Method for operating a packaging machine

Abstract

A method for operating a packaging machine having at least one electric drive motor, the drive motor driving at least one functional unit of the packaging machine in a program-controlled manner when producing packaging using the following steps: (a) loading a parameter set into the control of the packaging machine, the parameter set containing at least one load parameter which limits the torque or the current consumption of the drive motor to a maximum when producing packaging; (b) operating the packaging machine for producing packaging, the maximally occurring actual value of the torque mustered at the drive motor or the current consumed by the drive motor being measured during operation; (c) determining a new load parameter as a function of the maximum actual value; (d) saving the new load parameter in a parameter set allocated to the packaging to be produced.

Claims

1. A method for operating a packaging machine (15) having at least one electric drive motor (09), the drive motor (09) driving at least one functional unit (05) of the packaging machine (15) in a program-controlled manner when producing packaging (11) comprising: a) loading a parameter set into a controller of the packaging machine (15), the parameter set containing at least one load parameter (10) which limits the torque or the current consumption of the drive motor (09) to a maximum when producing packaging (11); b) operating the packaging machine (15) for producing packaging (11), the maximally occurring actual value (13) of the torque mustered at the drive motor (09) or of the current consumed by the drive motor (09) being measured during operation; c) determining a new load parameter (14) as a function of the maximum actual value; d) saving the new load parameter (14) in a parameter set allocated to the packaging (11) to be produced.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the new load parameter (14) is determined after a predetermined minimum number of packaging has been produced.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one load parameter (13) is automatically overwritten by the new load parameter (14).

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one load parameter (13) is overwritten by the new load parameter (14) after the user has affirmed a corresponding notification.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the new load parameter (14) is calculated using a linear formula as a function of the maximum actual value (13).

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the new load parameter (14) corresponds to 110% or 120% or 130% or 140% or 150% of the maximum actual value (13).

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a warning is issued upon exceeding a first load parameter during operation of the packaging machine (15).

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that an error message is issued upon exceeding a second load parameter during operation of the packaging machine (15).

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that an emergency shutdown signal is issued upon exceeding a third load parameter during operation of the packaging machine (15).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

(1) An embodiment of the invention is schematically illustrated in the drawings and is described in an exemplary manner in the following.

(2) In the figures,

(3) FIG. 1 shows a schematically illustrated packaging machine having a screw conveyor driven by a drive motor;

(4) FIG. 2 shows a schematically illustrated measurement diagram for displaying the measured actual torque of the drive motor;

(5) FIG. 3 shows a measurement diagram according to FIG. 2 after determining a new load parameter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) A metering device 01 is sketched in FIG. 1 which is part of a packaging machine 15. In this instance, dosage device 01 comprises an output container 02 which consists of a funnel 03 and a tube 04 connected thereto. Attached thereto is a stirrer 06 and a metering screw 05. As can be seen in the sketch, funnel 03, tube 04, stirrer 06 and metering screw 05 share a middle axis.

(7) A gap 08 is provided between stirrer 06 and funnel 03. From a functional viewpoint, gap 08 is as small as possible though large enough to prevent contact between stirrer 06 and funnel 03. The same principle applies to gap 07 between tube 04 and metering screw 05.

(8) Nevertheless, collision of the corresponding parts cannot be precluded by means of a small gap 07 or 08.

(9) Screw conveyor 05 is driven by a drive motor 09. For drive motor 09, a load parameter 10 (cf. FIG. 2) which is to prevent damage to drive motor 09 due to overload is stored in the control of packaging machine 15.

(10) FIG. 2 shows the measurement diagram for measuring the torque which is mustered by drive motor 09 and acts on screw conveyor 05 during production of packaging 11. Actual value 12 of the torque to be attained during production of packaging 11 rises periodically to a maximum value 13 and then drops back to zero. With each new packaging 11, a new value cycle of the torque mustered at screw conveyor 05 is run through.

(11) It is obvious that maximum actual value 13 of the torque mustered by drive motor 09 is far below load parameter 10 saved in the control. If actual torque 12 were to exceed maximum value 13 attained during normal operation during a fault, such as when the powder to be conveyed is packaged, then a fault would not be recognized by the control until load parameter 10 has been reached, though massive mechanical damage will have already been done to the screw conveyor in this instance.

(12) In order to preclude such damage, actual value 13 measured during normal operation is used for determining a new load parameter 14.

(13) As shown in FIG. 3, new load parameter 14 lies at 110% of measured maximum value 13 of the torque mustered by drive motor 09 during normal operation. In other words, this means that the performance threshold is not exceeded during normal operation when producing packaging 11. Should actual value 12 exceed new load parameter 14 as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 3, then a warning, an error message or an emergency shutdown signal can be issued. After a corresponding verification by a user, new load parameter 14 is stored in the parameter set allocated to packaging 11 and overwrites old load parameter 10.