Modular sensing system for web-based applications

• US 9,540,770 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2014
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell Limited (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell Limited (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Andronic, Cristian
• Primary Examiner(s): HUG, JOHN ERIC
• Application Number:
  US14/497,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20160090691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 162/198, 162/263, 162/262, 162/252, 162/253, 162/259, 162/DIG.6, 162/DIG.10, 162/DIG.11, 731/59, 73/73, 250/339.1, 250/559.01, 250/339.02, 250/559.04, 250/559.06, 700127-129, 356429-431
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: D21F 7/00 Other details of machines for making continuous webs of paper
• CPC Class Codes: D21F 7/06 Indicating or regulating the thickness of the layer; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: D21G 9/00 Other accessories for paper-making machines
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/00 Component parts of measuring arrangements not specially adapted for a specific variable G01D13/00, G01D15/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/8909 Scan signal processing specially adapted for inspection of running sheets
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/89 in moving material, e.g. running paper or textiles G01N21/90, G01N21/91, G01N21/94 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/34 Paper
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/346 paper sheets

Abstract

A system includes at least one common support configured to span at least a width of a web of material in a manufacturing or processing system. The system also includes multiple sensor heads each configured to move independently along at least part of the at least one common support. The sensor heads can be configured to move simultaneously along the at least one common support, and at least one controller can be configured to control movement of the sensor heads so that the sensor heads do not contact one another. Each sensor head could include one or more sensors configured to measure one or more characteristics of the web. Different sensor heads could include different types of sensors. The sensor heads can be configured to move in non-overlapping patterns over or under the web. Different sensor heads can be configured to move at different speeds.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

at least one common support configured to span at least a width of a web of material in a manufacturing or processing system, wherein the at least one common support is stationary; and

multiple sensor heads each configured to move independently along at least part of the at least one common support;

wherein a first of the sensor heads is configured to move back and forth once along at least part of the at least one common support during a first time period and a second of the sensor heads is configured to move back and forth multiple times along at least part of the at least one common support during the first time period.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor heads are configured to move simultaneously along the at least one common support.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

at least one controller configured to control movement of the sensor heads so that the sensor heads do not contact one another.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each sensor head comprises one or more sensors configured to measure one or more characteristics of the web.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein different ones of the sensor heads comprise different types of sensors that are configured to measure different characteristics of the web.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensor heads is configured to move to an end of the at least one common support such that the at least one of the sensor heads is not positioned to measure a characteristic of the web.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor heads are configured to move in non-overlapping patterns over or under the web.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one common support comprises one or more rails.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein different ones of the sensor heads are configured to move at different speeds along the at least one common support.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein each sensor head comprises a wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit sensor measurements and head position information.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein ranges of motion of the sensor heads along the at least one common support are collinear.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a first sensor head configured to move along at least one common support spanning at least a width of a web of material in a manufacturing or processing system, wherein the at least one common support is stationary;

wherein the first sensor head comprises;

one or more sensors configured to measure one or more characteristics of the web; and

a controller configured to cause the first sensor head to move along at least part of the at least one common support independently of a second sensor head on the at least one common support;

wherein the first sensor head is configured to move back and forth once along at least part of the at least one common support during a first time period in which the second sensor head moves back and forth multiple times along at least part of the at least one common support.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to cause the first sensor head to move simultaneously with the second sensor head on the at least one common support.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to cause the first sensor head to move to an end of the at least one common support such that the first sensor head is not positioned to measure the one or more characteristics of the web.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first sensor head is configured to move along one or more rails forming the at least one common support.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first sensor head further comprises a wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit sensor measurements.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first sensor head further comprises:

a motor configured to move the first sensor head; and

a motor controller configured to control a speed and direction of the motor.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first sensor head further comprises a power converter/conditioner configured to receive operating power for the first sensor head from the at least one common support.

19. A method comprising:

independently moving first and second sensor heads back and forth along at least one common support, the at least one common support configured to span at least a width of a web of material in a manufacturing or processing system, wherein the first sensor head moves back and forth once along at least part of the at least one common support during a first time period and the second sensor head moves back and forth multiple times along at least part of the at least one common support during the first time period, wherein the at least one common support is stationary; and

measuring one or more characteristics of the web of material using the first and second sensor heads.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

independently moving the first and second sensor heads back and forth comprises simultaneously moving the first and second sensor heads back and forth along the at least one common support; and

the first and second sensor heads are controlled so that the sensor heads do not contact one another.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein independently moving the first and second sensor heads back and forth comprises moving the first and second sensor heads back and forth in non-overlapping patterns over or under the web.