Measuring, Testing, Inspecting, Indicating Or Illuminating Patents (Class 162/263)
  • Patent number: 11835424
    Abstract: An improved sensor system is provided that monitors and controls a dendritic fluid system. A dendritic fluid system can include artificial components and/or natural components that carry fluid from a source to a destination through a series of paths. The sensor system can include magnetic field sensors, acoustic sensors, encapsulated sensor systems, pressure regulators, and valve controllers to monitor and control the dendritic fluid system. For example, magnetic field sensors, acoustic sensors, and/or pressure regulators can be used to measure the flow of fluid within a dendritic fluid subsystem and/or to detect potential leaks. The encapsulated sensor systems and/or valve controllers can be used to detect fluid levels in a contained system and control valves to adjust the fluid levels in the contained system to a desired level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Inventor: Richard Andrew DeVerse
  • Patent number: 11828583
    Abstract: With regard to a reliable measurement of the thickness of an object (4) even in an environment with high temperatures, a device (1) is provided for determining the thickness of an object (4), more particularly a strip-like or flat object (4), preferably for use in a hot rolling process, having a frame (2) with at least one leg (5, 6), the at least one leg (5, 6) having a sensor (8a, 8b) for the contactless measuring of the distance to the object (4), which device is characterised in that the at least one leg (5, 6) has a structure consisting of a plurality of layers in order to reduce the temperature effect on the frame (2) and/or on the sensor (8a, 8b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: MICRO-EPSILON MESSTECHNIK GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Gerhard Kirschner
  • Patent number: 11649721
    Abstract: Systems and methods for evaluating hydrocarbon properties. At least one of the systems includes: a drilling machine configured to drill a borehole; a plurality of infrared cameras configured to capture infrared image data representing a plurality of infrared images of at least one core sample extracted from the borehole; a computer-readable memory comprising computer-executable instructions; and at least one processor configured to execute the computer-executable instructions, in which when the at least one processor is executing the computer-executable instructions, the at least one processor is configured to carry out operations including: receiving the infrared image data captured by the plurality of infrared cameras; determining, based on the infrared image data, at least one hydrocarbon weight value of the at least one core sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Wisam Al Kawai, Abrar Alabbad
  • Patent number: 11015293
    Abstract: The current method relates to an on-line characterization of paper or paper products, such as tissue or other crepe paper products. The method uses an imaging source wherein one or more images are obtained of the sheets surface or topographical area or region, or the image is of an edge of a formed sheet. The one or more images are enhanced and analyzed using various techniques and metrics for characterizing the structure of the formed sheet. The information provides for real time adjustments on the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.
    Inventor: Timothy Patterson
  • Patent number: 10961661
    Abstract: A monitoring system for monitoring the conditions of a band circulating in a paper-making machine, comprises a guide extending substantially along an axis; and a monitoring apparatus movable along the guide and comprising at least one measuring device configured to measure at least one parameter indicative of the conditions of the band; the apparatus is a self-propelled motorized apparatus, provided with a motor and at least one driving member operated by the motor and which engages at least one corresponding surface of the guide to move the apparatus along the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: S.A. GIUSEPPE CRISTINI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Giovanni Cristini, Matteo Michelotti
  • Patent number: 10822744
    Abstract: A suction roll includes: a cylindrical shell having an internal lumen and a plurality of through holes; a suction box positioned in the lumen of the shell; a suction source operatively connected with the suction box; at least one seal strip attached to the suction box and configured to assist in forming a seal between the suction box and the shell; a sensor attached to the seal strip; and a controller operatively connected with the sensor. The sensor is configured to convey signals to the controller, the signals being processed in the controller to provide data on the seal strip on at least one of temperature, wear, vibration, and pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Stowe Woodward Licensco LLC
    Inventors: Samuel Howard Reaves, III, Jeffrey Moore
  • Patent number: 10450700
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a cellulosic pulp process for producing a pulp product having a desired pulp property is disclosed. The method involves illuminating an in-process portion of pulp using a first wavelength of light, and receiving a scattered light spectrum from the illuminated portion of pulp, the scattered light spectrum including spectral components that have been shifted in wavelength through interaction with a constituent of the illuminated portion of pulp. The method also involves filtering the scattered light spectrum to separate the spectral components, and identifying spectral features in the filtered scattered light spectrum that correspond to the pulp property. The method further involves generating a control signal for controlling the pulp process based on variations in the identified spectral features to cause the pulp property to fall within a desired range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: CANFOR PULP LTD.
    Inventors: Paul Alexandre Bicho, Edward Robert Grant, Pin-Wen Tsai, Najme Tavassoli
  • Patent number: 10258905
    Abstract: A hydrocyclone vibration measurement system includes an upper vibration sensor attached to the overflow of a hydrocyclone and a lower vibration sensor attached to the underflow of the hydrocyclone. A vibration analysis system includes an ADC, an overall vibration value processing channel, and one or more band pass filters. The overall vibration value processing channel generates overflow and underflow scalar vibration values representing overall vibration measured at the overflow and underflow portions of the hydrocyclone. The vibration analysis system may interface with a DCS to provide control information for controlling the hydrocyclone based on the overflow and underflow scalar vibration values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Emerson Electric (US) Holding Corporation (Chile) Limitada
    Inventors: Stewart V. Bowers, Timothy Scott Bassett, Tuhin Banerjee, Michael Schaffer, Daniel Nower
  • Patent number: 10161894
    Abstract: The invention regards a measuring device, comprising a conductor body (7), for detecting the degree of fiber concentration and/or steam point (SP) of a fiber pad (33) being pulped, during use of the device (3), in a grinding gap (15) between refiner discs (11, 13) of a refiner (1). The conductor body (7) exhibits a first electric contact surface (17) adapted to provide electrical contact with a second electric contact surface (19) for transferring an electric current via the fiber pad (33) material. The invention also regards a method for detecting the degree of fiber concentration and/or steam point (SP) of a fiber pad (33). The method comprises the steps of mounting of the conductor body (7) to one of the refiner discs (13), grinding the fiber pad (33) material between the refiner discs (11, 13), detecting alteration of the conductivity and/or electrical resistivity of the fiber pad (33) material, and adjusting inflow of water and/or fiber material from said detected alteration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Daprox AB
    Inventor: Bengt Åkerblom
  • Patent number: 10101383
    Abstract: A semiconductor device inspection system includes a laser light source for generating light to be irradiated a semiconductor device, an optical sensor for detecting the light reflected by the semiconductor device and outputting the detection signal, a tester unit for applying a operating signal to the semiconductor device, an electricity measurement unit to which the detection signal is input, an electricity measurement unit to which the detection signal and the operating signal are selectively input, and a switching unit having a detection signal terminal and a operating signal terminal. The switching unit inputs the detection signal to the electricity measurement unit by connecting a connection section to the detection signal terminal and inputs the operating signal by connecting the connection section to the operating signal terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Tomonori Nakamura, Mitsunori Nishizawa
  • Patent number: 9885151
    Abstract: A press arrangement for a machine for producing and/or processing a fibrous web, in particular a paper, board or tissue web. The arrangement has at least a central roll and a first and a second mating pressing unit. The first mating pressing unit forms a first press nip with the central roll, and the second mating pressing unit forms a second press nip with the central roll. The central roll has a plurality of pressure sensors embedded in the central roll and arranged beside one another in the cross-machine direction, by way of which the pressure profile in the cross-machine direction can be determined in the first and in the second press nip. There is also disclosed a method for operating such a press arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Matthias Schmitt
  • Patent number: 9835954
    Abstract: A substrate is provided with device structures and metrology structures (800). The device structures include materials exhibiting inelastic scattering of excitation radiation of one or more wavelengths. The device structures include structures small enough in one or more dimensions that the characteristics of the inelastic scattering are influenced significantly by quantum confinement. The metrology structures (800) include device-like structures (800b) similar in composition and dimensions to the device features, and calibration structures (800a). The calibration structures are similar to the device features in composition but different in at least one dimension. Using an inspection apparatus and method implementing Raman spectroscopy, the dimensions of the device-like structures can be measured by comparing spectral features of radiation scattered inelastically from the device-like structure and the calibration structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Erik Willem Bogaart, Franciscus Godefridus Casper Bijnen, Arie Jeffrey Den Boef, Simon Gijsbert Josephus Mathijssen
  • Patent number: 9547094
    Abstract: X-ray analysis of a primary sample such as a flexible sheet 60 uses apparatus having a primary sample holder such as a material feed-through system 20 for moving the flexible sheet through the apparatus. An X-ray analysis head 6 containing an X-ray source and an X-ray detector is mounted on a robot arm 4. The robot arm moves in three dimensions so that the analysis head can be brought into position to measure the flexible sheet as it is being brought through the apparatus by the material feed-through system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: PANALYTICAL B.V.
    Inventors: Jeroen Rinsema, Mark Alexander Pals
  • Patent number: 9471971
    Abstract: A system for characterizing a slurry in a slurry process includes a flow tube, a camera, and a computer. The system is suitable for use with an oil sands extraction slurry processed or treated by an oil sands extraction slurry process. The slurry is diverted from the slurry process into the flow tube. The camera images the slurry as it flows through a transparent portion of the flow tube to produce a digital image of the slurry. The computer analyzes the digital image to determine a slurry characteristic. Based on the determined slurry characteristic, the computer may predict a performance metric of the slurry process and adjust an operating parameter of the slurry process to optimize the slurry process towards a target performance metric. Multiple systems may be used to continuously monitor slurry characteristics at upstream and downstream steps of the slurry process, and determine correlations between those characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: SYNCRUDE CANADA LTD.
    Inventors: Darcy Daugela, Barry Bara, Robert Skwarok, Rodney Ridley, Pat Dougan, Mark Polak
  • Patent number: 9461826
    Abstract: One of the various aspects of the invention is related to suggesting various techniques for improving the tamper-resistibility of hardware. The tamper-resistant hardware may be advantageously used in a transaction system that provides the off-line transaction protocol. Amongst these techniques for improving the tamper-resistibility are trusted bootstrapping by means of secure software entity modules, a new use of hardware providing a Physical Unclonable Function, and the use of a configuration fingerprint of a FPGA used within the tamper-resistant hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Emsycon GmbH
    Inventor: Heinz Kreft
  • Patent number: 9410286
    Abstract: Screening apparatus for screening pulp suspensions are provided. The screening apparatus includes a casing, a cylindrical screen member is arranged on the casing for dividing the pulp into accept and reject portions, an inlet for the pulp, an outlet for the accept, an outlet for the reject, a rotor with a rotor body, and at least one pulsator located on the inside of the screen, so that a screening chamber is formed between the rotor and the screen. The rotor is provided with a detachable pulsator package including at least one attachment ring attached to the rotor body, at least one support ring attached to or supported by the rotor body and the at least one pulsator attached to the at least one attachment ring and the at least one support ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Valnet AB
    Inventors: Anders Bergdahl, David Lindkvist
  • Patent number: 9280726
    Abstract: An on-line automated analyzer of macrocontaminants is described. The analyzer is for a pulp and/or a white water stream, the analyzer comprises: a pulp classifier separating a sample from the stream into a fraction of macrocontaminants; a contaminant chamber enclosing a contaminant cell receiving the fraction; an optical chamber comprising an optical detector connected to the cell capturing at least one detected image; and a control chamber taking the at least one detected image and conducting an image analysis to determine type and quantity of at least one macrocontaminant in the fraction. The method of analysis of macrocontaminants is also described herein, the method comprises: separating a sample from the stream into a fraction of macrocontaminants; producing at least one detected image by optical measurement of the fraction; and analyzing the at least one detected image and determining the quantity and type of at least one macrocontaminant in the fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: FPINNOVATION
    Inventors: Gilles Marcel Dorris, Sylvain Gendron, Michelle Agnes Ricard, Natalie Pagé, Denise Filion
  • Patent number: 9174243
    Abstract: A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes comprises a screening unit configured to screen a defibrated material obtained by defibration treatment, and a sheet forming unit configured to form a sheet with the defibrated material screened with the screening unit. The screening unit has a first screening unit to which a plurality of first openings are provided and a second screening unit to which a plurality of second openings larger than the first openings are provided, and the defibrated material is screened by the first screening unit and the second screening unit. The defibrated material is screened at one of either the first screening unit or the second screening unit and thereafter screened at the other, and the sheet forming unit forms the sheet with the defibrated material that does not pass through the first openings and does pass through the second openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masahide Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20150107791
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining measurements associated with one or more controlled variables related to a structure of creped tissue paper during production of the creped tissue paper. The method also includes generating at least one control signal that adjusts one or more manipulated variables associated with the production of the creped tissue paper in order to alter the structure of the creped tissue paper. The one or more controlled variables include a number of folds per unit length of the creped tissue paper, a caliper of the creped tissue paper, a macro crepe of the creped tissue paper, and/or a micro crepe of the creped tissue paper. The manipulated variable(s) could include a crepe percentage, a creping blade angle, a flow of sizing agent, and/or a cross direction (CD) profile of nozzle positions associated with a spray boom that sprays sizing agent onto a Yankee dryer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Antti Paavola, Markku Kellomaki
  • Publication number: 20150090416
    Abstract: A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes comprises a screening unit configured to screen a defibrated material obtained by defibration treatment, and a sheet forming unit configured to form a sheet with the defibrated material screened with the screening unit. The screening unit has a first screening unit to which a plurality of first openings are provided and a second screening unit to which a plurality of second openings larger than the first openings are provided, and the defibrated material is screened by the first screening unit and the second screening unit. The defibrated material is screened at one of either the first screening unit or the second screening unit and thereafter screened at the other, and the sheet forming unit forms the sheet with the defibrated material that does not pass through the first openings and does pass through the second openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventor: Masahide NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 8956505
    Abstract: A feed system for a comminuted cellulosic material including: a chip bin having an upper chip inlet, an interior chamber oriented generally vertically and a lower discharge port; at least one liquor inlet to the chip bin to inject liquor in the chip bin, wherein the chip bin retains sufficient liquor and chips within the interior chamber to create a hydraulic pressure on the chips at the lower discharge port; a generally horizontally oriented chip conveyor or tube coupled to the lower discharge port to receive the chips and liquor from the bin under the hydraulic pressure, wherein the conveyor or tube includes liquor injectors which inject liquor into the chips and the conveyor or tube, and a high pressure transfer device coupled to a discharge of the conveyor or tube to receive the chips and liquor, whereby the hydraulic pressure of the chips and liquor at the discharge of the chip bin is sufficient to feed the chips and liquor to the high pressure transfer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Andritz Technology and Asset Management GmbH
    Inventors: Tyson Bradford Hunt, Bertil Stromberg
  • Patent number: 8958898
    Abstract: The invention embodies methods and apparatuses to monitor and control the characteristics of a creping process. The method involves measuring optical properties of various points along a creped paper sheet and converting those measurements into characteristic defining data. The invention allows for determining the magnitude and distribution of crepe structures and their frequency and distribution. This allows for the generation of information that is accurate and is much more reliable than the coarse guessing that is currently used in the industry. Feeding this information to papermaking process equipment can result in increases in both quality and efficiency in papermaking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: William A. Von Drasek, Sammy Lee Archer, Gary S. Furman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8926798
    Abstract: A method includes passing a web of material over a deflector having a backstep, where the backstep causes the web to deflect towards the deflector. The method also includes capturing measurements of one or more characteristics associated with the web at one or more locations downstream of the backstep. In addition, the method includes identifying a cross direction (CD) profile of machine direction (MD) tension on the web using the measurements. The method could further include generating a Coanda airflow between the web and the deflector. The measurements could include pressure measurements identifying air pressures in a space between the web and the deflector and/or deflection distance measurements identifying distances by which the web is deflected towards the deflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Shakespeare, Tarja T. Shakespeare
  • Publication number: 20140314946
    Abstract: An apparatus having a rod or a blade (21) for a device of a fiber web production line, especially a rod-bed or a blade holder or holder assembly for a rod or a blade (21) of a device for coating or sizing a fiber web, particularly a paper or a board web, which assembly comprises a holder (25), in which the rod or the blade (21) is supported on the front side of the holder (25), and which assembly has loading means (24). The assembly further comprises sensors, in particular piezo sensors (10) located between the rod or the blade (21) and the loading means (24) for measuring the loading pressure of the rod or the blade (21) locally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: VALMET TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Samppa Ahmaniemi, Tero Kovanen
  • Publication number: 20140290889
    Abstract: A sheet manufacturing apparatus is provided with a screen portion in which introduced material is passed through a plurality of openings; an information acquiring unit configured to acquire at least one of inflow information related to a flow rate of the material that flows into the screen portion and outflow information related to a flow rate of the material that passes through the screen portion; and a controller configured to make a determination that a clogging of the screen portion is generated when the flow rate is reduced based on at least one of the inflow information and the outflow information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki OGUCHI, Shunichi SEKI
  • Publication number: 20140257719
    Abstract: Multiple groups of sensors are circumferentially spaced apart at each cross-directional position along a sensing roll of a nip press to measure and cancel or nearly cancel the effects of rotational variability which may be acting on the sensing roll. The strategically-placed sensors are designed to measure the pressure being placed against the web that is being advanced through the nip press. The average of the measurements of multiple sensors spaced circumferential apart provides a good cancellation of any rotational variability that might be found at a cross-directional position on the sensing roll. In this manner, a more true measurement of the nip pressure profile can be obtained and better adjustments made to reduce nip pressure profile variability. In addition, the nip variability profile may be used as a predictor of cover or bearing failures, resonant frequencies and other roll anomalies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventor: KERRY D. FIGIEL
  • Patent number: 8778141
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hand-held apparatus for controlling the condition of a circulating band in a papermaking machine; the apparatus comprises a hand-held body which carries: a moisture measuring device, equipped with at least one microwave sensor; a permeability measuring device, comprising at least one water delivery nozzle and a flowmeter associated with the nozzle; and a control unit connected to the measuring devices for processing signals coming therefrom; the body is equipped with at least one handle portion to be grasped by an operator for manually moving and maneuvering the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: S.A. Giuseppe Cristini S.p.A.
    Inventors: Luca Canali, Giovanni Cristini
  • Publication number: 20140190643
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of and an arrangement for transferring a process liquid from a washing and thickening device to a subsequent process stage. In accordance with an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the method and the arrangement are applicable, for example, in transferring fibre suspensions or pulps from washing and thickening device to a subsequent process stage in pulp and paper making industry such that the dilution of pulp after a washing and thickening device is performed in a stand pipe (18) below the surface level control range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventors: Reijo VESALA, Vesa Vikman
  • Patent number: 8753482
    Abstract: A sheet formation section of a paper machine includes a sensor that measures a first characteristic of a sheet of paper being formed. The sensor may measure a characteristic such as streaking, rises, depressions, or smoothness. The sheet formation section also includes an apparatus that applies a magnetic field to the sheet of paper being formed. The machine also includes a controller that causes the apparatus to apply the magnetic field in response to a signal from the sensor representative of the first characteristic. The magnetic field transforms a second characteristic of the sheet of paper. The apparatus may transform a characteristic such as water content or fiber orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Thomas Byrd
  • Patent number: 8728279
    Abstract: Scale formation on the electrode(s) of a liquor sensor can be prevented by continuously delivering a water-soluble scale inhibitor or dispersant into the vicinity of the electrodes of a liquor sensor device. Scale inhibitors include, for instance, polymers that are derived from acrylic acid, maleic acid, acrylamide acid, phosphonate, and combinations thereof. An aqueous mixture of scaling inhibitor continuously delivered to the probe tip of the liquor sensor that was placed in a kraft pulping liquor allowed the sensor to operate accurately for over a month without having to be cleaned of scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell ASCA Inc.
    Inventor: Sebastien Tixier
  • Patent number: 8728276
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a measurement associated with an anisotropy of a first surface and a measurement associated with an anisotropy of a second surface of a sheet of material. The method also includes adjusting an operating parameter associated with a headbox based on the measurements. The headbox is associated with manufacture of the sheet. The operating parameter could include a jet speed, a jet impingement angle, a jet thickness, a slice opening, and/or a slice apron projection. Adjusting the operating parameter could be based on a difference between a measured anisotropy of the first surface and a measured anisotropy of the second surface. For example, the operating parameter could be adjusted to achieve a desired difference between the measured anisotropy of the first surface and the measured anisotropy of the second surface. Multiple headboxes could be controlled, such as when different headboxes are used to produce different layers of a multi-layer sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: John F. Shakespeare
  • Patent number: 8702908
    Abstract: Normalized values are determined from variance partition analysis data boxes acquired for a reel of paper. The value include an average value of variability of machine direction long-term scan energy over a time period; an average value of variability of cross direction profile scan energy observed in a spatial domain over a second time period; an average value of variability of energy of a remainder of data points that are averaged out from a total of machine direction long-term scan average energy variability and cross direction profile scan average energy variability during a third time period; and a total variability value as a function of the machine direction long-term scan average energy variability, the cross direction profile scan average energy variability and the data points remainder average energy variability. An automated diagnosis and analysis function is performed that is specific to one of the values exceeding a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Timothy Andrew Mast, Kevin Dale Starr
  • Publication number: 20140008029
    Abstract: A method of production of a product from a stock pulp sheet uses conveyor rolls to convey a stock pulp sheet to a crusher. During conveyance to the crusher, a defective part in the stock pulp sheet is detected by a detector. The detected defective part is removed from the stock pulp sheet by a remover. The stock pulp sheet from which the defective part is removed is supplied to the crusher to produce crushed pulp. The produced crushed pulp is used to produce a product in a product producer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Hitoshi Hadejiri
  • Publication number: 20130299112
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hand-held apparatus for controlling the condition of a circulating band in a papermaking machine; the apparatus comprises a hand-held body which carries: a moisture measuring device, equipped with at least one microwave sensor; a permeability measuring device, comprising at least one water delivery nozzle and a flowmeter associated with the nozzle; and a control unit connected to the measuring devices for processing signals coming therefrom; the body is equipped with at least one handle portion to be grasped by an operator for manually moving and manoeuvring the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Luca Canali, Giovanni Cristini
  • Patent number: 8564851
    Abstract: Upper to lower assembly analog position sensors in a dual scanning system measure alignment offsets. A controller uses error signals from the position sensors to calculate actuator error profiles that are used in the next scan in the same direction, with different error profiles being used for forward and reverse scans. Since the alignment error profiles are repeatable for a given set of scanner conditions, the actuator controller anticipates what the error signal will be before each scanning assembly reaches a given position. An optimized error correction can be calculated based on the error profiles and actuator bandwidth without concerns regarding feedback loop speed, overshoot, and unstable control oscillations. An actuation system driven from error profiles can correct for alignment offsets by actively changing belt tensions at the offsetting drive pulleys and/or changing the position of sensor assemblies relative to the drive belt systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell ASCa Inc.
    Inventor: Ron Beselt
  • Publication number: 20130248127
    Abstract: A method for measuring and controlling a chip level and/or a chip-liquor combination level and/or liquor level height of a liquid-steam phase digester or a hydraulic digester which digester comprises a chip screw for feeding chips into a digesting volume. The method comprises mounting electrode pairs in certain heights and vertically at distances from each other in the digesting volume of the digester, the electrode pairs being formed of electrodes; connecting the electrode pairs to electric circuits; measuring in each electric circuit a current or voltage value during operation of the digester; determining, based on the measurement, type of material layer (for example, steam, chips, combination of chips and liquor, or liquor) located in a certain height, based on the electrical conductivity of the materials in the digesting volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: SAVCOR FOREST OY
    Inventor: Martti Pulliainen
  • Patent number: 8506758
    Abstract: A method for guiding web patching, using a re-reeler, in connection with a paper machine and an off-line coating machine, in which method a defect map of the web is created on the paper machine, to show deviations some of which are shown on the coating machine, using selected criteria, to the operator, the deviations being patched using the re-reeler, guided by the defect map and preset patching rules. On the coating machine, the virtual location of the selected deviations is monitored through the coating machine and if a possible web break occurs, a deviation is localized relative to the web break, and on the basis of this monitoring, feedback is provided to the patching rules of the re-reeler, in order to optimize them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Metso Automation Oy
    Inventor: Hannu Ruuska
  • Patent number: 8500957
    Abstract: A method for monitoring with enhanced sensitivity of the deposition of one or more organic materials dispersed in an aqueous medium in a papermaking process which includes measuring the rate of deposition of the organic materials from the aqueous medium onto a quartz crystal microbalance having a top side contacting with the aqueous medium coated with a layer containing a material with surface energy in the range from about 34 to about 49 dynes/cm2, and a second, bottom side isolated from the aqueous medium is disclosed. Additionally, a method for measuring the effectiveness of an inhibitor that decreases the deposition of the organic materials in a papermaking process is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: Sergey M. Shevchenko, Michael J. Murcia
  • Patent number: 8491756
    Abstract: A device is provided for determining the water content of a target (1), the device having at least one source of target radiation (2), at least one source of reference radiation (4) directed to a target surface (10), and at least one detecting element (3) for measuring the intensity of radiation reflected back by the target surface. During use the at least one source of target radiation (2), the at least one source of reference radiation (4), and the at least one detecting element (3) are arranged immediately opposite the target surface (10). A pressurizing device using air or gas is provided, by which an artificial movement of the air or gas atmosphere can be created in the area of the optical paths between the at least one source of target radiation (2) and the target surface (10), and/or between the at least one source of reference radiation (4) and the target surface (10), and/or between the target surface (10) and the at least one detecting element (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Inventor: Dietmar Üblacker
  • Patent number: 8486225
    Abstract: An inventive method includes the steps of: loading a fiber product in an appropriate form into a treatment vessel; wetting the fiber product; forcibly circulating an ozone-containing liquid in contact with the wetted fiber product to thereby bleach the fiber product; and forcibly circulating an ozone decomposing chemical agent liquid in contact with the ozone-treated fiber product to decompose ozone. This method ensures efficient bleaching of the fiber product with the ozone. Further, the method is advantageous in that the resulting bleached fiber product is less liable to be yellowed over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Inventors: Shigenori Aono, Koichi Abe, Keigo Takeda
  • Patent number: 8480856
    Abstract: An apparatus for and method of monitoring and optionally controlling the addition of one or more surface additives to a papermaking process via fluorometric means is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: Rodney H. Banks, Zhiyi Zhang, James L. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8463560
    Abstract: An apparatus and method device for measuring at least one property of a board product, such as a paperboard product which includes a transmitter for applying a vibrational excitation to at least one region of the board product. The excitation includes a plurality of frequencies lying within a predetermined frequency range. The apparatus further includes a receiver for measuring a vibrational response of the board product to the vibrational excitation. A processor processes the measured vibrational response to obtain a frequency response of the region of the board product to the excitation, and analyzes the frequency response to determine a measure of at least one property of the board product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Testing Machines, Inc.
    Inventor: Russell John Allan
  • Patent number: 8444821
    Abstract: Optical radiation sources functioning on different optical bands radiate on different optical bands and focus optical radiation on a region in a web surface as pulses in such a manner that illumination areas of the pulses overlap on the plane of the web. At most one optical radiation band is focused on the web from the direction of the normal. The spatial intensity distribution of at least one optical band differs from the uniform distribution and the intensity distributions of at least two different optical bands differ from one another in a predetermined manner. A camera forms still images of the web surface region on each optical radiation band. An image-processing unit determines the surface topography of the web on the basis of the images. In addition, a controller may control the paper manufacturing process on the basis of the determined surface topography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Metso Automation Oy
    Inventors: Marko Avikainen, Petri Niemi, Heikki Kettunen, Markku Mäntylä, Heimo Keränen
  • Patent number: 8444823
    Abstract: A method of mixing paper stock, having improved outlet consistency, includes: (a) feeding liquid and feeding paper pulp into a vessel to form a mixture; (b) providing at least one counterflow impeller that is submerged in the mixture, the counterflow impeller being capable of simultaneously inducing both upward flow and downward flow; (c) rotating the counterflow impeller such that downward flow from the impeller is partially recirculated by upward flow from the impeller to form a mixing zone; (d) sensing a parameter of the mixture discharged from the vessel; and (e) controlling the feed rate of the liquid and the feed rate of the paper pulp in the feeding step (a) based on the sensing step (d). An apparatus for mixing of paper stock, having improved outlet consistency, includes a vessel for containing liquid and paper pulp, at least one counterflow impeller, and a feedback system for controlling outlet consistency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Philadelphia Mixing Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wojciech Roman Wyczalkowski, Todd Michael Hutchinson, Marc Robards Moseley
  • Patent number: 8422743
    Abstract: The present invention provides a surface-reading apparatus that includes a subject-flexing mechanism and a surface-reading component. The subject-flexing mechanism causes a subject to flex in one of a convex form and a concave form. The surface-reading component reads a characteristic of a surface condition of the subject that has been flexed by the subject-flexing mechanism. The surface-reading component can includes an optical reading component that optically reads the characteristic of the surface condition of the subject. The optical reading component may be a reflected light-reading component that reads the characteristic of the surface condition of the subject with reflected light or may be a transmitted light-reading component that reads the characteristic of the surface condition of the subject with transmitted light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Shimizu, Tetsuya Kimura, Kensuke Ito
  • Publication number: 20130062030
    Abstract: A method for production of calcium carbonate in a target suspension of a fibrous web forming process of a fibrous web machine, wherein the calcium carbonate is produced in a reactor, the method includes: injecting a chemical including carbon dioxide or lime milk through an injection mixer to the target suspension flowing through the reactor; allowing the chemical including to react while in the target suspension to form calcium carbonate crystals, and inhibiting precipitation of the chemical or a reaction product of the chemical on a surface of or in the reactor by application of an electric or magnetic field to or proximate to the surface along a region of the surface adjacent to the reaction involving the chemical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicants: WETEND TECHNOLOGIES OY, UPM-KYMMENE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Olavi Imppola, Esko Kukkamaki, Jouni Matula, Paivi Solismaa
  • Patent number: 8372245
    Abstract: A roll assembly (10) for a fiber-web machine has at least at one end thereof, with a bearing assembly (20) with a bearing housing, which bearing housing (18) has a flexible and attenuating attachment arrangement by means of which the roll can be attached in a flexible and attenuating manner on the frame or foundation (22) of the fiber-web machine. A mass absorber (24) is arranged in conjunction with the bearing housing, whereby the damping of the vibration of the roll assembly is arranged by the cooperation of the bearing housing that is attached in a flexible and attenuating manner and the mass absorber (24) in conjunction therewith. The invention also relates to a method of attenuating the vibration of a roll of a fiber-web machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventor: Marko Jorkama
  • Patent number: 8323452
    Abstract: A forming section in a machine for producing a web of fibrous material includes a control and/or regulating system including a control and/or regulating device which is connected with at least one device for at least indirect acquisition of one value at least indirectly characterizing the dry content of the fibrous web in a transfer area from the forming section to a following function unit, with a device for input of a desired value for the target dry content, and with at least the control elements of an individual dewatering unit located prior to one of the last dewatering units, or the last dewatering unit inside the compression zone. The control and/or regulating device also includes a device for creating the control variables for controlling the individual dewatering units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Ruehl, Moritz Schmalenbach, Volker Schmidt-Rohr, Marco Esper, Oliver Kaufmann
  • Publication number: 20120255691
    Abstract: The use of measurement information from traditional process variables along with measurement signals from the refining zones in refiners for the refining and grinding of pulp is disclosed for estimating the quality of pulp output from the refiner lines. Control of the refining process is thus improved by means of a method used with a series of refiners utilizing estimated pulp quality information from each refiner in order to be able to rapidly control the refining disturbances in the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventor: Anders Karlström
  • Patent number: 8262855
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining the total peroxide content of a cellulose pulp suspension in the pulp suspension bleaching stage, wherein the bleaching chemical is peroxide. A sample is taken from the pulp suspension, which sample is measured in a measuring device (25, 25?). Before measuring, the pH of the sample is adjusted and after that the total peroxide content or the perhydroxyl content of the sample is measured, of which measurement the total peroxide content of the sample is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Metso Automation Oy
    Inventors: Teuvo Peltomāki, Aleksi Pohjola, Pasi Antero Keinänen