Collecting data includes generating a sensor signal from each of a plurality of sensors located on a sensing roll, wherein each signal is generated when each sensor enters a region of a nip between the sensing roll and mating roll during each rotation of the sensing roll; wherein a web of material travels through the nip and a continuous band contacts a region of the web of material upstream from or at the nip. A periodically occurring starting reference is generated associated with each rotation of the continuous band and the signal generated by each sensor is received so that the one of the plurality of sensors which generated this signal is determined and one of a plurality of tracking segments associated with the continuous band is identified. The signal is stored to associate the respective sensor signal with the identified one tracking segment.

According to examples, an apparatus may include a processor that may access information about a screen device having pores, in which the screen device is to be employed to filter liquid from a slurry composed of the liquid and material elements to form a part from the material elements. The processor may also access information about a main body, in which the main body is to support the screen device during formation of the part and has a plurality of openings that are larger than the pores in the screen device. The processor may identify, based on relative locations of the pores and the openings, pores that are to be removed from the screen device to increase uniformity of liquid flow through the pores across the screen device and may modify the accessed information about the screen device to remove the identified pores from the screen device.

According to examples, an apparatus may include a processor that may access information about a screen device having pores, in which the screen device is to be employed to filter liquid from a slurry composed of the liquid and material elements to form a part from the material elements. The processor may also access information about a main body, in which the main body is to support the screen device during formation of the part and has a plurality of openings that are larger than the pores in the screen device. The processor may identify, based on relative locations of the pores and the openings, pores that are to be removed from the screen device to increase uniformity of liquid flow through the pores across the screen device and may modify the accessed information about the screen device to remove the identified pores from the screen device.

A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a defibrating unit that generates a defibrated material, a web forming unit that generates a web, a supply pipe that supplies a mixture together with air, and a sheet forming unit that presses the web to generate a sheet, the supply pipe is provided with a first rectifying plate having a substantially trapezoidal shape and extending in a supply direction of the mixture, and the first rectifying plate has a first base angle formed by a lower base in contact with an internal wall of the supply pipe and a first leg located upstream in the supply direction, the first base angle being 25 or more and less than 45, and a second base angle formed by the lower base and a second leg located downstream in the supply direction, the second base angle being 55 or more and less than 85.

A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a defibrating unit that generates a defibrated material, a web forming unit that generates a web, a supply pipe that supplies a mixture together with air, and a sheet forming unit that presses the web to generate a sheet, the supply pipe is provided with a first rectifying plate having a substantially trapezoidal shape and extending in a supply direction of the mixture, and the first rectifying plate has a first base angle formed by a lower base in contact with an internal wall of the supply pipe and a first leg located upstream in the supply direction, the first base angle being 25 or more and less than 45, and a second base angle formed by the lower base and a second leg located downstream in the supply direction, the second base angle being 55 or more and less than 85.