Cleaning Blade Vibration Monitoring for Paper Roller Deposit Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing paper making systems face inefficiencies due to deposit buildup on rollers, leading to costly downtime and reduced paper quality, as conventional cleaning methods are ineffective and rely on unreliable visual inspection.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system with accelerometers on cleaning blades to detect vibrations, analyze the data to identify the cause of vibrations, and initiate corrective actions such as adjusting chemical application to prevent or reduce deposit formation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cleaning blades are used to remove deposits from rollers, then deposit removal effectiveness is improved, but blade wear and coating reduce cleaning effectiveness over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidblade service life
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of deposit buildup using vibration sensors and acoustic emission sensors before deposits significantly impact roller performance. This allows proactive cleaning scheduling, preventing the blade from becoming overloaded with deposits that would reduce its effectiveness and accelerate wear.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors vibration patterns and acoustic emissions from rollers during operation. When deposit buildup is detected through changes in vibration characteristics, the system provides feedback to trigger cleaning operations, ensuring blades clean rollers at optimal intervals rather than relying on fixed schedules or waiting for performance degradation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the system is shut down for blade cleaning or replacement, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but system downtime increases and paper output decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidpaper output
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system detects deposit buildup on rollers at early stages using vibration and acoustic emission monitoring, enabling cleaning to be performed before deposits reach levels that would require extended downtime for thorough cleaning or blade replacement. This preliminary detection allows for more frequent, shorter cleaning intervals that maintain productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses automated sensor-based detection to identify when cleaning is needed, eliminating the need for manual inspection and reducing unplanned downtime. The continuous monitoring allows the system to self-manage cleaning schedules based on actual deposit accumulation rather than fixed maintenance intervals, optimizing both cleaning effectiveness and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If visual inspection is used to detect deposits, then system complexity is reduced, but detection reliability and paper quality assurance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection system complexityVSAvoiddeposit detection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual visual inspection with automated vibration sensors and acoustic emission sensors that continuously monitor roller conditions. These sensors detect deposit buildup through changes in mechanical vibration patterns, providing objective, reliable detection without requiring human operators to visually inspect rollers, thereby improving detection reliability while adding only moderate system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses vibration patterns and acoustic emissions as intermediary indicators of deposit buildup. Rather than directly observing deposits through visual inspection, the sensors detect indirect mechanical signatures of deposit accumulation, providing reliable detection capability while maintaining relatively simple sensor-based architecture compared to complex imaging or direct observation systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Device complexity

If deposits are detected through paper defect inspection, then detection simplicity is maintained, but paper quality is already compromised and corrective action is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection system complexityVSAvoidtime to corrective action
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of deposit buildup on rollers using vibration and acoustic emission sensors before deposits transfer to paper and cause defects. This early detection enables corrective cleaning action to be taken while the paper-making process continues uninterrupted, preventing quality losses and reducing the time to corrective action compared to waiting for paper defect inspection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces paper defect inspection with direct mechanical monitoring of roller conditions through vibration sensors. By detecting deposit buildup on the source (roller) rather than detecting its effect on the product (paper defects), the system achieves simpler, more direct detection that enables earlier corrective action before quality is compromised.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances the detection and prevention of deposit buildup, reducing system downtime and improving paper quality by allowing proactive maintenance based on vibration analysis.

Implementation Method 1

an accelerometer configured to detect vibration of the cleaning blade or the blade holder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP3701084B1Deposit detection in a paper making system via vibration analysis
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 ECOLAB USA INC
  • EP3701084B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3701084B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3701084B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a paper making system comprising a plurality of guide rollers including a first guide roller, a carrier forming a continuous surface contacting the plurality of guide rollers, the carrier having a paper side and a back side and being configured to travel in a first direction around the plurality of guide rollers during a paper making process, a paper stock source configured to provide a paper stock to the paper side of the carrier, a cleaning blade arranged to clean the first guide roller, a vibration sensor configured to detect vibration of the cleaning blade, and a controller in communication with the vibration sensor and configured to receive vibration data from the vibration sensor, analyze the received vibration data, and if the vibration data satisfies a predetermined condition, initiate a corrective action. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for addressing the problem of deposits in a paper making system.