Methods and apparatuses for controlling a manufacturing line used to convert a paper web into paper products by reading marks on the paper web

A system for producing a paper product, the system comprising:

• (A) a paper machine for forming a paper web, the paper web including a plurality of sections, the paper machine including:
• (a) a web inspection unit to inspect the paper web and to identify defects in the paper web;
• (b) a marking unit to mark the paper web with a plurality of marks, at least one mark being assigned to each of the plurality of sections;
• and
• (c) a winder to wind the paper web into a parent roll, the winder being positioned after the web inspection unit and the marking unit;
• (B) an analysis tool configured to assign a paper rating to each section of the paper web based upon the defects identified in that section of the paper web;
• and
• (C) a converting line for converting the paper web into a paper product, the converting line having a plurality of operating parameters and including:
• (a) an unwind stand to unwind the paper web from the parent roll;
• (b) a mark reading unit that (i) reads at least one of the plurality of marks on the paper web and (ii) produces a corresponding output from the mark that has been read;
• (c) a controller that receives the output from the mark reading unit and is configured:
• (i) to obtain the paper rating associated with the at least one mark read by the reading unit, and
• (ii) to change at least one operational parameter of the converting line based upon the paper rating;
• and
• (d) a finisher, the paper web being fed to the finisher and converted into a paper product.