WO2004017771A1

WO2004017771A1 - Method for operating a tobacco industry production or packaging machine

Info

Publication number: WO2004017771A1
Application number: PCT/EP2003/009066
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bernhard Brinkmann; Ralf Heikens; Frank Grothaus; Peter Kalus; Jürgen Wendner; Dierk Wedekind
Original assignee: Hauni Maschinenbau Ag
Priority date: 2002-08-16
Filing date: 2003-08-15
Publication date: 2004-03-04
Also published as: ATE354978T1; EP1528866A1; AU2003263222A1; EP1389431A1; DE50306679D1; EP1528866B1

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for operating a tobacco industry production or packaging machine using at least one drive member. The invention is characterized in that the operating characteristics of said drive member are sensed and recorded. The invention also concerns a method for operating a fan rotor mounted in a tobacco industry machine, and the use of a fan rotor in a tobacco industry machine.

Description

Process for operating a manufacturing or packaging machine in the tobacco processing industry

description

The invention relates to a method for operating a manufacturing or packaging machine in the tobacco processing industry with at least one drive element. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating a fan impeller in a machine in the tobacco processing industry, and to the use of a fan impeller in a machine in the tobacco processing industry.

In the manufacture of cigarettes, fan impellers are used to generate suction flows. By means of the suction streams, for example, endless cigarette strands are formed from a tobacco shower. In addition, the blowers are used in filter attaching machines, with the vacuum generated holding cigarette components, in particular filters and double-length cigarettes. A fan wheel for tobacco processing machines the industry is disclosed, for example, in DE-A-37 00 230.

The impellers are subject to constant, permanent wear as a result of the abrasive particles in the suction air being conveyed.

The material of the blades of the impeller is continuously removed by the continuously conveyed particles. In order to solve this problem, the published patent application DE-A-37 00 230 proposes to provide the fan blades with a wear-resistant surface coating.

In addition, the operation of a machine in the tobacco processing industry requires that the condition of the impellers must be checked regularly in order to prevent damage from impeller particles that may fly around in the blower.

The inspection is usually carried out visually, so that the connection opening must be exposed for the visual inspection of the impellers. Overall, the effort for checking the wheels is considerable.

It is also up to the assessor to assess the wear of the fan blades, who must recognize the erosion and washouts that are barely visible. For trouble-free operation, the fan wheels must be checked at regular and short intervals (approximately every 300 operating hours). In addition, the wear limit is not clearly defined by the visual assessment and very much depends on the experience of the operating personnel.

Based on the prior art mentioned, it is an object of the present invention to improve the operation of a machine in the tobacco processing industry and in particular also Simplify monitoring of fan wheel wear in a tobacco processing machine.

The object is achieved by a method for operating a tobacco processing manufacturing or packaging machine

Industry with at least one work organ, which is further developed in that operating characteristics of the at least one work organ are recorded and recorded. The recording of operating characteristics, for example of servo drives, makes it possible for operating states of the machine to be recorded permanently and to be accessible to operating personnel. The recording enables the operating personnel to obtain information about the operation of the machine directly or at a later point in time, so that, for example, better maintenance and adjustment of the machine is ensured. As drive mechanisms too

Servo drives understood, in which the operating speed, the torque, the position control difference (following error), the position setpoints, the actual position values and motor temperature can be recorded. According to the invention, several operating features can be recorded simultaneously. The availability of data on the drive elements or the drive systems enables preventive maintenance of the machine or the work elements and early detection of wear. Overall, maintenance management for the machine or individual machine components is improved. Another particular advantage is that

Monitoring and compliance with predetermined operating parameters so that overall control of the machine is increased.

It is also advantageous if the operating features are recorded continuously or after a trigger event. The

Recording or saving is started by triggering in particular a selectable trigger condition. This trig- A condition can be an event, for example triggering a sensor or reaching limit values of a measurement signal. If this trigger event occurs, the selected data is recorded. This makes it possible to record data from the machine or the drive element at the time an error occurs, so that it can then be evaluated for analysis purposes. Another advantage of this function is that in the event of a fault, the machine does not have to be started repeatedly so that the service personnel can understand the machine fault. In this case, the data is already available when the service personnel are at the

Troubleshooting is called. This saves material and time, so that the analysis or diagnosis can be carried out immediately.

A pre-trigger function is achieved when a recording, preferably for a predetermined period of time, takes place before the trigger event. This allows the data of the drive system or drive member to be saved before the event occurs and evaluated at a later point in time for analysis purposes. The time that is saved before the event occurs can be predetermined or configured. The pre-trigger function can be set so that the recording of the time of the fault is documented in any case. The events and states before the triggering signal are e.g. detected by a sensor and can be prepared and analyzed for diagnostic purposes.

If, for example, the drive characteristic data of a servo drive, for example torque and position control difference, is monitored, mechanical faults can be detected, for example. This case can be diagnosed if the torque of the drive increases before the value of the position difference increases. The drive tries to maintain the specified speed, but is forced to increase it Generate torque to compensate for mechanical locking or blocking. If, however, the torque of the drive is limited, the drive can no longer follow its setpoint and a position control difference occurs (following error). A specific value of the position control difference can be set here

Trigger event can be determined so that the marking of the drive data or operating characteristics begins when the set threshold value of the position control difference is exceeded. The pre-trigger functions then record the data or operating characteristics for a certain time before the event occurs.

The trigger event is advantageously triggered in the drive element and / or a control device and / or a machine center. In this way, the hierarchy of a machine control system is used at the different levels, it also being possible according to the invention for the different machine hierarchies to be connected and to communicate with one another.

In an advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that the machine is stopped after an error event or stop event. A fault event can, for example, be a malfunction in the machine's production process. Furthermore, an error event is also understood to mean an incorrect function of a component or an assembly of the machine. Without a malfunction of the machine or one of its components, one can

Stop event occur automatically or through manual intervention by the operating personnel.

In addition, it is advantageous if, using the operating characteristics, characteristic data of at least one component and / or an assembly and / or machine component are determined. For example, from the recorded operating characteristics of the drive elements Changes in the status of components, assemblies or machine components are documented. Due to the drive characteristics of these facilities, it is possible to gain knowledge about them. The operating characteristics of the drive elements can be used to determine whether the component, the assembly or the component is working within the defined limit ranges of intervals. The limit values and working intervals are stored and stored, for example, in controllers or programmable logic controllers (PLCs).

In order to fully utilize the hierarchy of the machine, the operating characteristics and / or the characteristic data are recorded in the drive element and / or the control device and / or machine center.

In order to limit the amount of data, it is sufficient if the operating characteristics and / or the characteristic data are stored in, preferably predetermined, in particular cyclical, time intervals. Changes can be noticed by storing the recorded and ascertained data about drive systems or machine devices. The condition of the facilities is also documented. For example, the data obtained can be recorded in tables or lists.

In order to be able to carry out an analysis, the operating characteristics and / or the characteristic data are advantageously compared with reference values. In this way, conclusions can be drawn and drawn about wear, a defect or other mechanical changes to the drive elements or other machine devices. For this purpose, threshold values and / or intervals for the data can be defined. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that historical data and / or initial data of the drive element and / or the component and / or the assembly and / or the machine component be used as reference values. Historical data is understood to be data about operating features or machine devices, which were preferably recorded and stored in a fixed time grid, which can be accessed at any time. For example, according to the invention, a current torque characteristic of a specific drive element can be compared with a torque characteristic of the same drive element after delivery (historical data). This makes it possible to diagnose wear, defects or other mechanical changes on the basis of the comparison carried out between the current and the historical data. The recorded and stored data from unused, ie new, devices can be stored as initial data. While the historical data document the course of parameters over time, the initial data for each machine set-up can only be determined and saved once. Regardless of the changes in the parameters, this data documents the original state of the corresponding facility.

It is also advantageous if the wear and / or the service life of the drive element and / or the component and / or the assembly and / or the machine component is determined by means of the operating characteristics and / or the characteristic data and / or their comparison with reference values. On the basis of the comparisons carried out, a trend evaluation can be carried out and the expected end of life of a component, assembly or component can be determined. This calculation determines when the limit values are reached with the current trend. enough to describe the end of life of the respective facility. Furthermore, there is also the possibility of recording the characteristics of a module or other facilities during commissioning after maintenance in the system and comparing them with historical data. The advantage is that it can be determined immediately after maintenance, conversion or repair whether the assembly, the component or the component has been installed correctly. If this has been incorrectly installed, the characteristic data will differ from the historical or initial data. This enables direct quality control after installation, conversion or repair. For example, the "stiffness" criterion can be used as a quality criterion by analyzing the operating characteristics or characteristic data.

A message and / or a warning message is preferably generated or displayed. The operating states of the machine can be communicated to the operating personnel by the corresponding messages. In particular, depending on the analysis and diagnosis, the message can be made that the machine is no longer working and producing properly due to an operating error in a device. This information can be given to the machine operating personnel via a visualization, i.e. Display can be made accessible and also reported to a higher-level host system for preventive maintenance. This can be done via a warning message, which specifies the time within which maintenance of the relevant component, assembly or component must take place. The warning message is given early so that the maintenance or repair to be carried out can be included in the maintenance schedule without the

Machine must be decommissioned outside of a cyclic maintenance interval for repair or maintenance. It is further provided that after a maintenance operation, the operating characteristics and / or the characteristic data are compared with reference values. This has the advantage, for example, that the component, assembly or component is always operated under the same environmental conditions. A programmed maintenance function can be carried out in such a way that a maintenance mode is run through cyclically or is started by interaction by the operating personnel. The operating characteristics of the drive elements are recorded and stored as they travel through certain speeds or position ranges. This can also be done without the use of materials processed on the machine. A further possibility consists in designing the environmental conditions for a device in such a way that only the drive or functional characteristics have an influence on the operating characteristics. In the case of a blower, this environmental condition is achieved in that shut-off valves or butterfly valves isolate the blower from the supply air, so that the drive does not have to circulate the air. In this case, a programmed maintenance function can close the butterfly valves and let the blower drive run up for 10 seconds, for example, during which time the drive characteristics / operating characteristics are recorded and saved. Using appropriately programmed software, the measurement data obtained are compared with those of older dates and / or a trend evaluation is carried out. The programmed or programmable maintenance functions of the machines can be processed sequentially or simultaneously. In addition, the maintenance functions can also be carried out while a production machine is at a standstill. Maintenance functions for

Components, assemblies or components can also be triggered during operation. This can, for example, be automated Schehen.

The subject matter of the invention makes it possible to carry out an analysis and data preparation of operating features and characteristic data, this being possible in the drives and / or the control and / or the machine center of a machine. The analysis can be carried out cyclically at defined intervals and in the event of an error. Both the acquisition and storage of measured values and the definition of trigger conditions can take place in the drives and / or the control and / or the machine control center.

A further solution to the problem is achieved by means of a method for operating a fan impeller in a machine of the tobacco processing industry with the method steps: detecting at least one torque-dependent and / or speed-dependent actual value of the fan impeller, determining at least one deviation of the actual value from at least one Torque-dependent and / or speed-dependent setpoint value of the fan impeller and determination of the wear of the fan impeller in

Dependence of the deviation.

By means of the method according to the invention, it is possible to continuously monitor wear-related changes in the running behavior of the fan. Wear on the impellers reduces the mass of the impeller and / or changes the geometric dimensions of the impeller. A change in mass can be determined from the ratio of a required torque on the drive axis of the impeller to the acceleration of the impeller. Experience has shown that wear increases towards the outer diameter of the impeller. By changing the geometric dimensions, the conveyance performance of the impeller is reduced, in addition, the reduced power also affects the torque. The change in the geometric dimensions can be determined from the ratio of the delivery rate and the speed of the impeller.

The running behavior of an impeller is noticeably influenced by wear, whereby the wear is reflected in the measurable drive and performance data of the blower. Due to the measurability and recording of this data or actual values of the fan impeller, wear can be monitored without the need for visual inspection by the operating personnel.

If a wear limit is set, it is advantageous if, after exceeding or falling below a, preferably upper or lower, limit value of the deviation, the fan impeller is stopped and / or a message is generated. This prevents a lower quality cigarette from being produced due to a reduced delivery capacity of the impeller. As soon as the wear of the fan impeller is determined, and not only during the next visual inspection, production can be interrupted immediately and automatically and the fan impeller can then be replaced.

An improvement in the assessment of wear will be achieved if the deviation is integrated, particularly in terms of time.

This can increase the sensitivity of a measuring system. By integrating or adding up the deviation values, a criterion or measure of wear can be determined more precisely.

In addition, it is advantageous if after determining the deviation and / or depending on the deviation, the drive of the Blower impeller is regulated. By means of the designed control circuit, the negative pressure generated by the fan on the suction side in the machine can be kept constant. Depending on the wear or the deviation, the speed of the impeller required for the vacuum increases.

In particular, it is advantageous if the torque and / or the delivery rate and / or the speed and / or the acceleration of the fan impeller is recorded as a torque-dependent and / or speed-dependent actual value and / or target value.

In order to obtain reference values or target values for wear monitoring, at least one actual value of a new, in particular unused fan impeller is recorded as a reference or target value. The torque-dependent and / or speed-dependent

Reference values only need to be determined once for a fan type. These reference values can then be used continuously for this specific fan type. This means that the reference for a fan type can only be determined once. This wear limit must also be specified only once for the blower type.

Furthermore, the target value is advantageously determined as the mean value of a plurality, at least two, actual values. For example, the values determined for a new impeller can be saved as reference values.

According to a preferred development of the invention, it is provided that the deviation is determined during the start of operation and / or during the operation of the fan impeller. This makes it possible to record and monitor wear on the impeller even at the start of the acceleration phase. chen. This can also be done during the continuous operation of the impeller.

In addition, the operating time of the fan impeller is advantageously recorded, in particular simultaneously. With an integrated operating hours counter, wear can be calculated in advance depending on the operating hours.

The operating hours until a wear limit is reached can also be calculated and displayed. In addition, advance notification of machine maintenance to be carried out is possible, for example by setting an adjustable number of operating hours before the due date. A wear limit is understood to be a defined or definable value at which it is still possible to operate a wearing impeller properly.

The deviation and / or the operating time of the fan impeller is advantageously displayed.

The wear monitoring of the impeller can be increased if at least two different torque-dependent and / or speed-dependent actual values are recorded. By combining two measurements or evaluations at the same time, very reliable results about the running behavior of a fan impeller can be achieved.

A further solution to the problem consists in the use of a fan impeller in a machine of the tobacco-processing industry, the fan impeller being operable by means of a method described above. The wear monitoring of a fan impeller is not a time-consuming visual one Control more needed. In addition, a wear limit is set for the impeller so that a worn impeller can be replaced early or in good time. By means of the invention it is also possible to optimally utilize a fan impeller up to the actual, determined wear limit. Overall, the use of the blower according to the invention enables articles of the tobacco processing industry to be produced with a consistently high quality, for example cigarettes.

The invention is described below by way of example without a description of the general inventive concept using exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, to which reference is expressly made with regard to the disclosure of all details according to the invention not explained in detail in the text. Show it:

Fig. 1 a to 1 d diagrams of speed-dependent sizes of

Blower wheel;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a filter attachment machine

3 shows a schematic illustration of a strand machine;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the drive of a knife holder of a strand machine and

5a, 5b are time diagrams of the torque of a toothed belt on a knife carrier of an extrusion machine.

In the diagrams 1 a to 1 d there are time courses of sizes of the fan impeller. In Fig. 1 a, the speed specification of an impeller is shown in time. The speed of the fan impeller is increased after switching on with a constant ramp or slope up to the time to and then assumes a constant speed in continuous operation. In Fig. 1 b the influence of the mass of the impeller on the torque M1 is shown during the acceleration of the impeller. An unused, new NL wheel has a higher torque during the acceleration phase of the wheel, since this new NL wheel does not yet have any mass losses due to wear. A worn VL impeller has a lower torque by M1 due to wear and loss of mass.

The deviation M1 is a measure of the mass loss and thus of the wear of the impeller during the acceleration phase.

The acceleration phase ends at time t ₀ .

1 c shows the time behavior of the load-dependent torque M2. The torque M2 depends on the air conveyed and thus on the delivery capacity of the impeller. During the initial acceleration phase, the deviation of the torque of a worn wheel VL from an unused, new wheel NL is small. A deviation M2 can only be detected at constant speed during continuous operation of the impeller.

1 d shows the sum of the torques M1 and M2 over time t. The timing of a new NL wheel serves as a reference for the wheel in the machine. The torque of the wearing impeller VL decreases during operation of the impeller or the machine. The reference values (target values) can be determined on the basis of a determination over several acceleration processes of a new blower impeller NL. The determined values are saved for the new impeller NL. The total torque changes in accordance with the wear of the impeller. The current values (actual values) can be compared with the reference. The difference between the torque curves at the beginning and during the acceleration phase (M1) is a measure of the reduced or removed mass. The mass influence is selectively recorded and is not dependent on the ambient conditions in the air system. The difference after reaching the final speed (M2) is a measure of the reduced load (reduced delivery rate).

The area between the curves calculated for a speed range (s) or for the time range (t) can also be used as a measure of the signs of wear. This increases the sensitivity.

In addition, a wear limit can also be provided according to the invention. If an actual value is undershot, i.e. If the predetermined torque deviates too much from the reference value, the machine is stopped and the excessive wear of the impeller is displayed.

In an alternative embodiment, the torque run can also be regulated and the wear-dependent shortening of the acceleration time can be used as a measure of the wear of the impeller. The negative pressure generated by the blower on the intake side is regulated and kept constant. The speed of a new wheel as required for the vacuum is as

Reference value saved. The speed required for the vacuum increases in accordance with wear. The current Speed values (actual values) are measured and compared with the reference value. The deviation is a measure of the wear of the impeller.

A prerequisite for monitoring the running behavior of a fan impeller is the use of an evaluable drive, e.g. Servo drive. With this servo drive, the torque or acceleration of the drive can be recorded and monitored.

In a further development of the inventive concept, several types of wear monitoring can also be combined with one another. Within the scope of the invention it is provided to use fans which are operated in the manner described above in machines of the tobacco processing industry. Such a machine is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively.

2 shows a front view of a filter attachment machine of the MAX type. In the filter attachment machine, an infeed drum 1 transfers the cigarettes produced on a cigarette manufacturing machine to two relay drums 2, which destack the staggered cigarettes and transfer them in rows of two pieces with a space between the cigarettes to an assembly drum 3. The filter rods pass from a magazine 4 to a cutting drum 6, are cut there for filter plugs of double length, are staggered on a stagger drum 7, aligned by a sliding drum 8 to a row of plugs one behind the other and by an acceleration drum 9 into the spaces between the rows of cigarettes on the way - Compilation drum 3 stored.

The cigarette filter cigarette group are pushed together and taken over by a takeover drum 1 1. A backing paper strip 12 drawn off from a covering paper bobbin 13 is glued by a gluing device 14 and then cut with a cutting device 16 on a cutting drum 17 by the knives of a knife drum 18 into covering platelets.

The separated topping plates are attached to the cigarette-filter-cigarette group on the transfer drum 11 and rolled around the cigarette filter groups on a roller drum 19. The finished double filter cigarettes are fed via a drying drum 21 to a cutting drum 22 and are made into individual filter cigarettes by cutting through the filter plugs in the middle.

A turning device 23 turns a row of cigarettes and at the same time transfers them into the continuous row of unfiltered cigarettes. The filter cigarettes arrive at an ejection drum 26 via a test drum 24. A depositing drum 28 which interacts with a brake drum 27 places the filter cigarettes on a depositing belt 29.

The reference numeral 30 denotes a grinding apparatus 30 which sharpens the circular knife 31 arranged on the conveyor drum 22 when the machine is in operation. When the machine or the grinding device 30 is started up, the grinding wheel of the grinding device becomes

30 moved from a rest position in the direction of the rotating circular knife 31 driven by a servo motor until the grinding wheel touches the circular knife 31. To grind the circular knife 31, the circular knife 31 is rotated by means of a servo drive. In the rest position of the grinding wheel, it will

Circular knife 31 moved by the servo drive with a low torque. When the circular knife 31 touches the grinding disc remains the circular knife 31 as a result of the ground friction between the circular knife 31 and the grinding wheel and due to the low mass of the circular knife 31 and the limited torque of the servo drive. As a result, the speed of the circular knife and the servo drive as a rotary encoder are suddenly reduced. When the circular knife 31 is completely braked, the speed of the circular knife is reduced to 0 revolutions per minute. The speed or the speed reduction of the servo motor are recorded and evaluated within the scope of the invention. It is also determined whether a speed reduction has taken place, so that the linear movement of the grinding wheel of the grinding apparatus is stopped immediately. The grinding wheel is then moved back a few millimeters. The basic position of the grinding apparatus or a grinding device for grinding a circular knife is determined exactly by detecting and determining the speeds or changing them. In the machines of the tobacco processing industry, this position of the grinding apparatus or the basic position of the grinding device has previously been set manually after a knife change.

By detecting the speed of the servo motor and lowering it as the grinding wheel approaches, the automatic detection and setting of the ground grinding position of the grinding wheel is achieved. As a result, a central control, for example, can automatically move a grinding device or the grinding apparatus into a basic position for grinding a circular knife.

In a further embodiment of the invention on the filter attachment machine, the torque of the servo-driven glue rollers is recorded on a glue device, which is provided with reference numeral 14 in FIG. 2. Dried glue as well Remaining glue residues on the glue rollers of a filter attachment machine increase the resistance and thus the required driving torque of the glue rollers. Due to the operation of the filter attachment machine, splashes accumulate in the vicinity of the roller, so that the drive torque of the roller does not change noticeably. It has been found that the axis of the glue roller is clogged by glue splashes and is therefore quite sensitive. In order to determine whether the glue rollers are dirty, the drive torque or torque of the glue rollers is recorded as a parameter of the glue rollers. For example, increases

Commissioning the torque of a glue roller above a predetermined limit value, the contamination of the glue roller is specified as an error event.

In order to record the torque of the glue roller, the drive torque is transmitted to the programmable logic controller on request by a programmable logic controller (PLC) of the filter attachment machine. The control evaluates the measured values of the torque and generates a warning if there is a deviation from a specifiable setpoint, before there is a following error and thus a process malfunction on a filter attachment machine.

In addition, it is possible to identify the contamination of the conveyor flow on a filter attachment machine. For this, the

Filter attachment machine via individual drives on the drums, so that the torques of the conveyor drums driven with servomotors are recorded. Dirt and tobacco items flying around cause contamination between the drum body and the control body, so that there is increased friction between the drum body and the control body. A diagnosis is made by recording the torques of the individual drives of the operating state of the conveyor drums possible, so that bearing damage can be recognized. On the basis of the friction found as a result of the increasing contamination of the drums, the cleaning and maintenance of a drum is indicated when a certain value, for example torque, is exceeded. After cleaning the drums, bearing damage can be determined if, after cleaning a conveyor drum, the torque does not reach a value that the conveyor drum had when the machine was started up. In this way, the starting behavior of a conveyor drum can be determined.

In addition, fans according to the invention can also be used and used in a cigarette rod machine, as is shown schematically in FIG. 3. In the cigarette rod machine, a pre-distributor 102 is supplied with tobacco in portions from a lock 101. A removal drum 103 of the pre-distributor 102, in a controlled manner, supplements a storage container 104 with tobacco, from which a strand conveyor 105 removes tobacco and feeds a storage shaft 106 in a controlled manner.

A pin roller 107 takes a uniform tobacco rod from the chute 106, which is knocked out of the pins of the pin roller 107 by a knock-out roller 108 and hurled onto a scattering cloth 109 rotating at a constant speed. A tobacco fleece formed on the spreading cloth 109 is thrown into a screening device 111, which essentially consists of an air curtain through which larger or heavier parts of tobacco pass, while all other tobacco particles are exposed to the air in a pin roller 112 and a wall 111 formed funnel 1 14 are directed. The tobacco is thrown from the pin roller 112 into a tobacco duct 116 against a strand conveyor 117, in which the tobacco is held by means of air sucked into a vacuum chamber 118 and a tobacco rod is expanded. A leveler 119 removes excess tobacco from the tobacco rod, which is then placed on a cigarette paper strip 121 guided in synchronism. The cigarette paper strip 121 is pulled off a bobbin 122, passed through a printing unit 123 and placed on a driven format belt 124.

The format belt 124 transports the tobacco rod and the cigarette paper strip 121 through a format 126, in which the cigarette paper rod 121 is folded around the tobacco rod, so that an edge protrudes which is glued in a known manner by a glue apparatus, not shown here. The adhesive seam is then closed and dried by a tandem seam plate 127. A cigarette rod 128 formed in this way passes through a rod density measuring device 129, which controls the equalizer 119, and is cut into double-length cigarettes 132 by a knife apparatus 131. The double-length cigarettes 132 are transferred from a transfer device 134 having controlled arms 133 to a transfer drum 136 of a filter attachment machine 137 (cf. FIG. 2), on the cutting drum 138 of which they are divided into individual cigarettes with a circular knife. The conveyor belts 139, 141 convey excess tobacco into one under the

Storage container 104 arranged container 142, from which the recycled tobacco is removed again by the strand conveyor 105.

In a filter attachment machine (FIG. 2) and in a filter rod machine (FIG. 3), fans are required which apply a negative pressure to individual assemblies of the machines. For example. must they Filter components or cigarette components are held on suction drums by means of the suction air. In addition, suction air is required to form a tobacco rod in a rod machine.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a cutting device of a cigarette rod machine (FIG. 3). Such a cutting device is described for example in DE-A-199 61 254, which is fully incorporated in the present application.

To guide a cigarette rod moving along a longitudinal axis, a rod guide 40 is provided which has tubes for the cigarette rod. The strand guide 40 is fastened by means of a tube holder to the lower end of a rocker arm which has three leaf springs 41, 42, 43. The leaf spring 41 is the leaf springs

42, 43 arranged opposite. A crank rod 44 for the tubes in the strand conveyor 40 extends between the leaf springs 42, 43. All leaf springs are attached to a leaf spring holder at their end facing away from the tube holder.

The other end of the crank rod 44 of the crank mechanism 45 is mounted on a crank pin of a crank. The crank pin is arranged eccentrically to a drive shaft driven by a motor 50. A knife holder 60 with two knives is arranged beneath the strand guide 40, and each cut separates double-length tobacco sticks from the respective cigarette rod. The knife carrier 60 is rotatably supported by means of a bearing 61 and is driven by means of a gear 62. The gear 62 is connected to a pulley 63 by means of a shaft. By means of a gripping and rotating on the pulley 63

Drive belt 70, which is guided over the drive shaft for the cam drive 45, drives the transmission 62. This makes them Drive shaft for the cam drive 45 and the gear 62 for the knife carrier 60 coupled together. The strand guide 40 is driven in particular synchronized with the knife carrier 60. The operation of the device is described in detail in DE-A-199 61 254, to which express reference is made.

The torque profile changes due to wear when the knife carrier 60 starts up, if the drive belt 70 loosens or is worn out. According to the invention, the torque of the drive element or the knife carrier 60 is detected and monitored.

Due to the continuous torque measurement, a change in torque is monitored and recognized when the belt 70 wears out. As a result, the torque start-up profiles are stored and evaluated by an evaluation device.

FIGS. 5a, 5b show temporal profiles of the torque of the axis of the knife carrier servo drive. 5a shows the time course of the torque for a belt that is not worn. 5b shows the course over time with a worn belt.

In the case of an unused toothed belt, the torque levels off at a constant speed to a constant value (Fig.5a) after a run-up phase. This constant value is due to the drive play of the mechanical drive train

Toothed belt and transmission superimposed an oscillation, so that the torque varies over time in a narrow range ΔM1. With increasing wear, the amplitude ΔM2 of this vibration increases (FIG. 5b). The wear also increases the torque vibration that can be measured for the servo drive.

The resulting torque curves or relevant torque ment values during the start-up phase and in continuous operation are recorded and saved by reading out the drive data of the servo drive. Depending on the scatter, the measured values can be averaged for several successive measurements. The averaged values for a new gear or a new belt, for example, are saved as a reference. The torque curve changes in accordance with the wear. The current torque values in each case can be compared with a, in particular averaged, reference.

In the context of the invention it is also possible to determine clogged glue nozzles in a cigarette rod machine, since the glue nozzles become clogged with glue due to clogging. For this purpose, the torque of the pumps is recorded and evaluated. If the glue nozzle is blocked, a higher torque of the pump is required. If the pump torque rises or deviates too much from the reference values, a warning is issued that the glue nozzle is blocked before the process would be disturbed.

The operating characteristics of servo drives are measured and stored by means of the invention. These include, for example, the torque, the speed and the current consumption. The measurement can be carried out by the control electronics of the drives. Comparisons with stored data after commissioning enable error limit monitoring. Dynamic monitoring is made possible by means of a feasible trend analysis of the data. The measurement of the data under defined conditions, e.g. machine without material, excludes an influence of the material. In addition, a measurement of the operating characteristics after a new assembly or maintenance of a structural unit enables the detection of assembly errors. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 infeed drum

2 relay drum

3 assembly drum

4 magazine

6 cutting drum

7 relay drum

8 sliding drum

9 accelerator drum

11 transfer drum

12 topping paper strips

13 topping paper bobbins

14 gluing device

16 cutting device

17 cutting drum

18 knife drum

19 rolling drum

21 drying drum

22 cutting drum

23 turning device

24 test drum

26 ejection drum

27 brake drum

28 deposit drum

29 offshoot belt

30 grinder

31 cutting disc

40 strand guide

41 leaf spring

42 leaf spring

43 leaf spring

44 cam rod 45 cam drive

50 engine

60 knife carriers

61 bearings

62 gearbox

63 pulley

70 drive belts

101 lock

102 pre-distributors

103 removal roller

104 storage containers

105 strand conveyors

106 storage well

107 pin roller

108 deflection roller

109 spreading cloth

1 1 1 Sighting device

1 12 pin roller

113 wall

114 funnels

116 tobacco canal

1 17 strand conveyors

1 18 vacuum chamber

1 19 equalizer

121 strips of cigarette paper

122 Bobine

123 printing unit

124 format tape

126 format

127 tandem seam plate

128 cigarettes

129 strand density measuring device 131 knife apparatus

132 double-length cigarettes

133 arms

134 transfer device

136 transfer drum

137 filter attachment machine

138 cutting drum

139 conveyor belt

141 conveyor belt

142 containers

n speed t time

M1 torque (acceleration)

M2 torque (load, conveyed air)

NL new impeller (reference)

VL worn wheel

Claims

claims

1. Method for operating a manufacturing or packaging machine of the tobacco processing industry with at least one drive element, characterized in that operating characteristics of the at least one drive element are recorded and recorded.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the recording is carried out continuously or after a trigger event.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a recording, preferably for a predetermined period of time, takes place before the trigger event.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the Trigger event in the drive element and / or in a control device and / or machine center are triggered.

5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the trigger event is determined by an error event or stop event.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the machine is stopped after an error event or stop event.

7. The method according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that characteristic data of at least one component and / or a component group and / or a machine component are determined by means of the operating characteristics.

8. The method according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the recording of the operating features and / or the characteristic data takes place in the drive member and / or the control device and / or machine center.

9. The method according to one or more of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the operating features and / or characteristic data are stored in, preferably predetermined, in particular cyclical, time intervals.

10. The method according to one or more of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the operating features and / or the characteristic data are compared with reference values.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that historical data and / or initial data as reference values the drive element and / or the component and / or the assembly and / or the machine component can be used.

12. The method according to any one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that by means of the operating features and / or characteristic data and / or their comparison with reference values, the wear and / or the service life of the drive member and / or the component and / or the assembly and / or the machine component is determined.

13. The method according to one or more of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a message and / or warning message is generated and / or displayed.

14. The method according to one or more of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that after a maintenance operation, the operating features and / or the characteristic data are compared with reference values.

15. A method for operating a fan impeller in a machine in the tobacco processing industry, comprising the steps:

- Detection of at least one torque-dependent and / or speed-dependent actual value of the fan impeller and

- Determination of at least one deviation of the actual value from at least one torque-dependent and / or speed-dependent setpoint value of the fan impeller

- and determination of the wear of the fan impeller depending on the deviation.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that after exceeding or falling below a, preferably upper or lower, limit value of the deviation, the fan impeller is stopped and / or a message is generated.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the deviation, in particular temporally, is integrated.

18. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that after determining the deviation and / or depending on the deviation, the drive of the fan impeller is regulated.

19. The method according to one or more of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the torque and / or the delivery rate and / or the speed and / or the acceleration as a torque-dependent and / or speed-dependent actual value and / or setpoint value of the fan impeller is detected.

20. The method according to one or more of claims 15 to 19, characterized in that at least one actual value of a new fan impeller is recorded as the target value.

21. Method according to one or more of claims 15 to 20, characterized in that the target value is determined as the mean of several, at least two, actual values.

22. The method according to one or more of claims 15 to 21, characterized in that each actual value is a target value is assigned.

23. The method according to one or more of claims 15 to 22, characterized in that the deviation is determined during the start of operation and / or during the operation of the fan impeller.

24. The method according to one or more of claims 15 to 23, characterized in that the operating time of the fan impeller, in particular simultaneously, is recorded.

25. The method according to one or more of claims 15 to 24, characterized in that the deviation and / or the operating time of the fan impeller is displayed.

26. The method according to one or more of claims 15 to 25, characterized in that at least two different, in particular torque-dependent and / or speed-dependent, actual values are recorded.

27. Use of a fan impeller in a machine of the tobacco processing industry, which can be operated by means of a method according to one or more of claims 15 to 26.