Method and arrangement for fiber web machine, and software product

1. A method in a fiber web machine, comprising the steps of:

producing on a fabric, a fiber web having two edges and a selected width between said edges, the edges defining therebetween a cross direction of the fiber web machine;

changing the location of the fabric with respect to the fiber web by oscillating the fabric in the cross direction with a selected amplitude of cross machine direction movements so that the fabric is affected by wear over a width which is wider than the fiber web;

wherein the fiber web as supported on the fabric as the fabric oscillates defines two portions of the fabric, a fiber web affected area on the fabric where the fiber web is supported on said fabric, and portions of the fabric outside of the fiber web affected area;

wherein the fiber web affected area has a cross direction width, the fiber web affected area being bounded on either side by outside edges;

controlling the amplitude of cross machine direction movement such that the width of the fiber web affected area is wider than the width of the fiber web, and so that as the fabric changes in width in the cross direction during operation, and the fiber web remains substantially of constant width, the fiber web does not cross between the fiber web affected area and the portions of the fabric outside of the fiber web affected area.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the fabric continuously narrows in the cross direction.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the oscillation amplitude is changed constantly in proportion to the width of the fabric.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the fiber web machine defines a first side and a second side, and location of the fabric oscillates from the first side of the fiber web machine to the second side of the web machine with respect to the fiber web, and wherein the fabric is kept at the first side before change to the second side where the fabric is kept before change to the first side.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the fabric undergoes small-amplitude oscillation while the fabric is kept at said first side, and said second side.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the fabric is kept at one side for 0.5 to 12.0 hours.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the fabric is kept at one side for 0.75 to 6.0 hours.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the fabric oscillates from the first side to the second side over 2 to 15 minutes.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the fabric oscillates from the first side to the second side over 4 to 10 minutes.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the fabric is one of two press felts which travel together through a press nip along with the fiber web, and wherein both the press felts are oscillated, and wherein the oscillations of both press felts are synchronized.

11. An arrangement in a fiber web machine processing a fiber web, wherein the arrangement comprises:

a fabric engaging the fiber web, the fabric having a width, and wherein the fabric is subject to change in width in a cross direction of the fiber web machine;

actuators in the fiber web machine arranged to change the location of the fabric in the cross direction of the fiber web machine to create a fiber web affected area wider than the fiber web by oscillating the fabric at selected amplitudes;

wherein the fiber web affected area defines portions of the fabric outside of the fiber web affected area;

control devices connected in controlling relation to the actuators; and

wherein the control devices are arranged to operate the actuators such that the oscillating caused by the actuators decreases in magnitude such that the fiber web affected area only decreases while remaining wider than the width of the fiber web as the fabric width changes, and so that the portions of the fabric outside of the fiber web affected area do not engage the fiber web.

12. The arrangement of claim 11 further comprising sensors for determining the width of the fabric wherein the sensors have a feedback connection to the control devices.

13. The arrangement of claim 11 wherein the control devices have a software with program code elements to carry out the steps of:

changing the location of the fabric with respect to the fiber web by oscillating the fabric in the cross direction with the selected amplitude of cross machine direction movements such that the fabric is affected by wear over a width which is wider than the fiber web, and such that the amplitude of cross machine direction movements are decreased over time such that the width of the area defined by impact of a fiber web on the fabric is wider than a width defined by the fiber web, so that as the fabric width decreases in the cross direction with use, and the fiber web remains substantially of constant width, the fiber web does not engage portions of the fabric outside of the fiber web affected area.