Abstract:
In one form the method of the present invention provides for the control of a material zone property where the property at one location in the zone is measured by a stationary gauge. The measured property is compared with a desired target property and the regulating apparatus is adjusted to change the measured location property to the desired target property. The target property is adjusted as a function of the difference between the average property of at least a portion of the material across the material width, including the measured location in the zone, and the measured location property to bring the average material property in the zone to the desired target property. One embodiment of control apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises a gauge means for indicating the property at one location in a zone of the material and for indicating the property average at least partially across the material dimension including the location. A regulating means can be adjusted to vary the property in the zone. A controller means compares the location property indication with a target signal and actuates the regulating means to change the material property in the zone and reduce the difference between the target signal and the location property indication to substantially zero. Means is provided to offset or change the target signal as a function of the difference between the property average and one target signal representing a desired target property to another target signal representing a desired target property to another target signal to cause the controller means to compare the indicated property with another target signal that brings the average zone property to the desired target property.