METHOD OF MONITORING A VIBRATORY GRINDING PROCESS

Abstract

In a method of monitoring a vibratory grinding process, parameters from different parameter groups are detected and evaluated to output a command for operating the vibratory grinding system.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A method of monitoring a vibratory grinding process in a vibratory grinding system in which, of at least three parameter groups of the vibratory grinding process, a respective at least one parameter is detected and supplied to an evaluation device that, after an analysis of the values of all the detected parameters, outputs a command for operating the vibratory grinding system by means of an output device, wherein, of the three parameter groups, a) a first parameter group comprises at least one machine parameter that is selected from the group that at least comprises: rotational speed, oscillation amplitude, temperature, energy consumption, and motor current of a machine operated in the vibratory grinding system; and b) a second parameter group comprises at least one process water parameter that is selected from the group that at least comprises: temperature, pH value, conductivity, refractive index, water hardness, compound concentration, foam formation, odor, metering quantities of process chemicals; and c) a third parameter group comprises at least one process parameter that is selected from the group that at least comprises: filling level, workpiece quantity, process medium consumption, throughput time, process time, abrasion quantities, process medium wear, production quantity, flow rate.

17. The method in accordance with claim 16, wherein at least one action instruction is output as a command.

18. The method in accordance with claim 16, wherein at least one control command is output as a command.

19. The method in accordance with claim 16, wherein the detection of the parameters takes place by a manual input into an input device.

20. The method in accordance with claim 16, wherein the detection of the parameters takes place in an automated manner and in particular takes place continuously.

21. The method in accordance with claim 16, wherein the parameters are transmitted to the evaluation device via remote data transmission.

22. The method in accordance with claim 16, wherein the command comprises outputting an alarm message.

23. The method in accordance with claim 16, wherein a parameter is detected in a parameter group in that an operator performs a visual and/or olfactory assessment and the result of this assessment is supplied to the evaluation device in the form of an assessment which can be preselected from a group.

24. The method in accordance with claim 16, wherein a parameter of a parameter group is detected by an image sensor and/or an odor sensor.

25. The method in accordance with claim 16, wherein the command comprises a request to an operator to initiate a maintenance of at least one component of the vibratory grinding system.

26. The method in accordance with claim 16, wherein at least one machine parameter of a vibratory grinding device, a centrifuge, a pump, and/or a waste water purification apparatus is detected in the first parameter group.

27. The method in accordance with claim 16, wherein to output the command, the detected parameters of all three parameter groups are correlated in the evaluation device.

28. An apparatus for carrying out a method of monitoring a vibratory grinding process in a vibratory grinding system in which, of at least three parameter groups of the vibratory grinding process, a respective at least one parameter is detected and supplied to an evaluation device that, after an analysis of the values of all the detected parameters, outputs a command for operating the vibratory grinding system by means of an output device, wherein, of the three parameter groups, a) a first parameter group comprises at least one machine parameter that is selected from the group that at least comprises: rotational speed, oscillation amplitude, temperature, energy consumption, and motor current of a machine operated in the vibratory grinding system; and b) a second parameter group comprises at least one process water parameter that is selected from the group that at least comprises: temperature, pH value, conductivity, refractive index, water hardness, compound concentration, foam formation, odor, metering quantities of process chemicals; and c) a third parameter group comprises at least one process parameter that is selected from the group that at least comprises: filling level, workpiece quantity, process medium consumption, throughput time, process time, abrasion quantities, process medium wear, production quantity, flow rate, the apparatus comprising the evaluation device that is connected to an input device and the output device and that is configured and adapted to detect said at least one machine parameter, said at least one process water parameter, and said at least one process parameter of a vibratory grinding process of a vibratory grinding system, to analyze the detected parameters in a correlated manner, and to output a command for operating the vibratory grinding system by means of the output device.

29. The apparatus in accordance with claim 28, wherein the input device is connected to a control unit of the vibratory grinding system and reads out at least one of the parameters from the control unit.

30. The apparatus in accordance with claim 28, wherein the output device is connected to a control unit of the vibratory grinding system and outputs at least one control command for operating the vibratory grinding system to the control unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The present invention will be described in the following purely by way of example with reference to an advantageous embodiment and to the enclosed drawing. There is shown:

[0025] FIG. 1 a highly schematized vibratory grinding system with an apparatus for monitoring the vibratory grinding process; and

[0026] FIG. 2 a schematic diagram of a monitoring apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary vibratory grinding system having a vibratory grinding device 10 that comprises a container 12 that can be set into vibration by means of a vibration motor 14. The vibratory grinding device 10 further has various sensors, for example, a filling level sensor 16 and a temperature sensor 18.

[0028] A control unit 20 is provided for the operation of the vibratory grinding device, for example, a PLC control that is in communication with all the electrical components of the vibratory grinding device 10. Thus, the control unit 20 not only outputs control signals to control the vibration motor 14 and to determine the filling level or the temperature within the container 12. The control unit 20 rather also detects the temperature, the energy consumption, the current, and the rotational speed of the drive motor 14. Furthermore, the control unit 20 controls all the feed valves and outlet valves and other components of the vibratory grinding device 10.

[0029] The container 12 of the vibratory grinding device 10 is in communication with a process water treatment system 26 via a drain line 22 and a feed line 24, wherein the process water treatment system 26 includes further components such as a centrifuge, a fresh water tank, a dirty water tank, a stirrer, filling level sensors, metering devices, lifting stations, pumps, sensors, and the like. Thus, the appearance, the temperature, the pH value, the conductivity, the refractive index, the water hardness, the odor, the degree of turbidity, the degree of transmission, or also a foam formation of the process water can be detected in the process water treatment system 26, in the container 12, in the wastewater treatment or elsewhere, wherein different ones of these parameters can also be varied by adding compound agents, wastewater treatment products, or fresh water. All of the detected process water parameters are transmitted via a data link 28 to an evaluation device 30 that is connected to the control unit 20 of the vibratory grinding device 10 via a further data link 32. The evaluation device 30 is furthermore connected to input devices M, P, and PW, by which further parameters of the three parameter groups can be input or detected, and to an output device 34 by which the output of commands for the operation of the vibratory grinding system and the process water treatment system is possible, for example, in the form of an action instruction and/or as a control command.

[0030] In operation, the evaluation device 30 detects a respective at least one parameter from the group of machine parameters, process water parameters, and process parameters and analyzes the detected parameters in a correlated manner. Due to the linked examination and evaluation of the parameters of the electrical components and the process water circuit and the vibratory grinding process per se, commands for the further operation of the vibratory grinding system can be output that enable the operator to return to regular operation.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of an apparatus for monitoring a vibratory grinding process. In this apparatus, an evaluation device 30 is again provided that receives parameters detected by a respective input device M, P, and PW. In this respect, machine parameters M1, M2, M3, . . . Mn are input into the input device M, while process parameters P1, P2, P3, . . . Pn are input into the input device P. Process water parameters PW1, PW2, PW3, . . . PWn are input into the input device PW.

[0032] A correlated evaluation of all the parameters of the three parameter groups is then performed in the evaluation device 30 and control commands are output to the control unit 20 of the vibratory grinding device 10 via a connected output device 34 or action instructions are output to an operator via a display 35.

[0033] Due to the correlated monitoring of the parameters from the three parameter groups described, it is possible to react to process anomalies. For example, it can be found in ongoing operation that the machine parameters of the input device M are within the prescribed limits, but that parameters are forwarded from the input device P and the input device PW to the evaluation device 30 that exceed or fall below predefined limits. Thus, it can, for example, be determined that not only the compound concentration is too low, but also that the grinding body quantity is below a predefined limit. Based on this check, the evaluation device 30 can then output the action instruction to add compound in the process water, on the one hand, and to increase the grinding body quantity, on the other hand.

[0034] It is understood that the method described above is only one example for correcting a process anomaly and that a plurality of limit values and correlations of the parameters are predefined in the evaluation device 30 so that a return to a regular operation can be made in the event of a process deviation.