Method for adjusting a papermaking process to extend the operating life of a papermaking belt

Abstract

A method for adjusting a papermaking process for producing rolls of convolutely wound web material having a machine direction (MD) and a cross-machine direction (CD) coplanar and orthogonal thereto is disclosed. The process improves the operating life of a papermaking belt used therefor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for extending the life of a papermaking belt by adjusting a papermaking process for producing rolls of convolutely wound web material having a machine direction (MD) and a cross-machine direction (CD) coplanar and orthogonal thereto, said method improving the operating life of said papermaking belt used therefor, the process for extending the life of a papermaking belt comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a foraminous papermaking belt having a discrete measuring device disposed therein;   (b) providing a papermaking machine, said papermaking machine having at least one heating process, said heating process having a heating process set-point, said foraminous papermaking belt being integral with said papermaking machine;   (c) depositing an aqueous dispersion of papermaking fibers upon a surface of said papermaking belt;   (d) dewatering said aqueous dispersion of papermaking fibers while disposed upon said surface of said foraminous papermaking belt by causing said foraminous papermaking belt and said aqueous dispersion of papermaking fibers disposed thereon to traverse through said heating process, said discrete measuring device measuring a temperature of said heating process;   (e) causing said foraminous papermaking belt to traverse past a receiver, said receiver being in wireless communicating engagement with said discrete measuring device when said discrete measuring device is proximate said receiver, said discrete measuring device being capable of wirelessly transmitting information to said receiver, said information comprising data relating to said temperature of said heating process during said dewatering step; and,   (f) changing said heating process set-point according to said measurement of said temperature of said heating process of said dewatering step.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of collecting said data to form a papermaking belt profile. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising the step of changing said heating process set-point according to said papermaking belt profile. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of collecting said data to form a papermaking process profile. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising the step of changing said heating process set-point according to said papermaking process profile. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of providing said foraminous papermaking belt as a continuous loop, said continuous loop being provided within said papermaking process to provide periodic communicating engagement with said receiver. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of providing said discrete measuring device as a thermocouple. 
     
     
         8 . A method for extending the life of a papermaking belt by adjusting a papermaking process for producing rolls of convolutely wound web material having a machine direction (MD) and a cross-machine direction (CD) coplanar and orthogonal thereto, said method improving the operating life of said papermaking belt used therefor, the process for extending the life of a papermaking belt comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a foraminous papermaking belt having a discrete measuring device disposed therein;   (b) providing a papermaking machine, said papermaking machine having at least one compressionary process, said compressionary process having a compressionary process set-point, said foraminous papermaking belt being integral with said papermaking machine;   (c) depositing an aqueous dispersion of papermaking fibers upon a surface of said papermaking belt;   (d) dewatering said aqueous dispersion of papermaking fibers while disposed upon said surface of said foraminous papermaking belt by causing said foraminous papermaking belt and said aqueous dispersion of papermaking fibers disposed thereon to traverse through said compressionary process, said discrete measuring device measuring at least one compressionary force of said compressionary process;   (e) causing said foraminous papermaking belt to traverse past a receiver, said receiver being in wireless communicating engagement with said discrete measuring device when said discrete measuring device is proximate said receiver, said discrete measuring device being capable of wirelessly transmitting information to said receiver, said information comprising data relating to said pressure of said compressionary process during said dewatering step; and,   (f) changing said compressionary process set-point according to said measurement of said pressure of said compressionary process of said dewatering step.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising the step of collecting said data to form a papermaking belt profile. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the step of changing said compressionary process set-point according to said papermaking belt profile. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the step of collecting said data to form a papermaking process profile. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of changing said compressionary process set-point according to said papermaking process profile. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the step of providing said foraminous papermaking belt as a continuous loop, said continuous loop being provided within said papermaking process to provide periodic communicating engagement with said receiver. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the step of providing said discrete measuring device as a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         15 . A method for extending the life of a papermaking belt by adjusting a papermaking process for producing rolls of convolutely wound web material having a machine direction (MD) and a cross-machine direction (CD) coplanar and orthogonal thereto, said method improving the operating life of said papermaking belt used therefor, the process for extending the life of a papermaking belt comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a foraminous papermaking belt having a discrete measuring device disposed therein;   (b) providing a papermaking machine, said papermaking machine having at least one papermaking belt deformation process, said papermaking belt deformation process having a papermaking belt deformation characteristic set-point, said foraminous papermaking belt being integral with said papermaking machine;   (c) depositing an aqueous dispersion of papermaking fibers upon a surface of said papermaking belt;   (d) dewatering said aqueous dispersion of papermaking fibers while disposed upon said surface of said foraminous papermaking belt by causing said foraminous papermaking belt and said aqueous dispersion of papermaking fibers disposed thereon to traverse through said papermaking belt deformation process, said discrete measuring device measuring at least one papermaking belt deformation characteristic of said papermaking belt deformation process;   (e) causing said foraminous papermaking belt to traverse past a receiver, said receiver being in wireless communicating engagement with said discrete measuring device when said discrete measuring device is proximate said receiver, said discrete measuring device being capable of wirelessly transmitting information to said receiver, said information comprising data relating to said papermaking belt deformation characteristic of said papermaking belt deformation process during said dewatering step; and,   (f) changing said papermaking belt deformation characteristic process set-point according to said measurement of said pressure of said papermaking belt deformation process of said dewatering step.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the step of collecting said data to form a papermaking belt profile. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of changing said papermaking belt deformation characteristic process set-point according to said papermaking belt profile. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of collecting said data to form a papermaking process profile. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising the step of changing said deformation characteristic process set-point according to said papermaking process profile. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of providing said discrete measuring device as a strain gauge.