DE102011006121A1 - Commissioning of a machine of the tobacco processing industry - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a machine (2, 3) in the tobacco processing industry, in particular a filter attachment machine (2) or multifilter manufacturing machine or rod machine (3), for producing rod-shaped articles in the tobacco processing industry, the machine (2, 3) has at least one conveyor element (10, 50, 111, 112) driven by a drive (14) for the rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, a rotary encoder (18) being provided for the drive (14) so that the rotary encoder (18 ) is coupled to the conveying element (10, 50, 111, 112) by means of the drive (14) and the conveying element (10, 50, 111, 112) has a plurality of receptacles (12, 54) for rod-shaped articles in the conveying direction. The method is characterized in that, in particular before the machine (2, 3) is started up for the production of rod-shaped articles, the conveying element (10, 50, 111, 112) is or is brought into a predetermined conveying element reference position, after positioning the conveying element (10, 50, 111, 112) in the conveying element reference position by a control device (16, 24), in particular a machine control device (24), the angular position of the rotary encoder (18) is detected as the rotary encoder reference position. The invention also relates to an arrangement for conveying rod-shaped articles in the tobacco processing industry, the arrangement having at least one conveying element (10, 50, 111, 112) driven by a drive (14) for the rod-shaped articles in the tobacco processing industry, with a Rotary encoder (18) is provided for the drive (14) so that the rotary encoder (18) is coupled to the conveying element (10, 50, 111, 112) by means of the drive (14) and the conveying element (10, 50, 111 , 112) has a plurality of receptacles (12, 54) for rod-shaped articles in the conveying direction.

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating a machine of the tobacco processing industry for the production of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, wherein the machine, in particular Filteransetzmaschine or Multifilterherstellungsmaschine or stranding machine, at least one driven by a drive conveyor member for the rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry wherein a rotary encoder is provided for the drive, so that the rotary encoder is coupled by means of the drive with the conveying member and wherein the conveying member has several receptacles for rod-shaped articles in the conveying direction.

Furthermore, the invention relates to an arrangement for conveying rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry, wherein the arrangement comprises at least one driven by a drive conveyor member for the rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, wherein a rotary encoder is provided for the drive, so that the rotary encoder means the drive is coupled to the conveying member and wherein the conveying member has several receptacles for rod-shaped articles in the conveying direction.

In the prior art are under the name "MAX" Filteransetzmaschinen HAUNI Maschinenbau AG, Hamburg, known. To promote rod-shaped articles, the filter attachment machines on conveyor drums on which the rod-shaped articles, eg. As tobacco sticks and / or filter plug, are promoted queraxial. During their cross-axial promotion, the rod-shaped articles are transferred from a conveyor drum to a subsequent conveyor drum.

For example, it is off EP 1 495 685 B1 a filter attachment machine with a tobacco rod feed device, a filter feed device, a pad feed device, a cigarette manufacturing device, a cigarette testing device and a cigarette dispenser known. The devices in this case have a plurality of drums for forming a drum run, which is drivable by means of a drive system in synchronism with the transport of the rod-shaped article within the device.

In addition, is off EP 1 493 338 B1 discloses a conveying device for transferring rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry from longitudinal axial promotion in a transverse axial further promotion.

The object of the invention is the Justageaufwand and / or adjustment effort in the course of commissioning a machine of the tobacco-processing industry and / or a conversion of the machine z. B. in the context of a format change and / or after replacement of wearing parts on a machine of the tobacco-processing industry, the design effort for this should be kept as low as possible.

This object is achieved by a method for operating a machine of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular filter attachment or Multifilterherstellungsmaschine or stranding machine, for the production of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry, the machine at least one driven by a drive conveying member for the rod-shaped article of the tobacco processing Industry, wherein a rotary encoder is provided for the drive, so that the rotary encoder is coupled by means of the drive with the conveying member and wherein the conveying member in the conveying direction has a plurality of receptacles for rod-shaped article, which is further developed in that, in particular before the commissioning of the machine for Production of rod-shaped articles, the conveying member is brought into a predetermined Förderorganreferenzposition, which is also referred to as zero position, or is, wherein after positioning of the conveying member in the Förderorganrefere nzposition of a control device, in particular a machine control device, the angular position of the encoder is detected as a rotary encoder reference position. As a result, the detected or determined angular position of the rotary encoder is determined or defined as a rotary encoder reference position using the sensor device.

The invention is based on the idea that in order to adjust the drum or the drum troughs with respect to the pickup point and transfer point to a subsequent in the conveying direction of the article drum before commissioning the machine for production of the rod-shaped article is optimized, so that a gentle or Gentle transfer process is carried out in the production process of the machine. As a result, a small mechanical load on the transverse axial or longitudinal axial subsidized article to the subsequent conveying member, for. B. conveyor drum guaranteed.

By detecting a preferred Förderorganreferenzposition and the angular position of the encoder for driving the conveying member is a relation between the encoder and the conveying member, for. As a conveyor drum or a so-called spider, achieved or determined, whereby the setting of the drum with respect to the receiving point and transfer point of rod-shaped articles is or will be automated.

According to the invention, the defined positioning of a drum trough or Receiving trough of a conveyor organ, z. B. conveyor drum, with respect to the angular position of the encoder or encoder achieved and determined so that the orientation of receiving troughs of a conveyor drum to the receiving troughs of the subsequent conveyor drum after assignment of Förderorganreferenzposition the encoder reference position automatically before or during commissioning of the machine or recommissioning, z , B. after a format change or maintenance, is carried out for the production operation. As a result, for example, an automated drum calibration of conveyor drums of a filter attachment machine is achieved.

In contrast, according to the prior art, for example, the drums of a Filteransetzmaschine with individual drives using a format mandrel or an auxiliary mandrel as a dummy for rod-shaped articles prior to commissioning of the machine for the production of rod-shaped articles elaborately manually aligned.

Because, according to the invention, the conveyor organ reference position is set in relation to the encoder reference position, z. B. calibrated the conveyor drums of a Filteransetzmaschine independently to each other, whereby the complex manual setting with a format mandrel (or auxiliary mandrel) is eliminated. In particular, there is a gain in time, if in a format change conveyor drum sets are exchanged, since due to the fixed assignment of conveyor organ reference position and encoder reference position manual setting for the establishment or alignment of the conveyor drums to each other for the commissioning of the machine is no longer required.

For this purpose, it is provided in a development of the method that, given the number of increments or angular degrees of the encoder (Encoder) and specifying the number of shots of the conveying member for the rod-shaped article in the conveying direction of the conveying member, the positions downstream in the conveying direction of the article or trailing recordings for the rod-shaped article, in particular using the control device, with respect to the Förderorganreferenzposition determinable or predetermined, so that after transmission of a control signal, in particular a drive control device to the drive, the conveyor organ performs a feed movement with a downstream in the conveying direction recording and is brought into the position of Förderorganreferenzposition.

This makes it possible, for example, that in a conveying member, which has movable and adjustable receiving troughs for the rod-shaped articles, the receiving troughs after carrying out a predetermined rotational feed movement, the recordings are in a position corresponding to the position of Förderorganreferenzposition, are arranged, whereby the adjustable receiving troughs for a gentle recording or delivery to a subsequent conveyor organ aligned and fixed.

Moreover, in one embodiment of the method, it is preferred that the conveyor organ reference position of the conveyor element is detected using a sensor element arranged adjacent to or on the conveyor element, preferably external and stationary, and a marking element cooperating with the sensor device or arranged on the conveyor element Detecting the marking element of the conveying member by means of, preferably stationary, the conveying member is positioned in the Förderorganreferenzposition so that the control device, in particular the machine control device, the encoder position, the output signal of the sensor device and the detection of the marking element are transmitted.

Using a sensor, for example, a conveying drum is rotated as a conveying member until the sensor recognizes the marking on the conveying drum and its position. As a result, the position of conveyor drums of a Filteransetzmaschine each other automatically calibrated by detecting the angular position of the encoder for driving the conveying member, whereby the alignment of conveyor drums using the frame-mounted sensor, for example, the position of a drum tray (as a marker) or an additional mark z , B. cams on the conveyor drum of the control device transmitted as an evaluation.

In the context of the invention, a marking body, which is designed, for example, as a cam or also as a marking groove or marking bore, is understood as marking or as marking element, which is detected and detected by means of the sensor or the sensor device, so that the stationary sensor of the sensor device detected position of the marking element with respect to the encoder angular position or encoder angle position of a drive for the conveyor drum set or accurately read and stored. As a result, the position of the receiving troughs and thus the position of the conveyor drum are automatically detectable or detectable, the respective drum divisions are stored in the machine control.

In the context of the invention, the word sequence "detected and detected" in connection with the marking element and the sensor includes in detail the following steps: (preferably optoelectronic) detecting the presence and the contour of the marking element by means of a sensor, transmitting the resulting output signal of the respective sensor to a downstream controller, reading this output signal into the respective controller and storing this signal in a read / write memory of this controller.

In the context of the invention, it is also conceivable that a plurality of marking elements are arranged on a conveying member in the circumferential direction, wherein the detection of one or more marking elements with one or more sensors is possible. In addition, using a plurality of marking elements and sensors on a monitoring of the direction of rotation of the conveyor drive, in particular the drive motor, or the conveying direction of the conveying member, in particular the conveyor drum, possible.

Preferably, the markers or marking elements are or are arranged on the conveying members such that the sensor does not collide with the products conveyed on the conveying member.

In addition, an embodiment of the method is characterized in that the marking element of the conveying member is detected by the sensor device in an optical and / or sonorous and / or capacitive and / or inductive manner.

Preferably, the marking element is detected by the sensor device in several measurements, wherein in particular from the measurements in cooperation with the encoder position an average value for the encoder reference position of the encoder and / or an average value for the Förderorganreferenzposition of the conveying member is determined and in particular for the measurements, the conveying member in Moving direction is moved forward and / or backward. For example, in the detection of a mark during a back and forth movement of the conveying member with respect to the sensor possible artifacts can be eliminated by hysteresis or the like, so that due to the forward and backward movement, an average value for the conveyor organ reference position is detected.

In a preferred embodiment of the method is also provided that the marking element is formed as, preferably rectangular, cams on the conveying member, wherein upon rotation of the conveying member, the cam is moved through a light curtain of a sensor device and wherein the amount of light and / or the change in the amount of light the light curtain or the degree of shading and / or the change in the degree of shading when passing the cam through the light curtain is detected or measured. By this optical method, an accurate detection of the conveyor organ reference position is made possible, since the fluctuation of the light intensity when passing the cam through the light curtain are accurately detected. For this purpose, the cam is preferably formed as a rectangular or trapezoidal cam, wherein in particular the cam has a flat upper surface or planar surface.

For this purpose, it is further provided in an embodiment that is determined by a relative maximum of the detected light intensity between two relative minima of the detected light intensity as a function of rotation of the conveying member in the conveying direction Förderorganreferenzposition the conveying member or is. This can be done, for example, using the mathematical method known as "Gaussian Algorithm".

As a result, an automatic alignment of conveyor drums and processing drums on a filter attachment machine is made possible without a calibration of sensors is necessary for this. In this respect, a fault tolerant method for accurate angular position determination of a conveying member is provided to the position of conveyor drums of a so-called drum machine, such as. B. filter attachment machine or multifilter manufacturing machine to calibrate automatically using the determined encoder reference position. In this case, a conveyor drum is rotated until the marking element formed as a cam passes completely through a light curtain of the sensor device. Due to the preferred rectangular outer contour of the cam, the recorded light intensity measurement curve has three positions at which the slope, i. H. the first derivative is zero. In this case, a relative maximum lies between two relative minimums of the light intensity, wherein the conveying organ reference position of the conveying member is determined by the relative maximum or, in the case of opposite polarity, a relative minimum between two relative maxima.

Furthermore, it is advantageous in one embodiment of the method that the light curtain is generated by means of a light transmitter of the sensor device and that the light quantity of the light curtain or the shading is detected or measured by means of a light transmitter associated, in particular opposite, light receiver of the sensor device, in particular the Light receiver is connected to the control device to transmit the detected or measured amount of light or the Abschattungsgrad by a hereby or therefrom formed, preferably electrical or electronic, signal of the control device, in particular continuously.

Moreover, the method is characterized in that after a fixation of movably arranged on the conveyor member receptacles for rod-shaped article in Förderorganreferenzposition the conveying member is further rotated by a predetermined conveying path or angle or conveying angle, so that in the conveying direction of the conveying member downstream movable shots in the Förderorganreferenzposition be brought to set or align the position in the Förderorganreferenzposition recording, in particular the drive is kept accurate position during the adjustment or alignment process.

In the context of the invention, it is possible, in its optimized position for an optimized or gentle reception of rod-shaped articles by a conveyor or a gentle delivery of rod-shaped articles to a subsequent conveyor to be adjusted in a substantially automatic manner, longitudinal axial or transverse axial conveying means. Here, it is also provided in the context of the invention that are used as conveyors transversely conveying conveyor drums or belt conveyors as well as devices for longitudinal axial conveying of rod-shaped products using the method. In particular, in the course of commissioning or recommissioning of production machines for producing rod-shaped articles, the method according to the invention is carried out.

In addition, the object is achieved by an arrangement for conveying rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry, wherein the arrangement comprises at least one driven by a drive conveyor member for the rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, wherein a rotary encoder is provided for the drive, so that the Encoder is coupled by means of the drive with the conveying member and wherein the conveying member has several receptacles for rod-shaped article in the conveying direction, wherein the arrangement is characterized in that the arrangement comprises means for, preferably automatic or semi-automatic, calibrating the conveying member, wherein the Device for calibrating the conveying member, a control device, in particular a machine control device, and an adjacent to the conveying member arranged, preferably external and stationary, sensor device, in particular an optical sensor, wherein the Förderorga n has a marking element, so that using the sensor device provided on or on the conveying member marking element is detected or detectable, so that, in particular before commissioning or at standstill of the arrangement for conveying the rod-shaped article, after positioning of the conveying member in the predetermined Förderorganreferenzposition of the control device, in particular a machine control device, the angular position of the encoder is detected as rotary encoder reference position or is detectable, wherein in particular after detection of the marking element of the conveying member by means of, preferably stationary, sensor device, the conveying member is positioned in the Förderorganreferenzposition, so that the control device, in particular the machine control device, the rotary encoder angular position, the output signal of the sensor device and the detection of the marking element are transmitted or can be transmitted.

The arrangement or device for conveying rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry is preferably part of a machine of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular a filter attachment machine or a multifilament production machine or stranding machine, for the production of rod-shaped articles, wherein the machine is reused in accordance with the method described above. Commissioning is operated, whereby at least one conveying member is calibrated according to the invention.

In addition, it is provided in a development of the arrangement or conveyor arrangement, that the marking element is formed as, preferably rectangular, cam on the conveying member, wherein upon rotation of the conveying member, the cam is hindurchbewegbar by a light curtain of the sensor device and wherein the amount of light and / or the change of Light quantity of the light curtain or the degree of shading and / or the change in Abschattungsgrads upon passage of the cam through the light curtain is detected or detectable, in particular, depending on the rotation of the conveying member in the conveying direction Förderorganreferenzposition the conveying member a relative maximum or relative minimum measured Amount of light between two relative minima or relative maxima of the measured amount of light can be determined or depending on the rotation of the conveying member in the conveying direction, the conveyor organ reference position of the conveying member a relative maximum (or relative minimum) of the shading between two relative minima (or relative maxima) of the shading can be determined.

In this case, the arrangement comprises an optical sensor which comprises a light transmitter and light receiver, wherein the light beam path between the light emitter and light receiver tangent to an enveloping circle of the conveying member and is formed as a light curtain and wherein the light curtain extends radially outward.

According to a preferred embodiment of the conveyor arrangement of the machine is also proposed that the light curtain by means of a Light transmitter of the sensor device can be generated and that the amount of light of the light curtain or shading by means of a light emitter associated, in particular opposite, light receiver of the sensor device is detectable measurable. In this case, the arrangement has an optical sensor, which comprises a light emitter and light receiver in a common housing and a reflection mirror, wherein the light beam path between the light emitter, the reflection mirror and the light receiver tangent to an enveloping circle of the conveying member and is formed as a light curtain and wherein the Light curtain extends radially outward.

Furthermore, an embodiment of the arrangement is characterized in that the conveying member is designed as a rotary body, in particular as a conveyor drum or longitudinal conveyor, wherein after a fixation of movably arranged on the conveyor member receptacles for rod-shaped article in Förderorganreferenzposition the conveying member by a predetermined conveying path or rotation angle means the drive is further rotatable, so that in the conveying direction of the conveying member downstream movable recordings can be brought into the Förderorganreferenzposition to set or align the positioned in the Förderorganreferenzposition recording, in particular the drive is held in registration during the adjustment or alignment process.

Preferably, the conveying member is formed as a rotational body having at least a number of several, for. B. has six, movable and / or removable recordings. The drive motor of the conveyor member is designed or set up by means of the drive control for an intermittent or intermittent operation, wherein the drive control is designed and set up during the standstill phases of the drive motor for the "safe stop" mode.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the description of embodiments according to the invention together with the claims and the accompanying drawings. Embodiments of the invention may satisfy individual features or a combination of several features.

The invention will be described below without limiting the general inventive idea by means of embodiments with reference to the drawings, reference being expressly made to the drawings with respect to all in the text unspecified details of the invention. Show it:

1 schematically an arrangement for calibrating a conveyor drum of the tobacco processing industry;

2 schematically another arrangement for calibrating a conveyor drum of the tobacco processing industry;

3 schematically a measurement of the amount of light or Abschattungsgrads using a in 2 arrangement shown;

4 schematically another arrangement for calibrating a conveyor drum of the tobacco processing industry according to another embodiment;

5a to 5d 1 is a schematic representation of a sequence of several steps for calibrating an arrangement of two conveyor drums of the tobacco processing industry using a single measuring arrangement and

6 schematically a perspective view of a longitudinal conveyor of a strand machine of the tobacco processing industry.

In the drawings, the same or similar elements and / or parts are provided with the same reference numerals, so that apart from a new idea each.

In 1 schematically is an arrangement or device for automatic calibration of a conveyor drum 10 presented to the tobacco processing industry. The conveyor drum 10 is part of, for example, a schematically designated Filteransetzmaschine 2 or multi-segment filter making machine. A filter attachment machine from HAUNI Maschinenbau AG is known as MAX. In addition, a multifilament manufacturing machine of HAUNI Maschinenbau AG is known under the name MERLIN.

The arrangement for the automatic calibration of a conveyor drum is part of an arrangement or device for conveying rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry of a corresponding machine of the tobacco-processing industry.

The conveyor drum 10 has a plurality of receiving cavities on the circumference 12 in which rod-shaped articles, such. As tobacco sticks, filter plugs, filter cigarettes and the like, are received and promoted queraxial. For the sake of better representability has been omitted from the recording of other receiving troughs. After receiving rod-shaped articles in the receiving trough 12 become the corresponding ones rod-shaped article (tobacco sticks, filter plug, etc.) transversely on the conveyor drum 10 promoted.

To the conveyor drum 10 to set in rotation, is a motor on the side of the conveyor drum 14 arranged, with its shaft with the drum body of the conveyor drum 10 connected is. The motor 14 is rigid with the drum or the drum body of the conveyor drum 10 connected so that a rotational movement of the engine 14 to a rotary movement of the conveyor drum 10 leads. This is the engine 14 with a drive control 16 connected so that the drive control 16 corresponding control signals to the motor 14 transmitted. In addition, the engine is 14 an encoder 18 arranged as a rotary encoder, which controls the rotational movement of the motor 14 images or processes and electrical signals to the drive control 16 emits. As a result, an accurate detection and control of the rotational movement of the engine 14 reached.

To an automated calibration of the conveyor drum 10 to reach, is on the lateral surface of the drum body of the conveyor drum 10 a marking element 20 formed during rotation of the conveyor drum 10 co-rotates. The marking element 20 is formed, for example, in the edge region on the outer circumference of the drum body.

Adjacent to the conveyor drum 10 is a sensor 22 fixed and / or fixed to the frame, so that using the sensor 22 the marking element 20 the conveyor drum 10 detected and / or detected as soon as the marking element 20 below the sensor 22 or at the sensor 22 is passed. The sensor 22 is electric with a machine control 24 connected, wherein the sensor signals of the sensor 22 in the machine control 24 be evaluated.

The machine control 24 is preferably provided as an industrial PC, which is designed as a programmable logic controller (PLC). The machine control 24 is with the drive control 16 connected. In addition, the machine control 24 via a corresponding bus system with a display device 26 connected, which is also designed as a machine visualization.

In an alternative embodiment, the sensor 22 in addition to or instead of the connection with the machine control 24 with the drive control 16 directly connected, as indicated by the dashed line in 1 is indicated. This makes it possible, the sensor signals of the sensor 22 in the machine control 24 and / or in the drive control 16 to process. By means of the sensor 22 be during the movement of the conveyor drum 10 the position and / or the contour of the marking element 20 on the conveyor drum 10 captured and in the machine control 24 as well as in the drive control 16 read in, at the same time the angular position of the encoder 18 of the motor 14 is detected, and wherein upon movement of the marking element 20 on the sensor 22 passing the position and / or the contour of the marking element 20 in relation to the rotary position of the encoder 18 in the machine control 24 and in the drive control 16 is read in and stored.

Will the conveyor drum 10 through the engine 14 driven and moved, the sensor detects 22 the position of the marking element 20 on the conveyor drum 10 , so that by the predetermined and thus known position of the marking element 20 to the receiving troughs 12 the trough position to the position of the encoder 18 for example in the machine control 24 is determined. This is when detecting the marking element 20 opposite the sensor 22 a control command is triggered, so that the information about the position of the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum 10 relative to the drive axis of the conveyor drum in the machine control 24 is captured and stored. Thus omitted in the adjustment of the conveyor drum 10 before putting the filter attachment device into operation 2 corresponding manual inputs or measurements in production mode. Due to the now known angular position of the rotor of the motor 10 is at recognition of the marking element 20 (as a conveyor reference position) the angular position of the encoder 18 (as encoder reference position).

To possible hysteresis of the sensor 20 or compensate when starting the sensor, the conveyor drum 10 initially moved in a conveying direction and then rotated in the opposite direction. This will produce an average of the center of the marker 20 corresponds, determined, so that a precise position of the conveyor drum 10 in the controller 24 or in the drive control 16 calculated or calculated or can be. To align or calibrate the conveying drum designed as a conveyor 10 to perform, the conveyor drum 10 turned until the sensor 22 the marking element 20 recognizes.

In the context of the invention it is possible that the marking or the marking element 20 the conveyor drum 10 is detected by the sensor in an optical and / or sonorous and / or capacitive and / or inductive manner. Moreover, it is also conceivable within the scope of the invention that instead of an additional marking element 20 as a marker the flanks of a receiving trough 12 is detected via a defined edge as a reference position by means of a corresponding sensor.

Moreover, it is also conceivable within the scope of the invention that several marking elements 20 are arranged on a drum or on a drum body, so that the accuracy can be increased by the detection of a plurality of marking elements. Furthermore, it is provided in the context of the invention in one embodiment that several sensors are provided on the conveyor drum to detect the marking elements. Through the use of multiple marking elements or multiple sensors is also a simple direction of rotation monitoring of the engine 14 and thus the conveyor drum 10 possible.

This is achieved by the detection of the marking element 20 and the assignment and position of the encoder 18 its (angular) position is detected, the effort for the setting of conveyor drums in the course of commissioning or recommissioning a Filteransetzmaschine 2 considerably reduced. By the in 1 illustrated arrangement for calibrating the conveyor drum 10 as a conveyor organ can be the conveyor drums 10 independently calibrate and align each other so that in the machine control 24 and / or the drive control 16 there is a defined position of the drum recess for encoder information.

In 2 schematically is an arrangement for calibrating a conveyor drum 10 represented the tobacco processing industry according to another embodiment. The conveyor drum 10 has on its drum body via a projecting beyond the drum body marker cam 30 , the cuboid as a survey on the conveyor drum 10 is arranged.

In the right area of 2 is a perspective view of the conveyor drum for better illustration 10 shown schematically, for reasons of clarity of the representation of recordings for rod-shaped articles, the queraxial on the conveyor drum 10 to be transported, apart was. As seen from the perspective view of the conveyor drum 10 in 2 it can be seen has the marker cam 30 on its upper side a flat surface, wherein the marker cam 30 as a body on the circumference of the conveyor drum 10 protrudes.

At the conveyor drum 10 is adjacent a light emitter 32 arranged, the collimated light or collimated light rays 34 in the direction of a light emitter 32 opposite arranged light sensor 36 sends. The light transmitter 32 and the light sensor 36 are so adjacent to the conveyor drum 10 arranged that during rotation of the conveyor drum 10 the marker cam 30 in the out of the parallel rays of light 34 formed light curtain so that upon entry of the marking cam 30 only a part of the light rays 34 at the light sensor 36 being received by the in the light beams 34 arranged marker cams 30 a shading on the side of the light sensor 36 arises.

To light rays 34 to generate is the light transmitter 32 with a power supply 38 connected. In addition, the light sensor 36 with the machine control 24 connected so that the from the light sensor 36 measured light intensity or amount of light or the degree of shading depending on the angle of rotation of the conveyor drum 10 as analog value or fine digital value of shading by the conveyor drum 10 and their marker cams 30 to the machine control 24 is transmitted.

In 3 is schematically the measurement of the amount of light as a voltage value as a function of the rotation angle of the conveyor drum 10 shown. At the entrance of the marking cam 30 in the light rays 34 formed light curtain falls the amount of light or light intensity due to the shading by the marker cam 30 until a first minimum of the amount of light is measured. Will the conveyor drum 10 with the cuboid marking cams 30 Turned further, the measured light intensity increases slightly until a local maximum is measured. Subsequently, under rotation of the conveyor drum 10 the marker cam 30 turned out of the light curtain, so that after the local maximum another local minimum of the amount of light is measured.

Subsequently, the amount of light continues to increase until the maximum value of the amount of light is reached again, since the marker cam 30 was turned out of the light curtain. This results in a total of a W-shaped curve of the amount of light when the marker cam 30 is moved through the light curtain. Characterized in that the local maximum between two minima of the measured amount of light is detected, a unique and exact position of the cam (as Förderorganreferenzposition) and thus the drum body is determined and defined with its grooves, followed by this drum position an exact angular position of the encoder as encoder reference position of the Motors 14 the conveyor drum 10 is assigned.

From this assignment of the determined and previously determined drum position and the detected angular position of the rotary encoder 18 of the motor 14 the conveyor drum 10 becomes the conveyor drum 10 calibrated automatically, taking advantage of the light emitter 32 and the light sensor 36 existing sensor device in conjunction with a rotary encoder, not shown here 18 a exact angular position determination of the drum is ensured, wherein the relative maximum of the amount of light between two relative minima of the amount of light is used as a reference point for the drum position (as Förderorganreferenzposition).

By the in 2 shown sensor device consisting of the light emitter 32 and the one with the light transmitter 32 cooperating light sensor 36 , is an automatic alignment of the conveyor drum 10 possible without a calibration of the sensor device or the light sensor 36 necessary is.

In 4 is an alternative embodiment for the in 2 shown arrangement shown schematically. Here is a light sensor 40 as a sensor device with a transmitting unit and a receiving unit adjacent to or on the conveyor drum 10 arranged such that the transmitting unit of the light scanner 40 light rays 34 to a light sensor 40 oppositely arranged reflector 42 sends. The from the reflector 42 Reflected light rays are transmitted by means of the receiving unit of the light scanner 40 detected, wherein the amount of light of the reflected light as a value of shading by the marker cam 30 upon passage of the marking cam 30 through the light rays 34 formed light curtain to the machine control 24 is transmitted, whereby an exact drum position (as Förderorganreferenzposition) is determined and in the machine control 24 with the encoder position of the encoder 18 is evaluated.

In 5 are four different representations of an arrangement for calibrating a first conveyor drum 111 and a second conveyor drum 112 using one from the light emitter 32 and the light sensor 36 formed sensor device (see. 2 ), using a single sensor device each with a marker cam 30 side by side conveyor drums 111 . 112 be calibrated. While according to the diagrams a) and b), the first conveyor drum 111 is not rotated, becomes the second conveyor drum 112 rotates, so first the second conveyor drum 112 according to the in 2 is calibrated or referenced.

Subsequently, the marker cam 30 the second conveyor drum 112 out of the light rays 34 turned out formed light curtain (partial image c), wherein after calibration of the second conveyor drum 112 the other, adjacent first conveyor drum 111 is rotated so that the first conveyor drum 111 in a corresponding manner according to the in 2 explained measuring principle with non-rotating second conveyor drum 112 calibrated or referenced.

In 6 is a perspective view in the neckline a circumferential longitudinal conveyor 50 for rod-shaped articles in the form of cigarette pairs shown schematically, which is also referred to as "spider". The longitudinal conveyor 50 is part of a schematically designated stranding machine 3 for rod-shaped articles, in particular cigarette rod or filter rod machine. Under the name PROTOS z. B. a stranding machine of HAUNI Maschinenbau AG.

In the production plant of the stranding machine 3 be by means of the longitudinal conveyor 50 longitudinal axial promoted rod-shaped articles, eg. As tobacco sticks, from on rotatably mounted arms 52 of the longitudinal conveyor 50 paired Saugmuldenpaaren 54 from a prism rail 56 taken and in a transfer position to a Queraxial abfördernden cross conveyor, z. B. takeover drum of a subsequent filter attachment machine passed. The functioning of the longitudinal conveyor 50 is for example in DE 41 29 672 C2 and in EP 1 493 338 B1 described in detail, so that express reference is made to these documents, the disclosure of which is explicitly incorporated in the present patent application.

The Saugmuldenpaare 54 are guided on an elliptical orbit such that in the receiving area A on the prism rail 56 their axial velocity is greatest and corresponds to the speed at which cigarettes are conveyed longitudinally. The Saugmuldenpaare 54 with their recordings for the rod-shaped article thereby each lower from above on the male cigarettes and take over at the time of recording by suction each cigarette pair, which is promoted towards a delivery area in which the ellipticity of the receiving pairs has its major axis.

In order to transfer a trouble-free transfer of the cigarette pairs as a rod-shaped article from its longitudinal axial promotion in a transverse axial promotion, it is necessary, designed as a transfer device longitudinal conveyor 50 with the Saugmuldenpaaren designed as transfer elements 54 with their recordings exactly to the prism rail 56 and / or to the recordings 12 align a subordinate queraxial promoting transfer drum.

For calibrating the longitudinal conveyor (which can be driven by a motor, not shown here) 50 becomes a Saugmuldenpaar 54 manually in the receiving area A of rod-shaped articles in the prism rails 56 the stranding machine 3 longitudinally conveyed, arranged to Saugmuldenpaare 54 in their position, so that in continuous operation, the suction cups of the Saugmuldenpaares 54 as well as all Saugmuldenpaare 54 rest along the entire length of the rod-shaped article to be promoted.

After alignment of the Saugmuldenpaares 54 and fixing the Saugmuldenpaares with respect to the associated arm 52 , becomes the position of the longitudinal conveyor 50 for example, acknowledged at a (not shown here) control and display device of a machine control, so that the position of the rotary encoder of the (not shown here) motor for the longitudinal conveyor 50 is read in by the control or by the machine control. After acknowledgment of the position becomes the longitudinal conveyor 50 from the drive motor, which is preferably designed as a single drive, held in this position.

After completing the adjustment work on the first Saugmuldenpaar 54 becomes the longitudinal conveyor 50 by the single drive angle section exactly moved by one pitch each motor, to subsequently downstream in the conveying direction Saugmuldenpaar 54 in the transfer area A to position. This is the longitudinal conveyor 50 operated intermittently, ie that in the course of commissioning the strand machine 3 to prepare the production plant and to carry out the adjustments of the longitudinal conveyors 50 is moved by a predetermined angle, which consists of the number of transfer organs (or Saugmuldenpaare) in a complete rotation of the longitudinal conveyor 50 by 360 ° results. In the exemplary embodiment, the longitudinal conveyor 50 nine arms or Saugmuldenpaare 54 on, resulting in a respective angle of 40 °. Of course, other pitches or angles in a range of about 5 °, corresponding to a pitch of 72, and 180 °, corresponding to a pitch of 2, possible.

Due to the specification of the pitch or the clock and the number of increments of the rotary encoder of the drive motor for the transfer conveyor per drum revolution is determined by the controller or the machine control, the number of increments of the encoder by which the drive motor must rotate the longitudinal conveyor until the downstream Saugmuldenpaar 54 in the transfer area A (as Förderorganreferenzposition) is arranged.

In the new position, the drive motor remains energized, so that the position of the longitudinal conveyor 50 is held position-controlled and thus unintentional adjustment of the longitudinal conveyor 50 during the adjustment of the Saugmuldenpaares 54 is prevented.

After aligning the Saugmuldenpaares arranged in the transfer area 54 becomes the longitudinal conveyor 50 then by a division and thus further rotated by 40 °.

In addition, it is possible in an alternative embodiment, that after an alignment of the first Saugmuldenpaares 54 the position of the transfer conveyor is acknowledged in the machine control, so that the angular position or angular position of the encoder for the transfer conveyor 50 is transmitted to the machine control, so that according to the known division of the conveying member or the longitudinal conveyor 50 the position of the rotary encoder for the downstream Saugmuldenpaar is determined. The maintenance personnel then use the longitudinal conveyor for the adjustment work 50 further rotated, wherein the maintenance personnel using a display device, the corresponding proper creation of the longitudinal conveyor 50 for the downstream Saugmuldenpaar to be set 54 is displayed on the basis of the determined position of the rotary encoder. After a match of the determined and displayed position of the rotary encoder with the manually set position of the encoder, an orientation of the arranged in the transfer area A Saugmuldenpaares 54 be performed.

All mentioned features, including the drawings alone to be taken as well as individual features that are disclosed in combination with other features are considered alone and in combination as essential to the invention. Embodiments of the invention may be accomplished by individual features or a combination of several features.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

2

filter attachment

3

rod machine

10

conveyor drum

12

receiving trough

14

engine

16

drive control

18

encoder

20

marker

22

sensor

24

machine control

26

display device

30

marking cams

32

light source

34

light rays

36

light sensor

38

power supply

40

light sensor

42

reflector

50

longitudinal conveyor

52

poor

54

Saugmuldenpaare

56

Prismenschiene

111

conveyor drum

112

conveyor drum

A

reception area

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• EP 1495685 B1 [0004]
• EP 1493338 B1 [0005, 0070]
• DE 4129672 C2 [0070]

Claims (13)

Method for operating a machine ( 2 . 3 ) of the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter attachment machine ( 2 ) or multifilter manufacturing machine or stranding machine ( 3 ), for the production of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry, the machine ( 2 . 3 ) at least one of a drive ( 14 ) driven conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) for the rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry, a rotary encoder ( 18 ) for the drive ( 14 ) is provided so that the rotary encoder ( 18 ) by means of the drive ( 14 ) with the funding body ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) and wherein the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) in the conveying direction several recordings ( 12 . 54 ) for rod-shaped articles, characterized in that, in particular before putting the machine into operation ( 2 . 3 ) for the production of rod-shaped articles, the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) is or is brought into a predetermined conveyor organ reference position, wherein after positioning of the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) in the conveyor organ reference position by a control device ( 16 . 24 ), in particular a machine control device ( 24 ), the angular position of the rotary encoder ( 18 ) is detected as the encoder reference position. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that, given the number of increments of the rotary encoder ( 18 ) and specifying the number of shots ( 12 . 54 ) of the funding body ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) for the rod-shaped articles in the conveying direction of the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) the positions of the downstream in the conveying direction of the article recordings ( 12 . 54 ) for the rod-shaped articles, in particular using the control device ( 16 . 24 ), in relation to the conveyor organ reference position can be determined or predetermined, so that after transmission of a control signal, in particular a drive control device ( 16 ), to the drive ( 14 ) the funding body ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) with a subordinate downstream direction ( 12 . 54 ) performs an advancing movement and is brought into the position of Förderorganreferenzposition. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the conveyor organ reference position of the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) using an adjacent to the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ), preferably external and stationary, sensor device ( 22 . 32 . 36 . 40 . 42 ) and one with the sensor device ( 22 . 32 . 36 . 40 . 42 ) cooperating on or on the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) arranged marking element ( 20 . 30 ) is detected, wherein after detection of the marking element ( 20 . 30 ) of the funding body ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) by means of, preferably stationary, sensor device ( 22 . 32 . 36 . 40 . 42 ) the funding body ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) is positioned in the conveyor organ reference position, so that the control device ( 16 . 24 ), in particular the machine control device ( 24 ), the encoder angular position, the output signal of the sensor device ( 22 . 32 . 36 . 40 . 42 ) and the detection of the marking element ( 20 . 30 ). Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the marking element ( 20 . 30 ) of the funding body ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) in an optical and / or sonorous and / or capacitive and / or inductive manner by the sensor device ( 22 . 32 . 36 . 40 . 42 ) is detected. Method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the marking element ( 20 . 30 ) by the sensor device ( 22 . 32 . 36 . 40 . 42 ) is detected in several measurements, wherein in particular from the measurements in conjunction with the rotary encoder position, an average value for the rotary encoder reference position of the rotary encoder ( 18 ) and / or an average value for the conveyor organ reference position of the conveyor ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) and in particular for the measurements the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) is moved forward and / or backward in the conveying direction. Method according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the marking element ( 20 . 30 ) as, preferably rectangular, cams on the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) is formed, wherein upon rotation of the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) of the cam by a light curtain of a sensor device ( 22 . 32 . 36 . 40 . 42 ) and wherein the amount of light and / or the change in the amount of light of the light curtain or the degree of shading and / or the change in the degree of shading is detected or measured as the cam passes through the light curtain. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that by in dependence of the rotation of the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) in conveying direction, the conveyor organ reference position of the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) a relative maximum of the measured amount of light between two relative minima of the measured amount of light or in dependence of the rotation of the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) in conveying direction, the conveyor organ reference position of the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) a relative maximum of shadowing between two relative minima or shading is or is determined. Method according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the light curtain by means of a light transmitter ( 32 . 40 . 42 ) of the sensor device ( 22 . 32 . 36 . 40 . 42 ) and that the amount of light of the light curtain or the shading by means of a light emitter ( 32 . 40 ) associated, in particular opposite, light receiver ( 36 . 40 ) of the sensor device ( 22 . 32 . 36 . 40 . 42 ) is detected or measured, wherein in particular the light receiver ( 36 . 40 ) with the control device ( 16 . 24 ) is connected to the detected or measured amount of light or the degree of shading by at least one of these or formed therefrom, preferably electrical and / or electronic, signal of the control device ( 16 . 24 ), in particular continuously. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that after a fixation of the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) movably arranged recordings ( 54 ) for rod-shaped articles in the conveying element reference position the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) is further rotated by a predetermined conveying path or angle of rotation, so that in the conveying direction of the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) subordinate movable recordings ( 54 ) are brought into the conveyor organ reference position to the in the Förderorganreferungsposition positioned recording ( 54 ), in particular the drive ( 14 ) is kept accurate during the adjustment or alignment process. Arrangement for conveying rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry, the arrangement comprising at least one of a drive ( 14 ) driven conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) for the rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry, a rotary encoder ( 18 ) for the drive ( 14 ) is provided so that the rotary encoder ( 18 ) by means of the drive ( 14 ) with the funding body ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) and wherein the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) in the conveying direction several recordings ( 12 . 54 ) for rod-shaped articles, characterized in that the arrangement comprises a device for, preferably automatic or semi-automatic, calibrating the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ), wherein the means for calibrating the conveyor organ ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) a control device ( 16 . 24 ), in particular a machine control device ( 24 ), and one adjacent to the conveyor ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ), preferably external and stationary, sensor device ( 22 . 32 . 36 . 40 . 42 ), in particular an optical sensor ( 22 . 32 . 36 . 40 . 42 ), wherein the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) a marking element ( 20 . 30 ), so that using the sensor device ( 22 . 32 . 36 . 40 . 42 ) on or at the conveyor ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) provided marking element ( 20 . 30 ) is detected or detectable, so that, in particular before start-up or at standstill of the arrangement for conveying the rod-shaped article, after positioning of the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) in the predetermined conveyor organ reference position from the control device ( 16 . 24 ), in particular a machine control device ( 24 ), the angular position of the rotary encoder ( 18 ) is detected or detectable as a rotary encoder reference position, wherein, in particular after a detection of the marking element ( 20 . 30 ) of the funding body ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) by means of, preferably stationary, sensor device ( 22 . 32 . 36 . 40 . 42 ) the funding body ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) is positioned in the conveyor organ reference position, so that the control device ( 16 . 24 ), in particular the machine control device ( 24 ), the encoder angular position, the output signal of the sensor device ( 22 . 32 . 36 . 40 . 42 ) and the detection of the marking element ( 20 . 30 ) or are transferable. Arrangement according to claim 10, characterized in that the marking element ( 20 . 30 ) as, preferably rectangular, cams on the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) is formed, wherein upon rotation of the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) of the cam by a light curtain of the sensor device ( 22 . 32 . 36 . 40 . 42 ) and wherein the amount of light and / or the change in the amount of light of the light curtain or the degree of shading and / or the change in the Abschattungsgrads upon passage of the cam through the light curtain is detected or detectable, in particular in dependence on the rotation of the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) in conveying direction, the conveyor organ reference position of the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) a relative maximum of the measured amount of light between two relative minima of the measured amount of light can be determined or in dependence of the rotation of the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) in conveying direction, the conveyor organ reference position of the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) a relative maximum of shading between two relative minima of shading can be determined. Arrangement according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the light curtain by means of a light emitter ( 32 . 40 . 42 ) of the sensor device ( 22 . 32 . 36 . 40 . 42 ) and that the amount of light of the light curtain or the shading by means of a light emitter ( 32 . 40 ), in particular opposite, light receiver ( 36 . 40 ) of the sensor device ( 22 . 32 . 36 . 40 . 42 ) is detectable measurable. Arrangement according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) as a rotary body, in particular as a conveyor drum ( 10 . 111 . 112 ) or longitudinal conveyor ( 50 ), is formed, wherein after a fixation of the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) movably arranged recordings ( 54 ) for rod-shaped articles in the conveying element reference position the conveying member ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) by a predetermined conveying path or angle of rotation by means of the drive ( 14 ) is weiterdrehbar, so that in the conveying direction of the Promotional body ( 10 . 50 . 111 . 112 ) subordinate movable recordings ( 54 ) can be brought into the Förderorganreferenzposition to the positioned in the Förderorganreferungsposition recording ( 54 ), in particular the drive ( 14 ) is kept accurate during the adjustment or alignment process.

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