Patent US3930167A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3930167A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
In-line production control of polymeric film
Assignee: University of Minnesota Twin Cities
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Filing: 1973-05-04
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Granted: 1975-12-30
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Expires: 1993-05-04
Abstract
Abstract A method of utilizing a laser beam by transmission thereof through plastic polymeric film as it is being produced, followed by comparison of the diffraction thereof with a predetermined quality control standard which, through computerization and optimization and through automatic sensing and signalling systems can detect any differences between the immediate readout and the control and translate the difference in terms of varying different phases of the production system so that one or more production variables will be varied so that the final end product will substantially correspond to the predetermined desired standard specification.
Inventors
- 👤 Chih C Hsiao
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:48
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G01N21/89; G01N21/8901; G01N21/892; G01N21/896
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of controlling the production of a light pervious product comprising moving the material from which said product is to be made along a pre-determined path of travel, treating said material with at least one variable means the variation of which changes the character of the final end product, transmitting a beam of light through the in-process material, causing diffraction of said light, recording the characteristics of the diffracted beams after passage through said material, comparing the recorded characteristics with the previously determined standard diffracted light characteristics of a control sample, and changing said variable means in reSponse to any differences in the character of the in-process diffracted beams and the control sample diffracted beams to cause the inprocess material to become more like said control sample.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of controlling the production of a light pervious product comprising moving the material from which said product is to be made along a pre-determined path of travel, treating said material with at least one variable means the variation of which changes the character of the final end product, transmitting a beam of light through the in-process material, causing diffraction of said light, recording the characteristics of the diffracted beams after passage through said material, comparing the recorded characteristics with the previously determined standard diffracted light characteristics of a control sample, and changing said variable means in reSponse to any differences in the character of the in-process diffracted beams and the control sample diffracted beams to cause the inprocess material to become more like said control sample.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said light pervious product is formed of polymeric material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said beam of light is a laser beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said light pervious product is formed of a polymeric material, and said beam of light is a laser beam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said variable means is a means for stretching said material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said variable means is a means for varying the temperature of the in-process material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said variable means is a means for varying the thickness of the in-process material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said variable means includes means for varying the thickness of the in-process material, and means for varying the temperature of the in-process material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the range of variation of said variable means is determined as a function of the diffraction characteristics, and the interrelationship of said variable means and said diffraction characteristics is optimized to provide the most efficient way of adjusting the production system to produce an end-product having the desired characteristics.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
97 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said product when produced has a predetermined molecular structure, and wherein said molecular structure is subject to variation during production, and wherein said variation in molecular structure can be changed during production by a change in said variable means, and wherein the predetermined molecular structure and the varied molecular structure provide different diffracted light characteristics, and wherein said control sample represents said predetermined molecular structure, and wherein said variable means is changed in response to a recorded difference between the diffracted light characteristics of the control sample and the in-process material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
155 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said light pervious product is formed of a polymeric material, and said beam of light is a laser beam, and wherein said variable means is a means for stretching said material, and wherein said variable means includes means for varying the thickness of the in-process material, and means for varying the temperature of the in-process material, and wherein said product when produced has a predetermined molecular structure, and wherein said molecular structure is subject to variation during production, and wherein said variation in molecular structure can be changed during production by a change in said variable means, and wherein the predetermined molecular structure and the varied molecular structure provide different diffracted light characteristics, and wherein said control sample represents said predetermined molecular structure, and wherein said variable means is changed in response to a recorded difference between the diffracted light characteristics of the control sample and the in-process material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 1 which includes transmitting said beam of light through the in-process material after treating said material with said variable means, changing said variable means in response to any of said differences in character prior to subsequent material being subjected to the transmission of said beam of light, and thereby causing subsequent in-process material to become more like said control sample before said subsequent material reaches said beam of light.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said production system includes means for establishing the thickness of said film, and wherein said control means is adapted to cause a change in said thickness control means to effect a change in the operation of said thickness control means to thereby vary the tHickness of said film in response to a difference in the diffracted light from the control standard.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said means for establishing the thickness of said film includes automatic control means, and wherein the change caused by said control means effects a change in the operation of said thickness control means on subsequent in-process film.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
247 words
A method of controlling the production of a light pervious product comprising: preparing a control sample of said product, said sample having predetermined desired qualities, said product being adapted to diffract light transmitted therethrough, transmitting a beam of light through said control sample and recording the characteristics of the diffracted light beams after they have been transmitted through said sample causing diffraction of said light to establish a control standard, providing a system for producing said product, which system includes moving the in-process product along a predetermined path of travel, said system also including at least one variable means, the variation of which changes the character of the final form of said product, providing a light source on one side of the said path of travel, providing recording means on the opposite side of said path of travel, said source of light and said recording means being so positioned that beams from said light source can pass through said in-process material and be diffracted in such a manner that the diffraction can be recorded by said recording means, passing said in-process product along said path of travel and passing light beams from said light source through said in-process product to said recording means, and providing control means interconnecting said recording means and said variable means and adapted to automatically react to any differences between the diffracted light of said standard and the in-process material recorded by said recording means, and cause a change in any such difference.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
247 words
A method of controlling the production of a light pervious product comprising: preparing a control sample of said product, said sample having predetermined desired qualities, said product being adapted to diffract light transmitted therethrough, transmitting a beam of light through said control sample and recording the characteristics of the diffracted light beams after they have been transmitted through said sample causing diffraction of said light to establish a control standard, providing a system for producing said product, which system includes moving the in-process product along a predetermined path of travel, said system also including at least one variable means, the variation of which changes the character of the final form of said product, providing a light source on one side of the said path of travel, providing recording means on the opposite side of said path of travel, said source of light and said recording means being so positioned that beams from said light source can pass through said in-process material and be diffracted in such a manner that the diffraction can be recorded by said recording means, passing said in-process product along said path of travel and passing light beams from said light source through said in-process product to said recording means, and providing control means interconnecting said recording means and said variable means and adapted to automatically react to any differences between the diffracted light of said standard and the in-process material recorded by said recording means, and cause a change in any such difference.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said light source is a laser.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said light source is a low energy laser.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 14, wherein said light source is a helium-neon laser.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said production system includes means for stretching said film, and wherein said control means, is adapted to cause a change in the operation of said stretching means in response to a difference in the diffracted light from the control standard.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said production system includes temperature control means, and wherein said control means is adapted to cause a change in said temperature control means to effect a change in the temperature of the production system in response to a difference in the diffracted light from the control standard.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
97 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said product when produced has a predetermined molecular structure, and wherein said molecular structure is subject to variation during production, and wherein said variation in molecular structure can be changed during production by a change in said variable means and wherein the predetermined molecular structure and the varied molecular structure provide different diffracted light characteristics, and wherein said control sample represents said predetermined molecular structure, and wherein said variable means is changed in response to a recorded difference between the diffracted light characteristics of the control sample and the in-process material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
259 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said light source is a laser, and wherein said production system includes means for stretching said film, and wherein said control means, is adapted to cause a change in the operation of said stretching means in response to a difference in the diffracted light from the control standard, and wherein said production system includes temperature control means, and wherein said control means is adapted to cause a change in said temperature control means to effect a change in the temperature of the production system in response to a difference in the diffracted light from the control standard, and wherein said production system includes means for establishing the thickness of said film, and wherein said control means is adapted to cause a change in said thickness control means to effect a change in the operation of said thickness control means to thereby vary the thickness of said film in response to a difference in the diffracted light from the control standard, and wherein said product when produced has a predetermined molecular structure, and wherein said molecular structure is subject to variation during production, and wherein said variation in molecular structure can be changed during production by a change in said variable means, and wherein the predetermined molecular structure and the varied molecular structure provide different diffracted light characteristics, and wherein said control sample represents said predetermined molecular structure, and wherein said variable means is changed in response to a recorded difference between the diffracted light characteristics of the control sample and the in-process material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said light beams are passed from said light source through said in-process product to said recording means after said product has been subjected to said variable means, and wherein said automatic reaction to differences between the diffracted light of said standard and the in-process material recorded by said recording means causes a change in said variable means to correct any such differences in subsequent in-process material.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
112 words
A system for making polymeric film which includes means for moving the in-process film along a predetermined path of travel, film stretching production means, temperature control production means, a source of laser light on one side of said path of travel, recording means on the opposite side of said path of travel and adapted to intercept and record the diffracted laser beams after passing through said film, and control means interconnecting said recording means and said stretching means and said temperature control means whereby said control means can selectively vary any of said production means in response to variation in the diffracted laser beam from a predetermined standard for said polymeric film
Claim 27
Independent Claim
112 words
A system for making polymeric film which includes means for moving the in-process film along a predetermined path of travel, film stretching production means, temperature control production means, a source of laser light on one side of said path of travel, recording means on the opposite side of said path of travel and adapted to intercept and record the diffracted laser beams after passing through said film, and control means interconnecting said recording means and said stretching means and said temperature control means whereby said control means can selectively vary any of said production means in response to variation in the diffracted laser beam from a predetermined standard for said polymeric film
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
97 words
The system of claim 24, wherein said product when produced has a predetermined molecular structure, and wherein said molecular structure is subject to variation during production, and wherein said variation in molecular structure can be changed during production by a change in said variable means, and wherein the predetermined molecular structure and the varied molecular structure provide different diffracted light characteristics, and wherein said control sample represents said predetermined molecular structure, and wherein said variable means is changed in response to a recorded difference between the diffracted light characteristics of the control sample and the in-process material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 24, wherein said control means can selectively vary any of said production means before subsequent in-process film reaches said source of light and recording means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 24, wherein said control means can selectively vary any of said production means on subsequent in-process film before it reaches said source of laser light.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-29 | 1979-06-30 | 1979-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-29 | 1983-06-30 | 1983-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-29 | 1987-06-30 | 1987-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |