Patents by Inventor Kerry D. Figiel

Kerry D. Figiel has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230250584
    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: April 18, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventor: KERRY D. FIGIEL
  • Patent number: 11629461
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventor: Kerry D. Figiel
  • Publication number: 20210148049
    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: February 1, 2021
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventor: KERRY D. FIGIEL
  • Patent number: 10941521
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventor: Kerry D. Figiel
  • Patent number: 10641667
    Abstract: Collecting roll data associated with a sensing and mating rolls that form a nip uses first and second pluralities of sensors. Each sensor of the first plurality has a corresponding sensor in the second plurality which is associated with a same respective axial location on the sensing roll but is spaced-apart circumferentially. The sensors are located at axially spaced-apart locations of the sensing roll and generate either a first or second respective signal when entering the nip. Upon receiving a generated signal, a determination is made about which sensor generated the received signal and the membership of that sensor in one of the pluralities. Based upon a rotational position of the mating roll, a determination is made of which tracking segment associated with the mating roll enters the region of the nip concurrently with the signal to store the signal using the determined one tracking segment and the determined membership.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventor: Kerry D. Figiel
  • Patent number: 10533909
    Abstract: Collecting roll data associated with a sensing roll and a mating roll forming a nip includes generating sensor signals from a first sensor array on the sensing roll and a second sensor array on the mating roll during rotations of the mating rolls and sensing rolls. A periodically occurring first time reference is associated with each rotation of the mating roll and a periodically occurring second time reference is associated with each rotation of the sensing roll. For a received sensor signal, based on whether the received signal is from the sensors of the mating roll or the sensing roll, a tracking segment on the other roll is detected that enters a region of the nip concurrent with the sensor that generated the received signal. The detection is made from either a most-recent-identified first time reference or second time reference. The received signal can then be stored using the detected tracking segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventor: Kerry D. Figiel
  • Patent number: 10519599
    Abstract: Collecting data includes generating a sensor signal from each of a plurality of sensors located on a sensing roll, wherein each signal is generated when each sensor enters a region of a nip between the sensing roll and mating roll during each rotation of the sensing roll; wherein a web of material travels through the nip and a continuous band contacts a region of the web of material upstream from or at the nip. A periodically occurring starting reference is generated associated with each rotation of the continuous band and the signal generated by each sensor is received so that the one of the plurality of sensors which generated this signal is determined and one of a plurality of tracking segments associated with the continuous band is identified. The signal is stored to associate the respective sensor signal with the identified one tracking segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventor: Kerry D. Figiel
  • Patent number: 10378980
    Abstract: Collecting roll data for a sensing roll and mating roll forming a nip includes generating a respective sensor signal from each of a plurality of sensors located at axially spaced-apart locations of the sensing roll, wherein each respective sensor signal is generated when each sensor enters a region of a nip between the sensing roll and the mating roll during each rotation of the sensing roll and receiving the generated signal. Upon receiving the signal, a processor a) determines a particular which of the sensors which generated the signal, b) based upon a rotational position of the mating roll relative to a reference position, determines which one of a plurality of tracking segments associated with the mating roll occurs substantially concurrently with the sensor entering the region of the nip, and c) stores the respective sensor signal to associate the signal with the determined one tracking segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventor: Kerry D. Figiel
  • Patent number: 10378150
    Abstract: A sensor signal is generated from a plurality of sensors located on a sensing roll, wherein each signal is generated when each sensor enters a first nip between the sensing roll and a rotating component during each rotation of the sensing roll. A rotating applicator rod forms forming a second nip with the sensing roll such that each sensor enters the second nip during each rotation of the sensing roll. A periodically occurring starting reference is generated associated with each rotation of the applicator rod and the signal generated by each sensor is received so that a particular one of the sensors which generated the signal is determined and one of a plurality of tracking segments is identified. The signal is stored to associate the sensor signal with the identified one tracking segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventor: Kerry D. Figiel
  • Patent number: 10370795
    Abstract: A sensor signal is generated from a plurality of sensors located on a sensing roll, wherein each sensor enters a nip between the sensing roll and a rotating component during each rotation of the sensing roll. A rotating applicator rod forms forming a second nip with the sensing roll such that each sensor enters the second nip during each rotation of the sensing roll and each sensor generates a sensor signal upon entering the second nip. A periodically occurring starting reference is generated associated with each rotation of the applicator rod and the signal generated by each sensor is received so that a particular one of the sensors which generated the signal is determined and one of a plurality of tracking segments is identified. The signal is stored to associate the sensor signal with the identified one tracking segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventor: Kerry D. Figiel
  • Publication number: 20180066398
    Abstract: Collecting data includes generating a sensor signal from each of a plurality of sensors located on a sensing roll, wherein each signal is generated when each sensor enters a region of a nip between the sensing roll and mating roll during each rotation of the sensing roll; wherein a web of material travels through the nip and a continuous band contacts a region of the web of material upstream from or at the nip. A periodically occurring starting reference is generated associated with each rotation of the continuous band and the signal generated by each sensor is received so that the one of the plurality of sensors which generated this signal is determined and one of a plurality of tracking segments associated with the continuous band is identified. The signal is stored to associate the respective sensor signal with the identified one tracking segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventor: KERRY D. FIGIEL
  • Publication number: 20180045591
    Abstract: Collecting roll data associated with a sensing roll and a mating roll forming a nip includes generating sensor signals from a first sensor array on the sensing roll and a second sensor array on the mating roll during rotations of the mating rolls and sensing rolls. A periodically occurring first time reference is associated with each rotation of the mating roll and a periodically occurring second time reference is associated with each rotation of the sensing roll. For a received sensor signal, based on whether the received signal is from the sensors of the mating roll or the sensing roll, a tracking segment on the other roll is detected that enters a region of the nip concurrent with the sensor that generated the received signal. The detection is made from either a most-recent-identified first time reference or second time reference. The received signal can then be stored using the detected tracking segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventor: Kerry D. Figiel
  • Publication number: 20180031430
    Abstract: Collecting roll data associated with a sensing and mating rolls that form a nip uses first and second pluralities of sensors. Each sensor of the first plurality has a corresponding sensor in the second plurality which is associated with a same respective axial location on the sensing roll but is spaced-apart circumferentially. The sensors are located at axially spaced-apart locations of the sensing roll and generate either a first or second respective signal when entering the nip. Upon receiving a generated signal, a determination is made about which sensor generated the received signal and the membership of that sensor in one of the pluralities. Based upon a rotational position of the mating roll, a determination is made of which tracking segment associated with the mating roll enters the region of the nip concurrently with the signal to store the signal using the determined one tracking segment and the determined membership.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventor: Kerry D. Figiel
  • Patent number: 9863827
    Abstract: Collecting data includes generating a sensor signal from each of a plurality of sensors located on a sensing roll, wherein each signal is generated when each sensor enters a region of a nip between the sensing roll and mating roll during each rotation of the sensing roll; wherein a web of material travels through the nip and a continuous band, which also travels through the nip, contacts a region of the web of material upstream from or in the nip. A periodically occurring time reference is generated associated with each rotation of the continuous band and the signal generated by each sensor is received so that the one of the plurality of sensors which generated this signal is determined and one of a plurality of tracking segments associated with the continuous band is identified. The signal is stored to associate the respective sensor signal with the identified one tracking segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventor: Kerry D. Figiel
  • Patent number: 9816232
    Abstract: Collecting data includes generating a sensor signal from each of a plurality of sensors located on a sensing roll, wherein each signal is generated when each sensor enters a region of a nip between the sensing roll and mating roll during each rotation of the sensing roll; wherein a web of material travels through the nip and a continuous band contacts a region of the web of material upstream from or at the nip. A periodically occurring starting reference is generated associated with each rotation of the continuous band and the signal generated by each sensor is received so that the one of the plurality of sensors which generated this signal is determined and one of a plurality of tracking segments associated with the continuous band is identified. The signal is stored to associate the respective sensor signal with the identified one tracking segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventor: Kerry D. Figiel
  • Patent number: 9804044
    Abstract: Collecting roll data associated with a sensing roll and a mating roll forming a nip includes generating sensor signals from a first sensor array on the sensing roll and a second sensor array on the mating roll during rotations of the mating rolls and sensing rolls. A periodically occurring first time reference is associated with each rotation of the mating roll and a periodically occurring second time reference is associated with each rotation of the sensing roll. For a received sensor signal, based on whether the received signal is from the sensors of the mating roll or the sensing roll, a tracking segment on the other roll is detected that enters a region of the nip concurrent with the sensor that generated the received signal. The detection is made from either a most-recent-identified first time reference or second time reference. The received signal can then be stored using the detected tracking segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventor: Kerry D. Figiel
  • Patent number: 9797788
    Abstract: Collecting roll data associated with a sensing and mating rolls that form a nip uses first and second pluralities of sensors. Each sensor of the first plurality has a corresponding sensor in the second plurality which is associated with a same respective axial location on the sensing roll but is spaced-apart circumferentially. The sensors are located at axially spaced-apart locations of the sensing roll and generate either a first or second respective signal when entering the nip. Upon receiving a generated signal, a determination is made about which sensor generated the received signal and the membership of that sensor in one of the pluralities. Based upon a rotational position of the mating roll, a determination is made of which tracking segment associated with the mating roll enters the region of the nip concurrently with the signal to store the signal using the determined one tracking segment and the determined membership.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventor: Kerry D. Figiel
  • Publication number: 20170275824
    Abstract: A sensor signal is generated from a plurality of sensors located on a sensing roll, wherein each signal is generated when each sensor enters a first nip between the sensing roll and a rotating component during each rotation of the sensing roll. A rotating applicator rod forms forming a second nip with the sensing roll such that each sensor enters the second nip during each rotation of the sensing roll. A periodically occurring starting reference is generated associated with each rotation of the applicator rod and the signal generated by each sensor is received so that a particular one of the sensors which generated the signal is determined and one of a plurality of tracking segments is identified. The signal is stored to associate the sensor signal with the identified one tracking segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventor: Kerry D. Figiel
  • Patent number: 9696226
    Abstract: Collecting data includes generating a sensor signal from each of a plurality of sensors located on a sensing roll, wherein each signal is generated when each sensor enters a region of a nip between the sensing roll and mating roll during each rotation of the sensing roll; wherein a web of material travels through the nip and a continuous band contacts a region of the web of material upstream from or at the nip. A periodically occurring starting reference is generated associated with each rotation of the continuous band and the signal generated by each sensor is received so that the one of the plurality of sensors which generated this signal is determined and one of a plurality of tracking segments associated with the continuous band is identified. The signal is stored to associate the respective sensor signal with the identified one tracking segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventor: Kerry D. Figiel
  • Patent number: 9677225
    Abstract: A sensor signal is generated from a plurality of sensors located on a sensing roll, wherein each signal is generated when each sensor enters a first nip between the sensing roll and a rotating component during each rotation of the sensing roll. A rotating applicator rod forms forming a second nip with the sensing roll such that each sensor enters the second nip during each rotation of the sensing roll. A periodically occurring starting reference is generated associated with each rotation of the applicator rod and the signal generated by each sensor is received so that a particular one of the sensors which generated the signal is determined and one of a plurality of tracking segments is identified. The signal is stored to associate the sensor signal with the identified one tracking segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventor: Kerry D. Figiel