Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of controlling a refiner which refines comminuted cellulosic fibrous material to produce mechanical pulp having latent properties, comprising the steps of: (a) fluidizing mechanical pulp having a consistency of about 8-25 percent shortly after discharge from the refiner so as to effect substantially complete removal of the latency thereof, by, and during, centrifugal pumping of the pulp while it has a consistency of about 8-25 percent in a generally non-return path; (b) continuously measuring freeness of a sample of the latency-removed pulp, and wherein the only portion of the pulp not passing in the non-return path is the sample, the sample being recirculated after freeness measurement; and (c) in response to the measurement obtained in step (b), automatically controlling refiner parameters to ensure the mechanical pulp produced has desired freeness properties.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of controlling a refiner which refines comminuted cellulosic fibrous material to produce mechanical pulp having latent properties, comprising the steps of: (a) fluidizing mechanical pulp having a consistency of about 8-25 percent shortly after discharge from the refiner so as to effect substantially complete removal of the latency thereof, by, and during, centrifugal pumping of the pulp while it has a consistency of about 8-25 percent in a generally non-return path; (b) continuously measuring freeness of a sample of the latency-removed pulp, and wherein the only portion of the pulp not passing in the non-return path is the sample, the sample being recirculated after freeness measurement; and (c) in response to the measurement obtained in step (b), automatically controlling refiner parameters to ensure the mechanical pulp produced has desired freeness properties.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein step (c) is practiced by controlling the specific loading of the refiner.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the specific loading controlling is provided by controlling the tonnage of cellulosic material supplied to the refiner, and/or by controlling the refining pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as recited in claim 3 wherein step (c) is further practiced by measuring the consistency and the flow of the latency-removed mechanical pulp, and feeding the consistency and flow measurements, as well as the freeness measurement from step (b), to a computer which operatively controls the refiner parameters.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as recited in claim 4 comprising the further step of diluting the mechanical pulp prior to practice of step (a) so that it has a consistency of between about 8-25% when it is fluidized.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as recited in claim 5 comprising the further step of diluting the mechanical pulp sample utilized in the practice of step (b) so that it has a lower consistency than the pulp during fluidization thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein step (c) is further practiced by measuring the consistency and the flow of the latency-removed mechanical pulp, and feeding the consistency and flow measurements, as well as the freeness measurement from step (b), to a computer which operatively controls the refiner parameters.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as recited in claim 1 comprising the further step of diluting the mechanical pulp prior to practice of step (a) so that it has a consistency of between about 8-25% when it is fluidized.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as recited in claim 8 comprising the further step of diluting the mechanical pulp sample utilized in the practice of step (b) so that it has a lower consistency than the pulp during fluidization thereof.