processor of the web handling process logic controller being configured to determine whether a fault exists within the ring network, and responsive to determining that a fault exists within the ring network, to generate and send signals throughout the ring network to switch the configuration of the ring network to at least one linear network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A web handling system comprising:
 a plurality of web handling controllers, each of the web handling controllers having a web handling processor, a first communication port and a second communication port; and   a web handling process logic controller having a processor, a third communication port and a fourth communication port, the first communication port, the second communication port, the third communication port and the fourth communication port being connected to form a ring network, the processor of the web handling process logic controller being configured to determine whether a fault exists within the ring network, and responsive to determining that a fault exists within the ring network, to generate and send signals throughout the ring network to switch the configuration of the ring network to at least one linear network.   
     
     
         2 . The web handling system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the web handling controllers is a component of a web guiding system. 
     
     
         3 . The web handling system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the web handling controllers is a component of a web tension control system. 
     
     
         4 . The web handling system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the web handling controllers is a component of a video web inspection system. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a web handling process logic controller having a processor, a first communication port and a second communication port, the processor configured to control the first communication port, and the second communication port to be a part of a ring network, the processor of the web handling process logic controller also being configured to determine whether a fault exists within the ring network, and responsive to determining that a fault exists within the ring network, to generate and send first signals via the first communication port and second signals via the second communication port, the first and second signals including instructions to switch the configuration of the ring network to at least one linear network.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to be a ring supervisor that monitors traffic on the first and second communication ports, the processor also controlling the traffic on the first and second communication ports to selectively prevent packets from circulating within the ring network. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the processor is configured to be the only ring supervisor within the ring network. 
     
     
         8 . A web handling system comprising:
 a plurality of web handling controllers, each of the web handling controllers having a web handling processor, a first clock, a first communication port and a second communication port; and   a web handling process logic controller having a processor, a second clock, a third communication port and a fourth communication port, the first communication port, the second communication port, the third communication port and the fourth communication port being connected to form a network, the processor of the web handling process logic controller receiving a clock signal from at least one of the first clock and the second clock, and providing clock signals via the third communication port and the fourth communication port, the clock signals including a clock reference and instructions configured to synchronize the first clocks of the web handling controllers.   
     
     
         9 . The web handling system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the web handling controllers is a component of a web guiding system. 
     
     
         10 . The web handling system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the web handling controllers is a component of a web tension control system. 
     
     
         11 . The web handling system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the web handling controllers is a component of a video web inspection system.