GB1585846A - Device for acting on a web of material - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATIG TO A DEVICE FOR ACTING ON A WEB OF MATERIAL (11) We, A. AHLSTROM DEVELOPMENT GmbH., a German body corporate of Kalixtenbergstrasse 28, 7315 Weilheim Teck, Federal Republic of Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a device for acting on a web of material and more particularly to a device which extends across the web and which has adjustment members by means of which the effect of the device can be controlled differentially locally across the width of the web.

A device of this general type is known, for example, in the form of a breast box in a paper machine. In a paper machine material or stock is placed on a wire mesh at the upper crown of the breast roll, in the form of a flood which extends over the width of the wire mesh to form a web.

Because of the high operating speed of modern paper machines, and the low concentration of the fibre material, in the stock which contains only about 0.5% fibre by volume, respectively, the fibres are fed to the mesh in relatively very large quantity of liquid, a considerable quantity of liquid must be placed on the wire mesh per unit of time. Consequently the flood reaches a height of 20 to 30 mm. In order to limit the flood so that the flood has a uniform height a lip is provided above the upper crown of the breast roll, the lip extending over the width of the web and consisting of a vertically arranged metal strip. The height of the lip above the crown of the breast roll is adjustable.Furthermore, the profile of the gap between lip and breast roll can be changed, which is necessary in order to obtain a uniform area weight or thickness of the paper which is produced across the operating width of the breast roll, which may have a width as great as 10 m.

In the said breast box arrangement, an adjustment is carried out by using a large, number of adjustment rods which are distributed over the width of the web and which engage at the back of the metal strip forming the lip and bend it slightly so that the width of the clear opening between the lip and the brtast roll at any particular point may be adjusted to have a selected value. The change in position of the adjustment rods in their longitudinal direction is effected by means of individual threaded spindles which are accessible from an operating bridge which extends across the web and which are activated manually by the operating personnel. The adjusted position of the individual adjustment rods and thus the position of the lip relative to the breast roll can be read off on a suitable indicator device.

The adjustment of the lip, which is carried out manually, is very time-consuming and also requires especially trained operating personnel.

According to this invention there is provided an apparatus for acting on a web of material and comprising adjustment members for adjusting the operational effect on the web of the apparatus and arranged next to each other across the width of the web, by means of which the operational effect of the apparatus can be locally differentially influenced across the width of the web, an arrangement of separately movable control members, each associated with an adiustment member, each control member being mechanically coupled with its associated adjustment member so that a movement of the control member results in a' displacement of the adjustment member to adjust the operational effect of the apparatus in the region of that adjustment member, a common drive with which at least some of the individual control members can be controllably coupled; and a control device to which data is supplied said data relating to the position of the control members and to measured values available from individual points of the web at a particular point in time, the control device being adapted automatically to provide signals which control the coupling or decoupling of the individual control members and of the drive to ensure that the web of material is acted on in the desired way.

A significant characteristic is here the provision of the common drive for the control members. By using a common drive it is not necessary to control a large number of drives, with respect to starting and stopping, and only the coupling and decoupling of the control members with the single drive which is present must be controlled; which can be accomplished in a simple manner.

As will be described, the common drive can be constituted by a rotating shaft which passes along all of the control members.

The common drive also makes it possible to provide a faster control cycle than would be possible with the individual manual control of the adjustment members. This is caused by the fact that the control members need not be moved sequentially, but can be moved substantially simultaneously.

When they. have attained their desired positions they are decoupled from the common drive.

The adaptation or control cycle can also be repeated in rapid succession, thus obtaining a quasi continuous monitoring of the adjustment members.

Preferably, the web is passed through a means using a sensing device which measures the operational effect of the apparatus in different adjacent regions of the web. At a particular point in time, a number of measured values is available from the measuring or sensing device, representing a profile of the web in its cross section. It can be, for example, a thickness profile, a profile of area weight, a profile of moisture content, or the like. The measured values, which thus represent the condition of the web at a certain moment and which can be obtained directly from the moving web or which can be obtained from specimens removed from the web, are input into the control device and are there compared with predetermined nominal values.

In one embodiment of the invention, the prevailing positions of the individual control members are also measured and are also processed in the control device, in addition to the measured values obtained on the web and the desired nominal values.

This can be accomplished in such a manner that the prevailing condition of the control members is continuously monitored or that the time of the last positioning of each of the control members is stored and this information is used in calculating the new position. From the values for the prevailing positions of the control members, the measured values of the web, and the nominal values, which are thus obtained separately in this manner, the individual motion of the control members is initiated by the control device.

In another embodiment of the invention, there is no separate detection of the initial position of the control members, but the values measured on the web are directly used as the measure for the starting positions of the control members.

The measured characteristic values of the web are an indication for the adjustment of the device acting on the web across its width, and from there indirectly a measure for the positioning of the control members, through the position of the adjustment members and the control members which are coupled in mechanical motion therewith.

Preferably the control device forms signals, which indicate the amount by which a control member must be moved. Such signals may have been obtained from the data which represents the present position of the control members and the predetermined nominal magnitudes. The relationships between the data and the signals for initiating the motion of the control members on the one hand and between the amounts of motion of the control members and the displacements of the adjustment members resulting therefrom, on the other hand, are predetermined functions, characteristic of the particular individual device, which are input in the form of a program into the control device which is usually a computer. This computer then calculates, with this programming, the correct amounts of motion of the control members from the data.

The control device provides signals that cause the individual control members to be coupled with the drive and remain coupled with it until the amount of motion which is necessary has been accomplished. In this manner, the adjustment members are adjusted by the corresponding amounts, and thus the operational effect of the device acting on the web is locally adapted in accordance with the measured values. The adaptation takes place cyclicly, i.e. in intervals, and each of the control members has its position adjusted, if necessary, in accordance with the prevailing measured values.

The device can, if desired, be used in such a manner that an operator manually inputs the results of measurements obtained, into the control device by means of depressing the adjustment ' buttons. This initiates the adaptation or control cycle, which causes the adjustment of the entity of the adjustment members in accordance with the input data. This would be a semiautomatic mode of operation of the device.

However, a significant advantage of the embodiments of the invention consists of the fact that the control device is an automatic signal converter or computer, which automatically processes the input data.

Because the activity of the operator is avoided in this manner, a fully automatic operating mode can be obtained with this configuration.

A contribution is made in this regard if measuring devices are provided which are connected to the signal converter or computer and which are located at the points corresponding to the control members in the transverse direction of the web.

The measuring devices provide,-continuously or upon demand, signals for the signal converter or computer, which initiates the motion of the control members and the adjustment of the adjustment members automatically.

In one embodiment of the invention, the control members are configured as carriages which are movable along a guide rail arrangement which extends across the web.

The guide rail arrangement is preferably common for all carriages.

In a second embodiment of the invention the control members are configured as rotatable bodies which are distributed across the web.

In this case, the rotating bodies can preferably be provided on the same axis on a shaft arrangement which is common to all.

Since all control members in both embodiments are movable on a common guide arrangement, or are rotatable on a common shaft arrangement, their drive can be simplifield considerably, in any case, for example, in comparison with an arrangement in which all separately guided control members are also separately driven.

The motion coupling of the carriage and of the associated adjustment members can be realised in one embodiment in such a manner that a cam surface which is not parallel to the guide direction is provided on each carriage and that each adjustment member is provided with a follower element which lies against the cam surface formed on each carriage.

Because the adjustment members are arranged in a stationary bearing, the cam surface displaces with respect to them on motion of the carriages. This displacement is sensed by the follower element by a camming action and is transmitted to the adjustment member. In the case of linearly displaceable adjustment members, their displacement direction can, for example, be perpendicular to the guide direction of the carriages.

In a corresponding manner in the second embodiment, a cam surface is arranged on each rotatable member so that the surface is at one end close to the axis of rotation thereof and at the other end is remote from the axis of rotation thereof, each adjustment member having a follower element which lies against the cam surface of the corresponding rotating member.

The configuration with the cam surface and follower element is only one example of a mechanical motion coupling between control member and adjustment member.

A linkage arrangement, which is supported on a stationary point at one point and on a linkage guide on the control member at another point, can also be associated with the control member. A third point of the linkage arrangement can be positively connected with the adjustment member and -the linkage arrangement can be so configured that, with a motion of the control member, it imparts a motion in its adjustment direction, to the adjustment member.

This can be realised in such a manner that the linkage arrangement is configured as bell crank which is supported at the apex thereof at a stationary point and engages with one leg on the linkage guide and with the other leg on the adjustment member, and also in such a manner that the linkage arrangement is configured of a toggle linkage consisting of links, where the elbow joint is supported on the linkage guide and and engages the fixed point with one arm and the adjustment member with the free end of the other arm.

Alternatively, teeth can also be provided on the control member, engaging in a rigidly supported pinion, which is connected with a device for the transformation of a rotary motion into a motion of the adjustment member in its adjustment direction.

This device can comprise an eccentric, which has a rotary connection with the pinion, and the adjustment member can comprise a follower element which lies against the eccentric.

However, the pinion can also have a rotary connection with a spindle nut which is in a stationary support which prevents movement thereof in the axial direction, and which nut acts on a threaded spindle which is connected with the adjustment member.

Finally, the adjustment member can also be connected directly with the control member, for example, it can be linked directly to the control member, if it is an adjustment rod, for example.

In one of the important embodiments of the invention, a transport rail which can be moved to and fro is present along the guide rail arrangement, and on each carriage a locking device is provided, by means of which, upon reaching a preselected position, the carriage can be decoupled from the transport rail and at the same time can be attached to the guide rail arrangement and vice versa.

It is, therefore, possible to bring all carriages into the desired positions with only one transport rail.

For the purpose of the coupling of the carriage with the transport rail, the locking device can include a bolt which can be seated in a recess in the transport rail, and a sensor can be provided on the carriage which reacts to the approach of a mark attached to the transport rail, where the sensor lets the bolt seat in the recess of the transport rail upon reaching the mark.

Preferably, on one hand, the locking device effects a positive locking of the transport rail to the carriage, and, on the other hand, frictionally engages the guide rail.

When thus a carriage must be displaced and is to be moved along with the transport rail in its forward or backward move, the bolt jumps into the recess provided in the transport rail for this purpose when the recess passes the bolt. The carriage is then moved along by the required distance until the bolt again releases the carriage from the transport rail and the carriage is secured to the guide.

In the corresponding embodiment for control members which are configured as rotatable members, the locking device for the coupling of the rotating member with the shaft arrangement can comprise a bolt which can be seated in a recess of the shaft and a sensor can be provided on the rotatable member which reacts to the approach of a mark attached to the shaft arrangement, where the sensor lets the bolt seat in the recess of the shaft arrangement upon reaching the mark.

The measurement of the position of the control members does not take place on them individually, but through an element which is always common to all control members, namely the transport rail in the case of the carriages, and the shaft arrangement in the case of rotatable members, where the displacement can be measured from a reference point, for example, by the counting of digital impulses. The apparatus thus comprises the means for the detection of the individual control members and the means for the storage, for example, of the individual digital values, at which the control members have been released and stopped, i.e. which represent the present position of the control members.

In order to make an exact securing of the carriage on the transport rail possible the bolt and the recess can have a coneshaped configuration, so that a centering effect results in the engagement ana the case cannot occur in which the bolt remains on the edge of the recess.

In the second preferred embodiment, a brake, which is connected with the associated carrier, is associated with each rotating member, allowing the rotating member to be arrested in any rotary position.

This brake acts alternately with the bolt and holds the rotating member stationary in its rotary position as long as the bolt is not seated in the shaft arrangement for rotating the rotatable member.

The same also applies to the connection of the rotating members in the case of a forward and backward rotation of the shaft arrangement.

One example of an embodiment of the invention is a breast box on a paper machine said breast box having a lip, arranged across over a breast roll, and over a wire mesh of the machine, the lip being movable in a guide relative to the breast roll and the wire mesh, and being adjustable in its height over the breast roll, over its length by differentially adjustable vertical adjustment rods, which are distributed over the operating width of the web and wherein a device with the above ' discussed characteristics is provided and the adjustment members act on the adjustment rods.

The adjustment members thus activate the adjustment rods which are arranged vertically to the guide of the carriages and, in this manner, change, through the adjustment of the lip, the space between it and the breast roll.

Another device which is considered for the realization of the invention is a moistening apparatus for moving paper and similar webs, with spray nozzles which are distributed over the width of the web and of which the output quantity can be controlled by valves.

In this case, the invention is realized in that the device with the above-mentioned characteristics is provided and the adjustment members act on the valves of the spray nozzles.

Thus, in accordance with the amount of movement of the carriages, and the thus resulting amount of adjustment, these are adjusted differentially, so that the spray nozzles operate differentially.

Another device is an application device for the application of a liquid on a moving web, with an overflow baffle which is arranged across the web and which can be adjusted in its height position in individual points.

In this case, the invention is realized in that the device with the above-mentioned characteristics is provided and the adjustment members act on the individual points of the overflow baffle.

It is known that, in such a device, and particularly with greater operating widths, it is extremely difficult to adjust the overflow baffle in a manner that a uniform application of the liquid results.

With the fine adjustment which is made possible with this invention, the application of the liquid can be made uniform, or it dan be intentionally made non-uniform.

Another example is a foil extrusion nozzle which can be changed in its discharge width at individual points along the nozzle opening.

Here again, the above-mentioned device can be provided and the adjustment members can act on the individual points, in order to be able to adjust the nozzle opening in such a manner that the foil satisfies the specified requirements of thickness and uniformity.

Another embodiment of the invention may comprise a calendar with at least one heated roller which is associated with cooling air nozzles which can be influenced in their discharge quantity by valves, and which are directed towards the surface of the roller, and which are distributed over the length of the roller. These cooling air nozzles are provided selectively to cool in certain areas, the roller which is uniformly heated over its length, in order to locally slightly change the diameter of the roller in this manner and thus to be able to control the thickness profile of a web, especially a paper web.

In such a calendar, the above-mentioned device is again provided and the adjustment members act on the valves of the cooling air nozzles, so that these can all be adjusted in the desired manner and the temperature profile along the heated roller can thus be determined.

Still another embodiment of the invention is an air brush or an air knife, especially for paper coating machines, with a slit nozzle which extends across the web and is directed against the web which is to be covered, of which the lips can be changed in position with respect to each other for the adjustment of the nozzle width through adjustment means at individual points which are adjacent to each other across the width of the web.

These air brushes or air knives are used, for example, in order uniformly to distribute paint which is applied on the web.

Here again, the above-described device is provided in accordance with this invention, and the adjustment members act on the lips of the slit nozzle.

A further example is a coating device for moving webs, with a doctor device, which extends over the width of the web and acts on the web at a certain blade angle for the removal of excess coating material, where the doctor device can be pressed against the web by means of several adjustment members which are distributed over the length of the doctor blade and in ,which, in accordance with the invention, the abovedescribed device is provided and the adjustment members are given by the adjustment links which act on the doctor blade.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and so that further features thereof may be appreciated the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a breast box in accordance with the present invention partly in section; Figure 2 is a corresponding view of the left part of Figure 1 at an enlarged scale; Figure 3 is a front view of part of the device shown in Figure 2, in which the carrier components, which are present on the left of Figure 2, are omitted or cut away; Figure 4 is a cross-section through a guide, the rod, and a carriage forming part of the breast box shown in Figures 1 to 3; Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of the control of the device illustrated in Figures 1 to 4;; Figures 6 to 10 show various forms of a motion coupling of a carriage with an adjustment member in embodiments of the invention; Figure 11 shows a view of an embodiment ,of the invention with rotatable members, which are rotatable on a shaft arrangement, as control members; Figures 12 to 14 show various forms of a motion coupling - of a rotatable member with an adjustment member in embodiments of the invention; Figure 15 is a front view of a moistening apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 16 is a longitudinal section through an application device with an overflow baffle; Figure 17 is a longitudinal section through a foil drawing nozzle; Figure 18 is a longitudinal section through a calendar with a heated roller and air nozzle cooling; Figure 19 is a longitudinal section through an air brush; and Figure 20 is a longitudinal section through the doctor blade arrangement on a coating device.

Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings a breast box, in its entirety, is designated as 10. It rests on a base 1 and comprises a lower portion 2, as well as an upper portion 3, which are both self-supporting constructions extending over the width of the paper web which is to be produced and must, therefore, be made as.a strong reinforced construction in order that the constructions may have the necessary inherent stability. Between the lower portion 2 and the upper portion 3, a free through channel 4 is formed, the channel 4 having a width corresponding to the width of the web which is to be produced, then continuing, as shown in Figure 1, to the left into a chamber 5, and from there further continuing into an end section 6.As shown in Figure 1, at the right end of channel 4, the paper forming material or stock is fed in through lines or conduits 5, and is then made into a flood of uniform dimensions and consistency on its way through channel 4, the chamber 5, and the end section 6 by flowing into contact with rollers 7 provided in the parts of the device. The flood of material or stock then exits onto a wire mesh 11, which moves in the direction of the arrow and carries the paper forming material or stock, which passes below the lip 8. The lip 8 is adjustable in the vertical direction and is arranged above the upper crown of the breast roll 9, around which the wire mesh 11 runs.

The vertical adjustment of lip 8 is carried out through adjustment rods 12 shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 3 in a manner which is yet to be described in detail. The lip 8 is supported in a box beam 13, which can freely move with respect to a box beam 14 which is arranged above and a box beam 15 which is arranged to the left as shown in Figure 1. Box beam 13 extends across the width of the web, and is sealed with respect to beams 14 and 15 by means of seals 16, 17 and 18, which permit the movement between the beams.

This configuration of seals is necessary because, as a result of air feeds 19, an excess pressure is produced in the area of chamber 5, in the sealed space above chamber 5, which acts on the paper material and influences its discharge speed under lip 8. This pressure, of course, also presses on the right side wall in Figure 1 and on the lower wall of the box beam 13 which forms part of the boundary of the channel-shaped end section 6. The air pressure would normally bend this beam 13 because of its length, since beam 13 extends across the entire width of the web, and thus a satisfactory configuration of the discharge gap of the lip 8 would no longer be assured.

In order to prevent this bending, the pressure above chamber 5 is transferred into chamber 21 through line 20, so that the box beam 13 is pressure balanced and any deformations which develop are assumed by the box beam 15. Therefore, the box beam 13 remains straight at any pressure.

As can be seen from Figures 2 and 3 lip 8 consists of a metal strip, which extends over the width of the web, and which is provided with notches 22 on its upper side, which provide it with greater resiliency to facilitate bending in the vertical cross plane of the web. Bending forces are applied to the strip by the adjustment rods 12, which are distributed at uniform distances over the entire length of lip 8 and change its position up and down and which can bend it to a certain degree in order to make possible adjustment of the width of the gap between lip 8 and wire mesh 11 so that different widths of the gap are provided at different points across the width of the web.

Lip 8 is held against the forces acting on it in the horizontal direction, between support surfaces on the members 23, 24 which form part of the beam 13 and which are inclined towards the lip 8 at both sides of lip 8.

The adjustment rods 12 extend over the entire height of box beam 13 and are activated at the upper end thereof by adjustment members 30 which are associated with each adjustment rod 12.

The box beam 13 is provided at the top thereof with a vertical plate 31, which, on its front side, i.e. the left side as seen in Figure 2, has two horizontally projecting webs 32, 33, which are horizontally arranged one spaced above the other. Each adjustment member 30 comprises a rod-shaped pusher 34, which is arranged above the associated adjustment rod 12, is aligned with it, and is connected with it through a fork connection 35. The pusher 34 passes through openings in the webs 32, 33, which are provided above the adjustment rods 12, and has, at its upper end, a roller 36, which acts as an actuating cam follower for the pusher 34. At the said openings in the webs 32, 33, the pusher 34 cleanly passes through bearings 37. By means of respective coil springs 38, each pusher 34 is resiliently urged in the upward direction.

A separate carriage 40, which is arranged above the adjustment members 30, is associated with each adjustment member 30.

Each carriage 40 has a control cam member on its underside with an inclined surface 41, which each act on a roller 36. Each carriage 40 is movable across the web on a guide rail arrangement, which consists, in this example of the embodiment, of a guide rail 42. The guide rail 42 is rigidly connected to the plate 31.

A transport rail 43, which is movable in its longitudinal direction with respect to the guide rail 42, runs parallel to the guide rail 42. Each carriage 40 can be selectively coupled with the transport rail 43 and carried along with it, as well as also selectively decoupled from it to then be coupled with the guide rail 42, in a manner which is still to be described with reference to Figure 4. The displacements of the carriages 40 which thus result have an effect, through the inclined surface 41, on the vertical displacements of the adjustment member 30 and thus on the lip 8.

Referring now to Figure 4, the stationary guide rail 42 has, on its upper and lower sides, near the front edges, guide grooves 44, which engage the corresponding sliding members 45, which are attached to the back of the housing 46 which forms part of each carriage 40. By means of the sliding members 45, the carriages 40 are fixed to the guide rail 42 both in the horizontal and in the vertical direction, but can be easily moved in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 43.

On the side of the guide rail 42 towards the carriage, a groove 47 is provided which is open towards the outside and which extends over the length of the entire guide rail 42 and which carries the transport rail 43, which can be moved, under control in the longitudinal direction, in the groove 47, as will be described in connection with Figure 5.

Each carriage 40 carries a stop device 50, which cooperates with the guide rail 42, and the transport rail 43. The housing 46 of each carriage 40 has a bore 51, which extends perpendicularly to the guide rail 42, and which is covered on the outside by a cover plate 52. On the side towards the guide rail 42, there is an annular piston 53 in the bore 51, having a frictional facing 54 on the face adjacent the guide rail 42, this face being brought into contact with the front face 55 of the guide rail 42 when the piston 53 is appropriately positioned.

A piston 56 is located in the part of bore 51 which is remote from the guide rail 42, and the piston 56 has an extension 57 which engages in the bore 58 of the annular piston 53. Piston 56 has a recess 61 which is open towards the outside, i.e. towards plate 52, for the seating of a strong coil spring 59, which engages on the one side, against the cover plate 52, and on the other side against the base 60 of the recess 61 and, in this manner, constantly resiliently urges the piston 56 towards the right as shown in Figure 4. A bolt 63 is arranged adjacent the guide rail 42 in an axial bore 62 in the extension 57 of the piston 56. The bolt 63 is held by an axial screw 64, which is screwed into the bolt 63. The head of screw 64 is arranged within the coil spring 59 and serves as its guide.

At its end projecting beyond the end of the piston 56, towards the guide rail 42, the bolt 63 is provided with a conical surface 65, which can engage in a corresponding conical recess 66 in an insert 67 provided in the transport rail 43. The conical recesses 66 are provided in the transport rail 43- at distances which correspond to the normal distances which separate the car riages 40.

Between the surfaces 68 and 69 of the pistons 53 and 56, which are directed to wards each other, a chamber 70 is formed, which communicates with the end of a com pressed air line 71. The end of line 71 is located so that it still has connection with the chamber 70 when the piston 56 is in a position to the right of that illustrated in Figure 4, in which position the bolt 63 is seated in the recess 66 in transport rail 43.

If there is no pressure in the compressed air line 71, the piston 56 is moved to the right by the force of the spring 59 and surface 65 engages the conical recess 66.

Through suitable control means, which are still to be described, care is taken that the pressure in the line 71 is zero only when a recess 66 is located just at the right position opposite the bolt 63. The carriage 40 is then coupled with the transport rail 43 and may be moved along by it with its move ment in the longitudinal direction. In this case, the piston 53 is free, and the frictional facing 54 slides over the front face 55 of the guide rail 42 without significant friction.

However, when pressure is applied on the line 71, the piston 53 is pressed firmly against the guide rail 42 and the piston 56 is moved to the left, with the compression of the spring 59, as shown in Figure 4, which disengages the coupling with the trans port rail 43. Thus, at the moment at which the carriage 40 is released from the trans port rail 43, it is at the same time fixed to the guide rail 42 by the force exerted on the front face of the guide rail 42 by the piston 53 through the frictional facing 54.

Thus it will be appreciated that the carriage 40 can only be moved along by the transport rail 43 or be fixed to the guide rail 42.

In Figure 5, the essential characteristics of a device in accordance with this inven tion are schematically illustrated, and all components which are not necessary for an understanding have been omitted.

At a point which follows the position illustrated in Figure 1, the paper web 100 formed by the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1 is scanned by a set of measuring probes which are equally spaced across the width of the web, and which, in number, corre spond to the number of the rods 12, and which are provided in places which corre spond to the positions of the rods 12. In the example of the embodiment of Figure 5 only five measuring probes 80 are indicated, but it is to be understood that there will, in general, be more in reality. Instead of several measuring probes which are rigidly arranged next to each other, one or several traversing measuring probes can be used, which emit signals at the desired positions.

The measuring probes 80 provide elec trical signals which, for example, represent the area weight or thickness of the paper web 100 at the point underneath the particular measuring probe. All the signals which are produced are fed into a digital computer 90, which is connected, through a line 91, to a display and operating device 92. A curve 94 is shown on a CRT screen 93 in the display and operating device 92, the curve corresponding to the values determined by the measuring probes 80 across the width of the web. For example, each vertical line shown below the curve 94 can correspond to the value measured by one of the measuring probes 80.

By means of the display and operating device 92, the "nominal" curve can now be predetermined, which is illustrated by the horizontal, dotted line 95. This "nominal" curve represents, for example, the desired uniform pattern of the area weight or thickness of the paper across the width of the web.

This "nominal" curve 95, i.e., the "nominal" values corresponding to the positions of the individual measuring probes, is now also input into the computer 90, which determines the deviations of the prevailing values determined by the measuring probes 80 from the nominal values, and forms appropriate control signals from these deviations, which are fed to the drive and activating means of the carriages 40 through the line 96.

In order to avoid a reaction of the control to accidental deviations, several sets of measured values are obtained at timed intervals from the moving paper web, and are averaged. Only the average value is significant for the control.

In Figure 5, only one carriage 40 is illustrated on the guide rail 42. However, it is understood that several carriages 40 are always present on the guide rail 42, one carriage corresponding to each of the rods 12.

The stroke in the direction of motion of each carriage 40 is limited to its width, because; otherwise, the inclined surface 41 would disengage the roller 36 (see Figure 3).

At the points corresponding to the positions of the measuring probes 80 i.e. corresponding to the positions of the rod 12, the inserts 67 with the conic recesses for the locking of the carriages 40 to the transport rail 43, are provided on the transport rail 43. Each individual carriage 40 is narrower than the distance between the inserts 67, so that a sidewise motion of each carriage is possible.

An individual carriage 40 moves only by a maximum distance corresponding to the distance between the adjacent inserts 67.

In this manner, its stroke and thus also the stroke of the adjustment members 30 is limited, so that an assurance is given against the destruction of the lip 8. The limitation of the motion enables the compressed air feed lines and the like to be configured as loosely hanging flexible lines. Thus, in Figure 5, a compressed air tubing 81 is provide for the connection of line 82 which is constantly under compressed air pressure and the valve attachment 83 on the carriage 40. The valve attachment 83 contains an electromagnetically activated valve, which provides or interrupts the connection between the compressed air tube 81 and the compressed air line 71 in the housing 46 of the carriage. The feed-in of the electrical energy for the valve attachment 83 is carried out through the flexible line 84.In addition, a flexible line 86 is provided, leading to a sensor 85, which is attached to the side of the carriage 40, being configured as an inductive proximity switch and reacts to bores 87 which are located in particular points of the transport rail 43. The distance of the bores 87 from the assoiiated inserts 67 is such that, upon reaction of the sensor 85, the bolt 63 (see Figure 4) is located exactly opposite the insert 67.

Lines corresponding to lines 81, 84, and 86 are provided on each individual carriage 40, and each individual carriage 40 is separately connected with the computer 90 through lines corresponding to lines 84 and 86.

The drive of the transport rail 43 and thus of the carriages 40 is carried out through an electric motor 88, which acts on a worm wheel 97 through a worm 89, resulting in an action, through a spindle nut 98, on the threaded spindle 99 which is connected with the transport rail 43. The stroke of the transport rail 43, which is effected by the motor 88, is limited by the two limit switches 101, 102. This stroke corresponds to the maximum stroke, which a carriage 40 must traverse. It is also understood that the drive of the carriage 40 could also be carried out through a hydraulic adjustment member or in another manner.

The position of the transport rail 43 is measured by means of a rotary impulse generator 103 which cooperates with the spindle nut 98, producing a number of impulses per revolution which corresponds to the desired accuracy. Alternatively, a linear sensor or any other appropriate type of sensor could, however, also be used.

The above described apparatus operates as follows: Let it be assumed that the transport rail is located in an end position. At this particular moment, let the area weight values or paper thickness determined on the moving web 100 by the measuring probes 80 be represented by the curve 94; and let the "nominal" pattern specified by the dis play and operating apparatus be represented by the line 95. In the vicinity of the display to the left of its centre, the prevailing values lie generally below the "nominal" values; and in the vicinity at and to the right of its centre the prevailing values lie generally above the "nominal" values. Therefore, the web is too thin in the first vicinity, and too thick in the latter vicinity. The lip (see Figure 2) 8 will, therefore, have to be adjusted in a manner complementary to the curve 94 in order to achieve a uniform web.

In the arrangement and with the inclination of the inclined surface 41 illustrated in Figure 5, a displacement of the carriage 40 to the left means a lowering of the lip 8, and a displacement to the right a raising of the lip 8. Thus, those carriages which are aligned with or associated with measuring probes which are sensing values below the nominal line 95 must be displaced to the right, and those carriages which are aligned with or associated with probes which are sensing values above the nominal line 95, must be displaced to the left.

Now, at a particular point in time, a displacement cycle is initiated manually or automatically. Motor 88 starts to run and moves the transport rail 43 from its one end position determined, for example, by the position of the limit switch 102. The displacement is measured by counting the impulses produced in the impulse generator 103. The common zero point for the displacements of all carriages 40 is the end position from which the start takes place.

This reduces the possible position errors in comparison with an embodiment in which, for example, the distances from carriage 40 to carriage 40 are measured and, correspondingly, a new zero point would consistently be made the new basis. The transport rail is moved until the other limit switch 101 is reached, whereupon the direction of rotation of the motor 88 is reversed and the transport rail is returned into the original end position.

The computer 90 now prepares the control signals for the coupling of the carriages 40 to the transport rail. In the stroke from right to left as shown in Figure 5, only the sensors 85 of the carriages 40 are activated for which the prevailing values of the measuring probes 80 lie above the nominal value 95 in accordance with curve 94. Only in the case of these carriages 40, an impulse takes place when the relief 87 of the transport rail 43 passes the associated carriage 40, resulting in a signal in line 84, which opens the magnetic valve in the valve attacThment 83 and which lets the compressed air leave the chamber 70 (Figure 4), in order to lock the corresponding carriage 40, with the transport rail 43, with the engagement of the bolt 63 in the insert 67 of the transport rail 43.

If now a certain carriage 40 has been moved along by the transport rail 43 by a certain amount, which has been calculated by the computer 90 as suitable for the adaptation of the associated prevailing value to the nominal value 95, the computer 90 sends out a signal through line 84, which closes the magnetic valve contained in the valve attachment 83, whereby the appropriate carriage is immediately decoupled from the transport rail 43 and frictionlocked to the guide rail 42.

The same is the case for all carriages which must be moved along to the left as determined by the curve 94 in accordance with Figure 5.

During the return stroke of the transport rail 43, only the sensors 85 of those carriages 40 are activated, which must be moved to the right with respect to their original position, which they have maintained during the forward stroke of the transport rail 43. Here also, the coupling of the appropriate carriage 40 with the transport rail 43 takes place when the associated recess 87 passes the particular sensor 85, and, after moving along by the amount determined by curves 94, 95 the decoupling and the renewed attachment to the guide rail 42 takes place.

The measurement of the amounts of displacement is carried out by the counting of the impulses provided by the impulse generator. At the moment, at which, for a particular carriage 40, which is separately connected to the computer 90 and can, therefore, be distinguished by it, the associated sensor 85 gives the signal for the coupling to the transport rail 43, the computer 90 starts with the counting of the impulses determined for the correction of the position of this carriage 40. When this is reached, the signal is given on line 84, which again applies pressure on chamber 70, decouples the carriage 40 from the transport rail 43 and attaches it to the guide rail 42.

In this case, an important advantage is that, with a single forward and reverse stroke of the transport rail 43, all of the carriages 40 which are present are brought into the correct position. This considerably reduces the sluggishness of the adaptation of the position of the lip 8 to a differential production of the paper web with respect to the area weight or thickness. The time sequence of the displacement cycles is a function of the individual case, for example, of the operating speed of the paper machine or of the speed of change of the area weight.

The accuracy of the adjustment of the lip 8, which can be obtained with the described apparatus, is considerable. It has been shown that the carriages 40 can be positioned on the guide rail 42 with an error of about 0.2 mm. With a horizontal length of the inclined surface 41 of 100 mm, this means an error of 0.2%. With a slope of the inclined surface of 1:10, i.e., 10 mm vertical displacement to 100 mm stroke.

This results in a positioning error of the adjustment member 30 and the lip 8 of 0.02 mm, a value which can be correspondingly lowered by the selection of a lesser slope of the inclined surface 41, but which is completely satisfactory for most cases and especially for the breast box which serves as the example of the embodiment.

It is understood that the illustration of the control is simplified. In reality, quite complicated mathematical models and programs are necessary for the signal converter 90, especially for the consideration of the influence of the time factor.

Another example of an embodiment is schematically indicated in Figure 6 in which the motion coupling of the carriage and the adjustment member is carried out, not through the control surface 41 and the follower element 36 of Figures 2 to 5, but through a linkage arrangement 160 which comprises a pivoted link or lever comprising two arms rigidly connected to each other at an angle. The angle lever 163 is rigidly supported at 164. The free end of the arm 161 is accommodated in the displacement direction of the transport rail 43 on the guide rail 42, by a linkage guide on the carriage 40, which is configured as a pin 165, whereby the arm 162 carries out an up and down motion as shown in Figure 6, which it transmits to the adjustment member 30 through a pin 167, which engages an eyelet 166 in the free end.

Referring now to Figure 7 in the further modification illustrated the motion is transmitted through a linkage arrangement 170, which comprises linkage 173, which consists of two links 171 and 172, which can be swivelled with respect to each other about a connecting point 174. The connecting point 174 is movable in a straight guide 175 on the carriage 40, as shown in Figure 7. The free end of the link 171 is sunported on a stationary bearing point 176, while the free end of the link 172 is rotatably connnected with the upper end of the adjustment member 30 at 177. With a movement of carriage 40 in its displacement direction on guide rail 42, the adjustment member is moved up and down.

Referring now to Figure 8, a straight rack 180 is provided on carriage 40, acting on a cog 181 which supports an eccentric pinion 182, where a follower element 183, in the form of a roller which is supported on the upper end of adjustment member 30 engages the eccentric pinion. With the displacement of carriage 40, a rotation of cog 181 takes place, causing a stroke of the eccentric pinion 182, as well as a corresponding stroke of the adjustment member 30.

A similar embodiment is illustrated in Figure 9 in which a straight rack 190 acts on a pinion 191, with which a spindle nut 192 is connected. The pinion 191, and the spindle nut 192 are mounted on a stationary support to prevent movement thereof in the vertical direction. The spindle nut 192 acts on the threaded spindle 193, which is displaced up or down as a result of a movement carriage 40.

In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 6 to 9, the adjustment member 30 is supported in a bearing block 39, which permits only an up or down motion of the adjustment member and, especially in the case of Figure 9, prevents the rotation of the threaded spindle 193.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 10 the adjustment member 30 is the activating rod of a valve 200. Valve 200 is -con- figured as a spindle valve and has a stationary support at one end 201. The end of the adjustment member is hingably connnected with the carriage 40 at 202. In the case of a displacement of carriage 40, adjustment member 30 is immersed depeer into valve 200 or it is withdrawn from it.

Another significant embodiment is illustrated in Figure 11, where rotatable members 240 are provided on stationary carriers 242 as control members instead of the displaceable carriers 40 mounted on a straight guide rail 42 of Figures 2 to 10.

The rotation of the members 240 takes place through a shaft arrangement which is common to all rotating members, where the shaft is represented by a through shaft 243 in the illustrated embodiment. However, short shafts can be present, which are rotatably coupled with each other, for each of the members 240, or for several of them.

Shaft 243 is driven through the reversible gear motor 244. The angle of rotation through which it moves is measured by means of a digital impulse generator 245.

Each member 240 comprises a disc 246 which is rotatable on shaft 243 and which lies against an electromagnetic coil 247 with one side, where the coil is connected with the carrier 242 and is thus stationary, and forms an electromagnetic coupling with the dlisc 246. On its other side, disc 246 is held by a retaining ring 248.

As can be seen from Figure 12, which represents a side view in accordance with line XII-XII, disc 264 is provided with a magnetic coil 250, for the activation of a bolt 249. The magnetic coil 250 and bolt 249 form a locking device for moving the rotary member. Bolt 249 is in an approximate radial orientation with respect to shaft 243 and has a conic-shaped configuration at its end which is directed towards shaft 243.

It can engage in a correspondingly formed recess 252 of shaft 243 and couple disc 246 with shaft 243 in this manner.

A sensor 253 is also connected with disc 246 reacting to a mark on shaft 243, which is configured as a recess 254. Sensors can be, for example, inductive proximity switches.

Recesses 252 and 254 are so arranged that, when the sensor 253 reacts to recess 254, bolt 249 is exactly in front of recess 252 and can engage in it. The engagement or withdrawal of the bolt 249 is effected by the activation of electromagnet 250.

Instead of the magnetic activation of bolt 249, pneumatic, hydraulic, and similar activation are also possible.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 11 and 12, the rotating member 240, and disc 246 possesses an eccentric outer periphery 251 against which a follower element 210, in the form of a roller, which is connected to the upper end of adjustment member 30, engages. By rotary motion of member 240, the adjustment member 30 is displaced up or down as shown in Figure 12.

The operating mode of this device corresponds to that of the device illustrated in Figures 1 to 10, with the difference that the back and forth rotation of the rotating members 240 replaces the back and forth displacement of carriages 40. The preparation of the signals takes place in the same manner as illustrated for the carriages 40 in Figure 5. Gear motor 244 initially rotates in one direction. In all rotating members 240 which, as determined by computer 90, must be carried along in that direction, there is an activation of electromagnet 250 with a corresponding feeding forward of bolt 249 each time that the particular recess 254 passes the sensor 253. In this manner, the rotating member 240 is locked to shaft 243 and is taken along during the rotation.

Simultaneously with the activation of electromagnet 250, coil 247 is always taken out of operation, so that member 240 is released from carrier 242.

When rotating member 240 has accomplished the angular rotation determined by the computer 90, which is measured by the impulse generator 245, bolt 249 is withdrawn and, at the same time, coil 247 is reactivated, so that disc 246 is attracted and is held in its position in the manner of an electromagnetic coupling. In this manner, the associated adjustment member 30 has thus also reached the new nominal position.

When the shaft has passed through a predetermined angle, for example 90 , the direction of rotation of the gear motor 244 is reversed by a limit switch, and the group of members 240, which must be moved in the other direction, is then turned. In this direction also, the rotary motion is limited by a limit switch. Because the rotary motion takes place only through a certain angular distance, for example 1800, the connections for the electromagnet 250 and sensor 253 can be accomplished by flexible lines.

Instead of the eccentric surface 251 rotating member 260 can also be provided with a segment of a gear 261, as illustrated in Figure 13. The gear segment 261 acts on a pinion 262, which has a stationary support, and cooperates, in a manner which is not illustrated, with the associated adjustment member for the purpose of its displacement.

As shown in Figure 14, rotary member 240 comprises a lever 270, which acts directly on the end of adjustment member 30.

The mode of operation in the embodiments illustrated in Figures 13 and 14 corresponds to the mode of operation of those embodiments shown in Figures 11 and 12.

In Figures 1 to 5, a breast-box of a paper machine is illustrated. However, various other applications of the invention are possible. These examples of applications are schematically illustrated in Figures 15 to 19. The embodiment with the carriage 40 and the inclined surface 41, which is displaceable on the straight guide rail 42 serves again as example. It is understood, however, that, instead, motion couplings generally as shown in Figures 6 to 10 and the configuration with a rotating member as the control member as shown in Figures 11 to 14 can also be used in the same or a corresponding manner.

A moistening apparatus, which is designated in its entirety as 110, is illustrated in Figure 15 as a further example of an apparatus which can we provided with a device in accordance with this invention.

In this moistening apparatus a paper web 100, for example, which moves perpendicularly to the plane of the drawing, can be provided with a desired moisture content. For the purpose of applying the moisture, nozzles, which are fed from a common liquid line 111 and are controlled through separate valves 112 and are provided in an adjacent arrangement across the width of the web. The valves are activated through adjustment members 30, which are displaced by carriages 40, which are displaceable across the web 100, on the guide 42, by means of the transport rail 43, in response to moisture content levels sensed by appropriate sensors.

An application device, which is designated in its entirety as 120, and by means of which a liquid 122 can be applied on a web 100, is illustrated in Figure 16. The application device 120 comprises a liquid trough 121, into which a liquid feed line 126 discharges. The liquid assumes a certain filling level 127 and flows over an overflow edge 123, which extends horizontally across the web 100, in order to reach the web 100 in a falling stream of liquid 125.

The accuracy of the application of the liquid is a function of the accuracy of the horizontal adjustment of the overflow edge 123. The adjustment takes place through adjustment members 30, which engage on the overflow edge 123 in many points 124, which are adjacently located across the width of the web and displace the overflow edge 123, to adjust it to be a little higher or lower. A carriage 40 is associated with each adjustment member 30, and the carriage is movable on a guide rail 42 which is arranged across the web, and each carriage is displaced by means of a transport rail 43, in order to effect the vertical displacement of the adjustment members 30.

A foil extrusion nozzle, which is designated in its entirety as 130, is illustrated in Figure 17. It manifests two lips 131, 132, which are mutually adjustable, so that the mass of plastic material which is pressed between the lips in the direction of the arrow 135 can be formed into a foil of controlled thickness. The lips 131, 132 form an aper- ture nozzle and are somewhat resilient. At several points 133, 134, which are adjacently located across the width of the aperture nozzle, they are under compression by adjustment members 30, which are displaced by carriages 40, which can be moved parallel to the foil plane on guides 42, by means of transport rails 43. The displacement of the individual carriages is controlled in response to the measured thickness profile of the foil.

A calender with two rollers 144, 145, which is designated in its entirety as 140, is illustrated in Figure 18. Of these rollers, at least roller 144 is uniformly heated over its length. Along the roller, a large number of adjacently arranged air nozzles 143 is provided, which are supplied with air through a line 141. The quantity of air discharged can be controlled through valves 142, The activations of the valves take place 142 through associated adjustment members 30 located above each valve, which are displaced by carriages 40 in the manner which has already been described several times, the carriages being movable on a guide rail 42, which extends parallel to the roller axis, by means of a transport rail 43.

In order to be able to control the thickness profile of the paper web 100, the heated roller 144 is subjected to cold air blowing from nozzles 143 in the areas where the paper web is too thin, whereupon its diameter reduces in these areas and the roller gap becomes greater, and thus the paper web becomes thicker in the required area.

Figure 19 is a schematic illustration of a so-called air brush 150, which comprises an aperture nozzle 155 with two oppositely located lips 151, 152. The lip 151 has a stationary bearing at 154. The other lip 152, is, at points 156, which are adjacently located across the width of the aperture nozzle, connected with adjustment members 30, which can be displaced by carriages 40, which can be moved by means of transport rails 43, on a guide rail 42, which extends in parallel to the aperture slit. In this manner, the width of the discharge opening can be varied over the width of the web 100. Thus the quantity of air discharged can be adapted optionally to the requirements, as needed.

In Figure 20, a portion of a coating device, namely, a doctor blade arrangement 280 is schematically illustrated. In a preceding station, for example by means of an application roller which is not illustrated, a paper web for example has been provided with a coating on its lower side. This coating is doctored as uniformly as possible by means of a doctor blade 281 across the width of the web in order to remove excess coating material which has been applied and to obtain a thin coating of the paper web 100, which is supported on its reverse side by the support roller 282. At points distributed across the width of the paper web 100, the doctor blade 281 is hingeably supported in bearing blocks 283. Levers 284, on which the adjustment members 30 act, swivel the parts of the blade around the bearing points in the bearing blocks 283.

Carriages 40, which are associated with each adjustment member and which are movable perpendicularly to the plane of the drawing on the guide rail 42, by means of the transport rail 43, effect the displacement of the adjustment members 30 and thus the pressure of the doctor blade 281 against the paper web.

Figure 20 is a purely schematic illustration. In practice, there will be, through a suitable linkage arrangement, an adjustability both of the angle of incidence of the doctor blade 281 with respect to the paper web 100 and also an adiustability of the force or the pressure applied.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. An apparatus for acting on a web of material and comprising adjustment members for adjusting the operational effect on the web of the apparatus and arranged next to each other across the width of the web, by means of which the operational effect of the apparatus can be locally differentially

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (46)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. application device 120 comprises a liquid trough 121, into which a liquid feed line 126 discharges. The liquid assumes a certain filling level 127 and flows over an overflow edge 123, which extends horizontally across the web 100, in order to reach the web 100 in a falling stream of liquid 125. The accuracy of the application of the liquid is a function of the accuracy of the horizontal adjustment of the overflow edge 123. The adjustment takes place through adjustment members 30, which engage on the overflow edge 123 in many points 124, which are adjacently located across the width of the web and displace the overflow edge 123, to adjust it to be a little higher or lower. A carriage 40 is associated with each adjustment member 30, and the carriage is movable on a guide rail 42 which is arranged across the web, and each carriage is displaced by means of a transport rail 43, in order to effect the vertical displacement of the adjustment members 30. A foil extrusion nozzle, which is designated in its entirety as 130, is illustrated in Figure 17. It manifests two lips 131, 132, which are mutually adjustable, so that the mass of plastic material which is pressed between the lips in the direction of the arrow 135 can be formed into a foil of controlled thickness. The lips 131, 132 form an aper- ture nozzle and are somewhat resilient. At several points 133, 134, which are adjacently located across the width of the aperture nozzle, they are under compression by adjustment members 30, which are displaced by carriages 40, which can be moved parallel to the foil plane on guides 42, by means of transport rails 43. The displacement of the individual carriages is controlled in response to the measured thickness profile of the foil. A calender with two rollers 144, 145, which is designated in its entirety as 140, is illustrated in Figure 18. Of these rollers, at least roller 144 is uniformly heated over its length. Along the roller, a large number of adjacently arranged air nozzles 143 is provided, which are supplied with air through a line 141. The quantity of air discharged can be controlled through valves 142, The activations of the valves take place 142 through associated adjustment members 30 located above each valve, which are displaced by carriages 40 in the manner which has already been described several times, the carriages being movable on a guide rail 42, which extends parallel to the roller axis, by means of a transport rail 43. In order to be able to control the thickness profile of the paper web 100, the heated roller 144 is subjected to cold air blowing from nozzles 143 in the areas where the paper web is too thin, whereupon its diameter reduces in these areas and the roller gap becomes greater, and thus the paper web becomes thicker in the required area. Figure 19 is a schematic illustration of a so-called air brush 150, which comprises an aperture nozzle 155 with two oppositely located lips 151, 152. The lip 151 has a stationary bearing at 154. The other lip 152, is, at points 156, which are adjacently located across the width of the aperture nozzle, connected with adjustment members 30, which can be displaced by carriages 40, which can be moved by means of transport rails 43, on a guide rail 42, which extends in parallel to the aperture slit. In this manner, the width of the discharge opening can be varied over the width of the web 100. Thus the quantity of air discharged can be adapted optionally to the requirements, as needed. In Figure 20, a portion of a coating device, namely, a doctor blade arrangement 280 is schematically illustrated. In a preceding station, for example by means of an application roller which is not illustrated, a paper web for example has been provided with a coating on its lower side. This coating is doctored as uniformly as possible by means of a doctor blade 281 across the width of the web in order to remove excess coating material which has been applied and to obtain a thin coating of the paper web 100, which is supported on its reverse side by the support roller 282. At points distributed across the width of the paper web 100, the doctor blade 281 is hingeably supported in bearing blocks 283. Levers 284, on which the adjustment members 30 act, swivel the parts of the blade around the bearing points in the bearing blocks 283. Carriages 40, which are associated with each adjustment member and which are movable perpendicularly to the plane of the drawing on the guide rail 42, by means of the transport rail 43, effect the displacement of the adjustment members 30 and thus the pressure of the doctor blade 281 against the paper web. Figure 20 is a purely schematic illustration. In practice, there will be, through a suitable linkage arrangement, an adjustability both of the angle of incidence of the doctor blade 281 with respect to the paper web 100 and also an adiustability of the force or the pressure applied. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. An apparatus for acting on a web of material and comprising adjustment members for adjusting the operational effect on the web of the apparatus and arranged next to each other across the width of the web, by means of which the operational effect of the apparatus can be locally differentially

influenced across the width of the web, an arrangement of separately movable control members each associated with an adjustment member, each control member being mechanically coupled with its associated adjustment member so that a movement of the control member results in a displacement of the adjustment member to adjust the operational effect of the apparatus in tne region of that adjustment member, a common drive with which at least some of the individual control members can be controllably coupled; and a control device to which data is supplied said data relating to the position of the control members and to measured values available from individual points of the webs at a particular point in time, the control device being adapted automatically to provide signals which control the coupling or decoupling of the individual control members and of the drive to ensure that the web of material is acted on in the desired way.

2. An apparatus in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the control device is a computer which automatically processes the input signals.

3. An apparatus in accordance with Claim 2, wherein measuring devices which are connected with the computer are provided to measure the operational effect of the apparatus in the region of each said adjustment member.

4. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims wherein the control members comprise as carriages which are movable along a guide rail arrangement which extends across the web.

5. An apparatus in accordance with Claim 4, wherein the guide rail arrangement is common for all the carriages.

6. An apparatus in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the control inembers are configured as rotatable members which can be rotated on stationary carriers which are distributed across the web.

7. An apparatus in accordance with Claim 6 wherein the rotating members are provided coaxially on a shaft arrangement which is common to all the said rotatable members.

8. An apparatus in accordance with Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein a cam surface which is not parallel to the guide direction is arranged on every carriage and wherein every adjustment member is provided with a follower element which lies against the cam surface of the corresponding carriage.

9. An apparatus in accordance with Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein a cam surface is arranged on each rotating member so that the surface is at one end close to the axis of rotation thereof and at the other end is remote from the axis of rotation thereof, each adjustment member having a follower element which lies against the cam surface of the corresponding rotating member.

10. An apparatus in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein a linkage arrangement is associated with each control member, the linkage being supported at one point at a rigid point and at another point on a linkage guide on the control member, a third point of the linkage arrangement being effectively connected with the adjustment member, and the linkage arrangement being so configured that, with a movement of the control member, it imparts a motion to the adjustment member in its adjustment direction.

11. An apparatus in accordance with Claim 10, wherein the linkage arrangement is configured as a bell-crank lever which is supported at the apex on said rigid point and engages with one leg the linkage guide, and with the other leg the adjustment member.

12. An apparatus in accordance with Claim 10, wherein the linkage arrangement is configured as a toggle linkage, consisting of two levers having a common pivot supported on the linkage guide with the free end of one link pivoted to the rigid point and with the free end of the other link pivoted to the adjustment member.

13. An apparatus in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the teeth are provided on the control member engaging a rigidly supported pinion which is effectively connected with a device for the transformation of a rotary motion into a motion of the adjustment member in its adjustment direction.

14. An apparatus in accordance with Claim 13, wherein the apparatus comprises an eccentric with a rotating connection with the pinion and the adjustment member comprises a follower element which lies against the eccentric.

15. An apparatus in accordance with Claim 13, wherein the pinion rotates with a spindle nut which is rigidly supported in its axial direction, and which acts on a threaded spindle which is connected with the adjustment member.

16. An apparatus in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the adjustment member is connected directly to the control member.

17. An apparatus in accordance with Claim 4 or any Claim dependent thereon wherein a transport rail which can be moved back and forth extends along the guide rail arrangement and a locking device is present on every carriage by means of which, upon reaching a predetermined position, the carriage can be decoupled from the transport rail and can at the same time be attached to the guide rail arrangement and vice versa.

18. An apparatus in accordance with Claim 17, wherein the locking device for the coupling of the carriage with the transport rail comprises a member which can be inserted into a recess of the transport rail and, on the carriage a sensor is provided which reacts to a mark or the like which is applied on the transport rail and which, upon reaching the mark lets the said member seat in the recess of the transport rail.

19. An apparatus in accordance with Claim 6 or any Claim dependent thereon comprising a shaft arrangement which is rotatable in both directions, and which extends along the stationary carriers and wherein on each rotatable member, a locking device is present, by means of which, upon reaching a predetermined position, the rotatable member can be decoupled from the shaft arrangement and can at the same time be attached to the stationary carriers and vice versa.

20. An apparatus in accordance with Claim 19, wherein the locking device for the coupling of the rotatable member to the shaft arrangement comprises a member that can be inserted into a recess of the shaft arrangement and wherein on the rotatable member a sensor is provided which reacts to a mark or the like applied to the shaft arrangement, which sensor upon reaching the mark lets the said member seat in the recess of the shaft arrangement.

21. An apparatus in accordance with Claim 18 or Claim 20 wherein the said member and the recess each have a conic configuration.

22. An apparatus in accordance with Claim 6 or any Claim dependent thereon including for each rotatable member a brake by means of which the rotatable member can be held stationary in any rotary position.

23. An apparatus in accordance with Claim 17 or any Claim dependent thereon wherein the signals are so separable by means of the control device that, during a motion of the transport rail in one direction, all carriages can be connected with the transport rail which are to be moved in that direction on the basis of the measured values prevailing at that particular point in time, while, in the return motion of the transport rail in the opposite direction, all carriages can be connected with the transport rail which are to be moved in that other direction on the basis of the measured values prevailing at that point in time.

24. An apparatus in accordance with Claim 19 or any Claim dependent thereon wherein the signals are so separable by means of the control device that, during a rotation of the shaft arrangement in one direction, all rotating members can be connected with the shaft arrangement, which are to be rotated in that direction on the basis of the measured values prevailing at that particular point in time, while, in the reverse rotation of the shaft arrangement in the opposite direction, all rotating members can be connected with the shaft arrangement which are to be rotated in that direction on the basis of the measured values prevailing at that point in time.

25. A breast box on a paper machine said breast box having a lip, arranged across over a breast roll, and over a wire mesh of the machine, the lip being movable in a guide relative to the breast roll and the wire mesh, and being adjustable in its height over the breast roll, over its length by differentially adjustable vertical adjustment rods, which are distributed over the operating width of the web and wherein an apparatus in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 24 is provided and the adjustment members engage in the adjustment rods.

26. A moistening apparatus for moistening paper or similar web with spray nozzles which are distributed over the width of the web and of which the discharge quantity can be controlled by valves, wherein an apparatus in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 24 is provided and the adjustment members engage the valves of the spray nozzles.

27. An apparatus for the application of a liquid on a moving web, having an overflow edge, which is arranged across over the web, and which can be adjusted in its height position at individual points, wherein an apparatus in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 24 is provided and the adjustment members engage individual portions of the overflow edge.

28. A foil extrusion machine having a nozzle, which can be adjusted with regard to its discharge width at individual points along the opening of the nozzle, wherein an apparatus in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 24 is provided and the adjustment members engage in the said individual points.

29. A calender with at least one heated roller, which is associated cooling air nozzles, which are distributed over the length of the roller and which are directed against the surface of the roller, and which are provided with output control valves and wherein an apparatus in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 24 is provided and the adjustment members control the valves of the cooling air nozzles.

30. An air brush or air knife, especially for paper coating machines, with an aperture nozzle which extends across over the web, and which is directed against a web against which the air is to be directed, the lips of the aperture being mutually displaceable, for the adjustment of the width of the nozzle, by adjustment means located at individual points which are adjacent to each other across the width of the web, and wherein an apparatus in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 24 is provided and the adjustment members engage in the lips of the said nozzle.

31. An apparatus for coating moving webs, with a doctor blade, which extends over the width of the web and which acts on the web for the removal of excess coating material, and is adjustable in its pressure on the web by means of several adjustment members, which are distributed over the length of the doctor blade, and wherein an apparatus in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 24 is provided and the adjustment members engage the doctor blade.

32. An apparatus for acting on a web of material substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

33. An apparatus for acting on a web of material substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 to 5 as modified by Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

34. An apparatus for acting on a web of material substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 to 5 as modified by Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.

35. An apparatus for acting on a web of material substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 to 5 as modified by Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings.

36. An apparatus for acting on a web of material substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 to 5 as modified by Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings.

37. An apparatus for acting on a web of material substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 to 5 as modified by Figure 10 of the accompanying drawings.

38. An apparatus for acting on a web of material substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 11 and 12 of the accompanying drawings.

39. An apparatus for acting on a web of material substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in, Figures 11 and 12 as modified by Figure 13 of the accompanying drawings.

40. An apparatus for acting on a web of material substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 11 and 12 as modified by Figure 14 of the accompanying drawings.

41. A moistening apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 15 of the accompanying drawings.

42. An apparatus for the application of liquid to a moving web substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 16 of the accompanying drawings.

43. A foil extrusion machine substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 17 of the accompanying drawings.

44. A calender substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 18 of the accompanying drawings.

45. An air brush or air knife substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 19 of the accompanying drawings.

46. An apparatus for coating moving webs substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in, Figure 20 of the accompanying drawings.