US3648035A — System and method for optimizing processor or equ…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 231 words

A system for controlling the average value of a processor or equipment output to achieve maximum economic profit, said output having a variable spread of values, comprising gauge means for deriving a response indicative of the value of a property of the processor or equipment output, means responsive to the gauge means response for deriving a first signal indicative of the spread of values of the property, means responsive to the first signal for deriving a second signal indicative of the average value of the property which maximizes profit of the processor or equipment for the particular spread of values determined by said first signal deriving means, said second signal deriving means selecting said average value represented by said second signal in accordance with said spread so that a significant percentage of the processor or equipment output will have a value which renders said percentage undesirable for its intended use, said percentage increasing for larger spreads, said second signal deriving means continuing to increase said percentage so long as the economic profit is thereby increased, and decreasing said percentage when the economic profit decreases due to the increasing counteracting economic loss caused by the increase in said undesirable percentage, and means responsive to the second signal for activating the processor or equipment so that the average value of the property approaches the average value determined by said second signal deriving means.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 231 words

A system for controlling the average value of a processor or equipment output to achieve maximum economic profit, said output having a variable spread of values, comprising gauge means for deriving a response indicative of the value of a property of the processor or equipment output, means responsive to the gauge means response for deriving a first signal indicative of the spread of values of the property, means responsive to the first signal for deriving a second signal indicative of the average value of the property which maximizes profit of the processor or equipment for the particular spread of values determined by said first signal deriving means, said second signal deriving means selecting said average value represented by said second signal in accordance with said spread so that a significant percentage of the processor or equipment output will have a value which renders said percentage undesirable for its intended use, said percentage increasing for larger spreads, said second signal deriving means continuing to increase said percentage so long as the economic profit is thereby increased, and decreasing said percentage when the economic profit decreases due to the increasing counteracting economic loss caused by the increase in said undesirable percentage, and means responsive to the second signal for activating the processor or equipment so that the average value of the property approaches the average value determined by said second signal deriving means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 25 words

The system of claim 1 wherein the first signal deriving means includes means for Computing standard deviation as a measure of the spread of values.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 39 words

The system of claim 1 wherein the first signal deriving means includes means for computing the spread of values as a ratio of the property values outside a limit value to the total property values for a fixed interval.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 45 words

The system of claim 1 wherein the first signal deriving means includes means for computing the spread of values as a ratio of the property values outside a limit value to the total property values for a fixed interval which is a function of time.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 46 words

The system of claim 1 wherein the first signal deriving means includes means for computing the spread of values as a ratio of the property values outside a limit value to the total property values for a fixed interval which is a function of output quantity.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 30 words

The system of claim 3 wherein said computing means includes means for deriving a binary signal in response to the gauge means response having a value outside the limit value.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 31 words

The system of claim 6 wherein said binary signal deriving means includes an integrator responsive to a constant voltage indicative of the limit value linearly combined with the gauge means response.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 83 words

The system of claim 1 wherein the first signal deriving means includes means for computing the spread of values as a ratio of the property values outside a limit value to the total property values for a fixed interval which is a function of time, and wherein said computing means includes means responsive to the number of binary signals derived in a fixed time interval, said binary signals derived in response to the gauge means response having a value outside the limit value.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 38 words

The system of claim 6 wherein the fixed interval is a function of the output quantity, and said means for deriving the second signal is responsive to the number of binary signals derived for a fixed output quantity.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 36 words

The system of claim 1 wherein the second signal deriving means includes means for deriving said second signal as an output indicative of the deviation of said average value from a reference value for the property.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 84 words

The system of claim 10 wherein the second signal deriving means further includes means for combining the first signal with a constant amplitude signal in accordance with: K1 X S+K2 where: K1 is constant proportionality factor determined by economic properties of the processor or equipment, S is the amplitude of the first signal, and K2 is the amplitude of the constant amplitude signal, determined by economic properties of the processor or equipment, to derive an indication of average value deviation from the limit value.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 37 words

The system of claim 10 further including means responsive to the first signal and the output of the second signal deriving means for deriving another average value signal in response to a previously derived average value signal.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 46 words

The system of claim 12 further including means responsive to the second signal for deriving another signal indicative of a previously derived spread indicating signal, and means for determining the deviation between the previously derived spread indicating signal and the spread indicated by the first signal.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 37 words

The system of claim 1 wherein said activating means comprises means for activating said processor or equipment so that the average value of the property substantially equals the average value determined by said second signal deriving means.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 218 words

A system for controlling the average weight of cigarettes during manufacture by a cigarette making equipment comprising gauge means for deriving a response indicative of the weight of a predetermined length of cigarette rod, means responsive to said gauge means for deriving a first signal indicative of the spread of weights in said lengths, means responsive to the first signal for deriving a second signal indicative of the average weight for said predetermined lengths which maxiMizes profit of the equipment for the particular spread of weights determined by said first signal deriving means, said second signal deriving means selecting said average weight represented by said second signal in accordance with said spread so that a significant percentage of the cigarette rod predetermined lengths has a weight less than a limit weight, said percentage increasing for larger spreads, said second signal deriving means continuing to increase said percentage so long as the economic profit is thereby increased, and decreasing said percentage when the economic profit decreases due to the increasing counteracting economic loss caused by the increase in said percentage having a weight less than said limit weight, and means responsive to the second signal for activating the equipment so that the average weight for the predetermined lengths approaches the average weight determined by said second signal deriving means.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 218 words

A system for controlling the average weight of cigarettes during manufacture by a cigarette making equipment comprising gauge means for deriving a response indicative of the weight of a predetermined length of cigarette rod, means responsive to said gauge means for deriving a first signal indicative of the spread of weights in said lengths, means responsive to the first signal for deriving a second signal indicative of the average weight for said predetermined lengths which maxiMizes profit of the equipment for the particular spread of weights determined by said first signal deriving means, said second signal deriving means selecting said average weight represented by said second signal in accordance with said spread so that a significant percentage of the cigarette rod predetermined lengths has a weight less than a limit weight, said percentage increasing for larger spreads, said second signal deriving means continuing to increase said percentage so long as the economic profit is thereby increased, and decreasing said percentage when the economic profit decreases due to the increasing counteracting economic loss caused by the increase in said percentage having a weight less than said limit weight, and means responsive to the second signal for activating the equipment so that the average weight for the predetermined lengths approaches the average weight determined by said second signal deriving means.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 87 words

The system of claim 15 including means for combining the spread indicating signal with a constant signal to derive a third signal indicative of deviation of said average weight from the lower limit, memory means responsive to said third signal, means responsive to said memory means for deriving a feedback signal indicative of a previously determined value of said third signal, and means for comparing the third signal derived by said combining means with the previously determined value of said third signal to modify the average value.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 53 words

The system of claim 15 including memory means for deriving a third signal indicative of a previous value of the second signal, means responsive to said third signal for comparing the previous value of the second signal with the second signal derived by said second signal deriving means to modify the average value.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 53 words

The system of claim 15 including memory means for deriving a third signal indicative of a previous value of the second signal, means responsive to said third signal for comparing the previous value of the second signal with the second signal derived by said second signal deriving means to modify the average value.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 17 words

The system of claim 18 wherein the memory means derives the second signal that indicates average weight.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 196 words

A system for controlling the average value of a property of discrete articles produced by a processor or equipment to achieve maximum profit, said property having an established limit value and an initial average value, comprising means responsive to said property of the articles for deriving a first signal indicative of the fraction thereof that is defective, means responsive to the first signal for deriving a second signal indicative of a new average value of the property which maximizes profit of the processor or equipment, said new average value being selected by said second signal deriving means so that a significant percentage of the processor or equipment output is defective, said percentage increasing for larger indications of fraction defective, said second signal deriving means continuing to increase said percentage so long as the economic profit is thereby increased, and decreasing said percentage when the economic profit decreases due to the increasing counteracting economic loss caused by the increase in said fraction defective, and means responsive to the second signal for activating the processor or equipment so that the average value of the property substantially equals the new average value determined by said second signal deriving means.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 196 words

A system for controlling the average value of a property of discrete articles produced by a processor or equipment to achieve maximum profit, said property having an established limit value and an initial average value, comprising means responsive to said property of the articles for deriving a first signal indicative of the fraction thereof that is defective, means responsive to the first signal for deriving a second signal indicative of a new average value of the property which maximizes profit of the processor or equipment, said new average value being selected by said second signal deriving means so that a significant percentage of the processor or equipment output is defective, said percentage increasing for larger indications of fraction defective, said second signal deriving means continuing to increase said percentage so long as the economic profit is thereby increased, and decreasing said percentage when the economic profit decreases due to the increasing counteracting economic loss caused by the increase in said fraction defective, and means responsive to the second signal for activating the processor or equipment so that the average value of the property substantially equals the new average value determined by said second signal deriving means.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 180 words

A system for controlling the average weight of cigarettes during manufacture by cigarette-making equipment, said weight having a predetermined limit value and an initial average value, comprising means responsive to the cigarettes for deriving a first signal indicative of the percentage thereof that is defective, means responsive to the first signal for deriving a second signal indicate of a new average weight for the cigarettes which maximizes profit of the equipment, said new average weight Being selected by said second signal deriving means so that a significant percentage of the cigarettes has a weight less than said limit value, said significant percentage increasing for larger defective percentages, said second signal deriving means continuing to increase said percentage so long as the economic profit is thereby increased, and decreasing said percentage when the economic profit decreases due to the increasing counteracting economic loss caused by the increase in said defective percentage, and means responsive to the second signal for activating the equipment so that the average weight of the cigarettes approaches the average weight determined by said second signal deriving means.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 180 words

A system for controlling the average weight of cigarettes during manufacture by cigarette-making equipment, said weight having a predetermined limit value and an initial average value, comprising means responsive to the cigarettes for deriving a first signal indicative of the percentage thereof that is defective, means responsive to the first signal for deriving a second signal indicate of a new average weight for the cigarettes which maximizes profit of the equipment, said new average weight Being selected by said second signal deriving means so that a significant percentage of the cigarettes has a weight less than said limit value, said significant percentage increasing for larger defective percentages, said second signal deriving means continuing to increase said percentage so long as the economic profit is thereby increased, and decreasing said percentage when the economic profit decreases due to the increasing counteracting economic loss caused by the increase in said defective percentage, and means responsive to the second signal for activating the equipment so that the average weight of the cigarettes approaches the average weight determined by said second signal deriving means.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of claim 21 wherein said second signal deriving means includes means for adding a constant amplitude signal to another signal directly proportional to said first signal.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 251 words

A system for controlling the average weight of cigarettes during manufacture by cigarette-making equipment, said weight having a predetermined limit value and an initial average value, said equipment including means for separating defective cigarettes from acceptable cigarettes, means for reclaiming the defective cigarettes and means for feeding the reclaimed cigarettes back to an input of the equipment, said system comprising means for detecting defective cigarettes being produced by said equipment, means responsive to said detecting means for activating said separating means in synchronism with the passage of defective cigarettes into a zone defining said separating means, means responsive to said detecting means for deriving a first signal indicative of the percentage of cigarettes that is defective, means responsive to the first signal for deriving a second signal indicative of a new average weight for the cigarettes which maximizes profit of the equipment, said new average weight being selected by said second signal deriving means so that a significant percentage of the cigarettes has a weight less than said limit value, said percentage increasing for larger defective percentages, said second signal deriving means continuing to increase said percentage so long as the economic profit is thereby increased, and decreasing said percentage when the economic profit decreases due to the increasing counteracting economic loss caused by the increase in said defective percentage, and means responsive to the second signal for activating the equipment so that the average weight of the cigarettes substantially equals the average weight determined by said second signal deriving means.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 234 words

A system for controlling the average value of a processor output to achieve maximum economic profit, said output having a variable spread of values, said processor including means for separating defective output from an acceptable output and means for reclaiming the defective output for reuse comprising gauge means for deriving a response indicative of the value of a property of the processor or equipment, means responsive to the gauge means response for deriving a first signal indicative of the spread of the values of the property, means responsive to the first signal for deriving a second signal indicative of the average value of the property which maximizes profit of the processor or equipment for the particular spread of values determined by said first signal deriving means, said average value and spread being such that a significant percentage of the processor or equipment output has a value outside of a limit value, said percentage increasing for larger spreads, means responsive to the second signal for activating the processor or equipment so that the average value of the property substantially equals the average value determined by said second signal deriving means, means responsive to said gauge means for deriving an indication of which portion of the output is defective, and means responsive to said defective indication means for activating said separating means in synchronism with defective outPut being in a zone defined by said separating means.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 210 words

A system for determining the amount by which a target value should be displaced from a reference target to achieve maximum profit for a processor deriving an output having a spread of values about an average value, said processor output being measured by gauge means deriving a response having a predetermined value in response to the output having a value equal to the reference target and deviating from the predetermined value as the output value deviates from the reference target, comprising means responsive to the gauge response for deriving a signal indicative of the spread of values, and means responsive to said signal for deriving an indication of the target deviation from the reference target that maximizes the economic profit of the processor, said target deviation being displaced by larger amounts from the reference target for small spreads relative to large spreads, said target deviation being less than a deviation between the reference target and a limit value beyond which the output is considered defective, the target deviation and spread of values being related such that for increasing spreads a greater percentage of the output has a value beyond the limit value, said indication deriving means including means for deriving said target indication as a percentage of said reference target.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 210 words

A system for determining the amount by which a target value should be displaced from a reference target to achieve maximum profit for a processor deriving an output having a spread of values about an average value, said processor output being measured by gauge means deriving a response having a predetermined value in response to the output having a value equal to the reference target and deviating from the predetermined value as the output value deviates from the reference target, comprising means responsive to the gauge response for deriving a signal indicative of the spread of values, and means responsive to said signal for deriving an indication of the target deviation from the reference target that maximizes the economic profit of the processor, said target deviation being displaced by larger amounts from the reference target for small spreads relative to large spreads, said target deviation being less than a deviation between the reference target and a limit value beyond which the output is considered defective, the target deviation and spread of values being related such that for increasing spreads a greater percentage of the output has a value beyond the limit value, said indication deriving means including means for deriving said target indication as a percentage of said reference target.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 39 words

The system of claim 25, wherein said indication deriving means includes means for deriving another signal indicative of the displacement between the lower limit and the target deviation from the reference target as a percentage of the reference target.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system of claim 26 wherein said another deriving means includes means for combining the spread indicating signal with a second signal.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 390 words

A control system for a processing apparatus using a costly input quantity for forming a product with a variable property dependent on said input quantity, said apparatus including means for adjusting the value of said variable property and producing concomitant changes in the amount of said input quantity used in forming said product, said control system comprising gauging means for producing a succession of signals indicative of measured values of said property in successive portions of said product, means for producing a signal indicative of a limiting value for said measured values, said limiting value being so selected that portions of said product having measured property values outside of the limiting value are deemed undesirable for their intended use, other portions of said product being deemed desirable for said use, means providing a signal indicative of a temporary target value for said measured values, means responsive to said measured value and said target value signals for controlling said adjusting means for said processing apparatus to regulate the average value of said measured values, said average value determining the cost of forming the product including both the desirable and undesirable portions thereof, means responsive to said measured value signals for deriving a statistical quantity signal indicative of the spread of said measured values of said property, means responsive to one of said target and statistical quantity signals for deriving a signal functionally related to an optimum value for the other of said target and statistical quantity signals in accordance with a statistically derived function dependent on said limiting value and relating the cost of using said input quantity as represented by said target value to the cost of producing an amount of undesirable material which is functionally related to said statistical quantity signal so as to minimize the cost of producing the desirable portion of said product, and means responsive to said optimum value related signal and the existing value of said other of said target and statistical quantity signals for producing a change in said temporary target value signal whereby said controlling meAns regulates said processing means to produce said product with a changed average value for said measured values, said change causing said other of said target and statistical quantity values to approach said optimum value whereby the cost of producing said acceptable portion of said product is minimized.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 390 words

A control system for a processing apparatus using a costly input quantity for forming a product with a variable property dependent on said input quantity, said apparatus including means for adjusting the value of said variable property and producing concomitant changes in the amount of said input quantity used in forming said product, said control system comprising gauging means for producing a succession of signals indicative of measured values of said property in successive portions of said product, means for producing a signal indicative of a limiting value for said measured values, said limiting value being so selected that portions of said product having measured property values outside of the limiting value are deemed undesirable for their intended use, other portions of said product being deemed desirable for said use, means providing a signal indicative of a temporary target value for said measured values, means responsive to said measured value and said target value signals for controlling said adjusting means for said processing apparatus to regulate the average value of said measured values, said average value determining the cost of forming the product including both the desirable and undesirable portions thereof, means responsive to said measured value signals for deriving a statistical quantity signal indicative of the spread of said measured values of said property, means responsive to one of said target and statistical quantity signals for deriving a signal functionally related to an optimum value for the other of said target and statistical quantity signals in accordance with a statistically derived function dependent on said limiting value and relating the cost of using said input quantity as represented by said target value to the cost of producing an amount of undesirable material which is functionally related to said statistical quantity signal so as to minimize the cost of producing the desirable portion of said product, and means responsive to said optimum value related signal and the existing value of said other of said target and statistical quantity signals for producing a change in said temporary target value signal whereby said controlling meAns regulates said processing means to produce said product with a changed average value for said measured values, said change causing said other of said target and statistical quantity values to approach said optimum value whereby the cost of producing said acceptable portion of said product is minimized.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 56 words

A control system as in claim 28 wherein said statistical quantity signal deriving means comprises means responsive to said measured value signals and said limiting value signal for deriving a reject portion signal, said reject portion signal being indicative of the spread of said measured values as a function of said limiting value and said target.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 47 words

A control system as in claim 28 wherein said statistical quantity signal deriving means comprises means for computing the variance of said measured values, and wherein said optimum value signal deriving means comprises means responsive to said variance for deriving an optimum value for said target value.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 414 words

A control system for a processing apparatus using a costly input quantity for forming a product with a variable property dependent on said input quantity, said apparatus including means for adjusting the value of said variable property and producing concomitant changes in the amount of said input quantity used in forming said product, said control system comprising gauging means for producing a succession of signals indicative of measured values of said property in successive portions of said product, means for producing a signal indicative of a limiting value for said measured values, said limiting value being so selected that portions of said product having measured property values outside of the limiting value are deemed undesirable for their intended use, other portions of said product being deemed desirable for said use, means responsive to said measured value signals and said limiting value signal for deriving a reject portion signal indicative of the portion of said product which is undesirable, said reject portion signal being further indicative of the cost of producing the undesirable portion of the product, means providing a signal indicative of a temporary target value for said measured values, means responsive to said measured value signals and said target value signal for controlling said adjusting means for said processing apparatus to regulate the average value of said measured values, said average value determining the cost of forming the product including both the desirable and undesirable portions thereof, means responsive to one of said target value and reject portion signals for deriving a signal functionally related to an optimum value for the other of said target and reject portion values in accordance with a statistically function dependent on said limiting value and relating the cost of using said amount of said input quantity as represented by said target value to the cost of producing said undesirable portion of the product as represented by said reject portion signal so as to minimize the cost of producing the desirable portion of the product, and means responsive to said optimum value related signal and the existing value of said other of said target and reject portion signals for producing a change in said temporary target value whereby said controlling means regulates said processing means to produce said product with a changed average value for said measured values, said change causing said other of said target and reject portion values to approach said optimum value whereby the cost of producing said desirable portion of said product is minimized.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 414 words

A control system for a processing apparatus using a costly input quantity for forming a product with a variable property dependent on said input quantity, said apparatus including means for adjusting the value of said variable property and producing concomitant changes in the amount of said input quantity used in forming said product, said control system comprising gauging means for producing a succession of signals indicative of measured values of said property in successive portions of said product, means for producing a signal indicative of a limiting value for said measured values, said limiting value being so selected that portions of said product having measured property values outside of the limiting value are deemed undesirable for their intended use, other portions of said product being deemed desirable for said use, means responsive to said measured value signals and said limiting value signal for deriving a reject portion signal indicative of the portion of said product which is undesirable, said reject portion signal being further indicative of the cost of producing the undesirable portion of the product, means providing a signal indicative of a temporary target value for said measured values, means responsive to said measured value signals and said target value signal for controlling said adjusting means for said processing apparatus to regulate the average value of said measured values, said average value determining the cost of forming the product including both the desirable and undesirable portions thereof, means responsive to one of said target value and reject portion signals for deriving a signal functionally related to an optimum value for the other of said target and reject portion values in accordance with a statistically function dependent on said limiting value and relating the cost of using said amount of said input quantity as represented by said target value to the cost of producing said undesirable portion of the product as represented by said reject portion signal so as to minimize the cost of producing the desirable portion of the product, and means responsive to said optimum value related signal and the existing value of said other of said target and reject portion signals for producing a change in said temporary target value whereby said controlling means regulates said processing means to produce said product with a changed average value for said measured values, said change causing said other of said target and reject portion values to approach said optimum value whereby the cost of producing said desirable portion of said product is minimized.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 351 words

A control system for a processing apparatus using a costly input quantity for forming a product with a variable property dependent on said input quantity, said apparatus including means for adjusting the value of said variable property and producing concomitant changes in the amount of said input quantity used in forming said product, said control system being adapted to regulate said prOcessing apparatus so as to produce a major portion of said product deemed desirable for its intended use and a minor portion deemed undesirable for said use, said control system comprising gauging means for producing a signal indicative of the measured value of said property, means providing a signal indicative of a temporary target value for said measured value, means responsive to said measured value and said target value signals for controlling said adjusting means for said processing apparatus to regulate the average value of said measured values, said average value determining the cost of forming the product including both the desirable and undesirable portions thereof, means responsive to said measured value signal for deriving a statistical quantity signal indicative of the spread of said measured values of said property, means responsive to one of said target and statistical quantity signals for deriving a signal functionally related to an optimum value for the other of said target and statistical quantity signals in accordance with a statistically derived function relating the cost of using said input quantity as represented by said target value to the cost of producing an amount of undesirable material which is functionally related to said statistical quantity signal so as to minimize the cost of producing said product, means responsive to said optimum value related signal and the existing value of said other of said target and statistical quantity signals for producing a change in said temporary target value signal whereby said controlling means regulates said processing means to produce said product with a changed average value for said measured values, said change causing said other of said target and statistical quantity values to approach said optimum value whereby the cost of producing said product is minimized.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 351 words

A control system for a processing apparatus using a costly input quantity for forming a product with a variable property dependent on said input quantity, said apparatus including means for adjusting the value of said variable property and producing concomitant changes in the amount of said input quantity used in forming said product, said control system being adapted to regulate said prOcessing apparatus so as to produce a major portion of said product deemed desirable for its intended use and a minor portion deemed undesirable for said use, said control system comprising gauging means for producing a signal indicative of the measured value of said property, means providing a signal indicative of a temporary target value for said measured value, means responsive to said measured value and said target value signals for controlling said adjusting means for said processing apparatus to regulate the average value of said measured values, said average value determining the cost of forming the product including both the desirable and undesirable portions thereof, means responsive to said measured value signal for deriving a statistical quantity signal indicative of the spread of said measured values of said property, means responsive to one of said target and statistical quantity signals for deriving a signal functionally related to an optimum value for the other of said target and statistical quantity signals in accordance with a statistically derived function relating the cost of using said input quantity as represented by said target value to the cost of producing an amount of undesirable material which is functionally related to said statistical quantity signal so as to minimize the cost of producing said product, means responsive to said optimum value related signal and the existing value of said other of said target and statistical quantity signals for producing a change in said temporary target value signal whereby said controlling means regulates said processing means to produce said product with a changed average value for said measured values, said change causing said other of said target and statistical quantity values to approach said optimum value whereby the cost of producing said product is minimized.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 48 words

A control system as in claim 32 wherein said statistical quantity signal deriving means comprises means for computing the variance of said measured value signal, and wherein said optimum value signal deriving means comprises means responsive to said variance for deriving an optimum value for said target value.

Claim 42

Independent Claim 172 words

A system for controlling the average weight of cigarettes during manufacture by a cigarette making equipment comprising gauge means for deriving a response indicative of the weight of a predetermined length of cigarette rod, means responsive to said gauge means for deriving a first signal indicative of the spread of weights of said lengths, means responsive to the first signal for deriving a second signal indicative of the average weight for said predetermined lengths which maximizes profit of the equipment for the particular spread of weights determined by said first signal deriving means, said second signal deriving means selecting said average weight represented by said second signal in accordance with said spread so that some of the cigarette rod predetermined lengths have a weight to cause customer dissatisfaction, the amount of rod predetermined lengths causing dissatisfaction increasing for larger spreads, and means responsive to the second signal for activating the equipment so that the average weight of the predetermined lengths substantially equals the average weight determined by said second signal deriving means.

Claim 43

Independent Claim 172 words

A system for controlling the average weight of cigarettes during manufacture by a cigarette making equipment comprising gauge means for deriving a response indicative of the weight of a predetermined length of cigarette rod, means responsive to said gauge means for deriving a first signal indicative of the spread of weights of said lengths, means responsive to the first signal for deriving a second signal indicative of the average weight for said predetermined lengths which maximizes profit of the equipment for the particular spread of weights determined by said first signal deriving means, said second signal deriving means selecting said average weight represented by said second signal in accordance with said spread so that some of the cigarette rod predetermined lengths have a weight to cause customer dissatisfaction, the amount of rod predetermined lengths causing dissatisfaction increasing for larger spreads, and means responsive to the second signal for activating the equipment so that the average weight of the predetermined lengths substantially equals the average weight determined by said second signal deriving means.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 27 words

The system of claim 34 further including means responsive to said gauge means for rejecting those portions of the rod lengths having weights to cause customer dissatisfaction.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 40 words

The system of claim 34 wherein the second signal deriving means includes a function generator for determining the effect on profit of the rod lengths causing customer dissatisfaction reaching the customer as a function of the spread of cigarette weight.

Claim 46

Independent Claim 132 words

A method of controlling the average value of a processor or equipment output parameter to achieve maximum economic profit comprising producing a signal indicative of the spread values of the output parameter, anD controlling the average value of the parameter in response to said signal so that for large spreads the percentage of output parameter having a value outside a limit for desirable values is greater than for small spreads, said controlling operation including adjusting the average value toward said limit to produce a larger percentage of output parameter having a value outside said limit so long as the economic profit is thereby increased, but adjusting the average value away from the limit when the economic profit decreases due to the increasing counteracting economic loss caused by the magnitude of said percentage.

Claim 47

Independent Claim 132 words

A method of controlling the average value of a processor or equipment output parameter to achieve maximum economic profit comprising producing a signal indicative of the spread values of the output parameter, anD controlling the average value of the parameter in response to said signal so that for large spreads the percentage of output parameter having a value outside a limit for desirable values is greater than for small spreads, said controlling operation including adjusting the average value toward said limit to produce a larger percentage of output parameter having a value outside said limit so long as the economic profit is thereby increased, but adjusting the average value away from the limit when the economic profit decreases due to the increasing counteracting economic loss caused by the magnitude of said percentage.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 37 further including the step of reclaiming that portion of the output having a value outside of the limit for desired values.

Claim 49

Independent Claim 162 words

A method for controlling the average value of a processor or equipment output parameter having a predetermined limit for desirable values and an initial average value to achieve maximum economic profit comprising producing signals indicative of said limit value, said initial average value and the defective percentage of the output which is outside said desirable limit value, and controlling the average value of the parameter in response to said signals so that for large defective percentages the percentage of output parameter having a value outside a limit for desirable values is greater than for small defective percentages, said controlling operation including adjusting the average value toward said limit to produce a larger percentage of output parameter having a value outside said limit so long as the economic profit is thereby increased, but adjusting the average value away from the limit when the economic profit decreases due to the increasing counteracting economic loss caused by the magnitude of said percentage outside said limit.

Claim 50

Independent Claim 162 words

A method for controlling the average value of a processor or equipment output parameter having a predetermined limit for desirable values and an initial average value to achieve maximum economic profit comprising producing signals indicative of said limit value, said initial average value and the defective percentage of the output which is outside said desirable limit value, and controlling the average value of the parameter in response to said signals so that for large defective percentages the percentage of output parameter having a value outside a limit for desirable values is greater than for small defective percentages, said controlling operation including adjusting the average value toward said limit to produce a larger percentage of output parameter having a value outside said limit so long as the economic profit is thereby increased, but adjusting the average value away from the limit when the economic profit decreases due to the increasing counteracting economic loss caused by the magnitude of said percentage outside said limit.

Claim 51

Independent Claim 193 words

A method of controlling the average value of a property of a processor or equipment output to achieve maximum economic profit, said output property having a variable spread of values, comprising the steps of producing a first signal indicative of the spread of values of said property, in response to said signal producing another signal indicative of the average value of the output property which maximizes profit of the processor or equipment for the particular spread of values indicated by said first signal, said average value being determined in accordance with said first signal so that a significant percentage of the processor or equipment output has a value outside of a limit value, said percentage increasing for larger spreads so long as the economic profit is thereby increased but so that said percentage is decreased when the economic profit decreases due to the economic loss due to the increasing percentage of the output having a property value outside the limit value, and activating the processor or equipment in response to said another signal so that the average value of the output approaches the average value indicated by said another signal for maximizing profit.

Claim 52

Independent Claim 193 words

A method of controlling the average value of a property of a processor or equipment output to achieve maximum economic profit, said output property having a variable spread of values, comprising the steps of producing a first signal indicative of the spread of values of said property, in response to said signal producing another signal indicative of the average value of the output property which maximizes profit of the processor or equipment for the particular spread of values indicated by said first signal, said average value being determined in accordance with said first signal so that a significant percentage of the processor or equipment output has a value outside of a limit value, said percentage increasing for larger spreads so long as the economic profit is thereby increased but so that said percentage is decreased when the economic profit decreases due to the economic loss due to the increasing percentage of the output having a property value outside the limit value, and activating the processor or equipment in response to said another signal so that the average value of the output approaches the average value indicated by said another signal for maximizing profit.

Claim 53

Independent Claim 167 words

A method of controlling the average value of a property of articles produced by a processor or equipment to achieve maximum profit comprising the steps of deriving a signal indicative of the spread of values of the property of the articles produced, from said spread indicative signal producing a computed signal indicative of an optimum average value for the property based on the cost of materials utilized in the article manufactured and affecting said property as well as on the adverse effects of customer dissatisfaction due to some of the articles having property values less than a desirable value, said optimum average indicated by said computed signal minimizing the amount of material utilized to maximize profit taking into account the increasing cost of customer dissatisfaction as the number of articles having property values less than said desirable value is increased, and controlling the processor or equipment in response to said computed signal so that the averAge value of the articles is substantially the optimum average indicated thereby.

Claim 54

Independent Claim 167 words

A method of controlling the average value of a property of articles produced by a processor or equipment to achieve maximum profit comprising the steps of deriving a signal indicative of the spread of values of the property of the articles produced, from said spread indicative signal producing a computed signal indicative of an optimum average value for the property based on the cost of materials utilized in the article manufactured and affecting said property as well as on the adverse effects of customer dissatisfaction due to some of the articles having property values less than a desirable value, said optimum average indicated by said computed signal minimizing the amount of material utilized to maximize profit taking into account the increasing cost of customer dissatisfaction as the number of articles having property values less than said desirable value is increased, and controlling the processor or equipment in response to said computed signal so that the averAge value of the articles is substantially the optimum average indicated thereby.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1975-03-07	1975-09-06	1976-03-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1979-03-07	1979-09-06	1980-03-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1983-03-07	1983-09-06	1984-03-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

System and method for optimizing processor or equipment profit

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