Method of starting a multi-component machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a starting method of a starting machine (1) having a plurality of components (6), each component (6) having a standard time of increase in rotation speed until optimum working conditions are obtained, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - a step of obtaining, for each component (6), an initial rotation speed state at a time To and an obtained time of increase in rotation speed from the time To in order to reach optimum working conditions; - a step of identifying slow components (6) having the longest time of increase in rotation speed and determining a time of optimum working T1 after the increase in rotation speed at which the slow components (6) have optimum working conditions; - a step of establishing, for each component (6) other than the slow components (6), an instruction to start the increase in rotation speed or the time of increase in rotation speed for which the optimum working conditions of each component other than the slow components are reached only at the time T1 or in the vicinity of the time T1.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The field of this invention is the design and manufacture of plastic containers.

[0002] More precisely, the present invention relates to a method for starting up manufacturing machinery for manufacturing plastic containers. Background Technology

[0003] The manufacture of plastic containers takes place in machinery with multiple components, transforming preforms into final containers.

[0004] Typically, such manufacturing machinery has different components, including at least one heating component, a blowing component, a decontamination component, a filling component, and a sealing component after the container is filled.

[0005] In addition, a conveying component is placed between the aforementioned components to transport containers or preforms between different devices.

[0006] More precisely, container manufacturing involves first heating a preform, then blowing it to form the container's final shape. The resulting container or preform is then decontaminated, filled, sealed, labeled, and, if necessary, palletized for transport.

[0007] When starting a machine, all components typically start simultaneously until each component reaches its optimal operating condition, thus commencing production.

[0008] However, it should be noted that each component does not have the same startup time as other components.

[0009] In the existing technology, when a machine is started, all the components that make up the machine start simultaneously to reach their optimal working conditions, and each optimal working condition occurs at a different time.

[0010] Therefore, this implementation method has two main drawbacks.

[0011] First, when components start up simultaneously, all components can rarely, if ever, reach their optimal operating conditions at the same time.

[0012] Therefore, some components that quickly reach their optimal operating conditions remain in an unloaded state, thus prematurely increasing their fatigue and consuming the machine's energy.

[0013] Second, increasing production speed until optimal working conditions are reached may cause mechanical stress in certain components.

[0014] In fact, in order to make the machine work as quickly as possible, some components start up abruptly, that is, with a large acceleration. If mechanical stress is generated, it will cause the component performance to degrade or even fail, and / or some parts to age prematurely.

[0015] These defects are unmistakable when the machine is restarted after an emergency shutdown.

[0016] In reality, some components may be ready faster than others, while others must wait before use. Therefore, components with particularly long heating or start-up times may be overstressed in an attempt to shorten their start-up time, thus posing a significant risk of performance degradation. Summary of the Invention

[0017] This invention is particularly intended to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art.

[0018] More precisely, the present invention aims to provide a starting method for starting machinery, thereby limiting the risk of performance degradation of the components that make up the machinery during startup.

[0019] The present invention also aims to provide a starting method that can extend the service life of the different components that make up the machinery.

[0020] The present invention also aims to provide a starting method that allows for control and adjustment of the starting time and optimal operating conditions of the machinery.

[0021] These and other objectives, as described below, can be achieved by means of the present invention, which relates to a method for starting a machine having multiple components, each component having a standard speed increase time until optimal operating conditions are obtained, characterized in that the starting method includes the following steps:

[0022] - For each component, obtain the initial speed state at time T0 and the speed increase time from time T0 to achieve optimal operating conditions;

[0023] - Identification steps for slow components: the slow component has the longest speed increase time and the optimal working time T1 after the speed increase is determined, the slow component has the best working conditions at this optimal working time;

[0024] - For each component except the slow component, establish the steps for the instruction to start or time the speed increase is performed, for which the optimal operating conditions of each component except the slow component are only achieved at or near time T1.

[0025] By establishing commands for the start or timing of speed increases for each component, energy consumption and premature wear of the components are reduced.

[0026] In fact, when each component uses the instruction to start or increase the speed, each component can smoothly, rather than abruptly, reach its optimal operating conditions.

[0027] In addition, energy consumption for each component can be gradual or limited to the actual use of the component, i.e., limited to its rated start-up or actual use.

[0028] Advantageously, after obtaining the step and before identifying the step, the initiation method includes the following steps:

[0029] -A step to detect the intermediate speed increase state of at least one component;

[0030] - Determine the steps to increase the remaining time by adjusting the rotational speed of each component.

[0031] This can be adjusted to start-up based on the actual conditions of the manufacturing machinery.

[0032] In fact, when machinery stops between two manufacturing cycles, its startup time is less than that of machinery that has been cooled down, i.e., machinery that has not been used for several hours or even several days.

[0033] Preferably, before identifying the slow component, the starting method further includes a step of obtaining a temporary change instruction for the rotational speed increase time of each component to achieve optimal operating conditions starting from time T0.

[0034] This can be particularly useful for, for example, starting up manufacturing machinery only partially. In particular, partial startup of manufacturing machinery can be performed during safety and reliability checks, such as after maintenance operations.

[0035] For example, under degraded operating conditions, a specific component can be started independently of other components to check whether it has been properly repaired.

[0036] Additionally, this allows for a slow start-up of the manufacturing machinery to monitor its proper functioning gradually, before gradually increasing its speed until it reaches its rated operating conditions.

[0037] Preferably, when establishing each instruction to start or time the speed increase is initiated, the starting method includes a step that takes into account the machine's production parameters.

[0038] Therefore, for production with a small production schedule, the start-up time of manufacturing machinery can be extended, while for production with a large production schedule, the start-up time can be shortened, or optimized in the shortest possible time.

[0039] Advantageously, when establishing each speed increase command, the method includes a step of taking into account external climate parameters of the machine.

[0040] In fact, external conditions can affect the start-up time of machinery.

[0041] For example, high humidity may cause two moving parts to slide against each other, and high temperature may require the preform heating device to shorten the heating time.

[0042] According to the first embodiment, the starting method includes the step of simultaneously transmitting instructions to each component to start increasing the rotational speed or to increase the rotational speed for a certain period of time.

[0043] This simplifies information transmission between the mechanical information control device and all components.

[0044] According to the second embodiment, the starting method includes the step of delaying the transmission of a command to each component to initiate or delay the speed increase.

[0045] In this configuration, an operator can keep one hand on the machine's startup process and, if necessary, manually control the startup of a specific component of the manufacturing machine. Attached Figure Description

[0046] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are shown below:

[0047] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the manufacturing machinery of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram showing the increase in rotational speed of the three components of a machine manufactured according to the first condition;

[0049] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the increase in the rotational speed of the three components of the machine manufactured according to the second condition. Detailed Implementation

[0050] Figure 1 The invention schematically illustrates a plastic container manufacturing machine 1, the machine 1 having:

[0051] - Computer 2;

[0052] -Emergency stop device 3;

[0053] -Memory 4;

[0054] - Sensor 5; and

[0055] - Multiple components used to manufacture the container 6.

[0056] More accurately, such as Figure 1 As shown without limitation, the manufacturing machine has three components 6, namely a first component 61, a second component 62 and a third component 63.

[0057] The first component 61 is, for example, a preform heating device; the second component 62 is, for example, a conveying device; and the third component 63 is, for example, a container forming device.

[0058] In the manufacture of the container, the preform is first introduced into the first component 61, i.e., the heating device, to soften the constituent plastic of the preform and bring it to the glass transition temperature at which the plastic can be blown.

[0059] When the preform reaches the ideal temperature, it is thus guided by the conveying device to the manufacturing device.

[0060] For example, the conveying device has support wheels for gripping devices that retrieve each preform output from the heating device, i.e., the first component 61, so that each preform is guided to the third component 63, i.e., the forming device.

[0061] Therefore, the forming device has a turntable that supports multiple molds, into which preforms are introduced to be blown and obtained in the final or nearly final shape.

[0062] During mechanical startup, each component 6 has its inherent startup time.

[0063] The start-up time is calculated from the initial conditions of component 6 until component 6 reaches its optimal operating conditions.

[0064] Figure 2 and 3 The diagram shows the time curves for the rotational speed increase of component 6. The numerical data in these time curves are given as non-limiting examples to illustrate the problem.

[0065] More accurately, Figure 2 and 3 It is shown that:

[0066] - The first curve C61 shows the increase in the rotational speed of the first component 61;

[0067] - The second curve C62 shows the increased rotational speed of the second component 62;

[0068] - The third curve C63 shows the increased rotational speed of the third component 63.

[0069] According to the first embodiment, such as Figure 2 As shown, the start-up time of the first component 61, i.e. the heating device, is approximately 30 seconds.

[0070] The startup time of the second component 62 is approximately 12 seconds.

[0071] The startup time of the third component 63 is approximately 5 seconds.

[0072] like Figure 2 As shown, the typical conditions for starting from the zero state, i.e. the wake-up state, of component 6 for the second component 62 and the third component 63 are shown by dashed lines.

[0073] According to the existing technology, when component 6 is running or machine 1 is started, all components 6 start simultaneously.

[0074] Therefore, as Figure 2 As shown, the third component 63 reaches its optimal operating conditions first, followed by the second component 62, and finally the first component 61.

[0075] Therefore, the heating time and no-load operation time are very long until the second component 62 and the third component 63 begin production.

[0076] This idle operation will cause a decrease in the performance of component 6.

[0077] In fact, some components 6 are designed to operate under rated load. When the rated operation is extended and component 6 is not loaded, component 6 can reach overheated speed, which causes its performance to degrade prematurely.

[0078] like Figure 1 As shown, each component 6 has a connectivity analysis device 6a that is connected to the computer 2.

[0079] Therefore, when machine 1 starts or restarts, each component 6 is connected to computer 2 to transmit its inherent speed increase time to the computer.

[0080] Therefore, by selecting parameters to implement the startup method, computer 2 can limit premature wear of different components 6.

[0081] Therefore, the method includes the following steps:

[0082] - For each component 6, obtain the initial speed state at time T0 and the speed increase time from time T0 to achieve optimal operating conditions;

[0083] - Identify the slow component 6 with the longest rotational speed increase time;

[0084] - For each component 6 except for the slow component 6, establish the instruction for the start of speed increase or the time of speed increase.

[0085] More precisely, computer 2 obtains the rotational speed increase time from each component 2 part in order to compare them and identify the slowest component 6 to reach its optimal operating conditions.

[0086] When the slow component 6 is identified, the computer 2 establishes an instruction for each other component 6 to start increasing the speed or the time of increasing the speed, so that each other component reaches its optimal operating condition only at or near time T1, that is, at the moment when the slow component 6 reaches its optimal operating condition.

[0087] like Figure 2 As shown, according to the first case, the slowest component 6 is the first component 61, namely the heating device.

[0088] In fact, from the initial start-up of machine 1, the temperature of the heating device is close to or equal to the ambient temperature.

[0089] Therefore, the heating device must increase its rotation speed so that when the preform is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), its temperature reaches close to the glass transition temperature of the preform, for example, about 77°C.

[0090] Therefore, the 30-second time allotted for raising the furnace temperature represents the maximum time all components 6 need to reach their optimal operating conditions.

[0091] according to Figure 2 In the first case of the second component 62 and the third component 63 shown by the solid line above, the instruction established by the computer 2 is to change the rotation speed and start the operation.

[0092] In other words, each component 6 maintains its rotational speed increase time, but the start time of the rotational speed increase is different for each component 6.

[0093] Therefore, as Figure 2 As shown, the rotational speed increase of the first component 61 begins at time T0, then, a few seconds later, the rotational speed increase of the second component 62 begins at time T0', and finally, the rotational speed increase of the third component 63 begins at time T0”.

[0094] Therefore, according to the time axis, each component 6 increases its rotation speed successively until all components 6 reach their rated operating conditions at time T1.

[0095] according to Figure 2 A variation of this first case of the third component 63 shown by the upper dashed line is that the rotational speed increase time is changed by command.

[0096] Therefore, the initial rotational speed increase time of 5 seconds is, for example, doubled to 10 seconds, so that the rotational speed increase of the third component is brought forward from time T0” to time T0”’ “slowly”.

[0097] Therefore, the command for the start time of the speed increase of the third component 63 is changed so that the third component reaches its rated operating conditions at time T1, although its speed increase time is changed.

[0098] Figure 3 This illustrates a second scenario where manufacturing machine 1 restarts after the emergency stop device 3 is activated.

[0099] Each component 6 may have a working inertia.

[0100] In fact, in the case of the first component 61, the heating device does not cool down immediately.

[0101] Due to thermal inertia, the temperature in the heating device decreases gradually rather than rapidly.

[0102] When establishing a change command for the rotational speed increase time of component 6, the method can perform a slow or optimized rotational speed increase so that the component is not excited too abruptly, but rather excited under conditions determined for this purpose or under more flexible conditions.

[0103] Therefore, in the case of the second component 62, where the lubricating oil between the rotational speed and the moving component must reach a certain temperature, allowing fluid movement between the two moving components, the method can avoid chemical transformation of the lubricating oil, such as preventing the lubricating oil from hardening under heat, or conversely, preventing vaporization.

[0104] After the emergency stop device 3 is activated, the adjusted start command is temporarily recorded in the memory 4 so that it can be reused every rated cycle time to allow the machine 6 to start under normal start conditions, i.e., without prior emergency stop.

[0105] Therefore, the storage of instructions after the emergency stop device 3 is activated is temporary, so that under normal starting conditions, i.e. without prior emergency stop, each rated cycle time can be reused to start the machinery 1.

[0106] Unlocking the emergency stop device 3 allows a new start-up cycle for machine 1 to begin.

[0107] like Figure 3 As shown, time T0 thus becomes the time when the emergency stop device is unlocked. Therefore, the conditions calculated by computer 2 for implementing the method are the conditions for unlocking the emergency stop device 3.

[0108] Therefore, computer 2 calculates the rotational speed increase state of each component 6 and determines the remaining rotational speed increase time of each component 6.

[0109] like Figure 3 As shown, it can be observed that at time T0, due to thermal inertia, the first component 61 requires less startup time than its rated startup time.

[0110] Therefore, the start-up time of the first component 61 is less than the start-up time of the second component 62, and the start-up time of the second component 62 remains unchanged, regardless of the start-up status of the machine 1.

[0111] Therefore, as Figure 3 As shown, at time T0, the slowest component 6 becomes the second component 62.

[0112] Therefore, computer 2 generates appropriate start instructions for the first component 61 and the third component 63.

[0113] Therefore, the second component 62 starts at time T0, the first component 61 starts at time T0', and the third component 63 starts at time T0”. Time T0' and T0” are after time T0.

[0114] Preferably, sensor 5 can collect information on the changing conditions of machine 1, especially the external temperature of machine 1 collected by temperature sensor 51, the atmospheric humidity of the workshop where machine 1 is located collected by atmospheric humidity sensor 52, or the external pressure.

[0115] In fact, these different parameters can affect the rotational speed increase time of each component 6.

[0116] For example, for the first component 61, the time for the heating device to increase its rotational speed is shorter when the ambient temperature of the machine 1 is negative, and longer when the ambient temperature of the machine 1 is positive.

[0117] Preferably, when the instruction is determined, it is transmitted simultaneously to each component 6. In other embodiments, the instruction is transmitted separately to each component 6, for example, when each component 6 starts.

[0118] Different parameters, such as the standard rotational speed increase time until the optimal operating conditions of each component are obtained, are stored in memory 4.

[0119] According to an advantageous embodiment, the method also includes a step of calculating the production conditions of the computer 1, such as the manufacturing time range, which are stored in the memory 4.

Claims

1. A starting method for a starting machine (1), said machine having a plurality of components (6), each component (6) having a standard speed increase time until optimal operating conditions are achieved, characterized in that, The starting method includes the following steps: -For each component (6), obtain the initial speed state at time T0 and the speed increase time from time T0 to achieve optimal operating conditions; - Identification steps for identifying the slow component (6): The slow component has the longest rotational speed increase time and determines the optimal working time T1 after the rotational speed increase, wherein the slow component (6) has the best working conditions at the optimal working time; - For each component (6) except the slow component (6), establish the step of the instruction to start the speed increase or the speed increase time, for which the optimal operating conditions of each component except the slow component are only reached at or near time T1.

2. The starting method according to claim 1, characterized in that, After obtaining the step and before identifying the step, the startup method includes the following steps: -A step of detecting the intermediate speed increase state of at least one component (6); - Determine the steps to increase the remaining time of rotational speed for each component (6).

3. The starting method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, Before identifying the slow component (6), the starting method also includes a step of obtaining a temporary change instruction for the rotational speed increase time of each component (6) to achieve the optimal operating conditions starting from time T0.

4. The starting method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, When establishing each instruction to start or time the speed increase is initiated, the starting method includes a step that takes into account the production parameters of the machine (1).

5. The starting method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, When establishing each speed increase command, the starting method includes the step of taking into account the external climate parameters of the machine (1).

6. The starting method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The starting method includes the steps of simultaneously transmitting instructions to each component (6) to start increasing the speed or to increase the speed for a certain period of time.

7. The starting method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The starting method includes a step of delaying the transmission of a command to each component (6) to initiate or delay the speed increase.

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