Machine for manufacturing a material web

A machine for producing a material web, in particular a paper or cardboard web, includes a pick-up suction roll disposed between a wire section and a press section and wound around by an air-permeable endless belt. In the vicinity of the pick-up suction roll, the material web is taken from a wire belt by the endless belt in order to then be supplied to a first press of the press section. In this regard, the width of the material web can be adjusted by adjustable size cutting elements provided in the vicinity of the wire belt and the suction width of the pick-up suction roll 14 can be adjusted by adjustable sizing strips associated therewith. An adjustment system is provided for a preferably simultaneous, at least essentially synchronous motor-induced adjustment of the size cutting elements and sizing strips.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
 The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119 of German
 Patent Application No. 198 40 021.7, filed on Sep. 2, 1998, the disclosure
 of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 The invention relates to a machine for manufacturing a material web, in
 particular a paper or cardboard web, having a pick-up suction roll that is
 disposed between a wire section and a press section and is wound around by
 an air-permeable endless belt. In the vicinity of the pick-up suction
 roll, the material web is taken from a wire belt by the endless belt in
 order to then be supplied to a first press of the press section.
 2. Discussion of Background Information
 In paper machines that have been conventional up to now, a paper web having
 a width that changes can, as a rule, only be transferred into the press
 section in an open fashion, i.e., without a pick-up suction roll. It is in
 fact conceivable to first adjust the receiving zone of the pick-up suction
 roll and then to manually adjust the relevant edge-side cutting elements
 in order to establish the desired web width. However, this is relatively
 costly and cannot be carried out with the required precision in every
 case.
 The object of the present invention is to produce an improved machine of
 the type mentioned at the beginning, which permits different web widths to
 be adjusted in as trouble-free, precise, and reproducible a manner as
 possible, particularly even with a closed web transfer into the press
 section.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The above-noted object is attained according to the present invention in
 that the width of the material web can be adjusted by means of adjustable
 size cutting elements provided in the vicinity of the wire belt, and the
 suction width of the pick-up suction roll can be adjusted by adjustable
 sizing strips associated with it. Moreover, an adjusting system is are
 provided for a preferably simultaneous, and at least essentially
 synchronous, motor-induced adjustment of the size cutting elements and the
 sizing strips. In this regard, the adjustable size cutting elements can be
 constituted in particular by adjustable sizing spray nozzles.
 Because of the present invention, it is now possible to execute a
 respective change in the web width, particularly even when there is a
 closed web transfer into the press section. A respective width change is
 now possible in an extremely simple manner and with a high degree of
 precision. There is also the assurance that the respective adjustments can
 be reproduced at any time.
 The adjusting system preferably include a control device which can be used
 to preset the respective size widths or associated reference positions of
 the size cutting elements and sizing strips. Suitable different size
 widths or reference positions can be programmed and/or stored by the
 control device.
 In one embodiment of the machine according to the present invention, the
 adjusting device include adjusting drives that act on the size cutting
 elements and sizing strips and preferably include at least one path
 measuring system.
 Suitably, at least one adjusting drive is constituted by a spindle drive.
 Such a spindle drive can, for example, include at least one adjusting
 motor provided on a spindle.
 In principle, a cylinder/piston unit or the like can also be provided, for
 example, as an adjusting drive. Different adjusting drives can also be
 used, at least in part, for the different elements to be driven.
 In a preferred embodiment of the machine according to the present
 invention, the adjusting drives and, if necessary, the path measuring
 system as well, are connected to the control device.
 In order to produce a transfer strip that is made of the material web and
 in order to widen out the material web, another laterally adjustable
 cutting element or the like can be provided, for example, once again
 constituted by a spray nozzle, such that the adjusting drive associated
 with this additional cutting element is preferably also connected to the
 control device.
 It is advantageous if, for the transferal of the transfer strip into the
 press section, the size cutting elements and the sizing strips are first
 adjusted according to a presettable maximal size width, to which end, for
 example, the control device can be correspondingly adjusted or programmed.
 As a result, the transfer strip can be guided through the machine in a
 better fashion.
 It is also advantageous if, after the transferal of the transfer strip into
 the press section, the size cutting elements and the sizing strips are
 moved into their reference position corresponding to the respectively
 desired size width. The control device can again be correspondingly
 adjusted or programmed for this as well. Preferably, the size cutting
 elements and the sizing strips can be moved into their reference positions
 corresponding to the respectively desired size width the moment the
 material web has widened out.
 The control device can, in particular, include an electronic control unit.
 At least part of the adjusting drives can also be remote-controlled.
 According to one aspect of the present invention, a machine is provided for
 producing a material web, in particular a paper or cardboard web, having a
 pick-up suction roll disposed between a wire section and a press section
 and wound around by an air-permeable endless belt, and in the vicinity of
 the pick-up suction roll, the material web is taken from a wire belt by
 the endless belt in order to then be supplied to a first press of the
 press section. The machine includes adjustable size cutting elements that
 adjust the width of the material web, the adjustable cutting elements
 provided adjacent the wire belt, adjustable sizing strips that adjust the
 suction width of the pick-up suction roll, the adjustable sizing strips
 operatively associated with the suction roll, and an adjusting system that
 provides simultaneous, at least essentially synchronous motor-induced
 adjustment of the size cutting elements and the sizing strips.
 In other aspects of the machine according to the present invention, the
 adjustable size cutting elements include adjustable sizing spray nozzles,
 the adjusting system includes a control device that predetermines at least
 one of respective size widths and associated reference positions of the
 size cutting elements and the sizing strips, and at least one of different
 size widths and reference positions can be at least one of programmed and
 stored by the control device. The adjusting system may also include at
 least one adjusting drive that acts on the size cutting elements and the
 sizing strips, the adjusting system may also include at least one path
 measuring system, and the at least one adjusting drive may be a spindle
 drive. Additionally, the spindle drive may include at least one adjusting
 motor provided on the spindle, the at least one adjusting drive may be a
 cylinder/piston unit, and at least one of the adjusting drives and a path
 measuring system may be connected to the control device.
 In another aspect of the present invention, the machine may further include
 an additional laterally adjustable cutting element to produce a transfer
 strip made of the material web and to widen out the material web, and an
 additional adjusting drive associated with the additional cutting element.
 The additional adjusting drive may also be connected to the control
 device, and the additional adjustable cutting element may include a spray
 nozzle.
 In a further aspect of the present invention, the size cutting elements and
 the sizing strips may be initially adjusted to a predetermined maximal
 size width for the transferal of the transfer strip into the press
 section. In this regard, the size cutting elements and the sizing strips
 may be movable into respective reference positions that correspond to a
 respectively desired web size width, after the transfer strip has been
 transferred into the press section, and the size cutting elements and the
 sizing strips may be movable into respective reference positions that
 correspond to the respectively desired size web width once the material
 web has widened out.
 In another aspect of the present invention, the control device may include
 an electronic control unit. Additionally, the at least one adjusting drive
 may be remote-controlled.
 According to a further aspect of the present invention, a process is
 provided for producing a material web, particular a paper or cardboard
 web, in a machine having a pick-up suction roll disposed between a wire
 section and a press section and wound around by an air-permeable endless
 belt, and in the vicinity of the pick-up suction roll, where the material
 web is taken from a wire belt by the endless belt in order to then be
 supplied to a first press of the press section. The process includes
 adjusting the width of the material web with adjustable size cutting
 elements provided adjacent the wire belt, adjusting the suction width of
 the pick-up suction roll with adjustable sizing strips operatively
 associated with the suction roll, and simultaneously adjusting the size
 cutting elements and the sizing strips with an adjusting system.
 In other aspects of the process of the present invention, the adjusting
 system may include at least an essentially synchronous motor, and the
 adjustable size cutting elements may include adjustable sizing spray
 nozzles. Furthermore, the process may also include predetermining at least
 one of respective size widths and associated reference positions of the
 size cutting elements and the sizing strips by a control device
 operatively connected to the adjusting system. The process for producing a
 material web may further include programming and storing at least one of
 different size widths and reference positions by the control device.
 In other aspects of the process of the present invention, the adjusting
 system may include at least one adjusting drive that acts on the size
 cutting elements and the sizing strips. Additionally, the adjusting system
 may further include at least one path measuring system, the at least one
 adjusting drive may be a spindle drive, and the spindle drive may include
 at least one adjusting motor provided on the spindle.
 Additionally, other aspects of the process of the present invention include
 connecting at least one of the adjusting drives and a path measuring
 system to the control device, producing a transfer strip made of the
 material web and widening out the material web by providing an additional
 laterally adjustable cutting element and an additional adjusting drive
 associated with the additional cutting element, and connecting the
 additional laterally adjustable cutting element and the additional
 adjusting drive to the control device.
 In another aspect of the process of the present invention, the additional
 adjustable cutting element may include a spray nozzle. The process may
 further include initially adjusting the size cutting elements and the
 sizing strips to a predetermined maximal size width for the transferal of
 the transfer strip into the press section, moving the size cutting
 elements and the sizing strips into respective reference positions that
 correspond to a respectively desired web size width, after the transfer
 strip has been transferred into the press section, and wherein the size
 cutting elements and the sizing strips are movable into respective
 reference positions that correspond to the respectively desired size web
 width once the material web has widened out.
 Other exemplary embodiments and advantages of the present invention may be
 ascertained by reviewing the present disclosure and the accompanying
 drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
 The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes of
 illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present invention only
 and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the
 most useful and readily understood description of the principles and
 conceptual aspects of the present invention. In this regard, no attempt is
 made to show structural details of the present invention in more detail
 than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of the present
 invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to
 those skilled in the art how the several forms of the present invention
 may be embodied in practice.
 FIGS. 1 to 6 show a machine 10 for manufacturing a material web 12 which,
 in the current instance, is a paper or cardboard web.
 The machine 10 includes a pick-up suction roll 14 disposed between a wire
 section I and a press section II. This pick-up suction roll 14 is wound
 around by an air-permeable endless belt, in the current instance the top
 felt 16 of a first press 18 of the press section II, through which a
 bottom felt 20 is also guided. In the vicinity of the pick-up suction roll
 14, the material web 12 is taken from a wire belt 22 by the top felt 16 in
 order to then be supplied between the two wires 12 and 20 to the first
 press 18 of the press section II. As can be seen from FIGS. 1, 3, and 5,
 the press section II includes another press 24 through which the material
 web 12 is guided after the first press 18, together with at least one
 other felt 26.
 After the first press 18, in the vicinity of an adjustable deflection roll
 28, the top felt 16 of this press is separated from the material web 12
 and the bottom felt 20. After a separation from both the top felt 16 and
 the bottom felt 20, the material web 12 is guided into the other press 24
 by way of a likewise adjustable support roll 30.
 The width B of the material web 12 can be adjusted between a minimal value
 B.sub.min and a maximal value B.sub.max (see also FIGS. 2, 4, and 6 in
 particular). To this end, two laterally adjustable sizing spray nozzles
 32, 34 on the edge side, which respectively serve as size cutting elements
 are provided above the wire belt 22 (see FIGS. 2, 4, and 6 in particular).
 Furthermore, the suction width of the pick-up suction roll 14 that is
 defined between two sizing strips 36, 38 can also be adjusted, for which
 purpose the two sizing strips 36, 38 that are associated with the pick-up
 suction roll 14 can be correspondingly adjusted in the lateral direction.
 Finally, the machine 10 also includes a system 40, 42, 44 for a
 simultaneous, at least essentially synchronous, motor-induced adjustment
 of the sizing spray nozzles 32, 34 and sizing strips 36, 38. As can be
 seen from FIGS. 2, 4, and 6, in the current instance, the sizing spray
 nozzles 32, 34 and sizing strips 36, 38 are continuously adjusted so that
 the suction width of the pick-up suction role 14 is at least essentially
 the same as the web width B that is adjusted by the sizing spray nozzles
 32, 34.
 The adjusting system 40, 42, 44 includes a control device 40, which can be
 used to preset the respective size widths or associated reference
 positions of the sizing spray nozzles 32, 34 and sizing strips 36, 38. In
 particular, different size widths or reference positions can also be
 programmed and/or stored by the control device 40.
 The adjusting system 40, 42, 44 additionally includes adjusting drives 42
 and 44, which are connected to the control device 40 and act on the sizing
 spray nozzles 32, 34 and sizing strips 36, 38; these adjusting drives are
 only indicated in a purely schematic form in FIGS. 1, 3, and 5. Finally,
 the control device 40 can also be connected to at least one path measuring
 system 46, 46', 46", 46'" (see FIGS. 1 and 2), whose measurement values
 can be transmitted to the control device 40 for the monitoring of relevant
 adjusting movements. For example, a spindle drive, a cylinder/piston unit,
 and/or the like can be provided as the adjusting drive 42, 44. A
 respective spindle drive can, for example, include at least one adjusting
 motor provided on a spindle. The measuring system 46-46'" can measure
 rotations of the shafts of the spindle drives, and can be selected to
 measure any desired parameter.
 In order to produce a transfer strip 48, which is made of the material web
 12, as well as for the widening out of the material web 12, an additional
 spray nozzle 50 is provided, which once again serves as a cutting element
 and can also be adjusted in the lateral direction. The adjusting drive 52
 that is associated with this additional spray nozzle 50 is also connected
 to the control device 40.
 The control device 40 can particularly include an electronic control unit.
 At least part of the adjusting drives 42, 44, and 52 can be
 remote-controlled.
 In a purely schematic, partially sectional representation, FIG. 7 shows an
 exemplary embodiment of a pick-up suction roll 14. The partial
 longitudinal cross-sectional view of the pick-up suction roll 14 of FIG. 8
 illustrates the spindles 37 and 39 that are driven by respective spindle
 drives 44', 44", and the sizing strips 38, 38' for one side are shown in
 FIGS. 8 and 9. In FIG. 7, two sizing strips 36', 36" can be seen, which
 can each be acted on by a spindle drive 44', 44". Also according to FIG.
 7, the pick-up suction roll 14 particularly includes an air pressure
 suction zone seal 54, a suction zone seal 56, a strip wash 58, a support
 bearing lubrication 60, a shock pulse measuring device 62, and a strip
 lubrication 64. As can be inferred in particular from FIG. 1, the suction
 region 66 of the pick-up suction roll 14 is divided into a pick-up zone
 66' and a holding zone 66". FIG. 7 shows the relevant vacuum lines for
 these two zones 66', 66".
 As can be inferred from FIGS. 1 and 2, for the transferal of the transfer
 strip 48 into the press section II, the sizing spray nozzles 32, 34 and
 the sizing strips 36, 38 are first adjusted according to a maximal size
 width B.sub.max which can be predetermined. In addition, the two rolls 28,
 30 are moved downward when the transfer strip 48 is transferred. The wet
 broke picked up by the wire belt 22 is conveyed downward in same manner as
 the press broke 70 that is picked up by the bottom wire 20 (see FIG. 1).
 As can be seen from FIG. 2, the width of the edge strip wet broke 68' and
 68" changes with the adjustment of the sizing spray nozzles 32, 34 and the
 sizing strips 36, 38.
 As can be inferred from FIGS. 3 and 4, the sizing spray nozzles 32, 34 and
 the sizing strips 36, 38 are moved into their reference positions that
 correspond to the respectively desired size width B after the transfer
 strip 48 has been transferred into the press section II. In this
 connection, the sizing spray nozzles 32, 34 and the sizing strips 36, 38
 are moved into their reference positions that correspond to the desired
 size width B the moment the material web 12 has widened out, which can be
 seen in FIG. 4. The widening out of the material web 12 takes place by a
 corresponding movement of the other injection nozzle 50 in the lateral
 direction. According to FIG. 3, the two rolls 28 and 30 are now moved
 upward so that the bottom felt 20 is separated from the material web 12
 closer to the first press 18. To this end, a blower device 72 can be
 provided inside the loop of the bottom felt 20 and, like the two rolls 28,
 30, can be moved in the manner indicated in FIG. 1. The wet broke 68 and
 the press broke 70 are conveyed downward once more.
 Whereas in FIGS. 3 and 4, the machine 10 is depicted still during the
 widening out of material web 12, the machine 10 in FIGS. 5 and 6 is shown
 after the material web 12 has been completely transferred into the press
 section II. The wet broke 68, which is picked up by the wire belt 22, is
 conveyed further downward. In the current operating phase, though, there
 is no longer a press broke 70, as was still the case during the widening
 out of the material web 12. The deflection role 28 and the support role 30
 as well as the blower device 72 assume their upper position.
 As mentioned above, the web width can be adjusted between a minimal value
 B.sub.min and a maximal value B.sub.max (see FIG. 6 in particular), for
 which purpose the sizing spray nozzles 32, 34 and sizing strips 36, 38 can
 be adjusted correspondingly in a motor-induced fashion simultaneously as
 well as at least synchronously by the control device 40 and the adjusting
 drives 42, 44.
 It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the
 purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of
 the present invention. While the present invention has been described with
 reference to an exemplary embodiment, it is understood that the words
 which have been used herein are words of description and illustration,
 rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview
 of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without
 departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its
 aspects. Although the present invention has been described herein with
 reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the present
 invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed
 herein; rather, the present invention extends to all functionally
 equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of
 the appended claims.