Packaging machine

• US 7,606,631 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2004
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Erwin Fertig, Thomas Cord
• Original Assignee: Erwin Fertig, Thomas Cord
• Inventors: Fertig, Erwin, Cord, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Masinick; Michael D
• Application Number:
  US10/559,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20060173565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,961 Days
• Field of Search: 700/19, 700/95, 700/159, 700/169, 700/170
• US Class Current: 700/169
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 57/00 Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices registering wrapping or container-forming material fed from rolls B65B41/18
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 65/00 Details peculiar to packaging machines and not otherwise provided for; Arrangements of such details
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31251 Redundant access, wireless and hardware access to fielddevices
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33192 Radio link, wireless
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45048 Packaging
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A packaging machine is described, which is equipped with sensors, actuators and drive systems, comprising a servo motor, a central control unit and a system for data transmission. The actual values of the sensors, actuators and drive systems are recorded in digital form in each case and transferred with the use of a transmission protocol via the data transmission system to the central control unit, evaluated by the latter and the determined setpoint values or control commands are also transmitted, in digital form and with the use of the transmission protocol, from the control system via the data transmission system to the actuators or drives According to the invention, it is provided that the data transmission between sensors, actuators, drives and central control unit and vice versa takes place wirelessly and the transmission protocol operates cyclically and with short cycle times, preferably in millisecond pulses. According to the proposal, the transmission protocol serves for synchronization of all sensors, actuators and drives, prepares the actual values and the determined setpoint data of all drives in each cycle, the accuracy of the synchronization and the preparation lying in the microsecond range. The transmission protocol keeps essential information redundant and eliminates errors in the data transmission by means of error correction processes, for example the HDLC process.

Claims

1. A packaging apparatus, comprising:

a central control unit;

a plurality of sensors;

a plurality of actuators;

a drive system;

means for recording in digital format actual values of said plurality of sensors, actual values of said plurality of actuators and actual values of said drive system, wherein data of slow running processes are only recorded in individual time-spaced cycle pulses, so that only the data of fast running processes are contained in cycle pulses contained in between;

means for determining setpoint values or control commands for said drive system via measurements of said actual values of said drive system taken for a plurality of cycles;

means for transmission in digital format of said setpoint values of control commands for said drive system between said drive system and said central control unit via a transmission protocol from said central control unit via said means for data transmission to said plurality of actuators or said drive system;

means for data transmission between said plurality of sensors, said plurality of actuators, said drive system and said central control unit of said actual values of said plurality of sensors, said actual values of said plurality of actuators and said actual values of said drive system recorded by said means for recording in digital format, said means for data transmission including a transmission protocol operating cyclically with short cycle times and performing a synchronization of said plurality of sensors, said plurality of actuators and said drive system with time-dependent action and further providing said actual values and said setpoint values or control commands for said drive system in each cycle and accuracy of said synchronization in a microsecond range;

means for evaluating data received by said central control unit from said plurality of sensors, said plurality of actuators and said drive system;

means for eliminating errors in said means for data transmission and said means for transmission in said digital format; and

,

a time window assigned to each cycle pulse of said cycle pulses wherein, despite data transmission, comprises a residual time, which is able to be used for transmitting optional information.

2. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said drive system includes a servo motor.

3. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said short cycle times are in a millisecond pulse.

4. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for eliminating errors in said means for data transmission and said means for transmission in said digital format includes an HDLC procedure.

5. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said drive system is controlled by specifying position or velocity data at associated points in time.

6. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for data transmission takes place bidirectionally.

7. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for data transmission takes place unidirectionally.

8. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a programming unit connected to said central control unit.

9. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for eliminating errors in said means for data transmission includes data redundancy in said transmission protocol.

10. A packaging apparatus, comprising:

a central control unit;

a plurality of sensors;

a plurality of actuators;

a drive system;

means for recording in digital format actual values of said plurality of sensors, actual values of said plurality of actuators and actual values of said drive system;

means for determining setpoint values or control commands for said drive system via measurements of said actual values of said drive system taken for a plurality of cycles;

means for transmission in digital format of said setpoint values of control commands for said drive system between said drive system and said central control unit via a transmission protocol from said central control unit via said means for data transmission to said plurality of actuators or said drive system;

means for data transmission between said plurality of sensors, said plurality of actuators, said drive system and said central control unit of said actual values of said plurality of sensors, said actual values of said plurality of actuators and said actual values of said drive system recorded by said means for recording in digital format, said means for data transmission including a transmission protocol operating cyclically with short cycle times and performing a synchronization of said plurality of sensors, said plurality of actuators and said drive system with time-dependent action and further providing said actual values and said setpoint values or control commands for said drive system in each cycle and accuracy of said synchronization in a microsecond range;

means for evaluating data received by said central control unit from said plurality of sensors, said plurality of actuators and said drive system; and

,

means for eliminating errors in said means for data transmission and said means for transmission in said digital format includes means for effecting a shutdown of said packaging apparatus in the event of a fault, said means for effecting a shutdown including means for effecting a synchronous braking and, upon start-up of said packaging apparatus, effecting a synchronous acceleration of said drive system.

11. The packaging apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said drive system includes a servo motor.

12. The packaging apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said short cycle times are in a millisecond pulse.

13. The packaging apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said means for eliminating errors in said means for data transmission and said means for transmission in said digital format includes an HDLC procedure.

14. The packaging apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said drive system is controlled by specifying position or velocity data at associated points in time.

15. The packaging apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said means for data transmission takes place bidirectionally.

16. The packaging apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said means for data transmission takes place unidirectionally.

17. The packaging apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a programming unit connected to said central control unit.

18. The packaging apparatus according to claim 10, wherein data of slow running processes are only recorded in individual time-spaced cycle pulses, so that only the data of fast running processes are contained in cycle pulses contained in between.

19. The packaging apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said means for effecting a shutdown of said packaging apparatus in the event of a fault includes a modem for remote diagnosis of the fault.

20. The packaging apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said means for effecting a shutdown of said packaging apparatus in the event of a fault includes a modem for remote diagnosis of the fault.

21. The packaging apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said means for eliminating errors in said means for data transmission further includes data redundancy in said transmission protocol.