Quality control apparatus and method for paper mill

• US 6,024,835 A
• Filed: 08/28/1992
• Issued: 02/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verso Paper Holding LLC (Verso Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Champion International Corporation (International Paper Company)
• Inventors: Krouze, Michael J., Voit, Allen R., Brandl, Gregory P., Fiore, Leonard F.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN D
• Application Number:
  US07/936,507
• Time in Patent Office: 2,727 Days
• Field of Search: 162/198, 162/DIG. 10, 364/471, 364/132, 364/184, 364/131, 364/468.16, 364/468.17, 364/471.02, 364/471.03
• US Class Current: 162/198
• CPC Class Codes: D21G 9/0009 Paper-making control systems
• CPC Class Codes: D21H 23/78 Controlling or regulating not limited to any particular process or apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 162/10 Computer control of paper making variables

Abstract

A quality control apparatus and method are provided for a paper mill. The apparatus includes at least one lab entry station which communicates directly with each laboratory in a paper mill. Information from each laboratory is validated by the lab entry station. The apparatus also includes a gateway entry station which receives information from on-line systems in the paper mill and reformats the received information into a single useable format. A global data base manager communicates with the lab entry station and the gateway entry station identifies each bit of information received and assigns addresses for the identified information. A communication manager is provided to transmit the received information from the global data base manager to operator stations. Operator stations provide user interfaces throughout the paper mill at which data can be displayed and analyzed. In this manner various locations throughout a paper mill can assess their own ability to conform to specifications and operational standards. Additionally, at least selected locations in the paper mill can assess the impact of performance at one location in the paper mill on results at other locations.

Claims

1. A method for controlling quality of paper produced by a paper mill, said paper mill having pulp processing facilities, paper production facilities, at least one pulp lab and at least one paper lab, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting lab information from each said lab to a lab entry station;

validating the lab information received by each said lab entry station;

transmitting operational information from the pulp processing facilities and the paper production facilities to a gateway entry station;

reformatting the operational information in the gateway entry station into a common format;

transmitting the validated lab information and the reformatted operational information to a global data base manager;

identifying each item of information received in the global data base manager;

assigning at least one address to each item of information received by the global data base manager based on the identification of each said item of information;

transmitting information from the global data base manager to each of the assigned addresses; and

,

displaying the transmitted information at each said address and transmitting displayed information to other addresses requiring such information to affect quality and to prevent defects in a timely manner.

2. A method as in claim 1 further comprising archiving at least selected information transmitted to the global data base manager.

3. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the step of selectively reformatting the displayed information transmitted to each said address.

4. A quality control apparatus for a paper mill having on-line apparatus for making pulp and paper, data collectors for collecting operational data from the on-line apparatus and at least one off-line laboratory for evaluating samples taken from the on-line apparatus, said quality control apparatus comprising:

at least one lab entry station communicating with the off-line laboratory for receiving [information] data therefrom;

at least one gateway entry station communicating with the data collectors for receiving the collected operational data from the on-line apparatus and reformatting the collected operational data into a single format;

a global data base manager communicating with each said lab entry station and each said gateway entry station for receiving data therefrom, identifying the received data and assigning at least one address to each item of the received data;

a communications manager communicating with the global data base manager for sending data to each address identified by the global data base manager; and

a plurality of operator stations disposed in proximity to the respective addresses in the paper mill and being in communication with the global data base manager, each said operator station being operative to display data communicated thereto and capable of correlating and reformatting said data to analyze the effects of operational changes at one location in the mill on performance at that location or at other locations in the mill and being operative to make operational changes throughout the mill to insure conformance to specifications.

5. A quality control apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the paper mill includes a pulp laboratory and a paper laboratory, the lab entry station communicating with both the pulp laboratory and the paper laboratory.

6. A quality control apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the lab entry station receives information defining tear strength, acidity and fiber content.

7. A quality control apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the lab entry station comprises means for validating information received from the laboratories.

8. A quality control apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the paper mill includes a pulp processing facility and a paper production facility, the gateway entry station communicating with both the pulp processing facility and the paper production facility.

9. A quality control apparatus as in claim 8 wherein the gateway station receives information relating to moisture content, brightness, color, paper production rates and acidity.

10. A quality control apparatus as in claim 8 wherein the paper mill includes means for collecting climatic data, and wherein the gateway entry station is operative to receive the climatic information and to communicate the climatic information to the global data base manager for use in the treatment of waste material produced in the pulp processing and paper production facilities.

11. Apparatus located in a paper mill for controlling quality of paper produced by a paper mill, said paper mill having pulp processing facilities, paper production facilities, at least one pulp lab and at least one paper lab, said apparatus comprising:

at least one lab entry station;

means for transmitting lab information from each said lab to a lab entry station, each said lab entry station comprising means for validating the lab information received by it;

a gateway entry station;

means for transmitting operational information from the pulp processing facilities and the paper production facilities to said gateway entry station, said gateway entry station comprising means for reformatting the operational information therein into a common format;

a global data base manager;

means for transmitting the validated lab information and the reformatted operational information to said global data base manager, said global data base manager comprising means for identifying each item of information received therein and for assigning at least one address to each item of information received therein based on the identification of each said item of information;

means for transmitting information from the global data base manager to each of the assigned addresses; and

,

means for displaying the transmitted information at each said address.