Method of operating an off-line finishing device for fiber webs, in particular an off-line slitter-winder for winding fiber webs

A method of operating an off-line slitter winder finishing device for fiber webs, having an unwinder and a parent roll mounted thereto, the parent roll having a fiber web with a fiber web length, the unwinder having a maximum web speed, and at least one torque drive motor for controlling an unwind velocity of the parent roll, and at least one torque brake, wherein said at least one torque brake comprises at least one of said torque drive motor and a mechanical brake, the at least one torque brake having a selected braking torque, the method comprising the steps of:

• using a model of the off-line slitter winder finishing device for fiber webs to pre-calculate a limit of a web break stopping time required by the selected braking torque in relation to the parent roll inertia and web unwind speed and how much setting a maximum web break stopping time decreases capacity of the finishing device for fiber webs by decreasing average web unwind speed;
• collecting continuously data relating to frequency of occurrence of web breaks per parent roll to determine probability of occurrence of a web break;
• calculating expected value of capacity loss based on the determined probability of occurrence of a web break and the web break stopping time;
• and
• while the web unwind speed is lower than maximum running speed, adjusting the maximum web break stopping time and thus the web unwind speed such that the expected value of capacity loss is minimized, wherein the expected value of capacity loss is continuously adjusted as the probability of occurrence of a web break is updated.