Patents by Inventor Tatu Pitkänen

Tatu Pitkänen 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).

  • Patent number: 11008190
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a machine element in a paper finishing machine (10). The machine element mounted for rotation machine elements (16-19) equipped with a sensor assembly (24) measuring force or pressure, and a counter-pair (15, 20, 33, 44) for said machine element. The machine element is made to rotate against the counter-pair, a measurement signal (25) is generated between the machine element and the counter-pair with the sensor assembly, and recording a reference cross-directional profile (21) of force or pressure generated. Condition monitoring (38) of vibration with the reference profile is by comparison of current signals with the reference so as to detect periodic variation (39.1, 39.2) in the cross-directional pressure profile, and producing visual information (37) from the analysis for monitoring. The invention also relates to a corresponding system, a rotating machine element for the method or the system, and a computer program product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: VALMET TECHNOLOGIES OY
    Inventors: Tatu Pitkänen, Heikki Kettunen, Todd Vandenheuvel
  • Patent number: 10662584
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring the condition of a continuous element (44) moving in a fiber web or paper finishing machine, said monitoring being performed with a rotating machine element (41), which is equipped with a sensor assembly (24) that measures force or pressure and against which the continuous element moves. In the method, the machine element is made to rotate against the continuous element, a measurement signal (25) is generated between the machine element and the continuous element with the sensor assembly, and a cross-directional profile (21) of force or pressure generated between the machine element and the continuous element is formed from the measurement signal. Said moving continuous element is a fabric (32, 33) installed in a fabric run (22, 23) traveling via the machine element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Valmet Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Heikki Kettunen, Gerald Kramer, Tatu Pitkänen, James Sipprell, Todd Vandenheuvel
  • Publication number: 20190368946
    Abstract: A method for the monitoring and control of the operating conditions of a fiber web machine or paper finishing machine, where the monitoring and control are performed on a rotatable machine element (41) equipped with a sensor assembly (24) that measures temperature, and generates a measurement signal (25), and a cross-directional temperature profile (21) of the machine element is generated from the measurement signal. One or more reference profiles (35) are generated for the cross-directional temperature profile of the machine element. The cross-directional temperature profile of the machine element generated from the measurement signal and at least one reference profile generated for it are compared to find a change concerning the operating conditions of the fiber web machine or paper finishing machine, and actions are performed on the basis of said change. The invention also relates to a corresponding system, a rotating machine element and a computer program product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: Valmet Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Tatu Pitkänen, Joe Cook, Heikki Kettunen, Gregory Vande Corput
  • Publication number: 20190055102
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a machine element in a paper finishing machine (10). The machine element mounted for rotation machine elements (16-19) equipped with a sensor assembly (24) measuring force or pressure, and a counter-pair (15, 20, 33, 44) for said machine element. The machine element is made to rotate against the counter-pair, a measurement signal (25) is generated between the machine element and the counter-pair with the sensor assembly, and recording a reference cross-directional profile (21) of force or pressure generated. Condition monitoring (38) of vibration with the reference profile is by comparison of current signals with the reference so as to detect periodic variation (39.1, 39.2) in the cross-directional pressure profile, and producing visual information (37) from the analysis for monitoring. The invention also relates to a corresponding system, a rotating machine element for the method or the system, and a computer program product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Applicant: Valmet Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Tatu Pitkänen, Heikki Kettunen, Todd Vandenheuvel
  • Publication number: 20190048526
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring the condition of a continuous element (44) moving in a fiber web or paper finishing machine, said monitoring being performed with a rotating machine element (41), which is equipped with a sensor assembly (24) that measures force or pressure and against which the continuous element moves. In the method, the machine element is made to rotate against the continuous element, a measurement signal (25) is generated between the machine element and the continuous element with the sensor assembly, and a cross-directional profile (21) of force or pressure generated between the machine element and the continuous element is formed from the measurement signal. Said moving continuous element is a fabric (32, 33) installed in a fabric run (22, 23) traveling via the machine element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: Valmet Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Heikki Kettunen, Gerald Kramer, Tatu Pitkänen, James Sipprell, Todd Vandenheuvel
  • Patent number: 10087028
    Abstract: A perforated roll (10) of a fiber web machine includes a roll shell (19), holes (13) extending through the roll shell, and a sensing system (14) arranged in the roll shell. The sensing system (14) includes at least one pair of leads (16), to which one or more sensors (15) have been connected. At least one pair of leads is composed of flat leads (17.2, 17.2), which are arranged in the roll shell side by side. A prefabricated sensor sheet (26) may be prepared for a perforated roll of a fiber web machine, such that holes may be drilled therethrough to communicate with the roll shell holes (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: VALMET TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kari Röyskö, Heikki Kettunen, Tatu Pitkänen
  • Publication number: 20160355362
    Abstract: A perforated roll (10) of a fiber web machine includes a roll shell (19), holes (13) extending through the roll shell, and a sensing system (14) arranged in the roll shell. The sensing system (14) includes at least one pair of leads (16), to which one or more sensors (15) have been connected. At least one pair of leads is composed of flat leads (17.2, 17.2), which are arranged in the roll shell side by side. A prefabricated sensor sheet (26) may be prepared for a perforated roll of a fiber web machine, such that holes may be drilled therethrough to communicate with the roll shell holes (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: Valmet Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kari Röyskö, Heikki Kettunen, Tatu Pitkänen
  • Patent number: 9393593
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for controlling a coating head, which exerts a nip pressure to a fibrous web to be coated while the fibrous web is supported by a backing roll. An output signal of a sensor integrated within the backing roll is read, thus producing a measured indication of the nip pressure. A number of actuator control values are derived at least partly from said measured indication of the nip pressure. Said actuator control values are delivered as commands to a number of respective actuators that contribute to creating the nip pressure, to control an amount of a coating substance on the fibrous web in the coating head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Valmet Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Olli Niemi, Tatu Pitkänen
  • Publication number: 20130064968
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for controlling a coating head, which exerts a nip pressure to a fibrous web to be coated while the fibrous web is supported by a backing roll. An output signal of a sensor integrated within the backing roll is read, thus producing a measured indication of the nip pressure. A number of actuator control values are derived at least partly from said measured indication of the nip pressure. Said actuator control values are delivered as commands to a number of respective actuators that contribute to creating the nip pressure, to control an amount of a coating substance on the fibrous web in the coating head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: METSO PAPER, INC.
    Inventors: Olli Niemi, Tatu Pitkänen
  • Publication number: 20110081483
    Abstract: A spray coating unit for treating a moving paper or board web with a treating agent, the spray coating unit comprising an application chamber, through which the web to be treated is arranged to move, the application chamber containing an inlet port for leading the web into the application chamber and an outlet port for leading the web out of the application chamber, and at least one row of nozzles comprising at least one nozzle for spraying the treating agent on the surface of the web in the application chamber. In accordance with the invention, the spray coating unit comprises spraying members for spraying water mist into the application chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventors: Mikael Furu, John Bergman, Vilho Nissinen, Petteri Lannes, Tatu Pitkänen, Rami Vanninen
  • Patent number: 7832677
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling the cross-directional nip profile of a reeling nip in a reeler, in which the reeling nip is arranged by means of a reeling core or a growing machine reel and at least one loop of an endless supporting member continuous in the direction of the axis of the reeling core. To control the cross-directional nip profile of the reeling nip, variables proportional to the tension of the supporting member are measured, cross-directional tension profile of the supporting member is determined on the basis of said variables, and further, a cross-directional nip profile of the reeling nip is determined, said nip profile being controlled by adjusting the determined cross-directional tension profile of the supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Petteri Lannes, Tatu Pitkänen, Ilkka Naatti, Jari Tiitta, Rami Vanninen, Marko Tiilikainen
  • Patent number: 7799171
    Abstract: A method and a system to control a reeling profile of a material web reel (30), when, in the forming of a material web reel (30), a web is reeled around a reeling core and when in an adjustment of CD-directional profiles of the web reel, profiling devices (8) have been applied. For adjusting quality profiles and reeling profiles of the web, profiling devices are managed with the help of profile measurings of the roller nip and/or of the profile measurings of the reel (30), which are obtained from the reel-up (2). A measuring device (40) for a measuring of a CD-directional hardness profile of the fiber web reel includes a measuring head (43), which is connected with a loading means (41, 42), which loads the measuring head against the fiber web reel. The motion course of the measuring head is linear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Tapio Mäenpää, Jari Tiitta, Petteri Lannes, Rami Vanninen, Tatu Pitkänen, Heikki Kettunen, Matti Innala, John Shakespeare, Toni Heikkilä, Topi Tynkkynen, Teppo Kojo, Risto Mäkinen, Marko Tiilikainen, Matti M. Kemppainen
  • Patent number: 7757990
    Abstract: In a reel change in the reeling process of a fiber material web, the fiber material web (W) running to a reel that is becoming full is changed to run around a new reeling core (2) brought to a reel change position in such a way that the web is made to adhere onto the surface of the new reeling core (2). The web (W) is made to adhere onto the surface of the reeling core (2) by a change in the properties of the material on the surface of the reeling core (2). The material is a combination of an adhesive area (6a) on the surface of the reeling core and a protective layer (6b) on top of the adhesive area, and the properties of the material are changed by removing the protective layer (6b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Jari Tiitta, Pekka Ruha, Topi Tynkkynen, Tatu Pitkänen, Petteri Lannes, Teppo Kojo, Hannu Kasula, Matti Kemppainen
  • Patent number: 7584674
    Abstract: A method for measuring a nip pressure and/or a pressure profile is provided, wherein a nip-forming roll is fitted with a pressure sensor under a coating layer which is protective and functions as a spring on top of the sensor, and the nip pressure delivers to the bottom surface of the coating a deformation proportional to the nip pressure and the deformation compresses the sensor, which responds to the deformation by generating an electric signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Matti Innala, Tatu Pitkänen, Petteri Lannes, Topi Tynkkynen, Petri Päivä, Marko Tiilikainen
  • Patent number: 7449671
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for controlling reeling used in connection with the making of paper/board/some equivalent web-like material, a reeler is used in the reeling which has a reeling element (2), a reeling core (T), around which the web (W) is reeled to form a reel (3), as well as elements for loading the reeling core (T) and the reeling element (2) against each other in order to bring about a reeling nip (N) in between the reeling element (2) and the reel (3). The reeling is monitored by a detection apparatus, which automatically detects any events differing from normal reeling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Petri Asikainen, Marko Tiilikainen, Toni Heikkilä, Petteri Lannes, Tatu Pitkänen, Marko Rintanen, Petri Enwald
  • Patent number: 7444862
    Abstract: A method and a roll for measuring a tension profile is provided. The roll has planted on its surface a spirally helical pressure-sensitive film sensor, such as an EMFi pressure-sensitive film sensor, which makes contact with a web obliquely and which, co-directionally with the web, has a measuring range which is substantially equal to or shorter than a web overlap angle when the roll is used for measuring a lateral tension profile of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Matti Innala, Jorma Kinnunen, Jussi Koskelainen, Tatu Pitkänen, Petteri Lannes, Markus Nylund, Marko Tiilikainen, Jyrki Saloniemi, Reijo Huuskonen
  • Publication number: 20080140322
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method and a system in the maintenance of machine components, devices and systems relating to papermaking, where the condition, state and/or performance of machine components, devices and systems relating to papermaking are monitored by monitoring systems, which are used for performing load measurements and for collecting load measurement data comprising load measurement signals. In the method according to the invention, the measured load measurement data is processed in such a way that of the load measurement data one or more load characteristics are formed, which express the load directed at the machine component or device being measured. In the method according to the invention, load characteristics determined in real time are used as input information for an operational reliability model in order to provide an operational reliability model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: METSO PAPER, INC.
    Inventors: Tatu Pitkänen, Petteri Lannes, Rami Vanninen, Jussi Koskelainen, Matti Kemppainen
  • Patent number: 7255000
    Abstract: In paper and board machines the position of a rolling device relative to another rolling device and/or the force exerted by the rolling device on the other rolling device or any variable acting on these is measured, and the value of the measured variable is compared with the set value of said variable in order to obtain the difference value of the variable, and the position of the rolling device and/or the force it exerts on the other rolling device is controlled on the basis of the difference value. The fluid pressure of the hydraulic means (5) and/or the flow velocity of the fluid to the hydraulic means is changed in order to alter the difference value of the variable by opening and/or closing at least one digital valve in a digital valve pack (7) functionally connected to the hydraulic means (S).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Tatu Pitkänen, Petteri Lannes, Marko Tiilikainen