Film caliper control
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsChiu P. Wong, Justin W. Wilhelm, Donovan C. Karg, JR.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A film handling apparatus including an orienter for deforming a polymeric film, a cross-web heat distribution system configured to provide a selectable distribution of heat to the film in the orienter, a measurement device configured to measure at least a portion of a cross-web caliper of the film, and an automated controller that controls the cross-web heat distribution system to adjust heat distribution in response to the measured cross-web caliper of the film. The film handling apparatus can provide for at least partial automatic control of the caliper of a film while the film is being manufactured.
Claims40
A film handling apparatus comprising:
- an orienter for deforming a polymeric film, the orienter having a heat distribution zone;
- a cross-web heat distribution system configured to provide a selectable distribution of heat to the film in the orienter, wherein the cross-web heat distribution system comprises:
- (a) a heat source that produces heat;
- (b) a plurality of heat blocking members proximate the heat distribution zone;
- and
- (c) a plurality of actuators, wherein the plurality of heat blocking members are movably positioned by the plurality of actuators such that at least one heat blocking member blocks at least a portion of the heat produced by the heat source from reaching the film;
- a measurement device configured to measure at least a portion of a cross-web caliper of the film, the measurement device positioned downstream from the cross-web heat distribution system;
- and
- an automated controller that controls the cross-web heat distribution system to adjust heat distribution in response to the measured cross-web caliper of the film.
A method comprising:
- deforming a polymeric film in an orienter having a heat distribution zone and a cross-web heat distribution system associated with the orienter that is configured to provide a selectable amount of heat to the film in the orienter, the cross-web heat distribution system comprising:
- (a) a heat source that produces heat;
- (b) a plurality of heat blocking members proximate the heat distribution zone;
- and
- (c) a plurality of actuators, wherein the plurality of heat blocking members are movably positioned by the plurality of actuators such that at least one heat blocking member blocks at least a portion of the heat produced by the heat source from reaching the film;
- measuring at least a portion of a cross-web caliper of the film at a location downstream from the cross-web heat distribution system with a measurement device;
- and
- adjusting heat distribution in response to the measured cross-web caliper using an automated controller that controls the cross-web heat distribution system.
A computer readable medium comprising instructions to cause a processor to execute a method comprising:
- measuring at least portion of a cross-web caliper of a film at a location downstream of a cross-web heat distribution system;
- and
- adjusting heat distribution in response to the measured cross-web caliper using an automated controller that controls the cross-web heat distribution system,
- wherein the film is being manufactured on a film line that includes an orienter having a heat distribution zone, the cross-web heat distribution system associated with the orienter, and the automated controller, wherein the cross-web heat distribution system comprises:
- (a) a heat source that produces an amount of heat;
- (b) a plurality of heat blocking members proximate the heat distribution zone;
- and
- (c) a plurality of actuators, wherein the plurality of heat blocking members are movably positioned by the plurality of actuators such that at least one heat blocking member blocks at least a portion of the amount of heat produced by the heat source from reaching the film.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.