Antistatic device and associated operating method

Abstract

An antistatic device for reducing electrostatic charges on moving material webs may include at least one active electrode assembly. The electrode assembly may include a plurality of active individual needle-shaped electrodes, which during operation may be electrically connected to an associated high voltage source. A controller may be included for controller the voltage source. The at least one active electrode assembly and the controller may be arranged in a housing. A signal device may be arranged at least one of in and on the housing. The signal device may include an optical indicator for outputting a signal to a user. The signal may correlate with at least one parameter of the material web. The at least one parameter may include a polarity of the material web.

Claims

1. An antistatic device for reducing electrostatic charges on moving material webs, comprising: a housing having a longitudinal extension and including a plurality of wall sections together defining an interior; at least one active electrode assembly including a plurality of active individual needle-shaped electrodes, the at least one electrode assembly during operation is electrically connected to an associated voltage source; a controller for controlling the voltage source; wherein the at least one active electrode assembly and the controller are arranged in the interior of the housing; a signal device including an optical indicator arranged at least one of in and on the housing, the optical indicator configured to output an optical signal to a user, which signal correlates with at least one parameter of the material web, wherein the at least one parameter includes a polarity of the material web; wherein the optical indicator extends along the longitudinal extension of the housing and circumferentially to the longitudinal extension along at least two of the plurality of wall sections to facilitate observation of the optical signal; wherein the at least one active electrode assembly includes at least two active electrode assemblies, the at least two active electrode assemblies including an active positive electrode assembly with a plurality of positive electrodes and an active negative electrode assembly with a plurality of negative electrodes; and wherein the housing further includes a central web disposed in the interior and extending along the longitudinal extension between the positive electrode assembly and the negative electrode assembly, the central web composed of an electrically insulating material to electrically isolate the positive electrode assembly from the negative electrode assembly.

2. The antistatic device according to claim 1, further comprising a power electronics arranged in the interior of the housing, the power electronics including the voltage source and at least one of a voltage converter and a frequency converter.

3. The antistatic device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one primary connection arranged on the housing for connecting the power electronics to an external voltage source.

4. The antistatic device according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor system for capturing parameters of at least one of the antistatic device, the material web and an associated production plant which is connected to the controller, wherein the sensor system is arranged in the interior of the housing.

5. The antistatic device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is coupled to the signal device and configured to drive the signal device in response to at least one parameter captured by the sensor system.

6. The antistatic device according to claim 1, wherein the optical indicator is arranged in the interior of the housing, and wherein the housing has at least one of a translucent area and an optically transparent area disposed complementary to the optical indicator along the at least two of the plurality of wall sections.

7. The antistatic device according to claim 1, further comprising an environmental sensor for recognizing environmental parameters, the environmental sensor configured to vary the signal output by the signal device.

8. The antistatic device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of a wireless communications interface and wired communications interface for communicating with another communications device.

9. The antistatic device according to claim 1, wherein the housing is at least partially filled with a casting compound and the at least one electrode assembly is electrically contacted with the casting compound, and wherein the casting compound is at least partially translucent at least in an area disposed complementary to the optical indicator.

10. A method for operating an antistatic device according to claim 1, comprising outputting, via the signal device, different signals in dependence of parameters of the material web, wherein at least one signal is output in dependence of the polarity of the material web.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein a signal is output in dependence of a polarity of a neutralization current.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising outputting at least one of different colors and different texts in dependence of at least one such parameter of at least one of the antistatic device, the material web and a production plant.

13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising outputting different frequencies of the respective signal in dependence of at least one such parameter of at least one of the antistatic device, the material web and a production plant.

14. The method according to claim 10, further comprising outputting at least one of different color combinations and frequency combinations in dependence of at least one such parameter of at least one of the antistatic device, the material web and a production plant.

15. The method according to claim 10, further comprising outputting, via the optical indicator, a colored signal for an at least predominantly negative polarization, and a differently colored signal for an at least predominantly positive polarization.

16. The antistatic device according to claim 1, wherein the optical indicator includes a plurality of illuminating units disposed in the interior of the housing and distributed along the longitudinal extension of the at least two of the plurality of wall sections, and wherein the at least two of the plurality of wall sections are at least translucent in an area covering the plurality of illuminating units.

17. An antistatic device for reducing electrostatic charges on moving material webs, comprising: an active positive electrode assembly including a plurality of active needle-shaped individual positive electrodes connected to a positive voltage source; an active negative electrode assembly include a plurality of active needle-shaped individual negative electrodes connected to a negative voltage source; a power electronics having a first unit electrically connected with the positive electrode assembly and a second unit electrically connected with the negative electrode assembly, wherein the respective units include the associated voltage source, a frequency converter and a voltage converter; a controller for controlling the first unit and the second unit of the power electronics; a sensor system in communication with the controller configured to detect parameters of at least one of the power electronics, the positive electrode assembly, the negative electrode assembly, the material web and a production plant; a signal device having an optical indicator for outputting a signal to a user, the signal corresponding to at least one parameter of the material web, the at least one parameter including a polarity of the material web; a housing having a longitudinal axis containing the positive electrode assembly, the negative electrode assembly, the power electronics, the controller, the sensor system and the signal device, wherein the housing includes at least one of a translucent section and an optically transparent section; and a central web composed of an electrically insulating material disposed in the housing, the central web extending transversely in the housing along the longitudinal axis and separating the positive electrode assembly and the first unit of the power electronics from the negative electrode assembly and the second unit of the power electronics; wherein the optical indicator is arranged in an area of at least one of the translucent section and the optically transparent section.

18. The antistatic device according to claim 17, wherein the housing further includes a plurality of wall sections extending along the longitudinal axis, and wherein the optical indicator includes an arrangement of illuminating units extending along the longitudinal axis of the housing and circumferentially to the longitudinal axis along at least two of the plurality of wall sections to facilitate observation of the signal.

19. The antistatic device according to claim 17, wherein the housing is at least partially filled with a casting compound disposed in electrical contact with at least one of the positive electrode assembly and the negative electrode assembly, and wherein the casting compound is at least partially translucent in an area disposed complementary to the optical indicator.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the schematically drawn figures,

(2) FIG. 1 shows a strongly simplified view of a production plant in the area of an antistatic device,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a section through an antistatic device in a top view,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a lateral view of the antistatic device,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a lateral view of another embodiment of the antistatic device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) FIG. 1 shows a production plant 1 in which a material web 2 is moved in a movement direction 3. The production plant 1 comprises an antistatic device 4, with the aid of which an electrostatic charge on the material web 2 is reduced and preferably eliminated or neutralized. Purely as an example five positive charge units 5 are indicated in FIG. 1 upstream of the antistatic device 4 on the material web 2 with reference to a movement direction 3, which are existent on the material web 2 for production reasons. In the area of the antistatic device 4 five negative charge units 6 are indicated, which are generated with the aid of the antistatic device 4 and which cause neutralization of the five positive charge units and remove these. In the ideal case illustrated the material web 2, with reference to its movement direction 3, is charge-free or charge-neutral downstream of the antistatic device 4.

(7) According to FIG. 2 an antistatic device 4 comprises at least one active electrode assembly 7, wherein the shown electrode assembly 7 comprises two such active electrode assemblies 7, i.e. one active positive electrode assembly 7′ and one active negative electrode assembly 7″. The respective electrode assembly 7 comprises several needle-shaped electrodes 8, wherein in the shown embodiment three needle-shaped electrodes 8 are shown for each electrode assembly 7, purely as an example. The positive electrode assembly 7 comprises positive electrodes 8′, whilst the negative electrode assembly 7 comprises negative electrodes 8″. Each electrode assembly 7 is supplied with an electric voltage from a power electronics 9 provided in the antistatic device 4, wherein the power electronics 9 comprises to units 10, of which one unit 10′ is electrically connected with the positive electrode assembly 7′ whilst the other unit 10″ is electrically connected with the negative electrode assembly 7″. The respective unit 10 comprises a frequency converter 11, a voltage converter 12 and a high voltage source 13. With the aid of the power electronics 9 a primary voltage made available by an electric primary supply is converted into a voltage required by the respective electrode assembly 7. Thus the respective unit 10 of the power electronics 9 is able to convert the primary voltage into another, in particular a higher voltage. For example the voltage converter 11 can convert the primary voltage into a high voltage and make this available to the associated electrode assembly 7 with the aid of the respective high voltage source 13. A change in the frequency of the primary voltage is effected with the aid of the respective frequency converter 12, wherein the respective frequency converter 12 can convert an alternating primary voltage into a direct voltage or a voltage with another frequency and vice versa. The voltage converter 11 and the frequency converter 12 may both be configured as inverters. Also, the high voltage source 13 may be configured together with the voltage converter 11 and/or the frequency converter 12. The unit 10′ of the power electronics 9, in particular the associated voltage converter 11 and/or the frequency converter 12, is designed or configured such that it makes a positive voltage available to the positive electrode assembly 7′. Further the other unit 10″ of the power electronics 9, in particular the associated voltage converter 11 and/or the frequency converter 12, is designed or configured such that it makes a negative voltage available to the negative electrode assembly 7″.

(8) The power electronics 9, in particular the voltage converter 11, converts common-household voltages which normally lie in the low voltage range between 100 and 400V, into a high voltage which may lie in the range between 1000V and a few thousand volts.

(9) Moreover, the antistatic device 4 comprises a controller 14 for controlling the respective unit 10 of the power electronics 9, in particular the respective high voltage source 13. To this end the controller 14 is connected to the respective unit 10 of the power electronics 9. Furthermore the antistatic device 4 comprises a sensor system 15 which can detect parameters of the antistatic device 4 or the production plant 11 and of the material web 2 and forward these to the controller 14. For example the sensor system 15 can detect a neutralization current flowing through the charge units 6 of the electrode assembly 7 based on the reduction or neutralization of the charge units 5 of the material web 2. Further the sensor system 15 can detect the voltage applied to the respective electrode assembly 7 and/or a speed of movement and/or direction of movement 3 of the material web 2. Further the sensor system 15 is able to detect an operating state of the antistatic device 4 as well as of the production plant 2. To this end the sensor system 15 is designed and equipped in the known manner. In particular the sensor system 15 may be connected to the production plant 1 and/or to the power electronics 9 and/or to the respective electrode assembly 7 or the respective electrode 8.

(10) The antistatic device 4 further comprises a signal device 16 which in the example shown comprises two optical indicating means 17. The respective optical indicating means 17 extends along a longitudinal extension 18 of a housing 19 of the antistatic device 4 and is arranged in the housing 19. The signal device 16 is used to output a signal in dependence of parameters of the antistatic device 4 and/or the production plant 1 and/or the material web 2, which have been detected in particular via the sensor system 15, wherein the optical indicating means 17 outputs optical signals.

(11) As can be seen in FIG. 2, the electrode assembly 7′, 7″, the controller 14, the sensor system 15 as well as the power electronics 9 and the signal device 16 are all arranged in the housing 19 of the antistatic device 4. This permits a compact and space-saving design of the antistatic device 4. Moreover there is now no need for connecting the antistatic device 4 to components external to the housing 19, such as electrical components such as voltage converters and the like, making it possible to connect the antistatic device 4 to just a normal electrical port such as a socket or similar and thus rendering it operable.

(12) The antistatic device 4, in the embodiment shown, comprises two primary connections 20 for connecting the antistatic device 4 to an external voltage source which in particular may correspond to a normal electrical connection of an industrial plant or a household-type voltage source offering a primary voltage. The primary connections 20 are arranged on an outside face 21 of the antistatic device 4 thereby making them accessible from outside and making it easy to connect the antistatic device 4 to an electric primary supply.

(13) Furthermore a central web 22 is arranged within the housing 19 of the antistatic device 4, which web extends along the longitudinal extension 18 between the electrode assemblies 7′, 7″ and the units 10′, 10″ of the power electronics 9. The central web 22 is made of an electrically insulating material in order to ensure the electrical isolation between the positive electrode assembly 7′ and the negative electrode assembly 7″ as well as between the units 10′, 10″ of the power electronics 9 and thus in particular to prevent short-circuits or the like between these components of the antistatic device 4. The central web 22 is preferably shaped in such a way that it protrudes beyond the electrodes 8 or their tips.

(14) The controller 14 is configured or programmed to enable it to drive the respective unit 10 of the power electronics 9 in particular in dependence of the polarity of the material web 2 and/or of the neutralization current. As such, for example, only the positive electrode assembly 7′ may be supplied with a positive voltage if the polarity of the material web 2 is negative. Similarly only the negative electrode assembly 7″ may be supplied with a negative voltage if the polarity of the material web is positive. The controller 14 may also be used to control or alter the signal output by the signal device 16 or the respective optical indicating means 17. The controller 14 alters the optical signal output by the respective optical indicating means 17 in dependence of said parameters of the antistatic device 4 and/or the production plant 1 and/or the material web 2.

(15) In the example shown the respective optical indicating means 17 comprises, purely as an example, ten illuminating units 23, which may e.g. each be configured as a light-emitting diode 23′ or a pixel matrix 23″. The respective optical indicating means 17 is able to represent at least two different colors. This can e.g. be realized in that at least two illuminating units 23 output different colors or that at least one of the illuminating units 23 outputs different colors. The respective optical indicating means 17 may therefore be configured in particular as a RGB LED strip. In particular the controller 14 may drive the respective optical indicating means 17 in such a way that different color combinations and/or frequencies or repetition rates can be output. For example the respective optical indicating means 17 may output a yellow or green-yellow signal, if there is a fault in the antistatic device 4 and/or the production plant 1. Further the respective optical indicating means 17 may signal the polarity of the material web 2 or the electrodes 8 with a corresponding color. As such the respective optical indicating means 17 could e.g. show blue if the material web 2 or the electrodes 8 comprise a negative polarity, and red if the material web 2 comprises a positive polarity or vice versa. Also a flashing signal may be used to warn of, or point to, a fault or of a repair or maintenance which is due or will be due soon. As such the respective optical indicating means 17 may e.g. flash if such an electrode 8 or several such electrodes 8 have to be replaced due to contamination or the like. This can be indicated by a corresponding colour such as yellow or yellow-green. By contrast the respective optical indicating means 17 may show green if there is no fault and/or if the electrostatic charge of the material web 2 is reduced or neutralized. In particular green may be shown on switch-on or start-up of the antistatic device 4 and/or the material web 2 and/or the production plant 1 and then be replaced by the color representing the polarity, i.e. in particular red or blue. The display or output of the color reflecting the polarity is continuous, i.e. not flashing, until a fault occurs, for example in the form of increasing contamination of the electrodes 5. Thereafter the polarity display is interrupted at specified frequencies by a color or color combination signaling this fault, for example yellow or yellow-green. As the intensity of the fault, in particular an increasing contamination of the electrodes 8, increases, the frequency changes to the extent that eventually, when e.g. maintenance is due, only the color signaling the fault, in particular yellow or yellow-green, is output. Thus the state of the antistatic device 4 and/or the material web 2 and/or the production plant 1 can be intuitively recognized without the need for special language skills or technical skills. The indicating means 17, in particular the diodes 23′, can be used to optically represent a text. Text output and color output can, of course, be randomly combined.

(16) In principle the antistatic device 4, in particular the housing 19, may have any given dimensions. For example a length 24 of the housing 19 extending along the longitudinal extension 18 may be e.g. between 300 mm and 2000 mm, preferably between 300 mm and 600 mm. Also a width 25 of the housing 19 may be in particular 20 mm to 25 mm, whilst a height 26 (see FIG. 3) of the housing 19 is preferably between 30 mm and 35 mm.

(17) The respective optical indicating means 17 is arranged in the housing 19 in a translucent area 27 of the housing 19 so that it is visible from outside and the optical signals output by it are observable. The respective optically translucent area 27 of the housing 19 is shaped so as to complement the associated optical indicating means 17 and thus comprises a strip-like form. In addition the housing 19 comprises such an associated translucent area 27 both on the top surface shown in FIG. 2 and on the side surface to the respective optical indicating means 17, thus enabling the respective illuminating unit 23 of the associated optical indicating means to be visible both from the top surface and from side surface of the housing 19.

(18) According to FIG. 2 the antistatic device 4 further comprises an environmental sensor unit 28 which can detect environmental parameters of the antistatic device 4 and/or production plant 1. For example the environmental sensor unit 28 may detect an environmental sound intensity and/or an environmental light intensity. These environmental parameters ascertained by the environmental sensor unit 28 are communicated to the controller 14, and the controller 14 adjusts the light intensity of the optical signal output by the respective optical indicating means 17 such that it is recognizable despite the environmental light intensity.

(19) Furthermore a wireless communications interface 29 can be recognized in FIG. 2, which is arranged in the housing 19 and is connected with the controller 14. It would also be possible to attach the wireless communications interface 29 to the outside of the housing 19. With the aid of the wireless communications interface 29 it is possible to communicate with an external communications device, e.g. with a computer, a controller or the like, wherein this communication and therefore the sending and receiving of communication data or data is effected wirelessly. This means that there is no longer any need for a physical connection of the antistatic device 4 with said communication device, thus further improving handling of the antistatic device 4.

(20) The wireless communications interface 29 may, for example, be used to remotely reprogram the controller 14 in order to change the voltage applied to the electrodes 8. Also the signals output by the signal device 16 may be influenced in that, for example, threshold values affecting the signal output or the signals themselves are changed. Further with the aid of the wireless communications interface 29 the parameters may be transmitted to the associated communication device without the need for a physical connection, in particular a cable.

(21) Further the output of the signal may also be effected by means of the signal device 16 via the wireless communications interface 29, which forwards the respective data to an external device which outputs a signal which correlates with the signal output by the signal device 16. This means that e.g. a remote location, which the signal of the signal device 16 cannot reach, in particular a remote space or room, can be supplied with the signal.

(22) FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the antistatic device 4. The variant of the antistatic device 4 shown in FIG. 4 compared with the examples in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, comprises an increased number of illuminating units 23, in particular light-emitting diodes 23′, which are evenly distributed over the entire side surface shown, i.e. over the entire length 24 and over the entire width 26 of the side surface. This means that the entire side surface shown is essentially translucent or transparent so that the signal output by the illuminating units 23 is observable from outside. With this variant the indicating means 17 extends over at least one further side surface, preferably over all side surfaces of the antistatic device 4. The housing 19 is thus used as an indicator or part of the indicating means 17, and due to the translucent or transparent design can “shine” when the respective signal is output. Thus signal output is very clear and the signal can be easily observed. The illuminating units 23, in particular the light-emitting diodes 23′ and/or the translucent area 27 of the housing 19 are cast in the profile of the housing 19. Also, due to the increased number or density of the illuminating units 23 a text output or text output at an increased resolution may be effected by means of the illuminating units 23. The text output can be combined at random with the color outputs. As such colors and text can be output alternately or in different areas, simultaneously or alternately. It is also feasible to output or represent texts with different colors.