Abstract: An apparatus is taught for draining static electrical charges build-up on a traveling web of dielectric material. The apparatus includes discharge means comprised of a metal member having one end formed into at least one needle point projection. The discharge means is connected to ground potential and mounted in close proximity to the traveling web. Responsive to concentrated static electrical charges the discharge means causes ionization of the gasses surrounding the discharge means, thereby draining the static electrical charges to the ground potential through the discharge means. The apparatus further includes means for sensing and reading the magnitude of static electrical charges drawn from the web of dielectric material and for applying the sensed information as digital signals to a manufacturing controller. The manufacturing controller uses the information to control manufacturing parameters that minimize the generation of static electrical charges during the manufacture of the dielectric material.

Abstract: A flowmeter detector for determining the flow volume of a fluid medium that includes a measuring line having first and second ends and a fluid medium entry and exit ports adjacent the fist and second ends and fluid medium flowing between the entry and exit ports is disclosed. An acoustic transducer is located at each end of the measuring line and each acoustic transducer has an overall dimension less than the cross-section diameter of the measuring line. The acoustic transducers are first operated to simultaneously transmit pulsed acoustic energy into the measuring line. The transducers are subsequently operated to receive the acoustic energy propagated through the measuring line. The flow volume is determined by evaluating the difference in the travel times of the pulsed acoustic energy propagated through the measuring line.

Abstract: A process for coordinated control of machine direction MD and cross direction CD actuators in a sheetmaking machine for manufacturing a sheet of material is disclosed. The process involves measuring a plurality of sheet properties at regular intervals to collect sheet measurement data. The sheet measurement data is manipulated to establish a plurality of sheet property measurement arrays, which are then mapped to a common resolution. The common resolution sheet property measurement arrays are concatenated into one larger one-dimensional common resolution measurement array. The common resolution measurement array and an array of past changes in actuator set point are used as inputs to a paper machine process model state observer to generate the estimated current internal state of the sheet manufacturing process. A plurality of future-sheet property target arrays are concatenated into one target array.

Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) is used to quickly and easily find data patterns within a data sequence that match a target data pattern representing an event of interest. The user first specifies the target data pattern either by dragging a cursor over the target or by selecting the target from a palette of predefined trend patterns. Search criteria, such as a match threshold and amplitude and duration constraints, are then specified. A pattern recognition technique is then used to find data patterns within the data sequence that satisfy the search criteria. These matching data patterns are then presented to the user ranked by similarity, avoiding the need for the user to sift through large amounts of irrelevant data. Particular pattern recognition algorithms are also disclosed.

Abstract: An alarm recovery method and device for regenerating a list of alarm state values of a device after loss of communication or other discontinuity in processing is disclosed. The method and device are implemented in a control system for the control of a process. In normal operation the device sends notification messages on a high priority basis to a computer to update the alarm state values of a list. When communication is lost and then resumed, or other discontinuity of processing occurs and is restored, the recovery procedure begins by notifying the notification manager of the start of the notification process, saving alarm condition disable states, disabling each enabled alarm condition, allowing the device to generate return-to-normal notifications, restoring the original alarm condition disable states, allowing the device to generate appropriate current active alarm notifications, and notifying the notification manager of the end of the notification process.

Abstract: A network interactive apparatus and a method for the retrieval, storage and analysis of time variable data. An interactive session is conducted with a user via a network, such as the network may be the Internet or World Wide Web, to obtain a user definition of a first time variable data item, its location on the network, and a sampling interval. The values or content of the data item are then obtained at sample times defined by the sampling interval. Another interactive session is conducted to determine a second data item for comparative analysis with the first data item. The analysis is then presented to the user in a format such as a graph, a table, or the like.

Abstract: A graphical user display for providing real-time process information to a user for a continuous multivariable process operable under control of a plurality of process variables which include at least manipulated variables and controlled variables includes a matrix array of information describing at least one relationship between one or more controlled variables displayed along a first axis of the array and one or more manipulated variables displayed along a second axis of the array. Further, the display includes one or more graphical devices. Each graphical device is positioned in proximity to a corresponding process variable of the controlled variables and the manipulated variables. Further, each graphical device is representative of at least a state (e.g., current value state, past value state, or predicted value state) of the corresponding process variable. A computer implemented method for providing the graphical user display is also provided.

Abstract: A gloss sensor is described for optically measuring the gloss of a surface and compensating for dirt buildup on the sensor. The gloss sensor includes a light source and a first collimator for receiving light energy from the light source, forming therein and emitting therefrom a collimated light beam. A first detector is located within the first collimator for developing a reference signal and a beam splitter disposed adjacent the first end of the first collimator for dividing the collimated beam into a first beam and a second beam, the second beam being received by a reflection device. A first mirror is positioned adjacent a first window, the first mirror adapted to reflect the first beam onto a surface to be measured through the first window and further adapted to receive the second beam reflected from the reflection device.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus and electrode configuration within the sensor apparatus for measuring electrical characteristics of an aqueous fibrous composition. The electrode configuration includes an elongated ground electrode and at least one segmented electrode to form an array of measurement electrode cells. The electrode configuration further includes an array of reference electrode cells formed by a plurality of reference electrodes built into the array of measurement electrode cells. The measurement electrode cells and reference electrode cells have a different sensitivity to water weight of the aqueous fibrous composition and the same sensitivity to conductivity of the aqueous fibrous composition. The measurement apparatus obtains simultaneous resistive measurements from both measurement and reference cells and determines the ratio of the measurements such that the affects from conductivity is canceled out of the measurement ratio.

Abstract: A single gloss sensor which can perform both DIN gloss measurement and DIN high gloss measurement, using the same hardware, and with minimal delay between the two measurements. The gloss sensor functions by directing light beams from a source to two different positions, either concurrently, or sequentially, between a position which measures gloss (75.degree) and a position which measures high gloss (45.degree). The gloss sensor also provides a reference light beam for correction of errors caused by the window glass, such as by dirt buildup.

Abstract: An electrical contact assembly is disclosed comprising a bracket having at least first and second cavities located on opposite ends of the bracket and an opening extending through the bracket between the first and second cavities. A retention member is arranged to be mounted within the bracket opening with a first portion of the retention member extending outward from the first cavity and a second portion of the retention member extending outward from the second cavity. Each first and second portion terminates in a head end. First and second helix-shaped electrical contacts are positioned about a respective retention member first and second portion and are compressively retained between a respective and associated head end and bracket cavity.

Abstract: A sensor imbedded roller for detecting changes in properties of a material and a measurement apparatus including a fixed impedance element coupled in series with a variable impedance sensor imbedded roller between an input signal and a reference potential (e.g. ground) is described. The sensor, which includes an electrode configuration, is imbedded into a roller such that when it rotates it comes in contact with the material being measured and its impedance varies. The variable impedance of the sensor relates to changes in property of the material being sensed which can then be related to changes in other physical characteristics of the material such as weight, chemical composition, and temperature. Sensor imbedded rollers can be placed in a sheetmaking machine to measure the pre-formed and post-formed paper product.