Granted Patent B2

US 12,473,690 · App. 18/589,725 · Granted Nov 18, 2025

Inventors: Andrew Forester (Schoolcraft, MI); Paul Wratschko (Chesapeake, VA); Jake Neal (Virginia Beach, VA); David Jackson (Chesapeake, VA); Chris Blair (Chesapeake, VA); James Faufau (Jasper, GA)

Assignee: IBS of America

D21F5/04G01N21/89G01N33/346

Abstract

Claims (51)

1 . A formation detection system comprising:

a. one or more sensors located above a sheet of paper, located below the sheet of paper, or both, wherein one or more of the one or more sensors is a camera, and

b. one or more lights that illuminate all or a portion of the sheet of paper passing by the one or more sensors so that the one or more sensors monitor formation of the paper comprising:

i. orientation of fibers within the sheet of paper,

ii. spacing between the fibers of the sheet of paper;

iii. a lack of the fibers within the sheet of paper;

iv. elevation of the fibers within the sheet of paper;

V. topography of the fibers within the sheet of paper;

vi. spaces between the fibers within the sheet of paper;

vii. flocks of the fibers within the sheet of paper; or

viii. a combination thereof;

wherein the formation detection system is configured to monitor the sheet of paper within a press section, before a dryer section, within the dryer section, or a combination thereof of a paper machine so that a change in formation of the sheet is monitored as the sheet passes through the paper machine;

wherein the one or more sensors are movable in a cross-machine direction across the sheet of paper within the paper machine, and

wherein an amount of pressure applied to the sheet within the press section is varied based upon the change in formation or tension on dryer cans within the dryer section is varied based upon the change in formation, or both.

2 . The formation detection system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more lights are located below the sheet of paper, and wherein the at least one of the one or more sensors is an overhead sensor that views the sheet from a location substantially normal to the sheet of paper.

3 . The formation detection system of claim 2 , wherein the formation detection system is located between two sets of dryer cans within the dryer section.

4 . The formation detection system of claim 1 , wherein the camera of the one or more sensors is a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor.

5 . The formation detection system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a control system in communication with the formation detection system so that the control system controls stock movement, formation, or both in real time.

6 . The formation detection system of claim 5 , wherein the control system is in communication with and control speed of a wire of the paper machine, speed of stock coming out of a head box, stock jet angle, a slice opening of the head box, jet to wire ratios, or a combination thereof.

7 . The formation detection system of claim 6 , wherein the head box has a variable slice opening that is variable across the cross-machine direction of the paper machine.

8 . The formation detection system of claim 5 , wherein the control system converts images taken by a line scan camera, related to formation, into a number so that formation from location to location are comparable.

9 . The formation detection system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors are movable in the machine direction as the one or more sensors move in the cross-machine direction.

10 . The formation detection system of claim 1 , wherein the formation detection system monitors multiple locations simultaneously and simultaneously compares changes between locations to determine changes from one location to another location.

11 . The formation detection system of claim 1 , wherein a formation change is determined and if the formation change is more than a predetermined amount of change then the system may be change to reduce the formation change.

12 . The formation detection system of claim 11 , wherein the camera of the one or more sensors is a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor.

13 . The formation detection system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors are a line scan camera that assists in detecting formation of the paper within the press section, before a dryer section, within the dryer section, or a combination thereof.

14 . A formation control system comprising:

a. two or more sensors wherein at least one of the two or more sensors is a camera;

b. two or more lights that illuminate a sheet of paper within a paper machine comprising the formation control system so that the two or more sensors monitor formation of the paper; and

c. a control system in communication with the paper machine to adjust one or more components of the paper machine to adjust formation of the paper traveling through the paper machine in real time;

wherein formation of the paper includes orientation of fibers within the paper;

wherein the two or more sensors are located above the paper, below the paper, or both and substantially normal to the paper within a press section, before a dryer section, within the dryer section, or a combination thereof; and

wherein an amount of pressure applied to the sheet within the press section is varied based upon a change in formation or tension on dryer cans within the dryer section is varied based upon the change in formation, or both.

15 . The formation control system of claim 14 , wherein the two or more sensors are configured to monitor the sheet of paper before a press section, within the press section, before a dryer section, within the dryer section, after the dryer section, or a combination thereof of the paper machine, and the two or more sensors move in a cross-machine direction within the paper machine.

16 . The formation control system of claim 14 , further comprising:

a formation monitor that displays the formation of the paper in real time to display images of the paper, graphical representations of the paper, or both.

17 . A method comprising:

a. monitoring a sheet of paper with a formation detection system comprising:

i. one or more sensors located above the sheet of paper, located below the sheet of paper, or both wherein one or more of the one or more sensors is a camera and

ii. one or more lights that illuminate all or a portion of the sheet of paper passing by the one or more sensors;

b. monitoring formation of the sheet of paper with the formation detection system; and

c. moving the formation detection system in a cross-machine direction of the sheet of paper;

wherein the formation detection system is configured to monitor the sheet of paper before a press section, within the press section, before a dryer section, within the dryer section, after the dryer section, or a combination thereof of a paper machine so that a change in formation of the sheet is monitored as the sheet passes through the paper machine; and

wherein an amount of pressure applied to the sheet within the press section is varied based upon the change in formation or tension on dryer cans within the dryer section is varied based upon the change in formation, or both.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

communicating information about the formation from the formation system to a control system and

controlling all or a portion of the paper machine with the control system based on the information about the formation.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

controlling speed of a wire of the paper machine, speed of stock coming out of a head box, stock jet angle, a slice opening of the head box, jet to wire ratios, or a combination thereof in real time to change the formation.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the head box has a variable slice opening that is variable across the cross-machine direction of the paper machine and the control system varies the slice opening to adjust formation of the sheet of paper.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (187)