Method and measuring device for measuring recycled fibre pulp

Abstract

A measuring device is provided that includes a camera, and an image-processing unit and a fractionating pipe. The receives a sample from recycled fibre pulp of a recycled fibre process and arranges the particles of the flowing sample in accordance with particle size. The measuring device processes the sample as at least two fractions according to particle size. The camera images at least one fraction. The image-processing unit receives images imaged by the camera and measures at least one parameter of an added substance in at least one imaged fraction.

1 . A method of measuring recycled fibre pulp, in the manufacture of which at least one of the following was used: paper, paperboard, pasteboard, and
 at least one added substance having been transferred to the surface of the paper, paperboard, pasteboard, the method comprising:   taking a sample from the recycled fibre pulp of the recycled fibre process into a fractionating pipe;   arranging the particles of the flowing sample in accordance with the particle size in the fractionating pipe;   processing the sample as at least two fractions according to the particle size in the fractionating pipe; and   measuring, with a sensor, at least one parameter of the at least one added substance of the at least one fraction.   
   
   
       2 . A method of measuring recycled fibre pulp, in the manufacture of which at least one of the following was used: paper, paperboard, pasteboard, and
 ink having been transferred to the surface of the paper, paperboard, pasteboard, the method comprising:   taking a sample from the recycled fibre pulp of the recycled fibre process into a fractionating pipe;   arranging the particles of the flowing sample in accordance with the particle size in the fractionating pipe;   processing the sample as at least two fractions according to the particle size in the fractionating pipe; and   measuring, with a sensor, at least one parameter of the ink of the at least one fraction.   
   
   
       3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 processing the sample as at least two fractions by imaging the different particle sizes of the sample flowing in the fractionating pipe with a camera;   and generating at least one image representative of at least one fraction with an image-processing unit from the images generated by the camera.   
   
   
       4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating at least two fractions from the sample flowing in the fractionating pipe;   imaging at least one fraction; and   measuring at least one parameter of at least one added substance of at least one fraction from at least one image generated.   
   
   
       5 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating a cake from at least one fraction;   imaging the cake generated from at least one fraction; and   measuring at least one parameter of at least one added substance of at least one fraction from at least one image generated.   
   
   
       6 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising measuring at least one parameter of at least one added substance of at least one fraction by spectrometry. 
   
   
       7 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 directing energy for achieving an acoustic response signal in the particles of a fraction; and   measuring at least one parameter of at least one added substance of at least one fraction acoustically.   
   
   
       8 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising measuring a parameter descriptive of the portion in the sample of at least one added substance adhered to the fibres. 
   
   
       9 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising measuring a parameter descriptive of the portion in the sample of at least one added substance detached from the fibres. 
   
   
       10 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising performing the measurement of the parameter by determining the difference between the distribution of at least one fraction measured after the desired subprocess and a predetermined distribution, wherein the predetermined distribution is descriptive of the desired distribution after the desired subprocess of the recycled fibre process. 
   
   
       11 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising adding colouring agent to the sample for facilitating the measurement of the added substance. 
   
   
       12 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the added substance is at least one of ink, plastic, wax, metal, or a hydrophobic substance. 
   
   
       13 . A measuring device for measuring recycled fibre pulp in a recycled fibre process, in the manufacture of which at least one of the following was used: paper, paperboard, pasteboard, and
 at least one added substance having been transferred to the surface of the paper, paperboard, pasteboard, the measuring device comprising:   a fractionating pipe adapted to receive a sample from the recycled fibre pulp of the recycled fibre process and to arrange the particles of the flowing sample in accordance with the particle size, a sensor and a signal processing unit, wherein   the measuring device is adapted to process the sample as at least two fractions according to the particle size in the fractionating pipe;   the sensor is adapted to measure at least one fraction;   the signal processing unit is adapted to receive a measurement signal from the sensor and to determine at least one parameter of the at least one added substance of the at least one measured fraction.   
   
   
       14 . A measuring device for measuring recycled fibre pulp in a recycled fibre process, in the manufacture of which at least one of the following was used: paper, paperboard, pasteboard, and
 ink having been transferred to the surface of the paper, paperboard, pasteboard, the measuring device comprising:   a fractionating pipe adapted to receive a sample from the recycled fibre pulp of the recycled fibre process and to arrange the particles of the flowing sample in accordance with the particle size, a sensor and a signal processing unit, wherein   the measuring device is adapted to process the sample as at least two fractions according to the particle size in the fractionating pipe;   the sensor is adapted to measure at least one fraction;   the signal processing unit is adapted to receive a measurement signal from the sensor and to determine at least one parameter of the ink of the at least one measured fraction.   
   
   
       15 . A measuring device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the measuring device is arranged to process the sample as at least two fractions in such a manner that a camera serving as the sensor is adapted to image the different particle sizes of the sample flowing in the fractionating pipe; and the signal processing unit is adapted to determine at least one parameter of at least one added substance from at least one image generated by the camera and representing at least one fraction. 
   
   
       16 . A measuring device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein:
 the sensor is a camera adapted to image at least one fraction; and   the signal processing unit is adapted to determine at least one parameter of at least one added substance from at least one image generated by the camera and representing at least one fraction.   
   
   
       17 . A measuring device as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein:
 the measuring device is adapted to generate a cake from at least one fraction;   the camera is adapted to image said cake generated from at least one fraction; and   the signal processing unit is adapted to determine at least one parameter of at least one added substance from at least one image generated by the camera and representing at least one fraction.   
   
   
       18 . A measuring device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein:
 the sensor is a spectrometer adapted to measure at least one fraction; and   the signal processing unit is adapted to determine at least one parameter of at least one added substance from a signal generated by the spectrometer and representing at least one fraction.   
   
   
       19 . A measuring device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein:
 the measuring device comprises a source for directing energy to a fraction for achieving an acoustic response signal in the particles of the sample;   the sensor is an acoustic sensor adapted to receive an acoustic signal originating from at least one fraction; and   the signal processing unit is adapted to determine at least one parameter of at least one added substance from at least one signal generated by the sensor and representing at least one fraction.   
   
   
       20 . A measuring device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the signal processing unit is adapted to measure the parameter descriptive of the portion in the sample of at least one added substance adhered to the fibres. 
   
   
       21 . A measuring device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the signal processing unit is adapted to measure the parameter descriptive of the portion in the sample of at least one added substance detached from the fibres. 
   
   
       22 . A measuring device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the signal processing unit is adapted to measure the parameter by determining the difference between the distribution of at least one fraction measured after the desired subprocess and a predetermined distribution, and the predetermined distribution is descriptive of the desired distribution after the desired subprocess of the recycled fibre process. 
   
   
       23 . A measuring device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the measuring device is adapted to add colouring agent to the sample for facilitating the measurement of the added substance. 
   
   
       24 . A measuring device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the added substance is at least one of ink, plastic, wax, metal, or a hydrophobic substance.