Abstract: A method and system for monitoring and controlling the processing of thermoplastics. The system includes a graphical interface and a server attached to the equipment in the cubing process. The interface includes a depiction of the equipment in the cubing process. A touch screen interface allows the user to control the equipment in the cubing process. In addition, information from the equipment is transmitted to the interface and conveyed to the user either through visual displays (e.g. numerical or graphical) or auditory signals (e.g. alarms or status beeps). The server may include software used to monitor the feed rate into the cuber with a modified proportional integral derivative (PID) algorithm in which the prime feedback input is a real-time electrical consumption signal derived from the motor driving the cuber.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring the temperature of dies during the processing of thermoplastics. A non-contact infrared remote sensor is configured to remotely monitor each die of a cuber extruder. The face of the cuber dies is divided into four quadrants. A sensor is aimed at the center of mass of each quadrant. The selected sensors are equipped with lenses that have an active sensing area that includes the entire surface of the quadrant, but none of the area of the adjacent quadrants. The signal from each sensor is sent to a temperature controller co-processor directly linked to an industrial control computer. The co-processor executes a modified proportional integral derivative algorithm with the response limits tuned to respond specifically to the thermal inertial factors represented by the cuber die ring and the material being cubed. In addition to the remote sensors, additional infrared or ultrasound sensors are used to insure that the air space between the sensors and the dies is unobstructed.

Abstract: Provided is a method comprising illuminating paper moving on a substantially vertical transport belt; sensing variations in reflectivity among the paper; comparing the variations in reflectivity to pre-selected acceptable reflectivity values, thus determining locations of acceptable paper on the transport belt; and rejecting paper based on the locations of acceptable paper. Also provided is a paper handling method comprising creating a negative pressure on the posterior side of a transport belt, the transport belt moving in a substantially vertical plane; passing the transport belt through a bin of paper, the paper removeably affixed to an anterior side of the transport belt by the negative pressure; and selectively detaching the paper from the transport belt by selectively injecting air through perforations in the transport belt, the injected air overcoming the negative pressure.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring and controlling the processing of thermoplastics. The system includes a graphical interface and a server attached to the equipment in the cubing process. The interface includes a depiction of the equipment in the cubing process. A touch screen interface allows the user to control the equipment in the cubing process. In addition, information from the equipment is transmitted to the interface and conveyed to the user either through visual (e.g. numerical or graphical) or auditory (e.g. alarms or status beeps) means. The server may include software used to monitor the feed rate into the cuber with a modified proportional integral derivative (PID) algorithm in which the prime feedback input is a real-time electrical consumption signal derived from the motor driving the cuber.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring the temperature of dies during the processing of thermoplastics. A non-contact infrared remote sensor is configured to remotely monitor each die of a cuber extruder. The face of the cuber dies is divided into four quadrants. A sensor is aimed at the center of mass of each quadrant. The selected sensors are equipped with lenses that have an active sensing area that includes the entire surface of the quadrant, but none of the area of the adjacent quadrants. The signal from each sensor is sent to a temperature controller co-processor directly linked to an industrial control computer. The co-processor executes a modified proportional integral derivative algorithm with the response limits tuned to respond specifically to the thermal inertial factors represented by the cuber die ring and the material being cubed. In addition to the remote sensors, additional infrared or ultrasound sensors are used to insure that the air space between the sensors and the dies is unobstructed.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring and controlling the feedstock during the processing of thermoplastics. The hardware of the present invention includes at least a sensor which outputs a signal proportional to the current drawn by main drive motor of the cuber, a programmable logic controller (PLC) which has a high calculation speed, and a variable speed drive (VSD) which is configured to stop, start, accelerate or decelerate the feedstock flow to the cuber based on instructions received from the PLC. The configuration of the present invention is such that the information provided to the PLC approximates real-time load information. The software used to monitor the feed rate into the cuber uses a modified proportional integral derivative (PID) algorithm in which the prime feedback input is a real-time electrical consumption signal derived from the motor driving the cuber. Because the torque required to process non-uniform feedstock varies widely, the system uses a two-stage feedback modulated loop.