US6157916A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus to control the operating speed of a papermaking facility
Assignee: MEDICI INDUSTRIAL LICENSING Co LLC
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Filing: 1998-06-17
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Granted: 2000-12-05
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Expires: 2018-06-17
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for controlling the operating speed of a papermaking facility is disclosed. It includes determining a desired operating speed that is dependent on at least one economic variable. The variables vary with the operating speed. Also, the operating speed is adjusted (if necessary) in response to the determination. Preferably the control is closed loop and includes determining a current operating speed and comparing the current operating speed to the desired operating speed. The operating speed is controlled in response to the comparison. The economic variable is preferably a cost of manufacturing, and/or manufacturing inflows, and/or manufacturing outflows. Also, a method and apparatus that determines the effect of one or more business transactions on the economic efficiency of the production of products in a paper manufacturing facility is disclosed. The economic efficiency is dependant on one or more economic variables that vary with operating speed. The current economic efficiency of the facility is obtained along with information on the business transactions that affects the economic variables. The economic efficiency of the facility with the proposed transaction, leaving the remaining variables constant is calculated. Then, the result is displayed to the end user.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger Paul Hoffman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:50
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/06; G06Q10/063; G06Q10/0631
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
48 words
A method of controlling the operating speed of a papermaking facility comprising the steps of: Determining a desired operating speed, the desired operating speed dependent on at least one economic variable that varies depending on the operating speed; and adjusting the operating speed in response to the determination.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
48 words
A method of controlling the operating speed of a papermaking facility comprising the steps of: Determining a desired operating speed, the desired operating speed dependent on at least one economic variable that varies depending on the operating speed; and adjusting the operating speed in response to the determination.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1, further including the steps of: determining a current operating speed of the papermaking facility; comparing the current operating speed to the desired operating speed; and further adjusting the operating speed in response to the comparison.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one economic variable is at least one of: a cost of manufacturing, at least one manufacturing inflow, and at least one manufacturing outflow.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the desired operating speed is determined by calculating the cost of manufacturing, the manufacturing inflow, and the manufacturing outflow at a plurality of potential operating speeds, and selecting the desired operating speed from the potential operating speeds.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the desired operating speed is determined by calculating a marginal cost of manufacturing, a marginal manufacturing inflow, and a marginal manufacturing outflow at a plurality of marginal potential operating speeds and selecting the desired operating speed from the marginal potential operating speeds and a prior desired operating speed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the manufacturing outflow is determined by ascertaining a correlation between operating speed and sales of at least one of finished products and byproducts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the correlation between the operating speed and sales is ascertained by assigning a plurality of manufacturing outflows to at least one specific portion of the paper manufacturing facility's production.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the manufacturing outflow is determined, from highest to lowest per-unit economic value, for increasing levels of the paper manufacturing facility's production.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the economic variable is cost of manufacturing, and the cost of manufacturing includes ascertaining the correlation between operating speed and the cost of manufacturing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the cost of manufacturing is determined by ascertaining a correlation between operating speed and at least one of the following: the per-unit cost of manufacturing inflows and the usage of manufacturing inflows.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the correlation between manufacturing cost and operating speed is ascertained by establishing the correlation between manufacturing costs and operating speed of specific equipment or process in a paper manufacturing facility.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the correlation between manufacturing cost and the operating speed of a paper machine includes the manufacturing inflows during one or more of sheet breaks and production that produces finished product of unacceptable quality.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the correlation between manufacturing cost and operating speed for a paper machine is determined by including usage of manufacturing inflows associated with paper breaks.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the correlation between manufacturing cost and operating speed is ascertained by establishing the correlation between manufacturing costs and operating speed of groups of at least one of equipment and processes in a paper manufacturing facility.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the purchase price of manufacturing inflows is assigned, from lowest to highest per-unit cost, to increasing levels of the paper manufacturing facility's production.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
66 words
A papermaking facility operating speed controller comprising of: means for determining a current operating speed of the papermaking facility; means for determining a desired operating speed, the desired operating speed dependent on at least one economic variable that varies depending on the operating speed; means for comparing the current operating speed to the desired operating speed; and adjusting the current speed in response to the comparison.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
66 words
A papermaking facility operating speed controller comprising of: means for determining a current operating speed of the papermaking facility; means for determining a desired operating speed, the desired operating speed dependent on at least one economic variable that varies depending on the operating speed; means for comparing the current operating speed to the desired operating speed; and adjusting the current speed in response to the comparison.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the means for determining includes means for determining a desired operating speed to achieve an optimal operating speed from at least one of: a cost of manufacturing, at least one manufacturing inflow, and at least one manufacturing outflow.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the means for determining includes means for determining a desired operating speed by calculating the cost of manufacturing, the manufacturing inflow, and the manufacturing outflow at a plurality of potential operating speeds and selecting the desired operating speed from the potential operating speeds.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the means for determining include means for determining a desired operating speed by calculating a marginal cost of manufacturing, a marginal manufacturing inflow, and a marginal manufacturing outflow at a plurality of marginal potential operating speeds and selecting the desired operating speed from the marginal potential operating speeds.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means for determining include means for determining a desired operating speed by ascertaining the correlation between operating speed and the cost of manufacturing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 20, including means for determining the variable cost of manufacturing by ascertaining a correlation between operating speed and at least one of the following: the per-unit cost of manufacturing inflows and the usage of manufacturing inflows.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 19, further including means for determining manufacturing outflows by ascertaining a correlation between operating speed and sales of at least one of finished products and byproducts.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the means for ascertaining includes means for correlating the manufacturing outflows by assigning different economic values of manufacturing outflow with specific portions of the paper manufacturing facility's production.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 23, further includes means for determining the at least one of manufacturing outflows from highest to lowest per-unit economic value, to increasing levels of the paper manufacturing facility's production.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
95 words
An article of manufacture comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for determining a desired operating speed of a papermaking facility comprising; computer readable program code means for receiving as an economic input at least one economic variable that varies depending on the operating speed; computer readable program code means for determining the desired speed, the desired speed being dependent on the economic input; and computer readable program code means for outputting the optimal speed, said optimal speed being inputted into said papermaking facility in conjunction with a computer system.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
95 words
An article of manufacture comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for determining a desired operating speed of a papermaking facility comprising; computer readable program code means for receiving as an economic input at least one economic variable that varies depending on the operating speed; computer readable program code means for determining the desired speed, the desired speed being dependent on the economic input; and computer readable program code means for outputting the optimal speed, said optimal speed being inputted into said papermaking facility in conjunction with a computer system.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
55 words
The article of claim 25, further including: computer readable program code means for determining a current operating speed of the papermaking facility; computer readable program code means for comparing the current operating speed to the desired operating speed; and computer readable program code means for further adjusting the current speed in response to the comparison.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
35 words
The article of claim 25, wherein the means for determining includes computer readable program code means for determining a desired operating speed from at least one of: cost of manufacturing, manufacturing inflows, and manufacturing outflows.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
53 words
The article of claim 27, wherein the means for determining includes computer readable program code means for determining a desired operating speed by calculating the cost of manufacturing, the manufacturing inflow, and the manufacturing outflow at a plurality of potential operating speeds and selecting the desired operating speed from the potential operating speeds.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
66 words
The article of claim 27, wherein the means for determining includes computer readable program code means for determining a desired operating speed by calculating a marginal cost of manufacturing, a marginal manufacturing inflow, and a marginal manufacturing outflow at a plurality of marginal potential operating speeds and selecting the desired operating speed from the marginal potential operating speeds that contribute to achieving an optimal operating speeds.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
30 words
The article of claim 29, further including computer readable program code means for ascertaining a correlation between operating speed and sales of at least one of finished products and byproducts.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
33 words
The article of claim 29, wherein the economic variable is cost of manufacturing, and further including computer readable program code means for ascertaining the correlation between operating speed and the cost of manufacturing.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
38 words
The article of claim 31, further including computer readable program code means for ascertaining a correlation between operating speed and at least one of the following: the per-unit cost of manufacturing inflows and the usage of manufacturing inflows.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
32 words
The article of claim 31, further including computer readable program code means for establishing the correlation between manufacturing costs and operating speed of specific equipment or process in a paper manufacturing facility.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
66 words
The article of claim 31, further including computer readable program code means for correlating the manufacturing cost and the operating speed of a paper machine including the manufacturing inflows utilized during one or more of sheet breaks and to periods in which finished product of unacceptable quality is produced, measured by including such manufacturing inflows utilized with other manufacturing inflows utilized in the paper machine operation.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
29 words
The article of claim 31, further including computer readable program code means for assigning different economic values of manufacturing outflows to specific portions of the paper manufacturing facility's production.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
40 words
The article of claim 31, further including computer readable program code means for correlating the manufacturing cost and operating speed for a paper machine by including usage of manufacturing inflows associated with paper breaks and finished goods of unacceptable quality.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
35 words
The article of claim 36, further including computer readable program code means for assigning the purchase price of manufacturing inflows from lowest to highest per-unit cost, to increasing levels of the paper manufacturing facility's production.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
41 words
The article of claim 31, further including computer readable program code means for correlating the manufacturing cost and operating speed by establishing the correlation between manufacturing costs and operating speed of groups of equipment or processes in a paper manufacturing facility.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
33 words
The article of claim 38, further including computer readable program code means for assigning the manufacturing outflow from highest to lowest per-unit economic value, to increasing levels of the paper manufacturing facility's production.
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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) | 2003-12-05 | 2004-06-05 | 2004-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-12-05 | 2008-06-05 | 2008-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-12-05 | 2012-06-05 | 2012-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |