Patent Abstract:
A system for producing a paper product. The system includes a paper machine, an analysis tool, and a converting line. The paper machine forms a paper web having a plurality of sections, inspects the paper web to identify properties, and marks the paper web with a plurality of marks, at least one mark being assigned to each of the plurality of sections. The analysis tool assigns a paper rating to each section of the paper web based upon the identified properties in that section of the paper web. The converting line has a plurality of operational parameters and converts the paper web into the paper product. The converting line reads at least one of the plurality of marks on the paper web, obtains the paper rating associated with the mark read, and changes at least one operational parameter of the converting line based upon the paper rating.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/980,022, filed Apr. 15, 2014, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Our invention relates to methods, systems, and marks for manufacturing paper products such as paper towels and bathroom tissue. In particular, our invention relates to a method of controlling a manufacturing line to convert a paper web into paper products and a converting line implementing this method. Our invention also relates to a mark for a paper web and a method of marking a paper web. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In a typical paper manufacturing process, a paper web is created on a paper machine and wound onto a large roll called a parent roll. The paper web is then unwound from the parent roll and converted into consumer sized products on a converting line. In paper manufacturing, as in many manufacturing processes, efficient operations that maximize operational time are desired. Defects may occur, however, in the paper web as it is being manufactured on the paper machine. These defects may be significant enough to cause the paper web to break while, for example, the web is being unwound on the converting line. A web break reduces productivity in the converting line, because an operator must stop the converting line in order to re-thread the paper web. This process may take from about five minutes to about an hour. At typical converting speeds of about two thousand feet per minute, each web break reduces the amount of paper product produced by about ten thousand feet up to about one hundred twenty thousand feet. It is, therefore, desirable to accurately identify these web defects and take action on the converting line to prevent web breaks from occurring. 
     The inspection of a paper web while it is being created on a paper machine is commonly performed in the art. There are also many patents, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,452,679, directed towards web inspection. Inspection of the paper web on the paper machine is commonly used to provide real-time feedback for the papermaking process. In this way, the paper machine can be adjusted to minimize the generation of defects or to adjust other parameters of the paper web, such as basis weight. 
     The defect information from the web inspection may also be used to repair or to remove the portions of the paper web having the defect, before these portions result in a web break on the converting line or a failure during operation. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,934,028, a paper web is inspected, and defects are classified and located relative to periodically placed fiduciary indicators. Using these fiduciary indicators, a portion of the web having a defect may be identified and removed. Similarly, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,297,969, a paper web is inspected, periodically marked, and wound on a reel. This patent discloses a mark sequence in which the spaces between the starting points of adjacent marks are used to encode a location along the length of the web. These marks may then be used to locate defects on the paper web that were identified during inspection. The paper web is placed on a repair machine and the reel is unwound. The marks are used to stop the unwinding at a defect location so that the defect may be repaired. While not using a repair machine, U.S. Pat. No. 6,725,123 likewise discloses using marks to stop a converting line, so that a defect may be repaired. U.S. Pat. No. 8,060,234 discloses a method and an apparatus similar to that discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,725,123. But, instead of using marks to subsequently identify a location on a paper web on a converting line, U.S. Pat. No. 8,060,234 discloses using an optical signature for one lane of the paper web. The optical signature is the small-scale and large-scale variability inherent in a paper web. 
     In another method known in the art, defects are identified during web inspection and located based on their position relative to one end of the paper web. The position of the paper web may be located as a function of the diameter of a parent roll. A laser may then be used to measure the diameter of the parent roll as it is unwound, in order to locate a defect on the paper web. While the laser may be very precise, small out-of-round conditions on the parent roll may have a large impact on the position of the paper web as measured by the laser. Accordingly, this method has a large uncertainty. 
     In another method, a web defect is marked with a physical tag, such as a tag disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,123. This method is heavily reliant on operator skill and expertise, because it requires the operator to observe the tag and to take action to stop the converting line in a sufficient amount of time to prevent the defect from causing a web to break. 
     A series of patents, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,937,233; No. 8,175,739; and No. 8,238,646, discloses a system in which a paper web is inspected for defects and periodically marked with “fiducial marks.” This system then creates a defect map where defects identified during the inspection are mapped relative to the fiducial marks. These defect maps are then used to apply locating marks at the position of the defects. Because the paper web is cut into smaller sections, a converting plan can be created to more effectively utilize the paper by cutting around the defects. Further, the defect maps may be used to sort the paper web into different grades of paper. 
     Each of these methods treats the defects individually and establishes other individual action points to stop and to repair or to discard a portion of the paper web. There is thus a need for improved methods and systems for defect identification, marking, and converting line control. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect, our invention relates to a system for producing a paper product. The system includes a paper machine for forming a paper web, an analysis tool, and a converting line for converting the paper web into a paper product. The paper web produced by the paper machine has a plurality of sections. The paper machine includes a web analysis unit to perform at least one of inspecting the paper web and identifying properties in the paper web. The paper machine also includes a marking unit to mark the paper web with a plurality of marks. At least one mark is assigned to each of the plurality of sections. The paper machine further includes a winder to wind the paper web into a parent roll. The winder is positioned after the web analysis unit and the marking unit. The analysis tool is configured to assign a paper rating to each section of the paper web based upon the identified properties in that section of the paper web. The converting line has a plurality of operating parameters. The converting line includes an unwind stand to unwind the paper web from the parent roll. The converting line also includes a mark reading unit that reads at least one of the plurality of marks on the paper web and produces a corresponding output from the mark that has been read. The converting line further includes a controller that receives the output from the mark reading unit and is configured to obtain the paper rating associated with the at least one mark read by the reading unit and to change at least one operational parameter of the converting line based upon the paper rating. The converting line yet further includes a finisher. The paper web is fed to the finisher and converted into a paper product. 
     According to another aspect, our invention relates to a method of producing a paper product. The method includes forming a paper web having a plurality of sections on a paper machine, and analyzing the paper web with a web analysis unit to perform at least one of inspecting the paper web and identifying properties in the paper web. The method also includes marking the paper web with a plurality of marks. At least one mark is marked at each of the plurality of sections. The method further includes winding the paper web with the winder to form a parent roll after the paper web has been inspected and marked. The method still further includes assigning a paper rating to each section of the paper web based upon the properties in that section of the paper web that are identified in the analyzing step. The method yet further includes unwinding a paper web from a parent roll on a converting line having a plurality of operational parameters. The method even still further includes reading at least one of the plurality of marks with a mark reading unit, obtaining the paper rating associated with the at least one mark read by the reading unit, and changing at least one operational parameter of the converting line based upon the paper rating. The method also includes converting the paper web into a paper product. 
     These and other aspects of our invention will become apparent from the following disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a papermaking machine configuration that can be used in conjunction with our invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a detailed top plan view of the papermaking machine configuration shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exemplary defect database that can be used in conjunction with our invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a defect map of the defect database shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  shows an example of marking that can be used on a paper web in conjunction with our invention. 
         FIG. 6  shows how the marks of  FIG. 5  may be applied to a paper web. 
         FIG. 7  shows examples of how the paper web may be subdivided. 
         FIG. 8  shows an example of how the paper web may be analyzed for defects in conjunction with our invention. 
         FIGS. 9A through 9C and 9F through 9K  are flow charts of steps for assigning inputs for the converting line in accordance with a preferred embodiment of our invention, and  FIGS. 9D, 9E, and 9L through 9N  show the development of the scored database. 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  show a map of the scored database shown in  FIG. 9N . 
         FIG. 11  is a system diagram of an embodiment of our invention. 
         FIGS. 12A and 12B  are schematic diagrams of portions of converting line configurations that can be used in conjunction with our invention. 
         FIG. 13  shows a control screen for a converting line programmable logic controller that can be used in conjunction with our invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a graph showing an example of a preferred speed profile and a non-preferred speed profile for a converting line. 
         FIGS. 15A and 15B  show an alternate control screen for a converting line programmable logic controller that can be used in conjunction with our invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a flow chart of an embodiment of our invention. 
         FIG. 17  is a detailed flow chart of process steps at a paper machine for the embodiment shown in  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 18  is a detailed flow chart of process steps performed by an analysis tool for the embodiment shown in  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 19  is a detailed flow chart of process steps at a converting line for the embodiment shown in  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 20  is a flow chart of an alternate embodiment of our invention. 
         FIG. 21  is a detailed flow chart of process steps performed by an analysis tool for the embodiment shown in  FIG. 20 . 
         FIG. 22  is a detailed flow chart of process steps at a converting line for the embodiment shown in  FIG. 20 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Consumer paper products, such as paper towels, bathroom tissue, and the like, are made by first creating a paper web on a paper machine. This paper web is wound onto large rolls called parent rolls. The parent rolls are then moved to a converting line at which the paper web is unwound from the parent roll and converted into consumer paper products. Our invention relates to methods, systems, and marks for controlling the converting line. 
     The term “paper product,” as used herein, encompasses any product incorporating papermaking fibers having cellulose as a major constituent. This would include, for example, products marketed as paper towels, toilet paper, and facial tissues. Papermaking fibers include virgin pulps or recycle (secondary) cellulosic fibers, or fiber mixes comprising cellulosic fibers. Wood fibers include, for example, those obtained from deciduous and coniferous trees, including softwood fibers, such as northern and southern softwood kraft fibers, and hardwood fibers, such as  eucalyptus , maple, birch, aspen, or the like. Examples of other fibers suitable for making the products of our invention include nonwood fibers, such as cotton fibers or cotton derivatives, abaca, kenaf, sabai grass, flax, esparto grass, straw, jute hemp, bagasse, milkweed floss fibers, and pineapple leaf fibers. Furnish refers to aqueous compositions including papermaking fibers, and, optionally, wet strength resins, debonders, and the like, for making paper products. 
     When describing our invention herein, the terms “machine direction” (MD) and “cross machine direction” (CD) will be used in accordance with their well-understood meaning in the art. That is, the MD of a fabric or other structure refers to the direction that the structure moves on a papermaking machine in a papermaking process, while CD refers to a direction crossing the MD of the structure. Similarly, when referencing paper products, the MD of the paper product refers to the direction on the product that the product moved on the papermaking machine in the papermaking process, and the CD of the product refers to the direction crossing the MD of the product. 
     When describing our invention herein, specific examples of operating conditions for the paper machine and converting line will be used. For example, various speeds will be used when describing paper production on the paper machine or converting on the converting line. Those skilled in the art will recognize that our invention is not limited to the specific examples of the operating conditions, including speed, that are disclosed herein. 
     Paper webs may be made on a paper machine implementing any one of a number of methods known in the art, such as conventional wet pressing and through-air drying.  FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary twin wire wet crepe machine layout that can readily be adapted to practice our invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other paper machines likewise may be readily adapted to practice our invention. 
     In the paper machine  100  shown in  FIG. 1 , furnish issues from headbox  111  into nip  114  between inner wire  112  and outer wire  113  to form nascent web  101 . The nascent web  101  is carried on the inner wire  112  and transferred to felt  121 , at nip  122 . The nascent web  101  is then transferred from the felt  121  to Yankee cylinder  131  at nip  126  between suction pressure roll  123  and the Yankee cylinder  131 . In this paper machine  100 , felt  121  passes over idler roll  124  before passing around blind drilled roll  125  and though nip  127  between the blind drilled roll  125  and the Yankee cylinder  131 . The Yankee cylinder  131  is a heated cylinder that is used to dry the nascent web  101 . In addition, hot air from wet end hood  132  and dry end hood  133  is directed against the nascent web  101  to further dry the nascent web  101  as it is conveyed on the Yankee cylinder  131 . The dried nascent web  101  forms a paper web  102 . The paper web  102  is removed from the Yankee cylinder  131  with the help of doctor blade  134 . The paper web  102  is then wound around a reel  180  to form a parent roll  190 . 
     Some paper machines create a paper web  102  that is wider than can be used in a subsequent converting process. As a result, the paper web  102  may be split into two or more parent rolls  190  using a cutter  160 . The rolls may be designated with a letter such as an A roll or a B roll. The cutter  160  may be a circular blade with a continuous cutting surface. Those skilled in the art will recognize that any suitable cutter may be used including, for example, a water jet cutting system. 
     In this preferred embodiment, the paper web  102  is inspected for defects on the paper machine  100 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the paper web  102  is inspected by web inspection units  141 ,  142 ,  143  after the paper web  102  leaves the Yankee cylinder  131 . The web inspection units are part of a web inspection system. Those skilled in the art will recognize that any suitable web inspection systems and units may be used including those made by ABB of Zurich, Switzerland; Metso of Helsinki, Finland; Papertec of North Vancouver, BC, Canada; Honeywell of Morristown, N.J.; and Event Capture Systems of Mint Hill, N.C. In the preferred embodiment, each web inspection unit  141 ,  142 ,  143  includes at least a digital high speed camera and a light source. The cameras of the preferred embodiment are set to take images at, for example, one hundred twenty frames per second and have a resolution of, for example, six hundred forty pixels by four hundred eighty pixels. The web inspection units  141 ,  142 ,  143  are positioned a distance above the paper web  102  to preferably have a field of view  150  between about seventy inches and about one hundred four inches wide, and more preferably, about one hundred two inches wide. An example of a suitable camera includes Prosilica GT1910 made by Allied Vision Technologies of Stadtroda, Germany. The web inspection units  141 ,  142 ,  143  are also preferably positioned so the entire width of the paper web  102  is inspected. Preferably, the field of view  150  for each web inspection unit  141 ,  142 ,  143  has a small amount of overlap of approximately two inches with the field of view  150  of the adjacent web inspection unit  141 ,  142 ,  143 . The resolution and distance from the paper web determine the size of an indication or a defect that can be detected. Increasing the resolution of the camera will enable smaller defects to be detected. Alternatively, placing the camera closer to the paper web enables smaller defects to be detected, but the field of view is also decreased and more cameras will be needed to image the entire width of the paper web  102 . The light source is preferably an array of light emitting diodes used to illuminate the paper web  102 . In the preferred embodiment, the light source is positioned coincident with the camera. Those skilled in the art will recognize that any suitable light source may be used, including high frequency florescent lighting or halogen lighting. The light source may also be positioned elsewhere on the paper machine  100  including below the paper web  102 . As those skilled in the art will recognize, the lighting requirements will depend upon the camera settings, including frame rate and aperture. 
     Any suitable web inspection system that is capable of analyzing the captured images to identify and to classify defects may be used. Further, any suitable method of identifying and classifying defects may be used, such as gray scale analysis or image comparison. In the preferred embodiment, defects are identified by using a gray scale method. The paper web  102  appears white to the camera, because the paper web  102  reflects the light from the light source. Defects, on the other hand, are non-reflective and appear dark to the camera. The opposite, where the paper web  102  appears dark to the camera and defects appear white, occurs when the lighting is positioned below the paper web. Defects may thus be identified as pixels in the images captured by web inspection units having a gray scale value darker than a predetermined threshold. Once identified, the dimensions and positions of individual defects may be determined. The defect analysis method discussed in U.S. Patent Appln. Pub. No. 2012/0147177 (the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety) may be used to distinguish between true defects and false positives. Many different types of defects may be identified by the web inspection system. In the preferred embodiment, the web inspection units  141 ,  142 ,  143  identify holes, tears, wrinkles, chemical coating streaks, and the like. 
     When the defects are identified by the web inspection system, they are preferably recorded in a table or a database, such as the table shown in  FIG. 3 . A “database,” as used herein, means a collection of data organized in such a way that a computer program may quickly select desired pieces of the data. An example is an electronic filing system. In the preferred embodiment, the time the defect is detected, the location of the defect, and defect specific information are recorded in a database. This database may be referred to as the defect database, and in the preferred embodiment, all data is established in the database with respect to a master time reference. As an example, the leading edge of the paper web  102  in the machine direction passes the web inspection units  141 ,  142 ,  143  at 09:34:01. The first web defect is identified at 09:41:10, which is recorded in the defect database. The first defect is located one thousand feet in the machine direction (MD) from the leading edge of the paper web  102  and ten inches from one of the edges of the paper web  102  in the cross-machine direction (CD). By grayscale analysis, the first web defect is identified as having both a length and a width of one half inch, resulting in an aspect ratio of length to width of one. Similarly, the second web defect is recorded at 10:10:00 and has an aspect ratio of 0.0625. Defects may be classified by the aspect ratio. In this case, the first web defect is considered to be a hole and the second web defect is considered to be a tear. This process is then repeated for the entire parent roll. The defects may also be represented graphically in a defect map such as the map shown in  FIG. 4 . Here, the first web defect is shown with an open circle in the upper left of the paper web  102 . The second web defect is similarly shown with an open triangle. 
     The defect database may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium in order to facilitate the analysis described below. A non-transitory computer readable medium, as used herein, comprises all computer-readable media except for a transitory, propagating signal. Examples of non-transitory computer readable media include, for example, a hard disk drive and/or a removable storage drive, representing a disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, etc. The non-transitory computer readable media may be connected to processors, programmable logic controllers for converting line control, the web inspection system using network connections that are common in the art, and other controllers and systems used in our invention. When the non-transitory computer readable media is connected to a network, it may be referred to as a file server. 
     Other paper web properties may be measured on the paper machine  100 , for example, moisture content and basis weight of the paper web. In this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a web property scanner  155  is positioned after the Yankee cylinder  131  and before web inspection units  141 ,  142 ,  143 . Any suitable web property scanner  155  known in the art may be used to measure web properties. An example of a suitable web property scanner  155  is an MXProLine scanner manufactured by Honeywell of Morristown, N.J., that is used to measure the moisture content with beta radiation and basis weight with gamma radiation. As these data are collected, the web property is recorded in a database along with the time that the property was obtained. This database may be the defect database or a separate database for web properties (e.g., web properties database). In addition, web properties may also be indirectly determined from other operating parameters of the paper machine  100 . Operating parameters such as pump speeds, fan speeds, and the like, may be correlated to web properties. By monitoring and recording these operating parameters, web properties can be calculated and recorded in the web properties database. 
     In order to effectively utilize the defect information generated during web inspection, the paper web  102  is marked at a set periodicity with mark  210 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the paper web  102  is preferably marked after the web inspection units  141 ,  142 ,  143  and prior to being wound on the reel  180 . In the preferred embodiment, marking units  171 ,  172  are positioned adjacent to the cutter  160 . This position allows for accurate and repeatable application of mark  210 . Cutting the paper web  102  requires that the paper web  102  be stable when it is cut, particularly, that the paper web  102  is taut and moved at a constant speed. Both of these conditions are well suited for accurate application of mark  210 . Further, the outside edges of the paper web  102  may move in the cross-machine (CD) direction when viewing a particular point on the paper machine  100 , because either the width of the paper web  102  changes or the paper web  102  as a whole shifts. By applying mark  210  near the cutter  160 , the mark  210  can be positioned at a set distance from an edge of the paper web  102 , making reading the mark  210  easier on the converting line and ensuring that the mark  210  is removed when the finished product is cut to length. The MD distance between the web inspection units  141 ,  142 ,  143  and the marking units  171 ,  172  is also preferably minimized. As with the defects, the mark  210  is recorded in the defect database according to a master time reference. Preferably, the same time should correspond to the same MD location on the paper. If the web inspection units  141 ,  142 ,  143  and the marking units  171 ,  172  are separated, however, a correction factor would need to be applied to one of the time references. This introduces a source of uncertainty. 
     Any suitable marking unit  171 ,  172  may be used, such as COM-2112 manufactured by Ryeco Inc. of Marietta, Ga. Also, any suitable ink may be used to mark the web, including food grade ink or ink that is visible under ultraviolet light Ink that may be detected under ultraviolet light is advantageous in the event that the mark is not properly removed during the converting process. In this case, the mark is not visible to a consumer, even though the mark remains on the consumer product. 
     The mark of the preferred embodiment is a binary mark made of multiple discrete positions over a set distance of the paper web  102 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the mark includes N positions. Each position is either blank, indicating a value of zero, or contains ink, indicating a value of one. Ideally, the mark length  630  (see  FIG. 6 ) is as small as possible and could be a bar code. Such a mark could be used to practice our invention, but the marking technology, especially for paper making used for tissue and towel, has not yet advanced to make such marks practical Ink marks have a tendency to spread on the paper web. Thus, it is difficult to precisely control the width of the ink mark as is necessary for a bar code. Additionally, at typical reel speeds of about three thousand five hundred feet per minute, the length of any mark will be limited by the rate of discharge from an ink head. We have thus found that the ink is preferably applied as a dash that is about one thirty-second of an inch in width and about three inches in length. At typical reel speeds, the marking unit  171 ,  172  discharges ink for about two milliseconds to create a mark of three inches in length. Further, a dash provides a sufficient time for the mark to be detected and read on a converting line. (The converting line speeds may range from about one thousand three hundred feet per minute to about three thousand feet per minute.) A position is preferably less than about twenty inches in length, more preferably, less than about six inches in length, and, most preferably, about three inches in length. The start of each position is similarly preferably separated from adjacent positions by about twenty inches or less, more preferably, about six inches or less, and, most preferably, about three inches. Those skilled in the art will recognize, however, that other types of ink applications, including dots, may be used without deviating from the scope of our invention. The mark preferably contains between about sixteen positions and about sixty-eight positions, and, more preferably, about thirty-eight positions. The number of positions in a mark is a balance between providing enough positions or bits to convey the information contained in the mark and keeping the mark to a reasonable length. A mark as described above with thirty-eight positions will preferably have a mark length  630 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , of about sixteen feet. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the first two positions (positions one and two in  FIG. 5 ) each contains a dash. Together, the two dashes indicate the start of a mark. Similarly, the last two positions (positions N- 1  and N in  FIG. 5 ) will contain a dash to indicate the end of the mark. In reading the mark, a mark reading unit (discussed below) can distinguish between marks when a predetermined amount of time has passed between successive detections of ink. This predetermined amount of time should be longer than the time it takes for the mark to pass by the reading unit. 
     The remaining thirty-four positions in the preferred embodiment are used to identify the parent roll and the lineal position of the mark on the parent roll. Positions three to five may be used to identify the particular paper machine and the mill from which the roll originated, positions six and seven may be used to identify whether the roll is an A roll or a B roll (as discussed above). Positions eight to twenty-four may be used to identify the specific roll. These positions may also be used to establish an inventory. In the present embodiment, the inventory numbers in positions eight to twenty-four are used on a rotating basis. A number is assigned to a parent roll when it is created. Once the parent roll is converted or otherwise used, the number may then be assigned to another parent roll. Taken together, positions three to twenty-four may be referred to as roll identification information or the parent roll identification number. The remaining positions, twenty-five to thirty-six may be used to convey a particular location with the paper web  102  and may be referred to as location information, linear footage, or MD footage, for example. When these thirty-eight positions are insufficient to convey this information in a single mark, additional positions may be added to the mark. As used hereafter, the foregoing will be referred to as the single mark embodiment where mark  610  and mark  620  shown in  FIG. 7  are the same. 
     Alternatively, two marks can be used. One mark can be a roll identification mark  610  and a second mark can be a location mark  620 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that any number of marks may be used to convey the desired information from the paper machine to the converting line. As used hereafter, this type of marking configuration will be referred to as the multi-mark embodiment. In the roll identification mark  610 , for example, the positions may be used to identify the particular paper machine and the mill from which the roll originated, used to identify whether the roll is an A roll or a B roll (as discussed above), and used to establish an inventory. In the location mark  620 , the positions may be used to convey a particular location within the paper web  102 . 
     In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , marks  610  and  620  are applied to the paper web  102  at a set periodicity. The marks are spaced such that the distance between the start of adjacent marks  631  is a predetermined distance. In the single mark embodiment, the distance between adjacent marks  631  is the distance of control on the converting line. This distance is thus set as a result of many factors including the speed of the converting line, the ability of the mark reading unit to distinguish between adjacent marks, a goal of minimizing the amount of product recycled, and the like. As will be discussed in more detail below, the distance between adjacent marks  631  may also determine the distance over which the paper web  102  is analyzed to develop converting line control inputs. Closer marks thus result in a finer analysis interval, and a more precise increment for control of the converting line. In addition, more frequent marks reduce the opportunity for error on the converting line. We have found that the distance between adjacent marks  631  is preferably between about two hundred fifty feet and about one thousand feet, and, more preferably, about four hundred feet. In the multi-mark embodiment, successive marks alternate between a roll identification mark  610  and a location mark  620 . When two marks are used, the distance between marks of the same type  632  is a predetermined distance. This distance  632  sets the distance of control on the converting line for the multi-mark embodiment. We have found that the distance between marks of the same type  632  is preferably between about three hundred feet and about one thousand feet, and, more preferably, about five hundred feet. We have found that, in the multi-mark embodiment, the distance between adjacent marks  631  is preferably half the distance between marks of the same type  632 . In either embodiment, the mark and the time that the mark is applied are recorded in the defect database when a mark  610  or  620  is applied to paper web  102 . 
     Once the defects have been identified and recorded in the defect database, they are then analyzed to develop inputs for converting line control. In the preferred embodiment, this analysis is performed using an analysis tool. Additional information beyond that recorded in the defect database may be useful in establishing converting line control inputs. A consolidated database is thus created by adding this additional information to the defect database. Those skilled in the art will recognize that this additional information includes commonly measured properties of the paper web, such as the moisture content of the paper web, the basis weight of the paper web, the tensile strength of the paper web, and the like. This additional information may include the information stored in the web properties database, discussed above. While the moisture content of the paper web and the basis weight of the paper web may be collected directly on the paper machine  100  (as discussed above), these data may also be collected offline and included in the analysis as an input into the consolidated database. In the following discussion, the moisture content and basis weight will be discussed in the context of collecting these data offline. This additional information may be entered into the consolidated database as a constant value for the entire parent roll or may vary depending upon the location in the parent roll. As with the defect database, if the paper web properties vary along the length of the paper web, the properties are entered using a master time reference. Additionally, other paper web problems, such as a paper web break, may not be automatically included in the defect database from the web inspection system. Locations of web breaks are then input into the consolidated database according to the time of occurrence. In addition, parent rolls  190  may be assigned a so-called “TAPPI Roll Number,” which is a number used to identify parent rolls  190  and assigned according to Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) Technical Information Paper (TIP) 1004-01. The TAPPI Roll Number may also be added to the consolidated database. 
     Once a consolidated database has been established, the analysis tool then analyzes the consolidated database to develop inputs for converting line control. The objective of the analysis is to generate an output for a specific portion of the web. This portion may be called a block. In the preferred embodiment, each block is associated with the mark containing the linear footage of the parent roll  190  (both marks  610  and  620  in the single mark embodiment and location mark  620  in the multi-mark embodiment). Those skilled in the art will recognize that the paper web  102  may be separated into blocks and associated with a location mark in a number of different ways. As shown in  FIG. 7 , for example, block  711  may extend from the center of one roll identification mark  610  to the center of the next roll identification mark  610 . In this way, block  711  is centered about a location mark  620 . Alternatively, block  712  may extend from the beginning of location mark  620  to the beginning of the next location mark  620 . Blocks  711 ,  712  may be further subdivided into segments  720 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , each block  711 ,  712  is subdivided into four equal segments  720 . 
     Inputs for converting line control are developed for each block  712  by determining the likelihood of converting line failure for each block  712 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that converting line failure refers to a number of different problems that could occur on a converting line. Such problems include the paper web breaking, the paper web wrapping on a roller, and the like. While some web defects and out of specification paper web properties are unlikely to cause converting line failure, these defects or properties may, nonetheless, be undesirable in a consumer product. Such defects or properties are often referred to as quality defects. Inputs for converting line control may also be developed for each block  712  to prevent these quality defects from being converted into consumer products. Any suitable inputs may be used, but we will discuss two approaches. The first approach, used in the preferred embodiment, is to use two criteria, an action score and a quality score, for converting line control. The first criterion is an action score and is established based on the likelihood of converting line failure. The action score may consist of three values: zero, one, or two. An action score of zero indicates a low likelihood of converting line failure. The converting line will not take any action for blocks  712  of the paper web with a score of zero. An action score of one indicates a high likelihood of converting failure with the most appropriate action being not converting that block  712  of the paper web. In this case, the converting line will be stopped to remove the block  712  with an action score of one and/or the converting line will splice to another parent roll  192  ( FIG. 12A ). An action score of two indicates a moderate likelihood of converting line failure. Here, the block  712  may be converted, but the converting line takes a mitigating action, such as slowing, reducing tension, and the like, to mitigate the risk of converting line failure. 
     The second criterion is a quality score and is established based on the need to reject a section of the paper web to prevent unacceptable quality defects. The quality score may consist of two values: zero or one. A quality score of zero indicates that there are no identified quality defects in block  712  of the paper web. A quality score of one indicates a quality defect that is unacceptable for delivery to consumers and that block  712  should be removed from further processing. For example, when the converting line is preparing rolled paper product (such as paper towels), a log  1080  ( FIG. 12A ) may be removed after it is formed and before it is further processed in the log saw  1094  ( FIG. 12A ). 
     The second, alternative approach of inputs for converting line control is a fault code and severity level. Fault codes may be, for example, a type of converting line failure or converting line problem, such as break, wrap, quality, and the like. Those skilled in the art will recognize that any number of suitable criteria may be used. The severity level may be a numerical value between, for example, one and ten, with ten being the most severe. A zero value for a severity level may indicate that a fault is unlikely. 
     The process of assigning the fault code and the severity level or the action score and the quality score will now be described. We have found that with either type of input (fault code and severity level or action score and quality score), a layered or multi-pass analysis approach is preferred. In this approach, the consolidated database is analyzed for one type of defect or defect grouping before moving on to the next defect type. A benefit of the layered or multi-pass analysis approach is that each layer or pass is independent of another. In this way, it is easy to modify the analysis for one particular defect type without the modification impacting the other defect passes. Similarly, it is easy to add or to delete different analysis passes without modifying the other passes. The analyses discussed below may be performed over any suitable analysis window  730 , which may include, for example, a single block  712  or multiple blocks  712  as shown in  FIG. 8 . One having ordinary skill in the art will recognize, however, that our invention is not limited to the following methods of assigning inputs for converting line control. Rather, those skilled in the art will recognize that a number of different approaches may be taken to assign the inputs for converting line control without departing from the scope of our invention. 
     We will now describe the process for assigning an action score and a quality score with reference to  FIGS. 9A to 9N  and  FIGS. 10A and 10B  (with periodic reference to  FIGS. 1 and 8 ). The process overview is shown in  FIG. 9A . Each block  712  begins the analysis with a default action score and a quality score of zero. In step S 800 , a break analysis is performed for each block  712  in the parent roll  190 . If the analysis determines that a block  712  has a high likelihood of the paper web  102  breaking on the converting line, the action score will be set to one for that block  712  and the action footage will be set to the next mark starting footage (as will be discussed further below). For any blocks  712  in the parent roll  190  not having an action score set to one, a slow analysis is performed in step S 810 . Here, if the analysis determines that a block  712  has a moderate likelihood of the paper web  102  breaking on the converting line, the action score will be set to two and the action footage will be set to the next mark starting footage. The blocks  712  are then analyzed for quality defects in step S 820 . If any quality defects are identified, the quality score will be set to one. The analysis is then completed in step S 830 . 
       FIG. 9B  shows the analyses performed as part of the break analysis S 800 . First, each block  712  is checked for any marked breaks from the paper machine  100 , in step S 840 . If a break has been marked for a block  712 , the action score is set to one for that block  712  and the action footage is set to the next mark starting footage. For the blocks that do not have an action score set to one, the break analysis then proceeds to the next step S 850  to check the sheet attributes. The process is then repeated for each of the remaining four analyses S 860 , S 870 , S 880 , and S 890 . Once all of these analyses has been performed, the break analysis S 800  is then completed in step S 831 . We will now describe each of these analyses in turn. 
       FIG. 9C  is a detailed flow chart of the analysis for marked breaks S 840 .  FIG. 9D  is an example of a consolidated database before analysis, and  FIG. 9E  is the consolidated database after the marked breaks analysis S 840  has been performed. First, in step S 841 , the current block  712  is checked to identify if any break signals have been recorded. As shown in  FIG. 9D , a break signal has been recorded for the fifth mark with a linear footage of two thousand one hundred seventy-five feet. For this break, the action score is set to one in step S 842  and the action footage is set to the next mark footage (in this case, mark six at two thousand four hundred feet) in step S 843 . Then, the analysis proceeds to step S 844  where it determined if this block  712  is the end of the roll. If so, the next analysis is started in step S 845 . If not, the process is repeated for the next block  712 . When no break signal is recorded, no change is made to the action score and action footage, and the analysis proceeds to step S 844 . 
     As discussed above, the linear footage is measured from the leading edge of the parent roll  190 . This edge, however, is the last portion to be converted on the converting line because converting begins at the end of the parent roll  190 . For this reason, each action analysis sets the action footage as the next mark footage and not the footage associated with the current block  712 . As shown in  FIGS. 10A and 10B , for example, the paper web  102  will be converted from left to right. Although the block associated with the fifth mark contains a web break, the web break would have already caused a converting line failure if the action score of one and action footage of one thousand eight hundred feet was not processed until the fifth mark was read. As a result, the sixth mark, which has an action footage of two thousand four hundred feet, is set to indicate the upcoming web break and not action footage one thousand eight hundred feet, which is associated with the fifth mark. 
       FIG. 9F  is a detailed flow chart of the check sheet attributes analysis S 850 . First, the sheet attribute data for the current block  712  is obtained in step S 851 . Sheet attribute data may also be referred to as web properties and includes any aspect of the web that is not visible to the naked eye. Specific examples include those properties discussed above, such as basis weight, moisture content, and MD tensile strength. Each attribute being analyzed for the likelihood of failure is compared to a threshold value in step S 852 . Typically, each attribute has a target mean and a variance of the attribute for the current block  712  can be calculated compared to that mean. If the variance exceeds a break limit, the action score will be set to one in step S 853  and the action footage set to the next mark footage in step S 854 . The analysis then proceeds to steps S 855  and S 856 , which are similar to steps S 844  and S 845 , respectively. If the variance is less than or equal to the break limit, no change to the action score will be made, and the analysis will proceed to steps S 855  and S 856 . Different types of paper product will be converted differently and respond to a converting line differently. Compare, for example, tissue product to towel product. Even within a type of product, there are different grades, for example, towel product produced for commercial use compared to towel product produced for consumer use. The break limit for each attribute is thus set differently for different grades of product. Additionally, converting lines used to convert the same product may have differences, and thus, the break limit for each attribute may be customized for each different asset. 
       FIG. 9G  is a detailed flow chart of the check defect and sheet attributes analysis S 860 . Even though the individual variance of an attribute did not exceed the break limit, some variances when combined with a defect could lead to a high likelihood of converting line failure. Both sheet attribute data for the current block  712  and the defect data for the record being analyzed are obtained in step S 861 . As shown in  FIG. 9L  and as discussed above, each defect is recorded in the consolidated database as its own record. For example, a small hole is recorded as data table entry number two. Then, the attribute data is compared to a break limit in step S 862 , similar to the comparison performed in step S 852 , but for a lower break limit. If the variance exceeds the break limit, the defect data is compared against a break limit. In this example, it is the size of the defect that is evaluated, but those skilled in the art will recognize that other defect criteria may also be evaluated, including those discussed below in conjunction with steps S 870 , S 880 , and S 890 . If the size of the defect exceeds the break limit, then the action score is set to one in step S 864  and the footage is set to the next mark footage in step S 865 . The analysis then proceeds to steps S 866  and S 867 , which are similar to steps S 844  and S 845 , respectively, but before proceeding to the next block  712 , each defect within the current block is analyzed. If either of the break limits is not exceeded, no action score is set and the analysis proceeds to steps S 866  and S 867 . 
       FIG. 9H  is a detailed flow chart of the check edge defect analysis S 870 . A defect on the edge of the paper web will generally have a greater likelihood of resulting in a converting line failure than the same defect located toward the center of the sheet. Thus, a defect record, for the current block  712 , having a position near the edge of the paper web is identified in step S 871 . In this embodiment, edge defects are those having a CD position located within the first five percent or the last five percent of the CD width (i.e., CD position is less than five percent or greater than ninety-five percent). Once the defects are identified, they are then compared to the break limit is step S 872 . If the size of the defect exceeds the break limit, then the action score is set to one in step S 873  and the footage is set to the next mark footage in step S 874 . The analysis then proceeds to steps S 875  and S 876 , which are similar to steps S 866  and S 867 , respectively. If the break limit is not exceeded, no action score is set and the analysis proceeds to steps S 875  and S 876 . 
       FIG. 9I  is a detailed flow chart of the check single defect analysis S 880 . This analysis assesses the likelihood of converting line failure for a single defect. Here, a defect record for the current block  712  having a size greater than a limit is identified in step S 881 . The size is then compared to the break limit in S 882 . If the size exceeds the break limit, then the action score is set to one in step S 883  and the footage is set to the next mark footage in step S 884 . The analysis then proceeds to steps S 885  and S 886 , which are similar to steps S 866  and S 867 , respectively. If the break limit is not exceeded, no action score is set and the analysis proceeds to steps S 885  and S 886 . 
       FIG. 9J  is a detailed flow chart of the check cluster defect analysis S 890 . This analysis assesses the likelihood of converting line failure of a combination or cluster of defects. Here, a defect record (current record) for the current block  712  is obtained in step S 891 . Then, the defect data for records located within a certain distance of the current record (for example, within plus or minus thirty feet in the MD direction) are obtained in step S 892 . The density of the positions of these defects is compared to a break limit in step S 893 . If the density exceeds the break limit, then the action score is set to one in step S 894  and the footage is set to the next mark footage in step S 895 . The analysis then proceeds to steps S 896  and S 897 , which are similar to steps S 866  and S 867 , respectively. If the break limit is not exceeded, no action score is set and the analysis proceeds to steps S 896  and S 897 . 
     Once the break analysis is completed, the slow analysis is performed in step S 810 .  FIG. 9K  shows the analyses performed as part of the slow analysis. Each of the analyses S 811 , S 812 , S 813 , S 814 , and S 815  is performed in a similar way as the corresponding break analysis, S 850 , S 860 , S 870 , S 880 , and S 890 , respectively. The limits for the slow analyses, however, are lower than the limits for the break analyses. The quality analyses S 820  are also performed in a like manner. 
       FIG. 9L  shows an example of a consolidated database prior to performing break analysis S 800 .  FIG. 9M  shows the consolidated database after performing break analysis S 800 . The defect records in the first mark correspond to a cluster of defects. The defect record in the third mark corresponds to an edge defect. The defect record in the fourth mark corresponds to a large defect. The data table entry fourteen corresponds to a web break signal as discussed above with reference to  FIGS. 9D and 9E . The sixth mark has a low basis weight, and the seventh mark has a combination of a low basis weight and a defect. As will be discussed further below, the action score and the footage for the next block with a non-zero action score is sent for each mark to the converting line controller. Once the action score and quality score have been assigned for each block  712 , the remaining marks are then updated to have the action score and action footage of block  712  with the next non-zero action score to result in the scored database. This database is shown in  FIG. 9N . ( FIGS. 10A and 10B  are graphical illustrations of this database, similar to that shown in  FIG. 4 .) 
     We will now describe an alternative approach of inputs for converting line control using fault codes and severity levels, with reference back to  FIG. 8 . Because the likelihood of failure in one segment may be influenced by an adjacent segment, the likelihood of failure is determined over an analysis window  730 . An analysis window  730  could be, for example, an individual block. In the preferred embodiment, the analysis window  730  encompasses multiple blocks  712 . In this example, an analysis is being performed to assign fault codes and severity levels for the block  712  corresponding to analysis centerline  740 . An additional advantage of an analysis window that encompasses multiple blocks is that some degree of smoothing can occur. As will be discussed further below, it is preferable to ramp down or to ramp up converting line parameters, instead of making sudden changes. 
     Then, for defects corresponding to one of the fault codes, a severity level may be established as a composite score from each of the analysis passes. For example, each block  712  of the consolidated database may be reviewed for a recorded web break that occurred on the paper machine  100  ( FIG. 1 ). This type of defect is associated with a break fault code and each of the blocks  712  having this defect would be assigned a fault code of break with a severity level of ten. Next, each block  712  of the consolidated database may be reviewed for tears. Each block  712  having a tear would be assigned the fault code break with a severity level corresponding to the length of the tear. At a next pass, each segment  720  may be reviewed to determine if the number of defects or total size exceeds a threshold value. Various threshold values could be used, each corresponding to a different severity level for break fault codes. The next pass could expand the analysis window  730  to encompass adjacent blocks  712 . Within the analysis window, a fault code of break could be assigned with a severity level when adjacent segments  720  contain a total number or total size of defects exceeding a threshold value. Again, various threshold values could be used, each corresponding to a different severity level for break fault codes. Once all of the analysis passes for defects to be assigned a break fault code are completed, a composite severity can be calculated when a block has been assigned two or more severity levels from the analysis passes. 
     The analysis process and severity level assignment may be modified by taking into account other web properties. For example, when a block  712  or, a segment  720  has a low basis weight, low tensile strength, or high moisture content, the severity level may be increased for that block  712 . The process may then be repeated for other fault codes, such as wrap and quality. 
     The foregoing methods and processes for assigning inputs for converting line control by the analysis tool  912  may be implemented on a computer. A system diagram showing how the analysis tool  912  is interconnected to the paper machine and the converting line is depicted in  FIG. 11 . As discussed above (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ), the web inspection system, web marking unit  171 ,  172 , and web property scanner  155  populate the defect database. The web inspection system may include web inspection units  141 ,  142 ,  143  connected to web inspection computer  902 . Likewise, the web marking unit  171 ,  172  and the web property scanner  155  may also be connected to a web marking computer  904  and a web property computer  906 , respectively. These three computers  902 ,  904 ,  906  are configured to process the inspection, marking, and property data, and then transmit the data to a database server  910  to populate the defect database. Additional web information that is collected offline may be added to the defect database to create the consolidated database through an offline input personal computer (PC)  908 . The consolidated database may also be stored on the database server  910 . The analysis tool  912  then retrieves the consolidated database from the database server to create the inputs for the converting line. As depicted in  FIG. 11 , the analysis tool  912  is its own computer, but alternatively, the analysis tool  912  may be implemented on the database server  910 . Once the analysis is completed, the scored database is transmitted to a roll server  914  and stored on the roll server  914 . The roll server  914  may also be implemented on the same server as the analysis tool  912  or database server  910 . Upon the start of converting, a master converting line computer  920  retrieves the scored database from the roll server  914  to use in the converting process, which will be discussed further below. In this regard, we will discuss that the converting line retrieves the scored database by identifying a marked edge of the paper web  102 . 
     The procedures depicted and discussed above with reference to the paper machine, offline input PC, database server, analysis tool, analysis tool, or any portion or function thereof, may be implemented by using hardware, software, or a combination of the two. Likewise, the procedures depicted and discussed below with reference to the converting line, or any portion or function thereof, may be implemented by using hardware, software, or a combination of the two. The implementation may be in one or more computers or other processing systems. While manipulations performed in these embodiments may have been referred to in terms commonly associated with mental operations performed by a human operator, no human operator is needed to perform any of the operations described herein. In other words, the operations may be completely implemented with machine operations. Useful machines for performing the operation of the embodiments presented herein include general purpose digital computers or similar devices. 
     Portions of the embodiments of the invention may be conveniently implemented by using a conventional general purpose computer, a specialized digital computer, and/or a microprocessor programmed according to the teachings of the present disclosure, as is apparent to those skilled in the computer art. Appropriate software coding may readily be prepared by skilled programmers based on the teachings of the present disclosure. 
     Some embodiments include a computer program product. The computer program product may be a non-transitory storage medium or media having instructions stored thereon or therein that can be used to control, or to cause, a computer to perform any of the procedures of the embodiments of the invention. As discussed above, the storage medium may include, without limitation, a floppy disk, a mini disk, an optical disc, a Blu-ray Disc, a DVD, a CD or CD-ROM, a micro drive, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a RAM, an EPROM, an EEPROM, a DRAM, a VRAM, a flash memory, a flash card, a magnetic card, an optical card, nanosystems, a molecular memory integrated circuit, a RAID, remote data storage/archive/warehousing, and/or any other type of device suitable for storing instructions and/or data. 
     Stored on any one of the non-transitory computer readable medium or media, some implementations include software for controlling both the hardware of the general and/or special computer or microprocessor, and for enabling the computer or microprocessor to interact with a human user or other mechanism utilizing the results of the embodiments of the invention. Such software may include, without limitation, device drivers, operating systems, and user applications. Ultimately, such computer readable media further includes software for performing aspects of the invention, as described above. 
     Included in the programming and/or software of the general and/or special purpose computer or microprocessor are software modules for implementing the procedures described above. 
     Next, we will describe a converting line and control of the converting line for a preferred embodiment of our invention, with reference to  FIGS. 12A to 14B . Parent rolls  190  ( 191 ,  192  in  FIGS. 12A and 12B ) are converted to consumer sized rolls and other products at a converting line. Our invention may be adapted to work with any number of different converting lines known in the art. One of the simplest forms of converting lines is for a single-ply paper towel product. Here, a paper web is unwound from a parent roll  191 ,  192  at an unwind stand  1010  and then rewound into a log  1080  at a rewinder  1076 . A log  1080  is the width of a parent roll, but has the diameter of the consumer sized product. Also, at the rewinder  1076 , the outermost end of paper web is glued by a tail gluer when the end is cut from the paper web feeding the rewinder. The log  1080  is subsequently cut into consumer length products using a log saw  1094 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that a converting line may encompass more operations than described above. For example, the paper web may be embossed by passing through a nip defined between, for example, an embossing roller  1072  and an anvil roller  1074 . Further, the paper web from two or more different parent rolls  191 ,  192  may be combined prior to being wound into a log  1080  in order to form a multi-ply sheet. Other converting lines may not create rolls of consumer products, but instead, cut the web after embossing to form flat products such as napkins, facial tissue, and the like. These types of converting lines use a folder  1078  instead of a rewinder  1076 . In this application, we will use the term finisher to generically refer to a rewinder  1076 , a folder  1078 , and the like. Even among converting lines established to make the same product, the equipment may differ. For example, some unwind stands  1010  may hold a single parent roll  191 ,  192 , but others may hold two parent rolls  191 ,  192  and have the capability to switch between parent rolls  191 ,  192  without stopping the converting line. Switching between parent rolls  191 ,  192  may be accomplished through the use of a flying splice, as is known in the art, and will be discussed in more detail below.  FIGS. 12A and 12B  show schematic diagrams of an exemplary unwind stand  1010  having a flying splice. 
       FIG. 12A , thus, is a schematic diagram of an exemplary unwind stand  1010  and rewinder  1076 . Parent rolls  191 ,  192  are placed on each of the roll mounts  1011 ,  1012 . Each parent roll is driven by a motor  1013 ,  1014  that is connected to the parent roll  191 ,  192  through the use of drive belts  1013 ,  1014 . The paper web  102  is being drawn from parent roll  191  and rewound in rewinder  1076  to create log  1080 . The paper web  102  is conveyed over a series of rollers  1041 ,  1043 ,  1045 ,  1046 , and  1050  between parent roll  191  and rewinder  1076 . The depicted unwind stand  1010  is capable of performing a flying splice to switch from parent roll  191  to parent roll  192 . To perform a flying splice, parent roll  192  is brought up to the speed of parent roll  191  by motor  1014 . While the parent roll  192  is being brought up to speed, paper web  103  is being rewound on recovery roll  1022 . (Recovery roll  1021  is used in the same way as recovery roll  1022  when switching from parent roll  192  to parent roll  191 .) When splicing between parent rolls, press rollers  1031 ,  1032  bring paper web  102  together with paper web  103 , and cutters  1033 ,  1034  are used to sever the paper web  103  from the recovery roll  1022  and paper web  102  from the rewinder  1076 . Once the paper web  103  for log  1080  is being drawn from parent roll  192 , parent roll  191  may be replaced with another parent roll or a portion of the paper web  102  having a defect may be removed. In the converting line depicted in  FIG. 12A , the paper web  102  is embossed as it travels through a nip formed between and embossing roller  1072  and an anvil roller  1074 . After being wound into a log  1080 , the log is transferred to an accumulator  1092  before being cut into consumer sized lengths by a log saw  1094 . The consumer size products are then packaged for distribution and sale by subsequent packaging equipment  1090 . 
       FIG. 12B  is a schematic diagram of another exemplary converting line. This converting line is similar in operation to the converting line depicted in  FIG. 12A , but includes a folder  1078  to produce folded consumer products such as napkins, tissues, and the like, instead of a rewinder  1076 . 
     Converting lines are conventionally classified into class one and class two converting lines. Class one converting lines typically operate at a speed of about two thousand feet per minute for bath tissue and about two thousand seven hundred feet per minute to about three thousand feet per minute for towel products. Class two converting lines typically operate in the range of about one thousand three hundred feet per minute to about one thousand seven hundred feet per minute for all products. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the converting line  1000  is controlled through the use of a programmable logic controller (PLC)  924  ( FIG. 11 ). In the discussion below, we will discuss the automated control of the converting line by referencing adjusting the converting line speed, splicing between parent rolls, and stopping the converting line. Those skilled in the art will recognize, however, that there are numerous parameters that can be controlled by the PLC  924  on the converting line, including tension between rollers and nip parameters, such as a gap between the rollers comprising the nip. Our invention may be readily adapted to control any number of these parameters, either individually or in concert with the other parameters. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 12A and 12B  (with periodic reference to  FIGS. 6, 7 and 11 ), a mark reading unit  1060  is positioned shortly after the location where the paper web  102  is unwound from parent roll  191 . The mark reading unit  1060  is positioned to inspect the edge of the parent roll  191  and to read any mark  610 ,  620  that passes. In the preferred embodiment, the mark reading unit  1060  includes at least a digital high speed camera to read the mark and a light to illuminate the edge of the paper web  102 . Any suitable high speed camera may be used in the mark reading unit  1060 . Further, any suitable light source may be used, such as a light-emitting diode (LED), an incandescent light, and the like. When ink that is visible under ultraviolet light is used, an LED light source emitting light in the ultraviolet spectrum is preferred. The mark reading unit  1060  is preferably placed at a stable location on the unwind stand  1010  or rewinder  1076 . Suitable locations include, for example, flat surfaces (e.g., web run  1052 ) and rolls (e.g., roll  1050 ). In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 12A and 12B , roll  1050  is a bowed roll. A bowed roll has an offset axis of rotation, which stretches the paper web  102 ,  103  toward the ends of the roll. This roll may also be called a spreader roll, as it spreads the paper. As a result, the bowed roll  1050  helps to ensure that paper web  102 ,  103  is taut and moving at a consistent speed as it moves under the mark reading unit  1060 . The mark reading unit  1060  is connected to a mark reading computer  922 , which performs the mark identification analysis. 
     When a parent roll  191 ,  192  is loaded onto the unwind stand  1010  in the converting line  1000 , an operator may manually enter the roll identification numbers into the PLC  924 , which is then transmitted to the master converting line computer  920 . Alternatively, the mark reading unit  1060  and mark reading computer  922  may identify the parent roll  191 ,  192  by reading a roll identification mark  610 . Preferably, a parent roll  191 ,  192  is identified by reading the same roll identification number multiple times to ensure statistical confidence of the number read. Most preferably, the roll identification number is read twice from two sequential roll identification marks  610 . Once the parent roll  191 ,  192  is identified, the parent roll identification number is transmitted to the master converting line computer  920 . In either case, the master converting line computer  920  then retrieves from the roll server  914  the scored database associated with the identified parent roll  191 ,  192 . When the roll server  914  transmits the scored database, the database is “checked out” from the roll server  914 , and the scored database is “checked in” once the parent roll  191 ,  192  has been converted. 
     As the parent roll  191 ,  192  is unwound, the mark reading unit  1060  reads the mark  610 ,  620  on the paper web  102  and passes the information to the PLC  924 . When roll identification information is read, the PLC  924  checks to ensure that the correct parent roll  191 ,  192  is identified. When location information is read, the PLC  924  adjusts the converting line parameters based on the inputs for converting line control associated with that block  712  identified in the scored database. 
     We will now describe converting line control using the preferred embodiment of an action score and a quality score. In this approach, each time a location mark  620  is read, the master converting line computer  920  transmits to the PLC  924 : (1) the location information in linear feet associated with that mark (MD Footage), (2) the linear footage of the next block  712  of the paper web  102  that has a non-zero action score, (3) the action score of the next non-zero block  712  of the paper web  102 , and (4) the quality score for the block  712  associated with the mark just read. The PLC  924  continuously counts the linear footage of the paper web  102  being converted. This count is updated upon receipt of the location information associated with the mark just read. The PLC  924  then calculates the distance remaining to the next non-zero block  712 . The PLC  924  will also calculate, given the current operating parameters (for example, speed), the distance required to execute the action associated with the next non-zero block  712 . The PLC  924  includes several factors in this calculation, depending upon the next action and specific converting line. These factors include: deceleration rate for a splice, deceleration rate for stopping, deceleration rate to slow, target speed for slowing, and the like. The PLC  924  then compares the distance remaining to the next non-zero block  712  to the calculated distance required to execute the next action. If sufficient footage is still available, the PLC  924  will continue converting at the current operating parameters and repeat the calculation. The PLC  924  will initiate the next action when the current footage is within a buffer distance of the calculated footage for the next action. We have found that it is beneficial to include buffer footage to prevent unintended web breaks from occurring because the PLC  924  waited to initiate action until there is exactly the amount of footage required between the current location and the next action point. 
       FIG. 13  shows an exemplary operator control screen  1100  for the converting line PLC  924  that may be used with this implementation. The control screen  1100  may be implemented on any suitable device including, for example, a touch screen or an LED display that is operated by a mouse and a key board. The control screen includes a roll map  1110 . In this case, the roll map shows the first ply of a roll used in making a multi-ply paper product. The roll map includes a defect map  1112 . The defect map  1112 , like the defect map shown in  FIG. 4 , above, contains graphical indications of defect positions. Each line in the defect map  1112  indicates a different block  712  ( FIG. 7 ). The action score associated with each block  712  is also identified on the defect map  1112 . While any suitable means of indication may be used, a colored box  1114  is along the side of each block is used in this embodiment. Here, an action score of zero is indicated by a green box  1114  and corresponds to normal operation of the converting line. An action score of one results in a stop or a splice command and is indicated by a red box  1114 . An action score of two slows the converting line and is indicated by a yellow box  1114 . A legend  1120  is provided to describe the graphical indications of defects and the converting line actions associated with the colored boxes  1114 . Also shown in the roll map  1110  is the MD footage  1116  associated with each block  712  and, as an operator aid, the diameter  1118  of the parent roll  190 . 
     The control screen  1100  also allows for manual action overrides in a section  1130  of the control screen. The operator may review the upcoming blocks  712  and manually override the action score for that block. The operator may select a particular block  712  and then choose from preset actions in a drop down menu  1132 . This section  1130  also includes a drop down menu  1134  for the operator to give a reason for his/her change. These reasons may subsequently be used to adjust the rules for assigning converting line control as discussed below. Once the operator has selected an action and a reason for the change,the operator then selects the apply button  1136 . When the apply button  1136  is selected, the PLC  924  the updates the scored database with the manually applied action. We have found that it is beneficial to assign an alternate score (e.g., a three, a four, or a five) for manually input actions. This improves subsequent analysis and feedback used in refining the rules used to assign the action scores and quality scores. A status section  1140  is also displayed on the control screen  1100 . This section  1140  gives an indication of the current footage, the footage at which the PLC will take the next action (action footage), and the next action. 
     We will now describe converting line control using the alternate converting line inputs of defect code and severity levels. When defect code and severity level are used, the PLC  924  adjusts the converting line parameters according to a predetermined set of rules. These rules are established for each converting line to prevent a converting line failure. For example, the PLC  924  may slow the converting line from about two thousand feet per minute to about one thousand five hundred feet per minute for a defect code for holes having a severity level of five, or slow the converting line to about one thousand two hundred feet per minute for holes having a severity level of seven. The actions taken by the PLC  924  to adjust parameters may vary by converting line. Using the example of a defect code for a web break, the PLC  924  on one converting line may execute a splice to switch between parent rolls, because the converting line has a flying splice capability, but the PLC  924  for a second converting line may stop the converting line for the same defect code. 
     In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 12A and 12B , the mark reading unit  1060  is positioned downstream from the parent roll  191  being unwound. A particular block  712  ( FIG. 7 ) of the paper web  102 , therefore, has already traveled through a portion of the converting line  1000  before the location information associated with that block  712  is read. If that particular block has defects, they may cause a web break as the web passes one of the rollers  1041 ,  1043 ,  1045 ,  1046  upstream of the mark reading unit  1060 . In this preferred embodiment, the PLC  924 , therefore, sets the operating parameters of the converting line  1000  based on the defect code and severity level for a predetermined number of blocks  712  after the block  712  associated with the mark just read. 
     The PLC  924  may also consider several of the upcoming blocks in determining how the converting line parameters are adjusted. As shown in  FIG. 14 , blocks eight and fifteen may have defects requiring the converting line to slow to about one thousand five hundred feet per minute, and blocks eleven and twelve may have defects requiring the converting line to slow to about one thousand two hundred feet per minute. To avoid rapid and successive changes in operating speed (non-preferred profile in  FIG. 14 ), the PLC  924  may begin slowing the converting line at block four to reach about one thousand five hundred feet per minute at block eight and about one thousand two hundred feet per minute at block eleven, and then gradually increase speed from block twelve to reach full speed of about two thousand feet per minute at block twenty (preferred profile in  FIG. 14 ). Those skilled in the art will recognize that the assignment of operating parameters may be performed by the analysis tool and pushed to the converting line, instead of being performed at the converting line. 
       FIGS. 15A and 15B  show an exemplary operator control screen  1200  for the converting line PLC  924 .  FIG. 15A  shows the left half of the control screen  1200  and  FIG. 15B  shows the right half. In this embodiment, the converting line is creating a two-ply paper product and uses two parent rolls, one for the first ply and the other for the second ply. As with control screen  1100 , the control screen  1200  may be implemented on any suitable device including, for example, a touch screen or an LED display that is operated by a mouse and a keyboard. The control screen  1200  has three major sections: operator controls  1210 , the first ply roll map and action registry  1220 , and the second ply roll map and action registry  1230 . Each roll map and action registry  1220 ,  1230  contains a defect map  1221 ,  1231 . The defect map, as with the defect map shown in  FIG. 4 , above, contains graphical indications of defect positions. Each line in the defect map  1221 ,  1231  indicates a different block  712  ( FIG. 7 ). Each action registry  1222 ,  1232  contains two sub-registries. The first is an automatic action registry  1224 ,  1234 . This registry contains the actions assigned to each block  712  by the PLC  1024  based upon the defect code and severity level. The second is a manual action registry  1223 ,  1233 . The control screen  1200  allows an operator to review upcoming blocks  712  and to input manual actions in the manual action registry  1223 ,  1233 . An operator may change input actions by selecting a block  712  and then choose one of the operator controls  1210 . An operator may specify a slower speed by inputting the speed into the slow speed set point  1212  and then pressing the slow button  1211 . Alternatively, the control screen may have only one slow speed preset. The operator may input a splice or a stop by pressing the splice button  1213  or stop button  1214 , respectively. The operator may clear the manually inputted action by pressing the clear action button  1215 . The PLC  924  will control the converting line by the actions in the automatic action registry  1224 ,  1234  unless overridden by an action in the manual action registry  1223 ,  1233 . 
     In the present embodiment, the PLC  924  takes the actions assigned to a block  712  that is a predetermined number of blocks  712  behind the mark read by the mark reading unit  1060 , as discussed above. On the control screen  1200  shown in  Figures 15A and 15B , this is illustrated by mark read line  1241  and send action line  1243 . The operator may select a predetermined number of blocks by changing values assigned to the look ahead distance  1242 . In this embodiment, when a two-ply paper product is being created on the converting line  1000 , the speed for the converting line will be set for a particular segment by the slowest speed in the active action registry for either ply. When there is a splice, however, the action will be taken for only one parent roll. 
     We will now describe a preferred embodiment of our invention with reference to  FIGS. 16 to 19 . In this preferred embodiment, the inputs assigned and used for converting line control are the action score and quality score.  FIG. 16  is a flowchart showing an overall process flow of our invention. As described in the embodiments discussed above, our invention is implemented to a paper machine  100 , an analysis tool, and a converting line  1000 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that the analysis tool may be co-located at either the paper machine  100  or converting line  1000  or may be at a separate location. In our invention, a web is inspected at step S 1310  and the results of the inspection are used to identify defects in the web at step S 1320 . Also, at the paper machine  100 , the web is periodically marked and both the mark  210  and the time of marking is recorded in step S 1330 . In step S 1350 , other web properties  1340 , such as tensile strength and basis weight (discussed above), are used to aggregate the defects identified in step S 1320  over a particular time interval. Also, in this step S 1350 , inputs for converting line control (i.e., action score and quality score in this embodiment) are assigned to a mark  210  applied to the web in step S 1330 . On the converting line  1000 , the marks are read in step S 1360 . The action score, action footage, and quality score assigned to the read mark  210  are obtained in step S 1370 . In step S 1380 , the converting line parameters, such as converting line speed, are adjusted based upon the inputs obtained in step S 1370 . 
     Steps S 1310 , S 1320 , and S 1330  shown in  FIG. 16  will now be described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 17 . In step S 1410 , the web inspection system detects candidate defects. The web inspection system then determines whether the candidate defect is a true defect or a false defect using, for example, the method described in U.S. Patent Appln. Pub. No. 2012/0147177 (the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety). For those defects that are true defects, the defect properties such as size and position are determined by the defect inspection system in step S 1430 . These defect properties for each true defect are then recorded in defect database  1400 . The web is also marked with a roll identification mark  610  at a set periodicity by a web marking unit  171 ,  172  in step S 1450 . In step S 1460 , the roll identification mark  610  and the time the mark is made on the web is then recorded in defect database  1400 . Similarly, the web is marked with a location mark  620  in step S 1470 , and then, in step S 1480 , this mark  620  and time of marking is recorded in defect database  1300 . In the single mark embodiment, steps S 1470  and S 1480  may be omitted. 
     Step S 1350  shown in  FIG. 16  will now be described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 18 . In step S 1520 , the defect data from the defect database  1300  and other paper web properties such as paper web moisture content  1511 , paper web basis weight  1512 , paper web tensile strength  1513 , the paper machine parameters used to derive web properties  1514 , and TAPPI ID number  1514  are aggregated into a database and aligned in step S 1530  within the database according to the master timestamp to form a consolidated database  1502 . The consolidated database is then analyzed in step S 1530  according to a predetermined set of rules to assign the action scores and quality scores to each block of the parent roll. Step S 1530  may be executed using the process described above in reference to  FIGS. 9A to 9M . Then, as described in reference to  FIG. 9N , the action footage is assigned in step S 1540  to form the scored database  1504 . These rules may be adjusted periodically in step S 1550  based upon performance data  1680  from the converting line  1000 . 
     Steps S 1360 , S 1370 , and S 1380  shown in  FIG. 16  will now be described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 19 . A mark reading unit  1060  reads the mark  610 ,  620  in step S 1610 . The action score, quality score, action footage, and current footage is the obtained for the mark read in step S 1620  from the scored database  1504 . The footage of the parent roll  190  is continually being calculated as the parent roll is consumed in the converting line  1000 . This is referred to as the rewinder footage and tracked in step S 1640 . But, the rewinder footage is updated based on the mark just read in step S 1630  using the current footage obtained in step S 1620 . As the rewinder footage is tracked in step S 1640 , the distance required to execute the next action based on the action score obtained in step S 1620  (“required distance”) is compared to the rewinder footage in step S 1650 . If the rewinder footage is less than or equal to the required distance, the converting line  1000  takes the action assigned to the action score in step S 1660 . If the rewinder footage is greater than the required distance, the converting line  1000  then check, if a new mark has been read by the mark reading unit  1060  in step S 1670 . If no new mark has been read, the process returns to step S 1640 , but if a new mark has been read the process returns to S 1620 . 
     Additionally, performance data can be collected to improve the assignment of action scores and quality scores. In this case, the specific location marks read are recorded in step S 1682 . In addition, converting line performance information is recorded in step S 1684 . This performance information may include operating parameters of the converting line, such as speed and when any unanticipated web failures occurred on the converting line or high speed video images of the web failures. This information may also include manual override action scores. The performance information and associated location marks  620  may be recorded as converting line performance data  1680  and used to adjust the rules to assign actions, or assign fault codes and severity levels (as discussed above). 
     We will now describe an alternate preferred embodiment of our invention with reference to  FIGS. 20 to 22 . In this preferred embodiment, the inputs assigned and used for converting line control are the fault codes and severity levels. This embodiment is similar to the embodiment described above in reference to  FIGS. 16 to 19 . We will focus our discussion of this alternate embodiment to the different features of this alternate embodiment, and we will use the same reference numerals to reference the same or similar features. 
       FIG. 20  is a flowchart showing an overall process flow of our invention, similar to that shown in  FIG. 16 . In step S 1710 , other web properties  1340  are used to aggregate the defects identified in step S 1320  over a particular time interval. The defect code and severity level are also assigned in step S 1710 . On the converting line, the marks read in step S 1360  are used to obtain the fault codes and severity, in step S 1720 . In step S 1720 , the converting line parameters, such as converting line speed, are adjusted based upon the inputs obtained in step S 1730 . 
     Step S 1710  shown in  FIG. 20  will now be described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 21 . Step S 1520  is similar to that described above in reference to  FIG. 18 . Here, however, the defects and web properties are aggregated and aligned into consolidated database  1800 . The consolidated database  1800  is then analyzed in step S 1810  according to a predetermined set of rules to assign inputs for converting line control to each block  712  ( FIG. 7 ) of the parent roll in the consolidated database  1800 . The predetermined set of rules may include those rules discussed above in conjunction with the process to assign fault codes and severity levels. These rules may be adjusted periodically in step S 1550  based upon performance data  1960  from the converting line  1000 . 
     Steps S 1360 , S 1720 , and S 1730  shown in  FIG. 20  will now be described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 22 . A mark reading unit  1060  reads both a roll identification mark  610  in step S 1910  and a location mark  620  in step S 1920 . In the single mark embodiment, only one mark is read in step S 1910 . In step S 1930 , the fault code and severity levels for upcoming blocks  712  are obtained from the consolidated database  1800 . Then, converting line actions are assigned in step S  1940  to each of the upcoming blocks  712  according to a predetermined set of rules for that particular converting line  100 . Steps S 1910  through S  1940  are repeated as successive marks are read on the paper web  102 ,  103 . As each location mark is read, the actions to adjust converting line parameters that are associated with that mark are taken, in step S 1950 . As discussed above, the actions taken in step S 1950  may be the actions assigned to a block  712  a predetermined number of blocks from the mark read by the reading unit  1060 . 
     Performance data can also be collected in this embodiment to improve the assignment of fault codes and actions taken by the converting line  1000 . In this case, the specific location marks read are recorded in step S 1961 . In addition, converting line performance information is recorded in step S 1962 . This performance information may include operating parameters of the converting line, such as speed and when any unanticipated web failures occurred on the converting line or high speed video images of the web failures. The performance information and associated location marks  620  may be recorded as converting line performance data  1960  and used to adjust the rules to assign actions or assign fault codes and severity levels (as discussed above). 
     Although this invention has been described in certain specific exemplary embodiments, many additional modifications and variations would be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of this disclosure. It is, therefore, to be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. Thus, the exemplary embodiments of the invention should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive, and the scope of the invention to be determined by any claims supportable by this application and the equivalents thereof, rather than by the foregoing description. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The invention can be used to produce desirable paper products, such as paper towels and bath tissue. Thus, the invention is applicable to the paper products industry.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3