Image-based speed and length measurement method for Roll-to-Roll manufacturing

Presented by Tony Kitazawa, Canon USA

In roll-to-roll (R2R) manufacturing, precise control of web speed and accurate length management are crucial for coating, laminating, and cutting processes. While rotary encoders are commonly used to measure speed and length, their reliance on physical contact with the product surface can introduce errors due to slippage. Non-contact methods, such as laser doppler velocimeters (LDV), are preferred to mitigate these errors, but LDV's limited popularity is attributed to its high cost and delicate operation requirements. An alternative non-contact technique, image-based measurement, addresses these drawbacks and will be explored in this article, along with experimental results.