Formation detection system and a process of controlling

A formation control system comprising:

• a. two or more sensors wherein at least one of the two or more sensors is a camera;
• b. two or more lights that illuminate a sheet of paper within a paper machine comprising the formation control system so that the two or more sensors monitor formation of the paper;
• and
• c. a control system in communication with the paper machine to adjust one or more components of the paper machine to adjust formation of the paper traveling through the paper machine in real time;
• wherein formation of the paper includes orientation of fibers within the paper;
• wherein the two or more sensors are located above the paper, below the paper, or both and substantially normal to the paper within a press section, before a dryer section, within the dryer section, or a combination thereof;
• and
• wherein an amount of pressure applied to the sheet within the press section is varied based upon a change in formation or tension on dryer cans within the dryer section is varied based upon the change in formation, or both.

A method comprising:

• a. monitoring a sheet of paper with a formation detection system comprising:
• i. one or more sensors located above the sheet of paper, located below the sheet of paper, or both wherein one or more of the one or more sensors is a camera and
• ii. one or more lights that illuminate all or a portion of the sheet of paper passing by the one or more sensors;
• b. monitoring formation of the sheet of paper with the formation detection system;
• and
• c. moving the formation detection system in a cross-machine direction of the sheet of paper;
• wherein the formation detection system is configured to monitor the sheet of paper before a press section, within the press section, before a dryer section, within the dryer section, after the dryer section, or a combination thereof of a paper machine so that a change in formation of the sheet is monitored as the sheet passes through the paper machine;
• and
• wherein an amount of pressure applied to the sheet within the press section is varied based upon the change in formation or tension on dryer cans within the dryer section is varied based upon the change in formation, or both.