Apparatus and method is provided for simulating behavior of a flexible medium for a plurality of times under different conditions. A component inside the conveyance path is displayed together with a plurality of locations in which abnormal behavior of the flexible medium has occurred based on a result of the simulation.

A method of operating an off-line finishing device for fiber webs, in particular an off-line slitter-winder for winding fiber webs, wherein in operating the off-line device the running speed is automatically optimized to minimize cost of web breaks. The method considers the costs associated with a web break during unwinding in addition to the cost benefit of maximizing web unwind speed so as to maximize machine utilization. The method determines an optimal web break stopping time in a web break situation and how often a web break is predicted. Automatic optimization incorporates limitations including the maximum rotation speed of the parent roll, the maximum speed of the fiber web being unwound, the maximum positive torque which can be applied to the parent roll to accelerate the parent roll to a rotation rate which produces a desired web speed, and maximum braking torque.

The measured winding diameter values Ds1(d) corresponding to the conveying distance d are measured by measuring the diameter of the printing medium M wound on the unwinding roll 71 by the diameter sensor 77. The measured winding diameter values Ds1(d) are smoothed by the low-pass filter to extract the smoothed winding diameter values Ds_avg1(d). By calculating the value of the diameter based on the initial diameter value Do1, the thickness value Tm and the conveying distance of the printing medium M, the calculated winding diameter values Dc1(d) are calculated. An operation of calculating the difference Ddiff1(d) between the calculated winding diameter value Dc1(d) and the smoothed winding diameter value Ds_avg1(d) while compensating for the delay by the low-pass filter is performed whereby the differences Ddiff1(d) are calculated. The calculated winding diameter value Dc1(d) are corrected by the differences Ddiff1(d).

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are described for forming individual packages in a food packaging machine (100) comprising a plurality of sub-systems. One or more local variable values (142) are received, which indicate measurements by the food packaging machine (100) of one or more physical parameters for a local sub-system (120). One or more remote variable values (204) are received, which indicate measurements by the food packaging machine (100) of one or more physical parameters for one or remote sub-systems. One or more control parameter values are determined for the local sub-system (120) of the food packaging machine (100), by processing the remote variable values (204) and the local variable values (142) using a reinforcement learning model (206) and a local control model (210). One or more control parameters of the local sub-system (120) are adjusted in accordance with the determined control parameter values. The formation of individual packages (122) by the food packaging machine (100) is controlled in accordance with the adjusted one or more control parameters.

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are described for controlling web tensioning in a food packaging machine comprising a plurality of sub-systems. One or more local variable value are received, which indicate measurements by the food packaging machine of one or more physical parameters for a web tensioning sub-system. One or more remote variable values are received, which indicate measurements by the food packaging machine of one or more physical parameters for one or remote sub-systems. One or more control parameter values are determined for the web tensioning sub-system, by processing the remote and the local variable values using a reinforcement learning model and a local control model. One or more control parameters of the web tensioning sub-system are adjusted in accordance with the determined control parameter values.

The present application relates to the technical field of fiber winding control, and provides a tension control method of a multi-bundle winding equipment combined driving system, which solves the problem that the tension fluctuates greatly and cannot be output constantly in the fiber winding process. The method includes: establishing a tension control system fractional order mathematical model; establishing a time-varying fractional order PID controller; inputting a target tension value and an unknown external interference to the tension control system fractional order mathematical model, and outputting a real-time tension value; and calculating a difference between the target tension value and the real-time tension value and then inputting the difference into the time-varying fractional order PID controller, inputting an output value of the time-varying fractional order PID controller and the unknown external interference into the tension control system fractional order mathematical model, and outputting a real-time tension value until the real-time tension value output by the tension control system fractional order mathematical model approaches the target tension value. The tension value output by the control system according to the present application can be well stabilized near the target tension value; and the system has high robustness when the tension changes suddenly.

An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a print engine to perform an image forming job, a motor to drive the print engine, a driving circuit, to supply a power to the motor, and including a sensor to sense an amount of current of the power supplied to the motor, and a processor to analyze a frequency component of the current supplied to the motor by using the amount of current sensed by the sensor for a predetermined time, and to determine an occurrence of a jam based on the analyzed frequency component.

A control system for a converting line has a sensor configured to sense a distance between the sensor and a surface of a roll of web material as the roll of web material is unwound from an unwinder and directed to the converting line. The controller is configured to: (i) determine a diameter measurement of the roll as the roll rotates based upon the sensor signals; (ii) store a plurality of data structures in a memory of a controller of a control system wherein the data structures comprise a plurality of data items associated together as the diameter measurements of the roll of the web material; (iii) process by a statistical regression analysis the data structures associated with the diameter; and (iv) generate signals for controlling the converting line based upon the processed diameter measurements.

A medium processing apparatus includes: an ultrasonic oscillator; an ultrasonic sensor arranged at a position that opposes the ultrasonic oscillator interposing a transport path of a medium; an amplification circuit configured to amplify an output signal of the ultrasonic sensor; an integration circuit configured to integrate an output signal of the amplification circuit; a discharge circuit configured to perform discharge of an electric charge of a power storage circuit included in the integration circuit; and a determination circuit configured to determine whether or not multi-feed of the medium occurs on the basis of an output signal of the integration circuit, in which the discharge circuit stops, after performing discharge over a first period or more, the discharge, and after a second period has passed, the determination circuit performs a first (an initial) determination whether or not the multi-feed of the medium occurs.

The roller-to-roller conveyance control apparatus includes an amplitude target setting unit that sets an amplitude target value of the tension deviation; an adjustment execution command generation unit that provides a command to adjust the control gain; an adjustment manipulated-variable output unit that outputs an adjustment manipulated variable; a manipulated-variable amplitude determination unit that increases the amplitude of the adjustment manipulated variable until the amplitude of the tension deviation becomes larger than the amplitude target value; and a control-gain calculation device that calculates the control gain from the amplitude and the vibration period of the tension deviation. A tension-shaft speed controller controls a tension-control-shaft motor on the basis of the line speed reference and the adjustment manipulated variable during the adjustment of the control gain.