Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method of determining sheet shrinkage or expansion characteristics

US5658432A · kind A · utility

32Cited by
15References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 24, 1995
Grant dateAug 19, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 24, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S162/10
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method for determining the cross-machine shrinkage or expansion profile of a travelling sheet produced in a sheetmaking machine between an upstream location and a downstream location. The method involves marking the sheet at the upstream location with an array of marks at measured, predetermined intervals in the cross-machine direction. The sheet is inspected in the cross-machine direction at the downstream location to measure the spacing of the array of marks. A shrinkage or expansion profile of the travelling sheet is developed based on the changes in the spacing between the array of marks at the downstream location. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed. The method and apparatus of the present invention permit rapid and precise determination of the sheet shrinkage or expansion profile to allow for better control of property variation across the sheet.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.