EP4137417A1 - Packaging machine with film transport device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

Packaging machine (1), comprising a film transport device (25a, 25b, 25c) and a control device (13, 24) for controlling an operation of at least one drive unit (27, 28, 31, 32) of the film transport device (25a, 25b, 25c), wherein the control device (13, 24) is designed to control the drive unit (27, 28, 31, 32) during a production run of the packaging machine (1) on the basis of a rotary drive carried out by means of the drive unit (27, 28, 31, 32). Measuring run detected, speed and / or temperature-dependent friction torque characteristic (38) to control. The invention also relates to a method for controlling a drive unit (27, 28, 31, 32) of a film transport device (25a, 25b, 25c).

Description

The present invention relates to a packaging machine according to claim 1. The invention further relates to a method according to claim 8.

In addition to high process reliability and the performance of a packaging machine, the reduction of packaging material is an essential customer requirement that packaging machine manufacturers are increasingly confronted with. This means that increasingly thin films are to be used and the film waste during the packaging process, in particular a film edge strip that is not processed into packaging, must be minimized.

In practice, servo drives are already used on packaging machines, for example on intermittently operating deep-drawing packaging machines or on tray sealing machines, to control film pickups and residual film winders. By means of such servo drives it is possible to control the film tension by specifying a torque. This gives the customer the opportunity to adjust the film tension individually, which means that thin films can be transported more easily and only very narrow film edge strips remain in the production of packaging.

However, it has been shown that the conventional torque setting control can be influenced by disturbances occurring during a packaging process, for example due to a changing operating temperature and/or due to varying servomotor speeds, in such a way that no consistent and reproducible film tension is achieved during the packaging process.

Above all, operational inherent dynamics of each drive used for the film transport device can be problematic, since this can cause film tension to fluctuate during the production run or packaging process of the packaging machine. A film tension that changes during the production run, however, leads to signs of fatigue, especially in the case of thin films, and can also lead to the film material being visibly damaged during the production run, for example tearing at fatigued points. The associated interruption of the production run, in order to re-clamp the film material if necessary, reduces the productivity of the packaging machine.

The object of the invention is to provide a packaging machine and a method with which the processing of thin film material is better possible.

This object is achieved by means of a packaging machine according to claim 1 and by means of a method according to claim 8. Advantageous developments of the invention are given by the respective subject matter of the dependent claims.

The invention relates to a packaging machine that has a film transport device and a control device for controlling an operation of at least one drive unit of the film transport device. The packaging machine according to the invention is in particular in the form of a thermoforming packaging machine or in the form of a tray sealing machine, which is also called a "tray sealer" in technical circles.

According to the invention, the control device is designed to control the drive unit during a production run of the packaging machine on the basis of a speed-dependent and/or temperature-dependent friction torque characteristic recorded using a rotary-driven measuring run performed by the drive unit.

The measuring run carried out by the drive unit takes place separately from the production run, i.e. separately from the packaging process of the packaging machine. In the case of the invention, the measurement run is used to determine an operationally varying inherent friction that can be measured on the drive unit. The measuring run thus takes place as a friction determination run as the basis for the actual production run to be carried out using the packaging machine.

The characteristic course of the inherent friction that can be measured at the drive unit can be derived, for example, proportionally from a power supply that is required for the measurement run and is detected at the drive unit. The friction torque characteristic obtained in this way is then taken into account during the actual production run when controlling the drive unit in order to maintain the desired film tension consistently, i.e. without tension fluctuations, despite the varying inherent friction torque of the drive unit. In other words, thanks to the invention, the inherent friction of the drive unit detected by the measuring run can be compensated during the production run in such a way that a constant film tension is achieved during the production run.

Using the characteristic friction torque curve recorded for the drive unit by means of the measurement run carried out on it, which can be determined, for example, directly proportional to a speed-dependent energization of the drive unit recorded during the measurement run, it is possible to record the drive unit's own friction and use this as a basis in the control of the drive unit during the production run that runs separately, in particular immediately afterwards or only later, in order to achieve a constant film tension to consider. The measurement run carried out for the production run thus serves to record the friction dynamics of the drive unit, taking into account the control during the production run, in order to prevent the film material from being subjected to fluctuating stress. As a result, very thin films can be reliably processed into perfect packaging.

Using the friction torque characteristic curve determined by means of the measuring run, at least the mechanical influence of the inherent friction of the drive unit can be recorded at various speeds that can be used for the production run and compensated for with a corresponding control of the drive unit. It is therefore possible to supply power to the drive unit in such a way that a power supply assumed to achieve a desired film tension is corrected with regard to the inherent friction torque of the drive unit detected by means of the measuring run at a speed to be assumed for this.

In particular, the measuring run can be carried out as a speed-dependent, ie speed-dependent, friction determination run in order to determine the internal friction of the drive unit. It is advisable to carry out the measuring run without foil material. According to one variant, the measuring run can be carried out as a function of the operating hours, for example at certain intervals, in order to take account of the current internal friction of the drive unit. It is conceivable that a measurement run function for carrying out the measurement run can be called up by an operator on the packaging machine, for example on an operating terminal provided there.

The film transport device can be an upper film transport device for transporting an upper film and/or a lower film transport device for transporting a lower film, by means of which the upper film and/or lower film can be fed to a working process taking place on the packaging machine under a desired film tension during the production run of the packaging machine. In particular, the upper film transport device is designed to feed the upper film to a sealing station of a thermoforming packaging or tray sealing machine. The lower film transport device can be used on a thermoforming packaging machine in order to feed the lower film to a forming station of the thermoforming packaging machine.

The drive unit preferably has a servo drive. This can include a servo motor and a servo controller, which dynamically controls the operation of the drive unit on the basis of the friction torque characteristic in order to achieve a constant film tension during the production run. The friction torque characteristic, in particular that on which the friction torque characteristic is based Power supply of the drive unit can be connected to the servo drive, in particular the servo controller, to compensate for the inherent friction of the drive unit as a disturbance variable-dependent characteristic curve pre-control and/or as disturbance variable injection.

In particular, the drive unit has a gear, in particular a gear with a plurality of gear stages. The gearbox as well as the servo motor have their own individual friction, which can influence the film tension. However, the respective friction torques can be determined cumulatively for the drive unit using the measurement run and can thus be systematically taken into account when controlling the drive unit using the resulting friction torque characteristic curve.

It is conceivable that the drive unit can be controlled over an entire speed range of the drive unit in order to record the friction torque characteristic. To do this, the drive unit could be gradually accelerated from standstill during the measurement run until it reaches the maximum speed. This allows the drive unit's own friction, for example at different speed levels, to be recorded over the entire speed range and used as a basis for controlling the drive unit during the production run. The result of the friction determination run could be saved by means of an electronic memory unit of the control device in order to be used for packaging processes of the packaging machine in the future.

Preferably, the drive unit can be accelerated during the measuring run in order to record the friction torque characteristic by means of stepwise, continuously increasing speed levels, i.e. by means of increasingly faster speed levels. The frictional torque can be reliably detected based on the increasing speed levels, in particular when an essentially constant current flow can be measured for the respective speed levels. This is illustrated by a plateau in the power curve.

It would be conceivable for the control device to have a filter function in order to briefly filter out power peaks occurring at the beginning of a speed level set during the measurement run due to the increase in speed. The characteristic friction torque curve of the drive unit results from the power supply of the drive unit recorded during the measurement run, in particular in a directly proportional relationship. It is conceivable that the control device is configured to produce an interpolated friction torque characteristic curve from a large number of the friction torques recorded during the measuring run.

According to one variant, the control device is designed to determine a measurement run temperature of the drive unit that is driven in rotation during the measurement run. For this purpose, the drive unit, in particular a servomotor configured thereon, can have at least one temperature sensor, by means of which the measuring run temperature can be recorded during the friction determination run. In addition, the temperature sensor can preferably be used during the production run to measure a current operating temperature of the drive unit.

An expedient variant provides that the measurement run is carried out in such a way that the friction torque characteristic curve is recorded during a constant measurement run temperature. For the accuracy of the control of the drive unit during the production run, it has been found that a measuring run temperature in the range from 3°C to 8°C, in particular from 5°C to 6°C, is suitable for determining the associated friction torque characteristic. Above all, the control device can select a time window for the measurement run in such a way that the measurement run can be carried out with a constant measurement run temperature. It has proven to be practical that the measuring run is carried out at a constant measuring run temperature of 5°C.

A preferred variant provides that the control device is configured to, on the basis of at least one frictional torque-temperature characteristic curve held available to the control device for the drive unit, derive a temperature compensation factor for the control with regard to a currently recorded operating temperature of the drive unit and with regard to the measurement run temperature recorded during the measurement run of the drive unit.

In particular, the control device is designed to correct the speed-dependent friction torque characteristic curve determined by means of the measuring run, in particular a power supply required for the drive unit that can be derived from this to achieve a desired film tension, using the temperature compensation factor determined with regard to the operating temperature currently present at the drive unit. This means that the inherent friction, which tends to decrease during the production run as the operating temperature increases, can be taken into account when controlling the drive unit. With this temperature compensation, the desired film tension can be maintained even better during the production run.

The friction torque-temperature characteristic only needs to be determined once for the drive unit, ie for its modular structure. It would be conceivable for the friction torque-temperature characteristic to be determined with regard to the respective functional units of the drive unit.

Tests have shown that deviations in the frictional torque-temperature behavior within a transmission series used for the drive unit are very small and can therefore be ignored.

Above all, the temperature compensation factor can be derived as a temperature-dependent quotient from the frictional torque-temperature characteristic kept available to the control device for the respective drive unit. In particular, the quotient is formed from the friction torque displayed for the current operating temperature and the friction torque displayed from this with regard to the measurement run temperature in view of the friction torque-temperature characteristic.

During the production run, the temperature compensation factor determined for the current operating temperature and for the measurement run temperature of the drive unit can be used to continuously derive a power supply that is assumed based on the friction torque characteristic and actually required for the current operating temperature, in order to ensure a power supply during the production run despite the increasing operating temperature of the drive unit to achieve constant film tension. As the operating temperature rises, the power torque actually required to achieve the desired film tension decreases proportionally, which means that temperature influences on the friction behavior of the drive unit can be compensated for. In this way, a constant and reproducible film tension can advantageously be achieved during the production run, even with a varying operating temperature of the drive unit, so that the use of very thin films is made possible.

As already indicated above, the packaging machine can be designed as a thermoforming packaging machine or as a tray sealing machine. In the form of a thermoforming packaging machine, the film transport device could be in the form of an upper film transport device in order to feed an upper film to a sealing station of the thermoforming packaging machine with a desired film tension. Such an upper film transport device can be designed in a comparable manner on the tray sealing machine.

The film transport device preferably has at least one additional drive unit, with the control device being designed to control the additional drive unit during a production run of the packaging machine on the basis of a speed- and/or temperature-dependent additional frictional torque characteristic recorded using a rotary-driven measuring run carried out by means of the additional drive unit head for. The two drive units can thus be operated on the basis of the inherent friction present on them in such a way that they jointly transport the film clamped between them with uniform and reproducible film tension during the production run.

It would be possible for a respective measurement run to take place for all drive units used on the film transport device for film transport, for example at the same time and/or when the packaging machine is started up, in order to record a separate friction torque characteristic for the respective drive unit and store it in the control device .

The film transport device according to the invention could be a lower film transport device on the thermoforming packaging machine in order to feed a lower film stored in the production direction at the entrance of the thermoforming packaging machine by means of a desired film tension to a forming station positioned downstream for the production of troughs. Here, the desired film tension can be achieved in that a dynamic control of the drive unit of a film roll holder mounted at the inlet of the thermoforming packaging machine based on the friction torque characteristic and a dynamic control of the further drive unit based on the further friction torque characteristic takes place, which a Clamping chain for the lower film moves with respect to a working cycle of the packaging machine in the production direction.

The triggering of the measurement run of the additional drive unit can take place in a similar manner to that already described above for the drive unit according to the invention. In particular, the drive unit according to the invention and the further drive unit can be controlled in such a way that they are coordinated with one another in such a way that they can compensate for a temperature influence that is present on them during the production run in order to jointly achieve a constant and reproducible film tension.

It is conceivable that the drive unit rotates a film take-up and the further drive unit rotates a residual film winder. In particular, it is possible to individually set a desired film tension for different film types on the control device and to achieve a constant and reproducible film tension despite temperature changes during the production run. As an alternative or in addition, such a setting function could also be available directly on the film holder and/or on the residual film winder.

The invention also relates to a method for controlling at least one drive unit of a film transport device which feeds a film with a predetermined film tension to a workstation of the packaging machine during a production run taking place there. In particular, the film transport device is configured to feed an upper film with a predetermined film tension to a sealing station of the packaging machine during a production run taking place on the packaging machine.

Alternatively, the film transport device can be used to feed a lower film with a predetermined film tension to a forming station of the packaging machine.

According to the invention, the drive unit is controlled during a production run of the packaging machine on the basis of a speed-dependent and/or temperature-dependent friction torque characteristic curve recorded using a rotary-driven measuring run carried out by the drive unit. Irrespective of whether the film transport device is used to transport an upper film or a lower film, it is easier to maintain a constant and reproducible film tension in the film material during the production run. This is due to the fact that when the drive unit is controlled, taking into account the friction torque characteristic curve recorded on the basis of the measuring run, the drive unit's own dynamics can largely be compensated for.

It makes sense if the drive unit is rotated in both directions during a predetermined run-in interval before the start of the measurement run. Using the run-in interval carried out in reverse directions in this way, sticking effects on the drive unit can be eliminated, which means that the measurement run can then be carried out more precisely in order to detect the inherent friction of the drive unit, preferably in stages over the entire speed range.

It is expedient for the drive unit to be accelerated incrementally at a continuously increasing speed during a measuring section of the measuring run, which is carried out after the running-in interval, in order to determine the friction torque characteristic. This results in a stepwise increasing speed characteristic. Depending on this, the power supply to the drive unit can be measured, which is directly proportional to the power torque applied to it.

In particular, the measuring run can be controlled in such a way that the speed jumps become continuously larger. As a result, the inherent friction of the drive unit can be recorded more accurately overall. Above all, this can lead to a measurement time window for the measurement run in which there is no temperature change in the drive unit during the measurement run.

The control device preferably determines a temperature compensation factor with regard to an operating temperature of the drive unit currently recorded during the production run and with regard to a measurement run temperature recorded during the measurement run for the actuation of the drive unit on the basis of a friction torque-temperature characteristic curve held available to it for the drive unit. The control device can use the temperature compensation factor to compensate for the temperature-dependent inherent friction of the drive unit during the production run. In other words, a temperature compensation factor dynamically adapted to the current operating temperature of the drive unit can be continuously determined by the control device during the production run and continuously used when controlling the drive unit to compensate for the temperature-dependent inherent friction. With this temperature compensation, a constant and reproducible film tension can be achieved during the production run.

An advantageous variant provides that the control device derives a power supply of the drive unit from the detected friction torque characteristic during the production run to achieve a desired film tension and dynamically adapts this assumed power supply using the temperature compensation factor determined with regard to the current operating temperature. The friction torque characteristic, which can be determined by means of the measuring run for the drive unit, thus provides a characteristic curve for the drive unit's own friction, from which a dynamically adapted, actually required power supply for the drive unit can be derived using the temperature compensation factor in order to supply the film material with a supply the desired, constant and reproducible film tension to the packaging process.

On the basis of the measurement run temperature measured during the friction determination run and with regard to the current operating temperature of the drive unit, a quotient can be derived from the friction torque-temperature characteristic curve held by the control device, which indicates the temperature compensation factor for the current operating temperature. This means that the power supply actually required for the drive unit can be dynamically determined during the production run with regard to the inherent friction present on the drive unit and taking into account the operating temperature recorded in order to transport the film material with a constant film tension.

On the basis of the present invention, it is possible to determine the inherent friction characteristic of the drive unit, including a servo motor formed thereon, a gear mechanism formed thereon and/or bearing points formed thereon, i.e. its general speed and/or temperature-related inherent dynamics, by carrying out the measuring run and of the friction torque characteristic recorded in this way. A friction torque derived from this for a desired film tension or a power supply of the drive unit used for this purpose to achieve the desired film tension can also be adjusted by means of the temperature compensation factor with regard to a special, i.e. currently measured, operating temperature of the drive unit in order to counteract the influence of a changing operating temperature to compensate for the friction behavior of the drive unit during the production run, so that the film tension is highly consistent and reproducible during the production run.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Verpackungsmaschine, die als Tiefziehverpackungsmaschine ausgebildet ist,

Fig. 2

eine Perspektivdarstellung einer Verpackungsmaschine, die als Traysealer vorliegt,

Fig. 3

ein Messlauf bzw. Reibermittlungslauf für eine Antriebseinheit einer Folientransporteinrichtung der Verpackungsmaschine, und

Fig. 4

eine Reibmoment-Temperatur-Kennlinie zum Ermitteln eines Temperaturkompensationsfaktors.

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the following figures. Show it:

1

a schematic side view of a packaging machine, which is designed as a thermoforming packaging machine,

2

a perspective view of a packaging machine that is available as a traysealer,

3

a measuring run or friction determination run for a drive unit of a film transport device of the packaging machine, and

4

a friction torque-temperature characteristic for determining a temperature compensation factor.

Identical components are provided with the same reference symbols throughout the figures.

figure 1 shows a packaging machine 1, which is designed as an intermittently operating thermoforming packaging machine 2, in a schematic side view. This thermoforming packaging machine 2 has a forming station 3, a sealing station 4, a transverse cutting device 5 and a longitudinal cutting device 6, which are arranged in this order in a transport direction R on a machine frame 7. On the input side there is a feed roller 8 on the machine frame 7, from which a lower film 9 is drawn off. Furthermore, the thermoforming packaging machine 2 has a transport chain 11, which grips the lower film 9 and transports it further in the transport direction R per main work cycle, in particular transport chains or clamp chains 11 arranged on both sides.

In the illustrated embodiment, the forming station 3 is designed as a deep-drawing station, in which depressions M are formed in the lower film 9 by deep-drawing, for example by means of compressed air and/or vacuum. In this case, the forming station 3 can be designed in such a way that in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction R, a plurality of troughs M are formed next to one another. A filling section 10 is provided in the transport direction R behind the forming station 3, in which the depressions M formed in the lower film 9 are filled with products.

The sealing station 4 has a hermetically sealable chamber 4a, in which the atmosphere in the troughs M, prior to sealing with that of a top film transport device 12 discharged upper film 30 can be evacuated, for example, and/or replaced by gas flushing with a replacement gas or with a gas mixture.

The cross-cutting device 5 can be designed as a punch, which cuts through the lower film 9 and the upper film 30 in a direction transverse to the transport direction R between adjacent troughs M. The cross-cutting device 5 works in such a way that the lower film 9 is not severed over the entire width, but rather is not severed at least in an edge region. This enables controlled further transport through the transport chain 11.

The longitudinal cutting device 6 can be designed as a knife arrangement with which the lower film 9 and the upper film 30 are severed between adjacent troughs M and at the lateral edge of the lower film 9 in the transport direction R, so that individual packages V are present behind the longitudinal cutting device 6.

The thermoforming packaging machine 2 also has a control device 13. It has the task of controlling and monitoring the processes taking place in the thermoforming packaging machine 2. A display device 14 with operating elements 15 serves to visualize or influence the process sequences in the thermoforming packaging machine 2 for or by an operator.

figure 2 shows a tray sealing machine 16. This is also called a traysealer in specialist circles. Packaging trays S are provided on a feed belt 17 at the tray sealing machine 16 . The tray sealing machine 16 has a gripper device 18, by means of which the packaging trays S provided on the feed belt 17 are picked up and transferred to a sealing tool lower part 19 of the sealing station 20 for a tray sealing process. During the tray closing process, the lower part 19 of the sealing tool is raised against an upper part 21 of the sealing tool positioned above it in order to seal the packaging trays S with an upper film 22 guided through the sealing station 20 . A gassing process can be carried out via the upper part 21 of the sealing tool and/or the lower part 19 of the sealing tool before the tray sealing process in order to create a desired atmosphere within the packaging trays S positioned in the sealing station 20 . After the tray sealing process, the sealing station 20 is opened by lowering the lower part 19 of the sealing tool. The packages sealed with a desired atmosphere can now be picked up by means of the gripper device 18 and transferred to a discharge belt 23 .

The tray sealing machine 16 off figure 2 has a control device 24. It has the task of controlling and monitoring the processes running in the tray sealing machine 16.

to the inside figure 1 and in figure 2 Packaging machines 1 shown, i.e. on the thermoforming packaging machine 2 and on the tray sealing machine 16, it is advantageous to feed the respective films to the respective work stations with a certain constant film tension that can be reproduced per machine work cycle.

In the thermoforming packaging machine 1, a lower film transport device 26 is used as the film transport device 25a at the inlet of the thermoforming packaging machine 1. The lower foil transport device 26 has a drive unit 27 . The controller 13 is configured to control an operation of the drive unit 27 . The lower film 9 can be fed to the forming station 3 with a desired film tension for the forming process taking place therein by means of the drive unit 27 and by controlling a further drive unit (not shown) of the transport chains 11 .

Furthermore shows figure 1 as the film transport device 25b, the upper film transport device 12, which has a drive unit 28 in order to feed the upper film 30 to the sealing station 4 with a desired film tension. The upper film transport device 12 can be controlled by the control device 13 in such a way that the upper film 30 is fed to the sealing station 4 with the desired film tension. The drive unit 28 of the upper film transport device 12 can be controlled in a coordinated manner with the transport chains 11 in order to achieve the desired film tension in the upper film 30 .

In figure 2 If the film transport device 25c is another upper film transport device 29, which is configured to feed the upper film 22 to the sealing station 20 with a desired film tension. In the figure 2 The upper film transport device 29 shown has a drive unit 31 which can be controlled by the control device 24 . The tray sealing machine 16 also has a residual film winder 42 which winds up the top film 22 left over after the sealing process. The drive unit 31 and a drive unit 32 of the residual film winder 42 can be controlled by the control device 24 for controlled film transport with a desired film tension.

figure 3 shows a speed diagram that uses one of the in the figures 1 and 2 shown or not shown drive units 27, 28, 31, 32 is carried out. The speed diagram figure 3 shows a running-in interval 33. During the running-in interval 33, the drive unit 27, 28, 31, 32 moved in both directions to eliminate a sticking effect. A measurement run 34 then takes place. During the measuring run 34, the drive unit 27, 28, 31, 32 is gradually accelerated over its entire speed range. The inherent friction of the drive unit 27, 28, 31, 32 for the respective speed levels can be determined on the basis of the measurement run 34 carried out in this way. The measurement run 34 thus represents a friction determination run for the respective drive units 27, 28, 31, 32.

figure 3 shows that gradually increasing speed steps are carried out during the measuring run 34 . The resulting frictional torque of the drive units 27, 28, 31, 32 can be recorded along the constant speed plateaus 40 that arise as a result. The respective friction torque is directly proportional to a power supply used for the respective speed plateaus 40, the course of which is shown in figure 3 is shown below the speed curve.

Above all shows figure 3 that immediately at the beginning of the measurement run 34 when switching to the first speed plateau 40 on the drive unit 27, 28, 31, 32, a transition 35 between static friction and sliding friction can be measured. This transition 35 will be in figure 3 shown by the increase in amperage between break-in interval 33 and measurement run 34 .

Furthermore shows figure 3 in the current curve shown therein that an increase in the speed at the entrance of the speed plateaus 40 lead to power peaks 41 in the power supply. However, the power peaks 41 caused at the beginning by the controlled increase in speed on the respective speed plateaus 40 then flatten out as the speed remains the same. A friction torque characteristic curve 38 (see figure 4 ) can be determined by the control device 13, 24.

figure 4 shows a friction torque-temperature characteristic curve 36, which can be maintained as an example for one of the drive units 27, 28, 31, 32 or for one of the drive units of the control device 13, 24 mentioned above but not shown.

Based on the in figure 4 A temperature compensation factor 37 for the corresponding drive unit 27, 28, 31, 32 can be determined from the friction torque-temperature characteristic curve 36 shown. The temperature compensation factor 37 forms a quotient of a torque that is generated for a currently measured operating temperature of the drive unit 27, 28, 31, 32 using the friction torque-temperature characteristic 36 is reproduced and from a friction torque, which is present in the friction torque-temperature characteristic 36 at the temperature at which the measuring run 34 from figure 3 was carried out.

Using the temperature compensation factor 37, it is possible to figure 3 speed required for a desired film tension, i.e. the power supply assumed for this on the basis of the friction torque characteristic 38, with regard to the current operating temperature of the drive unit 27, 28, 31, 32, so that during the production run even with changing operating temperatures of the drive unit 27, 28, 31, 32 can achieve a constant film tension.

In figure 4 is an example of the friction torque from the friction torque-temperature characteristic 36 determined for an operating temperature of 15 °, which according to figure 4 is approximately 9 Nm. Furthermore, it is assumed that the measurement run 34 from figure 3 was carried out at a measurement run temperature of 5°C. The friction torque-temperature characteristic 36 from figure 4 specifies a friction torque of 9 Nm for 5°C, so that the quotient of the respective friction torques is 2/3.

Furthermore shows figure 4 the friction torque characteristic curve 38, shown only schematically, which is determined on the basis of the measuring run 34, ie as a function of the figure 3 shown power supply of the drive unit 27, 28, 31, 32 required for this takes place. From the friction torque characteristic 38, a power supply 38' compensated for the operating temperature 15, which is measured during the production run, can be determined for the drive unit 27, 28, 31, 32 by means of the control device 13, 24 using the temperature compensation factor 37, on the basis of which the drive unit 27, 28, 31, 32 can be operated in order to keep the film tension constant at an operating temperature of 15°. In this case, the assumed power supply, which results from the measuring run 34 for the speed to achieve the film tension, is corrected by the temperature compensation factor 37 .

The Figures 3 and 4 show that a power supply that can be derived from the measuring run 34 to achieve a specific, desired film tension with regard to a changing operating temperature of the drive unit 27, 28, 31, 32 during the production run, caused by the ongoing operation of the drive unit 27, 28, 31, 32 by means of the calculable temperature compensation factor 37 can be adjusted in order to calculate the power supply of the drive unit 27, 28, 31, 32 actually required for the detected operating temperature, which is necessary to achieve a constant and reproducible film tension.

Claims (12)

Packaging machine (1), comprising a film transport device (25a, 25b, 25c) and a control device (13, 24) for controlling an operation of at least one drive unit (27, 28, 31, 32) of the film transport device (25a, 25b, 25c), thereby characterized in that the control device (13, 24) is designed to switch the drive unit (27, 28, 31, 32) during a production run of the packaging machine (1) on the basis of a carried out, rotationally driven measuring run recorded, speed and / or temperature-dependent friction torque characteristic (38). Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive unit (27, 28, 31, 32) has a servo drive. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive unit (27, 28, 31, 32) for detecting the friction torque characteristic (38) can be controlled and/or that the drive unit (27, 28, 31, 32) can be controlled at stepwise, continuously increasing speed levels (40) for detecting the friction torque characteristic (38). Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (13, 24) is designed to determine a measuring run temperature (T _M ) of the drive unit (27, 28, 31, 32) which is driven in rotation during the measuring run (34). Packaging machine according to Claim 4, characterized in that the control device (13, 24) is configured to, on the basis of a friction torque-temperature characteristic curve (36 ) a temperature compensation factor (37) for _controlling the _drive unit (27 , 28, 31, 32). Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the packaging machine (1) is a thermoforming packaging machine (2) or a tray sealing machine (16). Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the film transport device (25a, 25b, 25c) has a further drive unit, the control device (13, 24) being designed to activate the further drive unit during a production run of the packaging machine (1). a speed-dependent and/or temperature-dependent friction torque characteristic curve (38) detected using a rotary-driven measuring run (34) carried out by means of the further drive unit. Method for controlling at least one drive unit (27, 28, 31, 32) of a film transport device (25a, 25b, 25c) which on a packaging machine (1) during a production run taking place on a film (9, 22, 30) with a predetermined film tension to a work station of the packaging machine (1), characterized in that the drive unit (27, 28, 31, 32) during the production run of the packaging machine (1) based on a by means of the drive unit (27, 28, 31, 32), rotary-driven measuring run (34) detected, speed and / or temperature-dependent friction torque characteristic (38) is controlled. Method according to Claim 8, characterized in that the control device (13, 24) calculates a temperature compensation factor (37) with regard to a Production run currently recorded operating temperature (T _P ) of the drive unit (27, 28, 31, 32) and with respect to a measurement run temperature (T _M ) recorded during the measurement run (34) for the activation of the drive unit (27, 28, 31, 32). Method according to Claim 9, characterized in that the control device (13, 24) derives a power supply (I) for the drive unit (27, 28, 31, 32) during the production run from the detected friction torque characteristic (38) in order to achieve a desired film tension and dynamically adjusts the power supply (I) by means of the temperature compensation factor (37) determined with respect to the current operating temperature (T _P ). Method according to one of the preceding claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the drive unit (27, 28, 31, 32) is rotated in both directions during a predetermined run-in interval (33) before the measuring run (34). Method according to one of the preceding claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the drive unit (27, 28, 31, 32) during a measurement section of the measurement run (34) carried out after the run-in interval (33) step by step, with a continuously increasing speed to determine the Friction torque characteristic (38) is accelerated.

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