EP2029441B1 - Actuating drive - Google Patents

Abstract

The drive (8) has a sensor system (11), and a control and/or monitoring electronics (10) with a memory (17) and/or storage space provided for storing operating parameters and/or disturbances. The memory creates place for storing new data if capacity limit of the memory is reached. The operating parameters and/or error or disturbances constantly stored as error data and/or messages during the operation of the drive are detected by the sensor system.

Description

The invention relates to an actuator according to the preamble of claim 1.

Known is a device or machine for treating bottles, cans or the like. Container ( DE 100 34 907 A1 ), in which a plurality of treatment position are formed on the circumference of a rotatable about a vertical axis of the machine rotatable rotor, each with a plate-like container carrier. On the container carriers, the container with its container bottom are upright and oriented with its container axis oriented in the vertical direction and are moved past the rotating rotor at processing stations, for example when forming the machine as a labeling machine to labeling units.

In order to align the containers in a respective orientation required for the treatment (for example, the application of the labels), the container carriers are rotatably controlled by an actuator about a container carrier axis. Each actuator forms together with an electric motor drive, with control electronics and at least one angular position or the respective angle of rotation of the electric motor drive and thus the container carrier measuring sensor a fully functional modular unit, which is provided interchangeably on the rotor and u.a. for transmitting control commands via a partially formed in the rotor external bus system with a central, the machine controlling computer is in communication.

Due to the modular design of the actuators u.a. the ability to replace a defective actuator against a properly working actuator and perform a possible repair of the defective actuator outside the machine, for example, in a user-independent of the machine special or repair operation. The disadvantage here is that the cause of defects or malfunctions in many cases, especially after the removal of the actuator from the machine is no longer traceable and must be determined only in a very complex error diagnosis.

The object of the invention is to show an actuator which avoids this disadvantage. To solve this problem, an actuator according to the patent claim 1 is formed.

The actuator according to the invention is suitable, for example, as an actuator for container carriers in general, for example for plate-shaped container carriers on which the containers are placed with their bottom up, or for container carriers, where the containers are kept hanging, in each case for aligning the orientation of the container for the treatment, for example labeling. The actuator according to the invention can also be used for other functions in machines or devices for treating bottles, cans or the like. Container.

The particular advantage of the actuator according to the invention is that in the example designed as a flash memory memory, the current operating parameters and error data or messages measured by the control and monitoring electronics of the actuator, for example by comparison or determined current operating parameters (as the actual value) with predetermined setpoint values of these operating parameters are determined continuously, ie stored in short-time successive time intervals. The storage of the operating parameters and the error data or messages is preferably carried out in a log-like manner together with the current date and the current time.

The setpoints used to determine errors are stored or stored, for example, in the control electronics, ie. for example, fixed and / or be, if these setpoints are product-dependent, i. e.g. are dependent on the currently treated containers, the type of treatment, etc., read at work from the central control unit or from the central computer of the machine via the external bus system in the memory of the control electronics of the actuators.

Occurring faults or deviations from setpoints are then displayed, for example via the external bus system to the central computer of the machine. By individually stored in the actuators operating parameters and / or error data or messages on the external bus system, for example, a fault diagnosis even when the machine is running, so that a correction of the fault or the error in an actuator tries in still on the machine left actuator can be, for example, by transmitting the stored or logged operating parameters and error data eg via remote data transmission (e.g., Internet) to an operator specialized in troubleshooting the actuators, such as the manufacturer of the machine and / or associated actuators.

If it is necessary to replace the relevant actuator for a repair, a quick and simplified fault diagnosis and repair are possible during repair operation by reading the stored operating parameters and / or error data or messages.

Also, the actuator according to the invention forms a modular unit that is fully functional and only requires a connection to the electrical supply and external control lines, for example, to an external bus system for their function.

Fig. 1

in vereinfachter Darstellung und in Draufsicht eine Maschine umlaufender Bauart zum Behandeln von Flaschen, Dosen oder dergleichen Behälter mit einer Vielzahl von am Umfang eines Rotors gebildeten Behandlungspositio- nen;

Fig.2

in vereinfachter Darstellung ein auswechselbares Antriebsmodul einer Arbeitsstation.

Further developments are the subject of the dependent claims. The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of an embodiment. Show it:

Fig. 1

in a simplified representation and in plan view of a machine of circulating design for treating bottles, cans or the like containers with a plurality of treatment positions formed on the circumference of a rotor NEN;

Fig.2

in a simplified representation, a replaceable drive module of a workstation.

The generally designated 1 in the figures machine is used to treat bottles, cans or the like container 2, which fed to the machine 1 via a feed dog 3 on a container inlet formed by a transport star 4 are and after treatment via a container starter 5 formed by the container outlet via the feed dog 3 are discharged.

The machine 1, which is used, for example, for labeling and / or printing on the containers 2, has a large number of treatment positions on the circumference of a rotor 6, which is driven peripherally around a vertical machine axis. are each formed by a container carrier 7, to which the container 2 are transferred to the container inlet 4 individually and on which the container 2 with its bottom rising, with its container axis oriented in the vertical direction with the rotating rotor 6 are moved past treatment stations, not shown.

The container carriers 7 are u.a. for an alignment of the container 2, for example, when printing and / or labeling controlled about its axis parallel to the vertical machine axis rotatable so that each container 2 can be brought by turning the container carrier 7 in the orientation required in each case.

• Eine Steuer- und Überwachungselektronik 10, u.a. zur Ansteuerung des elektromotorischen Antriebs 9, insbesondere zur Steuerung der jeweiligen Drehstellung und/oder des jeweiligen Drehwinkels der Behälteraufnahme 7 sowie u.a. auch zur laufenden Überwachung des Betriebszustandes und der Betriebsparameter des Moduls 8 und Erzeugung und Speicherung von Fehlerdaten oder -meldungen bei auftretenden Fehlern oder Störungen,
• eine wenigstens einen Sensor aufweisende Sensoranordnung 11 u.a. zur Ermittlung der Drehstellung und/oder des Drehwinkels des elektromotorischen Antriebs 9 und damit des Behälterträgers 7,
• eine Sensoranordnung 12 zur Messung weiterer Betriebsparameter, wie z.B. der Temperatur des elektromotorischen Antriebs 9, wobei die Sensoranordnung 12 hierfür beispielsweise mehrere an kritischen Bereichen dieses Antriebs verteilt angeordnete Temperatursensoren aufweist,
• eine Messeinrichtung 13 zur Messung unterschiedlicher elektrischer Betriebsparameter, beispielsweise von Strom und/oder Spannung am elektromotorischen Antrieb 9 usw.

Each container carrier 7 is part of an actuator or module 8, ie a fully functional, replaceable on the rotor assembly 6, which in addition to an electric motor drive 9 (electric servomotor, for example with gear), on the output shaft of the respective container carrier 7 is arranged includes elements necessary for the control of the respective container carrier 7 as well as for the monitoring of functions, namely, inter alia:

• A control and monitoring electronics 10, including the control of the electric motor drive 9, in particular for controlling the respective rotational position and / or the respective angle of rotation of the container receptacle 7 and, among other things, for continuous monitoring of the operating condition and the operating parameters of the module 8 and generation and storage of error data or notifications in case of errors or malfunctions,
• a sensor arrangement 11 having at least one sensor, inter alia, for determining the rotational position and / or the rotational angle of the electromotive drive 9 and thus of the container carrier 7,
• a sensor arrangement 12 for measuring further operating parameters, such as the temperature of the electromotive drive 9, the sensor arrangement 12 having, for example, a plurality of temperature sensors distributed at critical areas of this drive,
• a measuring device 13 for measuring different electrical operating parameters, for example, current and / or voltage at the electric motor drive 9, etc.

The module 8 further includes an interface 14, via which the module 8 with an external bus system, which is at least partially executed on the rotor 6, for a bidirectional data transmission, in particular for a transmission of control commands and other data, such as error messages or Acknowledgment of control commands, with a central, the machine 1 controlling computer 15 is connected. In addition to the interface 14 and the corresponding terminals, the module 8 has at least one preferably multipolar connection 16, over which the electrical supply of the module 8 takes place with the or the operating voltages.

A special feature of the module 8 is that this or the local control electronics 10 is provided with a memory 17, which consists for example of several memory units and in which at least all the essential operating data or parameters as well as any error or error messages For example, disturbances in the field of bus systems, deviations of the angular position and / or the rotational angle of the electric motor drive 9 and the container carrier 7 of each predetermined setpoints, impermissible temperatures, increased currents and thus torques of the electric motor drive 9, etc. are constantly stored or logged and together with others, among others also transmitted via the external bus system data such. Time, date, type of containers treated, etc.

In order to define the position of each module 8 on the circumference of the rotor 6, it is also possible to provide on each module 8 a unit 18, for example a reading unit, with which a coding defining the respective position on the rotor 5 is read out, which then also for example in FIG the memory 17 of the control and monitoring electronics 10 is stored. If the control and monitoring electronics 10 are formed by a microprocessor, then the necessary programs are stored in the memory 17.

The storage of the operating parameters and error data or messages is always current, in the form that the corresponding data in the memory 17 or in a space provided there at predetermined short intervals constantly read and upon reaching the maximum storage capacity, the oldest data be cleared to create space for more, especially newer, more up-to-date data.

The control and monitoring electronics 10 is further designed so that when serious errors or malfunctions and / or when a certain error occurs more frequently, via the external bus system an error message is sent to the central computer 15 so that a targeted fault diagnosis and possibly a targeted replacement of the defective module 8 is possible.

With the information stored in the memory 17, it is i.a. It is also possible to analyze a module 8 removed from the machine outside the machine by reading the memory 17 for errors and, if necessary, to repair it. Furthermore, it is also possible, during operation of the machine 1 to read the respective error memory 17 of a module 8 individually and without disassembly of this module for a fault diagnosis via the external bus system, then still with the machine running or later with the machine off the causes for to resolve any problems that have occurred or to replace the relevant module 8 and to supply a repair.

The invention has been described above by means of an embodiment. It is understood that numerous changes and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the inventive concept underlying the invention.

It has been assumed above that the module 8 serves for the controlled movement of a respective dish-shaped container carrier 7. Of course, the drive module 8 can also be used for the controlled movement of other elements of a machine or device for treating containers 2, for example also for the controlled movement of container carriers, on which the containers are held suspended.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

machine

2

container

3

carrier

4

Container inlet or inlet star

5

Container outlet or outlet star

6

rotor

7

container carrier

8th

module

9

electric motor drive

10

Control and monitoring electronics

11, 12

sensor arrangement

13

measuring device

14

interface

15

central computer for controlling the machine 1

16

multi-pole connection for the supply voltage or supply voltages

17

Memory for storing errors and operating parameters

18

reader

Claims (8)

1. Actuator to be used in devices or machines for the treatment of bottles, cans and similar containers (2), with a drive element (9), preferably an electromotive drive element, with control and/or monitoring electronics (10) as well as sensors (11, 12) for capturing operational conditions or parameters of the actuator (8), characterised by the control and/or monitoring electronics (10) at least having one memory (17) and whereby operational parameters and/or any possible errors or failures are continuously saved in the memory (17) as error data and/or error messages during operation of the actuator.
2. Actuator according to Claim 1, characterised by the memory (17) or the storage place which is provided for saving the operational parameters and/or any possible failures being configured such that when its capacity limit is reached, the oldest data is deleted in order to create space for saving new data.
3. Actuator according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised by the operational parameters and/or error data or error messages being saved in the memory (17) together with the respective date and/or time.
4. Actuator according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by the operational parameters, which have been captured by the sensors (11, 12) and saved in the memory (17), being temperatures and/or actuator positions and/or actuator travels and/or torques of the electromotive drive.
5. Actuator according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by invalid temperatures and/or invalid deviations of the actuator position and/or the actuator travel and/or torque of the electromotive drive from specified set point or threshold values being saved in the memory.
6. Actuator according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by the sensors having at least one temperature sensor (12) and/or one position or travel sensor (11), capturing the position and/or actuator travel of the electromotive drive and/or one torque sensor.
7. Actuator according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by the sensors for measuring the torque having a measurement device (13) for capturing the motor current, when an electromotive drive (10) is used.
8. Actuator according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by the control and monitoring electronics (10) being designed for data exchange, particularly for bidirectional data exchange, via a bus system.

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