Abstract:
The amount of moisture removed by a dryer from a stream of tobacco formed by mixing a supply of cut rolled stems with a supply of laminae is controlled. Gauge means respond to the cut rolled stems and laminae fed to the dryer to derive signals respectively indicative of the moisture of the cut rolled stems and laminae. The signals indicative of the cut rolled stems and laminae moisture are processed with a set point signal for the moisture of tobacco after emerging from the dryer to derive a feed forward component of a set point signal for the dryer drying rate. The cut rolled stem and laminae moisture indicating signals are processed differently from each other, as a function of the relative ability of the dryer to remove moisture from the cut rolled stems and laminae. A feed back component of the dryer drying rate set point signal is derived from a proportionalintegral controller responsive to the moisture indication of the dried tobacco.
Abstract:
Rate of input ore fed to a grinding mill, including a hydrocyclone particle classifier in a recirculating loop, is controlled to maintain a predetermined relation between particle size and production rate. From the actual production rate and the predetermined relationship a value for the ratio of recycled solid feed rate to output or input solids feed rate is determined. The determined ratio value is compared with the actual ratio value derived from measurements to control input ore feed rate. The consistency of slurries fed to each of a rod mill, ball mill and the classifier is maintained constant.
Abstract:
Control system for profile adjustment of a property on an elongated sheet material, such as a rubber, during the manufacturing thereof. The system can include two gauges disposed on the output side of the manufacturing apparatus, one gauge being movable between an edge and the center portion of the sheet and the other gauge being at the other sheet edge. The manufacturing apparatus has a first actuator for adjusting the property at one sheet end portion and a second actuator for adjusting the property at the other end portion. The first and second actuators together act to adjust the property across the entire width of the material including a central portion intermediate to the end portions. A third actuator adjusts the central portion property in relation to the end portions. The gauges are coupled to a controller that periodically activates the first and second actuators together with the gauges at the end portions and the third actuator separately with the one gauge at the center portion. The first and second actuators are energized, upon actuation, to restore the end portions to their respective target values. The third actuator is energized, upon actuation, by the controller means only when the difference between the central portion property and the property of one of the end portions deviates from a predetermined amount. When there is such a deviation the third actuator initiates an adjustment that returns the central portion to match the edge value.
Abstract:
For quantitively determining a property of a dielectric material, in particular its relative moisture content, an alternating current electrical signal at a constant frequency is applied to a capacitive probe coupled to the material. The effect of the capacitance of the empty probe is balanced out, and a detection signal is produced from the imbalance occasioned by the dielectric material. A first logarithmic signal is derived logarithmically related to the detection signal and used to vary the applied signal in a direction opposite to changes in the detection signal to reduce the demands upon the dynamic range of system components. A second logarithmic signal is derived logarithmically related to the applied signal. The first and second logarithmic signals are then combined to produce a third logarithmic signal logarithmically related to the ratio of said detection and applied signals, and indicative of the property of the material.
Abstract:
MOISTURE AND FIBER CONTENT OF A FIBROUS SHEET ARE CONTROLLED DURING MANUFACTURE BY MEASURING THE SHEET MOISTURE DIWNSTREAM OF A DRYER IN THE MANFUACTURING MACHINE, AS WELL AS THE SHEET FIBER CONTENT. THE FIBER CONTENT AND MOISTURE MEASUREMENTS ARE COMBINED TO CONTROL THE DRYER DRYING RATE IN SUCH A MANNER THAT CHANGES IN THE RATE AT WHICH FIBER IS FED TO THE MACHINE ARE COMPENSATED FOR BY CHANGES IN THE DRYER DRYING RATE SO THAT CHANGES IN THE MOISTURE CONTENT OF THE SHEET ARE GREATLY MINIMIZED. THE RATE OF FIBER FLOW IS CONTROLLED IN RESPONSE TO AN ERROR
SIGNAL FOR THE SHEET FIBER CONTENT AND THE RATE AT WHICH FIBER IS FED INTO MACHINE.
Abstract:
The present invention in one form provides an arrangement for support standardization a measuring system. The measuring system comprises a measuring device that is supported by one or more tubes held under tension in a frame. The tubes are clamped to the frame while the device is measuring and unclamped to allow the tube to resume a free position. The clamps support the tubes in the free position, when the clamps are reclamped. Changes in the frame dimensions, due to thermal effects are compensated for, retaining the position of the measuring device relative to the material being measured substantially constant, for more accurate and reproducible measurements.
Abstract:
A control system for a rubber calender incorporates features that improve profile and machine direction thickness control. In one embodiment a single gauge scans continuously across the rubber sheet and is coupled to a first profile average computer (PAC) to average the thickness of one edge zone. While the gauge is scanning the first zone the gauge is also coupled to a second PAC that averages the thickness of a center zone including contiguous portions of the edge zones. The first PAC is used to average the other edge zone. Each averaged edge zone includes substantially the entire half of the sheet width, so that the average of the edge zones is substantially the average of the sheet width and more representative of the portions controlled by adjustment of the respective screwdown motors. The control actions are initiated at points in the operation that decrease the scan cycle duration, and make possible more frequent control actions.
Abstract:
Detection of defects such as cracks, and the like, is accomplished by effecting adsorption of an inert gas radioisotope, e.g., krypton-85, onto the surface to be examined followed by obtaining a visible image of the radioactivity level pattern prior to desorption of the adsorbed gas. Prior to adsorption, the surface is outgassed to remove occluded gases, followed by exposure the the inert radioactive gas at essentially ambient temperature and pressure in the range of 2mm Hg to one atmosphere above 760mm. Hg. Visible images are obtained by use of fiber optics in bundle form, the fibers coated with a phosphor which emits light when exposed to the inert gas radioisotope. The bundle of fibers has a front face which conforms to the surface of the part examined, the light output being fed to a video camera whose output signal is amplified and displayed on a video display device.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a system for measuring the velocity of a jet emerging from a headbox in a paper manufacturing system. Jet velocity is determined by measuring the Doppler shift frequency caused by the jet on a laser beam of coherent electromagnetic energy. The velocity of the jet is compared with the velocity of a Fourdrinier wire which receives the jet, whereby there is derived a signal for enabling a predetermined relative velocity between the jet and the wire to be automatically or manually maintained. The laser beam is scanned across the width of the jet to determine differences in the jet velocity as a function of width. Consistency of paper sheet basis weight is maintained by controlling the fiber liquid ratio of the mixture fed to the headbox in response to nuclear gauge measurements of the sheet.
Abstract:
A system for measuring the basis weight per unit area using a nucleonic gauge with a digital measuring circuit for counting detector output pulses to obtain a digital indication of the instant measurement. The pulse-counting circuit operates to take the difference between the detector output pulses during a counting period and the pulses from and operating point or reference pulse generator. To effect standardization, any decrease in the detector output pulse rate is measured while the material is out of the radiation path and the reference pulse rate is decreased accordingly or the counting periods are increased inversely of that decrease, or both.