US3560801A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for electrically controlling a characteristic of a manufacturing flow process
Assignee: RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co
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Filing: 1968-02-14
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Granted: 1971-02-02
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Expires: 1988-02-14
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for controlling a characteristic of a stream of moving material, specifically for controlling the density of a rod of cigarette stock, including means for measuring the characteristic at a predetermined point in the flow of the material, means for converting said measurement into an electrical input signal having an amplitude and a polarity respectively indicative of the magnitude and sense of deviation of the characteristic from a predetermined value, and means for controlling the characteristic located upstream from the deviation measuring means and controlled in response to the signal. Means is provided for producing an anticipation signal concurrently with the actuation of the deviation-correcting control means and for introducing the anticipation signal into the control means in opposition to the effect of the input signal, so as to compensate for the timelag between the instant when a correction is made by the control means and the instant when the corrected stream of moving material reaches the deviation-measuring means. The anticipation signal increases in amplitude as a function of time. It is effective to stop operation of the control means before the measured characteristic has returned to its preselected value, and hence to prevent establishment of an oscillating or hunting condition of the control means.
Inventors
- 👤 Colin S Mcarthur
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:12
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D11/00; G05D11/02; G05D11/13; G05D11/131; G05D11/133; G05D5/00; G05D5/02; G05D5/03; G05D11/135; G05D11/137; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S131/00; Y10S131/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
Apparatus for controlling a characteristic of a stream of flowing material, comprising: a. means responsive to said characteristic for producing an electrical input signal having an amplitude and a polarity respectively indicative of the magnitude and sense of deviation of said characteristic from a preselected value; b. control means responsive to said signal and located upstream of said signal-producing means, said control means being effective to produce a deviation-reducing change in said characteristic in response to a signal of an amplitude exceeding a preselected threshold value; and c. anticipation means operated concurrently with said control means and effective to produce an anticipation signal acting on said control means in opposition to said input signal and thereby effective to terminate operation of said control means before said input signal falls below said threshold value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
Apparatus for controlling a characteristic of a stream of flowing material, comprising: a. means responsive to said characteristic for producing an electrical input signal having an amplitude and a polarity respectively indicative of the magnitude and sense of deviation of said characteristic from a preselected value; b. control means responsive to said signal and located upstream of said signal-producing means, said control means being effective to produce a deviation-reducing change in said characteristic in response to a signal of an amplitude exceeding a preselected threshold value; and c. anticipation means operated concurrently with said control means and effective to produce an anticipation signal acting on said control means in opposition to said input signal and thereby effective to terminate operation of said control means before said input signal falls below said threshold value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said anticipation means produces an anticipation signal of amplitude increasing with time and having a polarity opposite to that of said input signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said anticipation means comprises: a. a capacitor having a charging circuit including a series-connected resistor and a discharge circuit including a shunt-connected resistor; and b. means operated concurrently with said control means for impressing across said charging circuit a potential of fixed amplitude and of polarity determined by the Sense of actuation of said control means, the potential across said capacitor acting as said anticipation signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said control means comprises: a. a pair of electrical relays; b. means for selectively energizing said relays to cause selective operation of the control means in one of two opposite senses; and c. said anticipation produces an anticipation signal of a polarity dependent on the particular relay energized.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, including: a. filter means for deriving from said input signal an alternating current signal of limited frequency bandwidth; b. means for squaring the instantaneous amplitude of said alternating current signal; c. means for integrating the squared signal; and d. means for indicating the integrated value of the translated signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
142 words
Apparatus for electrically controlling the density of a moving rod of cigarette stock, comprising: a. means responsive to the density of said rod at a fixed locality for producing an electrical input signal having an amplitude and polarity respectively indicative of the magnitude and sense of deviation of the density from a preselected value; b. control means responsive to said signal and located upstream of said signal-producing means, said control means being effective to produce a deviation-reducing change in said rod density in response to a signal of an amplitude exceeding a preselected threshold value; and c. anticipation means operated concurrently with said control means and effective to produce an anticipation signal acting on said control means in opposition to said input signal and thereby effective to terminate operation of said control means before said input signal falls below said threshold value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
142 words
Apparatus for electrically controlling the density of a moving rod of cigarette stock, comprising: a. means responsive to the density of said rod at a fixed locality for producing an electrical input signal having an amplitude and polarity respectively indicative of the magnitude and sense of deviation of the density from a preselected value; b. control means responsive to said signal and located upstream of said signal-producing means, said control means being effective to produce a deviation-reducing change in said rod density in response to a signal of an amplitude exceeding a preselected threshold value; and c. anticipation means operated concurrently with said control means and effective to produce an anticipation signal acting on said control means in opposition to said input signal and thereby effective to terminate operation of said control means before said input signal falls below said threshold value.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for controlling a characteristic of a stream of flowing material, which comprises: a. producing an electrical input signal having an amplitude and polarity respectively indicative of the magnitude and sense of deviation of said characteristic from a preselected value, as measured at a fixed locality along said stream; b. varying said characteristic at a second locality upstream from said fixed locality, whenever said signal amplitude exceeds a preselected threshold value, and in a sense determined by the polarity of the signal, so as to reduce the deviation causing said signal; c. producing an anticipation signal concurrently with the variation of said characteristic and having a polarity dependent upon the direction of said variation; and d. utilizing said anticipation signal to oppose the effect of said input signal.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for controlling a characteristic of a stream of flowing material, which comprises: a. producing an electrical input signal having an amplitude and polarity respectively indicative of the magnitude and sense of deviation of said characteristic from a preselected value, as measured at a fixed locality along said stream; b. varying said characteristic at a second locality upstream from said fixed locality, whenever said signal amplitude exceeds a preselected threshold value, and in a sense determined by the polarity of the signal, so as to reduce the deviation causing said signal; c. producing an anticipation signal concurrently with the variation of said characteristic and having a polarity dependent upon the direction of said variation; and d. utilizing said anticipation signal to oppose the effect of said input signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 7, including the further step of increasing the amplitude of said anticipation signal as a function of time.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for controlling the density of a moving rod of cigarette stock, which comprises: a. producing an electrical input signal having an amplitude and a polarity respectively indicative of the magnitude and sense of deviation of said density from a preselected value, as measured at a fixed locality along said rod; b. varying said characteristic at a second locality upstream from said fixed locality, whenever said signal amplitude exceeds a preselected threshold value, and in a sense determined by the polarity of the signal, so as to reduce the deviation causing said signal; c. producing an anticipation signal concurrently with the variation of said characteristic and having a polarity dependent upon the direction of said variation; and d. utilizing said anticipation signal to oppose the effect of said input signal.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for controlling the density of a moving rod of cigarette stock, which comprises: a. producing an electrical input signal having an amplitude and a polarity respectively indicative of the magnitude and sense of deviation of said density from a preselected value, as measured at a fixed locality along said rod; b. varying said characteristic at a second locality upstream from said fixed locality, whenever said signal amplitude exceeds a preselected threshold value, and in a sense determined by the polarity of the signal, so as to reduce the deviation causing said signal; c. producing an anticipation signal concurrently with the variation of said characteristic and having a polarity dependent upon the direction of said variation; and d. utilizing said anticipation signal to oppose the effect of said input signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2650332A
Cited
US3089497A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-01 | 1974-08-03 | 1975-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-01 | 1978-08-03 | 1979-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-01 | 1982-08-03 | 1983-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |