Publication distribution system

• US 6,366,826 B1
• Filed: 02/26/1999
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Impact Systems, Inc. (Voith Sulzer Paper Technology)
• Original Assignee: Voith Paper Automation, Inc. (Voith GmbH & Co. KGaA)
• Inventors: Mead, Todd, Chapman, Edward W., Griech, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Teska, Kevin J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rapp, Chad
• Application Number:
  US09/258,581
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 700/127, 700/128
• US Class Current: 700/128
• CPC Class Codes: D21G 9/0027 controlling the forming section
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33149 Publisher subscriber, publisher, master broadcasts data to slaves, subscriber

Abstract

A publication distribution system and, more specifically, a computer operated feedback control system for controlling a process such as a paper-making process includes an effective common data base to which Publisher and Subscriber means are connected. An actual Publisher and Subscriber data base allows for a once only subscription to link subscriber means to a selected publisher for transfer of only updated or changed data from the original. Thus, only changed data is transferred across a network and computational load is reduced significantly. In the specific context of the present invention, the Publisher may be a scanning sensor for basis weight of paper being manufactured by a paper-making machine and a Subscriber may be an actuator such as a headbox control unit.

Claims

1. A computer feedback system for controlling a paper-making machine process where variable parameters including basis weight and moisture are measured by repeated scanning of the sheet in a cross-direction to create an array of data for each scan comprising:

an effective common data bus;

a plurality of publisher means connected to said data bus for sensing said variable parameters;

means for transmitting to one of a plurality of subscriber means from a selected publisher means only that portion of a data scan which has been changed from a prior scan; and

a plurality of subscriber means connected to said data bus for receiving changed data from a selected publisher means said subscriber means including controller and actuator means for responding to said changed data to control a selected said actuator means.

2. A system as in claim 1 including publisher and subscriber database means for linking said subscriber means to said selected publisher means for transfer of data.