JP2008532469A - Actuator system for use in controlling a sheet or web forming process - Google Patents

Abstract

  A device driven by one or more actuators on a sheet forming machine receives power and communicates with one or more quality control systems in any of the following ways: Without having a physically connected cable for transmitting power to the actuator and a physically connected cable used for two-way communication; or contactless power on the power cable and Communication; or a cable connected from the power source to the actuator to provide both power and bidirectional communication; or power is supplied to the actuator by cable and the bidirectional communication is wireless.

Description

  The present invention relates to a system for controlling the transverse profile of sheet and web material, in particular using an actuator and the power and / or communication to the actuator being wireless or non-contact and / or the same cable A transversal profile system that may occur above.

  It is well known that on-line measurements can be made to detect the properties of sheets and web materials during their manufacture. For the sake of brevity, the term “sheet” is used herein to refer to either a sheet or a web, including the claims. In general, on-line measurement allows for quick control of the sheet and web manufacturing process, thereby improving sheet quality and at the same time substandard quality sheet material (correcting undesirable process conditions). Reduce the amount of For example, in the paper industry, online sensors can detect variables during manufacturing, such as reference weight, moisture content, caliper, coating weight, finish, color, and paper / sheet conversion. .

  It is well known to use a scanning sensor to detect transverse variations in sheet material, which moves back and forth across the sheet in the transverse direction, with each scan Detect the value of the property of the sheet along. The term “transverse direction” (or “CD”) refers to the direction across the surface of the sheet perpendicular to the machine direction (ie, the direction of movement of the sheet material).

  The measurement information supplied by the scanning sensor is summarized for each scan to provide a “profile” of the detected properties of the sheet in the transverse direction. Thus, each profile has a series of sheet measurements at adjacent locations or slices, the profile generally extending in the transverse direction. From such a profile, it is possible to detect transverse variations in sheet properties. Based on the detected transverse variation, appropriate adjustment control can be made to the sheet manufacturing machine.

  Such adjustment is performed by a plurality of transverse actuators. Such actuators are, for example, slice-lip profile control actuators driven by a motor located in the discharge section of the paper machine headbox; the longitudinal direction of the calendar and / or other paper machine rolls An induction heater for control of the diameter along the line; and a coating blade actuator for control of the CD weight profile of the coating applied to one or both sides of the paper. Multiple transverse actuators are also used in other industrial sheet forming processes, such as plastic extrusion, metal extrusion, and metal rolling.

  As can be appreciated, in all of these sheet forming processes, actuators are used to adjust, flatten and shape the transverse properties. Such transverse properties include, for example, density, moisture content, thickness, and optical properties of the sheet being manufactured. In many cases, the number of these transverse actuators will be from 20 to over 200 at one location on the sheet forming machine. There may be several actuator systems at various locations along the sheet forming process.

  Most of these industrial sheet forming processes are operated in harsh environments, which means that the actuator design has water resistance, corrosion resistance, vibration resistance, heat resistance, extreme And is reliable, is as small as possible, and is very easy to maintain and service. An important and expensive part of any actuator system is the power and communication supply cables and connectors for 20 to 200 actuator zones that extend in a typical system in a way that traverses the sheet forming machine. Currently, only special cables and connectors that are sealed, industrially cured and pin-connected can be used to meet this requirement.

  Two examples of actuator systems that use power and communication supply cables and connectors for the actuator zone are shown in US Pat. Nos. 5,771,174 and 5,381,341.

  Thus, it is desirable to reduce or eliminate actuator system cables and connectors to significantly increase the reliability and maintainability of the actuator system. Furthermore, reducing or eliminating actuator system cables and connectors will greatly reduce the cost of the system and the cost and time for system installation.

C. Apneseth et al, “Wireless-Introducing wireless proximity switches”, ABB Review 2/2002, pp. 42-49, describes wireless proximity switches for use in cells on engine assembly lines. . As shown in the diagram on page 44, there are four primary loops around the cell, the primary loops are powered from two power sources, and those power sources are An alternating current is generated therein, thereby creating a magnetic field throughout the cell. Inside the cell is a robot that has several wireless proximity switches that are swarmed by the robot's grippers. Each switch has small coils that extract energy from the magnetic field and convert it to electrical power. Each of these switches also has a small radio transceiver and low power electronics that handle the wireless communication link between the switch and the input module outside the cell. These switches communicate with the input module using an antenna attached to the cell.
US Pat. No. 5,771,174 US Pat. No. 5,381,341 C. Apneseth et al, “Wireless-Introducing wireless proximity switches”, ABB Review 2/2002, pp. 42-49

Sheet forming system:
One or more quality control systems for use in forming the sheet;
At least one device driven by an actuator having a plurality of actuators each associated with formation of the sheet;
A power supply module for supplying power to the plurality of actuators without connecting a cable between the power supply module and the plurality of actuators;
A drive signal module connected to at least one of the one or more quality control systems to provide bi-directional communication between the at least one quality control system and each of the plurality of actuators; ;
have.

Sheet forming system:
It has a quality control department, and this quality control department
One or more quality control systems for use in forming the sheet;
A modulator / demodulator corresponding to at least one of the one or more quality control systems;
It has a part driven by an actuator, this part
At least one device driven by an actuator having a plurality of actuators each associated with the formation of the sheet, each of the actuators having a modulator / demodulator;
A cable for supplying a power signal from the quality control unit to a portion driven by the actuator, and for transmitting a communication signal from the quality control unit to the portion driven by the actuator, Said modulator / demodulator connected cable corresponding to said at least one of said one or more quality control systems for modulating;
Each of the plurality of actuators further comprises means for receiving the modulated power signal from the quality manager without physically connecting the cable to each of the plurality of actuators,
The modulator / demodulator corresponds to each of the plurality of actuators for modulating the communication signal.

Sheet forming system:
It has a quality control department, and this quality control department
One or more quality control systems for use in forming the sheet;
A power and communication module including a modulator / demodulator corresponding to at least one of the one or more quality control systems;
It has a part driven by an actuator, this part
At least one device driven by an actuator having a plurality of actuators each associated with the formation of the sheet, each of the actuators having a modulator / demodulator;
A cable for supplying a power signal from the quality control unit to a portion driven by the actuator;
The cable is for modulating the power signal to send a communication signal from the quality control unit to a portion driven by the actuator and to each of the modulator / demodulator of the actuator. Or connected to the modulator / demodulator corresponding to the at least one of the more quality control systems.

Sheet forming system:
One or more quality control systems for use in forming the sheet;
At least one device driven by an actuator having a plurality of actuators each associated with formation of the sheet;
A module for supplying power to the plurality of actuators;
A cable physically connecting the power supply module to each of the plurality of actuators;
A drive signal connected to at least one of the one or more quality management systems to provide bi-directional wireless communication between the at least one quality management system and each of the plurality of actuators. With modules;
have.

  Referring now to FIG. 1, a typical papermaking machine 10 and profilers 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 driven by various actuators that may be used in this machine 10 are shown. It is shown. In particular, the machine 10 includes an actuator driven dilution profiler 12 and an actuator driven slice profiler 14 associated with the headbox 10a, as is well known to those skilled in the art. Will. The head box 10a supplies a pulp suspension over the start of a lower wire (not shown in FIG. 1). Actuator driven profilers 12 and 14 and other actuator driven profilers described herein are used to control the lateral profile of the pulp suspension.

  The paper machine 10 also includes a Fordrinier table 10b and a press section 10c, which includes one or more actuators, such as the profiler 16 of FIG. It may include a steam profiler driven by The cross machine (CD) moisture profile is one of many important qualities of paper products. It is important not only to control the overall moisture level, but also to control the direction of sheet movement (called machine direction (MD)) and the moisture distribution in the CD direction across the entire sheet. . Variations in the moisture content of the sheet often affect paper quality as well as or more than absolute moisture content.

  A steam shower profiler, such as profiler 16, is a conventional profiling system that functions by selectively dispensing steam onto a paper web during manufacture. Profiling steam showers form various distributions of steam within the region across the paper web. The amount of steam that passes through each area of the steam shower is adjusted by an actuator located in this area.

  Steam showers are widely used on the Ford Liner table 10b to promote dehydration and increase production. In the press section 10c, steam is added before the press nip to raise the temperature of the web. This applied temperature makes water removal by the press more effective. The reason is that the increase in moisture removal is more than the moisture added by vapor condensation.

  Further downstream of the machine 10 may also be provided an air water profiler 18, a calendar profiler 20, a coating weight profiler 22, a finishing profiler 24, and an induction profiler 26 driven by an actuator. Profiling steam showers, such as calendar profiler 20, for example, are also used in the calendering process to improve the gloss and smoothness of paper products. A moisture spray system, such as, for example, an air water profiler 18, is also a conventional profiling system and is typically used in the evaporation section of a paper machine.

  The water spray system is designed to provide a cross-machine moisture spray profile that counteracts the undesirable moisture profile of the paper web. These systems consist of a series of flow control actuators, which can independently adjust the amount of spray of individual adjacent regions in the CD direction. The induction profiler 26 provides caliper and gloss control used to heat the roll of paper.

  FIG. 1 shows a paper machine 10 with profilers 12 to 26 that are driven by various actuators, but it is well known to those skilled in the art that one profiler that is driven by these actuators. The section may be used in special functional machines other than this machine 10, such as a blade coater or super calender or slitter winder, which are also related to papermaking. ing. This use is shown in block diagram form in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, one or more quality control systems (QCS) 30a and 30b are connected by suitable means 32 to a paper machine 34, a blade coater 36, a super calendar 38, Connected to one or more scanners 40a and 40b and converter 42, where the means may be a physical cable or a wireless connection as described below. The paper machine 34 is an edge control actuator and a profiler driven by various actuators, such as a slice profiler, a dilution profiler, a steam profiler, an air waterer, as shown in FIG. A profiler, a coating weight profiler, a guidance profiler, and the like may be included. The blade coater 36 has an actuator driven coating weight profiler, the super calender 38 has an actuator driven steam and induction profiler, and the converter 42 has an actuator driven slitter. Has a winder.

  According to various embodiments of the invention described below, each of the profiler's actuators driven by one or more actuators in the papermaking machine 10, or in block diagram form in FIG. The various actuators described in relation to the machine shown in FIG. 2 receive power and communicate bi-directionally with a QCS system, such as systems 30a and 30b of FIG. 2, in the following manner: .

<a> To transmit power to the actuator, physically connect the actuator to a cable physically connected to the actuator, and for bidirectional communication between the actuator and one or more QCSs 30a, 30b. Instead of connected cables;
This embodiment is described below as “wireless” to transmit power to the actuator and to provide bi-directional communication between the actuator and one or more QCS, as described below. Use a technology called "
-Alternatively, this embodiment may use a closed magnetic path, hereinafter referred to as "non-contact", to transmit power to each of the actuators;
-A subset of this embodiment is a cable physically connected between one or more QCSs and actuators for two-way communication between the actuators and wireless or contactless power.

<B> Non-contact power and communication over power cables;
<C> A cable physically connected from the power source to the actuator to provide power to the actuator and bi-directional communication between one or more QCS and the actuator using a power cable ;
<D> Power supplied to the actuators by power cables and wireless communication physically connected to each of the actuators.

  Turning now to FIG. 3, an embodiment is shown in simplified block diagram form. According to this, a cable physically connected to the actuator is not used to transmit power to the actuator, and one or more cables physically connected to the actuator are connected to the actuator. It is not used for bidirectional communication with the above QCS. The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 uses a technique called “wireless” for both power and two-way communication transmissions. Thus, this embodiment can be said to be wireless as a whole.

  Two-way communication using one or more QCSs, such as QCS 30a and / or QCS 30b of FIG. 2, for example, includes a primary signal antenna 44 in the vicinity of an array 46 of actuators 46a, 46b, 46c. And an antenna (not shown in FIG. 3) located in each of the actuators. The primary signal antenna 44 is coupled with one or more QCS by a signal driven antenna module 48. Electric power is transmitted from the power driving module 49 to the actuators 46a to 46n by the transformer device. Here, the secondary side of the transformer is embedded in each of the actuators 46a to 46n, while the primary side 47 of the transformer is arranged outside the actuator.

  Alternatively, a closed magnetic path may be used, as shown in FIG. 3a, whereby power is transferred to each of the actuators by a small consisting of two semicircular parts 45a and 45b. Transmission is performed using a ring-shaped core 45. One of these semi-circular parts supports the secondary winding 45c, and these semi-circular parts can be fastened together around the primary coil wire 45d. The device shown in FIG. 3a uses a technique called “contactless” for power transmission.

  Thus, the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is wireless for both power transmission and two-way communication, and the embodiment of FIG. 3a is wireless for two-way communication and for power transmission. Non-contact, and in both embodiments, the power supplied to each of the actuators 46a-46n and the bi-directional communication between them is similar to that of the prior art system. Does not require physical connection of communication cables and power cables to

  In a subset of the embodiments shown in FIG. 3, power is supplied to each of the actuators in a wireless or non-contact manner, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 3a. Bidirectional communication between one or more QCSs and actuators is performed by cables connected to each actuator, similar to the previously mentioned US Pat. Nos. 5,771,174 and 5,381,341, These disclosures are incorporated herein by reference.

  Turning now to FIG. 4, an embodiment for the present invention is shown in a simplified form. According to this, power is supplied to all of the actuators, and bi-directional communication between one or more QCS and all actuators is both done in a contactless manner through the power cable. The simplified drawing of FIG. 4 shows a single actuator, such as the actuator of FIG. 3, for example, which houses a portion of a magnetic core 50, which portion is It may be made of ferrite or similar material, with a wire 52 wound on its core. The actuator also houses a modulator / demodulator 54.

  It is the power and communication cable 56 that is outside the actuator but not connected to the actuator. The end of the system not shown in FIG. 4 where one or more QCSs are located and the system for supplying power to all of the actuators is also located At the end is a modulator / demodulator (not shown in FIG. 4). This modulator / demodulator modulates the AC signal on the power and communication cable 56 to provide communication to all of the actuators, and also demodulates the communication signal modulated by the actuator on the AC power signal to Receive communications from.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the communication and power cable 56 houses a magnetic core 58 in the vicinity of each actuator, which is made of ferrite or a similar material. It may be made. This core is combined with a magnetic core 50 embedded in each actuator to form a transformer, which receives the modulated AC power signal on cable 56 received by each actuator and demodulates it. Allows to be done. Thus, the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is also non-contact. The reason is that the supplied power and bi-directional communication between each of the actuators, such as, for example, the actuators 46a to 46n of FIG. This is because a physical connection of a communication cable and a power cable is not required.

  Turning now to FIG. 5, an embodiment 60 for the present invention is shown in a simplified form. Here, a cable 62 is physically connected from a power supply source to each of the actuators 64a, 64b, 64c in a manner known in the prior art to supply power to all of the actuators and And two-way communication between one or more QCSs is also performed using cable 62. Each actuator 64a, 64b, 64c houses a corresponding embedded modulator / demodulator 66a, 66b, 66c for bidirectional communication through the cable 62 with one or more QCSs. Yes.

  There is a power and communication module 68 upstream from the actuators 64a, 64b and 64c. This module houses a modulator / demodulator (not shown in FIG. 5), which allows power to be transmitted through cable 62 to each of the actuators, and , Allowing the cable to also carry bi-directional communication between the actuator and one or more QCS.

  Turning now to FIG. 6, an embodiment 70 for the present invention is shown in a simplified form. Here, power is supplied to each of the actuators 72a, 72b... 72n through a cable 74, which is connected to each of the corresponding ones of the actuators by corresponding connectors 76a, 76b. They are physically connected in a manner known in the prior art. The power drive module 78 supplies power to the cable 72.

  Bi-directional communication between each of the actuators 72a, 72b ... 72n and one or more QCS is the antenna system described above for the embodiment shown in FIG. And provided wirelessly. As described above, the signal driven antenna module 80 is connected between one or more QCSs and the communication antenna 82. The antenna 82 is in the vicinity of each of the actuators 72a, 72b... 72n, and each of the actuators houses an antenna.

  Although the present invention is described herein with reference to a paper making machine, it should be understood that the present invention uses actuators associated with moving sheets or webs in all embodiments described herein. It can be used in any process. An example of such a process is a dough making and printing machine on a sheet or web.

  It is to be understood that the above description of the preferred embodiment has been made for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the invention. Those skilled in the art may make any additions, deletions, and / or modifications to the disclosed subject matter embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It is.

FIG. 1 shows a typical sheet forming machine, such as a papermaking machine, and a profiler driven by various actuators that may be used in the machine. FIG. 2 shows in block diagram form one or more quality control systems connected to a machine for producing sheets such as paper, where one or more scanners and various Special function machines are involved in the production of sheets. FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment for the present invention where there is a wireless connection of power and two-way communication between a quality control system and a device driven by one or more actuators. FIG. 3A shows an embodiment where the power connection is contactless. FIG. 4 shows an embodiment for the present invention in which power is supplied to the actuator and bi-directional communication between the control quality system and the actuator is in a contactless manner through the power cable. Both are done. FIG. 5 shows an embodiment for the present invention, where a single cable is connected to the actuator, providing both power and two-way communication with the control quality system and actuator. FIG. 6 shows an embodiment for the present invention in which power is supplied to all actuators through a cable and bi-directional communication between the control quality system and the actuators is shown in FIG. • Provided by the antenna system.

Claims (13)

Sheet forming system:
One or more quality control systems for use in forming the sheet;
At least one device driven by an actuator having a plurality of actuators each associated with formation of the sheet;
A power supply module for supplying power to the plurality of actuators without connecting a cable between the power supply module and the plurality of actuators;
A drive signal module connected to at least one of the one or more quality control systems to provide bi-directional communication between the at least one quality control system and each of the plurality of actuators; ;
A sheet forming system comprising: The sheet forming system of claim 1 having the following characteristics:
Power is supplied from the power supply module to each of the plurality of actuators by a transformer device. The transformer device includes a primary side corresponding to the power supply module and a secondary side corresponding to each of the plurality of actuators. have. The sheet forming system of claim 2 having the following characteristics:
The primary side of the transformer device extends from the power supply module in the vicinity of each of the plurality of actuators, while the secondary side is embedded in each of the plurality of actuators. The sheet forming system of claim 1 having the following characteristics:
Power is supplied by the power supply module to each of the plurality of actuators by a closed magnetic path from the power supply module to each of the plurality of connectors. The sheet forming system of claim 4 having the following characteristics:
The closed magnetic path includes a primary wire that supplies a magnetic field from the power supply module to each of the plurality of actuators, and each of the plurality of actuators is supplied by the primary wire. Means connected to the actuator are provided to block the magnetic field. The sheet forming system of claim 1 having the following characteristics:
The bidirectional communication is provided by a cable connecting the drive signal module and each of the plurality of actuators. The sheet forming system of claim 1 having the following characteristics:
The drive module provides bi-directional wireless communication between the at least one quality control system and each of the plurality of actuators. The sheet forming system of claim 7 having the following characteristics:
The two-way wireless communication is provided by an antenna device, which is in a primary signal antenna corresponding to the drive signal module in the vicinity of each of the plurality of actuators, and in each of the plurality of actuators. It has a placed antenna. Sheet forming system:
It has a quality control department, and this quality control department
One or more quality control systems for use in forming the sheet;
A modulator / demodulator corresponding to at least one of the one or more quality control systems;
It has a part driven by an actuator, this part
At least one device driven by an actuator having a plurality of actuators each associated with the formation of the sheet, each of the actuators having a modulator / demodulator;
A cable for supplying a power signal from the quality control unit to a part driven by the actuator, and for transmitting a communication signal from the quality control unit to the part driven by the actuator, A cable connected to the modulator / demodulator corresponding to the at least one of the one or more quality control systems for modulating;
Each of the plurality of actuators further comprises means for receiving the modulated power signal from the quality manager without physically connecting the cable to each of the plurality of actuators,
The modulator / demodulator corresponds to each of the plurality of actuators to modulate the communication signal;
A sheet forming system characterized by this. The sheet forming system of claim 9 having the following characteristics:
The means for receiving the modulated power signal in each of the plurality of actuators includes a magnetic core embedded in each of the actuators and a magnetic core adjacent to each of the plurality of actuators. A core, and
The cable passes through each of the magnetic cores adjacent to each of the plurality of actuators. Sheet forming system:
It has a quality control department, and this quality control department
One or more quality control systems for use in forming the sheet;
A power and communication module including a modulator / demodulator corresponding to at least one of the one or more quality control systems;
It has a part driven by an actuator, this part
At least one device driven by an actuator having a plurality of actuators each associated with formation of the sheet, wherein each of the actuators has a modulator / demodulator;
A cable for supplying a power signal from the quality control unit to a portion driven by the actuator;
The cable is for modulating the power signal to send a communication signal from the quality control unit to a portion driven by the actuator and to each of the modulator / demodulator of the actuator. Or connected to the modulator / demodulator corresponding to the at least one of the more quality control systems. Sheet forming system:
One or more quality control systems for use in forming the sheet;
At least one device driven by an actuator having a plurality of actuators each associated with formation of the sheet;
A module for supplying power to the plurality of actuators;
A cable physically connecting the power supply module to each of the plurality of actuators;
A drive connected to at least one of the one or more quality management systems to provide two-way wireless communication between the at least one quality management system and each of the plurality of actuators. A signal module;
A sheet forming system. The sheet forming system of claim 12 having the following characteristics:
The bidirectional wireless communication is provided by an antenna device, the antenna device being a primary signal antenna corresponding to the drive signal module in the vicinity of each of the plurality of actuators;
An antenna disposed in each of the plurality of actuators;
have.

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